Master B's Web log

My Own Training

2012-01-12T09:16:00.003-05:00

Check out our VLOG

To help educate and maybe entertain you we have decided to post more of our own training in a video log with what we do each week to advance our training and keep up our skills

Kwan Jang Nim

정신 소리지르 - Ki Hap

2011-11-05T00:10:00.000-04:00

정신 소리지르

Ki Hap: More than just a yell

Kwan Jhang Nim Charles Ferraro

The Korean word Ki Hap means to concentrate or focus the life force. You may have heard Ki Hap referred to as a "spirited shout". The spirit shout is, in fact, an important tool for learning to develop Ki Hap, but like so many aspects of modern day training the outward physical trappings of Ki Hap practice have become confused with the internal function itself by those who don’t have a clue as to what a Ki Hap is. The fact is, Tang Soo Do masters are capable of focusing their spirit through their weapons (hands and feet) without shouting. Some masters are capable of projecting and focusing the life force without even moving, much less shouting.

There is an old Okinawan story about a 19th century marital arts master who was challenged to a duel by another karate adept. They met at dawn in a field outside the village where they lived. Each man expected a fight to the death. As the master approached the field, the other man readied himself and assumed his fighting stance. The master, however, approached the scene standing relaxed with his hands at his sides. As the master came within fighting range, the challenger suddenly felt ill, and his knees nearly buckled. He quickly excused himself for a moment and sat down to regain his composure. After several minutes, the master asked him if he was ready to get on with it. The man decided that he was and got up to take his stance, but as soon as he looked into the master’s calm face and firm gaze, he felt ill again and had to sit to keep from falling. "Sir, I withdraw my challenge and apologize", he said. "I can see I am no match for you, and fighting would surely cost me my life."

This story may sound far fetched but when the Ki Hap is developed to its purest and highest form it is much more than a yell, rather it is a force capable of completely crushing an enemy without throwing as much as a single blow.

I have personally sparred with partners who were technically superior to me, but I could sense that they had inferior Ki Hap development and I was able through my will to dominate them and to render them totally helpless. Early in my martial arts career I have also been on the other side of the stick when I knew I was facing an opponent who had superior Ki Hap development and he was able to dominate me as easily as I did others later on.

In order to develop your Ki Hap you must work on the following attributes:

You must find your heart
You must develop an understanding of your Tangien (area two inches below the navel.
You should develop your "breath power" (control).
You should develop your "spiritual focus".
You should practice your hyung seriously.

Finding your heart means developing a specific mental attitude. In Tang Soo Do we refer to this attitude as "indomitable spirit", and it simply means to refuse to accept defeat. Of course, refusing to back down from a challenge or threat isn’t easy. We are accustomed to going through life avoiding conflicts, and seeking the path of least resistance. Always looking for the easy way. But sometimes you simply just have to fight, either figuratively or literally. Having heart is something we all have within us. We simply have to dig down deep and drag it out. Severe training and extremely hard challenges can serve as tools for developing this quality. But, no tool will work unless the student truly commits to conquering the challenge. He / She must throw their entire spirit into the effort. Survival isn’t enough; he/ she must triumph!

In order to develop a strong sense of Ki Hap, you must find your own heart. Make never giving up a habit. Always attack a challenge; never avoid or simply endure it. This is true whether you are facing a live opponent or a gut wrenching personal challenge.

Understanding your tangien (one point) is an essential ingredient in Ki Hap development. This is a spot that is located approximately 3 inches below your navel. This point is the physical center of our bodies. We tend to associate intuition and strong emotion with our gut. We’ve all felt fear, shock and grief gnawing there. Who hasn’t had a strong gut feeling about something or someone.

By focusing attention on their abdomens, Tang Soo Do practitioners are better able to tune out conscious thought, thereby freeing their minds to recognize the sensations produced by very subtle physical and emotional changes in their opponents. There is nothing mystical about this ability, it is a natural extension of a Tang Soo Doist’s ability to read his opponents. In order to fully develop an understanding of your tangien your must develop the following 3 attributes:

Learn to maintain your one point.
You must learn to relax.
You must learn to sink your awareness (weight) to its lowest point.

Maintaining your one point means putting strength in your lower abdomen and generate power for all your techniques from there. All movement must come from your one point.
It is important to learn how to relax. Learning to relax is harder than it sounds. Stress from everyday activities accumulates in our bodies, eroding our sense of tangien. Relaxation at key points in each technique aides the speed and flexibility that is necessary for generating true power.
Finally learning to sink your weight to the lower part of your body is extremely important in developing your understanding of your tangien. When you can maintain your one point and keep yourself relaxed your will get a sense of your weight sinking to the tangien. You will feel rooted but agile. You will feel powerful, yet calm. Any fluid naturally settles to the lowest point in a container. Your body is mostly water, and when relaxed, the weight of all parts of your body will naturally settle to their underside. In this state, you are very stable and therefore, very rooted and powerful.

Development of "Breath Power" (control) involves using your breathing to coordinate the contraction of your muscles so you can use your physical strength most effectively. Breath control works with understanding of the tangien to provide the Tang Soo Do practitioner with extraordinary strength. To develop breath control, relax and breathe deeply into the abdomen, not the chest.

There are two important rules for breathing in combat:

Never empty your lungs completely. Breath is strength; always maintain a reservoir of it.
Don’t puff or snort. In sparring or combat don’t expose your rhythm to your opponent. Don’t let you opponent get your timing. Keep your breathing silent.

Developing Spiritual Focus is yet another element in Ki Hap cultivation. This is the glue that holds all the other facets together. It is the focus that literally defines the Ki Hap’s "focused life force". It is "spiritual focus" that directs the Tang Soo Do practitioner’s mind during conflict, giving him or her the tactical advantage over a less refined fighter. It is his/ her spiritual focus that fuses the Tang Soo Do practitioner’s will. In order to develop the attribute of spiritual focus one must focus their entire being in achieving their objective. This level of commitment must be physical, as well as, mental. For a Tang Soo Doist that means putting every bit of speed and every ounce of strength possible into each strike.

For the Tang Soo Do practitioner spiritual focus is a critical ingredient of the Ki Hap. It is the focus that concentrates Ki, the energy produced by the life force. Also important in the cultivation of spiritual focus is the "spirit shout" or the actual yell that accompanies the Ki Hap. A pathetic trait in many modern dojangs is the feeble, patronizing grunts that students pass of as spirited shouts.

The spirit shout is one of the most valuable tools for developing spiritual focus and subsequently Ki Hap. A well trained Tang Soo Doist will explode with a deafening roar at the crucial point of focus, the point of impact with his/ her target. The shout will erupt from their abdomen, and it will help them to focus that simultaneous burst from all their muscles, essential for generating the crushing force they desire. The spirit shout is a tool. It is an audible device the Tang Soo Doist uses to coordinate and focus his physical, mental and spiritual energies.

Finally, in order to properly develop strong spiritual focus practitioners must develop their eye focus. Practitioners who understand the use of the Ki Hap will keep their gaze large. They will rest their gaze on the portal of their opponent’s spirit, their eyes. As for the mechanic of vision, you can still see your opponent’s feet while pointing your eyes at his, and with your spirit focused, you can tell a feint from a real attack even before he starts it. So keep your gaze broad. Your face and eyes must be relaxed but firmly committed. If you go into battle truly committed to die for the opportunity to kill your enemy his spirit will read it in your eyes and he will be crushed. This is the essence of spiritual focus and the heart of the Ki Hap.

Serious Hyung Practice is the purest form of Ki Hap training. I am not referring to flashy competition forms. I am talking about good old fashion, traditional and classical hyung training. Proper hyung training provides a vehicle for practicing all the essential elements for developing Ki Hap. It emphasizes the proper stances and correct movements that build proper understanding of the tangien. A qualified instructor will always stress moving from your one point, relaxing at key points and lowering your center of gravity. Breathing in hyung always centers in the tangien. It is properly coordinated with techniques. Therefore, breath control grows with each time your practice. But most importantly, hyungs is absolutely the best exercise for developing focus. It emphasizes coordinating and focusing physical energy in each technique and teaches the student to concentrate his mental energy and focus it into the physical movements. Properly disciplined traditional hyung training even conditions the practitioner to commit and focus his or her spirit through commanding the directions in which he points his eyes.

If you want to develop a strong sense of Ki Hap, if you want to learn to destroy attackers utterly and completely, if you want to defeat an enemy with a single glance, you’ll practice hyung with utmost seriousness. Through many years of arduous hyung practice the seasoned martial artist arrives at the understanding that the Ki Hap is much more than a yell but until you arrive at this point I would suggest you continue to yell as loud and spirited as you can.

Ki Hap - 정신 소리지르

2011-11-05T00:02:00.003-04:00

정신 소리지르

Ki Hap: More than just a yell

Kwan Jhang Nim Charles Ferraro
Reprinted from Mi Guk Kwan Kwan News - Volume #7 / Issue #5 - Spring 2002

The Korean word Ki Hap means to concentrate or focus the life force. You may have heard Ki Hap referred to as a "spirited shout". The spirit shout is, in fact, an important tool for learning to develop Ki Hap, but like so many aspects of modern day training the outward physical trappings of Ki Hap practice have become confused with the internal function itself by those who don’t have a clue as to what a Ki Hap is. The fact is, Tang Soo Do masters are capable of focusing their spirit through their weapons (hands and feet) without shouting. Some masters are capable of projecting and focusing the life force without even moving, much less shouting.

There is an old Okinawan story about a 19th century martial arts master who was challenged to a duel by another karate adept. They met at dawn in a field outside the village where they lived. Each man expected a fight to the death. As the master approached the field, the other man readied himself and assumed his fighting stance. The master, however, approached the scene standing relaxed with his hands at his sides. As the master came within fighting range, the challenger suddenly felt ill, and his knees nearly buckled. He quickly excused himself for a moment and sat down to regain his composure. After several minutes, the master asked him if he was ready to get on with it. The man decided that he was and got up to take his stance, but as soon as he looked into the master’s calm face and firm gaze, he felt ill again and had to sit to keep from falling. "Sir, I withdraw my challenge and apologize", he said. "I can see I am no match for you, and fighting would surely cost me my life."

This story may sound far fetched but when the Ki Hap is developed to its purest and highest form it is much more than a yell, rather it is a force capable of completely crushing an enemy without throwing as much as a single blow.

I have personally sparred with partners who were technically superior to me, but I could sense that they had inferior Ki Hap development and I was able through my will to dominate them and to render them totally helpless. Early in my martial arts career I have also been on the other side of the stick when I knew I was facing an opponent who had superior Ki Hap development and he was able to dominate me as easily as I did others later on.

In order to develop your Ki Hap you must work on the following attributes:

You must find your heart
You must develop an understanding of your Tangien (area two inches below the navel.
You should develop your "breath power" (control).
You should develop your "spiritual focus".
You should practice your hyung seriously.

