Martial Arts Magazine Budo International 294 August 2015

" The clearest proof of wisdom is a continuous joy."

Michel de MONTAIGNE. or students who begin training in a martial art, it's not always easy to distinguish real gold from tinsel. Dust and straw go often hand in hand and separate them is not only a hard work, but also an almost impossible task if we don't have some basic coordinates to judge somebody, let alone in a matter that often we completely ignore. The issue is not trivial in a world that is full of counterfeiters, bungling, whippersnappers, bullies and liars, willing to take advantage of the naivety and ignorance of plain people.

Not less, and with no less guilt, are those who base their deception of others in their own self-deception, and go around convinced that they are the reincarnation of thundering Jupiter himself.

How do you know then whether or not someone is a true Master?

Some evidence to assess the true level and mastery of a person are easy to find for anyone, others less so.

Prominent amongst the first are those who characterize by acting in the negative way, i.e., a number of things that a true Master would never do or say and which I shall try to develop this text. You don't need any special knowledge to delete from your list to anyone who acts in this way. The second ones, on the contrary, require significant experience in the technical, philosophical and Martial ground, and will probably be of little use to a student when selecting and recognizing a true Master.

There is however a coincidental set of values ??and features in all those worthy of the designation, which I have been able to widely confirm among the experts I've met over the years that I have been serving as director of this magazine. I want my experience to serve those who honestly want to know who they are dealing with, on an issue that certainly will take much time and energy in their lives, and of which they can obtain tangible benefits if they have succeeded in choosing the right person.

Of course, humbleness is one of those features that every great Master possesses. But watch out! It doesn't mean that they don't have an ego. To become a master of whatever thing you must have an ego. Oh, yeah! And preferably a huge ego! The persistence and bitterness of the one who seeks perfection not only hide his great engine, his deficiencies, but also their inseparable counterpart, his excesses and claims that spur him on his ascent to finally reach the end where others fail. What happens is that in his evolution and practice he has polished himself in such a way that his ego is no longer present and it doesn't bother him or others any more.

Humbleness, sine qua non for any real teacher, shows two things: First, that a real Master knows enough to know that he knows very little and no matter how much he can get to know, it will always be nothing compared to the volume of his ignorance. Secondly: A real Master doesn't have to prove anything outside or convince anyone of anything, because he has the serenity and inner strength that has overcome the initial uncertainty that devours the common man.

Consequently, if anyone goes around flattering himself and blowing his own horn, he is not a truly great Master.

Whatever the skills he might have acquired in his training, these can never replace the huge achievement that underlies humility. When someone praises himself, he automatically degrades and disqualifies in the eyes of the

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world, even in the world of fools, which unfortunately are not few. Even the great Julius Caesar himself, who no doubt owned a phenomenal ego - well supported by very exceptional achievements, I must say -, had the decency to speak of himself in the third person... Well, maybe I have been too lenient, but if it was not for modesty, at least he had the intelligence to do so.

Moreover, great Masters do not speak ill of anyone. No. Not that they are saints or autistic; if you ask them for their opinion on something or someone, they'll give it to you and they will be undoubtedly sincere, but they refrain from commenting on their own initiative on other people. They act that way not because they have self-imposed such a custom, but because they don't go around judging people, much less scorning and disdaining others to degrade them and stay above them.

Great Masters often appreciate the positive in others, because they understand the unique and unrepeatable value of every being and that is often on what they naturally focus.

Thus they act naturally in a constructive way, providing loving and spontaneous brushstrokes in the canvas that each one of us paint in our existence. Their suggestions open unusual doors in the lives of others, because they value the whole and because they naturally live in a constant state of creativity beyond the formal molds.

Having reached the root of whatever thing, one necessarily understands the common origin of all beings; Perhaps that is why a great Master recognizes the virtue in the difference and understands the place that everything has in the vineyard of the Lord, abstaining from the exclusivism that characterizes the fanatic, unable to see the sky but through the opening of the hole in which he is stuck.

But the flexibility of a great Master is broadmindedness and in no way lack of rigor. On the contrary, Mastery brings along crystalline accuracy and practical certainty, fearlessness and total economy. This combination is what allows him to be fluid, and what is fluid neither becomes obsessed nor is stuck in any smallness, be it formally or personal.

A Master is self-assured and therefore he doesn't need to be applauded or worshipped, so he will never exalt himself or place himself higher than the others. He knows that there are many more factors uniting us than separating us, because he has a wide and generous vision. The authority that derives from a Master is natural and simple, never contrived or pompous. It's not the habit or the tonsures what makes a monk, but his life. Therefore, a great Master teaches by example, knowing for sure that it's the only thing that leaves a real imprint on the other, the only thing that is non-invasive and truly respectful of the world.

Everyone who walks strutting his conquests or achievements cannot be considered a great Master. To reach Mastery you must exceed the formal technique level and, once conquered, do without it. There are levels in this way and no story in my opinion expresses better this rank than the one about the hunter cats and the invincible mouse of the book "The Art of War", commented by Sanchez Quarter and this humble servant of you readers.

Shoken, an expert in the art of sword, was constantly bothered by a large mouse that wouldn't let him sleep. He invited the best cats around and his home became a combat arena. The result was always the same: cats, terrified by the attacks of the mouse, ended up fleeing among meows.

Shoken decided to kill the mouse. He attacked him with his saber, but the mouse dodged all the blows. He reinforced his thrusts, but the mouse was untouchable.

Bathed in sweat, he finally gave up. One day he heard of a cat that was reputed to be the best mouser in the province. When Shoken saw him, he lost all hope; it was black, old and had a sorry sight; but since he had nothing to lose, she took him to his room.

The cat walked slowly, as if nothing happened and lay down. The mouse, confident, came up to take a look and when he saw the cat, he began to doubt. He moved closer, slightly scared. The cat caught him and pulled him out of the room.

That same night, the cats who had participated in the struggle against the mouse met in Shoken's house and invited the old cat to preside over the assembly on Martial Arts.

A rooftop cat said: "I am the strongest, I have many techniques to catch mice; my claws and my jumps are powerful and have a lot of tricks, but the mouse was not like the others. " The black cat said, "The strength and technique are not enough to win, or are the goal of the art."

Then spoke a tabby cat: "I always train my ki and my breathing. I feed myself with vegetables and rice soup; so my activity is strong. But I could not beat that mouse. Why?". The old cat replied: "Your activity and your ki are strong, but you are weaker than the mouse. If you are attached to your ki, it becomes an empty force. If your ki is too fast and short, you are only passionate; although you have a lot ki, you are weak because you rely too much on yourself.”

Then spoke a gray cat. He was not strong, but intelligent. He had overcome the techniques, but he still had goals and a spirit of profit and had also been forced to flee. The black cat said, "You are smart and strong, but you couldn't win because you had a goal and the mouse's intuition was stronger.

You didn't know how to unify your strength, your technique and your active conscience. I used all three faculties unconsciously, naturally and automatically all at once in a single instant. Thus I was able to kill the mouse.

But - he continued - in a neighboring town I know a cat that is even stronger than me. He is very old and his hair is gray. He doesn't seem very strong. He sleeps all day. He doesn't eat meat or fish; only rice soup ... and sometimes he drinks a little sake. He has never caught a single mouse, because all are afraid and run away from him. One day he entered a house that was full of mice. All they fled quickly and changed home. This cat could hunt them even sleeping. This gray cat is really very mysterious".

A true Master is natural and simple in his complexity, but above all, he is always a happy guy. And following with cats, as Gato Pérez said in his song: “El que no tiene felicidad, ni es sabio... ni es ná”. (He who has no happiness, is not wise or anything of the like).

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Alfredo Tucci is Managing Director to BUDO INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING CO. e-mail: budo@budointernational.com

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Dr. Harfouche

His name has erupted with great force on the international Martial Arts panorama, being on the cover of three principle North American magazines and on seven editions of Budo International in Europe and Latin America.

From where does this success come? In the times of “Cross Fighting” the styles such as this Master has developed possess a special attraction. A comprehensive and practical summary to create complete fighters in the heart of a well-directed organization that concerns itself in a novel fashion with the evolution of the students’ learning process.

I hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting Master Harfouche until our meeting last year for the Inter national School of Martial Arts Hall of Fame; a pleasant experience that I would like to share with you. Dr. Harfouche is a ser ene man, extremely polite, sensitive and perceptive, all of them qualities that must undoubtedly be very useful in his work as a reverend. His image is not the typical one of a religious man and no doubt his practice of the Martial Arts’ disciplines puts him in an exceptional position in that environment. He affirms that the people who undertake a religious life frequently abandon themselves, seeing their physical

Text: Burton Richardson.

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1001 Strangulations!

“The basic premise of the choke for self-defense is that an unconscious attacker is no longer an attacker.

You are not in danger if you put the aggressor to sleep.

As important and valuable as striking is, we must face the fact that a person high on drugs can withstand an incredible amount of impact�

“If you can keep oxygenated blood from flowing to the brain of your attacker, he will fall asleep.

The best way to do this is to close off the blood vessels that run on either side of the neck�

Dr. Harfouche bodies as secondary, a position that he in no way agrees with. His open character and his humility (what is so rare among Martial Arts Masters!) have allowed him to continue his studies with other teachers and Masters, work that his students benefit fr om since he immediately incorporates these teachings into his own r eper toir e. This open character and selfassuredness no doubt comes from a special capacity for leadership, a calm sympathy with which it is easy to identify with.

His instructional videos have been carefully elaborated and are of great usefulness for the impassioned students who utilize them. On this occasion, Master Harfouche discusses one of the matters that has most awakened interest among t o d a y ’s fighters, strangulations, and as is his custom, he has done a complete and comprehensible analysis.

An exceptional job that will mark a before and after in the study of this material.

Alfredo Tucci

“An important part of Dr. Harfouche’s fighting approach relates to the application of a great variety of chokes in a street situation”

Dr. Harfouche Turn off the lights!

Dr. Christian Harfouche, Grandmaster of Shorite Ryu Tai Jutsu, has developed a comprehensive system of martial arts training called Full Body Boxing. His goal is to offer an expanded and complete approach to the self-defense riddle for traditional martial artists of all styles. He does not want to take students and teachers away from their original style of Martial Arts, but instead complement what they are doing by giving them another system to master. An important part of Dr. Harfouche’s fighting approach relates to the application of a great variety of chokes in a street situation. While most martial artists know what a choke is, Dr. Harfouche goes into great depth when teaching and training the various ways to turn an opponent’s lights off. Here are some of the key concepts that the Grandmaster teaches.

Dr. Harfouche The basic premise of the choke for self-defense is that an unconscious attacker is no longer an attacker. You are not in danger if you put the aggressor to sleep. As important and valuable as striking is, we must face the fact that a person high on drugs can withstand an incredible amount of impact. Even your best placed punches, kicks, elbows, and knee strikes may have little effect upon a person who is feeling no pain. How would you feel if you got into a fight, landed a strong, perfectly placed kick, but the opponent did not even flinch? I have a friend who went through such a situation.

My friend, named Levi, owns a store. He got a call one evening from a worker saying that there was a young man acting very strangely and that he refused to leave. Levi, a black belt with two decades in the Martial Arts, is very strong. He went down to the business to sort the problem out. He found a 5’6” man who weighed approximately one hundred thirty-five pounds. Not a very imposing guy, especially since Levi weighs in at about two hundred thirty pounds. He tried to coax the man out of the premises, but the young man suddenly attacked. Levi fired a strong kick directly to the groin of the attacker. Direct hit! To Levi’s surprise, it had absolutely no effect on the small man. As the aggressor continued to fight, Levi hit him hard with an elbow, breaking the man’s nose and closing his eye. The guy shot in with a tackle. Levi sprawled, pushing the man to the ground.

