Martial arts magazine budo international july&august 2014

"One single desire overwhelms me: that of discovering what lies behind the visible, of piercing the mystery that gives me life and takes it from me, and of knowing whether an invisible and immutable presence is hidden beyond the incessant flow of the world."

Nikos Kazantzakis mmersed in the morass of everyday life, overwhelmed by the urgencies, there where the leaves are the only forest we can imagine, in the realm of confusion, we will never find an answer. Many times not only do we need to get out of that environment, but we need something more complex... that it be this environment what get out of us! A much more complex energetic maneuver‌ For most scholars of spirituality, energy body is the synthesis of the irradiations of the soul; but the latter does not dwell in a cloud separate from any other reality; even though it is the substantial part of our self, it is, when incarnated, living a physical experience. Like a fish in water is wet, or the bird is exposed to the winds and inclemency of its environment, the spirit and matter that make up our reality interact with their surroundings.

These reflections result inevitably in an opaque language, but, what is clear in the invisible if not what derives from the own personal experience? And more importantly, what the heck has all this to do with Martial Arts? I shall try to answer both questions, but let me first go on with my reflections on the important issue that opened in the first paragraph.

The ancients said that the energy of the environment was constantly crossing with our luminous egg, wrapping it, going through it and finally imposing on it, to incrust into it when such energy found in our light sphere similar frequencies, where they were "glued" by sympathy in vibratory clusters.

This process of accumulation and saturation of specific frequencies, both positive and negative, polarized abruptly every time they came to their peak.

A master of mine said that pollution was much of something on a determined place; I know no better definition. This pile of "something" is consequently always negative. It makes us turn extremely dense and leads us to collapse.

The ancient Shizen Miryoku defined the personal Universe as a network of energies and tension that held our world, like a spider web suspended at its ends. When a rope sustains too much weight, it brings about a sinking of the being, which eventually leads to a reversal in the energetic planes, so that the lower chakras begin to act outside their natural axis, leading the individual to a state of disharmony and confusion. Our Universe of tensions sinks down, such as space-time in the proximity of a black hole, and everything that's around the person tends to be absorbed as if it was sucked into a downward spiral, just like water going down the drain.

Eventually, the strings that sustain our Universe of tensions can't hold any longer the weight of everything that is constantly falling into that hollow and so fasteners end up breaking, and that is manifested through events framed in the kind of extremophiles. As a Spanish proverb goes, "everybody makes firewood of the fallen tree", or "for a skinny dog all are fleas", and so, in many other cultures, you

I

"If you do not raise your eyes you will believe you are the highest point."

Anonymous

will find similar sayings expressing the same idea. First falls one area of your life, then the next, and so on. Spiritual and personal care are in charge of avoiding such accumulation and realign the luminous spheres, attending to what crosses in our lives.

The natural process of life is wear; as years go by and with the friction involved in the very act of living, the encounter with the others, with the interaction with the world and the manifestation of our natures, with our destinies, the waters of our rivers mix, intermingle; sometimes are contaminated, others are absorbed by larger rivers, descend by gorges or fall into vertiginous waterfalls where are vivified or evaporate.

There were many ancient cultures in which shamans took care of people by "cleaning" what surrounded them, their spiritual bodies. The idea that what we are ends just there, on the border of the visible, is just another deception of the senses. Invisible bonds join mother and child, husband and wife, pet and owner... ties that are perceptible for those who have the needed sensitivity, and that, as is frequently the case, interweave into extraordinary events that surpass any materialistic explanation.

We are bubbles of energy, luminous eggs crimped in lines of tension with what is around us, constantly embroiled in bigger spheres that have their own identity, and surrounded by all kinds of forces and consciousness. We load our memories and endure the interference of the force of those who think of us, or of those who feel us. We are constantly exposed to receive the arrows we launched in the past toward the future, which inevitably will find us, because everything returns, as the waves of a stone in a pond that when hitting its limits, reverberate back to point of origin.

The invisible world is characterized precisely by that, i.e., by not being visible to the eyes. Neither is the heat, but we can perceive by other means, or ultraviolet light which we can measure today. Ignorance of something does not corroborate its inexistence. For those who know me little, or haven't read me much (if this is your first time, welcome!), I need and I must make clear what exactly has all this to do with Martial Arts. Well, gentlemen: Everything and nothing.

From my own experience, everything, because for me, Martial Arts have always been an initiation experience, a gateway to understanding other conscience and energetic realities and precisely therein lies its principal value. The rest, without detriment to other positions that I respect and interest me, I saw it summarized in a single sentence more suitable for a detergent ad: "This kills better." Given that it wasn't within my prime interests the fact of going around killing people (maybe it was, but symbolically, to kill myself and my own stupidity) you will easily understand that I was never caught by such aspect of the subject. I've always felt the warrior's way as the antechamber to something greater, and as a means to acquire the enough discipline, experience and energy that allow me interact with reality planes tremendously more complex and certainly more dangerous.

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

https://www.facebook.com/alfredo.tucci.5

Meanwhile, this is my destiny: to make a monthly magazine that summons the best I can find on formulas, traditions, Masters and styles that, today as well as in in the past, have left marked the trails and teachings of the way of the warrior. I hope, wish and always strive that my job is well done, because my job is to serve the noble warriors at their highest purposes, so often diminished by a modern society that only exalts to the one who hoards money, and that tries to look away at everything concerning those primal instincts that every warrior must overcome in order to consecrate himself in his greatness. If, for me, all this is besides the prelude to a greater and invisible knowledge, this is just my way of living it; it doesn't mean it's better or worse.

Meanwhile, this is my destiny: to make a monthly magazine that summons the best I can find on formulas, traditions, Masters and styles that, today as well as in in the past, have left marked the trails and teachings of the way of the warrior. I hope, wish and always strive that my job is well done, because my job is to serve the noble warriors at their highest purposes, so often diminished by a modern society that only exalts to the one who hoards money, and that tries to turn a blind eye at everything concerning those primal instincts that every warrior must overcome in order to consecrate himself in his greatness. If, for me, all this is besides the prelude to a greater and invisible knowledge, this is just my way of living it; it doesn't mean it's better or worse.

At the end of the day, everything's personal in this life and each one of us builds a universe of his own by dint of predilections. Parting from this, the true respect is above any doubt; otherwise one would be being arrogant and pretentious. From here, set in this monthly watchtower that life has placed in my hands, I'll limit myself to share with you my thoughts without any intention to convince, but with conviction; without pretending to deny, but selecting. My goal with the magazine is that, whatever your preference in the Universe of Martial Arts, you can find in our pages useful lessons, suggestive proposals, rich reflections that might magnify your view of a theme as extensive as thrilling.

Vital Points

"The best Vital Points videos in the world, all from the hand of a great Master"

The great revelation of the last two decades Master Pantazi presents us on this occasion a special video which focuses on personal defense, by selecting the 10 most common and effective Kyusho points located in the human body. Depending on the type of aggression, grip or blow, Pantazi suggests a couple of applications for each point using quick techniques, with one or two simple movements, that will successfully solve such situations, for men as well as for women. Also, the using of these pressure points takes into account the legal aspect, by means of techniques that despite no causing visible damage, will produce pain and will bring about enough dysfunction as to override the aggressor making us possible to escape. A true and practical guide complemented by a systematic handbook that explains every detail allowing even the uninitiated to enhance their defense capability.

Many of his DVD's are among the top-sellers of all times. For his quality and reliability, Master Pantazi has brought the skills and knowledge of vital points up to a higher level among all the students around the world of Martial Arts.

El Gran Maestro

Karate The great character of modern Karate Kanazawa is currently the living master with the greatest projection within Shotokan Karate. His personality and human category have turned him into a global figure, an essential reference of true Karate. This video was shot with the intention of going far beyond what other DVDs had disclosed about this great Karate Master. The real image of Kanazawa sensei, already mature but still in his prime, has been saved forever in this video that has been for many years admired by all those friends who really love Karate all over the world. Other instructional videos were made ??after, but this one has always stood out among all of them.

In "Kanazawa, the legend of Karate-do" you'll find a unique chance to discover the Master, the man and the warrior, without limits or restrictions. Kanazawa, who can express himself in perfect in English, responded to our request in his own language, so that he could feel more at ease to transmit the exact meaning of his message, which it has been translated into all six languages ??in which we publish the magazine. Besides an exclusive interview, do not miss Kanazawa sensei practicing Tai Chi, Kata and Bunkai-Kumite in nature.

A video to be kept forever, that all Karate fans should treasure in their collection and always enjoy.

Documentary

A fantastic eye-opening documentary of the other Bruce Lee, the person and his legacy It was the second production of its time produced by Budo International for Universal Pictures through its European Division. An exceptional document on the legacy of Bruce Lee, the most prominent star of the Martial firmament of all times. In this program we meet that other Bruce Lee who, beyond the cinematic star, was within the reach of only very few. Some of the most important characters in his life appear in this video, some now dead alas, as the Great Ted Wong. Students of first and second generation speak of Jeet Kune Do and its creator. The documentary cites a lot of Bruce Lee's unknown anecdotes, and his writings, his students, his legacy as a coach, philosopher and as a real revolutionary of modern Martial Arts are thoroughly reviewed.

The success of this work has permitted that it continues to be sold and keeps occupying a worthy place among the most accepted ones by our dear readers. If you still don't have it ... Do not miss it, folks!

"A documentary that made history, the best and most accurate research on the legacy of the Little Dragon"

"An exceptional team of great champions and Poomse especialists.

WTF Official Video"

Taekwondo: The best Champions in the best set of videos!

By the hand of the Spanish Taekwondo great titleholder team, several times World Champion, and the with the official seal of the Federation Spanish, renowned for its successes in the field, these two videos teach all forms studied in Taekwondo WTF. For those concerned, there are also books on this subject available in 6 languages.

POOMSAE Volume 1 to 8 As a concatenation of movements and techniques, the "forms" are the basic catalog of each style, the basic expression of every Martial Art, in which we find the rhythms, aesthetics and optimum models. In ancient times, forms were also the main way of preser ving the technical legacy of a style, and thus the purity of execution is so highly valued in its execution. The Poomseas presented in this the 2nd DVD, Jang Taegeuk, 1 to 8, are the so-called basic forms, indispensable for the early grades up to the black belt. And for that, we couldn't have better supporters than the competitors of the successful SPANISH team of Technique and Poomsea, the most beautiful manifestation form of this Martial Art.

POOMSAE. Volume 9 to 17 Technique, plasticity, strength, power, coordination, concentration, focus, balance..., all this makes of the Poomsae the true soul of Taekwondo. In this work, supervised by the Spanish Taekwondo Federation, undoubtedly one of the most important and prized worldwide, are shown the so-called superior Poomsae: Koryo, Keumgang, Taebaek, Pyongwon, Sipjin, Jitae, Chonkwon, Hansu and Ilyeo. Champions of the World, Europe and Spain, both male and female, and at all age, they execute the official forms as they should be performed in accordance with the highest standards within the WTF World Taekwondo Federation.

Physical Preparation A Martial Cinema star and an athlete off the charts Cynthia Rothrock, the Queen of Kung Fu and undisputed star of Hollywood action films, presents us in this video the work her stretching routine with all the exercises that have helped her achieve her extraordinary flexibility level. Make of this video your own training manual, and remember that the stretching exercises we least like are usually the most beneficial ones, those the body needs to strengthen itself.

Follow the exercises with Cynthia, choose a couple of exercises to work out with them and once you master them, pick two more. We will study many stretching exercises in their version for beginners, and slowly, as you progress, she will lead you gradually to more advanced levels.

A video that has become a classic of Martial Arts no matter what style you practice, flexibility is always important.

"Professional Stretching with the Queen of Kung Fu!"

"A complex Art explained simple by a great master"

Kung Fu A Grand Master of Kung Fu teaches Chin Na Two volumes to analyze one of the most lethal and least known techniques of Chinese Arts. But for Sifu Cangelosi there is only one Kung Fu, in which styles are just branches of the same trunk and a true martial artist should study them all.

This time, he offers us a work on Chin Na, the art of gripping and controlling the opponent. Chin Na is not a traditional combat method, but a sophisticated and extensive technical background present in all styles of the Chinese Martial Art, emphasizing Tang Lang, Pa Kua or Tai Chi Chuan, among others. Over the centuries, it has undergone a technical refinement incorporating joint levers, pressure on nerve points, tendon and muscle blocks, respiratory and blood chokes, projections and some blows and percussion.

In its more advanced levels, Chin Na always seeks the path of the energy, of the Chi, and becomes a formidable weapon whose power and efficiency can be modulated, thus maintaining the most complete respect for the opponent. An excellent alternative to solve, with no damage, a confrontational situation. In this first volume, Sifu Cangelosi focuses particularly on levers at the elbow joint with the arm extended.

In the second installment, Master Cangelosi approaches joint levers from the shoulder, to the wrist and making a special emphasis on the fingers.

The school of Sifu Cangelosi extends throughout Europe and has achieved the recognition of seriousness and the highest status within the sector. In fact, his efforts to bring back Kung Fu to the place it deserves in the West after years of bad press are just priceless.

Extremely educational, in this video, Master Cangelosi explains with a broad view each technique from very different perspectives, displaying the great teaching talent that has always characterized him.

WingTsun Grandmaster pontificates about Wing Tsun It was the first time in history that EWTO published an official DVD with the first and second section of the wooden Dummy and its applications. The leader of EWTO, Grandmaster Dr. Keith R. Kernspecht and his team of expert WingTsun Masters, present the first two parts of the wooden dummy form, the classical applications of the said parts (Wooden Dummy Chi -Sao), and the fighting series and their applications to real combat. You will also find some scenes from Langenzell Castle, where Grandmaster Kernspecht teaches how to combine the techniques freely without a preset order, something that had never before been shown in images.

A world WT classic in a job that everyone should have, directed by the most influential Master in the art of Yip Man Master in decades.

"The great figure of the renaissance of modern WigTsun"

Kick Boxing & Muay Thai The Great Arjan that changed the history of Muay Thai Arjan Marco de Cesaris has the highest rank awarded by the highest Thai institutions. His recovery labor of the Muat Thai Boran, the oldest and most traditional part of the fighting arts of Thailand has earned him recognition worldwide as one of the unquestionably greatest experts in the field.

In this video, Marco de Cesaris Arjarn develops for you a routine that will allow you strengthening your body and prevent injury. Many of the greatest masters and champions have taken their first steps in their martial discipline by hitting a sand bag in a more or less correct way in the garage of their own homes, hanging from a tree or fixed to a wall by hand.

In this video, for the first time and by the hand of Arjarn Marco de Cesaris you'll find a systematic approximation to the use of this essential element: you will see among other things, the way to develop cardiac endurance and muscle explosiveness to your arm and leg blows, how to condition your bones and how to train the techniques of defense and counterattack with the bag in movement.