Finding your heart means developing a specific mental attitude. In Tang Soo Do we refer to this attitude as "indomitable spirit", and it simply means to refuse to accept defeat. Of course, refusing to back down from a challenge or threat isn’t easy. We are accustomed to going through life avoiding conflicts, and seeking the path of least resistance. Always looking for the easy way. But sometimes you simply just have to fight, either figuratively or literally. Having heart is something we all have within us. We simply have to dig down deep and drag it out. Severe training and extremely hard challenges can serve as tools for developing this quality. But, no tool will work unless the student truly commits to conquering the challenge. He / She must throw their entire spirit into the effort. Survival isn’t enough; he/ she must triumph!

In order to develop a strong sense of Ki Hap, you must find your own heart. Make never giving up a habit. Always attack a challenge; never avoid or simply endure it. This is true whether you are facing a live opponent or a gut wrenching personal challenge.

Understanding your tangien (one point) is an essential ingredient in Ki Hap development. This is a spot that is located approximately 3 inches below your navel. This point is the physical center of our bodies. We tend to associate intuition and strong emotion with our gut. We’ve all felt fear, shock and grief gnawing there. Who hasn’t had a strong gut feeling about something or someone.

By focusing attention on their abdomens, Tang Soo Do practitioners are better able to tune out conscious thought, thereby freeing their minds to recognize the sensations produced by very subtle physical and emotional changes in their opponents. There is nothing mystical about this ability, it is a natural extension of a Tang Soo Doist’s ability to read his opponents. In order to fully develop an understanding of your tangien your must develop the following 3 attributes:

Learn to maintain your one point.
You must learn to relax.
You must learn to sink your awareness (weight) to its lowest point.

Maintaining your one point means putting strength in your lower abdomen and generate power for all your techniques from there. All movement must come from your one point.
It is important to learn how to relax. Learning to relax is harder than it sounds. Stress from everyday activities accumulates in our bodies, eroding our sense of tangien. Relaxation at key points in each technique aides the speed and flexibility that is necessary for generating true power.
Finally learning to sink your weight to the lower part of your body is extremely important in developing your understanding of your tangien. When you can maintain your one point and keep yourself relaxed your will get a sense of your weight sinking to the tangien. You will feel rooted but agile. You will feel powerful, yet calm. Any fluid naturally settles to the lowest point in a container. Your body is mostly water, and when relaxed, the weight of all parts of your body will naturally settle to their underside. In this state, you are very stable and therefore, very rooted and powerful.

Development of "Breath Power" (control) involves using your breathing to coordinate the contraction of your muscles so you can use your physical strength most effectively. Breath control works with understanding of the tangien to provide the Tang Soo Do practitioner with extraordinary strength. To develop breath control, relax and breathe deeply into the abdomen, not the chest.

There are two important rules for breathing in combat:

Never empty your lungs completely. Breath is strength; always maintain a reservoir of it.
Don’t puff or snort. In sparring or combat don’t expose your rhythm to your opponent. Don’t let you opponent get your timing. Keep your breathing silent.

Developing Spiritual Focus is yet another element in Ki Hap cultivation. This is the glue that holds all the other facets together. It is the focus that literally defines the Ki Hap’s "focused life force". It is "spiritual focus" that directs the Tang Soo Do practitioner’s mind during conflict, giving him or her the tactical advantage over a less refined fighter. It is his/ her spiritual focus that fuses the Tang Soo Do practitioner’s will. In order to develop the attribute of spiritual focus one must focus their entire being in achieving their objective. This level of commitment must be physical, as well as, mental. For a Tang Soo Doist that means putting every bit of speed and every ounce of strength possible into each strike.

For the Tang Soo Do practitioner spiritual focus is a critical ingredient of the Ki Hap. It is the focus that concentrates Ki, the energy produced by the life force. Also important in the cultivation of spiritual focus is the "spirit shout" or the actual yell that accompanies the Ki Hap. A pathetic trait in many modern dojangs is the feeble, patronizing grunts that students pass of as spirited shouts.

The spirit shout is one of the most valuable tools for developing spiritual focus and subsequently Ki Hap. A well trained Tang Soo Doist will explode with a deafening roar at the crucial point of focus, the point of impact with his/ her target. The shout will erupt from their abdomen, and it will help them to focus that simultaneous burst from all their muscles, essential for generating the crushing force they desire. The spirit shout is a tool. It is an audible device the Tang Soo Doist uses to coordinate and focus his physical, mental and spiritual energies.

Finally, in order to properly develop strong spiritual focus practitioners must develop their eye focus. Practitioners who understand the use of the Ki Hap will keep their gaze large. They will rest their gaze on the portal of their opponent’s spirit, their eyes. As for the mechanic of vision, you can still see your opponent’s feet while pointing your eyes at his, and with your spirit focused, you can tell a feint from a real attack even before he starts it. So keep your gaze broad. Your face and eyes must be relaxed but firmly committed. If you go into battle truly committed to die for the opportunity to kill your enemy his spirit will read it in your eyes and he will be crushed. This is the essence of spiritual focus and the heart of the Ki Hap.

Serious Hyung Practice is the purest form of Ki Hap training. I am not referring to flashy competition forms. I am talking about good old fashion, traditional and classical hyung training. Proper hyung training provides a vehicle for practicing all the essential elements for developing Ki Hap. It emphasizes the proper stances and correct movements that build proper understanding of the tangien. A qualified instructor will always stress moving from your one point, relaxing at key points and lowering your center of gravity. Breathing in hyung always centers in the tangien. It is properly coordinated with techniques. Therefore, breath control grows with each time your practice. But most importantly, hyungs is absolutely the best exercise for developing focus. It emphasizes coordinating and focusing physical energy in each technique and teaches the student to concentrate his mental energy and focus it into the physical movements. Properly disciplined traditional hyung training even conditions the practitioner to commit and focus his or her spirit through commanding the directions in which he points his eyes.

If you want to develop a strong sense of Ki Hap, if you want to learn to destroy attackers utterly and completely, if you want to defeat an enemy with a single glance, you’ll practice hyung with utmost seriousness. Through many years of arduous hyung practice the seasoned martial artist arrives at the understanding that the Ki Hap is much more than a yell but until you arrive at this point I would suggest you continue to yell as loud and spirited as you can.

Red Alert

2011-09-28T23:25:00.000-04:00

Condition Red

Jeff Cooper is the father of American pistol craft. He has designed a color
code system for combat awareness. Even though they have been designed for
combat shooters, the awareness levels for the martial artist is the same.

Basically these describe your mental state.

White = Completely relaxed. You are most likely unaware of your
surroundings. If attacked in this state you will die.

Yellow = Relaxed alertness. You are aware of your surroundings and what is
going on all around you. You are not paranoid, just alert. While you are
not expecting trouble it won't sneak up on you. When you are armed you
should be in "yellow." You can live in "yellow."

Orange = Specific alertness. You have noticed a potential situation and now put
your everyday thoughts aside and concentrate on the problem
at hand. You may have to shoot someone. Your pistol is holstered.

Red = A fight is probable. You decide upon the "mental trigger" that will
indicate you are to shoot (...if he turns toward me, ...if I see a gun,
Etc.) you are ready to take action. The pistol is most likely in your
hand but can be holstered depending upon circumstances.

A more in depth explanation is in the below-mentioned sources.
They have been discussed in several books.

The Modern Technique of the Pistol by Greg Morrison (ISBN) 0962134236), and
The Tactical Pistol, by Gabe Suarez (ISBN 0873648641). Cooper wrote the
forwards to both of them. They are also discussed on video in the Armed
Defense series, a four tape set from Quad Productions, Reno, NV. The tapes
from Quad productions can be ordered online at: http://www.snowcrest.net/
quad/

Grandmaster Visit

2011-07-19T08:42:00.004-04:00

Here is a link from Grandmaster's visit while I was teaching class.

What a privilege to have him here!

MB

Unsu

2011-07-17T21:59:00.002-04:00

An amazing demo of the TSD form Unsu by Master Pumarejo

Grandmasters

2011-07-08T10:37:00.003-04:00

We are pictured here with Grandmaster Estioko and Grandmaster Kim. We are very excited to have Grandmaster Kim coming next week. He is a ninth degree Black Belt and the senior TSD Grandmaster in the world.

I will write more about the visit next week.

MB

My You Tube Stuff

2011-04-24T13:41:00.000-04:00

10 Things To Do To Become A Better Black Belt

2011-02-25T10:37:00.002-05:00

Advice from Ultimate Black Belt Test Coach Tom Callos:

1: Get and stay in great shape (of course); this comes from doing a variety of things, including consistent and sensible exercise/practice, proper nutrition, and maintaining a positive mental attitude.

2: Practice your martial art, whatever it is made up of, in a way that is congruent with your body, capabilities, and goals; hone your skills to the nearest point of perfection that you can muster.

3: Become familiar with the top 10 killers of adult males, females, teens, and children --and include these issues in your understanding, practice, and/or teaching of self-defense. If you are a particularly serious practitioner, then include the top 10 to 20 issues sited to cause people the most unhealthy stress and/or fear.

4: Study (learn more about) Eastern/Western history and philosophy, as without an understanding of the beliefs, attitudes, and circumstances of the people who originated the practices, methodology, and philosophies of the martial arts, you might never truly understand the full mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual components of your practice.

5:Practice meditation.

6: Learn as much about peace education and practices as you know about punching, kicking, and grappling. To have any kind of balance as a martial artist you will want to know as much about peace as you know about that which is not peace.

7: Take your practice of the martial arts “out of the dojo and into the world.” If you should (and you have the right to, of course) decide that your brand of martial arts only requires you to be a “martial artist” on the mat and/or in the ring, then how you take your practice into the world may not matter to you. But if your practice transcends the purely physical aspects of training and if you define your martial arts as being about “life,” then learning to take what you practice on the mat and apply it to other things is, well, a more complete and holistic approach.

8: Define what it is, for you, to be a “martial artist.” Note that your definition will (should) change as you mature. Your definition will affect how you use what you learn how you use (or don’t use) the skills (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) that you practice.

9: Use “events” or “projects” to create date-based goals. When you have to be ready for something, whether a competition, test, demonstration, or project, you have a reason to prepare and “get ready.” Preparing for an event, sort of your own personal “Olympics,” can be the catalyst for a lot of growth, change, and improvement.

10: Blog (write about) and make films of your journey. Trust me, down the road somewhere you’re going to look back at your writing and filmed experiences and appreciate the path you’ve taken. A solid record of your experiences as you train and grow will put your practice --and progress --into perspective.

Tom's Advice is all GOLD.
Check out thenewwaynetwork.ning.com to see more.

Flash Cards

2011-02-05T00:00:00.000-05:00

Check this out - Flash cards to learn your TSD terminology

MB

Midnight Blue

2010-12-23T22:37:00.001-05:00

Winds Of Change

Over the years we have constantly strived to improve our martial arts program. Some years it was adding new material, some years it was taking some out (because it was too much) but we have always worked on the concept of never ending improvement.