Like a wild animal, the man grabbed Levi’s calf and bit him, causing a puncture wound right through his jeans. Levi pushed

away and kicked, driving his shin right through the man’s collarbone. The guy stood up, his shoulder drooping considerably from the broken collarbone, but still fighting. Levi shoved him into the wall, delivered strong knees. Levi heard ribs breaking. The guy dropped to his hands and knees to grab at Levi’s legs again.

Levi kicked at him, his hard-toed boot landing on the assailant’s teeth. The assailant jumped up, teeth missing, and ran out of the store and up a nearby freeway off ramp.

Fortunately, the police had just arrived and caught the man before he got into traffic. Levi and I talked about the incident the next day, and about the need to apply the choke. It is the only technique that we can rely on when the opponent is feeling no pain. You can be sure that Levi now

Dr. Harfouche trains chokes diligently as part of his routine. Can you imagine being in that situation? What if the attacker was very large and strong? I hope this story has motivated you to look deeper into choking techniques. If so, here are some of the points that Dr. Harfouche wants you to know.

Harfouche emphasizes that there are two basic types of chokes: sealing the air or sealing off the blood. Sealing the air means to take away the attacker’s ability to receive oxygen into their lungs. No oxygen in the lungs means no oxygen in the brain. This leads to a blissful state of unconsciousness. There are two basic ways of sealing the air.

First is to close off the trachea (windpipe) so that air cannot travel to the lungs. This is often accomplished by pressing the forearm hard against the front of the neck. As effective as this can be to cut off the air supply, though THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED! There is a big problem with attacking the trachea and that is that it can break, swell up with blood, and keep oxygen from reaching the lungs for a long period. If swelling occurs, the attacker can die of asphyxiation. If you apply a Martial Arts technique to an

“if you ever find yourself in the dreaded situation of fighting an attacker who is under the influence of drugs, be sure to get to that choke, flip the switch, and turn off the lights�

Dr. Harfouche

attacker and he dies, you will get to lots of practice applying your Martial Arts on the general population in your friendly neighborhood prison. We don’t want to hurt anyone, and we definitely want to avoid incarceration. Stay away from the trachea crush. Another way of sealing the air is to cover the nose and mouth, again preventing oxygen from entering the lungs. It is the old suffocation move. The problem with this is that you must put your hand or arm over the mouth, which can result in a nasty bite. This takes us to the preferable method of applying a choke: sealing of the blood.

If you can keep oxygenated blood from flowing to the brain of your attacker, he will fall asleep. The best way to do this is to close off the blood vessels that run on either side of the neck. By closing off the supply line, you close off the supply.

Back to blissful unconsciousness. This is the most merciful and humane method of ending an attack. There are three basic ways of achieving this. One is by using a bare arm choke, the next is by employing the clothing or other suitable material to do the job, and the third is using a combination of the two together.

The most common bare arm choke is the rear sleeper hold, also called the rear naked choke or the V-neck choke. The key to this move is to line up the inside of your elbow with the opponent’s trachea. When you constrict your arm, pressure will increase on the sides of the neck, not on the trachea itself.

If you get close to the choke, but feel that your forearm is on the opponent’s trachea, simply slide your elbow over into the correct position. Dr. Harfouche’s program has many ways of getting to this position, along with several ways to finish the choke. The Grandmaster finishes the choke in a standing position or on the ground. He may use his free arm to reinforce the choke, or he sometimes uses the free hand to secure the opponent’s arm while reinforcing the choke with his neck and head. It is always good to have many options on your choking technique in case one is countered or you find yourself in a situation where your favorite is just not available.

Using the lapel to choke is another very useful and efficient method of putting your opponent to sleep. The collar itself can be tightened and adjusted to put tremendous pressure on an opponent’s neck without endangering the trachea. The collar can also be used as a handle to improve the power of a

“Dr. Harfouche also emphasizes that the chokes should not stand alone.

They are integrated with the striking.

It is easier to get to a choke position against an opponent who is dazed or off-balanced from a strike”

Dr. Harfouche

forearm choke to the side of the neck. Many of Dr. Harfouche’s chokes utilize both the forearm and the cloth to get the job done. He applies lapel chokes from the front, side, back, from the top and from the bottom. In the street, anyone with a jacket or a solid shirt is susceptible to a lapel choke. It is wise to have a wide variety ready to apply.

Dr. Harfouche also emphasizes that the chokes should not stand alone.

They are integrated with the striking. It is easier to get to a choke position against an opponent who is dazed or off-balanced from a strike.

Even if they are feeling no pain, a well placed strike may alter the balance of an opponent enough to give you the opening you need to turn his lights out. Harfouche also uses hip throws, leg reaps, and other takedowns that put you into position for a choke. You may secure a lapel grab that you can use for a big throw, then as the opponent hits the ground you turn that lapel grab into any number of choking techniques.

You should be sure to practice getting to your chokes from striking, throwing, and grappling situations. If you need help with these concepts, Dr. Harfouche can help you.

Grandmaster Harfouche has put a great deal of information about a wide variety of chokes on a beautiful DVD that I was pleased to view. It includes striking and throwing, standing chokes and ground chokes.

There are also combinations where armbars and armlocks are applied simultaneously with the choke. If you aren’t sure what the “hangman’s choke” is or if you aren’t familiar with the “collar crucifix roll” or the dreaded “scissors of death”, check out Dr. Harfouche’s CHOKES AND STRANGULATIONS DVD. If you are interested in adding to your traditional system without taking away from it, I suggest you look into the Full Body Boxing program at www.victorioushands.com. And if you ever find yourself in the dreaded situation of fighting an attacker who is under the influence of drugs, be sure to get to that choke, flip the switch, and turn off the lights.

A LIGHT TO THE WORLD Compassion is the driving force behind this thirty-six year veteran of the Martial Arts. In 2000, he personally fed 53,000 people and distributed 34,000 pairs of Nike shoes to his community’s neediest families. But the scope of his dream and vision does not end at home—it continues to reach a world in need. Philosopher, teacher, leader, and pioneer of Shorite Ryu Tai Jutsu (Victorious Hands Body Arts), one of the most appealing and comprehensive Martial Arts to hit the world since Bruce Lee, Dr. Christian Harfouche is on a mission to bring victory to people in every area of their lives.

“The most common bare arm choke is the rear sleeper hold, also called the rear naked choke or the V-neck choke”

Dr. Harfouche

DVDs & videos

We all have often heard that eloquent phrase: "You defend yourself as you train." Likewise, Master Bruce Lee said in his martial philosophy, another phrase to be remembered: "I do not fear the man who has practiced ten thousand different kicks, I fear the man who has practiced one single kick ten thousand times.� Bruce Lee could not have said it better himself, we know very well the message of these words. The more we repeat this same concept, the more effectively our body and mind will memorize the established movements.

This thought is known as muscle memory.

Farang Combat

"I do not fear the man who has practiced ten thousand different kicks, I fear the man who has practiced one single kick ten thousand times�

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ccording to the Oxford Dictionary, the word "memory" among its many meanings, refer to the "power of keeping facts in the conscious mind and of being able to call them back at will; preservation of past experience for future use."

Applying this concept to the case of our muscles implies that our muscular system is credited with being able to remember some physical activities that we have carried out some time ago. This means that the mind learns a new concept and transmits it to the muscles, in order to begin the development of this so-called "muscle memory". The process is assimilated and the muscles remember what the brain communicates them. Strictly speaking, muscle memory is the ability of our body to make movements and exercises without even thinking. A clear example for this is cycling.

Assimilating Master Lee's sentence and taking by unquestionable the definition of Oxford Dictionary, we conclude that a workout aimed to unwrap muscle memory, is substantial in the development of a martial artist. When our defense and sports training is carried out with the purpose of developing this term, we have to take into account two main elements: the collection of information and a constant practice. "More is not necessarily better than less." When we work to develop our muscle memory, the collection of information in our training should be conditioned; that is, the most basic possible. For example, how many techniques we learn in our respective martial styles of a particular section?

This question leads me to relive special moments with my first Master, who very convincingly illustrated my first martial steps with inflections of neck attacks. With unsurpassed skill, he indoctrinated me with 15

basic techniques. After two weeks of practice, I was struck by two of his best students. And to my surprise, the fifteen techniques learned never went into action; apparently they were forgotten. With a timely hilarity, the Master told me that I must choose two of the fifteen learned techniques and practice them for an additional week. Upon completion of the time given by the Master I was attacked again by his best students and to my surprise, I managed to defend myself quickly. If we carry a heavy burden on our shoulders, the body won't be able to perform the movements promptly. Conversely, if we carry a light load, our body will move more effectively. When applied to our memory: the lesser the information, the better the retention.

The Farang Combat has several combinations of punches clustered in three different areas, namely: Octagonal, Triangular and Circular. By accessing the so-called Octagonal area, we find eight offensive combinations along with eight movements, which develop speed and coordination in the individual in an effective way.

Contemplating the combinations mode dubbed Triangular, we find three displacements configured in a defensive way. The first shifting movement, called "Triangle drop", is a defensive move which aims rapprochement between the defender and the attacker, in order to establish dynamic projections. The second movement called "Double Straight" produces linear attacks in a run, seeking the opponent’s instability. The third method, named "Hammer Kill", integrates movements of 45 degrees, attacking surprisingly the body low and high levels.

We end citing again one of the icons of popular culture in the last third of the twentieth century and martial artist Bruce Lee. "In the chaos look for simplicity and in discord look for harmony".

Bruce Lee

Farang Combat

The origins of the tonfa called also " tongwa, tuifa, tunkua, tuiha " are known to rise in the old Chinese islands of Okinawa where it was used, at first time, in an agrarian way as crank to turn grinders the grain, then secondly, of a way warrior to allow the farmers, deprived of weapons by the Japanese occupant, to fight against the samurais of this period. Even if it continues nowadays in the martial arts, with two wooden tonfas, in the practice of Kobudo, it was only adopted, in the 1970s, with a metal then composite material, in the USA and since then, by numerous law enforcement all over the world.

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www.academielevinet.com OPERATIONAL POLICE TONFA Its professional use was identified by multiple naming going of the tonfa police to the tonfa security including the professional tonfa and the other similar names. There are so many different names as forms of tonfa.

From 2000s, hardly of his triple experience of Captain of Police, Grand Master of martial arts and inter national expert of law enforcement, the specialist of self-defense and tactics of police Jacques Levinet, having led his own reflection on the subject, developed a revolutionary method of the 21th century to pull all the true substance of this not lethal weapon. So thus was born Operational Tonfa Police or OTP which is, not a new name, but an unpublished and successful process for an intermediate and complementary use with the handgun and the handcuffs. The OTP arouses from now on an interest growing up all over the world.

ORIGINS They base on the other inventions whose Captain Levinet is the founder: • SELF PRO KRAV or SPK – This self-defense, which enjoys a success ringing in numerous countries, gave at the top its originality by its concrete applications of g ro u n d . T h e d e f e n s e s o f t h e S P K a re s o m a n y

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Jacques Levinet supports which allowed OTP to assert its success. The absence of flourishes and the pedagogy became the keys of the success of these two methods which give, both to the c i v i l i a n s a n d t o t h e p ro f e s s i o n a l s , t h e ways(means) to face(to deal with) in the attacks of the street • Real Operational System or Police ROS – There is an interactive link of existence between the Real Operational System, method completes for law enforcement, and OTP which is one of the module in the same way as the BOP (Operational Stick Police), the GTPI (Gestures and Techniques Police of Intervention). The ROS evolves according to its applications of ground and the "feedback" realized regularly by the staff AJL (Academy Jacques Levinet). As it is the difficulties of the street that dominate in the OTP, the technique passes in the background and the narcissistic demonstration is not current. The reality is imperative to the detriment of the whim to give way to the operational.

influence of the GTPI was an importing factor because law enforcement is, in most of the time, supposed to intervene team there.

