This is to the newest members of the World Hapkido Association. Congratulations and Welcome! We all look forward to many years of training and collaboration.

Aubrey Lawton

Short Hills, NJ

Jose A. Torres

Dorado, Puerto Rico

News & Events

Korea Summer Camp – July 2 thru July 9 – 2006!

Summer Camp specifics have been finalized! The fee for the camp will be $1900 and include airfare, lodging at 4-star hotels, all food, gratuities and training expenses. This is a great chance to see and train in the homeland of Hapkido’s birthplace. Deposits due as soon as possible. Contact Mr. Dan Piller for pricing and payment specifics. He can be reached through the World Hapkido Association website or at http://www.kimartialarts.com

**!!! Update: 3 Spots left. A few individuals had to pull-out of their registration and opened up a few

spots. If you have been considering going, now is the time.

Northwest Regional Hapkido Seminar with Master Tae Jung

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Location: Ernie Reyes World of Martial Arts – 2075 SW 234thAve, Ste #103, Hillsboro, OR

Time: 10 – 1:30 pm

Cost: $55 for WHA Members / $65 for Non-WHA Members

Co-sponsored by Mr. Jeff Hindley of Northwest Mudo College and Mr. Al Kamara of FamII Hapkido and Personal Training in Washington. Come join us for a chance to share the mat with one of Hapkido’s greatest masters.

Contact Mr. Hindley at www.northwestbudo.com or by personal e-mail at firstpe315@aol.com for detailed information!! Registration form available soon on the WHA website!!

Announcements

1. There is now a "Links" button on the World Hapkido Association homepage. Master Jung would like all Charter members who have their own website to be included on it with their link. However, you must have the WHA logo on your homepage and an "indication of affiliation" with the WHA.

The Sunbi Spirit

By: Jeff Hindley

Changing Seasons

Death and taxes…so the old saying goes…are the only sure things. I’ll postulate one more…change itself is also a sure thing. Many people fight against the tide of change but why? It’s inevitable. You may be able to limit change, but deny it…never! Perhaps our focus should be more on controlling change to our will rather than just letting it happen. Or perhaps we can just accept change and find a way to make it work for us. Or lastly, take a risk and see what happens. Many individuals seem to think more of the ladder in that a risk is just that…a leap of faith! I would argue that risks indeed can be calculated in such a way that the outcome is weighed to our advantage. And yes, it may not work out so well as we had hoped, but never forget that our world is saturated with those who have learned greatly from their failures (or setbacks if you will) so why worry about it. These times are truly what make us who we are. This is good Warrior thinking.

To put a real face to it, I signed a lease last week to expand my business as so many others before me have done. The inevitable changes will likely loose me a few students as is only normal I guess. And as much as this saddens me personally…it is simply the way of things. Everybody must adjust to change, as was often the case for me as I trained through my early years. My students must plan for change either with martial arts training in their life or without it. Whichever path they take though is not only "meant to be", but also rich with learning and hopefully, growth. There are two ways that we may view our life through one of our best teachers, Nature. First, Hapkido’s Water Principal dictates that water flows to the areas of least resistance and Osmosis from the Biological world dictates that we move through barriers in order to gain equilibrium within a system. As mentioned, these are two great ways that nature can be viewed as microcosms of our own struggles (or vice versa). Are most of us not usually striving for some sort of equilibrium or baseline?

However, in addition to adapting nature’s rules to provide us with an objective and positive way to look at our life, we have another benefit in our favor that nature, for all intensive purposes, does not have…cognition! Or better put, reasoning! (even animals have cognition, although high level cognition [i.e. reasoning] is what separates us to a large degree)

As briefly talked about in the opening of this article, we exercise some control over the decisions made and the paths taken…even when it is contrary to what we want…or outside of our sphere of influence because we still exercise ownership over how we view and react to it. The often neglected and unrefined skill of Focus is what we can often turn to during times like this. Focus is an element of higher-level cognition because we are choosing to occupy our mind with something as a distraction OR we can choose to filter out unwanted stimuli in our environment that impacts us negatively. These can be situational occurrences, or more complicated elements of change in our life.

A flowing stream barricaded by a dam cannot decide to go out and work on the refined techniques of their Front Kick because of it’s annoyance that the dam is there, thus suppressing it’s nature. Too bad! Gichin Funokoshi, Shotokan’s founder once said, "practice more than you sleep". I’ll be the first one to say, "to hell with that idea" but reading between the lines, I understand very much what he is saying. It likely brought much clarity of mind (not the physical so much I’d argue) to him throughout his years. The maintenance and refinement of his technical skill likely provided a peace and concentration that allowed him to move from difficult time to difficult time.

I have always felt strongly that Warriors need to feel like an eye of the Storm. Within, calm and serene while outside, a tempest rages. Find yourself succumbing to road-rage lately? Getting hyped-up in a high-stimulation environment? Getting angry at your kids because of all the noise etc? Likely, the art of Focus has not yet been mastered…and what a powerful ally it is. Fortunately, all warriors are people in process but paying attention to such trivialities and working towards mastering them is, in my opinion, the difference between a true master and a master who merely calls himself such.