One thing that we have always stayed true to would be our base style of Tang Soo Do. Although we have integrated many martial arts systems into our curriculum, this Korean style of martial arts has given us guidance with the codes, tenets and philosophy. The character values of our Tang Soo Do has never failed us in making great Black Belts.

Over the years we have modified the traditional belt system in order to adapt to needs of younger students creating the tiny tiger, little dragon and children's curriculum and belt system.

We underwent another change. The traditional Tang Soo Do Belt philosophy has always been to wear a Midnight Blue belt in place of a Black Belt. Midnight Blue is worn as a symbol of the wearer's humility and reminds one that perfection cannot be attained.

The Tang Soo Do philosophy considers "black" as a color which does not get darker therefore symbolizing an ending or death, which contradicts the Tang Soo Do philosophy. When TSD came to this country some tournaments would not allow practitioners entry into Black Belt divisions and so the adopting of Black Belts (out of necessity) was born. It is our goal to return to the tradition of Midnight Blue. In the last few years we have begun training under Grandmaster Song Ki Kim, the oldest living Grandmaster in Tang Soo Do. He embodies the true art in many different ways and we want to follow his direction and philosophy.

Finally- the wearing of Midnight Blue belt more accurately reflects the spirit, attitude and direction we desire for the future of our school.

Master Bogdanski Master Duethorn
It has been a whole year since we made the switch.

UNSU- Cloud Hands

2010-11-13T23:18:00.002-05:00

While on our trip to Korea my group of senior Dan members enjoyed a morning training with Grandmaster Estioko.
First I want to say the setting of overlooking the ocean on Jeju island was breathtaking. Second, having the opportunity to train with the Grandmaster was a privilege onto it’s own. Thirdly, learning a new form is still exciting to me even after fourty two years in martial arts.
Our form today is titled Unsu. Unsu translates as "cloud hands", a very advanced hyung also practiced in Japanese karate. It includes a 360 degree jump, spinning techniques on one leg, one finger attacks from a cat stance, kicks from the floor and several other techniques not seen in any other Tang Soo Do hyung.

The opening sequence of the form highlights the rise of the sun along the horizon, the finger spear represent thunderbolts from the heavens and the jump symbolizes a hurricane.
This form has many different techniques and strategies. One unique quality is employing examples of defense from the ground. You can learn to fight from a disadvantage, and how to fight in a way that helps you get back to your feet after being down. I believe this is a strategy all students should have practice in.
At the beginning of our training we bowed to the sun for its light and warmth that it provided to us. We were taught by Kwan Jang Nim to respect nature as it aids us, including the water, air and wind and how it graces our lives. We were also reminded to respect the power that nature employs on occasions as we anticipated the monsoon that was approaching the island. The day after the training session we just barely made it off the island to Busan before the airport was shut down. At the completion of the training we bowed to mother earth for the richness it provided for us.
As many other USG members trained in different groups on the beachfront I wondered if they were as awed as I was by this unique opportunity that had been presented to us. Thousands of mile from home, here in the heartland of Tang Soo Do we had the opportunity to do what many have dreamed of.
Smiling, sweating and learning, Kwan Jang Nim Estioko demonstrated that at no matter at what age you are, once you tie your belt on you can transform yourself to a spry and springy Dan member. He demonstrated all of the form for us, including dropping to the ground and the 360 degree kick. Wow! He sets a great example to all of us. Thanks for the great class sir!

By Mike Bogdanski, Chil Dan
Putnam, CT.

Filial Piety

2010-09-14T22:40:00.000-04:00

This is a huge concept in Korea. This is the Japanese version.

The Warrior’s Filial Piety – Honoring Your Parents and Ancestors

Most cultures have a version of what is called filial piety which represents the concept of honoring your parents and ancestors; and in the martial arts culture your teacher, your sempai or those senior to you, as well as your kohai or those lower than you.

Basically, filial piety means to be good to one’s parents; to take care of one’s parents; to engage in good conduct not just towards parents but also outside the home so as to bring a good name to one’s parents and ancestors; to perform the duties of one’s job well so as to obtain the material means to support parents as well as carry out sacrifices to the ancestors; not be rebellious, show love, respect and support; display courtesy; ensure male heirs, uphold fraternity among brothers; wisely advise one’s parents, including dissuading them from moral unrighteousness; and display sorrow for their sickness and death.

This concept is carried on in the martial arts school, as a Sensei (One Who Walked Before) is seen as a father figure and the grandmaster is seen more like a grandfather.

Many schools today have drifted into the world of modern sport and yet classical arts that have been handed down for thousands of years are very deep in protocol and manners where a student can show respect and honor. Here are a few guidelines from my notes as to the correct way of behaving for the classical martial artist.

1. Always honor one’s family, and give without the expectation of receiving. Strive for family honor. It is a lifetime responsibility.

2. Second to one’s family, honor your teacher. They are to be treated like a father or mother who gave you the art of life. Give and sacrifice ‘without the expectation of receiving. It is a lifetime responsibility for one’s official teacher.

3. Treat your fellow students as a brother or sister. By giving and helping them to be better, in truth this will strengthen yourself.

4. Senior students, be humble. Treat junior students (kohai) as equals, thus, enabling you to have the respect and position of a senior.

5. Junior students, be respectful to your senior (Sempai). Their treatment of you as an equal is a sign that they are starting to understand deeper knowledge and are worthy of senior respect. This humbleness is to be respected. It is said, the stalk of rice with the most fruit bows the lowest.

6. Never consider yourself knowledgeable, regardless of time in training. We are only on a staircase that is very long and with no apparent end. The most advanced martial artist will empty their cup and become a white belt as any time.

7. Recognize that everyone will have strengths greater than yourself and weaknesses, regardless of their time in the art. Try to help their weaknesses. In time your weaknesses will be eventually strengthened. Never be afraid to admit you do not know.

8. Senior students are responsible to demonstrate the “code of ethics” in and out of class. This example shows that you yourself don’t consider your art separate from your everyday life, that it is part of everything. This demonstrates the strength of your art and makes good practitioners and teachers.

9. Rely on your teacher’s judgment as best as one can. Many times you may not agree with policies, or actions, but it is your responsibility to stand behind them and strive for better understanding as junior students do towards you. Remember one is just on a step or a path and possibly the next step will give you better understanding of the overall journey.

10. Remember teachers are human. They make mistakes and have human problems like anyone else. Realize that no one will be a perfect example. It is this kindness and understanding that makes you strong by respecting this humanness and appreciating their gains of self-perfection in one’s total-ness. ”

11. Be an example of courtesy, regardless of what step you are on in your growth. Courtesy in and out of class is a sign of strength. By giving courtesy, you get courtesy and respect. Use yes ma’am and no ma’am, yes sir and no sir, never calling a senior by their first name is an example of courtesy.

12. Empty your cup of tea. Allow criticism and suggestions by anyone. Students who often have less time in can offer suggestions or catch something that is very true and helpful, if you are open. Remembering that we are an equal human beings helps. Thinking we know a lot, means we know little.

13. Never openly criticize your teacher. Hold your doubts or criticisms to yourself and possibly your view will change later on the matter. Criticizing back to your teacher says you are their equal in knowledge. This is considered very poor code and essentially you need another teacher. In the old days this was dealt with very strictly, today these actions will simply result in a student being asked to leave.

14. Don’t think of criticism as personal. Criticism is only suggestions or sharing to gain better refinement from outside eyes. This is the reason to take classes in the first place. Teachers are no different and need criticism from their seniors to grow. Without self-examination created by suggestions or criticism, one is no better off than reading a book. We need other eyes to tell the real story.

15. Pride. Carry yourself earnestly; try your best even if it’s not up to your expectations. Disregard other people’s expectations of yourself. Doing your best for yourself gives you honor and pride.

16. Practice to contain one’s ego. Approach practice with a smile and from that you will get better at it. Containment of one’s ego is essential for proper energy and total-ness. Remember proper energy is sharing and not competitive unless you make it so.

17. The showing of too much power in any joint exercises shows you have low-level ego containment. Use of technique with kindness and appreciation is a sign of strength. To intimidate others is low level. Demonstrate containment; this is a sign of strength. It is a personal test to try not to get even when someone betters you. Compliment them. Do not feel degraded by being bettered. Appreciate this as being personally helpful. They are giving you something to work on for the future. Like iron wrapped in cotton, the true warrior is gentle unless needed to be rough.

18. Tenacity. It is your responsibility to try your best in all classes. Do not allow your self to just follow or stand idle. Practice yourself, regardless of your grasp or ability of the technique. It is your responsibility to not complain of tiredness or your ability to do the practice. Tenacity is the ability to keep trying with or without the teacher. By doing this you will always feel better when you leave, and you will gather honor and respect. Idleness means idle instruction in return. One reason you take instruction is to practice tenacity of learning.

19. Cleanliness. Refined cleanliness means refined mind. Clean clothes and body show by example the honor and ethics you hold.

20. Never ask for more knowledge or to be able to test for a new rank. Let the teachers decide when you are ready. To ask is a sign that you have down what has already been given you. Remember any knowledge has a lifetime of perfecting. By working hard on what you have is the first sign that you are getting ready for more and deserve it. (In modern organizations, and in a mastermind or coaching atmosphere, this asking for what’s next or for additional resources is common)

21. Always remember your teacher’s birthday, black belt testing, Christmas, etc. Give them some gift of appreciation from your heart no matter how small. This sign of thoughtfulness and respect allows a bond that makes the teacher feel appreciated, and usually they reciprocate by genuinely wanting to further your knowledge from this appreciation. A true Sensei is a teacher for life.

22. If you are far away from your teacher and you visit them or any other teachers, it is proper to bring them a small gift each time. This can be food for casual visits or presents suitable for more important visits. This is traditionally important. In Kojosho Kempo, the most precious gift of all is when your teacher bends over and picks up a stone off the ground and hands it to you in recognition of your achieving your highest level.

23. If you have had a falling out with your teacher, but want to reestablish your connection, it is most important to bring a gift upon your “first” contact and to give your humble apology, regardless of whether you feel it is totally deserved. A good teacher will always accept a good apology regardless if they feel they were wrong or you were wrong. “Saving face” most times does not allow the teacher the flexibility of the student. Traditionally a teacher must follow protocol which is not understood by the student until years later.

24. Anytime one invites the teacher over to their home or anywhere else, it is essential that there is always food and drink available. This shows good manners and respect.

These rules may seem a little much for the average civilian, but in the land of true warriors filled with alpha male types, it is important that we learn and teach methods of behavior in every way we can. In America, we teach our young men to honor the women of the organization by opening doors, standing when a lady leaves a table, etc. Chivalry is alive and well in the warrior’s house. Like a sheepdog caring for his herd and ever vigilant against wolves of all kinds, the senior and advance warriors take that position of protection any time they sense a threat. Likewise, the juniors help and defend the alpha seniors and make sure they always have their back, and through actions and deeds demonstrate their loyalty and dedication.