• MALADJUSTMENT OF THE TRAININGS · The trainings in the tonfa are often unsuitable, either due to the lack of time, or due to the lack of skill, or by absence of training plan without forgetting also the political lack of will to give itself the ways to make a success. The subsidy of a tonfa is not enough to return the operational policeman, still needs it the aftersales service. In other words an initial training upstream and continuous downstream with recycling’s and "feedback" regular. Reason why captain Levinet wanted everything reexamines. · The OTP trainings are longer than in the majority of the cases with drastic cuts on the techniques which do not work in the reality. A training plan was both structured on the plan technical and legal. Absence of stereotypical attacks, predefined attacks and defenses secured with the tonfa foams, of unfeasible armed seizures of hand on the ground. No passivity neither any playful training but nor place in the hard law of the street. The results came very quickly, the modification and the evolution of techniques have proved vital and the tonfa became really operational in the full sense of the word

hands free to use, if necessary, handcuffs or firegun.

SPECIFICITIES The OTP enjoys a frame of use so that every professional understands his utility, about is its department of use and its material subsidy. The

• The complementarity –The work of the OTP is never considered remotely but takes into account all of the material of pressure given to his users. An intervention can begin with bare hands, require the use of the tonfa, the handcuffs and, in certain cases, the firearm with dissuasion or with retort. The policeman has to adapt himself because he never knows when and how ends a danger. With the OTP the key, the way to put handcuffs and the putting in yoke can be concomitant in a random order according to the risk.

Certain parameters are inescapable as to unsheathe the tonfa before the handgun and conversely to sheathe the weapon) fire before the tonfa except case of immediate shooting of retort.

From this perspective, the change of user hand of the tonfa is essential to get the

• The key points – In the form of concrete answers, for the only agents or in team, and not of a purely theoretical teaching.

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“The training plan of the OTP requires that the certified instructor AJL dispenses the official pedagogy with the ethical and legislative references inherent to each of the countries concerned by the training.�

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• The distance – It is dependent on the reaction in front of danger. Both we see it coming, and in this case, the defense will be remote and anticipated. We favor the indirect blockings to the direct parades, with the length of the tonfa, thanks to dresses in wrist point, sword clocks and tomahawk points. Let be our vigilance did not allow us to see coming the attack and the defense will be unexpected and very close. In this hypothesis we favor the conditioned reflex and the indirect blockings with the body of the tonfa, thanks to dresses handle heel, sword heel and mini tomahawk. The distance thus conditions the natural, innate and reflexive technique.

• The handles – The OTP does not limit itself to the commonplace said dresses small and big side ". It adapts them with regard to the missions what opens a radius of action mattering in the interventions in reduced or closed environment. The holding idol of the OTP is the mini tomahawk which offers the opportunity to change strong hand easily, to hang on and to push away but also to lock a key with a putting in yoke of protection.

The little and the big fork of the OTP in holding sword points and sword heel protects against any fortifying or downward

www.academielevinet.com attack. Forks facilitate the disarmament by lock-picking.

The handle of the OTP does not only serve to hold him but to respond, to pick, to lock and to exercise points of pressure.

• Hands free –The techniques of the OTP authorize the changes of hand for putting handcuffs or a use of fire gun. It is necessary to possess a time beforehand on the evolution of the situation. Either the retort is enough, or it is necessary to neutralize, to lead up, and to bring to the ground, to use jointly handcuffs, a palpation, a lifting, and a use of fire gun or a lock with the use of tonfa. In brief the OTP never releases from the beginning to the end of the intervention. The keys of twist and israeli are a remarkable help on the subject because they free both hands.

PROFESSIONAL PEDAGOGY The training plan of the OTP requires that the certified instructor AJL dispenses the official pedagogy with the ethical and legislative references inherent to each of the countries concerned by the training.

“The trainings in the tonfa are often unsuitable, either due to the lack of time, or due to the lack of skill, or by absence of training plan without forgetting also the political lack of will to give itself the ways to make a success.”

Jacques Levinet

• Law explanations – With the OTP, not useful to know articles of law on the self-defense. The policeman or the soldier explains the technique used in the action so that it is in accordance with the law of its country. Not a simple reasoning but a demonstration way judicial reconstruction. The technic used must assure, with a judge or with an immediate superior, the legitimacy of the intervention. The pedagogy of the OTP gives all the legal assets to reach following the example of the retorts there pricked in the body in holding wrist clocks, bends upward, to avoid any inconvenient percussion with the face. In the same way the use of the gun is not synonymic of shooting of retort but also release of a hostile environment or a protection for the agent and the individual.

www.academielevinet.com

• Specific terminology – With the OTP, the words are a way to limit the responsibility. We never use the term of "strikes", synonym for aggression, but that of "retorts", equivalent to a defense. We speak to high and understandable voice in a professional frame. The co nt ro l o f the media and t he curio s it y o f t he spectators, provided with their mobile phones photos and videos, oblige us a minimum of caution. The intervention allies safety, protection and intervention in the strictest respect for the law of the concerned country.

• Adaptation for the trainings -The legal criteria of the excellent intervention are fitted to the country applicant.

For example in the USA, the use of the firearm is less binding than in the European countries, where from less technicality of OTP. On the other hand a capital gain for the keys of pressure with putting in yoke of release and protection.

• Real situations –The OTP favors the teamwork by exercises of Police (Protection, Connection and Intervention) with the tonfa of intervention in hard material. Not of tonfa foam which do not sanction the

Jacques Levinet

bad positions or the lack of control. What's the use this secure training which will not be current in the street.

LABEL POLICE OTP The OTP enjoys a significant aura thanks to the following points. 路 Multilingual Programs - The TOP trainers of the AJL are multilingual, for the greater part, (English, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese) to dispense a training direct and understandable for all. 路 Label ROS - OTP - The program, the training plan, the recycling, the feedback, the renewable certificate

every year, make of the label instructor ROS -OTP a much appreciated quality criterion. 路 International Gratitude - The demonstrations and the OTP seminaries of the founder, in every corner of the world, aroused the enthusiasm by the biggest international experts of law enforcement.

The Operational Tonfa Police is not an accessory of demonstration, such as nunchaku for example, but the best not lethal weapon, of which Captain Jacques Levinet knew how to pull all the up to now unequalled professional efficiency.

www.academielevinet.com

Grand Masters

Sifu Paolo Cangelosi.

Thr oughout the world, his name is already a symbol of Martial truth, of commitment to his students, and of the purest Kung Fu tradition. His various video series have attracted students from all latitudes in styles as diverse as Pa Kua, Tai Chi, Hung Gar, etc. However, thir ty-thr ee years of practice had to pass before a work of his came out in the style that he most dominates and enjoys, Wing Chun.

Sifu Cangelosi learned it in China directly from his Master, Fu Han Tung. His style, beyond the particularities of the techniques that characterize it, is designed through a special way of understanding Kung Fu, always traditional, didactic, and extremely precise. Sifu Cangelosi has prepared an exceptional video in which he brings us more deeply into his way of understanding Wing Chun, a complete project that includes its origins and philosophical traditions, its principles, and, of course, its technical applications.

“At the beginning, my training was very technical and physical, but with time the practice became more and more interiorized.

The study of the applications through the principles of interception and control helped me to understand the meaning of the translation of its name: “little idea” (“Sil Lim Tao”)”

Grand Masters We must give special mention to the re-creation of the myth of the creation of the style, magnificently filmed. The twohour video will satisfy the most demanding palates.

In the present article, we will learn about some anecdotes that illustrate the experiences of Master Cangelosi during his learning of Wing Chun and some considerations about this style that has more and more followers among Kung Fu lovers every day.

Wing Chun I was only eleven years old and I was in the basement of a building where I was going to study Kung Fu daily. A man was training in front of a cement column, attracting my attention with his symmetric movements and the static position of his legs. His hand executed a slow rotating movement, accompanied by a light vibration. It was my Master, Fu Han Tung, and he was practicing a form from the Wing Chun style: Sil Lim Tao. I had begun to practice Martial Arts three years earlier with Ju Jitsu and, just recently, Kung Fu. When I began to study Wing Chun, the first months were dedicated to the practice of the basic positions and their movements, the guard changes, and the fundamental fists. In my heart the hope of the expectant student was hiding, along with impatience, the desire to begin the form that my Master was practicing that day as soon as possible.

My experience in the practice of the style grew and the more I began to appreciate its technical qualities. The execution of the first form had fascinated me for the millimetre precision of its techniques, its rhythm that

Wing Chun “Apart from the geometric construction of the techniques, my Master highlighted the importance of breathing and the look, which always accompanied each gesture of expansion and contraction of the form�

alternated slow movements with others that were very fast and explosive, and for the energy that it would transmit through its actions.

All of that created in me a precise sensation aroused by the “sense of the ancient and mysterious” typical of the tradition of the style. I was falling in love with Wing Chun.

After some months, I saw the same form in the Australian edition of a book on Wing Chun. I was proud to know that I was also studying what other Masters—

from another part of the world—were practicing and teaching.

Soon after the success of the Bruce Lee films, I recognized, in a photo, the actor in a Sil Lim Tao posture, so I understood that if everyone practiced this form, then something was important in practicing it and discovering its secrets.

At the beginning, my training was very technical and physical, but with time the practice became more and more interiorized. The study of the applications through

the principles of interception and control helped me to understand the meaning of the translation of its name: “little idea” (“Sil Lim Tao”).

My Master utilized the cement column of the basement to make me understand the concept of the “central line” and the “levels”, the reference coordinates of the human body to bring out the useful targets and the trajectories of action that must be used to execute the movements.

In the center of the column a vertical line

corresponded to the central line of the my body, my arms had to act up and down the straight lines following its direction with techniques of attack and defense, for only in this way would they become faster and more efficient.

Furthermore, the column was intercepted by three imaginary horizontal lines at three levels, which corresponded to the face, the solar plexus and the lower abdomen. Their intersection with the central vertical line outlined six areas called “the 6 gates” or “the 6 doors”, which were the targets of reference that could be reached by straight or convergent trajectories.

Apart from the geometric construction of the techniques, my Master highlighted the importance of breathing and the look, which always accompanied each gesture of expansion and contraction of the form. The interior rhythm danced and flowed with the physical part of the techniques, and manifested a perfect energetic balance. In this way, I began to realize that it was difficult to place Wing Chun among the exterior styles.

For that, my Master used to say that one could also easily practice at the age of 100.

For ten years I grew with the exclusive teaching of my Sifu, Fu Han Tung, without

Grand Masters knowing anything about what was happening in other schools in the world. Meanwhile, my experience was enriched with the knowledge of other Kung Fu styles and other Martial Arts, but Wing Chun stood out for its concepts and principles of action apparently simple but tremendously effective. On my first trip to Hong Kong, 25 years ago, I had the opportunity to see other people practicing that style. I noticed that there were differences in the focus of the techniques and many interpretations of its applications, but the principles of action on which I worked with my Sifu were more or less the same. Despite the personalization of various Masters, the soul of the style remained unaltered. I trained in different schools, all of them following in the line of the Grand Master Yip Man, and I noticed that some things that I knew were not practiced. My Master explained to me that many techniques that I had learned came from one of the countries of origin of the style, and they were the technical heritage of the old schools; furthermore, he gave an example of the use of the stone ball, the bamboo ring and other tools, which were being lost with the passage of time because the modern generations were abandoning the traditional training methods.