But what to do? How do we develop that Focus? Well, Tanjun Breathing helps. But, if you don’t do a lot of that, I have another suggestion. It’s called Conducting an Experiment…to coin a phrase. First, you must practice to pay attention to your own arousal (or response) level if you haven’t already learned to do so. Second, you must suppress your typical response pattern (if it is one you want to change) through visualization, self-talk or counting (1-2-3 often works). Third, you must look at your surroundings (or situation) like a lab experiment and you are the scientist. Paying special attention to what is going on around you, making observations (sounds, smells etc.), making lists in your head (specifically, what is actually going on that bothers you or needs intervention) and Fourth, you must prioritize your responses and make an effort to confidently do them…one at a time.

How one deals with problems or change on a larger scale is no different. Fighting in multiple theatres of war is possible but largely more complicated than when all weapons and strategies can be brought to bear on one specific problem area (let’s not make note of our current military debacle…some problems are just harder to deal with). This is often the best way to handle our own issues of change (if their negative that is) with all resources brought to bear…focusing out stimuli that would distract us.

One thing we know from the changing of the seasons is that the next season always comes. And things are not usually as bad as we thought when we get there. This is often just another page in history…turn the page!

Of course, you could just go out and keep practicing your front-kick!

Training Tips

Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this document provided the permission notice is preserved on all copies.

Internet Book

Stretching & Flexibility

Part 2 of 3

When done properly, stretching can do more than just increase flexibility. According to M. Alter, benefits of stretching include:

Enhanced physical fitness, enhanced ability to learn and perform skilled movements, increased mental and physical relaxation, enhanced development of body awareness, reduced risk of injury to joints, muscles, and tendons, reduced muscular soreness, reduced muscular tension, increased suppleness due to stimulation of the production of chemicals which lubricate connective tissues.

Unfortunately, even those who stretch do not always stretch properly and hence do not reap some or all of these benefits. Some of the most common mistakes made when stretching are:

Improper warm-up, inadequate rest between workouts, overstretching, performing the wrong exercises, performing exercises in the wrong (or sub-optimal) sequence

[We left off last month with Joint rotations and Aerobic Activity]… [We Continue…]

After you have performed the joint rotations, you should engage in at least five minutes of aerobic activity such as jogging, jumping rope, or any other activity that will cause a similar increase in your cardiovascular output (i.e., get your blood pumping). The purpose of this is to raise your core body temperature and get your blood flowing. Increased blood flow in the muscles improves muscle performance and flexibility and reduces the likelihood of injury.

Warm-Up Stretching

The stretching phase of your warm-up should consist of two parts:

1. Static stretching
2. Dynamic stretching

It is important that static stretches be performed before any dynamic stretches in your warm-up. Dynamic stretching can often result in overstretching, which damages the muscles. Performing static stretches first will help reduce this risk of injury.

• Static Warm-Up Stretching
• Dynamic Warm-Up Stretching

Once the general warm-up has been completed, the muscles are warmer and more elastic. Immediately following your general warm-up, you should engage in some slow, relaxed, static stretching. You should start with your back, followed by your upper body and lower body, stretching your muscles in the following order.

1. Back
2. Sides (external obliques)
3. Neck
4. Forearms and wrists
5. Triceps
6. Chest
7. Buttocks
8. Groin (adductors)
9. Thighs (quadriceps and abductors)
10. Calves
11. Shins
12. Hamstrings
13. Instep

Some good static stretches for these various muscles may be found in most books about stretching. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time to stretch all these muscles before a workout. If you are one such person, you should at least take the time to stretch all the muscles that will be heavily used during your workout.

Once you have performed your static stretches, you should engage in some light dynamic stretching: leg-raises, and arm-swings in all directions. According to Kurz, you should do "as many sets as it takes to reach your maximum range of motion in any given direction", but do not work your muscles to the point of fatigue. Remember -- this is just a warm-up - the real workout comes later.

Some people are surprised to find that dynamic stretching has a place in the warm-up. But think about it: you are "warming up" for a workout that is (usually) going to involve a lot of dynamic activity. It makes sense that you should perform some dynamic exercises to increase your dynamic flexibility.

Sport-Specific Activity

The last part of your warm-up should be devoted to performing movements that are a "watered-down" version of the movements that you will be performing during your athletic activity. HFLTA says that:

Guest Column

A very opinionated article…but I like that…especially since it’s not mine. Read between the lines but there are nuggets of truth…as there truly are in all peoples’ opinions. – Ed.

Part 1 of 2

What is the strategy of Pekiti-Tirsia?

We only deal with 2 things, strategy and tactics. Strategy is a plan of action, derived from continuous training, a conditioning to the various flows of attack.

The principle of Strategy is attack-- no defense. I don't teach defense. A tactical move is how to make that attack be effective and how to demolish the enemy. My principle of strategy is Offense, no defense. My offense becomes a counter offense, which is the best defense.