The video includes a special section devoted to bag training of traditional techniques of Muay Boran, Mae Mai and Look Mai.

"A great international Master to whom Thailand succumbed "

Kapap

Professional Self-Defense An indispensable reference to Israeli Martial Arts Major Avi Nardia, a leading official instructors for the Israeli army and police forces in the field of counter-terrorism and CQB, and Ben Krajmalnik, have made a new DVD on basic firearms and safety, and training techniques derived from The Instinctive Combat Shooting (IPSC). IPSC is a shooting method based on instinctive and cinematic reactions to shoot in short distances in fast and dynamic situations.

A discipline of self-defense to survive in a life threat situation, where high speed and accuracy are required and you have to pull out the gun and shoot at a short distance, without using the scope.

In this first volume we will study: handling the weapon (revolver and semiautomatic); practice of dry firing and safety; "Point Shooting" or instinctive shooting in short distance and movement; gun retention exercises under stress and multiple attackers; gun loading exercises, with charger, with one hand ... and finally gallery practice with pistols, AK-74 and M-4 rifles, M-249 machine gun and even M-16 grenade launcher.

Avi Nardia is also a scholar of traditional styles and mentor and coach of special groups in several countries; he spends his life traveling and giving seminars; lately he's been working with the tribes of Northern Canada.

"There are many experts... but only one Avi Nardia..."

Grappling Un nivel técnico de Grappling extraordinario “COMBAT SUBMISSION WRESTLING VOL.1”. ERIK PAULSON En este video disfrutareis de las enseñanzas de Erik Paulson, primer occidental que conquisto el titulo de campeón del mundo Shooto en Japón y actualmente instructor en la academia de Dan Inosanto. Erik Paulson, uno de los mas respetados entrenadores en el mundo de las MMA ha refinado sus técnicas de grappling bajo la denominación de Combat Submission Wrestling, gracias a un impresionante bagaje que incluye Judo, Boxeo, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Shootwrestling, Jeet Kune Do (Dan Inosanto) y Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Machado). En este video disfrutareis de las enseñanzas de Erik Paulson, primer occidental que conquisto el titulo de campeón del mundo Shooto en Japón. Un excelente video instruccional con el que aprenderéis los detalles que todo luchador de campeonatos "sin reglas" debe conocer.

“COMBAT SUBMISSION WRESTLING VOL.1”. ERIK PAULSON Erik Paulson, uno de los mas respetados entrenadores en el mundo de las MMA ha refinado sus técnicas de grappling bajo la denominación de Combat Submission Wrestling, gracias a un impresionante bagaje que incluye Judo, Boxeo, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Shootwrestling, Jeet Kune Do (Dan Inosanto) y Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Machado).Erik Paulson, uno de los mas respetados entrenadores en el mundo de las MMA ha refinado sus técnicas de grappling bajo la denominación de Combat Submission Wrestling, gracias a un impresionante bagaje que incluye Judo, Boxeo, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Shootwrestling, Jeet Kune Do (Dan Inosanto) y Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Machado). En este segundo video os muestra dos tipos de estrategias: una planteada para el golpeo de puños y patadas, mediante los ejercicios de Sparring que os permitirán reaccionar de forma "casi" automática a la respuesta de vuestro adversario, y la otra orientada a la finalización en la lucha de suelo, y centrada en esta ocasión en la ejecución de la técnica Chicken Wing desde múltiples posiciones.

"Perhaps the world's best coach and teacher in the art"

Eskrima In earlier columns on knife fighting I pointed out already that knife fighting is an indispensable element in modern self-defense within the martial arts. The knife fight becomes increasingly popular and more teachers agree with my view on self-defense against a knife: “only if you know how to handle a knife you can defend yourself against a knife”. If you are a trained knife fighter, you simply have a better chance against a knife fighter or against someone who is attacking you with a knife.

More than lethal You know the risk but also remember that the knife itself is not dangerous, it is only a tool. The knife is in fact used in daily life for various purposes as you know. I put butter on my sandwich with a knife as you do, but these tools can be dangerous weapons. The person who is holding a knife can be dangerous and unpredictable when he or she intents violence. Research into street violence shows people who carry a knife often injure themselves.

According to the US FBI, who researched violence where knives were used, showed that in 2011 alone five times more knives were the cause of fatal violence than guns or rifles were.

It is ironic that people in the U.S. mainly protest against owning guns. In Great Britain, the number counts 60,000 cases of violence in which a knife was used in one year alone, that are about 160 incidents a day. Especially men are victims, and most victims are between 10 and 25 years old.

In London 1,000 incidents are reported every day. In the newspapers you may read about “a 19 year-old boy with friends, roaming the streets late at night was violently attacked and stapped to death. He was attacked because of a dispute with another group of youngsters and found himself suddenly attacked. A lethal glint of metal appeared and minutes later he lay bleeding on the sidewalk, stabbed in the heart. (London 2009). There are many examples of deadly violence involving knives.

Psychological factor It 's undeniable how dangerous a knifes really are in the wrong hands.

The knife, carried for self-defense purposes, often turns to the person him or herself. In training with knives you learn what a knife can do. Training teaches you about its dangers and how to act when you find yourself in a dangerous situation. Try to avoid the fight, out run your opponents. If

avoiding the fight fails, your basic training might give you a better chance of survival. In other words, who finds himself in such a situation, usually gets hurt. Violence can be predicted.

Almost in any group, someone is carrying a weapon, and in 8 of 10 cases this will be a knife. In such a situation, survival is the only goal, before violence starts to escalate, you have to estimate how the violence will escalate, so you can be out-of-the-way in time. In the above example, you can read how a 19 - year-old boy got into such a situation and did not survive. I think the poor boy didn’t see it coming.

What really happened and what started the violence to escalate I don’t know, but what I do know is that violence amplifies in groups. Young people egging each other on, and then the situation gets out of control. There is a psychological factor in the game which is enhanced through alcohol and drugs, people lose sight of reality.

Research shows that alcohol consumption is associated significantly with violence, and an increase in alcohol consumption of 1 litre per year shows a signficant 8% increase in the violence rate. So do the math I would say. There is a group of youngsters going out, or going home, consuming a lot of alcohol. They are egging eachother, there is a dispute with another group, how fast will violence will appear? Easy to predict. In addition there is that decent dose of adrenaline which are real game changers and escalating violence triggers more primary behavior which can lead to more raw violence.

What people - who have never had a knife in their hands or have no basic training - do not understand is that the psychological factor in the fight suddenly takes on a whole new dimension, when someone pulls a knife. For example, lets say a good boxer who is well trained in unarmed combat and can defend himself properly, he would probably win in a situation where no knife is pulled. But

if the same boxer has to fight against an opponent armed with a knife, the outcome will be uncertain. Even if the opponent is in poor condition, mastered no boxing techniques and is only armed with a knife, which has only to be small to inflict real damage.

These kinds of weapons in the hands of insecure people make these people unpredictable because since they are armed they suddenly get a false sense of confidence. People with selfconfidence will not easily carry a knife.

Insecure or damaged personalities will do more often. So more and more people carry a knife. It may not always be safe on the streets, but the chance you will use a knife increases at the moment you leave home with a knife in your pocket. Take responsibility as a teacher and emphasize again and again that carrying knives is not tough and not particularly smart. Who wants to go to jail when using the knife in a conflict. This is what I tell my students.

Knives forbidden by Law · flick knives (also called ‘switchblades’ or ‘automatic knives’) - where the blade is hidden inside the handle and shoots out when a button is pressed · butterfly knives - where the blade is hidden inside a handle that splits in two around it, like wings; the handles swing around the blade to open or close it · disguised knives – eg where the blade is hidden inside a belt buckle or fake mobile phone · gravity knives · sword-sticks · samurai swords (with some exceptions, including antiques and swords made to traditional methods before 1954) · hand or foot-claws · push daggers · hollow kubotan (cylinder-shaped keychain) holding spikes · shuriken (also known as ‘death stars’ or ‘throwing stars’)

Look at my calendar www.scseskrima.nl www.scseskrima.nl maybe I 'll be in your area for a seminar please come along and train with us, you will not regret it. For now welcome to my world, the world of eskrima.

Self Defense 路 kusari-gama (sickle attached to a rope, cord or wire) 路 kyoketsu-shoge (hook-knife attached to a rope, cord or wire) 路 kusari (weight attached to a rope, cord or wire) 路 Karabit

Knives for fun Knife fighting is so much more than just self-defense. It is especially fun to do. It gives your reflexes that you do not get with a re g u l a r w o r k o u t w i t h o u t k n i v e s .

Hand eye coordination is developed s t ro n g l y, i t i s a l s o i m p o r t a n t t o increase coordination, speed and timing. Another very important point i s t h a t y o u g re a t l y i m p ro v e i n

unarmed combat. Knife fighting makes your re f l e x e s and coordination better. In addition, the knife fight is very competitive and fun to master and build selfconfidence not over confidence.

You learn how to disarm and how to do a beautiful drill. Just think of all the possibilities, unarmed knife, knife against knife, grappling, etc. a n d d o n o t f o rg e t a l l t h e o t h e r weapons so as karabit, machete and tomahawk, it is so much fun.

Sudden death Sparring is also a fun part of the training. You protect yourself with a screen helmet and a safe training knife and obviously good rules are

important to keep! Everything must be done within safe limits. So I recently introduced a new sparring form. It is a one minute fight and the rules are simple: (1) you can not Punch or kick, (2) we focus mainly on the knife fight.

How do you wield your knife, both technically and tactically, and the most important rule (3) when a disarmament is performed or you loose the knife you have lost the fight and are eliminated. Students really like the variant, they think it is very nice and fun, everything is brought back to one minute. It brings both joy and disappointment. I have tested this variant in Holland, Belgium and Germany, and the form is very popular and very suitable for close combat competion.

Responsibility of teachers Teachers have a great responsibility, after all, they train the students and are often role models for students. There are teachers in knife fighting that are not good at teaching the knife fight, or whose own ability is insufficient, with the mastery of a few drills you are not a good knife fighter, let alone a good teacher. Knife fighting is not learned from DVD’s only these teaching materials are

only there for support. You cannot lear n from a DVD or in a single seminar, which is meant as a good introduction to knife fighting. If you want to become a real good knife fighter, you will have to learn all aspects of knife fighting and train responsibly so that you too can give the efficient training in a good way to the next generation.

Stabbing and cutting So knife fighting is not just about stabbing and cutting, it is more than that. Knife fighting is fun to do and a great way of training, for endurance, speed and coordination, and much more. If you want to know more about knife fighting or training or you want to organize a seminar, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Eskrima

The term “Self Defense” has a negative connotation that from the start can yield failure for the user. The problem is that this label already portrays in the mindset that the individual is a victim of a violent act or aggression and that the practitioner should perform a defensive action. This premise of acting after the fact is why most people succumb to the aggressors’ actions and never fully recover from the initial attack or fear inducing situation. The Woman must not become defensive; she must be aware of her situation and not dismiss or ignore possible threat. She must become proactive and gain the initiative and momentum while forcing confusion in the attackers’ mindset to have a possibility of advantage. Kyusho Self Protection is a vital training process that deals in the realities of an attack. It is simple yet powerful training process that enables the smaller, weaker, slower or older less aggressive individual a chance against the larger, stronger, more aggressive and potentially crazy attacker. By using the weaker anatomical targets of the body in conjunction with your own natural body actions and tendencies you can easily protect yourself or others, even under the stress and physical limitations when your adrenaline kicks in. And by working in a stepped and progressive manner with your own gross motor skills (instead of someone else’s techniques), your chances victory are eminent. And by working in a stepped and progressive manner with your own gross motor skills (instead of someone else’s techniques), your chances victory are eminent.

REF.: • KYUSHO-21

Great Masters "FORCE MULTIPLIERS" - Part 2 As we discussed in part 1 of this article, thousands of ordinary objects can be used as improvised weapons to defend yourself in an emergency. However, it is obvious that it would be impossible to train with all of them.

Additionally, it would not make sense to train with objects that are not readily available to you at all time.

For example, if someone broke into your home and attacked you, a strong frying pan could be effectively used as an improvised weapon to fight back. But, since you are not likely to walk around the street, going to work or shopping while carrying a frying pan, training in " frying pan techniques" would not be practical. Only those objects that you can, legally, have in your

possession at all times and in all places, deserve the investment of time that proper, specialized training requires. Another criteria that should be used in selecting which objects with self-defense applications we should study, is to insure that the object is in line with the "substitution principle". What that means is that if you do not have immediate access to that exact object, a very similar one can be substituted and employed in the SAME manner, using the SAME techniques. (I will give you s p e c i f i c

examples of this important principle in the course of our review of the Combat Hapkido Force Multipliers).

Therefore it is of vital importance to choose objects that have many other objects of very similar (even identical) shape allowing you to substitute one for the other naturally and effortlessly.

Now we have finally arrived to the point where I share with you the specific items that we have chosen as Force Multipliers for Combat Hapkido. The studying of and training with these objects is not mandatory in our system; it is up to the individual instructor at each school to decide which of the Force Multipliers to include in the syllabus, the specific requirements and how much time to dedicate to training. The reason for this flexibility is due to the fact that our schools are located in vastly different geographical areas and deal with a wide variety of

demographic conditions such as students' age, culture, economic status, clothing and physical abilities.

Not all objects are equally suitable to everyone.

The Combat Hapkido Force Multipliers are: The Belt (Substitution Principle objects: rope, cord, wire) - Everyone can wear a belt legally any place, any time. The belt is an extremely versatile and useful object.

It can be used to block strikes, kicks and weapons attacks.

You can use it for flailing (almost like a whip); wrapped around your fist for powerful punching; for joint-locking and for chocking techniques. It can be used to tie up and restrain an individual and, in an emergency, it can serve even as a tourniquet. So, even if you do not need a belt to hold up your pants, wear one anyway, you never know when you may need it!

The Key-chain (Not just any key-chain) - only the ones specifically designed for selfdefense applications such as the MUNIO and the PRO-TEK). Here is another example of something you can have on your body any time and any place. The proper kind of keychain is best used to strike pressure points and vulnerable anatomical areas. In a limited manner, it can also be used to flail the keys, primarily into the attacker's eyes. The key-chain is a close-quarter only force multiplier to be employed during grabs, clinching, grappling and chocking assaults.

There are many products on the market that combine key-chains with different kinds of "pepper spray", little knives, and other self-defense weapons and, while those products can be effective, they are illegal to carry in many areas and they will be confiscated if you try to take them on board an airplane.