I remember a young Chinese boy who invited me to practice “Chi Sao” with him, the sticky hands exercise.

That is one of the technical sections that most characterizes the Wing Chun method. Chi Sao is based on work that maintains contact, developing the control of the limbs through sensitivity and the ability to yield, intuiting the most minimum movement of the adversary, respecting and applying the key principles and movements of the style: “an art in exercise”. My Master told me that to come into contract at short distance with a good Wing Chun practitioner is like falling into a spider web. The young Chinese boy, whose name was Willy, after having made contact with my arms, attacked me aggressively, forgetting all the principles of that exercise, without respecting any technical rule of the style. He threw a punch that didn’t reach its target, he lost his balance and fell forward, still trying to hit me in the genitals: he seemed like a child that wanted to win at all cost. Was that Chi Sao for him?

Many people have confused ideas about that exercise, they confuse it with free fighting, but really it is only a method to extrapolate some elements that are applied successively in a free way.

Grand Masters

“I was only eleven years old and I was in the basement of a building where I was going to study Kung Fu daily.

A man was training in front of a cement column, attracting my attention with his symmetric movements and the static position of his legs.

His hand executed a slow rotating movement, accompanied by a light vibration.

It was my Master�

Wing Chun Another technical area that characterizes Wing Chun involves the leg techniques.

They always form a part of my memories: “to kick” was an integral part of my daily training. For me, in that period, to know how to throw a kick was to have the musculature of the legs elastic, to be fast and get any technique beyond the level of the face.

When my Master spoke to me about the kicks in Wing Chun, I didn’t manage to appreciate their technical value, but I noticed the total difference of focus of those movements. Those kicks had particular characteristics and, as in the arm techniques, they were in a straight line. When we execute a kick, the body can be placed frontally or half-sideways. The position of the back and the pelvis remain together, or rather, the trunk doesn’t lean back and the hips do not move forward, allowing for that continuity between arms and legs that characterizes this method.

Often the kick doesn’t return, once launched it lowers to the ground with the leg extended, and that in order to keep the adversary away. The loading is also, at times, minimum, in order to optimize the economy of the movement and make it unpredictable.

Another characteristic is the combinations of the kicks taken to different height levels, and between half-sideways and frontal kicks, often carried out with the same leg. To throw kicks to the middle and low level, allows for the practice of acting in an efficient way without having to acquire extraordinary muscular elasticity and joint mobility, and furthermore, to be able to use the short distance. The defense techniques with the legs that Wing Chun develops are very interesting: checks, blocks and controls.

The “checks” deflect the adversary’s strike trajectory. The “blocks” interrupt the action as it develops. The “controls” come into contact and they follow the technique, displacing it or stopping it.

I remember an anecdote concerning the leg techniques in Wing Chun. As I already told you, “to kick” was one of the practices that most fascinated me in Martial Arts. I trained every day, throwing kicks into the air and at bags, with more than three thousand techniques, so after some years, I had reached an excellent level.

One day my Master Fun Han Tong invited me to do a technical leg interchange with him. At the beginning, I was a little blocked up, throwing kicks slowly and predictably, but later he incited me to pick up the rhythm, so I thought that it was an exam. Then I did some more precise and faster techniques which easily got through his defense. At the end of the training session he congratulated me.

Returning home, I felt amazing because I had a moment of exaltation, as if I had gotten better than my Master, but at the same time I felt like I had lacked some respect for him. Some weeks went by and the Sifu invited me a second time to do a leg fight with him. Thinking about the first experience, I asked him if it was going to be an exam or a training session. He answered: “…give your maximum effort!” Always with the due control of the technique, I began to kick, but this time my strikes never reached the target, and when the distanced decreased, my legs suffered the strikes of his unpredictable attacks. I couldn’t even lift my legs from the floor. That day I understood many things. I learned to appreciate the techniques of Wing Chun, and most of all, what it means “to be a Master”.

These days, many practitioners limit this style to self-defense, but we can’t forget everything that the old Masters created. Wing Chun is Kung Fu, and like all the

Grand Masters traditional styles, it has its own technical program full of history, meanings, symbols, and training methods. All of that can’t be erased by a simple technique of “chain punches”.

Thirty-three years have passed since I saw my Master practicing in front of the column, years dedicated to study, research and practice to perfect a method that unites the old and the modern, the traditional and scientific evolution, a method of succession that respects and keeps alive the ethical, spiritual and technical values of what we call today

Wing Chun. I would like to remind the practitioners of Wing Chun that, despite the origins of the schools and the different currents, we are all seeking technical perfection and interior growth, which have always represented a common stimulus for the practitioners of Martial Arts. Nor can we forget the most precious teaching that the Art offers us: respect for it and for all those who practice it with the heart.

So, let’s not lose ourselves in sterile controversies or destructive criticisms if we find along our path a Wing Chun a little different from ours…

Wing Chun

“ I would like to remind the practitioners of Wing Chun that, despite the origins of the schools and the different currents, we are all seeking technical perfection and interior growth, which have always represented a common stimulus for the practitioners of Martial Arts�

Wing Tsun

Wing Tsun Universe (WTU) IN THIS COLUMN WE MAKE A SMALL SUMMARY OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE WTU and excerpts from three articles of the WTU.

Wing Tsun Universe

Founder:

Si-Fu Alfred Johannes Neudorfer (GM of WTU) Si-Fu Rosa Ferrante Bannera (Si-Mo and Master of

WTU) Founded:

Wing Tsun Universe 16.09.2011 Wing Tsun University 16.04.2012

The Movement WTU: 0 Outer Circle: Networks 1st Circle - Exoteric Circle A) WTU Wing Tsun:

WTU Black Book, WTU websites, Social WTU Wing logo, Guild Logo, Young Bloods Logo WTU Fight WTU Guild WTU Health WTU Drill WTU Young Bloods WTU Forces WTU Veteranen Liga WTU vitahochdrei WTU SSS

B) WTU UNI:

Thinking Center Courses of the WTU: TCC Basic TCC LotG (Leader of the Group) TCC Stage I TCC Stage II TCC Stage III TCC Stage IV

C) WTU AMA:

Arts and Martial Arts (AMA): 8 Hain festivals Traveling Art

Snake of Fire Wings of the Eagle

2nd Circle - Mesoteric Circle: Fiz lez Lou Logo WTU Fiz lez Lou: School of the moment Science of Consciousness Path with heart WTU Esbate Tutorials WTU BM Meetings 3rd Circle - Esoteric Circle: Secret Circle Logo FLL Secret Circle: SC Tutorials

Tools: 13 solo Movements: Siu Nim Tao - 9 Ways Chum Kiu - 4 Waves Wooden Dummy - Double Waves BiuTze - Twister Long Pole - Point work Bard Cham Dao Blade - Weapons paths 2 Axes & Hammers 2 Staff and Spear Sword 4 Ways of weapons

and 21 Series Partner Movements

Some mottos of Wing Tsun Universe (WTU):

Qualities: Attention Elasticity Balance Sensitivity Adroitness Timing Intent Insight / Tacit knowledge Clear thinking / insight

1) We move people!

2) Back to the roots!

3) necessity creates organs!

4) right people, right time, right place!

7

Tools, skills, principles, interactions in the WTU:

Thinking Center - WTU UNI Feeling Center - WTU AMA

Principles: Allow Contact Accompany movement Avoid Distance Interactions: Gravitational interaction Weak interaction Strong interaction Magnetic interaction Fighting concepts: Fight concept: wave / double wave Fight concept: Twister / Twister Double 3 centers of human: Moving Center - WTU Wing Tsun

Wing Tsun Universe

„The Science of Consciousness" Once upon a time there was a wise man, who had a great number of students. Every now and then they asked him where he had gotten his knowledge, and every time he pointed to a golden chest, standing in the corner of his room. The day the man died his self-appointed successors opened the chest and found a book bound in leather. Only a single page in it was written on, and the more they tried, to understand it, the angrier and more disappointed they became: "When you see the difference between the container and the content, you are on the path to wisdom."

The Golden Chest – Quote from the "TRADITION" Basically we, the WTU, try to improve the qualities of the three human centers: The Center of Motion, the Center of Emotion and the Center of Thinking and raise the intensity of mutual connection being only possible on the basis of a fundamental understanding of the tree centers.

Wing Tsun Universe The Center of Motion: It is not directly evident which form of intelligence the Center of Motion can take. Our difficulties in imagining the intelligence of the Center of Motion has it' s origin in our assuming that it in any way resembles the Center of Mind's form of intelligence. In fact they do not resemble each other at all. The Center of Mind's intelligence is linked to the past and the future, which is no part of the Center of Motion's experience. However the only thing it is engaged with is the immediate present. It is not interested in achieving something that lies in the future or correcting something of the past. Thing'

s are on the other hand not registered in form of memories in the Center of Motion, like known in the Center of Mind. For former the things, events are either active or latent.

For this reason, we in the WTU sumarise the areas and the inputs that act as food to the Center of Motion (GUILD, FIGHT, HEALTH, DRILL) as the so called "School of the Instant".

The Center of Emotion: One can basically say, that in our modern world the intelligence of the

Center of Emotion is the worst developed function. Our feelings are unstable and unreliable. We can do nothing unbiased in the end, not even think as we please, since we are not in control of our emotions.

Most of the time we are occupied and full with automated emotions like affection and aversion and spend a large part of our existence in emotional states, that are not constructive, like anger, doubt and fear. This lets us realize, how far we are from how

human beings should be – or let' s say think they should. We have been trained to live through such states entirely through our environment, their eligibility first and foremost coming from the emotional equivalent to the instinctive reaction to pain and physical discomfort. Our feelings are practically in a stage of slavery.

The actual function of a feeling, is to perceive things as they really are. This does not happen by seeing,

Wing Tsun Universe hearing or knowing, but by participation (meaning the getting involved with something).

When we are ready to in this way participate, a connection is created, based on awareness and not knowledge. Only then we start to be, what we truly are.

For this reason everything related with community and creative activity has got to do with the Center of Emotion.

For this reason we in the WTU sumarise the areas and the inputs that act as food to the Center of Emotion as "Art and Martial Art" and "WTU-Tantra".

The general term in the WTU is "The Path of the Heart".

The Center of Thinking: About the Center of Thinking we, in our culture, think to know the most about. It is what separates us from the animal. Man

Wing Tsun Universe has another relation towards time and space, being able to meditate on the past and the future, and with an imagination, functioning independent of any sensory stimulus. That enables us to gain knowledge an animal could never acquire. By abstract thinking we can visualize the world. Still – as long as we are not forced to do so by outer difficulties, we spend our life in a sort of dreamy state, while automatically forming images in our head.

This process is mainly influenced by our physical awareness: By what we see, hear, touch, taste, smell but also by the overall state of our body, meaning we have different thoughts when we are feeling sick than when healthy.

Those dreams can also take shape of images every now and then.

Usually however, they appear as words, internal monologues and internal dialogues. Gurdjieff called this process "formatting", which makes also clear, that in normal state we do not have an intellect, but a mere formatting machine, an automat. This internal dialogue keeps our world running. Through this process we use words regardless of their actual meaning.

Wing Tsun Universe This automatism is in a modern human being absolutely dominant.

Nonetheless we can use this ineffective state of our Center of Thinking, as a first impulse for change. You are actually able to tell the Center of Thinking, different to the Center of Motion and Emotion, something about transformation.

