Karate, Martial Arts

Do you know a Brick Breaker?

An advertising student from BYU just contacted me, and asked if I would pose a question to the Martial Artists (and enthusiasts) of Utah.  He is looking for someone who practices brick breaking.  The goal would be to shoot a commercial of a stack of bricks being broken.  This would then be entered in various National and International contests, and presented to some large companies.

Do you do this?  Do you know someone who does?  Do you think you can get your idiot brother in law to try to smash some bricks with his head, just for kicks (I doubt they’d want this footage, but it might be fun anyway   )  If so, please contact me, and I’ll put you in touch.

Thanks all, and please, send us links to the youtube of any of those brother-in-law videos you manage to pull off

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Karate, Martial Arts

Pyung Ahn Hyung

This Article comes from Wasatch Martial Arts Blog
To see the full original article click here

History

The Pyung Ahn Hyungs originated in China and exemplify the southern regional style (Nam-Pa). They were created by a Chinese military leader named Jeh Nam (Ztu – Nan) and were once known as the Jeh Nam Hyungs till late 1800.

At some point, these Hyungs were brought to Okinawa from the mainland, and about 1887, master Edos of Okinaa rearranged them into five sets of Hyungs. Shortly thereafter, they became known as the Pyung Ahn Hyungs (He`An in the Okinawan dialet), or Forms of Peaceful Confidence.

Meaning

The late Kwan Jang Nim, Hwang Kee, made the turtle the symbol of the Pyung-Ahn Hyungs. He also presented the Hyungs to reflect Moo Duk Kwan style in 1945. The turtle bears a special significance in Korea culture comparable to that of the dragon in China. Throughout Korea, in gardens and temples especially, one sees turtle sculptures dating from historical times to the present. Its head represents the earth, its claw, the heavens, and its body, the water. As the intermediary between heaven and earth, water also represents humanity. These elements are also the three powers of the universe: Chun, Ji and Inn. Uniting these powers into the living whole, the turtle embodies longevity.

Wholeness is essential to the Pyung Ahn Hyungs, as it is the peaceful confidence for which they are named. In Soo Bahk Do, we find this wholeness in the interaction between Um and Yang, an essential feature of Ki, or vital life. In Korean, the name for this interaction is O-Heang. The relation between Um and Yang is dynamic: O-Heang flows from the union of Um and Yang. Since Um and Yang also represent the earthy and heavenly aspects of Ki (life), we can summarize the relationships between the turtle symbol, the elements, and three aspects of Ki in the following chart:

Our Moo-Do culture, like Pyung Ahn Hyungs embrace the absolute integrity of nature in all its aspects as the basis for human morality. The late Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee always reminded us to connect with the great nature. We can see how he valued the Shim-Kong aspects (Duk) on our art of Soo Bak Do.

Purpose

The Pyung Ahn Hyungs have as their purpose the cultivation of harmony between Um and Yang, earth and heaven, in those who perform them. This entails more than knowledge of the physical movements involved. Physical techniques must be complemented by spiritual wisdom (Duk or Ma-Um), just as Um is balanced with Yang and earth with heaven, if we are to find peaceful confidence in practicing the forms. The goal of the Pyung Ahn Hyungs is precisely this integration of contrasting force-um and yang, earth and heaven, body and spirit-into a harmonious whole.

By: D.K Chang

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Karate, Martial Arts

Study Guide for White Belts

This Article comes from Wasatch Martial Arts Blog
To see the full original article click here

This study guide will focus on Ki Cho Hyung Il Bu, the main requirement for your first promotion to 9th Gup (white belt with a blue stripe) in Soo Bahk Do. Please visit SooBahkDo.tv in the White Belt Instruction category to view all of the material that we cover at the white belt level. Please note that children requirements are different. For specific requirements to compare with SooBahkDo.tv, please see my list of testing requirements.

Ki Cho Hyung Il Bu

Ki Cho Hyung Il Bu (Basic Form #1) is the first form you have to learn and the main requirement for your first promotion to 9th Gup (white with a blue stripe) in Soo Bahk Do.  This form was created by the late Grandmaster Hwang Kee, founder of Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan, in 1945 in Seoul, South Korea.  It has a total of 22 movements including the Jhoon Bee Jaseh (ready stance) at the beginning and ending of the form. Some concepts I hope you will learn as a result of continued practice of Ki Cho Hyung Il Bu include:

• Stepping and turning in a front stance
• Basic understanding of defensive and offensive hip twist
• Proper crossing for a low block and proper fist for the center punch.
• Good chamber hand discipline.
• Improved awareness through Shi Sun (eye focus)

Memorization Patterns

The form diagram is a capital “I”.  Each corner of the “I” has the combination low block, stepping center punch.  The middle of the I has the combination: low block, stepping center punch, stepping center punch, stepping center punch (ki hap or yell).  Whenever you change directions, step and turn towards the center of the “I” with the FRONT foot.  The exception to this rule is after a ki hap.  After the 3rd punch down the center of the “I”, you will turn in the drection of the center of the “I” but with the REAR foot.  The turns are probably the most difficult part of the form for a beginner.