Remember: if it looks like a weapon and it is marketed as a weapon, it is a weapon! Carry only those simple, unmistakable keychains designed to function only as key-chains.

The self-defense applications are in the training not in the shape.

The Cane (Substitution Principle object: umbrella) Different kinds of walking sticks, staffs and canes have been around for thousands of years. Consistent

with our goals, only consider modern looking, simple, functional canes.

Once again, if it looks like an eighteen century sword-cane, it is a weapon! The cane can be used as a long-distance force multiplier and it is particularly effective for blocking and striking. With proper training, throws, chokes and fairly complex joint-locking techniques can be performed. As always, we must use common sense and realize that the cane must be age appropriate. It would not seem right for a 12 years old kid to walk around carrying a cane (unless there are real medical reasons), while nobody would give a second look to a 50 years old man or woman walking with one. While canes are legal to carry and permitted anywhere (even on an airplane), if you feel uncomfortable walking around with one, you can safely substitute it for an umbrella (although it may be equally uncomfortable to explain while you were carrying one on a beautifully sunny day!). And, while any umbrella may do the job, you should opt for one of those that are produced specifically for selfdefense, (I always have

one in my car!). They are normal looking, regular umbrellas, NOT WEAPONS. They are just built stronger and sturdier (and cost more money) than others.

The Dan Bong Here the Substitution Principle is required because you will probably never carry the actual training weapon anywhere. Dan Bong is the Korean term for "short stick" and that is what we use to train: a wooden stick of between 8 to 14 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter. The Dan Bong is ideal for training but it is not what you will carry on you. This is the Force Multiplier with the most Substitution objects available: a ruler, a flashlight, a short umbrella, a Kubotan-type key-chain, a tightly rolled up magazine, a metal pen, etc‌The substitute objects can vary greatly in size, shape and material. The ultimate goal is to have a sturdy, onehanded Force Multiplier that will allow you to deliver fast, powerful strikes to your attacker's vulnerable areas. if you choose to pursue advanced Dan Bong training, you can also learn to execute very painful joint-locking techniques.

So, these are the 4 objects (and their numerous substitutes) that Combat Hapkido includes in its program. We also offer actual weapons training in the form of tactical knife and collapsible stick and we encourage our students to learn as much as possible keeping in mind that the laws and regulations of their area may prevent them from carrying or even possessing such weapons. As promised, I will now tell you where you can find some of the Force Multipliers we discussed in this article: MUNIO - Personal Protection Key-chain: www.combathapkido.com or: www.SafeAndStylish.com PROTEK - Self defense key-chain: www.protekkey.com CUSTOM QUALITY CANES: www.canemasters.com U M B R E A K A B L E UMBRELLAS: www.stadion.com DAN BONGS & TRAINING DVDs: www.combathapkido.com May the Force Multiplier be with you!

The 16 Combat Strategies of Weng Chun Kung Fu – Part 2 Huen Lau Kao Da The Red Boat Weng Chun (Chinese: Ban Chung Weng Chun) The 16 Combat strategies of the Red Boat Weng Chun tradition are based upon the first four of them, the Loi Lau Hoi Song: The Weng Chun practitioner gives his opponent the opportunity to attack and push forward, taking up his opponent s power and using it to gain more momentum for his own counter attack (Loi Lau). The opponent is refused to retreat back into long distance combat, and where he withdrews his power, he is being followed (Hoi Song), thus forcing him to remain in extreme close distance combat, where he is being controlled.

In the second sentence the next four strategies provide the Weng Chun practitioner with actual procedures to this end: Huen (circling) Lau (spiral) Kao (hook) Da (punch). If an opponent for example attacks with a straight punch, his aiming is being hampered by circling.

Furthermore he automatically gets into a worse combat position, since circling makes it easy to intersept his line of power from the side, or even to get Text: Andreas Hoffmann, Christoph FuĂ&#x; Photos: Archiv Andreas Hoffmann, Gabriela Hoffmann

Weng Chun

behind him.

From this advantageous position it s easy for the Weng Chun practitioner to instantly apply the Weng Chun hooking techniques using hands, feet or other body parts. That way he prevents the opponent from regaining distance, or otherwise is being pulled with him, using the additional momentum to his own advantage. In doing so, it s important to punch (Da) the opponent with circular or spiral punches, since straight ones would rather push him away and render it next to impossible to keep him at extremely close distance. Only when he is trapped within close distance, combinations of straight punches can be used as well.

Lau (spiral, semicircle, flowing strategy) comes into play whenever the punches are being blocked by the opponent. The force of his block is taken up and used in a spiral or circular direction to gain even better control over the opponent, and to continue punching him while flowing

forward. That concept of flowing forward (Lau) is crucial, because this tends to overstrain the opponent, thus keeping him completely occupied with his own defense or causes him to lose track.

Particularly well- known is the Lin Wan Kuen, the Chain Punching of Weng Chun, which is being applied at close distance. Close combat punches (Da), the circling strategy (Huen), the spiral- or flowing forward- strategy (Lau) or the hooking of the opponent (Kao) are being combined to good effect.

Following the same strategies, the Weng Chun kicks of the Red Boat tradition are being used as well to attack shins, knees and groin.

Additionally, the opponent s legs are constantly being hooked (Kao), blocked or attacked using chain techniques (Lao).

GM Fung Siu Ching brought the Red Boat Weng Chun from the red junks to Foshan and passed it on to GM Tang Suen. It then found its way to Hongkong through him. His son

GM Tang Yick was recruited as chief instructor of the famous Weng Chun school Dai Duk Lan by GM Way Yan, one of the teachers of the western GM Andreas Hoffmann who was trained there as well. GM Way Yan reunified the Red Boat Weng Chun with Shaolin Weng Chun, and in this form it is being taught and passed on today within the International Weng Chun Kung Fu Association. Well-known exponents of Red Boat Weng Chun in China were GM Pak Cheung (Foshan) and GM Tam Pui Chyun (Zhaoqing).

Their students still teach the art in south China, among others GM Leung Wai Choi in Zhaoqing and GM Zhong Yau Chi in Foshan.

May this Chinese martial art and unique cultural heritage, arisen from Shaolin tradition and the Red Boat movement, stand the test of time. May it help many people to shape their powers in multiple ways to protect others and themselves against outer and inner enemies.

Weng Chun

Hwa Rang Do 速: a Martial Art and a Movement of Thought and Action Hwa Rang Do 速 (literally "the way of the young knights") is a traditional Korean Martial Art whose roots are lost in the 3 kingdoms that formed the current Korea to about 2,000 years ago. With precision, in the ancient Korean kingdom "Silla" where the "Hwarang" (literally "young riders") were prepared for war through a dual preparation: (1) culturally: moral philosophy, ethics, music, strategy, math and literature; and (2) martially: armed and unarmed combat on all kinds of terrain and on horseback.

Korea “The lessons of Hwa Rang Do ®, as disciplined and hard, are fascinating as they bring to us traditional methods and approaches that are being lost everywhere”

Styles Koreans “The setting oriented to the strength of character typical of Hwa Rang Do ® has been particularly successful”

T

he integration of combat techniques and cultural disciplines tended to form highly motivated fighters able to push troops to support the terrible and devastating war actions typical to that historic moment. Based on this motivation and strength, the kingdom of "Silla", the minor in size among the 3, succeeded in centuries of struggle and wise diplomatic actions to unify Korea for the first time in a single country (about 670 aC). This resulted in a reasonable period of peace and flowering of Korean arts and Buddhism that became a key part of the culture of Silla (artistic and architectural works of this period include the Temple of Hwangnyongsa, the Bunhwangsa Temple and the Grotto Seokguram, a World Heritage Site).

The Hwa Rang Do ®, as a codified martial art in the 60's by its Founder, Dr. Joo Bang Lee (10th Dan), reflects the whole culture "Hwarang" of Silla in addition to his martial techniques. Subdivided into "Nae Kong" (internal techniques related to energy), "Wae Kong" (external techniques including 365 types of kicks and about 4000 levers and hand to hand combat techniques), "Moo Gi Kong" (108 types of traditional weapons) and "Shin Kong" (mental techniques), its main aspect, however, is the ethical and relative to self-discipline. In this sense Grandmaster Taejoon Lee (President of the World Hwa Rang Do ® Association WHRDA - and 8th dan) says: "The Hwa Rang Do ® is not only a Martial Art, but, above all, a movement of thought and action; the real fighting strength of a warrior is doesn’t lie just in the martial techniques he might know, but mainly in his motivation to fight and determination to never give up!

For this reason, the World Hwa Rang Do ® Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the social good and not to its enrichment or the achievement of money."

The setting oriented to the strength of character typical of Hwa Rang Do ® has been particularly successful, besides the U.S. (current home of Dr. Joo Bang Lee

and his son Taejoon Lee) in Italy, where dozens of schools have flourished over the span of 10 years. To the question "Why do you dedicate yourself in this

Styles Koreans

manner to the Hwa Rang Do? Where does such devotion come from?, Chief Instructor Mark Mattiucci, high rank officer of the Carabinieri and responsible in Italy replies: "Certainly, not for money! I've been lucky enough to have had the freedom and chance to practice and teach the Hwa Rang Do ® for a long time without any constraints of economic nature since I don't live out of its revenue. In practice, I can select my students with extreme hardness, subject them to constant and heavy exams regarding cultural as well as physical and martial as pect s and therefo re I can keep myself stuck to the original culture "Hwarang" (hard training of body, mind and spirit)."

All this doesn't seem to affect the strong structure of the Italian Branch of WHRDA, which has been g ro wing steadily year by year to finally have expanded abro ad; recent ly, Luxembourg has also opened to the study, and aspiring instructors to other EU countries are going through the tough selection process that the chief instructor submits them. When asked why, the colonel answered as follows: "I wo n't be t riv ial repeat ing what everyone knows: that is, we live in a society where everything is considered temporary and then it fades in time.

The Hwa Rang Do ®, when practiced the way we do it, is a movement that opposes to all this by posing a model of thought in which the motivation to do it bet t er an d f or t h e g o o d o f ev ery o n e i s do mi n an t , i n wh ich physical and mental excellence are our training goals. It's natural that, as human beings, as years go by, we will

become weak, unable and we will finally die, but this, according to the ethics of the Hwa Rang Do ® doesn't justify our laziness today and indulging in doing nothing.”

Of course, hearing these words we feel a strong emotional charge, but a movement is simply a way of thinking and then we wonder, why making a martial art? Or, at least, why study a martial art to follow an ethical and certainly legitimate movement? This question finds a great part of its response in the approach of the Chief Instructor of Hwa Rang Do ®, in his own words: "My story is not different than that of the majority of the instructors who, coming from other martial arts, have decided to join me and the Hwa Rang Do ® in the past 10 years. I was already a self-defense teacher with years of martial studies on my back and I was basically unhappy with what I had become: just a container of techniques, vast and diverse, but disconnected from each other. I felt the need of substance, something that would link everything that I had studied, giving it a higher path and a wise direction. My meeting with the Hwa Rang Do ® happened by chance, as well as my decision to contact the WHRDA, but it was the subsequent meeting with the Supreme Grandmaster Dr. Joo Bang Lee, a living legend of Korean Martial Arts, what finally convinced me it was my way."

T he C h ief In s tructo r gav e up practising any other Martial Art and threw himself headlong into the study of the Hwa Rang Do ® to become with enormous sacrifices a black belt

in a very short time, if compared to that o f co mmo n s tudents (it is estimated that a normal student of Hwa Rang Do ® needs at least 7 years to achieve a 1st dan black belt). It resulted in the closure of his selfdefense course and the opening of a new course of Hwa Rang Do ®, the first of its kind in Italy. The beginning was difficult, he had very few students!

The special nature of the Art itself along with the unmistakable hardness o f the teacher was an explo s iv e combination that turned the practice very difficult for beginners: "I can't avoid saying that many of my students, although they were fascinated by my teachings, soon abandoned the idea to stay with me because of my way of being. My way of incorporating the Hwa Rang Do ® in the life and teachings don't make it suitable for beginners. But I insisted, and over time, dozens of schools have been opened in Italy and today thousands of students appreciate this art. The approach of the Hwarang culture is strong and it involves the whole person. This is what brings me close to this art and it makes me stay being its student and teacher." And then he adds: "If getting to know Dr. Joo Bang Lee tied me to the Hwa Rang Do ®, meeting his son, Grandmaster Taejoon Lee, has over the years built and refined all the culture and philosophy of the Hwarang of which I'm feeding myself now. Being a humble disciple of a master of this level requires you to revise many of your basic convictions and perhaps become a new person, but such effort opens up so many prospects as to make it immensely rewarding."

In recent years, thanks to the efforts of Grandmaster Taejoon Lee, Hwa Rang Do 速 has undergone many changes in the EU and Chief Instructor Mattiucci has had the opportunity to participate in various courses outside Italy (Holland, Germany and Denmark) with other teachers of proven experience, like the Chief Instructor Alexander Krijger.

The lessons of Hwa Rang Do 速, as disciplined and hard, are fascinating as they bring to us traditional methods and approaches that are being lost everywhere. The reasons for this fascination can also be seen in the epic films of recent years, in the success of the acclaimed films about samurai, legionnaires, gladiators, ancient Rome, Sparta, etc. Our society, in fact, has grown technologically but very little from the ethical point of view. Today we are witnessing a tremendous advance in the field of available technologies (VDS, Smartphone, Tablet, etc.) which doesn't correspond to the increase of the human spirit that, on the contrary, is increasingly alone and unmotivated at what he does.

Ancient warriors, the Korean Hwarang, the heroes of Sparta, Roman soldiers, the samurai, were people dedicated to fighting, but, especially, they were motivated to fight to the end, in this lies their fascination.

Korea Weapons of Hwa Rang Do ®: Traditional Study and combat sports 1. Intro The evolution of Korean combat techniques began about 5,000 years ago in the Kochosun period of Korean history, in which a strong military warrior tradition was developed, so much so that the annexed territories expanded rapidly to include Manchuria and part of China.

The roots of the Hwa Rang Do ® art, formally organized and founded by Dr. Joo Bang Lee (Do Joo Nim, Hwa Rang Do ® 10th Dan and one of the leading grandmasters that have influenced the creation of Hapkido) are the fighting techniques of the Hwarang, the knights of the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla, founded in 57 BC, during the Three Kingdoms period. These kingdoms were in constant conflict among them and always threatened by the Chinese invasions and the continuous danger that represented the barbarian tribes of the external borders.

The "Hwarang Segi" treaty records the lives of over 100 Hwarang knights who lived in that period, their battles, their epic conquests and also their defeats. It's amazing to think that Hwarang knights spent more than 70% of their military life, their career, in the battlefields. Only a strong individual motivation, a strict code of warrior ethics and a deep spirituality could maintain such a lifestyle. These secret fighting techniques, called Um Yang Kwon (mix of hard and soft techniques), survived for centuries and have been passed down in an uninterrupted way for 58 generations up to our days.