The same formative mechanism, that imprisons us in our dreams, can help us: We can get it to form and maintain a non abstract ideal, an image of what we could be. We can thus become aware of the blindness of our state of mind. The first step is the most crucial: Whenever a formative thought comes up in us, putting an idea of work within reach, we should take the according measures so it does not just remain an imagination, but realize it.

This function of the Center of Thinking is the fundamental urge to "see". This function arises our demand for things to make sense.

However we should not confuse this with discontentment. The consequence is that we no longer follow a certain direction of knowledge, just because we are already accustomed to it.

The overall field and the food for this area of the Center of Thinking, we call the "Science of Awareness" in the WTU.

To achieve his or her aim, namely helping the practitioner, a navigator utilizes every tool known to him or her. A human being has many different layers, all influencing each other, they can be mutually supporting or disturbing as well. A holistic course of action acknowledges and uses this circumstance. Normally we know three layers: the layer of motion and instinct, the layer of emotion and artistry and the layer of mind and intellect. Still there are further ones, which have either through a lack of practice and usage – like a flaccid muscle – fallen into oblivion, or are still in an embryonal state.

One could also call the learning target of the practitioner as follows: To bring all the centers and layers of perception into a perfect, highquality equilibrium.

The relevant tools for that cover techniques and exercises for unconditioning of our thinking, and tools for reaching certain level of consciousness. The outer form of these tools changes according to the requirements and the conditions and circumstances of the time. The automatic, arbitrary use of these tools can lead to – when they are thought generally applicable – the degeneration of the learning system.

People like to copy what has

been taught and handed down to them fragmentarily, or what they have watched elsewhere themselves, without knowing the necessary coordinates. You can compare it to a child, watching sick people always go to the apothecary, when in need for a medicament. One day, when the child itself has a cold, it will also go to the apothecary. The door there is open and the chemist just went in another room, so the child takes some random pills and …

Often people just follow phrases designed for another culture and time ("the more exotic the better").

Or they study and try to learn with tools designated for their ancestors, a long time ago.

These are the following tools, which always have to be adapted to the time, the circumstances and the people themselves: 1.) Visual, acoustic and other sensations: Here music and journeys, people get impulses from are to be put here as well.

2.) Legends, analogies and couched materials: This tools are constructed in a way that they are not supposed to install a conviction in the Center of Thinking, but a patter n or a blueprint, which should help the Center of Thinking to "navigate" in another way.

Wing Tsun Universe 3.) As addendum to regular human cognitive abilities certain objects are used as symbols.

4.) Through collaborative working and training a specific dynamic is created – not based on emotion or indoctrination – and brought into flux.

There are 7 kinds of exercises: 1.) Exercises for the Center of Motion 2.) Exercises for the Center of Thinking 3.) Exercises for the Center of Emotion 4.) Exercises for the Center of Motion & the Center of Thinking 5.) Exercises for the Center of Motion & the Center of Emotion 6.) Exercises for the Center of Motion & the Center of Thinking & the Center of Emotion 7.) Exercises for the Center of Motion & the Center of Thinking & the Center of Emotion & automatisms That way we provide every of the three "centers" with high-quality nutrition according to a certain recipe. The impulses resulting from that begin spreading in waves and remove obstacles.

Such a whole and complete human being has individuality and "character". And that "character" has a will and only it has will – a power flowing through everything, but only a whole "character" can make use of that power.

Observing the development of a human with will, one realizes, he or she can get in conflict with the surrounding society. Such a human will seem to his fellow man as authoritarian, arrogant or not self-critical enough, or else such a human being will begin arranging oneself in the modern niveau, level of communication.

This means: One has to speak the petty language of modern man, with it' s superficial and sophisticated intellectual modulations. An aspect of this language is it' s ineffectiveness. One is constantly forced to express every point he or she tries to make with numerous justifications. In order to be taken serious, one has to assure oneself, by confirming and backing up what one tries to say with as many quotes from so called authorities as possible.

In the everyday life such behavior is reflected in referring to something, that has been said in a newspaper or in television. People think they are educated and well informed, when they can parrot as many information as possible. And they think, when many people have said something before, or when it is shown on TV or written in a newspaper, it somehow has to be true. Conformity is confused with education and insight.

If it is just someone' s personal understanding, resulting from someone' s own comprehension, someones "character", someone' s access, a fact is commonly seen as irrelevant, however true it might be. Whatever can be expressed complicated and longwinded, can be said easier and usually more accurate. Why that is not done?

Because it alienates people. Because it touches tabus. People rather stick to acted powerlessness and lacking keenness.

People are but a shadow of what they could be, just as if a curse would lie upon them. They are hurt and weakened deep down inside.

Powerlessness predominates.

People can no longer come back to their roots to draw strength. They therefore have no longer quality or just a distorted image of quality.

Wing Tsun Universe

Wing Tsun Universe What do we intend in the WTU? We unfold "Quality" in our life.

"Quality" is always quality. "Quality" has something to do with authenticity. It just takes different shapes, and appears on the outside in different clothes. That, which has "Quality" / authenticity in ourselves, exactly that is their original source and whatever comes in touch with it is "touched" by it!

People who inspire us“: G. I. Gurdjieff and Wing Tsun In this one, and the upcoming articles we are going to introduce to you "People who inspire us", their work, philosophies and ideas.

Among those "People who inspire us", you will find G. I. Gurdjieff.

Some might ask, how exactly this "Teacher of Wisdom" can be linked with Wing Tsun. Firstly: Of course not all people we list as "inspirational to us", like on our homepage, necessarily correlate with Wing Tsun per se.

They are people who, by their teachings and their way to present themselves, have given significant impulse to our lives. One might say, they all have one thing in common: Everyone of them cut his own path, regardless of what has been said about him or her, or what difficulties they encountered by doing so.

Everyone had an individual layout of the truth lying behind it all.

Neither was an imitator. And some of them, of course, were or still are somewhat contended, as other people feel the urge to disrespectfully comment on them, often having not even read one of their works or argumentations, or parroting what they have heard elsewhere. We should also consider that real teachers often convey an image of themselves, which is likely to frighten off people too conditioned to their way of thinking and daily routine, resulting in something like a necessary

preselection. People unable to distinguish between shape and content, simply are not fit to take that path.

Anyway, G. I. Gurdjieff can very well be associated with Wing Tsun. After he started his long journey in the early 20th century, leaving his caucasian home, he w e n t t o M o s c o w, Tu r k e y, Germany and finally settled down in France (Fontainebleau near Paris, where he then was burried) w h i c h i s a l s o w h e re h e established his "Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man" bringing along with him, what we today call Wing Tsun.

In Russia, people started practicing his techniques right away, in France he got no further than presenting them to his audience. The time was not yet ripe and he began teaching the "Gurdjeff-Movements" instead. But more on that in later articles.

The main emphasis of this DVD is edged weapon. Knowing and understanding all the dangers associated with any edge weapon.

The main theme in this DVD is establishing the priority.

The main emphasis of training with an edged weapon is knowing and understanding all the dangers associated with this type of weapon. All the “What if’s”, and “Yeah buts”, are all great for trial and error, and assuming predictability. The serious danger of edge weapons is real, and should be treated as such. This means where you should establish your training priority to be a survival tool, in the event this situation happens to you. Let’s face it, you are the one having to survive, not your trainer, helps you train your goals, not your objective. The training priorities I use in LatosaEscrima are as follows: reality, technique and drills. Reality: This is the understanding of exactly what could happen and the dangers when using or going against an edged weapon.

Techniques: These movements are trying to give you a generalization of possibilities, and probabilities of what may happen.

Drills: Most drills are used to develop and enhance body movement skills used in the technique application.

REF.: • LAT-3

All DVDs, wichi is produced by Budo International, si provided and alone in the formats DVD-5 or MPEG-2, in VCD, DivX or the like is however neves offered with a special holograma sticker. Besides our DVD is characteristed coverings by the hig quality in pressure and material. If this DVD and/or the DVD covering do not corespond to the requirements specified above, it concerns illegal pirat copy.

ORDERS: Budo international.com

GM GERMAN IN MEMORIAM

Legends are made, not born. Great masters are defined by the knowledge and experience they have acquired over the years and their ability to share it with the next generation.

Their mastery of the arts is shaped by the mentors they have had and by the relationships they have cultivated throughout their training. It is these years of inspiration and impartation that give life and meaning to their own individual styles.

Recognized by many as a master’s master, David German is a legend in the Martial Arts community.

This highly respected and innovative grandmaster comes from a legacy of great masters and a rich history of Martial Arts expertise.

With over fifty years of training and experience, he is one of the greatest exponents of the Martial Arts in the world today.

GM David German

G

erman’s roots in the Martial Arts run deep.

His style was born in the 1960s during a period characterized by revision, restructuring, and refinement in the Martial Arts. He began his Martial Arts career training in jujutsu. After acquiring his black belt, he became a friend, partner, and protégé of the late Edmund K. Parker, who revolutionized the Martial Arts in America. As a true pioneer and innovator, Parker refined and fine-tuned Kenpo, creating what became known worldwide as American Kenpo.

GM GERMAN IN MEMORIAM In 1956, Parker opened his dojo in Pasadena, California, and began to build a clientele of eager, dedicated students. German was one of his earliest disciples, working by his side in designing and building his custom training hall. His Pasadena studio became a home to German, and training and building with Parker gave him the sense that he was an inherent part of the Kenpo system. Not merely a student of the art, German would later come to be recognized as one of “the originals” in American Kenpo.

One of the things that made Parker’s Kenpo system so successful is that it fit in well with the American mindset. Parker challenged German

TAI karate to be himself and to think outside of the box. He constantly encouraged the young black belt to cultivate his creativity and incorporate his own techniques into the Kenpo system.

Eventually, German would develop many of the codes of Kenpo and become the originator and choreographer of Kenpo’s “form number four.� The two colleagues maintained a lifelong friendship and collaboration, discussing systems,

refining techniques, and developing innovations that would mold and shape the Martial Arts as we know them today.

The exchange of ideas Parker encouraged his students not to limit their knowledge of the Martial Arts to his instruction alone.

German thrived on associating with some of the most prominent movers and shakers in the Martial Arts community. Years of training and exchanging ideas and techniques with the legends of his time shaped his own philosophy of the arts and ignited a creativity in him that became contagious to those around him.

GM David German

GM GERMAN IN MEMORIAM

TAI Karate Some things are caught, rather than taught. It is often during the quiet times of conversation and exchange of ideas that imagination is stimulated. German once entertained the late Mas Oyama in his home in California. He enjoyed the company of Oyama, the illustrious founder of Kyokushin Karate, who was famous for his amazing strength and prowess in fighting everything from wrestlers to wild bulls.

German championed the effectiveness of classical Martial Arts by mixing them with hardcore Grappling and Chin na. His Grappling experience dated back to his friendship with “Judo” Gene LeBell, hailed by many as the "toughest man alive." He conveyed this expertise in Grappling to others whose knowledge began with striking.

His joint locks and arm bars spiced up the late, great Al Thomas’ Budo Jujutsu system.

Years of training and collaborating with Thomas deemed German the official heir of the Budo Jujutsu system.

A living legend German continued to develop and expand his own innovations in the arts. Fusing his Kenpo expertise with Grappling and Chin Na, he created a hybrid system known as Transition-Action-Incorporated Karate. TAI Karate (Kenpo) integrates the devastating attacks of Kenpo with the painful joint-locking techniques of Jujutsu and Chin Na, masterfully blending the arts together in a fluid transition from striking to Grappling. The ancient Chinese seizing and controlling art of Chin Na redirects and uses an attacker's force against himself. When Chin Na is combined with the myriad of stand up and ground fighting techniques of TAI karate, the result is a highly effective self-defense system.