If you teach your people to do defense, they become more static, they become rigid, they become immobile and they freeze and all they remember is how to defend themselves against powerful blows.

My training is about speed, timing, power, accuracy and precision. . All of these do not involve defense, there is no strategy of defense there, defense per se- meaning disarm, meet force with force and try some technique. It will never work. The word defense has no meaning in Pekiti-Tirsia. The strategy is offense, counter offense, and functionality.

So how do you defend yourself?
You learn offense!

You cannot learn defense, there is no such thing as learning defense. It's all offense. The other concept is all defense, self-defense. There is no such thing as self-defense.  It is a misunderstood word, self-defense.

How many battles in history are there where a castle stood in the middle of the field and was able to win the war?  Always the invading forces are winning. Why? Because you are there in defensive position and when the enemy surrounds you for one year and cuts off the water and food, he cuts of the means of exit, when he catapults stones and shoots arrows over the wall every day?  How will you survive? How much food can you store in there?

So defense has no meaning in terms of warfare.

When you are on the defensive, you are static, your movements limited, and you have no liberty as far as escape is concerned.

Is the typical martial artist prepared for a knife on knife or knife vs. empty hands encounter?

If he is more oriented on empty hands and has no knife training, no he is not. Knife culture is much different from empty hands. All the empty hands came from the knife. The empty hands are very inferior; the person who has only empty hands knowledge has no chance against a knife. No empty hands guy can dislodge the knife from someone trained in the knife, except maybe somebody that is not trained or is drunk. It is impossible for him to subdue a guy trained in knife.

What do you think about most disarming techniques?

That is fancy stuff.  That is defeating the purpose. Introducing that sort of technique will get somebody killed. It is impossible. If you are trained on knife techniques and know knife offense, maybe you can use counter offense to survive by getting out with timing to strike the eyes or the head and remove his presence of mind. Then you might have a chance to dislodge the knife.  If it is knife on knife, then there is offense and counter offense. There is no such thing as defense. Knife vs. empty hands, will never work. Disarms and empty hands against the knife, these are Hollywood style techniques. It will never work.

Should they run away?

First they should have an equalizer, a gun, knife, stick, anything. If you pull an equalizer, you have at least a 50/50 chance to survive, a deterrent. If someone is trained in only the empty hand and someone pulls a knife, he tends to give his hand to the attacker and gets cut. If you are trained in the knife and have an equalizer, you will respond via training to pull your equalizer. The strong take advantage of the weak. If you have no equalizer, you will lose.  If they pull a knife and you pull a longer knife, you have a better chance. If you have a knife, he has to wonder if you might be better than him. If you have no knife, he will have no fear and run after you and hurt you. Having a knife or equalizer is a reminder to be alert at all times. The less aware you are the more likely you are to be attacked. When you are not careful is when it happens.

Even if you are on an airplane and the terrorists come, there are equalizers available and instead of them taking you hostage, you take them hostage, but people do not know about how to do this.

What about guns? Do martial artists need to adapt to the gun?

A martial artist is someone who is training to be prepared against someone who might attack them. You train for someone who will surprise you and might take your life. Martial arts have to do with weapons as well as empty hands. The gun, and other tools-- stick, and knife- anything, the martial artist must be proficient in all weapons and empty hands. What if you do disarm him of a gun but don't know how to operate it? How can you make use of it? He is going to come with a second attack and perhaps other guys who possibly have weapons.

If you go into your house and someone is inside and you take hold of a broomstick, you must know how to use it. A gun is an instrument that allows you to equalize another weapon. You need a well-rounded knowledge. Whatever we do in this world has to do with survival.

You must be skillful in all the tools of the martial arts, knife, stick, sword, gun, a kitchen knife and ballpoint pen; whatever can be used as a weapon. That is the discipline of yesterday; today it is just empty hands.  People are afraid to learn weapons because they say it is dangerous.

Pekiti-Tirsia is a combat art. The culture is combat culture. PT is directed to follow the old tradition to carry on as a legacy. The gun is a tool like a knife, an instrument of peace.  It is wrong to use the gun as a weapon of violence. If you make peace with the gun you make peace with others.

In the advanced levels of Pekiti-Tirsia, guns are covered in depth and training is based on quick response and counter offense. We deal with all kinds of weapons. I encourage my students to study all types of weapons.  If we remove our concept of combat, we are not teaching martial arts. We would be teaching conditioning. We follow the old traditions, which by philosophy embrace all weapons. Anything you take hold of and becomes a part of you, the tool becomes part of you. The weapon is a protective reminder that keeps your security consciousness alive. You try to avoid all that might irritate other people but you are more confident because of your equalizer. The weapon plus your martial arts training gives you confidence.

Quote of the Month

We are always discouraged. It is "good" for a martial-artist to be discouraged.

It means that his goals and expectations are still very high.

- Kensho Furuya – Kodo: Ancient Ways

COMING SOON – Look for a new Newsletter format! It is coming along nicely!