The Hwa Rang Do ® encompasses martial elements (Mu Sool) and healing techniques (Sool). The monk Suahm Dosa, 57th successor to the Hwarang tradition, taught Dr. Joo Bang Lee and his brother, Joo Sang Lee, these techniques from 1942 in the seclusion of the mountains of Korea. In particular, Mu Sool martial elements were organized in Hwa Rang Do ®, into four main parts: • Nae Gong: Development, control and management of the inner energy (Ki).

• Wae Gong: Development and

control of the external force which is concreted in more than 4000 empty hand techniques encoded in the curriculum of the Art. • Moo Gi Gong: Offensive and defensive use of about 108 traditional weapons divided into 20 categories of methods.

• Shin Gong: Research, development and control of the human mind.

This article considers the Moo Gi Gong, the offensive and defensive use of traditional weapons, and the Moo Gi Dae Ryun, sports evolution of the Hwa Rang Do ® armed fighting methods.

2. Hwa Rang Do ® Moo Gi Kong (traditional weapons) Hwa Rang Do ® emphasizes the using of a large number of weapons in its original and effective form as much as possible; for example knives are steel and, for the upper grades, properly sharpened; sticks are made out of solid wooden to hit, unless they are used for demonstration and acrobatic purposes, and so on.

Using resistant steel and sharpened weapons is crucial to individual exercises, since they completely change the practitioner's attention level regarding the development of bad habits in the use of the weapon (remember that in a real situation, having acquired the automatism of a bad habit leads to very negative results).

A classic example is the dagger that must be perfectly known, even in its smallest features: weight, balance, cutting curve, blade length, handle, shape and so on.

This can be only achieved through the constant manipulation of the weapon, respecting it, polishing it constantly and practicing with it. We must constantly adapt in the practice of the different types of knife in order to be able to block swiftly and react to the fullest with the characteristics of combat. And you could say the same about the sword and the cutting methods (Be Gi Sool).

To start using weapons, basic exercises are taught in the Hwa Rang Do ®: first individually and in a still

position (drills), for example, techniques such as high and low cuts with the sword or circular cuts with the dagger. Later these are combined with more complex positions carrying out short forms that reproduce the various methods of attack and defense that can be achieved using the dagger. It starts in a fixed direction, repeating left and right and then passing to changes of direction.

It must be noted that the Founder Dr. Joo Bang Lee initially tends to favor the use of only one arm: the right for the right-handed practitioner and the left for the left-handed practitioner.

In this sense, techniques are asymmetrical. Only when the practitioner is skilled enough he can change and use his other arm to copy everything he can do well with his main limb.

The exercises performed alone contain the structural secrets that enable, once revealed, transform them into exercises in pairs and in group.

More precisely, there can be identified: • Techniques of defense against armed attack (Hoshin Sool): several of these are a prerequisite to obtaining the Hwa Rang Do ® 1st Dan black belt.

• Techniques of attack with a weapon against an unarmed person: it's the part of the repertory that contains the Sulsa techniques. These are advanced fast attacking methods in order to kill quickly or cause serious injury, studied at the Hwa Rang Do ® 5th Dan level. They are combined with studies of acupuncture, acupressure and Oriental Medicine and are intended to the many varieties of weapons, in order to enhance its efficacy both offensive and defensive.

• Armed combat techniques: Each weapon against different types of other weapons, among which, of course, highlights the knife for ease of use (admitted in the military Hwa Rang Do ® training, it is practiced in the defense / armed attack sector which includes stick to stick combat and knife to knife combat). In this sector outstands the more than famous Sergeant Michael D. Echanis, of the American Army Rangers, one of the best and first direct students of Dr. Joo Bang Lee (founder of Hwa Rang Do ®). Sergeant Echanis created the first school of unconventional guerrilla tactics of the U.S. Army (special

Korea

groups), that has become the starting point of all similar schools for special groups ever since developed.

Sergeant Echanis was the first American to get the title of "Sulsa" (technical expert) and a true American military hero. He died in 1979 (Nicaragua), while instructing the troops of the Nicaraguan National Guard.

To this we must add, as anticipated at the outset, that the study of traditional weapons (Moo Gi Kong) concerns the offensive and defensive

use of some 108 traditional weapons, divided into 20 categories: • Cold weapons.

• Weapons to split and cut.

• Weapons to break.

• Tipped weapons.

• Throwing weapons.

• Weapons to grab and block.

• Hitting weapons.

• Firearms.

• Weapons to smash.

• Heavy weapons to hit.

• Sticks of various kinds.

• Multi-section weapons.

• Linked weapons (nunchaku...).

• Fans.

• Hook weapons • Twisting and ball-shaped weapons.

• Spears of different types.

• Small weapons, such as needles.

• Cords and elastic weapons to throw.

• Disc-shaped weapons.

Lear ning these armed combat systems allows the practitioner using

Corea

most common objects as if they were real weapons, which is the main objective of martial training. The use of traditional weapons also strengthens the structure of the body and improves motor coordination capacity.

The Hwa Rang Do 速 identifies the different trajectories of attack and defense to be performed with the dagger. The idea of having to "draw" trajectories with the knife during practice is very useful for the study of the first weapons and permits managing and remembering potential weapon applications without having to interact with other practitioners (initially a source of possible accidents).

In the exercises, we recognize the linear, circular, crossed and wave trajectories. The first trajectory forms a straight line between the starting point and the target (a typical tip move), both horizontal and vertical; the second makes a curve, following the shape of the limb that holds the weapon (typical, for example, in cutting techniques); the third trajectory combines two, three or more times linear and / or circular trajectories in order to obtain a large number of combinations capable of defense or attack, of

tip or edge, up to eight moves in a row; and finally, wave trajectories basically carry out a swinging.

These movement principles allow you to attack maximizing the use of the centrifugal force and the internal energy itself (KI), getting combinations difficult to understand by the adversary and therefore extremely effective in combat.

3. Hwa Rang Do 速 Moo Gi Dae Ryun (Armed sports combat) Grandmaster Taejoon Lee (8th Dan), President of the World Hwa Rang Do 速 Association and eldest son of the founder of the Art (currently President of the Association), has codified in the last 20 years a revolutionary method of armed sports combat that includes the using of bamboo swords (single and double) and sticks (long single and double short).

The basic purpose of this fighting method is that of enhancing the student's concentration and reactiveness

Traditional Styles 速 has been conceived as an art that is specifically intended to represent harmony, and therefore it tries to represent the harmony of the natural universe of things.

The theory is based on the idea of ??Um-Yang (Yin-Yang in Chinese), which establishes the existence of equivalent and opposite forces in nature that have contributed and keep on contributing to create and make everything work.

Similarly, Gumtoogi applies such principles with not only linear movements but also circular, which not only affect the upper body, but also the lower.

The aim is to make the method as complete as possible and definitively give the students the opportunity to maximize their human potential in every way. It must be remembered that, fundamentally, Hwa Rang Do 速 is not a sport, but a way of life and, in this sense, its sports methods are not limited to the development of effectiveness,

through weapons. The precision of the execution required to score in tournaments, the complexity of the viable techniques and the incredible versatility of possible attacks are a means of spiritual advancement and awareness.

Winning or losing pass to a second level, as well as the need to protecting oneself from blows. Everything is focused on a fast, unique and "theoretically" deadly attack that doesn't heed one's safety, but with the intention of always going forward ("forward only").

Gumdo traditional armor is used while awaiting the new typically Korean armor. Although these armors were designed for the Japanese kendo, this sports application is similar to said art, which validates its use. However, in order to avoid confusion in the public between both armed combat sports, Hwa Rang Do 速 and Kendo (Gumdo, in Korean), it is used the term Gumtoogi: Gum = sword; Too Gi = combat technique. Their fighting principles are pretty much alike at first glance, although Gumtoogi allows blows to the legs and blows with the body in rotation. In general, this doesn't happen in Kendo / Gumdo. The Hwa Rang Do

but they seek a full development. The real purpose of man is to understand all the functions of nature in order to be able to use his ultimate weapon, the greatest one: his intellect.

It is important to underline that, in order to allow attacking safely to the legs, there have been also created protection devices, specifically designed by Grandmaster Taejoon Lee (Hache Hogu) that are a true innovation in the oriental art of combat with sword and patented in the U.S...

The attacks on the legs and spin-attacks (rotation attacks) are the true pillars of this innovative methodology of sports fighting (see example in the photos of this article).

These aspects, along with the enormous discipline required in combat, rich in etiquette and self-control, make the experience of combat become a moment of tremendous growth and not only in a competitive trice.

Victory is seen as a confrontation of one's own limits and defeat becomes a learning chance.

Fights are possible with simple or double weapons. More specifically, combats (encounters) emulate the using of real

Korea swords of different sizes. In general, the armed fight of Hwa Rang Do ® is referred to with the Korean term "Mugi Daeryun" and is divided into several parts described below.

The first distinction is between bladed weapons (swords) and weapons to hit (sticks); in the first case we're talking about "Gumtoogi" and the second is "Bongtoogi". In both categories arms of different lengths are used (see below), but it's always a fight of blade against blade and stick against stick.

Types of weapons used in the encounters: Gumtoogi - Bamboo sword • Jang Gum = Long sword.

• Jung Gum = Middle sword.

• Ssang Gum = Twin swords (double sword).

• Spear.

Bongtoogi - Rattan stick • Jang Bong = Long stick.

• Jung Bong = Middle stick.

• Ssang Bong = Twin stick (double stick).

4. Conclusion Weapons in Hwa Rang Do ® (Moo Gi Gong) are a fascinating field of study in which the "sharp" instruments like swords, daggers, etc., highlight by the presence and richness of their techniques. The abundance of the using of weapons in this art

increases, in the first place, the motor coordination and the physical strength that develop in their practice. Secondly, a particular symbiosis is created between the weapon and the practitioner when he uses it according to high physical, mental and spiritual criteria.

However, a necessary condition is that the practitioner be able to make good use of his body before he can handle any weapon properly and that is why the curriculum of the Hwa Rang Do 速 provides intensive armed training only for the high grades, while for the lower grades it offers basic training.

Moo Gi Dae Ryun in particular allows the student to train the use of weapons against the enemy in sports competitions so that he can experience his own limitations in the use of the weapon and his reactions, and stay humble by understanding that whatever the level of knowledge of the he can reach, there will always be someone able to overcome it. We fight athletically in order to understand ourselves and the need to continually improve until the end of our life.

Moo Gi Dae Ryun in particular allows the student to train the use of weapons against the enemy in sports competitions so that he can experience his own limitations in the use of the weapon and his reactions, and stay humble by understanding that whatever the level of knowledge of the he can reach, there will always be someone able to overcome it. We practice the sports combat in order to understand ourselves and to be aware of the need to continually improve until the end of our life.

Discover your Greatness‌ Three years ago when I decided to found TAOWS Academy I chose a different way of doing things. I decided to pay attention to small details and to start delving into the world of Martial Arts with the professionalism and seriousness it deserves. In short, I decided to do it in a different way to most WingTsun schools and associations today. All great change must begin within oneself.

I have been practicing Wing Tsun for over 20 years. I have had the great fortune to meet and train with some of the world's most important teachers of WingTsun. Undoubtedly, my Sifu Victor Gutierrez was the person who had the greatest influence on my training, my views on WingTsun and on martial arts in general. However, I have received great influence from others who have changed my way of understanding Martial Arts.

When my teacher decided to stop teaching WingTsun to focus on his personal evolution and the system’s application in the MMA, I decided to continue/keep walking on the path of this centenary ART, which has helped me develop both my personal and professional live. I received many offers from different international associations to become the person in charge of these schools in Spain.

Some of them were very interesting and tempting for the greatness of the associations and the big names of their

leaders. My job as a director of the OEWT Levante (southeast of Spain) for fifteen years had not gone unnoticed by many. During that time, I had the honour to train over a thousand students and the merit of being the instructor who trained the greatest number of technical degrees (black belts) in Spain. I must also mention that some of these black belts are currently mentors and directors of some important WingTsun associations worldwide.

This gives me great satisfaction.

However, at that time I was determined to promote a major change in the way of training and teaching Wing Tsun. Therefore, I could not have a "boss" who would dictate me the lines to follow.

I really wanted to change everything that I did not like and that, in my opinion, was not good for the ART. Since the creation of TAOWS Academy (The Art Of War Society) many important changes have been implemented in every aspect of the practice, study and teaching in WingTsun and the other martial art systems studied in our association. In these three years we have worked very hard to make great achievements, what makes us feel very proud.

Some changes‌ The dialectical discussion between the traditional and modern practitioners of this art is very common. From the first day I decided to stay away from this empty debate in which nobody will

ever agree. For me, staying in the middle point means implementing the provisions of the TAO. I love the old and the traditional but equally, I want the art to be alive, dynamic, useful, flexible, etc... This is why we have no other option than to try and take the best of each of these trends.

A few days ago I read in a famous international Wing Tsun publication an article from a renowned teacher who mocked those who try to

"reinvent the wheel". It is not about that, but you may agree with me that the wheel which was invented centuries before Christ made of wood and some rudimentary metals would not be useful if we wanted to go from coast to coast in the United States with any vehicle ... think carefully about it please ...

The second change in the way of teaching WingTsun was a complete brake up with the “pseudo-

commercial� policy that major brands of WingTsun in Europe use nowadays. I use this term literally since most of those brands sometimes treat the students as such and require from them a total and absolute loyalty to the teacher / guru.

Other times, however, they are only interested in their monthly fee or their financial commitment.

I am professionally devoted to teaching martial arts and I have no

choice but to charge for my classes and seminars (I do this for a living) but I firmly believe that there is another way of doing things. A way in which practicing an ANCIENT ART is the most important thing. It is and it should be above everything. And practical issues should never be mixed with commercial issues. In the same way, the technical improvements within the style should never be linked to the economic capacity because this, in my opinion,

creates a serious problem for the art itself.

Thirdly, we would like to fight against the SECTARIANISM many WingTsun teachers promote. They prevent students from lear ning, sharing and exploring what other teachers propose. I have listened to no less than 100 teachers say they do the original, authentic and proper WingTsun ... I could understand that but then, they usually claim that the

other teachers don’t know the art at all. That they are the only ones who know the “truth”. I admit that this topic sounds laughable today, but for years it tormented me. How can this exist in the XXI century in a globalized world supposedly inhabited by free individuals? Well, sure many of my readers know what I mean.