Below you will find myself performing Ki Cho Hyung Il Bu deliberately to show the various intermediate positions.  On the right, you will find Kwan Jang Nim (Grandmaster) H.C. Hwang, current President of World Moo Duk Kwan demonsrating the same hyung.

Performance Tips

1. Cross your arms with the blocking hand on top for a preparation for the low block.
2. Before the stepping center punch, raise the low block up to center level and hold your rear hip back in an offensive hip preparation for the punch (notice my pause in the video before each punch).
3. Before turning, always do a strong look, demonstrating proper intention.
4. Don’t forget about your chamber hand (the hand not performing the technique).
5. The only stance is the front stance.  Your legs should be shoulder width a part, front knee bent, rear knee straight with your rear foot facing in a FORWARD direction.  If the stance is correct, your belt should be facing forward.
6. A center punch should be targeted at your own solar plexus.
7. Don’t forget to inhale on the preparations and exhale on the contractions.
8. Practice this form regularly at home until it is engrained in your muscle memory.

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Karate, Martial Arts

Dugway Proving Grounds looking for new Martial Arts Instructor

Hi all,

I was asked to help put out the word that Dugway Proving Grounds is looking for a new Martial Arts instructor to work with the Dugway Community.

I know that in the past this has been a Karate class.  I don’t know for sure if they are open to teaching other styles than Karate, but I would assume so.  If you are interested, and live out that way, please contact me and I will pass you information along.

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Karate, Martial Arts

Forget New Year’s Resolutions – They Don’t Work

This Article comes from JSK Blog
To see the full original article click here

Goal setting expert explains real success lies in life plans, not in making resolutions.

“You can forget about making New Year’s Resolutions if you’re hoping for a successful outcome. Most aren’t worth the paper they’re written on,” says Vic Johnson, a leading goal setting and motivation expert.

Most New Year’s Resolutions have gone by the wayside before January is over and most won’t even be remembered six months later. And the reason is pretty simple. Most are made in response to something negative; a habit or situation that the person wants to change or end. And therein lies the problem – it’s hard to develop momentum from a negative response. It is always easier to move toward something than away from something.

Consider one of the most adopted goals — weight loss. No one can get excited about losing weight – it requires deprivation. It’s a negative response to concerns about appearance, health, etc. The results of weight loss New Year’s Resolutions demonstrate their weakness. A survey sponsored by Gardenburger found that more than three-fourths of all women between the ages of 25 and 54 make diet and weight-loss plans each year. Nearly nine of 10 respondents reported only occasional or no success, while almost half lost little or actually gained weight instead.

“The people who succeed at losing weight and maintaining the loss have usually been motivated by a dream much bigger and more positive than just losing weight,” explains Johnson. “They see themselves living a healthy lifestyle. They begin to act and think like people who are in good physical shape. There’s more of a radical change in a person’s thinking and actions than you see with most resolutions. It wouldn’t be possible to effect and sustain such a radical change unless the person is motivated by a big dream that is positive in nature.”

Another popular aim is to quit smoking. Johnson himself was a three-pack-a-day smoker until he celebrated a smoke-free New Year’s sixteen years ago. “For over twenty years I had tried to quit many times using every tool and technique I’d hear about. But as long as I was trying to quit, I couldn’t break the grip. Instead, I developed a dream to become a non-smoker. I fell in love with the idea of breathing clean air instead of smoky air, of my body and clothes smelling nice instead of smoky. I thought about how wonderful it would be to taste food again. I decided to start acting and thinking like a non-smoker, and when the thinking took hold I simply quit smoking. In all the years since, I’ve never wanted another cigarette, never even thought about wanting one.”

According to Johnson, the best goal to set is one that calls for the individual to create a plan for their life based on a set of personal dreams. “Most people are in a free-fall through life, careening from one crisis to the next. If you were going to build a new house and you had this idea for a fabulous master bedroom suite, you wouldn’t rush out and start building the master bedroom. You’d have a complete plan before you started. When you approach resolutions and goals in the same manner, you end up with a much better chance of achieving success.”

To set your goals please remember the three components of commitment: Will, Determination, and Focus. Without these your New Years resolution will end as soon as it starts.

Have a Happy New Year and stay healthy and fit in 2010.

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Karate, Martial Arts

Mobile Self-Defense

This Article comes from JSK Blog
To see the full original article click here

Carjackings are on the rise as a crime strategy. Why? They provide the criminal with relatively easy and undetectable approach and, the criminal’s following car provides a quick and viable escape resource.