Terry Bryan, American Black Belt Academy

Korea Trip 2010

2010-08-03T06:18:00.002-04:00

Today we are heading to the land of the morning calm- South Korea. Everyone who trains in martial arts dreams about training in the country of their art. This will be a reality for many American Tang Soo Do students.

I am very excited about the trip. I am a travel junkie and have been to many parts of the United States and overseas. The trip is scheduled to start out of JFK where we will meet several other association members that will travel with us to Korea.
A fourteen hour fight will get us into Seoul where we will pick up our west coast members and head to the DMZ. Lately there has been a lot of saber rattling from the north so we think the alert level will be very high. This first day we will also tour one of the five castles that are in Seoul. We plan to stay in Seoul before we head south to Song Tan, where Chuck Norris received his Black Belt.

In Song Tan we will train in ancient Korean weapons at Hwa seoung fortress and train with Grandmaster Song Ki Kim- highest ranking Tang Soo Do Black Belt in the world.
Stay tuned for more!

Ultimate Black Belt Test

2010-04-25T10:14:00.004-04:00

This is from Master Instructor Tom Callos and his modern version of Black Belt testing. I believe Tom is the premier martial arts "thinker" and "doer" in modern history. I have studied his technology of martial arts progressivism and am amazed daily at how innovative and traditional his thinking can be. Well done Tom.

Physical

* 50,000 push ups
* 50,000 ab exercises
* 1000 rounds of sparring/rolling
* 1000 repetitions of a single kata
* 1000 miles of running, walking, swimming, and/or biking
* 20 hours with a professional boxing coach
* 20 hours of BJJ or judo training
* Completion of Body-for-Life diet/training program -or equivalent

Empathy Training

* 1 day blind
* 1 day deaf
* 1 day mute
* 1000 acts of kindness
* 50,000 acts through students and community
* Mend 3 relationships gone bad
* Fix three "wrongs" you've done in your life

Educational

* Profile 10 living heroes
* Interview a Master
* Set and achieve 10 personal victories
* Read 1 dozen books
* Write 1 chapter of a book compiled by all participants
* 52 on-line journal entries
* 15 minutes of formal daily meditation
* Begin and/or achieve teacher certification in at least 1 method of reality-based self-defense (RAD, SAFE, FAST DEFENSE, JYF, Etc.)

Community Activism

* 1 community-based environmental clean up project
* *Designing and giving minimum of 10 public self-defense seminars, lectures, and/or workshops with objective of teaching 1000 people.
* Participation in 3 UBBT events

Optional or alternative requirement suggestions

* 1000 prayers
* Buy nothing new for 1 year
* The reduction of disposable plastic use by 40% to 90%
* 100 pieces of art

A Lesson in Black Belt Testing

Team members, current and alumni; please allow me to remind/inform you of some of my beliefs/thoughts about our relationship and this “project.”

1. The black belt test is a sacred experience, but only if you treat it as such.

In my mind, when I say “black belt test” –it is a call to rise, it is to be treated with the utmost respect, it is a call to action. A black belt test is your own personal “Olympics” –and it calls you to train, to prepare, to rise to the occasion, and to evolve as an athlete and a person.

Do YOU have another event/thing in your life that asks so much of you? Perhaps you hear this call with parenting and/or with your significant other or with your career?

BUT, being that this is our life’s work, we would do well to hold the black belt test and the preparation for testing in the most sacred of places.

2. When it comes to your black belt test, require nothing. Nobody has to remind you.

Nobody has to wake you for training. No event, no obstacle, no injury, no bout of depression keeps you from preparing for the event.

You might miss a wedding, you might forget a birthday or an anniversary, but your training is who you are and how you work on yourself.

It’s your air, your survival mechanism; it is the outward manifestation of who you really are on the inside –and who you aspire to be. In your mind you hear the call to your test like an ever-present ringing in the ears.

You don’t sit at the dinner table, you don’t lift your feet into bed, you don’t breath, drink, stretch, or move without an acute awareness that you are testing for your black belt.

Very few people on this planet are bound by the code that you are. Very few people know how to apply themselves the way you are training yourself to do. Very few people treat their black belt test with the respect and reverence that you do –and this, my friends, is how you hone what it is you have given your life for.

3. You are part of a team. You may be a part of many teams, and some of them are very important to you, but in this endeavor you must cultivate an awareness of “team” in a way that warrants the most extraordinary care.

The fabric of the UBBT is woven on something intangible.

It is a recognition of our place in history –it is an understanding that collectively we stand to influence and change and improve the processes, the outcome, the culture, the direction, and the essence of “what is the martial arts.”

I am sitting at a table on my deck on The Big Island –and you are reading this in your own home or office –but we could just as easily be sitting next to each other.

This is the nature of the internet –and of a kind of connection, facilitated by our communication, that ignores distance and time differences.

Someday in the future I will be gone –and this body of work will be what I made of my life. This work will be what I did, what I worked on, and how I made my way. I might be remembered, for a time, as a very dedicated martial arts practitioner and teacher.

This is it.

This work, these messages, the call to treat our “test” and each other with a rare sort of respect, these ideas ---of peace, kindness, activism, environmentalism, anger management, leadership, purpose, intent, and mission ---this is what I/we will leave behind.

NOW is the time to recognize the opportunity we have to make change. We are not like Charles Barkley, who I heard declared he “was not a role model.” We are treating our position with the understanding that we are role models –and we are acting as if what we do –and how we go about it –will influence the quality of life in a million people who follow us.

All of this affects the solemnity of how I expect you to treat our relationship. TO treat it any other way would be far, far from “the ultimate.”

By treating our "black belt test" with this kind of respect, we make "being" a black belt something
worthwhile.
Posted by From the Desk of Tom Callos

Six Fold Path

2010-04-07T23:23:00.000-04:00

The Six-Fold Path is related to the Chil Sung Hyung in its intent of development. Where they differ is that the Chil Sung Hyung are intended to develop the artist as a person. The Yuk Ro Hyung are intended to develop the artist as a warrior.

The Yuk Ro are described as:

Du Mun - The Great Gate - As a martial artist, you must open your mind to information. Indeed, the gateway to the mind if often the most difficult to open, and why it is known as the Great Gate.

Joong Jol - Cut the Middle - As a martial artist, much of the information that passes through the Great Gate will be either useful information that is obscured by fluff, pure nonsense, or perhaps, purely useful knowledge.

Po Wol - Embrace the Moon - When you've cut through the middle and sorted what has passed through the Great Gate, embrace the information you've discovered and make it part of your energy.

Yang Pyun - High Whip - You will come to a point where your martial art skill will be at its highest, and as a warrior, you will be like a lone man, high atop a hill, wielding a whip, and no one will be able to touch you.

Sal Chu - Killing Hammer - Further down the road, you will have so much knowledge and power that you'll be able to kill with one blow, like a heavy hammer against your enemy.

Choong Ro - Seize and Capture - You will realize that with all your knowledge, it is not being untouchable or being able to kill with one blow that makes you a skilled martial artist, but being able to capture your enemy WITHOUT causing injury.

By practicing the Yuk Ro, you walk the path to becoming a great and noble warrior.

Old Concepts- New Ideas

2010-03-26T08:57:00.004-04:00

Itosu's Ten Teachings Karate does not derive from Buddhism or Confucianism. In olden times two styles, called Shorin style and Shorei style, came from China. We consider that both have distinct advantages and should not be altered or combined - they should be left as they are.

1. The aim of karate is not only to train the body. If you train at karate eventually you will gain the spirit to be able to sacrifice yourself for your ruler or nation. Never fight over insignificant matters; do not fight ruffians or villains. Avoid such people as often as possible.

2. Training in karate will make your muscles powerful and your body strong. As a result you will develop a courageous spirit. If you train at karate from childhood you will find that you are able to make a great contribution to society, even as a soldier. For example, the Duke of Wellington said after his victory over Napoleon the First, "Our victory was because we exercised and played disciplined games when we were at school.

3. You cannot master karate easily, or in a short time. The process is like a herd of cows grazing across a field. No matter how slow the herd moves it will eventually reach the end. Even if it moves slowly it could cover 100 miles. If you train one or two hours every day, your body will change after 3 or 4 years - you will get to the core of karate.

4. The most important point in karate is "Ken-soku" (fist-foot), so use the makiwara to develop these weapons. Keep your shoulders down, expand your chest and develop your power. Root your stance to the ground. What you have to do is 100 to 200 punches every day.

5. In the upright stance of karate you must keep your back straight and your shoulders down while keeping your legs strong and then focus your attention on the tanden.

6. There are many movements in karate. When you train you must try to understand the aim of the movement and its application. You have to take into account all possible meanings and applications of the move. Each move can have many applications.

7. When you train in karate you must study in advance whether the application of each move is more useful for training or defence.

8. When you train in karate you should train as though you were in the battlefield fighting the enemy. You should keep your shoulders down and fix yourself in the stance. When you block or thrust you should picture the enemy. In so doing you will gradually master how to fight in a real battle.

9. Your training must be according to your bodily strength. If your training is too great for your condition, it is not good for you. Your face will turn red, as will your eyes, and you will damage yourself.

10. People who train at karate usually enjoy a long life. This is because the training strengthens muscles, improves the digestive organs, and strengthens the blood circulation system. I think that from now on karate should be introduced to the curriculum of the Elementary Schools and in doing so we could produce men capable of defeating ten enemies single-handed.

Ankoh Itosu.

My Friend Scotty

2010-03-14T12:04:00.004-04:00

Scotty

A few years ago I attended the World cup, a prestigious martial arts tournament held in Hungary. A large group from the U.S.A. attended including some physically and mentally challenged students. We trained for several months and were looking forward to visiting Europe.

I chatted with many of the people on the team. The group had a lot of age ranges including children, teens and adults into their fifties. There was a big group of teens flying over with us. One boy in particular I had met before and his name is Scotty. Scotty was one of the challenged members.

He suffered from spina bifida as a child and used crutches to make his way around. His balance was very compromised and his legs had very little strength but he had the heart and courage of a lion. Scotty is a Black Belt. Maybe not a Black belt in the traditional sense, but for a person with his means he knew all the requirements as well as a person with his challenges could. This kid was an absolute charmer. His personality was all sunshine and people were attracted to his charm and outgoing attitude.
As we got to know Scotty better we began to see him more from the inside than from the outside.

At the tournament Scotty was going to perform in a category called forms where a person is judged on power, speed, and balance as they execute kicks, punches and blocks in a choreographed individual routine. Scotty, who boldly entered in a teen category, fared not too well. Teenagers with strong bodies were tough competition and Scotty didn’t come close to winning a medal.

During the course of the day his American teammates did well and Scotty was the first one there to congratulate them. He shared in the excitement of other teammates victory even though he hadn’t been able to win anything himself. Later that afternoon there was another division for the teenage Black Belts to compete in. The self defense division was a competition where an individual would defend himself against an attacker.
The same standards were required as before, speed, power and balance. Scotty had passed on competing in a handicap division, saying, “That was for people with real challenges”!