The fourth of the major changes that TAOWS Academy proposes to all followers of Wing Tsun is the constant

search for the self-defence application or combat. This sounds obvious, doesn’t it? But I must emphasize this point because, in my opinion, many branches or schools are so focused on finding the origin that they have forgotten that Wing Tsun is a system of Chinese boxing that came as a complete fighting style to defeat the enemy. Forgetting about this is the same as ignoring the nature of the system to a extent in which it becomes something completely different to the original target. It is not about being the “best fighter in the world” or having “the best style in the world”; it is about rescuing the values and the knowledge of an ancient art which, once adapted, can be turned into a serious fighting system. A system that allows us to train this ART methodically and passionately so we can try to give the best of ourselves. What are the results of the battles? This always depends on the opponent in front of you. But this way of working, which has already produced excellent results, was without a doubt the main reason to create this association.

These and other issues were discussed in a small book I wrote for the magazine Budo International by way of criticizing WingTsun, which has been very successful among the community of Wing Tsun practitioners. (“High Level". Sifu Salvador Sanchez. Ed. Budo International) After three years of work that have produced great achievements at an organizational level (creation of a Department in the Spanish Federation of Olympic Fights and Associated Disciplines, beginning of formal training in a European

university that grants students with official credits -University of Alicante, opening of 50 schools in Spain and some other countries, etc.) some of our schools proposed that we create a motto; a slogan that would reflect the philosophy of WingTsun Europe and TAOWS Academy. We did not order it to any marketing or communication company. Our instructors and schools were asked to brainstorm about what the practice of WingTsun made them feel in our/their academy. We soon had it: “Discover your Greatness...”

Find within YOURSELF, by means of practicing an ancestral art and the self-discovery that Martial Arts produces , that unique feeling that makes you discover step by step feelings, understanding and knowledge of a and ART that is an authentic TREASURE of the Oriental Culture for this generation and for many others to come.

Finally, I am very grateful for the great amount of messages of support received from all over the world. It is very pleasant to feel the support and approval of some of the greatest masters of this art. Our project is also object of criticism, but we also want to thank them for they help us to work harder and better.

I would also like to invite all followers of WingTsun to get to know our work and to share experiences in order to begin the individual search that will lead each one of us to discover our greatness. I assure you that you will be treated in the way that all Martial Art practitioners deserve: with RESPECT and HUMILITY. Take care!

Experts

Alexander Bennett Ph.D.

Hagakure Hagakure and “Sutemi” In my previous article, I presented a brief outline of Hagakure, a classic treatise on bushido written in the early eighteenth century by samurai of the Saga domain in the souther n Japanese island of Kyushu. I mentioned how Hagakure wisdom

was often greatly misunderstood, but with contextualization, it serves as a fascinating window on the trials and tribulations of the samurai lifestyle in a time of tense, but prevailing peace in Pax-Tokugawa. Hagakure was completed in 1716, and this was a time in which the martial arts (bugei)

were undergoing a significant transformation in terms of form, objectives, philosophy, and rationale.

The glory of battle was a distant memory for most, but the importance of overcoming fear of death remained a central concern in the warrior ethos.

This remained interwoven in the theoretical fabric of the martial arts even though the form in which they were practiced was continually evolving.

In this sense, although rarely associated directly with martial arts practice per se, many of the dictums in Hagakure provide an intriguing backdrop to key concepts espoused in the moder n Japanese martial arts (budo).

One such concept is that of “sutemi.” Literally to “discard one's body,” this is the mental and physical state of total commitment in giving something one's all, even to the extent of giving up one's life if need be. In budo, this amounts to attempting a single blow with all ones force during a bout or exchange, without being concerned with the outcome. In essence, it is to execute each technique with self-sacrificial drive and indifference to personal safety.

No warrior was more fearsome, samurai believed, than one who cared not for his own life in the thick of battle.

The pages of Hagakure abound with teachings pointing to the importance of this mind-set in daily life. For example, “'If a samurai steps out of his house, he will be in the midst of corpses; if he steps out of his gate, he will meet the enemy.' The point here is not vigilance; but rather to kill one's self from the very outset.” (11-133) In other words, the author is advocating that a samurai should accept the notion that he could be killed at any moment. To hide from this fact would leave him spiritually incapacitated, and unable to respond in an emergency. If he had already sacrificed himself before he left his home, what else did he have to fear? Or, “A heroic warrior (kusemono) does not concern himself with victory or defeat. Without hesitating, he whips himself into a deadly fury (shini-gurui).

This is when he understands; this is when he awakens from

Experts

the dream.� (1-55) In this case, the stalwart warrior finds spiritual liberation by detaching himself from concer ns of winning or losing.

Ultimately, he will prevail over others who are more 'calculated' in their approach to gaining a favorable result.

One of my favorite anecdotes demonstrating this point concerns a party of blind monks attempting to traverse a treacherous mountain pass. “Once, there was a group of ten blind monks walking through the mountains.

As they passed around the top of a cliff, their legs began to tremble, and although they took extreme care, they were overcome by fear. The leader staggered and then fell off the edge. The rest all cried, 'Oh what a terrible end!' They were unable to take a step further.

The blind monk who had fallen off the cliff yelled up from below: 'Do not be frightened.

Falling was not so bad. I am now quite unperturbed. I worried about what would happen if I fell, and was somewhat apprehensive. But now I am very calm. If you want to put your minds at ease, quickly fall [and get it over with].'� (10-125) Sutemi is the requisite mental attitude in all budo in which the adept ideally commits body and soul into

the attack in an act of total self-denial and sacrifice, with no concern for the aftermath. What will be, will be. This attitude held the key to the 'Holy Grail' of combat _ a superlative combination of body, mind and technique which made the warrior invincible in battle both technically and spiritually through a supposed transcendence of concerns for life and death.

Although nobody fights with bows and arrows, swords or spears anymore, such philosophical and spiritual underpinnings remain an important feature in all budo, which maintain intrinsic connections with the samurai ethos and battlefields of old.

Although the forms are considerably different now, the world of modern budo is a precious legacy left by samurai warriors who were encouraged in their training to try and confront their mortality at every living moment. Their accrued wisdom can provide modern practitioners with fantastic insights into the beauty of life, and how to live to one's full potential, paradoxically based on the sutemi ideal of self-annihilation.

Hagakure demonstrates this point beautifully.

Hagakure

“Although the forms are considerably different now, the world of modern budo is a precious legacy left by samurai warriors�

The Krav Maga arises in professional environments and is mostly a "hand to hand combat" style. When we talk about combat, we are talking about a discipline adapted to the military environment, whose main objective is to neutralize an opponent causing him a maximum damage in the shortest time.

KMRED - A specific type of Krav Maga for each kind of public However, for several years the diffusion of Krav Maga has spread to very different audiences. In fact, it is now broadly taught and practiced within the military elite units around the world, although it also has a very strong presence in our civil societies where it is not only taught and practiced by the staff of law enforcement and security guards, but also by men, women and children with no links with professional means.

Some people consider Krav Maga being a discipline that should be taught in the same way to everyone, otherwise it would lose its authenticity and effectiveness. But a question arises. What is the main purpose, the foremost goal of Krav Maga? If I'm not mistaken, today it's often regarded as a selfdefense discipline.

In 2014, in the era of Mixed Martial Arts, Krav Maga is fully evolving at a technical level, because the pursuit of efficiency and the review of more recent experience have shown the failure of some technical aspects. This is a good thing and it's the spirit we have in KMRED - Krav Maga Evolution Research and Development. However, it's necessary to pose other important questions.

Can we really teach the "same" Krav Maga to every one? In KMRED we've chosen to study the best possible the needs of the different audiences, to whom we've been instructing for so many years, and parting from common basis and principles that are the foundation of KM, we have adapted our programs.

Let's consider first the public for which KM was originally meant, i.e., military units. The objective in this case is the combatant and the

security of an opponent is not at all a priority, only the outcome counts; the goal is to destroy.

Now let's take a look at a consignee for whom the KM can be particularly helpful: Police staff. In this case, however, we must take into account the various laws and rules of confrontation, which greatly differ from one country to another. The goal here is to maintain order and to this purpose, the priority remains, in most cases, the search for the control of one or more individuals, trying their best to preserve their physical integrity. Furthermore, it's necessary to combine the techniques of Krav Maga with the use of equipment such as telescopic baton or tonfa, for example, to which you must add handcuffing procedures, teamwork, etc.

It seems obvious that the Krav Maga practiced by this "category" cannot have the same purpose as in the case before mentioned. It is also clear that KM cannot be practiced alone, it is advisable to adjust it to the field of the accessories made ??available to the law enforcement

forces, as well as to the so-called "movements and techniques of professional intervention." This research is one of the work axes that have been the subject of a very detailed study by the KMRED group, given the professional backgrounds of its founders.

But now, let us approach the public that is at the origin of the democratization of Krav Maga as a self-defense discipline: civilians. With this term we refer to men, women and children who practice this self-defense system in gyms and academies worldwide, throughout the year.

Once again, we must ask ourselves this question ... Should we teach men, women and children the same type of Krav Maga? Our research takes us from long time to set a difference in the programs of these different audiences. In fact, a woman who mainly runs the risk of being attacked by one or more men, must learn to defend herself against a baseball bat? Or, what are the chances for a man to be grabbed by his hair? Or finally, should a child practicing in a group

whose age is between 7 and 10 years, learn and train defenses against threats from firearms?

We in the KMRED group believe it is important to make evolve the practice of Krav Maga keeping its "spirit", but modernizing its content and differentiating its programs according to the audience. Obviously, it would be rather hard to change the program of a traditional Martial Art that has been codified for hundreds of years such as Karate or Judo, but although the Krav Maga had in principle an accurate coding, why, since it's today mainly practiced as a discipline of self-defense, should not evolve and develop around increasingly effective techniques and tailored to each particular audience?

And, of course, always maintaining that particular "spirit" of work that currently makes of Krav Maga one of the most efficient disciplines in the world of self-defense.

Our investigation continues, so we can evolve and develop our content!

Training close to reality

As we already mentioned in our previous articles, KMRED is a Krav Maga, self-defense and combat sports research group.

Our priority is to bring together in a Krav Maga coherent program the technical guidance in which we believe.

This program is constantly evolving and is a choice that allows the students who follow us to practice a modern and pragmatic Krav Maga, based on the reality of combat.

We have often noticed that, in many cases, and beyond the controversy of the "technical" options used in most of the centers, training methods were somewhat "sanitized" and much too often more suited to the "Demonstration" than to reality.

We see this often when people who teach have followed a very short plan of studies and / or have chosen the number of graduates relying on the fad effect of Krav Maga.

From our side, it's been long that we found that the effectiveness of a "street" self-defense method can't be compatible with "a nice combat choreography."

Therefore, our training methods meet the real needs of the students we train. A specific and long tested pedagogy is used to allow practitioners to "confront" the harsh reality of an aggression.

A stepwise progression program adapted to each one, with exercises depicting very common situation, is carried out in classes, favoring the combative and thoughtful aspects.

There's no need to lie to students when it comes to self-defense, because it is their physical integrity, it is their life what is at stake.

Some examples: - When we are training someone to defend against a choke from the front, do

Training close to reality

you think that putting our hands around his neck, shouting and pushing loosely is enough? Not for us! Gradually we will increase the force and violence of the grip.

- When we give a few punches in the face of a person, should we encode the blow type, trajectory, etc., every time? No, not us! We will generate situations in which many non-codified blows will be sent to the practitioner's face.

- If we are training to deal with stick attacks, must we counterfeit the attack making a false move as we see so often and get so far away from a real attack practice? Not us! The stick hit should be done with the same intensity as in the "street", beginning with a plastic stick for

conditioning the gesture, but soon using a hard stick.

Realism and permanent change of scenarios that put us under stress should be our priority.

However, whatever methods we may use for our exercises, it's imperative to ensure that they will be performed in optimal safety conditions.

In fact, it is difficult to reproduce a real assault with a knife, for

example, because there would be too many injuries or worse! But in order to get as close as possible to reality, we can use "hard" knives, electric impulsion knives, protective gear such as masks, chest plates, etc., and above all, prepare the person that is going to play the role of "aggressor"!

Finally, we want to emphasize an important thing!

Being a self-defense instructor and p u t t i n g i n p r a c t i c e " s t re s s a n d combativeness management" exercises is something that can’t be

improvised! You should know the limits not to be exceeded in this type of exercises!

In KMRED group, we have a long teaching experience on the field.

However, this does not prevent us to keep forming ourselves and follow the advice of people from professional means such as the police and armed forces (specialized services) to select and implement our exercises.

Experience! Only actual experiences, of which we have learned the lessons, can be beneficial.

Training close to reality

“Experience!

Only actual experiences, of which we have learned the lessons, can be beneficial�

Shifu Shi Miaozhi , is one of the best teachers who have emerged from the best generation of teachers of Shaolin , and he is a highly respected student of Master Shi de Yang.

In this DVD he is going to introduce one of the most characteristic forms of the Shaolin style, Xiao Hong Quan . The origin of this Tao Lu is halfway between a historical reality and a legend. It is centuries-old but today it is still considered essential in the teaching of this martial art , because it contains the essence of Shaolin Gong Fu and is a good tool for learning the method of the Great Palm, Zhang Fa Palm Techniques. One of it s main features is that it is famous for its effectiveness in real combat .

Shaolin Xiao Hong Quan could be defined as a Tao Lu whose development is accurate and with rhythm, the technique is powerful and strong, and when executed properly you could say it is like the wind . This is Tao Lu basic steps and movements from other types of Gong Fu . It can be said that it has a full set of combinations of techniques based on the movement of the hands, legs, eyes, step and footwork, and the whole system of theory and practice on the offensive and defensive projections. The DVD includes warm ups , a training routine at different speeds and angles , and step by step techniques for self-defense applications . A routine that anyone interested in learning this martial art should know in depth.

REF.: • MIAOZHI-1

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. net

Martial Cinema Few stars have been able to shine with such power in the Olympus of Martial Cinema. Born in Belgium in October 1960, Jean-Claude Camille Franรงois Van Varenberg (Van Damme) has developed a unique work of its kind; an outstanding career that is still very much alive (while we are making this information he's just finishing his latest film) that has left big shoes to fill in a genre that not only has acquired dimension of its own, but also has definitely influenced the outline of any action movie in modern cinema.

A great career filled with memorable titles to his many fans that consecrated him as the star he is today. 12 million of fans around the world continue following him in Facebook, and his name is warrant of success and credibility in the film world.

Actually, all these data and many more are known to everyone, but few people can talk about of "that another" Van Damme; people like the author of this article, the Hong Kong writer and producer Mike Leeder, who knows him 25 years ago; or Don Warrener, our editor in America who also knows him well for 15 years, and that now will share with you anecdotes and the vision of that other man, the person, the human being who always hides behind the mask of the actor.