German endeavored to pass on the knowledge and expertise he had gained over the years to others willing and able to run with it. His connection and friendship with Dr. Christian Harfouche began over three decades

“Parker challenged German to be himself and to think outside of the box. He constantly encouraged the young black belt to cultivate his creativity and incorporate his own techniques into the Kenpo system.�

GM David German ago in California when the young man’s entire concept of the Martial Arts was transformed by this great American master and his ground-breaking fighting style. Upon obtaining his 10th Dan in TAI karate, Harfouche was named the official heir of German’s system.

Over the years, David German has served as a bodyguard to many notable figures and trained such celebrities as Wayne Newton. He has conducted over one thousand Martial Arts demonstrations in Las Vegas in such coveted venues as the Tropicana Hotel. His own television show, “The Art of Karate, By David German,” was a

GM GERMAN IN MEMORIAM source of education and information to multitudes in times past. This sixty-three year old master continues to astound seminar audiences and students alike with his encyclopedic knowledge of Chin Na, his blistering hand speed, and his brilliant creativity.

TAI Karate

GM David German

GM GERMAN IN MEMORIAM RIP 2005

GRANDMASTER DAVID GERMAN • 10th-degree black belt TAI karate • Kenpo master • Expert in Budo Jujutsu • Chin Na master • Expert in White-tiger Kung Fu • Expert in White-eyebrow Kung Fu • Expert in Grappling BUDO PRESENTS! David German was a student of the late Ed Parker and has thoroughly studied the relationships of martial movement in various arts such as Kenpo, Jujutsu, Aikido, and Chin na. In his new video, Kenpo: the TAI Way, he demonstrates and explains how to incorporate transitional actions as he moves swiftly and efficiently from striking to Grappling.

“TAI Karate (Kenpo) integrates the devastating attacks of Kenpo with the painful joint-locking techniques of Jujutsu and Chin Na�

Evan Pantazi

Attacks to body points One of the hardest areas to work Kyusho on also happens to be the deadliest, since nature provided substantial protection of the body cavity needed to keep the organs from serious damage. This level of information will take a lot of serious study to be workable at a level of proficiency to enable the accurate and correct targeting in a real combative situation. The protective anatomical structures are not only substantial, but also highly mobile and quickly protected by the entire human structure. It can instantly be covered by the arms, legs, head and shoulder as well as the torso itself. Add this to other dynamics like motion, excess weight, or muscle mass and you can easily see why this level will take far more time to be able to work adequately.

The torso is an intricate combination of bone, cartilage, tendons, muscle, fat and skin that was designed by nature to allow maximum adaptability and protection. The very existence of the individual counts heavily on this protection during the course of his or her lifetime, especially in rough situations where falling, jarring and purposeful attack comes into play.

The skin itself is connected to the muscle structures by a thin and very pliable membrane. This allows any contact to be slipped or shifted so as to avoid a more direct and concentrated connection. Add possible layers of fat that act as even more shock absorption and you will understand just the first level of organ protection each physical being has. The nerves which all lay in between the above- mentioned anatomical structures will be harder to compress against a back structure to cause the electrical impulse into the nervous system due to the highly mobile surface.

Next comes the muscle of the torso, which not only enables movement and control, it also adds layers of padding for underlying structures in some areas. The pectoral, latissimus and abdominal muscles are very large and can even be strengthened, causing an increase in the depth of the tissue forming even more protective padding. When a muscle is

“By striking the points on the side and frontal aspects of the body we have greater accessibility and much less possibility for physical and observable damage�

Kyusho

“The torso is an intricate combination of bone, cartilage, tendons, muscle, fat and skin that was designed by nature to allow maximum adaptability and protection�

Evan Pantazi

Evan Pantazi tightened the density, and thus protective potential, increase many times as well. Not only does this action cover the nerves and buffer the stress on the internal organs, but will not allow as easy a penetrating effect as the stress is shared by more surface tissue.

Cartilage and bone comprising the rib structure serve as an absorption and energy transference mechanism.

The ribs are rounded and angled to disperse direct impact or compression much like the arch of a bridge disperses weight to the bases. The hard bones are also connected to cartilage, which is pliable and adds even greater shock absorption and transference of induced concussion.

Even the soft composition and pliability of the organs themselves will absorb, contour and adjust to protect the function. So add all of these exterior structural layers, the soft pliable movement of the body itself capable of shifting, twisting and rolling to absorb impact, then add the mobility of the arm positions to move freely to all angles, the legs which can adjust distance or completely move the torso, and even the head that naturally moves to offset and maintain balance in body shifts, and you can see you are up against quite a bit.

All of this can be compensated for and serious internal damage can be administered by understanding these obstacles and just a few key components. The proper study will bring these into the practitioners capabilities with minimal effort, but lots of practice. Rather than conventional strength methods, the Kyusho practitioner learns the locations, angles and methods in which we can get past these layers to affect not only the related nerves, but also the actual source, or organ itself.

First we look at the tools required, as using the fist, palms, elbows, legs or feet will require sheer strength to battle these protective layers. By

Evan Pantazi

Kyusho using single knuckles (many are usable and contained in the various Arts, but not widely understood), fingertips, wrist bones, or certain parts of the foot, strength will no longer be the key factor. Also, by taking out the necessity for strength, the range of motion needed, as well as velocity, means the motion will be minimal, allowing less reaction time for the opponent to use their own mobility and body motion for protection.

The nerves that send the impulses from the brain to make the organs actually work travel down the spine with major branches exiting at each vertebrae and/or intercostal space (space between the ribs) and throughout the entire torso. Not only does each nerve branch out along the ribs and entire body, but they also innervate (run throughout) each inter nal organ causing it to function continuously and efficiently. In each of these intercostal spaces lay a vein, nerve and artery, as well as our access route to the functioning of the organs. Also, as stated in prior sections, pressure points are areas where we can actually get between the protective layers and manipulate a section of nerve more directly, and in turn, the internal functions of the individual.

Using special small tools or weapons to get to these points or locations between muscles, tendons, and bones at the correct angle will weaken or affect the source of the organs’ energy. This is also why the old Masters worked the Makiwara, in order to develop these calloused knuckles to further enhance the penetrating ability.

The points of the back which correspond to the acupuncture meridians (Bladder Meridian) are the most advanced for the Kyusho Practitioner. They are considered more advanced since first the

individual’s skill must also be advanced to get to them in conflict, their direct connection to the central nervous system as well as the organs themselves. But you must be aware that the possibility of severe and/or permanent damage to the individual is probable. These nerves exit out of the spine and by striking them at the correct angle (each has a specific angle of access), we can pinch them against a hard bony surface causing a strong nerve impulse directly into the central nervous system. But also possible is the physical damage to the spine itself, making the complete body structure dysfunctional. These points, when struck correctly, will stop most of the energy from reaching the organs and thus cause their failure.

By striking the points on the side and frontal aspects of the body we have greater accessibility and much less possibility for physical and observable damage.

However, they will cause pain, dysfunction, loss of body control, drop in blood pressure, as well as the accompanying symptoms of nausea and altered states of consciousness. These points will send excess energy into the organ and nervous system accounting for many possible effects.

Any single point attacked correctly can end the conflict; however, multiple points will cause more dysfunction and have much greater effect. This will account for many strange hand postures in ancient Kata, which were designated as blocking positions in modern application and teaching. These postures can be translated or made functional in offensive manners as opposed to defensive in several ways: By striking arm points prior to body points, the nerve impulse travels to the spine where it simultaneously transmits it to the

Evan Pantazi brain through a process called convergence, and to various other areas in the body called divergence. With his divergence the nerves and corresponding organs become more sensitive and even agitated, so when attacked through more direct means such as a focused strike to the organ or corresponding nerve, more dysfunction and systematic impairment ensues.

Consequently, if you attack a body point correctly you will send the impulse first to the organ, then to the spine (unless a spinal point is attacked and the impulse transfers directly to the central nervous system prior to the organ), where it converges to the brain and facilitating many other parts of the body and head en route. So by one hand

attacking the body it weakens the head, neck, and arms for the other attack.

Or by striking multiple body points you will have maximum effect on the organ and more serious potential. By striking them simultaneously, severe dysfunction and failure are imminent (depending again on proper access and severity of attack). As the body is very well balanced by nature it has the ability to shift excess energetic input to other areas for self protection/preservation. It is bilateral, meaning that

Kyusho everything on one side of the body and affected by the nerves on that side of the spine is also mirrored on the opposite side. So, say you attacked the liver via a pressure point, it would affect the organ as well as converge and diverge to other areas of the brain and body. But if you attacked two points simultaneously on both sides of the body, impulses will converge in between from both sides of the brain and nervous system.

With regard to the body points, caution and common sense must prevail and since experimentation can lead to severe health issues we do not recommend you attempt these. They are written here as historical accounts, informational interpretation only as to the possibilities and validation of hand postures prevailing

in ancient Kata or fighting systems.

On the front centerline of the body, there are several potent points that are easily accessible between the two abdominal sections, one in particular will illustrate some of the principles mentioned. Let’s start with the solar plexus, as most are familiar with it and most have been affected in this area in their practices or activities.

This point will make it difficult to breath as you are not only accessing a nerve, but also striking the diaphragm as well.

Struck straight in, this point is very painful and debilitating due to muscle spasms of the diaphragm and local area

Evan Pantazi

Kyusho muscles. This concentration of muscle tension also robs the strength from other muscles and systematically weakens the whole body structure. However, there is even a more disruptive way to attack this point that causes sharper and escalated pain and dysfunction. If you strike with a small surface like a single knuckle down and in at a 45-degree angle, you send a direct impulse into the nervous system.

If you use the full fist or even a palm you will not get the inter nal pain and dysfunction compared to using a single knuckle or similar attack. The full fist will stay mostly on the higher surfaces of the muscles and ribs; this will cause a tightening of the surrounding muscle structure, increasing the density and protective ability. By using the single knuckle you will hit the nerve with less surface area and send the impulse directly into the body cavity and internal organ; bypassing the rib and muscle protection, you will actually cause the muscles to release as opposed to tensing, as when attacked broadly. Not only will you get the symptoms mentioned above, but the pain will shoot also to the back, lower abdominal regions and legs. This will cause severe pain, contraction of the diaphragm leading to problems with breathing, loss of bladder control, dysfunction of leg muscles and altered state of consciousness. So not only is the location of the target important, more so is the angle of attack and the weapon for maximum effect.

As powerful as that may sound, this too can be intensified by using arm points prior to attacking the solar plexus.

As stated earlier, the nerves in the arm send nerve impulses to the spine where it simultaneously travels up to the brain and down throughout the spinal nerves.

This activates and agitates the entire central nervous system and many of the peripheral nerves as well, doubling or tripling the effects.

This process works both ways as it will also intensify all strikes and effects to the nerves of the head after the solar plexus strike with the same facilitation process.

So if you struck the opponent on ST-5, although the effects are impressive, there will be a far greater effect after the nerve impulse converged up the spine from the solar plexus attack to the brain and so stimulated all the cranial nerves in the process.

Or, for a more dangerous method, combine it with another body point that will cause even more serious ramifications and effects. Just on the side of the body at the same level of the solar plexus is a point called Spleen-21 at the midway point from front to back.

This point should be struck straight into the side with a small knuckle with a slight twist to pinch the intercostal nerve against the rib. As the simultaneous strikes will converge from 2 areas to the brain and throughout the central and peripheral nervous system, it will also converge to the organs themselves.

Now use any combination of those combinations such as the arms and multiple body attacks and you can imagine the escalation factor. For example, if you are assaulted and you reply with a strike to the nerves of the oncoming arm, then advance to the body for a double strike, it will be devastating to the internal organs and the health of the individual.