The division was under way and Scotty was ready. There were many other contests going on in the auditorium but when Scotty went up it seemed that everyone stopped what they were doing to watch. Here Scotty went, awkwardly walking up to the judges to introduced himself and his partner. The judges nodded with approval signifying that it was all right to step back and begin. As Scotty and his partner began I saw a change. Scotty stood a little straighter, his eyes became as focused as a laser beam, his face was deadly serious and then the attacker came at him.

A punch was launched at his face and he used a crutch to block it away and then turned it into a strike doubling his opponent over. The audience just gasped! The attacker rose again and again but the deft strokes of Scotty’s crutches blocked and struck again with unerring precision. After about a minute of constant attacks Scotty’s finalized his defense by sweeping his attackers legs out from under him and pinned him to the ground with a crutch.

Silence, not a word or sound from any one.

Then it began. Clapping. More clapping. Then a thunderous roar of clapping resounded from the rafters. All the Black Belt teenagers in his competition ran over and started hugging Scotty like a long lost brother.
The kids hoisted him up onto their shoulders and paraded him around like he was Babe Ruth hitting a homerun to win the world series. The applause went on for fifteen minutes straight.

That weekend we got to hang around with the World Cup Black Belt self defense gold medalist. We called him Champ but he said we could call him Scotty.

My Grappling Tournament

2010-02-28T14:22:00.007-05:00

Post NAGA
Well here we go. Silver medal at the NAGA tournament. The divisions were small so I was upgraded from intermediate to advanced. It was a fun match but I lost by two points. It was a long day waiting (just like the karate tournaments) and I must have warmed up twenty times before my division actually started.
In my lifetime have competed in over 200 karate tournaments. Some weekends we competed in two. I remember one Saturday on Long Island (Joyce Santamaria) and then a Sunday (Butch Marino) back in Connecticut. I even competed in Europe and Australia as well as all over the USA. My last tournament was in Maui around five years ago. I won trophies in sparring, forms and weapons. I watched a grappling tournament a year ago to see how it was run and it looked like fun so I thought; let’s try something new.
I was surprised how jittery I was in anticipation. I guess watching all the UFC shows didn’t help. The match was four minutes long and I should have prepped more with that short time frame in mind. When the match started we ended up in a randori position grabbing the gi. I moved him around some because of my strength. He attempted two takedowns and I was able to counter. We moved around some and down we went. I was able to get him in my guard although watching the video I didn’t establish a closed guard. I had him in a Kimura but was unable to finish. I did manage to roll him, we scrambled and he ended up in my half guard. I again had the Kimura but did not have the opportunity/position to crank it. His position was dominant to mine and he scored points.
I should have changed positions and tried another strategy but I lost track of the time and the match was over. It was fun, I felt I was prepared and now I have a better idea on how to adapt to sport BJJ. I am ready for the next one!

2002 Karate Memories

2010-02-28T10:15:00.002-05:00

Click here to view these pictures larger

Grappling Tournament

2010-01-25T23:14:00.002-05:00

In all the years I have been training I have always looked for new opportunities to learn and grow. This summer we will travel to South Korea for training and touring. In 2 weeks I will attend a Brazilian Jiu Jutsu tournament to grapple.

I used to compete regularly in karate tournaments and did quite well. I have competed all over the country and across the globe. This will be my first grappling tournament. I have been training specifically for these type of matches and feel very prepared. Most of all I am looking forward to a new way to have fun and meet new practitioners. Many of my friends have come through tournaments like this. This will be something out of my comfort zone and I am very excited. Stay tuned for the results.

Korea 2010

2009-11-28T15:12:00.005-05:00

A message from Kwan Jang Nim Sgro
Tang Soo Do "Founding Fathers Tour -
Korea 2010" in August

Hi All,

I'm sure you've heard about the Korea 2010 trip. I'd like to write this e-mail from a personal point of view to the senior students of SKTSD and the USG:

Kwan Jang Nim Voelker and myself were the ones who initiated this trip. We took a trip to Korea in 2007 to start setting this up. We were fortunate because Kwan Jang Nim Song Ki Kim and Kwan Jang Nim Ho Sik Pak liked the idea and ran with it. Kwan Jang Nim Voelker and myself put this trip together because we knew many of our senior students expressed a desire to "go to Korea" but it was more like a "dream".

We took action and were able to mobilize the entire World Dang Soo Do Union and the US Goodwill Tang Soo Do Association. I've personally been to Korea three times. I can say I look forward to this up and coming trip as I know it will really be amazing. We will have access to the most Senior Tang Soo Do Kwan Jang Nims (the Seniors of my teacher, KJN Song Ki Kim). I really don't want you to miss this because, having been the one who conceived of this trip - because of the size and magnitude of work in putting a trip like this together, I can honestly say. in my lifetime, I don't see a trip like this happening again. (I sure as heck wont tackle this one again!) I can't stress this enough - "this is a once in a lifetime trip!"

The "Tang Soo Do Founding Fathers Tour - 2010" will really be a great. We'll be staying in 5 Star Hotels, visiting all the great sites of Korea, training on exotic beaches, seeing "magazine cover quality" waterfalls, and visiting with the few remaining Senior Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Kwan Jang Nims still alive in Korea (connecting with our roots). This amazing event will take place from 4-12 Aug 2010. There will be a Dan Certificate Ceremony for Students who'd like to receive Certification from the World Dang Soo Do Union.

Words like "spectacular and amazing" (though often over used!) really wont describe this trip. This will truly be a "once in a lifetime trip" and I don't want you to miss it! Check out the link below and if you're considering on going - Shoot me a quick e-mail. I'll touch base with you regarding the various up and coming fundraising that we'll be doing to reduce the trip expense by as much as 50% (Kick-A-Thons, Yard Sales, Car Washes, Fundraiser's).

I'm really looking forward to being able to take a trip to the birthplace of Tang Soo Do with a group of senior students from SKTSD, USGTSDA, and the WDU. The last trip to Korea was 1995 (15 yrs ago), the one before that was 1989 (20 yrs ago). For a Tang Soo Do practitioner, this truly will be a "once in a lifetime trip".

We hope you can come.

Master Bogdanski

Great Grandmaster

2009-10-21T23:49:00.004-04:00

My teacher
Great Grandmaster Song Ki Kim
www.wdsdu.com

He has dedicated his life to the teaching of the traditional Korean Martial Art of Tang Soo Do.

· He has over 50 years experience of Tang Soo Do. (Dan #312)

· He started teaching in 1956.

· He was an Instructor of the Korean military army brigade at Osan, Korea in 1957.

· He founded the Tang Soo Do School at Osan US Air Force base(K-55) in Korea in March 1958.

· He founded the Tang Soo Do Regional headquarters at Kyoung Ki province of Korea in January 31, 1960.

· Over a thousand of his former students have become top Masters and Grand Masters around the world.

· He is currently the World Dang Soo Do Union President.

- Instructor to Chuck Norris

and a great golfer.

The Essence of Tang Soo Do

2009-09-27T23:56:00.003-04:00

The art of Tang Soo Do involves the development of the mind and the body. There are three areas of development that we focus on in our training: Neh Gung (Internal Energy), Weh Gung (External Energy) and Shim Gung (Mental/Spiritual Energy). Neh Gung can be considered our breath during our technique, Weh Gung is our body’s action (use of hip) and Shim Gung is our attitude; our discipline (Moo Do). Our Founder, Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee, introduced a systematic and scientific method of training to enable us to realize our full potential. Through this system, each area builds on the next and is progressively more involved. Our art consists of the following training areas:

* Ki Cho (Basic Motions)
* Hyung (Forms)
* Il Soo Sik Dae Ryun (One Step Sparring)
* Ho Sin Sool (Self-Defense)
* Ja Yu Dae Ryun (Free Sparring)
* Kyok Pa (Breaking)
* Moo Pahl Dan Khum (Breathing/Energy Exercises)

Ki Cho (Basic Motions)

There are many factors that make our Moo Duk Kwan style very unique under our Founder, Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee. One factor is our unique way to emphasize the use of hip (Hu Ri). The use of hip is extremely important in helping you to understand coordination of speed, power and balance. Proper use of hip will help you achieve higher levels in your training and in other physical activities that you may become involved with in the future.

To understand this unique aspect the first step in our training is to break down this application and apply its philosophy in basic hand (Blocking/Punching) and foot techniques (Kicking). As a result the use of hip is broken down into defense and offensive hip. The techniques used are taken from our Hyung (Forms). This basic process will aid in our understanding of the techniques that are later applied in more difficult situations. Ki Cho is the foundation of the techniques in Tang Soo Do.

Hyung (Forms)

Ancient people had a deep interest in the development of forms as well as a profound understanding of them. Below is a quote from the Moo Yei Do Bo Tong Ji, which is the oldest documentation of Korean Martial Arts (300 Years), the author is unknown:

"Performing with hands and feet and conditioning the body is the beginning of the study of the art of Tang Soo Do. In actual combat, form does not seem in an obvious way to be a necessary part of the martial arts. However practicing forms perfects the ability to perform hand and foot techniques freely. This is fundamental to making the best use of one's body at all times."

Basic to all martial arts is this: After the basic movements are learned they are applied to and transformed into forms. As established, traditional and clearly defined sets of steps, jumps, blocks, kicks and punches, each of the forms in our art has a unity and purposed. The elements which make up the character or personality of a form are as follows:

1. Form Sequence
2. Power Control
3. Tension and Relaxation
4. Speed and Rhythm Control
5. Direction of Movements
6. Spirit or Attitude
7. Power of Technique
8. Understanding Form Technique
9. Distinctive Features of the Form
10. Perfect Finish
11. Precision of Movements
12. Intentness

These twelve elements may be used as a basis for evaluating a form and for the study of its improved performance.

The Hyung of Tang Soo Do were influenced by Ryu, or styles. One style is Weh Ga Ryu (Outside/External House Style). Weh Ga Ryu came from Southern Chinese Schools emphasizing speed, aggressiveness and dynamic action. Examples of the Weh Ga Ryu style are the Gi Cho Hyung, Pyung Ahn Hyung, and Passai. Another Ryu is Neh Ga Ryu (Inside/Internal House Style). Neh Ga Ryu came from Northern Chinese Schools emphasizing more deliberate technique, stability and fluid motion. Most of our advanced Hyung come from the Neh Ga Ryu, such as Nai Han Ji. The last Ryu is the Joong Gan Ryu (Middle Way Style) This Ryu was a Korean influence due to the fact that they had to be versatile because of the threat of living between China and Japan. The traditional Soo Bahk Hyung like the Yuk Ro Hyung and Chil Sung Hyung come from this style.