As public figures, we are (each one in his or her own level), under pressure and scrutiny of the people, who are unable to differentiate between the person and the character. Having always the focus turned to yourself, being placed in the front line, turns you into a target of thoughts and ener gies, dr eams and fantasies of large numbers of people. It s u r e h a s n ' t b e e n e a s y b e i n g " Va n Damme", and that unique experience of fame and success brings about pressures on the individual that no one can understand

The Other Van Damme beyond himself. With admiration for the actor, but mostly with sympathy and respect for the human being that lies behind, we have wanted with this article to pay a deserved tribute to JCVD, the person.

Those, you can always find them, of an easy tongue and quick to criticize, will know another side of him and, perhaps, will also learn to value him from another angle, where the point is not what we all wish, what we all want to see, but the man .

Mr. Van Damme, bringing you to our cover page is always an honor for us!

Alfredo Tucci Text: Mike Leeder Photos: Don warrener

Cine Marcial I've had the pleasure of knowing Jean-Claude Van Damme for well over a quarter of a century, I've interviewed him innumerable times in various countries and on various film-sets, and had the pleasure of getting to know him very well over the years. In fact as I write this I am just finishing up coproducing his latest pr oject, the action thriller Pound of

Flesh, dir ected by Er nie Barbarash which we've been shooting for the last two months in China. Now over the years JC has had plenty of media coverage and graced the cover of many a magazine, but there's still a side to him that very few people know about. And thanks to our esteemed publisher and editor in chief Don Warrener, this month I get a chance to tell you about a very different Jean-Claude Van Damme.

The Other Van Damme The Jean-Claude Van Damme Nobody Knows!

I met him for the first time in the London offices of the late lamented Cannon Films, where a screening of Bloodsport had been arranged. I walked into the office and sitting in reception was a very charismatic young fellow who I immediately recognized having already seen him in action in Seasonal Films No Retreat No Surrender, which saw him playing the superkicking syndicate's Soviet mean machine. I was told by the secretary to wait for the screening, and took the time to introduce myself to the young JeanClaude who seemed somewhat amazed that I actually knew who he was and had seen him in action. (No Retreat No Surrender was a huge VHS hit in the UK in the late 80's; we caught onto this fellow in Europe long before America did!)

We seemed to hit it off from the start, and he started to tell me about the various ups and downs and how the production of Bloodsport hadn't been easy and how its release had nearly been cancelled until he went into the editing room himself to work on recutting the fight scenes and recapture the magic and excitement that was there. The screening went well and we grabbed a coffee nearby and conducted a quick candid interview with promises to keep in touch. Now you often hear that in the industry but it's rare to find someone who is a man of his word, but some time later when JeanClaude was back in the UK for the debut of Kickboxer, he recognized me the minute I walked in to do an interview with him and since then I have probably interviewed him at least once a year, and gotten to know him very well over the years, worked with him behind the scenes

“JC without missing a beat picked up his cell phone and asked the guy for his fathers number and handed the man his cell phone�

on a few things and most recently co-produced his latest movie Pound of Flesh, which also saw me getting to sign another item of the bucket list, when I get a one on one fight scene with the man himself. Well when I say fight scene, he basically beats seven shades of grey out of

me, in a very high impact fight scene choreographed by John Salvitti from Donnie Yen's fight-team.

Now over the years JC has had plenty of press, both for his movies and sometimes press of a less kind manner that's been happy to report any mishaps or lapses of judgement,

even if they don't always happen to be true! But there is a very different Jean-Claude Van Damme than the hero we're used to seeing on the screen, and in this article I want to touch upon a few moments that might make you re-evalutate him in a very good way.

“JC is always getting in trouble from his wife as well for bringing stray dogs home from the farthest corners of the world�

JC has made over 50 movies, and worked with so many cast and crew over the years, but when some of them have had problems, he's the first to lend his support, be it moral or otherwise. My old flatmate in Hong Kong, was Australian martial arts actor Mike Miller whose credits include everything from Once Upon a Time in China 2 with Jet Li, The Black Sheep Affair with Chiu Mancheuk and Tsui Hark's action comedy Knock Off, which saw him facing off against Jean-Claude in a very high impact fight scene that saw Mike visiting the emergency room more than once as he took some very hard hits and falls for the sake of a great fight. Mike was and still is a hell of a Van Damme fan, so it was like a wish come true to be battling his hero, so he took them all in his stride. But about a year and a half after the movie wrapped, Mike had to cut short his stunt career after suffering kidney failure which resulted in him having to return to Australia and have transplants and step away from the screen.

We've always kept in touch, and on two occasions when he's hit a rough patch, the first being when his parents passed away in quick succession and most recently when he suffered a relapse of his kidney issues, Jean-Claude was very happy to record a video message for Mike, sincerely wishing him the best and encouraging him to keep on battling away.

Both messages were warmly received by Mike, and he has said to me they did help lift his spirits when they were at a very low ebb.

JC also lifted the spirits of one of the directors he worked with early in his career quite recently, when I told him that Cyborg director Albert Pyun had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and was having health issues that threatened his career and livelihood and JC was quick to

Marcial Cinema “How many of you know that JC is an avid supporter of the “Make A Wish Foundation”?

Without mentioning how many times he has helped people let it be said he has helped many.”

"Van Damme, who early got his Black Belt in Shotokan Karate, studied ballet, of which he certainly took his coordination and flexibility, skills that have made him famous worldwide.

His physical strength is also related to his bodybuilding training, which led him to become Mr. Belgium."

Marcial Cinema

Marcial Cinema reach out and offer his support once again. For me, I experienced a moment of true friendship shortly after my own mothers passing in late 2001, I had flown back to UK from Hong Kong for the funeral and a few days after I arrived there was an e-mail from JC asking where I was, as he had been trying to reach me. I responded that sadly I had a loss in the family, and wouldn't really be able to get back to him properly until I was back from the UK. Within minutes there was a response from JC, with his Belgium phone number asking me to call him. I did, and he not only offered his condolences but told me that he was in Belgium and if I needed anything he was just a phone call away. The man is a movie star, and yet he was going that extra mile for me as a friend, and that's something I really appreciated and continue to value to this day.

The editor of this magazine, Don Warrener I think would also agree with my thoughts on Jean-Claude, as he recalls some of his encounters with Mr. Van Damme.

“It has been my esteemed pleasure to know Jean Claude Van Damme now for about 15 years. I got real lucky to meet him right when I moved to Hollywood thru my friend and business partner Isaac Florentine when they needed a script writer and Isaac called me in to talk to JC about a project called “The Tower” but I was the wrong guy for the job. So I told him to get the original writer back and he did.

But on my way out the door he called me back in and we began to talk about computers and cameras etc. and martial arts. Martial arts is all I really know. I even had the audacity to tell him I could improve his roundhouse kick, how arrogant of me.

Anyway once the word got out and I had written a few articles on him I got

contacted by a friend in England Jon Jepson who asked if I could arrange to bring JC to England and JC agreed to go and teach some seminars for him and he did. He did a great job as well and everyone was very excited to be involved. But it was during this trip that I lear nt about a Jean Claude Van Damme that no one knows about.

He was teaching a class in Birmingham and he stopped the class and asked everyone to sit down and then he said “you guys all think that I am tough and a great fighter well I am not but I want you to meet a tough fighter” He then walked over to this ten year old boy Jimmy sitting in a wheel chair with a ventilator on with one of those pipes going into his throat. “This is tough ladies and gentleman this is tough.” He then knelt down beside the boy and started talking to him and asked him what he could do for him and the boy said “I want you to do one of those fancy kicks of yours for me”. JC stood up and did his usual patented perfect roundhouse kick. The young boy smiled and then JC went back to doing his seminar teaching stretching and all the rest.

After the seminar we sat in a holding room waiting for the cars to come around and take us to the next seminar. While waiting there was a little knock at the door and JC's assistant opened the door and there was Jimmy and his family asking for an autograph.

JC got so excited to see the kid and invited him and his family into the room. They talked for at least an hour and in the end JC asked me to make sure when we get back to LA that I send Jimmy his own personal computer a 17” Mac Pro laptop and I did. Sense then Jimmy has been given at least 5 new wheel chairs by JC as he has grown.

Then another true story is when we were sitting at a coffee shop in Venice Beach and a street person walked up

to him and said “hey your that Jean Claude Van Damme feller aren't you?”

JC just said “yes I am”. The homeless person then said “if my old man knew I was talking to you he would call me a lier”.

JC without missing a beat picked up his cell phone and asked the guy for his father's number and handed the man his cell phone. The father on the other end was shocked when the son told him who he was with. JC then took the phone and said to the father “Yes this is Jean Claude Van Damme and I am here with your son John and he appears to be OK and quite healthy living on the street. He knew his father must have wondered how his son was.

Then he hung up. The homeless person John then without missing a beat turned to JC and said thank you...

Then it was my tur n to lear n something from JC that I will never forget. John said hey Jean Claude “now that we are friends can you lend me $20?” JC just turned to him and said “no it will not help you, you need to get some help from a doctor”. John walked away. If you could have seen Jean Claude's eyes you would have cried on the spot as he was so upset knowing he could not help the person.

How many of you know that JC is an avid supporter of the “Make A Wish Foundation” and without mentioning how many times he has helped people let it be said he has helped many.'

JC is also very much an animal lover, I've often seen him at his most relaxed and happiest when surrounded by or interacting with animals, especially dogs as they are very much the animal JC seems most connected with. JC has acquired quite a collection of dogs over the years, with a large number spread between his homes in LA and Belgium, including strays that he has rescued from traffic in various parts of the world, injured dogs that he's nursed back to health and more. I think

The Other Van Damme

Marcial Cinema he is up to 12 dogs now in his house and his wife loves them as much as JC does but I cannot imagine all the work there is in maintaining them all.

We asked acclaimed martial arts director Isaac Florentine (Undisputed 2, The Shepherd: Border Patrol) if he could share any true stories of JeanClaude, and he told us the following; “We were in the North Hollywood Muay Thai gym.

He was sparring with Malaipat a Rajadamnern Stadium Champion in Bangkok Thailand who has over 150 fights and he threw the most perfect hook kick you can imagine and just touched Malaipat's cheek with it. When he could have easily hit him but he didn't out of total respect. Then about 3 days later I was at his place going over a script and the conversation like always turned to martial arts and fighting as he knows I love training and right in his kitchen he stood up asked me to stand there and he thru an absolutely perfect roundhouse kick full speed and power and touched me right on the nose perfect control and that really impressed me that he had so much control.�

Rising star Scott Adkins who has worked with JeanClaude on four movies to date including The Expendables 2, and Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning in a recent interview recalled JC ringing him up to congratulate him on his recent marriage. While some would expect some insecurity between an established star like Jean-Claude and someone who could well be viewed as a contender for similar roles, JC takes it in his stride and offers his support and encouragement.

There's also a story that Don would probably be the first to tell you, Don may now be a fixture in Los Angeles, but he's actually a Canadian. And when he moved to the States some 15 years

The Other Van Damme ago, he didn't have his green card or anything else. But while compiling references to apply for residency, he asked JC if he would write a letter of recommendation for him. He didn't have to do that, he didn't owe Don anything, but he did and now Don lives and works in Hollywood. And according to Don when he spoke to the immigration department, they said it was this one letter that convinced them that he should get a green card.

This is just a glimpse at the JeanClaude Van Damme that nobody knows‌.

We'd love to hear any of your stories of connecting or interacting with JeanClaude Van Damme, feel free to send us an email or hit us up on Facebook to tell us your stories.

Jean-Claude Van Damme can be found on the net at www.jcvdonline.com Follow him on twitter @JCVDonline or on www.facebook.com/JCVDonline Mike Leeder is a Hong Kong based writer/producer. His film credits include Fearless with Jet Li, Rush Hour 3 with Jackie Chan, Pound of Flesh with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Man of Tai Chi with Keanau Reeves and many more. He was the editor of Impact www.impactonline.co for more than 10 years and has put together bonus features for various DVD & Bluray releases of Asian and World Cult and action cinema for such companies as Hong Kong Legends, Dragon Dynasty, Shout Factory, Media Blasters, Premier Asia and many more. He can be reached at bigmikeleeder@gmail.com

Six new Shidoshi celebrated their graduation party according to the Shizen tradition, following all its ceremonies with the rites, ancient dances around the fire and the timehonored ceremonial bow shot, accompanied by their loved ones.

In a magical and unforgettable night, with generosity and abundance, they reverenced and paid homage to all the visible and invisible worlds in the traditional way of the powerful People of Tengu...

Who said there were no real things left?

Arts of Japan

Text: Joho Goemon Kawazuki

Graduation Party of new Joho (Shidoshi) of the Kawa lineage in the Kaze no Ryu Ogawa Ha school, directed by Shidoshi Jordan Augusto Oliveira The Shizen cultural tradition has its great paladin in the figure of Shidoshi Jordan Augusto, one of the last authorities in that deep knowledge that has remained secret to our day. Its rich cultural background, including its own language, Shizengo, with its dialects and three types of different scriptures, its vast teachings in the field of philosophy, strategy, medicine, fighting arts, etc., stems from the original inhabitants of the islands of Japan, prior to the arrival of the Yamato, with which they mixed after the destruction of the villages, being able nevertheless to maintain their collective memory and traditions up to this day.

Perhaps Shidoshi Jordan is the last exponent of this cultural lineage (we haven't heard of anybody else so far), but he certainly is the first non-Japanese who has continued to teach the ancient wisdom of a people exceptionally elusive to any type of recording, who always kept their knowledge secret. Among all their cultural baggage, possibly the most beautiful and hidden gem was their knowledge of the unseen, called E-bunto in Shizengo (O-chikara in Japanese), which means "The Great Force”, an issue of which our director Alfredo Tucci has been passionate for years and, because of his training in anthropology, has dived on it to the point of having already written two books: "On the threshold of the invisible. The Japanese shamanism of the Shizen culture", and the recently edited "The framework of the invisible. The

“Celebrations were an essential part of the everyday village life.

Their purpose was that of bringing together the four villages, at least four times a year, coinciding with seasonal changes”

“Valencia's starry night was full of great magic, charm and exceptional strength; part of all that energy transcends in the photo essay that illustrates the article” construction of the Universe of the Shizen shamans", already translated into English (the first) and both into Portuguese and Italian. Until then, oddly enough, nothing had been published on this subject; even today nothing else appears on Google, such was the zeal with which the Shizen have always kept their secrets. The article we present today reports the great festival held in Valencia, Spain, which took place in two parts: the spiritual celebration on the feast dedicated to Shojobu Tengu, and the staging of an original play that featured, under the name of "The People of Tengu", an exhibition of the history and cultural peculiarities of "The Naturals", English translation of their Japanese name, "Shizen".