Hindering the normal function of an organ to cause failure or malfunction in time can cause toxicity, fatigue or impaired function of several body functions. Left untreated (old medicine or even accessibility to it was rare and not understood as necessary), more serious long-term effects will transpire; this is the method most plausibly used and responsible in the legends and stories of the “Delayed Death Touch�.

Once again, taking it into the source, not just on the surface.

Grand Masters

In the society of comfort, the old spirit of sacrifice of the pioneers is a little understood experience.

However, the tempering and significance of those experiences made the success of the Martial Arts that are enjoyed today possible.

So the refrain goes, “From rich grandparents… poor grandchildren!”

It is not, however, due to a lack in the Martial systems, which have been able to become more sophisticated and to evolve positively, just as our guest today on the cover tells us, Grand Master Kwang Sik Myung.

The error is founded on a vision of the world that sinks its roots into concepts like rights (in detriment to obligation or responsibility), peace, as the opposite of war (when it is nothing but its absence!), definitively, of the “Universal goodness of all things,” instead of the vision of a warrior: permanently on the alert in a hostile world where peace is more a result of his ability to re-channel tensions, not a result of “the natural state of things”. Therefore, it would be well for one to live in a state of “infinite desire for peace,” to become a knight, and prepare oneself for war since it is the conscious warrior that is the only true guarantor of peace, not the one who pursues it as a final objective, since in the end (and this is the paradox of things…), we always find that which we run from.

Hapkido Today a warrior of the old style visits these pages. A loyal heir of the tradition his Master left him, he shares with all of us in this interview the knowledge and experiences of a heroic time, the time of the pioneers, a mirror in which we shouldn’t stop looking at ourselves and how the world is going.

For that, I strongly suggest you listen with attention and respect his advice, without prejudices, because from the grand Masters there is always something to take advantage of that might not even be technical.

Meanwhile, the lovers of Hapkido are fortunate for having the chance to train the techniques that the Grand Master Kwang Sik Myung has wanted to share with them firsthand through a video done expressly for the followers of this publication.

As you well know, this audio-visual initiative from Budo is based on the idea of being able to have a quality learning vehicle to offset the lack of adequate attention that we deserve as a collective in the television mediums. These products are possible due to the kindness of their authors, but also to the interest of the students to be able to access material of high technical quality in their own homes, without the need of traveling to other countries and in this way to be able to choose their path, or to learn from many more sources than was possible in the past. Their prices are fixed according to demand, and as I often say, this, for good and for bad, is not soccer! So, we have to adapt ourselves.

For us, it is always a joy to be able to rely on people of high quality such as the Master who visits us today, and in this way to culminate our destiny as world leaders in the sector’s communication mediums. For that, and let the record show, that we appreciate your attention and monthly support in this initiative since it is you who make it possible with your passion, which is also ours, for the Martial Arts.

Alfredo Tucci

Hapkido

Grand Master Kwang Sik Myung Living history of Hapki-do President of the World Hapkido Federation, Grand Master Kwang Sik Myung is the heir of a very special legacy, a Martial discipline that he learned from the hands of its founder, Grand Master Choi Yong Sul. Esteemed readers, today we have on the cover and in this article, one of the most important figures in Martial Arts and in all assurance, an unavoidable reference if we are speaking about the world of Hapkido: Grand Master Kwang Sik Myung, 10th degree and president of the World Hapkido Federation. And this is not an

Grand Masters opinion or a trivial affirmation, in fact, the GM received the 10th degree level from the very hand of his Grand Master, the founder of this Art, Grand Master Choi Yong Sul. Our guest on the cover this month is undoubtedly a very special person and of great human quality and sensitivity, but as is frequent among traditional martial masters, with enormous character; he is a man of principles and with a Martial code of behavior.

This is the result of a whole life of dedication to the Art. His life changed when in 1950 he found himself in the Superior School. He was initiated into what was then called Hapkiyukwonsul. That was the denomination that Grand Master Choi Yong Sul gave to his Martial Art. An essential part of his training came at Taebaek mountain, where he lived a monastic life devoted to the practice of Ki, among other techniques. Afterward, he had to take the reins of his destiny and today he is the heir and president of the World Hapkido Federation.

Korean by birth, today and since some years ago, he lives in Los Angeles, California, from where he continues to strive in his destiny and obligation, which is nothing less than the spreading of his Martial Art. In said task, he has achieved great success— always teaching in a traditional way—thanks to his perseverance and also due to the great coverage in the best and most prestigious magazines around the world; he has written numerous books and done various demonstrative videos which have been distributed throughout a great number of countries.

As you will know, the 10th degree (or Dan) level is only given by the founders or creators of a Martial Art. This distinction, unless they decide it, can not be handed over by anyone else. Grand Master Choi Yong Sul only gave the 10th Dan to GM Myung. For those who aren’t alien to the martial traditions, that means that, in consequence, he was chosen by the founder as the heir to his legacy, that is, he was given the obligation to continue directing the Art of Hapkido in the world.

Grand Master Myung is, as you might imagine, a great expert in Hapki-doka. The majority of the grand masters in this beautiful Martial Art have been students of his and have been in the World Hapkido Federation.

Hapkido

GM Myung is everything one expects to find in a Grand Master, and what is rare since there are few who exist; an upright man, dedicated in body and soul to Hapkido, he never ceases to travel around the world giving seminars and teaching this beautiful Art. His dedication is only comparable to his enthusiasm, which never ceases to be amazing in a man of his age. As a person, he is a friend of his friends and a lover of his family, and he values loyalty above all else.

Today he comes to our pages in deserved recognition, and he does so willing to share all his experience and knowledge with us, reader friends, not only through this interview, but also with an extremely interesting instructional video project with which we are sure you will be pleased. It will help to make even more known many technical aspects of the Art; not in vain has his teaching methodology brought him worldwide fame.

At the request of GM Myung, we want to distinguish the meaning of

some terms used in the interview.

For example: the Master never says “TRAINING” rather “PRACTICE,” because he believes that the first word has a sportive connotation, while the second possesses a purely Martial meaning. For the Grand Master, Hapkido is a Martial Art in all its dimensions, NOT a sport, and therefore he will also speak about “DISCIPLES” and not about “STUDENTS”, etc…. The traditional Masters, like our guest today, possess a very defined sense of their Arts that might surprise a Westerner; nonetheless, it is good to remember that the strength of the current Arts come from their origins and that the way of the warrior is not the result of spontaneous creation rather from a way of seeing life. For that, don’t miss the following interview!

INTERVIEW Budo International: How was the practice of Hapkido with GM Choi Yong Sul? GM Myung: Very hard, too hard!

He lived in Taegu, in South Korea,

and he came to teach us in Seoul.; sometimes we had to go there, and we covered many kilometers to be able to learn, and that developed a true spirit of sacrifice in us. People seek the comfortable and many, many times quality doesn’t reside near comfort. He was truly very hard.

Budo Int.: What memories do you have of that practice?

GM Myung: The pain. It was constantly painful! He always made us cry, he was very tough.

Master Choi had a very strong character and a great personality and sometimes it seemed to me that he was going to break my arm and he told me: “You have to have patience,” and he squeezed even harder. Sometimes I really thought I was going to die!

Budo Int.: Did you ever think about abandoning it?

GM Myung: No, never! Though at times I thought I must be crazy to continue practicing. Now I am very satisfied for having continued forward, but at that time, I was only happy when I arrived home.

Grand Masters

Budo Int.: What techniques were the most dangerous and which of them were the hardest to learn?

GM Myung: Many techniques.

The majority of the techniques in Hapkido can be very dangerous.

Budo Int.: In all these years, what was the most difficult moment for you?

GM Myung: Undoubtedly when I retired to the mountains to learn with the monks; that was very tough, it was very hard for me.

Budo Int.: Why did you make the decision to retire to the mountains?

GM Myung: Because, even though I had learned a lot, I wanted to have a higher level in my mind, it was a fight with myself. I wanted more and to practice more intensely.

Budo Int.: Did it take very long for you to reach your objectives?

GM Myung: I was in the monastery a long time‌, in the end, I felt as if I was part of a family there. They taught me to do good Ki meditation and to improve my technique. This is why my religion is Hapkido.

Budo Int.: Would you recommend to your disciples that they

go through that same experience?

GM Myung: Of course, that is why I am writing a book explaining my experiences, though I already have eleven books written about techniques, this one is more centered on meditation. If I die, I want this to be my legacy for my disciples.

Budo Int.: What does a Hapkido practitioner need in order to reach the mastery that you possess?

GM Myung: First, he or she must have humility and the spirit of sacrifice in order to be able to give everything without asking for

Hapkido anything in return. But especially, an open mind and a positive attitude. Otherwise, Hapkido wouldn’t exist, nor the World Federation.

Budo Int.: How and why are there so many Hapkido schools in Spain?

GM Myung: In Hapkido, there are many “Kwan” schools. That is not any problem given that all of them have the same principles. Everything begins with the first generation of Masters, and from there arise the following generations, which, logically, go along creating schools; but it is here, and probably for a lack of knowledge, where confusions arise. There is only one Hapkido! There are many different schools since, as you all know, Hapkido is an Art and each one must express himself in his own way. Therefore, it doesn’t matter how many “kwan” schools there are, what is truly important is that all of them are united where the founder, GM Choi, put all his confidence, that is to say, in the world organization that he created, the World Hapkido Federation.

Budo Int.: Why the request to mention the importance of some terms?

GM Myung: Hapkido is a true Martial Art, NOT a sport. It is Art and science, with its own principles and fundamental values such as respect, humility, loyalty, and the love of one’s country, of one’s parents, etc…., which are essential for the adequate practice.

Keep in mind that Hapkido, with the pressure of only one finger on a vital point of the body, can cause death, therefore, you will understand the great importance that molding the character of one who receives these teachings has. A martial artist “PRACTICES,” while an athlete “TRAINS”. From a true Art, one can’t try to make a sport, with its rules and norms, since in the street, unfortunately, there are no rules and no norms; however, one can have events where the martial artist (always when his master permits it) develops and shows his skills, but these are two quite different things. The true martial artist has to leave his ego aside.

Budo Int.: How do you feel knowing that you are supported by so many disciples from all the countries of the world?

GM Myung: Very proud; they are all very different, but they have something in common: they work very hard and they know that they are practicing a true Martial Art. Budo Int.: How would you define Hapkido, in your own words?

GM Myung: Hapkido is the path of harmony. Really, Hapkido is like the mother of all the Martial Arts. A mother that has many children and Hapkido, being the most complete Art, is as if it had many and different Arts, combat and martial. It is like a hand, and each finger is an art: Karate, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Ki Gong, etc.

Budo Int.: Is Hapkido different now than it was when practiced at its beginnings?

Grand Masters

Hapkido GM Myung: Of course, it has evolved and it has developed with the practice and teaching. We have researched the way to purify it, and how to adapt it to the new times. The situations of aggression are not the same now as they were fifty years ago, nor is the mentality of the students. I always work in the direction of improving, not only the Martial Art in and of itself, but also, and no less importantly, the way that it can be taught better. Through time and after thousands of seminars in many countries, I’ve been able to observe these necessities when they arise and for that every year I make a new video in order to show the improvements, as well as the new techniques.

Budo Int.: Do you think that this development can confuse Hapkido practitioners?

GM Myung: No, certainly not. The techniques always have the same fundamental principles, the same essence; the only thing that changes is how they are practiced and the focus. For example, the disciples in the United States, Spain, or Korea don’t have the same worries. The Koreans prefer the kicks because Korea is a country with a lot of mountains and that makes people have strong legs. In America, they prefer the punches.