The types of moves in a Hyung are important to the character also. These techniques often represent something from nature. By symbolizing an animal in our Hyung we show a respect for nature, as we should for all life.
Il Soo Sik Dae Ryun (One Step Sparring)

Il Soo Sik Dae Ryun is pre-planned sparring with a partner that helps develop balance, focus and distance control. Through this area of training you will develop many effective combinations before being introduced to Free Sparring. When you begin Free Sparring, it will be easier for you to perform the techniques required. Il Soo Sik Dae Ryun is performed in a formal manner with a proper start, execution of the technique and a proper finish. It involves the following ceremony:

* Bow to your partner from the attention position
* Jhoon Bee (Ready Stance) together
* Measure distance
* Junior side challenges with Ha Dan Mahk Kee (Low Block) and proper Ki Hap
* Senior side response with Ki Hap
* Junior side performs Sang Dan Kong Kyuk (High Punch)
* Senior side defends attack performing Il Soo Sik exercise
* Both sides Ba Ro (Return to Ready Stance) together upon completion

Bowing to our partner (Sang Ho Kan E Kyung Ret) is of the utmost importance as it shows the Respect and Discipline that comprise one of our 5 Moo Do Values. Our training involves potentially dangerous techniques and without respect and discipline the techniques may be used in a negative manner. The physical action of bowing shows the constant mental awareness and concentration required, as well as respect towards yourself, your partner and towards the art.
Ho Sin Sool (Self-Defense)

Ho Sin Sool has been taught in Tang Soo Do classes since the Founder established the Moo Duk Kwan in 1945. Ho Sin Sool can be translated as follows:

* Ho: Protection, Defense
* Sin: One’s own body (Yourself)
* Sool: Technique

Ho Sin Sool begins with awareness of your surroundings, circumstances and potential threatening situations. With proper awareness a conflict should be prevented long before a physical confrontation takes place. Typically, the defender is grabbed and pulled in a variety of ways as a result; the defender needs to work in close quarters to escape the attack (grab or various weapons). The purpose of Ho Sin Sool is to subdue attackers (redirect aggressive force) using minimal physical power that could be much larger/stronger than you. "You can face danger with courage, but you need to have techniques to defend yourself."

Ho Sin Sool should use the energy of your partner against them. In most situations, when your attacker pushes, you pull away and if they pull, you push. The defender should understand the importance of striking quickly while maintaining the highest level of Shim Gung (Mental Energy). When put into submission the attacker should maintain shi sun (eyesight), good posture and move with the flow of energy for an overall harmonious demonstration.
Ja Yu Dae Ryun (Free Sparring)

Ja Yu Dae Ryun is designed to simulate real life-threatening combat. As a result this area is a great test of skill, as it demands not only mastery of individual techniques, but the ability to react and strategize skillfully against an aggressive attacker. Tactical knowledge of applications, as well as sensitivity towards the slightest change from full to empty in oneself and the attacker are of paramount importance. Ja Yu Dae Ryun may be practiced with a single partner, multiple partners, an attacker with a weapon or multiple armed attackers.

Kyuk Pa (Breaking)

Kyuk Pa is used primarily as a demonstration and test of striking and penetrating power. Wood, bricks, cement or tiles may be broken in Kyuk Pa, which is exhibited most often in formal testing. The simplicity of breaking makes it a popular choice for public demonstrations, as it conveys an aspect of technical pragmatism to an audience without any martial knowledge or experience. Any striking technique may be used for Kyok Pa, though generally the more sophisticated the technique, the more challenging the break.

Moo Pahl Dan Khum (Breathing/Energy Exercises)

Daily fitness exercises are part of the Asian culture, with hundreds or thousands of variations. These exercises called “Ki Gung” (Energy Cultivation) in Korean and “Chi Gung” in Chinese, fall into two major categories: Martial exercises which build health and increase ones power for self defense, and Scholarly exercises which are designed specifically for health. These exercises gently work the bones, ligaments, and muscles, as well as the internal organs, circulatory, immune, lymphatic and energy systems. The Moo Pahl Dan Khum are a set deep breathing exercises that mean the following:

* Moo: Military
* Pahl: Eight
* Dan: Level
* Khum: Of Value (Silk)

Moo Pahl Dan Khum and Moon Pahl Dan Khum are one such set of very old exercises developed to maintain health both internally and externally. They were originally based on an even older set of exercises called the Ship E Dan Khum (12 exercises). The Ship E Dan Khum were adapted by Marshal Yei, a famous Chinese military General, for his troops. They were divided into two sets, the Moo (Military) set of exercises and the Moon (Scholarly) set of exercises. The Moo Pahl Dan Khum consists of 8 standing exercises and the Moon Pahl Dan Khum consists of 8 sitting exercises.

Our Founder, Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee added the Moo Pahl Dan Khum exercises to Tang So Do Moo Duk Kwan's curriculum because he believed martial arts should be learned not only for self-defense, but also for the mental, physical and spiritual development.

Midnight Blue

2009-08-14T23:04:00.001-04:00

The Philosophy of the Midnight Blue Belt

The way of life of a martial artist is dynamic. As we learn new concepts and skills, our DO (way of life) is slightly revised to take into consideration the implication of what we have learned. Sometimes this revision is not slight, but is sweeping across all aspects of our lives.

Midnight Blue is worn as a symbol of the wearer's humility and reminds one that perfection cannot be attained.

The Tang Soo Do philosophy considers "black" as a color which does not get darker therefore symbolizing an ending or death, which contradicts the Tang Soo Do philosophy.

Midnight blue symbolizes the knowledge which has been absorbed, but it is not so dark that it cannot absorb more color (knowledge). Thus, the midnight blue belt is seen only as a new beginning, where a student may continue to learn and refine their technique, and begin to gain greater insight into their art.

Midnight blue symbolizes many things; Water, which is necessary for life and growth, the autumn sky, which represents harvest time and the seasons, and much more positive ideals, which are in harmony with the Tang Soo Do philosophy. Midnight Blue is not better than Black, it just represents the Tang Soo Do philosophy more appropriately.

. The solid midnight blue belt is worn for 1st thru 3rd dans, with white stripes on the left end of the belt to indicate rank. For 4th dan (master level) and above, a midnight blue belt with a red stripe all the way through the center is worn. The red is supposed to put fire back in the Black Belt, motivating them to keep training.

Ninja Master Felix Vasques

2009-07-13T00:05:00.002-04:00

Shihan Felix Vasques- One of the greatest martial artists I have ever seen. Over my decades of training I have worked with many martial arts instructors. I have rarely seen any one individual with as much knowledge as Shihan.

His depth in self defense is unsurpassed. Weaponry, karate, jiu jutsu, kickboxing, ninjutsu, he does it all. And the quality of his students, just unbelievable! This video will give you a small snapshot of his skills. Training with Shihan Vasques transformed the way I learned and taught martial arts. His mentoring has had a great impact on how we train. In 1999 I competed in the World Cup in Hungary and won a gold medal in self defense- using the techniques I learned from Ninjutsu Grandmaster Shihan Felix Vasques.

A Message From Thailand!

2009-04-20T22:15:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. B,

I'm raising my mug to you this evening...

I have on of the most successful English Learning centers in the city of Udon Thani... and the credit for my business success goes to you. You taught me so much more than Karate, thanks for taking me under your wing and teaching me how to run and market a successful business.

Top 5 things you taught me:

-Make your business a social event where friends and family come to catch up with their friends.... or make new friends

-Bring a friend coupons... (best business idea in the world)

-physiology is some 70% of the message, voice quality 20 and content 10... and praise correct praise, raise the bar (I never forgot... nobody else ever taught me that in all the leadership and teaching classes I ever took)

-black belt excellence in everything, even the window washer with the squeegee

-inspire your students/customers to have self-confidence... teach them about values and bravery... help them to be the people that they really want to be. That sir, is not only something worth living for or even dedicating a whole life to, but it also nets wonderful amounts of profit at the same time.

Every few years, I find myself feeling truly indebted to you ... and once again, now that I'm a business man and a teacher... I find myself thinking, "Wow, Mr. B. taught me that too."

Your Student,

Shawn R. Veltheim

Thanks Mr Veltheim!

Eric Breuer

2009-01-21T23:06:00.003-05:00

Grandmaster Eric Breuer

This is a bio of a good friend. He has multiple Black Belts and even one from Chuck Norris! We have had advanced training and Black Belt certification in his Universal way.

Martial Arts Champion

2008-12-26T22:12:00.002-05:00

Superstar Cory Lutkus is a national karate champion and is only 16! This 3rd degree Black Belt came to the school and wowed everyone with his teaching and performance skills. He is very mature and confident and a masterful teacher who really motivated the students to reach new levels. Watch carefully as he does a back flip and almost kicks the fan!

We are grateful to have this young superstar teaching at our school.

Junior Black Belts

2008-12-11T00:01:00.002-05:00

For years we have deliberated the idea of a "child" Black Belt.

We used to teach kids the same as adults. We knew that they couldn't learn the same as adults but we tried to ram the material down their throats anyway. Once in a great while we would get a gifted child that could hang in there and get to Black Belt while in the meantime we made it mostly impossible for them to succeed in an adult curriculum. Kids couldn't match adults in technique and should not be expected to. Well it took many years to figure out how to teach them better but I think we finally figured it out.

While in college I studied child psychology but had not translated it to our martial arts teaching. Now we have designed a "Junior" Black Belt rank that lets kids that train hard and practice a lot the opportunity to make a rank that is a condensed version of our adult Black Belt. After this promotion they will continue training to learn the remainder of our adult curriculum to become a full fledged adult Black Belt. This photo is of our first group to be awarded the rank of Junior Black Belt.

Congratulations!

Kwan Jang Nim Bogdanski

Newest Sa Bom

2008-09-28T23:29:00.004-04:00

Congratulations Master Duethorn!

After many years of hard training, thousands of repetitions of forms, techniques, situps and pushups, selfless devotion, dedication to the school and loyal service, Kristin Duethorn was promoted to 4th Dan in Tang Soo Do. She is also very skilled in Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Aikido, boxing and kickboxing. We are proud of you.

First You Tube Effort

2008-06-20T06:31:00.001-04:00

The Old Days And The New Days

2008-04-27T09:42:00.003-04:00

Here I am on the cusp of another birthday. No not sweet sixteen but fabulous fifty five. It seems like just the other day I was a green belt, still finding my way, wanting to learn that next form, still trying to get in shape and ready to spar whoever was in front of me. Now here I am nearly fourty years later still feisty, wanting to learn that next form and last night sparred very hard against a group of Black Belt candidates with my last match against a twenty eight year old in
peak physical condition.

When I was a kid I remember thinking my Dad seemed old at this age. He often took a nap on weekend afternoons and seemed to have a slower pace about him. I never could have imagined my father doing what I did yesterday. I guess we don’t always become our parents. I think in my case I have just had a lifetime habit of training and never stopped. There is still a teenager inside of me that keeps my mind on a positive track, and makes me think- where is the next fun thing I can do?

Last night was our Black Belt physical challenge testing. It is a training where we push ourselves physically through running, pushups, situps and sparring-hard sparring. I believe that this is also a peak emotional challenge for students to push themselves way past their usual expectations.