The party was attended by guests and E-bunto initiates worldwide. During celebration, dances and honors to all Tengu were performed, along with the right and proper ceremonial bow shot, enthronements and offerings, that is to say, all the ancient ceremonies that framed such an act within the Shizen in tradition. For such a celebration, rituals must begin to be prepared seven days before the feast, with various ceremonies and a special care so that everything goes the right way.

A little approach to ceremonials Celebrations were an essential part of the everyday village life. Their purpose was that of bringing together the four villages, at least four times a year, coinciding with seasonal changes. Each village could provide more feast days if deemed appropriate, because in these celebrations, the abundance of food assured the caring of all their members, including the most disadvantaged ones, thus creating a positive framework of coexistence and sharing. The idea was not only establishing a meeting

point among people, but that of trying also to connect them with the Universal forces they cultivated and conformed in their deep spirituality, the E-bunto.

The party we are glossing today was devoted to the entry of the new Joho in the "kingdom" of Do no Tengu, the old lord of the roads. Formerly the feast was performed immediately after completing the seclusion of the Sensei, who exited their 10-12 day seclusion in the Room of Tengu to go directly to the celebration.

The Joho occupy the highest place within the Shizen tradition, since the person who holds the rank has had to overcome colossal tests and years of study to achieve such consideration. In the party, the Joho walk around the campfire 9 times, carrying the color of each Tengu covering their backs, so that the Oni (demons, jinn) who persecute those Tengu, never find them, thus symbolizing that after years of studies and preparation, they finally have reached the end of the trail after having walked all the kingdoms of Tengu.

Now dressing in white distinguishes them, symbolizing that nothing negative in the world can disturb them any longer. After their walking around the fire, the rest of the village danced along with them the own dance of each

Tengu, with its specific rhythm marked by the Taiko (Japanese drum) and its songs. Nine were the dances dedicated to Sussunda Tengu (Black), Senso Tengu (red), Kaze no Tengu (blue), Bioki no Tengu (gray), Ai no Tengu (pink), Shojobu Tengu (yellow), Karassu Tengu (red and black), Tateru Tengu (green) and Dono Tengu (brown or white).

At the beginning of the act, it was held a ceremony of ritual shot with the Japanese bow, which is always done in honor of the most illustrious guests. The type of shot was specifically the one which is performed ??for Shojobu Tengu, since the celebration we recall today had besides an illustrious Tengu guest, in this case Shojobu Tengu, the lord of wisdom, the great King who owns all the wealth, so the type of food that was served was that of its own frequency: Sashimi, Seafood, noble fruits, etc. The food during these rituals is consecrated to this Tengu and is the same that guests eat, who in this way introduce such frequency into themselves.

Valencia's starry night was full of great magic, charm and exceptional strength; part of all that energy transcends in the photo essay that illustrates the article and can be also followed in the small audiovisual links accompanying this text, which are the prelude of two DVD's next to appear, the first being a general documentary about Ebunto, and the second one showing the making off of the play, with portions thereof including images of the back stage, interviews, etc.

“Its rich cultural background, including its own language, Shizengo, with its dialects and three types of different “The Joho occupy the scriptures, its vast highest place within the teachings in the field of Shizen tradition, philosophy, strategy, medicine, fighting arts, etc., since the person who holds the rank has had to stems from the original inhabitants of the islands of overcome colossal tests and years of study to achieve Japan, prior to the arrival such consideration” of the Yamato”

In the Shizen culture, Shojobu Tengu is the quintessential owner of the ceremonial bow shot.

Considered the lord of the earthly gold and the consciousness (wisdom), his ceremonial bow shots were made, by extension, to honor the most distinguished guests and, of course, in the ceremonies dedicated to him.

Two arrows were shot; the archer showed his arrows and bow placing them horizontally to the ground, a sign of respect and submission, while the Miryoku, the shaman priest, performed the invocation.

Only one represe Valencia, carried in mysterious and ric arts and spiritual a culture, with th in the fram

entation in the most modern theater of n the air an enchanted audience to the ch Universe of the Shizen culture, their and warlike traditions, their history and he mark of the Japanese Embassy, me of the dual year Spain-Japan.

Text: Joho Mitsutake Kawazuki

A brilliant staging that fascinated the public A magnificent performance in the Theater La Rambleta of "The Shizen.

The People of Tengu", an audiovisual show that, being rightly framed in the Spain-Japan dual year, a major initiative of the Embassy of Japan in Spain, celebrates the establishment of relations between the two countries.

The show created for the occasion was also part of the public graduation party in the Kaze no Ryu school of the six new Shidoshi or Joho, as it is said in Shizengo. A documentary is being produced about this representation, with its making off, back stage, interviews, etc., including much of the show, so that all those interested in the Shizen culture around the world and who could not attend, can enjoy it.

The image of the People of Tengu was posed as a public depiction of the Shizen tradition, conveniently framed historically as well as culturally, and stressing its two more interesting aspects: first its Martial tradition, the Bugei; and secondly its spiritual culture, the E-bunto. The play, of which we offer here an overview and an extensive photo report, renders a lot of information available to everyone about a culture almost unknown even in today's Japan, because of the distrust that Shizen people always felt to show themselves in public.

Anthropologically, this is easy to understand if we take into account that we are talking about a people constantly persecuted who managed to survive only on the basis of the secret and cohesion around their traditions.

In the new world we live in today, a world that has transgressed the ancient limits of the differences in the context of the information society, the reappearance of the Shizen is a

unique opportunity so that its riches not only do not get lost, but can be justly admired for their peculiarities, depth and greatness. Also, the maintenance of this ancient culture that has been kept incredibly complete, with its own language and its own three forms of writing, will lead to all those who are destined to live within it and preserve its richness to have the opportunity to get to know it, today and in the coming centuries.

The Shizen: The people of Tengu.

The story of the Naturals, or Shizen people, dates back to about 18,000 years ago, in the last ice age, when a group of tribes, fleeing the cold, across the Strait of Tartary, reached the Japanese islands making them their final abode. The forest gave them everything they needed to live and they, aware of their condition, acted accordingly. This was the main reason they became, through observation, deep connoisseurs of nature, thus earning the nickname of "Naturals".

But soon their peace was disturbed by the desire for conquest ... many tribes led by the Yamato landed in the south of the island and began their attack, which meant for the Shizen and many other native tribes of the islands the retreat to the North of their already decimated population.

Throughout the centuries, the unstoppable advance of the Yamato secluded the Shizen in the lush forests of the island of Hokkaido that became their last refuge and home.

Despite their thorough knowledge of nature, adjusting to the new environment was arduous because winters were long and cold and the nature around them savage and merciless. Since that moment, the art

“The image of the People of Tengu was posed as a public depiction of the Shizen tradition, conveniently framed historically as well as culturally, and stressing its two more interesting aspects: first its Martial tradition, the Bugei; and secondly its spiritual culture, the E-bunto� of survival became a priority and in that spirit were prepared the following generations They soon developed techniques of defense, attack, concealment, ambush, communication and divination through the observation of nature. The forest was their home again and this time it wouldn't be so easy for their foes to expel them from there.

Thus, during the twelfth century, in the Kamakura period, four lost v i l l a g e s , k n o w n a s K a w a , Ta y o , Yabu and Yama, were consolidated in the lush forests setting up the germ of a new hope for the Shizen people. Rebels and outlaws a g a i n s t t h e Ya m a t o i n v a d e r s started adhering and increasing the number of villagers, although they accepted as Shizen after ordeals only the worthiest, because for them, being a Shizen didn't depend on race or place of birth but the attitude and the honor of the person. In this way it was gradually developed not only a rich military culture, but also a culture with deep spiritual forms, known in their language, Shizengo, as Ebunto (O-chikara in Japanese), which means "The Great Force".

The villages were at least twice destroyed. Groups of them, however, infiltrated among the Yamato, at first as spies, and eventually, after the last defeat and annihilation of villages, it was finally produced an integration of survivors in the Japanese society.

Being a people that had been persecuted for so many centuries, they didn't find strange to maintain secret their customs, language and cultural forms, becoming hidden groups and networks of power and influence in the Japanese society. The relationship and coexistence between the two cultures, far from producing an acculturation of their traditions, favored the enrichment of the Shizen arts. Since many of their members had mixed with the Japanese aristocracy, the most sophisticated arts such as the Tea Ceremony, Ikebana or Sumi-e became part of their heritage.

The fierce Shizen warriors quickly adopted the martial arts of war of the Japanese samurai, known as

Bugei, developing their own style in such disparate subjects as Jujutsu, Iaijutsu, Kenjutsu and Aikijutsu, but ret aining memo ry o f their mo re peculiar, devastating and old forms g at hered in the Uchiuu S hiz en, which were highly appreciated by the best Samurai scholars of the time. But the Shizen culture was not t he o nly o ne to benefit in this process of integration. Its myths and s piritualit y co ntaminated the Japanese culture through its rich mythology. The open disposition itself of the Japanese in front of the relig io us fo rms was the fertile breeding ground for that event to be established in various ways.

Rendering cult to Tengu became part of Japanese culture, although, given that it was secret, it came to settle in a rather extemporaneous and confusing way. To this day, the Japanese culture speaks of Karassu Tengu, especially in its warrior traditions, but the information they manage, it is often a cumulus of legends and inconsistencies. The development of Bugei attached to spirituality led to impressive results, the ability to concentrate and selfknowledge of the warriors was such that they could do feats that made them legendary.

Thus, they were able to deflect arrows and even catch them in the air, make perfect cut s wit h t he katana where others only managed to do scratches, etc. When the spirit merges with the body and they both act as one, you can do anything.

Over time, the Shizen society was integrated into the Japanese culture, alway s t ry ing to keep al iv e i t s language, culture and spirituality. It was in this way that in the early twentieth century, in the era of the large Japanese migrations to Brazil, a group belonging to the lineage of

the v illag e of K awa arriv ed in Brazilian lands, in search of a better fate.

One of them, Hiroshi Ogawa sensei, stablished the first Shizen school outside Japanese land, as a means of self-defense and in response to the attacks that the Japanese population was suffering from a group of fanatics who didn't accept the defeat of Japan in World War II. This episode in the history of Brazil was recently reflected in the movie "Dirty Hearts". It was at this school where a pupil, Shidoshi Jordan Augusto, after 20 years of total immersion in the knowledge of the Shizen culture, graduated as the first non-Japanese Shidoshi in history.

From that moment, Shidoshi Jordan’s dedication to the maintenance of the Shizen culture was complete and most fruitful. Fate brought them to Europe eight years ago and since then the seed of the Shizen culture has rooted again with strength and from here it is being exported to the many countries that today integrate the Buguei International Society, a group aimed at teaching the Shizen cultural forms.

F ro m t h e s e pa g e s e i g h t y e a rs ago, countless videos and articles have been favoring this process a m o n g t h e m a r t i a l c o m m u n i t y, which today professes a respect justly ear ned with their job. Our director Alfredo Tucci has already written two books about the i n c re d i b l e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e Miryoku, the Shizen priests and shamans, and the E-bunto, feared for centuries, has begun today to be admired and recognized as a legacy of a unique culture.

As usual, Shidoshi Jordan amazed ev Warlike bow shots, tea ceremony, loc exposed through a ma

veryone with his impeccable sword technique. cks, the Shizen cultural and martial Universe gnificent narrative and music.

Martial techniques with the most varied weapons, Odori traditional dances, a careful staging that delighted the audience.

The bow shots against the four Oni, demons plaguing the villages, where the archer shouted out the name of each one before shooting them with the arrows; it's part of the spiritual customs of the Shizen and it was the first time to be performed in public. Shidoshi Koji Kawazuki placed four perfect targets!

“Bushi” Chojun Miyagi “The stronger one becomes, the more that person should express their gentler side. This is the meaning of Goju.”

Chojun Miyagi. (1888 -1953) was an Okinawan martial artist who founded the Goju-Ryu school of karate.

He was born in Naha, Okinawa and was the adopted son of a wealthy businessman. Miyagi began his study in karate at the age of nine. He first learned martial arts from Ryu Ko Aragaki, who then introduced him to Naha-te Master Kanryo Higashionna when Miyagi was 14. Under the tutelage of Higashionna, Miyagi underwent a very long and difficult period of training.

Miyagi traveled to Fujian Province in China as his teacher had done before him. In China he studied the Shaolin and Pa Qua forms of Chinese boxing. From the blending of these systems, the hard linear/external form of Shaolin, the soft circular/internal form of Pa Qua, and his native Naha-Te, a new system emerged.

However, it was not until 1929 that Chojun Miyagi named the system Goju-Ryu, meaning "hard soft style". It was after his top student Shinsato returned from Kyoto Japan where he had done a demonstration for the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai and was asked what was the name of his art and he did not have an answer so rather then being embarrassed he called it Hanko Ryu a phrase coming out of the 8 poems of the universe where it says that everything is breathing hard and soft. When he returned to Naha and told Miyagi what he had done Miyagi thought about it and then decided that the right name was Goju Ryu Karate.

After some years in China, Chojun Miyagi returned to Naha where he opened a dojo. He taught for many years, and even though Miyagi's reputation as a karate man was enormous, and even Kano Jigaro, the founder of judo, came to Okinawa to learn specific karate takedowns, his

By Ogalthorpe P. Bushmaster

greatest achievements lie in popularization and the organization of karate teaching methods. He introduced karate into Okinawa police work, high schools and other fields of

society. He revised and further developed Kata Sanchin -(it was originally done with open hands and Miyagi changed it to be done with closed hands) the hard aspect of Goju, and he created Kata Tensho - the soft aspect from the movements of the white crane, which was famous in Fujien where he had studied.

Tensho was influenced by the White Crane kata Rokkishu, which he learned from his longtime friend Gokenki. These kata are considered to contain the essence of the Goju-Ryu style. The highest kata, Suparinpei is said to contain the full syllabus of Goju-Ryu kata. Shisochin was Miyagi's favorite kata at the end of his years.

With the goal of unification of various karate styles which was in fashion at that time, he and Shoshin Nagamine created Shuri telike katas Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai Dai Ni in 1940, taking techniques from higher forms notably Suparinpei also upper block was uncommon for GojuRyu at that time and incorporating them into

shorter forms. It is said he created these kata to bridge the gap between Sanchin-kata and Saifa kata, which contains much more complex moves compared to Sanchin kata. However, Gekisai katas are lear ned before Sanchin-kata nowadays.

Chojun Miyagi was a man of extremely mild temperament and it is said that he was a very humble man.

He lived according to the principles of non-violence. Master Miyagi died in Okinawa on October 8, 1953 from second heart attack.