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Karate, Martial Arts

The winning mindset

This Article comes from JSK Blog
To see the full original article click here

Officer Benjamin Kelly: The mindset to win a split-second confrontation

Maurice Clemmons’ body was probably still warm when I started getting text messages and e-mails from my friends in the Seattle/Tacoma area early Monday morning. The manhunt was over. The mainstream media reported that a “routine stolen vehicle check” had led to the righteous shooting death of Clemmons by Seattle Police Department’s Officer Benjamin L. Kelly, a five-year veteran assigned to the South Precinct. The Seattle Times wrote that Kelly is “fortunate to be alive.”

Police work at the scene where a man suspected of gunning down four police officers was shot and killed by a lone Seattle patrol officer who came across the stolen car in a south Seattle neighborhood about 2:45 a.m. (AP Photo)

Related Articles: Lone Seattle officer fatally shoots suspect in officers’ deathsAre police officers in the United States at war?Ambush in Lakewood: God bless these fallen peacekeepersWhen insanity rules and ‘understanding’ trumps condemnation Related Resources: How to donate to the families of the fallen Lakewood, Wash. police officersIn-depth coverage of the ambush on Wash. police officers Related content sponsored by:

I beg to differ. I believe Officer Kelly is alive because he trusted his instincts, employed his training, and had the mindset to win that split-second confrontation with Clemmons instead of becoming Clemmons’ fifth law enforcement victim.

The two-day manhunt involved hundreds of cops, including numerous SWAT teams going door-to-door looking for Clemmons and those who aided him in fleeing authorities. It ended the way so many high-profile cases do, with the actions of single patrol officer doing good police work. Working the night shift, Officer Kelly observed a 1990 Acura on the street with the hood up and the engine running. Kelly ran the plate and discovered that the car had been reported stolen only about two hours earlier and just a few blocks away. As he sat in his car filling out the report, he noticed a male approaching the driver’s side of the patrol car from behind. Kelly immediately exited his vehicle, recognized Clemmons and began issuing orders. When Clemmons didn’t comply and reached into his waistband, Kelly fired several shots, striking the cop-killer twice. Clemmons was pronounced dead on the scene a short while later.

Off-the-record comments from Sea/Tac-area cops leave no doubt that Maurice Clemmons intended to assassinate Officer Kelly in the same manner he gunned down the “Lakewood Four” two days earlier. It’s safe to say that the car was a trap, but Ben Kelly didn’t fall into the trap.

Instead, Ben Kelly ended this one-man war on Washington-area crime-fighters, allowing them to shift their focus to grieving for and honoring Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Tina Griswold, Greg Richards, and Ronald Owens. However, the war against law enforcement isn’t over, and some of us believe that it is just getting started.

Thirty-six hours after Clemmons gunned down four officers of the Lakewood police department, local papers started reporting that the police manhunt for Clemmons was causing “unease for black males between the ages of 20 and 50.” Are you kidding me? How about the unease, the sadness, and the terror he caused for American law enforcement officers, especially those in Washington State?

Law-abiding Black males didn’t have anything to worry about, but Maurice Clemmons sure did.

And if Clemmons had been white, would the media have reported that “white males” had cause to be uneasy? As Dave Smith wrote in an earlier article, “diversity, compassion, and understanding” rule the media in the Seattle area (as in most other regions of this country right now) and we must speak out against the nonsensical political correctness that may cause us to hesitate.

What if Officer Kelly had not reacted so quickly because he was afraid of causing the man he recognized as Maurice Clemmons “unease?”

Now is the time to review our history, to remember the frequent attacks on law enforcement officers in the ’60s and ’70s — when police officers  were seen as “the establishment” and evil-doers who considered themselves revolutionaries were simply bent on terrorizing cops. These maniacs used guns, explosives, and whatever methods they could improvise. They believed that if you weakened the peacekeepers, you weakened the law-abiding citizens and you eventually weakened the status quo. On top of that, we have the phenomena of the “copy cat,” someone who sees the attention given the tragedy and desperately seeks it for themselves. Maurice Clemmons was not a lone actor, he had a great deal of help from friends and family. This was a premeditated act of terror that supersedes the media and family claims that Clemmons was mentally ill, the victim of a lousy childhood, or the product of an unfair justice system.

Now more than ever before we are targets — we are the hunted — but we need to make sure our mindset is always that of the hunter, the warrior, and the protector. Remember the basics of good police work, and if you’re not sure what that means, ask someone older, wiser and more experienced than you. Listen to those who policed thirty or forty years ago, and just like good cops did in the 1970s, read books that help you understand those who oppose us and oppose a free society—books like “The Anarchist’s Cookbook” and “Rules for Radicals.” Get yourself a back up gun, wear your body armor, keep your friends and family informed, and frequently check, maintain, and strengthen your most powerful weapon, your mind.

This is just the beginning.

Sergeant Betsy Smith has nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience and recently retired as a patrol supervisor in a Chicago suburb. A graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety’s School of Staff and Command, Betsy is a police trainer, author and instructor for the Calibre Press Street Survival Seminar. Visit Betsy’s website at www.femaleforces.com.

Contact Betsy Smith and Follow Betsy on Twitter

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