Treating kids different- Yes I think so. If we were to see kids in non karate clothes we would have a different expectation of them than if they donned their doboks. Now we will treat them different again because they will be wearing the coveted rank of Black Belt. We can see for certain these kids are destined for greatness because they know what hard work really is.

Breaking the old stereotypes.

Mr. Sullivan (aka “The Professor”) celebrated his fifty second birthday during the testing for third degree Black Belt. He is in every way admired for his physical performance (even with knee problems), his caring and helpful attitude to others in the school and his mentorship of all students he comes in contact with. He is a modern day samurai with his highest skill level in his character and how he passes this skill through his leadership.

Women in martial arts.

From the girls to the teens and women in our school we see only the best balance of gender and age. Mrs. Ciquera (whose husband is a Black Belt) exemplifies determination and spirit and all around growth in the field of martial arts. A working Mom of three continues to attack life in every way and inspires me with her inner strength. My mothers influence as a strong and driven woman makes appreciate the modern day matriarchs in our society breaking ground for future generations of females. Way to go Mrs. Ciquera!

We could not be prouder of you all!

Master Bogdanski

Tang Soo Do

2008-04-06T20:17:00.002-04:00

Kicho Hyung

Basic Form TSD Kwang Jan Nim

(Gicho) Hyung Il Bu
(Gicho) Hyung Ee Bu
(Gicho) Hyung Sam Bu

The Kicho Hyung were developed as a basic, simple form for beginner learning the art of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. The symbol for the Kicho Hyung is a human baby learning to walk. The pattern is used in the increasingly complex forms that follow. These forms were used by the Grandmaster to teach applications of the basic moves and techniques. These forms are influenced by the We Ga Ryu style of southern China. These and the Pyung Ahn forms to follow are characterized by speed, aggressiveness, dynamic action, and quick reaction

Pyung Ahn Hyung

The pyung ahn hyung are a series of five forms cognate in many ways to the pinan kata series of karate. Creator: Mr. Idos, Okinawan Master Date: 1870 approximately Place: Ha Nam area of China (south

Pyung means well balanced, calm, and peaceful and Ahn means safe, confident, and comfortable. These forms were reorganized from their original style (called "Jae-Nam") in approximately 1870 to their present style. These forms show the influence of the southern China martial art style.

The Pyung Ahn Hyungs are often referred to as the "turtle forms". The turtle is well balanced, calm, and peaceful (pyung) and with its shell as its major means of defence, the turtle likely feels safe, confident, and comfortable (ahn).

The name Moo Duk Kwan means "School of Martial Virtue"

Moo – military, chivalry, martial; within the ideograph the inner part of the symbol is the word for "stop" and the outer part means "weapon"
Duk – benevolence, virtue, goodness, commanding respect; within the ideograph on the left it means "little steps" or "to happen", and on the right the character means "moral"; thus moral steps or perhaps virtuous conduct
Kwan – large building, palace, library; again within the ideograph the left part looks like a roofed building and technically means "to eat" (under a roof).

Do kids belong in martial arts?

2007-11-30T23:44:00.001-05:00

When I began karate classes in 1969 there were no kids in class. No kids even tried to come. There were a few teens like myself training but generally it was men and an occasional woman who wanted to train very physically.

There were no pads, just bare knuckle sparring (until we thought about using boxing gloves). When I began teaching on my own it was just after the karate kid movie came out. My class was designed for adults and I didn't even take kids. I had a friend beg me to take his son because he desperately wanted to take martial arts so I gave in. We put him through the paces and he kept up. Eventually he turned into a talented teen and became my first Black Belt.

These days we have tons of kids in class, kids of all ages. There are definitely benefits for students of all ages. From the tiny tigers to the adults we can all improvement from the mental, physical and emotional training. I love watching the kids as they accomplish in all these areas and especially love watching them become teens and adults who excel in martial arts.

Mike Bogdanski
www.martialart-skills.com

School Visits

2007-11-24T08:56:00.000-05:00

Over the years I have visited many schools and watched classes as well as trained with many great instructors. Recently I was in Los Angeles and I traveled to the Inosanto academy in Marina Del Rey. Inosanto was the protege of Bruce Lee back in the 60's and 70's. He has become one of the foremost authority's on Bruce Lee's system of Jeet Kune Do.

Many guest instructors that have visited our school have often commented how nice our facility is and we have tried our best to have a professional training facility. After visiting the Inosanto Academy I was able to compare our school, children's classes and adult classes and feel that we have achieved a top place in the martial arts world. Honestly, I felt I was going to view some magical experience, super training facility and world class students. I think that our school would rate high in comparison in all these areas. I can see that every facility needs to be clean and bright, but the instructors need to be skilled in not only martial arts but in motivating their students to do their best.

What is the biggest room in the world?
The room for improvement!

The Tang Soo Do Internationals

2007-11-01T00:16:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to let everyone know how proud I am of these super students!

Cool video/web site

2007-10-01T22:46:00.000-04:00

Brazilian Jiu Jutsu- the hottest thing to hit the planet in the martial arts world. Here is a bjj technique that will amaze you. John Will and David Meyer are our coaches in grappling. You can check out their site, www.grappling.us.

Partner Training

2007-08-28T22:41:00.001-04:00

Everybody needs a training partner and I bet Matt Hughes has many. I am lucky to have Mrs. Duethorn as a workout partner. She motivates, she sets a great pace and has high standards and is never shy about helping me do my best.

There have been stages in my life that training was a chore. Achy knees, loss of motivation and stress can be debilitating to maximum training. Over the years I manage to do some workouts because I have to, and others because I want to but training will always make you feel better. Some days are tough but I still manage.

I encourage all martial artists to stay training and make it fun for your self. Do forms becasue it is a personal challenge mentally and physically. Point spar, wrestle, grapple, box or MMA style sparring can all be fun and keep you training. Do it at a pace that is manageable, keeps you learning and part of your martial arts family. My students have forced me to be a better teacher. They keep learning and keep wanting more!

Committ to being a life long student and you can't go wrong. Find a great training partner, a nurturing school and the right atmosphere and you can train and have fun. Use Tom Callos philosophy- It's all self defense to me- self defense against apathy, against pollution against poverty- fight the good fight...

Friends input

2007-06-17T23:50:00.000-04:00

Hello Everyone,
I hope that you had a great weekend. I want to share a wonderful opportunity and learning experience that was meeting Master Mike Bogdanski this past Friday.

Last week while looking at the discussions on the group, Master Bogdanski send out a message asking if there was anyone in the Sierra Vista area and I responded with my contact information and so forth.

After a few calls and coordination Master Bogdanski came to our humble school and after the proper introduction he took the floor and WOW, he was amazing!

He shared personal stories and experiences, techniques, talked about bullying, dedication and how the 7 tenets impact what we do in our daily lives. Everyone watching or participating in the class (me included), was touched and energized by him. This will hopefully, will give them the drive to excel in life as well as in martial arts.

I want to thank him for taking the time to visit and spent time with us and for the friendship and fellowship and to the parents, students and supporters that participated.
TANG SOO!

If you ever have the opportunity to meet him, you’ll see what I’m talking about. He is a member of the group, and you can contact him thru his website.

Samurai Latino

Hi everyone, Mike Bogdanski was here all last week doing anti-bully seminars at 9 public schools. During his stay in South Texas he treated us to training and teaching a few days at our school. Just a couple observations. Invite Mike to your school.

We learned a wealth of information from him. When you teach for a long time the same way it's quite refreshing to listen and learn different methodologies of teaching, explaining, disciplining, and telling stories that make the point. This Thursday Mr. Juan Carlos Nava will be here doing the same thing. Mike is very knowledgable, kind, funny, he has a command of the English language. Great job Mike, we look forward to having you here again.

David Borowitz

MMA Influence

2007-06-17T23:24:00.000-04:00

Here we are receiving our blue belts in Machado Jiu Jutsu. Our instructor, Brian Johnson of Seattle Washington did the testing. (Me, Brian, Kristin Duethorn and David Salisbury after six hours of testing and rolling)

Photo with UFC president Dana White.

MMA is everywhere. HBO show entourage featured Chuck Liddell, Spike had a show that featured Randy Couture- you can't escape it.

I began boxing at age 10- 1963 with my fifth grade teacher Rollie Pier, a pro boxer. I went throught the choppy weak sparring of the 70's, started kickboxing in the 80's, more point sparring and now have made the evolution to MMA style sparring with my Black Belt class.

This grappling with boxing has made me feel like I have come full circle with the boxing I learned as a kid. Some of it has stuck but I really need to smooth out these skills too.

One thing I am struggling with are the wrestling takedowns. Never having any wrestling in high school I am only now working with a wrestling coach to improve my performance. Here I am at age 54 and a beginner again!

Progress

2006-12-09T23:49:00.000-05:00

Over ten years ago I had my first Brazilian Jiu jutsu experience. It was just a short time after the first UFC and I got a chance to train with Rickson Gracie. I felt like a beginner again. It was cool and scary as he swung me into an arm bar. Yes, I tapped immediately!

Here it is years later, BJJ is mainstream and I am completing my preparation for blue belt testing. Sometime this coming year Kristin Duethorn, David Salisbury and I will be testing for our blue belts under David Meyer a Machado BJJ Black Belt.

I have had many instructors over my 35+ years of training but I still think of my first teacher Jose Deguzman. He passed away a few years ago but I hope I am still making him proud of me. Thank you Sensei for instilling a love of martial arts in me.

Always a student....

Training our students to Black Belt

2006-11-05T19:39:00.000-05:00

We just promoted seven new students to First degree Black Belt. During the last few months we put them through lots of training, enduring the physical parts of the training but also feeling the emotional and mental stress of this achievement.

Some nights after these classes I occasionally felt like we may have been too tough. Yes, there were the usual bumps bruises and dings. Sometimes some tears and frustration too. I came across this story and thought it would be appropriate to pass it on here.

The cocoon story
A man found a cocoon of an emperor moth. He took it home so that he could watch the moth come out of the cocoon. On the day a small opening appeared, he sat transfixed for several hours as the moth struggled to force its body through that little hole.

But it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could go. It just seemed to be stuck. So the man, in his kindness, decided to help the moth. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The moth then emerged easily.
Unfortunately it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the moth because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and become able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! In fact, the little moth spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not anticipate was that the restriction of the cocoon and the moth's struggle to get free were a necessary preparation for life outside the cocoon.

Freedom and flight could only come after that struggle.

By depriving the moth of its struggle, he deprived the moth of its chance to thrive.
Sometimes struggles are what we need in our lives too. Avoiding the opportunity to overcome our struggles just might cripple us too.

Work hard, keep your motivation high, focus on the fun parts- don't give up!