So, Hapkido has the same roots for everyone: the only thing that changes is the way in which it is taught, adapting itself to the social circumstances, since the ways of aggression are different in each country; but what never changes, nor will they ever change, are the fundamental principles.

Grand Masters Budo Int.: What principles are you referring to?

GM Myung: That of water, of harmony, and of the circle.

Budo Int.: What meaning do they have?

GM Myung: The first one means that just like water can shape, wear down, and even destroy rock, a small power can confront a great power.

A person smaller or weaker than another doesn’t need strength to win because Hapkido utilizes pressure points in a way that allows one to injure easily.

In its beginnings, Hapkido was only taught to members of the nobility, the royal family, and to the monks, who were physically weaker than men who worked in the countryside. It was a secret Martial Art and it taught one how to confront adversaries successfully, stronger adversaries, or even against various adversaries at the same time. It is easy to close the fist, but if you twist a finger, or even break it, you can make an adversary go down. We teach these kinds of techniques.

The second refers to the human body having two energy currents: the internal and the external. The external is easy to see: how you strike, how fast you can run, how high you can jump‌ All that is limited, we can test it in the Olympic Games: the scores differ very little one from the other, but the internal energy has no limits.

Breathing has a lot to do with this and for that we do breathing exercises in every class. The Korean philosophy says that the universe is immense and the human body is small, but man can equal the universe by joining with it. Just as the moon and the sun exist, the human body also has two parts that are called in Korean, Um and Yang.

Hapkido The year has four seasons, man has four limbs. There are 12 acupuncture lines like the months of the year, and there are 365 pressure points, like the days of the year.

The pressure points can be utilized in two ways: one can give life with them, or one can take it away. In Hapkido, there are various ways of applying pressure; if you apply pressure in a specific way you can cure, if what you want is to do damage, a Hapkidoca can numb, injure, and even kill.

The third principle is the circle and it speaks of union. When a man and a woman unite, they form a family, they also make

their community and the world grow. Each one of us forms a part of the whole in which we must try to make harmony and peace prevalent.

Budo Int.: To finish, tell us what Hapkido represents to you?

GM Myung.: Without a doubt, Hapkido is my life and my religion, a way of life.

Budo Int.: Thank you for your words and we appreciate your wanting to share your knowledge with our readers.

GM Myung: Thank you.

Grand Masters

“The Korean philosophy says that the universe is immense and the human body is small, but man can equal the universe by joining with it�

“Best Karate Kumite”. George Bierman Generally speaking, if you ask someone, “why are you in Martial Arts”, they will tell you it's because they want to learn how to fight. You usually never hear them say that they wanted to learn kata, weapons or wazas. I guess all of us have a little of that “I want to be a tough guy” or you could be motivated by a real need to protect yourself.

Whatever the reason, in this DVD I discuss Basic and Advanced kumite techniques and concepts that all of us should know, whether you are an advanced student or just beginning, and some things that have worked for me over and over.

Some can be used on the street but I'm mainly focusing on tournament techniques. I can tell you over and over to keep your hands up to protect your face. Some of you may do it and some may not. Once you get hit in the face several times by not doing it, you will. I began my Martial Arts training in 1973 and this is a collection of proven techniques and strategies that have worked well for me in competition to present day.

I have combined strategies, footwork, techniques and combinations that lead me to well over 2000 tournament wins and a World Champion fighter in St. Petersburg, Russia. They work!

LANGUAGES: ENGLISH, ESPAÑOL, ITALIANO, FRANÇAIS

REF.: • BIERMAN3

All DVDs, wichi is produced by Budo International, si provided and alone in the formats DVD-5 or MPEG-2, in VCD, DivX or the like is however neves offered with a special holograma sticker. Besides our DVD is characteristed coverings by the hig quality in pressure and material. If this DVD and/or the DVD covering do not corespond to the requirements specified above, it concerns illegal pirat copy.

ORDERS: Budo international.com

The DVD "Krav Maga Research and Development" comes from the will of four experts in Krav Maga and combat sports, Christian Wilmouth and Faustino Hernandez, Dan Zahdour and Jerome Lidoyne. To date, they lead several clubs and a group of twenty instructors and monitors from multiple disciplines, from Krav Maga or Boxing to the MMA, Mixed Martial Arts. This work is not intended to highlight a new method or a specific branch of Krav Maga, it simply aims to present a Krav Maga program that focuses on the importance of the "content" and share their experi

REF.: KMRED1

All DVDs, wichi is produced by Budo International, si provided and alone in the formats DVD-5 or MPEG-2, in VCD, DivX or the like is however neves offered with a special holograma sticker. Besides our DVD is characteristed coverings by the hig quality in pressure and material. If this DVD and/or the DVD covering do not corespond to the requirements specified above, it concerns illegal pirat copy.

ORDERS: Budo international.com

This new work on Fu-Shih Kenpo by Soke Raul Gutierrez is centered on the traditional forms of the style, their applications and self defence. We will have a deeper insight into the form "The Tiger Defends Himself", with each of the corresponding technical applications, the form "Tiger Teeth", and a special work on weapons. Then the Master will explain in detail the extense series of advance techniques on self defence, indicating the whys of certain movements, the necesary precautions to take into account, possible angles and the variations that could be applied in each technical group.

The DVD completes itself with a series of combat techniques for competition and conditioning work. where Master Gutierrez explains how to prepare oneself physically with the use of weapons, arms and leg conditioning, self defence preparation and for combat. Without any doubt this work is rich in knowledge based on the exchange and coordination of different styles and how to learn to respect the differences from each source of works.

REF.: • FUSHIH-2 All DVDs, wichi is produced by Budo International, si provided and alone in the formats DVD-5 or MPEG-2, in VCD, DivX or the like is however neves offered with a special holograma sticker. Besides our DVD is characteristed coverings by the hig quality in pressure and material. If this DVD and/or the DVD covering do not corespond to the requirements specified above, it concerns illegal pirat copy.

ORDERS: Budo international.com

The "Kyusho Tactical Control Program" (KTCP), was designed for Subject control escalation with Legal, Medical and Tactical Deployment research, field-testing and coordination. The scope of this program is for use by but not limited to, Law Enforcement, Security, Emergency Medical or Response, Coast Guard, Military, Governmental Agencies, Body Guards and Personal Security. This Basic Module is comprised of one set of 12 primary targets and integrated into 4 modules of escalating force restraint continuums. There are several weak structures in the human body that can be utilized by an Agent to simply gain control of a perpetrator more efficiently than conventional use of force methods. This would be in the protocol should a situation escalate past the verbal command stage. These Kyusho (Vital) points are where the Agent can make use of internal systems of physical control such as, Nerves, Tendon Structure and natural Nerve Reflexes of the body. Not requiring heavy force Fine or complex motor control or even sight… all of which is subject to failure and loss in high adrenaline states. This information is dedicated to the Brave and Resilient Members of these Agencies around the world… Thank you for what you do!

REF.: • KYUSHO 22

All DVDs, wichi is produced by Budo International, si provided and alone in the formats DVD-5 or MPEG-2, in VCD, DivX or the like is however neves offered with a special holograma sticker. Besides our DVD is characteristed coverings by the hig quality in pressure and material. If this DVD and/or the DVD covering do not corespond to the requirements specified above, it concerns illegal pirat copy.

ORDERS: Budo international.com

WING CHUN GUNG GUNG FU: FU: The Explosive Art of Close Range Combat

Five brand new Wing Chun DVDs 1 DVD: “Bot” Jom Doh Basics Complete “Bot” Jom Doh Form, 108 Motions, Historical Information about the Wing Chun Broadswords, Detailed Knife Blocking and Striking Techniques, “Bot” Jom Doh Footwork, Details of the footwork orientation of the form, One-man “Bot” Jom Doh Drills 2 DVD set: “Bot” Jom Doh, Applications, Drills, Concepts & Principles Applications of the motions from the “Bot” Jom Doh form, Knife vs. Knife, Knife vs.

Pole, Drills, Concepts and Principles, Specially created Knife drills for the Wooden Dummy, Detailed Knife Blocking and Striking, Knife techniques as compared to their empty-hand counterparts, Cutting Principles

Sifu Randy Williams’ extensive collection of books on Wing Chun in 6 volumes, the series contains the history of Wing Chun, the theory and description of all Wing Chun forms in detail, Volume 6 is focused on instructing the system and provides additional information about Wing Chun Combat Theory from A to Z! This great work, originally written in 1988 and newly revised and updated is a must for the library of any serious student of the art.

You can order the entire series as a set of 6 books, or by individual volume, and the new DVDs can also be ordered individually or in sets directly from us through our website:

1 DVD: CRCA Wing Chun “Biu Jitsu” Groundfighting Contents: The concept of “Reverse Engineering,” Chokes; Rear, Front Standing, “Guillotine,” Head-and-Arm, Side-Mount Shoulder Choke, and many other Groundfighting drills and techniques.

2 DVD set: “Look Deem Boon” Gwun Volume 1 ( 55 min. ) Content: Pole Details, Pole Drills, Pole Footwork, Form Overview, “Look Deem Boon” Gwun Form, 6 ½ Strikes of the Pole, Applications: Pole vs. Pole

www.shop.crca.de One Volume SingleWeapon DVD Biu Jitsu DVD DVD Set (all 5)

€ 49,90 € 39,90 € 25,90 € 149,90

The shipping & handling costs are not included for more information please contact us: Copyright © 1989 CRCA Enterprises Publisher CRCA-Lopez / Mario Lopez, Atroper Str. 56, 47226 Duisburg, Germany E-Mail: info@crca.de

“Look Deem Boon” Gwun Volume 2 (60 min.)

Heavybag Drills, Dummy Drills, Two Man Drills, Form overview, Pole vs. Knife

Always with the Ochikara, "The Great Strength" (called e-bunto in the Shizen vernacular tongue) or secret wisdom of the ancient Miryoku Japanese shamans, as a backdrop, the author takes us into a world of genuine reflections that are capable to move at once both the reader's heart and head, thus placing him continuously in front of the abyss of the invisible, as the true final frontier of personal and collective consciousness.

The spiritual taken not as religion, but as the study of the invisible, was the way of the ancient Miryoku sages to approach the mystery in the framework of a culture as rich as unknown, to which the author has wholeheartedly devoted.

Alfredo Tucci, Manager Director to Budo International Publishing Co. and author in the past 30 years of a large number of titles about the Warrior's Way, offers us a set of extraordinary and profound reflections, which can be read individually in no particular order. Each one of them opens up a window to us through which we can take a look at the most varied subjects from an unexpected angle, now dotted with humor now with forcefulness and grandiosity, placing us in front of eternal matters with the view of the one who has just arrived and doesn't agree with the common places in which everyone coincides.

We can affirm with conviction that no reader will be indifferent to this book; such is the strength and intensity of its contents. Saying this is saying a lot in a world crowded with collective mangers, interested and behavioral ideologies, manipulators and, in short, spurious interests and mediocrity. It is therefore a text for big souls and intelligent people who are ready to look at life and mystery with the freedom of the most restless and scrutinizing minds, without dogmas, without transient morals, without subterfuges...

REF.: • LEVI LEVI8

All DVDs, wichi is produced by Budo International, si provided and alone in the formats DVD-5 or MPEG-2, in VCD, DivX or the like is however neves offered with a special holograma sticker. Besides our DVD is characteristed coverings by the hig quality in pressure and material. If this DVD and/or the DVD covering do not corespond to the requirements specified above, it concerns illegal pirat copy.

ORDERS: Budo international.com