MB

Your best students

2006-09-19T23:56:00.000-04:00

Seems like you have someone around you for a long time, you can take them for granted. One of our senior instructors, Mr. Salisbury (third dan) has been a student for many years and is being considered for ko dan ja (master teacher) promotion. He always leads from the front, trains hard, and teaches as many classes as he can. He is fundamental in all aspects of our school development.

I guess I can say he was always there for the students but I was not always there for him. So I decided to give senior Black Belts private training each month as sign of appreciation and to continue to develop the people who really want too to be great, not just good. We spent quality training time together and I saw some great changes come over him.
To Mr. Salisbury- Keep up the great work!

Black Belt Feedback from the Professor

2006-07-22T10:05:00.000-04:00

There are a lot of reasons why I continue to train.

I love the respectful, positive atmosphere at the school. It's something I think the world could use a lot more of. I enjoy working with the other students and I love the way we all interact--respectfully, supportively, helping each other meet our personal challenges and goals. I've made some great friends through your school, and I enjoy the people I regularly train with, like Mrs. Harris and Mr. Huber.

There is even some fear involved (which I think is a good thing since the challenges we are given are carefully selected and related to our skill level), and being able to confront our fears (often with the help of others) is very important for a lot of different reasons (only some having to do with karate/for me they are related to life skills and developing a positive outlook on the challenges I face each day in life).

I have called on the courage I have developed at your school in all sorts of ways, most recently last summer when my father was in and out of the hospital with heart problems. There were many days during that long ordeal when I went into my heart and called up the courage that you and the school put there. It got me through some very difficult days. For that and for many other things, I wish to thank you.

I like the physical challenges as well. I love to be active and moving around, and I take great pleasure doing a kick or punch or combination well. (That doesn't happen as often as I would like, but still there are moments when I feel like I've really done something well and that makes me very happy).

I also think there are all sorts of long-term health benefits related to staying active and getting up and doing something other than watching TV. My children are old enough now so that they don't miss me all that much on the nights that I'm gone--so it's something I can do and still maintain a positive balance with other areas of my life. =:)I also enjoy being in the situation of a learner.

As a teacher, I find that very refreshing. It also reminds me what it's like to be a student, and I think it helps me be a more patient and understanding classroom teacher. Being a learner also releases me from being a teacher for a while, which I also find very refreshing. There are tremendous mental health benefits for me also. I come in and pretty much lose myself to karate for two hours twice a week. Sometimes it takes me 30 minutes (or longer) after class to even remember that I have problems to worry about.

In the rhythm of my week, my Tuesday and Thursday nights have become essential in that regard.I also feel safer walking around in the world, knowing that I at least have a chance to defend myself should an altercation arise. I think my family also feels safer. There have been many times when we've been walking around somewhere and they've said something like "Hey, we don't have to worry. We're with a black belt!" I know that to some degree they're kidding around, but on another level they're probably not (they're thinking about where we are and are worried a little bit).

On a number of occasions I know this has given them comfort and peace of mind.I also continue to train because of your great instructors, especially Mrs. Duethorn, Mr. Salisbury, and Griz. They have all been incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and motivating.Probably the biggest reason that I continue to train is you, Mr. B. I have been to many karate schools when I was younger and didn't particularly like any of them (although I endured one for almost two years). After the first week in your school I felt like I was "home." That was literally how I felt. You are a gifted teacher in all sorts of ways: Great karate skills, excellent interpersonal skills, strong sense of humor and fun and yet you can "put the hammer" down as well. You are also an excellent motivator and an eloquent speaker. I'm also amazed by your ability to keep things "new"--we never do the same thing twice and when we come in we never really know what we might be doing. I think that keeps people fresh and on their toes.

I know that you probably wanted a shorter answer to this question, so I apologize for running on so long! Thank you for being who you are. It has been a pleasure to train with you all these years (six and counting!).Keep up the great work and see you later today!--Pat

Advanced Training

2006-05-30T23:18:00.000-04:00

Even after many years in martial arts teaching, I still love learning. Recently we had a chance to travel to North Carolina to train with Master Sgro. Master Sgro is a long time martial artist and has a deep knowledge of Tang Soo Do. As a forms aficionado he has great details of all hyung as well as the history, breathing and application knowledge.

During our trip Master Sgro moved his school to a new location, video taped his curriculum, put on a tournament, did gup testing, dan testing and Master level testing, hosted a demonstration and trained over a dozen Black Belts all week long. Multi tasking does not even begin to describe his week.

Some days we began training at 8am and some nights it was 10pm when we changed out of our uniforms. The days just flew by. I have a need for more depth of knowledge and Master Sgro can deliver. He makes learning fun and training with a huge group of Black Belts who just want to get it right gives everyone energy and motivation to keep plugging away.

Through all the years at different functions I have met the nicest people. One of Master Sgro's Black Belts (John Carte) is a special forces instructor. He took us on a tour of Fort Bragg, what a great experience. It made me feel proud of the people who serve in the military and what a commitment they make. Touring the 82nd airborne museum was very interesting. I sat on the testing board and the man promoted to Master Belt level is a Lt. Colonel in the Green Beret's. He presented all the Masters with a gift, a green Beret logoed knife. Very appreciated.

It was fun for Mrs. Duethorn to have this experience as a Black Belt and instructor to see the inner workings and different personality of someone else's school. Of course she ate up all the new training!

What a great experiences we can have in life if we just reach out and grab them. Thanks to Master Sgro and all the great folks at San Kil Tang Soo Do.

Spring

2006-04-16T23:58:00.000-04:00

Spring is here. It seems with every one of New England's four seasons our training encounters some changes too.

Last week when the weather heated up our advanced class slowed down. Many students were MIA- I think they were a little nervous about the higher temperatures. I know it takes me a little adjustment getting used to higher temp's too. Little by little our bodies will accomodate the extra heat. Just like in the cold of winter we need a little more time to warm up, the spring and summer heat takes a little getting used to, so we don't melt away with a high level of training.

I personally feel more motivated to train harder in the warm weather. It's easier to jump start a workout without a prolonged warm up.

Train Hard, be loyal and dedicated!

BJJ testing

2006-03-29T21:24:00.000-05:00

Sunday we began our 5 hours of mid term testing for Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jutsu. Black Belt David Meyer has flown in for the weekend. Mr Salisbury, Mrs Duethorn and I have been logging many hours in preparing for this testing. In the last 2 weeks I have trained around 20 hours of BJJ in preparation. Any chance I got I had a few extra reps of practice in.

Mr Meyer can do it and teach it. Not only is he a world class competitor but his teaching is some of the best I have seen. He had us go from the basics to the advanced, working all the details and giving feedback. We have been grappling for many years but have never had such a high level of expectation from a teacher. I think he demands a high level of performance but he does it in a way that makes you want to excel and be the best you can.

Five hours later, after lots of positions and submissions, after we took a break (and all wrestled him during the rest period), we passed the testing. He had some nice praises for us and encouraged us to go out and try our hand at competition!

We will see. Another life challenge...
Blue belt final test at the end of the summer.
One step closer to Black Belt.

Training

2006-03-12T22:20:00.000-05:00

Here we are training nearly daily in Brazilian Ju Jutsu. I am preparing to take my mid term evaluation for my blue belt rank. I gave been training, training, training. Dozens of techniques, each with its subtleties. Every time I do a technique I fell like I know it a little better.

I am very happy to be learning and honing these techniques. After being in martial arts for 36 years it is easy to become stale. I remember a few years back when I felt like I wasn't learning anything new. I knew there was more to learn but between working and life there was not much time and sometimes not enough motivation. I am happy that the Black Belts have given me pressure (although maybe not intentionally) to learn new material.

This has been good for me, good for the students and good for the philosophy of the school. Many thanks to all, who in many ways, have helped.

8/15/05

2005-08-15T22:08:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I was the best man for a longtime friend. Steve Best and I have known each other since we were 18 years old. He is one of the hardest working Black Belts I have ever seen. He has inspired me to always do better than I think I can and to always do the right thing as a friend.

At age 31, while doing forms at a graduation he suffered a major stroke. He was at deaths door but somehow found the strength to fight off this challenger. That stroke changed his life and challenged him as a fighter in many new ways. He continues to do martial arts, teaching and training. He even performs in tournaments in the handi-capable division with his cane and hi-level intensity.

One of my favorite saying is "When life gives you lemons; make lemonade."

Here's to you Master Best!

2005-08-03T22:00:00.000-04:00

Wow
What a Black Belt class last night.
It was our monthly street clothes class, where we put everything into a street combat situation. It was grueling. At the end of training and all the fights, I was tired. At age 52 I guess it may be a little tougher to hang with the twenty year olds.I will just have to train harder to overcome the aches, pains, bumps and bruises.
Only one other point. I love it. I never feel more alive until after the hard and serious training with a group of people that has such a high respect for each other.A little fun tomorrow night. I will bring the advanced class to the lake for some beach training!
All the best!
Mr B
Mike Bogdanski's Martial Arts
http://www.martialart-skills.com/

7/26/05

2005-07-26T23:47:00.000-04:00

Tuesday night

We started a new concept in stripe testing tonight. I love the concept of continued and never ending improvement. We are working hard on some of the second degree Black Belts that are readying to grade for 3rd Dan (3rd degree Black Belt). This journey seems tough (but rewarding). I know how hard it is to learn new material. I try to learn something new every week although I am not always successful.

Some days it seems like I have'nt ever trained. Backfists slow, footwork like I'm mired in mud and my muscles burning. But, all in all I'm still in the game and I always feel better whan I'm done. I always realize that this is just as much a mental conditioner as a physical one.

I really need to set up the web log for the other instructors to journal their experiences. I really believe it will help all the students to see the internal workings of Black Belts.

June 20, 2005

2005-06-20T22:18:00.000-04:00

Here is our newest addition to our web site, our instructors very own blog. Even with the worldwide popularity of the blog I never thought we might have one.

One of the worlds leading innovator/instructors, a man called Tom Callos, recommended that Black Belts keep a training log to make themselves accountable to themselves and our students. Journaling is an opportunity to share gains, losses, feelings, frustrations, passions, and victories. We want everyone to look at Black Belt as a journey and not a destination and to live like Black Belts every day.

This is the beginning of a new journey for Black Belts. Live every day with passion and committment, be a role model and a product of the product. We can become the modern day knights with our words, thoughts and actions.

Here's to the journey!

July 11, 2005
Well here it is - the truth and nothing but the truth. Sore, tired, achy and I feel great about it. After a weekend in the sun and waterskiing and tubing I admit I am a little stiff. At age 52 I plan to continue doing the things I did when I was 22. I just refuse to change. My achy breaky body disagrees some. Mrs Duethorn and I trained for about an hour today, doing bag work and some forms. I really felt the stiffness disappear there for a while. Like Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee says "If you don't use it, God takes it away". We also developed a little more of our Kali curriculum for the Black Belt classes.

This week is board breaking week at the school. I love to see our students challenge themselves to do something that they have never done before. It's all about the growth process. Many students received some uncomfortable feedback when their boards didn't break. They didn't quit and I couldn't be prouder.