Some of his more notable students were Seko Higa (also a student of Kanryo Higaonna), Seikichi Toguchi (founder of the Shorei-Kan dojo), Miyazato Ei'ichi (founder of the Jundokan dojo), Meitoku Yagi (founder of the Meibukan dojo, he eventually accepted late master Miyagi's gi and obi from Miyagi's family), Tatsuo Shimabuku (founder of Isshin-ry_), and in Japan, Gogen Yamaguchi (founder of the Goju-Kai).

Recently a full blown Biography called “Bushi Chojun Miyagi� has just been released by Don Warrener (Rising Sun Productions) noted Goju Ryu practioner of karate sense 1966. This book like the others Warrener has penned comes with a DVD of the all the Disciples of Miyagi plus a CD of the entire text that can be loaded onto a computer for reading anywhere.

Eight years have elapsed since I first met Shidoshi Jordan and Shidoshi Juliana. In this time, both of them have written much in our magazine and taught in depth the Martial Arts of the Shizen people; but since then, many friends have also come to our magazine for the first time, and we thought that this month it would be simply great for our new readers that they could have a general approach to this school and its lineage. Therefore we decided to reproduce the first article published in 2006 in which we introduced Shidoshi Jordan and Shidoshi Juliana, presenting at the same time the first of many videos and books on their work.

Rereading the introduction I made for them at the time, now I find in it, intuitively molded, the germ of a work that was to be prolonged throughout time, and that would intensify and mature wrapped in friendship and commitment. I was not wrong when I then judged those aspects, but I could never imagine, nor did they, how much we were going to do together for the dissemination and maintenance of the Shizen culture, in my case linked to the spiritual tradition of this people, known as E-bunto, of which I have written 3 books.

Alfredo Tucci

F

ew times have I had the opportunity to cross paths with a master so well versed in his Art and in the culture that surrounds it as the one who today concerns us. Shidoshi Jordan, recently arrived in Europe after years of working in his native Brazil, knows Japan and its culture, reveres and appreciates both, lives them intensely, and knows how to transmit them. Not in vain is the inheritance from the school that he directs profoundly fused with the roots of the Japanese warrior and Samurai. As in the case of Count Koma and the Gracie family, a Japanese tradition was installed and perpetuated outside of its native country with a notable force. The history that surrounds tradition is as passionate as it is spectacular, and the Arts it includes as varied as they are lethal. In the Ogawa Ryu, the students not only study the most varied and complete combat forms that one can imagine-

empty hands, shuriken, katana, Bo, Jo, etc.-but also included is a very complete training in history, tradition, and traditional cultures. This means a long period of study after which the follower must take an exam, which must be passed or else they are excluded from the school forever. These requirements have imbued this school with a halo of seriousness and commitment without comparison in the martial panorama of our days. Of course, its practitioners are not as numerous as in other

styles, but those who are, possess a high level of commitment. Master Jordan has come to Europe to stay and teach, accompanied by his charming wife Juliana, as integrated in their common dream as you can imagine. They are good people, with a disposition for commitment and intense work, always positive, and they have come to share their knowledge with other budokas. It is not a little that they have to offer, either! In this first project, as much in an article as a video for Budo International-no doubt the first in a long series-Shidoshi Jordan wanted to present the many areas included in his warrior tradition, with the handling of multiple weapons and techniques that have a common and extremely interesting root.

Jordan, a true Samurai of the old style, professes reverence for the ways of Musashi and, like him, he divides his soul between the sword and the pen, generously offering his knowledge on his web-site, adding nearly one new article per week. This high production has led him through the years to publish the Bugei Encyclopedia and many other books on Zen and Japanese philosophy and tradition, most of them in PDF format, texts that show his deep knowledge of the Art and the Martial culture.

I must recommend to all the lovers of the Japanese tradition this Art as well as this Master, direct heir of the legally documented, authentic warrior school of the eternal Japan.

Alfredo Tucci

BU (military, war), GEI (art) Bu is related to the military, the martial; Gei, in turn, means art, or performance. So, Bugei is a joining of kanji, which has as an interpretation, “art or performance of war�, denoting a more generic aspect, which includes and embraces the diverse specialties not only of Bujutsu, but of its subspecializations. Bujutsu, in turn, denotes the strategy or the function of these warrior arts, the way by which the practice reaches its objectives.

Bugei, or Military Art, had its origin in old Japan, though it was only studied for purposes of warfare.

Nowadays, its ideology is totally centered around the tradition of the art. For this reason, all the disciplines have a common relation: the search for reality and efficiency, an essential factor for the training of a warrior.

It was in the Tokugawa Era (also known as the Edo Period, 1603 to 1868 AD) when the military culture reached its historic and technical height. The population was divided into four social classes: samurais, farm workers, craftsmen, and traders. The samurais were the dominant class. They held absolute power over the people and their lands, having the sword and their family name as their symbol. They possessed an honor code denominated Bushido.

Approximately nine centuries of expression of military power in Japan shows that the nation was imbued with ideals and ethics particular to those warriors, with an impressive sense of mission. Those elements, which drove the bushi to act in important scenarios of Japanese history, were strongly

surrounded by a firm belief in the divine origin of Japan, with a determination that would confirm the belief in the power of weapons, even though it implied death. The code of behavior demanded an unquestionable obedience to the mandates of one's immediate superior, to whom was attributed a link with the divine past.

Bugei was taught in the military schools-Bujutsu Ryu-that were so widespread throughout Japan that it is impossible to know the exact number of them.

Yorike Mizuguchi, who would later change his name to Manabo Ogawa, was the ancestor of the whole genealogical tree of the Ogawa family. Yorike was a priest and believed in the messages from the gods as the initial way of elevation. After that, Manabo was recognized by the priests as the direct Kokeisha (successor) of the traditional lineage of the Kawa village. It is thought that the adopted nameOgawa-is very likely a homage to his re-birth in the waters of the “little river” that ran through the village.

The Kaze in the Bugei Ryu came to Brazil through the Ogawa family, which disembarked at the Santos port at an undetermined date and which has as its reference the year 1935, being established in the state of Parana in the south of Brazil. Shidoshi Jordan Augusto initiated his trajectory in Bugei

through Kazuo Ogawa and Kibashi Hirayama.

Later on, under the guidance of Roberto Kunio Araki, he received the grade of Shidoshi from the hands of Ogawa Hiroshi, and along with it, the permission to teach the tradition of the lineage.

There are indications from history referring to the development of the techniques by Ogawa Hiroshi himself. So, they say that until the decade of the 70s, in Brazil our lineage was also called Ogawa Ryu, since much was developed by way of efficiency thanks to our soke. It is possible, therefore, to see difference in what concerns Kakuto in Bujutsu (real way of war) when compared to the Kaze in the Ryu from Brazil and other countries.

Within the study of Bugei from the Ogawa lineage are the arts of Kobujutsu and Taijutsu.

Literally translated as “old art of war” (ko - old; bu war; jutsu - art), this word has been very much utilized as a reference to the practice with weapons.

In fact, through the years, there has been great confusion about the Martial Arts. It is common that the Japanese arts use expressions in accord with the native language. That being so, it is logical that many terms will be similar.

Certain classic styles of Jujutsu, for example, commonly denominate the practice with weapons as

“Within the study of Bugei from the Ogawa lineage are the arts of Kobujutsu and Taijutsu.

Literally translated as ‘old art of war’”

Kobujutsu, but not including the practice of specific old weapons like Sai, Tonfa, Kama, etc. In this way, it is correct to affirm that in these cases, the term Kobujutsu is utilized to refer to practices with classic weapons, such as the Jo, Bokuto, Tanto, etc., only being employed as “old art of war�.

There are many arts practiced in the Ogawa Ryu, among them are, Kenjutsu, Iaijutsu, Battojuts, Jujutsu, Bojutsu, Tanbojutsu, Tantojutsu, Yarijutsu (Sojutsu), Naginatajutsu, Saijutsu, Kamjutsu, KusariFundo, Nawa no Gikko, and Kyujutsu.

Tai Jutsu is a Japanese term that means corporal Martial Arts, corporal art. Tai means body and jutsu, art. Despite being quite an indeterminate word, Tai Jutsu is a very old way of fighting, which endeavored to perfect and prepare students for all kinds of situations in which they did not have weapons or any other kind of protection except their own body. With this intention, the art took very wide dimensions due to the infinite situations that might arise in corporal fighting.

So, as many weapons have been developed to offer advantages in combat and through time and from the diverse cultures one can find an immense variety with very different ends, the human body has also improved in its use of structural components, the head, trunk and limbs, with attack and defensive aims.

In Japan, just as in other warrior countries, unarmed combat techniques became so effective that they went on to be studied and applied against any kind of adversary whether armed or not. The study of angles, traction, impact and bars that could be done with the body and the damage that they could bring about in certain areas, have been exhaustively studied to the point where the unarmed arts could achieve the same advantages with an adversary with the most dangerous of weapons. It is possible to find, for example, the unarmed technical applications against an

adversary with knife (Tanto Dori) or with sword (Shinken Shiraha Dori).

Tai Jutsu is basically divided into three arts of body contact. The part that studies the way of grabbing (immobilizations and chokes) is Jujutsu - a very old art that descends from Kumi-Uchi (Yoroi Kumi-Uchi in the case of using armor), a way of fighting that sought to take the adversaries to the ground, very effective for the development of the mind-body connection. Still within Jujutsu, for its immense number of techniques and immobilizations, one studies, with quite a lot of emphasis, fighting with the feet, but with a connotation closer to gripping.

Another part of Tai Jutsu is Kenpo, an art that deals with aggression and bodily strength.

The philosophy of Kenpo is to look for the naturalness of the body in union with its aggression. This violent way of corporal fighting was developed with warfare objectives.

And to complete Tai Jutsu, we have Aiki Ju Jutsu, a very old fighting technique based on harmony and on the use of internal energy, known as Ki. Nonetheless, some characteristic sequences are utilized within those of Jujutsu and Aiki Jujutsu as forms of Seiteigata. That art is known as Koppojutsu and emphasizes

attacking the bones. Another factor that makes Tai Jutsu extremely effective is the use of bars and angles of locks, fractures, and twisting of joints, known as Kansetsu no Gikko. There are many historic explanations about why there are so many techniques dedicated to the joints. The most common version refers to the origin of armor, which was made to be flexible and therefore left only the joints accessible as targets of attack.

MAKIMONO, TRADITIONAL DOCUMENTS If we analyze the composition of a paper well, no matter how good the text is, it will never truly express programmatic content existent in the knowledge of a professional. For the most traditional Bugei masters, what is written down on paper and in documents might not be as significant as the analysis of techniques and their executions. Even so, it is the best reference or legacy of a master to a student in so far as the tradition of his thoughts and his origin go.

In the old days, the values of a training period in Koryu were placed in documents that had the name of Kaiden so that related nomenclatures were spread to Menkyo Kaiden, Densho, Kaidenshom, Makimono, Ryusho, and others. Though there are studies that investigate the differences among each one of them and their respective applications, with the legacy of Gendai Budo, a great doubt arose concer ning the grades and titles that were attributed. With the rise of the modern arts, which utilize the Dan Kyu grade system, the information

from the past has remained somewhat adrift and suffocated by the rise of the new arts.

The Kaiden system is known in the West as a “license” to transmit certain knowledge. In the most traditional schools, apart from Kaiden, there is the Makimono, a document that contains the necessary specifications of each Ryu and the specifications of its genealogy.

For decades, there were many specifications in these documents. Their contents were valued by way of the continuity and direction of a certain Ryu-flow; current; nagare, which refers to the lineage-which, in the consistency of the facts, determined the real heirs and holders of the knowledge of that school.

Ishino Shihan presented the translation of the documents that represent the Brazilian Bugei Society and that holds Shidoshi Jordan Augusto as Daihyosha, or representative, of the Ogawa techniques in Koryu Seiteigata (established forms in a specific order).

Shidoshi Jordan Augusto, referring to the makimono, affirmed in an interview: “Any and all documents must be seen as a reminder that you make up or have made up part of something important, something that was good for you.

Nothing more.” And he goes further: “The document doesn't make you special in anything, quite the opposite; all that is symbol becomes a target. As for that fact that many support themselves in the documents to conquer a space they think they need, we have to remember that we are all, at some point in our interior, fragile and small. The illusionary world is there and we all participate in it. Respect must come from the inside out, not from the outside in.”

“C

riminal intent” is defined here as the criminal thought process and motives pertaining to crime and violence. Criminals, thugs, punks, abusers - they're all part of the same “family,” in that they generally think alike and carry out plans in similar ways.

Here are some quick facts on bad guys and their typical methods: • The majority of criminals do not look the part.

They look like everyone else.

• Being a criminal doesn't make you fearless. In fact, these “geniuses” are usually cowards who are just as afraid as those they attack.

• Bad guys prey on people they perceive as “soft targets.”

• Most criminals are extremely lazy, and won't work hard at committing a crime.

• The easiest, fastest and least challenging way is what a bad guy looks for.

• The majority of bad guys flee or give up at the first hint of trouble or resistance.

• A lot of criminals take great pride in what they do.

• The phrase “like attracts like” is very true in the criminal world.

• Criminals don't expect much resistance from a victim; they rely on fear and intimidation to get the job done.

• Most bad guys have extremely poor plans, and usually no back up plans.

• Criminals can often be thrown out of sync very easily because they expect little or no resistance.

• Many of your everyday actions can determine whether or not you will become a target.

• Approximately 5 percent of the population commit the majority of all crimes.

• If you are perceived as strong, confident and posing a challenge, your chances of becoming a victim decrease dramatically.

• At some point in your life, you probably were the target of a crime and didn't even know it. The smallest actions you took prevented a bad guy from carrying out his plan.

These tips apply to the majority of crimes and criminals. However, every situation is unique and can possibly have a different outcome, so remember to stay alert and listen to your instincts.

A former street cop, sheriff, and maximum security prison guard. Chris Sutton is the founder of CobraDefense in Clearwater, FL. Cobra-defense is a law enforcement based self-defense system. CobraDefense is the official self-defense system of John Graden's Martial Arts Teachers' Association (MATAwww.MartialArtsTeachers.com).

Instructor certification in Cobra-Defense is at www.SelfDefenseCertified.com.

Chris Sutton is availble for seminars and special training. He can be reached at 727-791-4111 or Cobra@CobraDefense.com

Kenpo Two sister Arts / Two brother Masters My first steps into the world of martial arts take me back to the 60s. Born in Santiago, Chile, I started to take a keen interest in the various Korean, Chinese and Japanese styles when I was 15 years old and so I got in contact with various practitioners of Judo, Boxing, Karate, Tae-Kwon-Do, Farang Do and Kenpo.

After visiting Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Panama, Peru and El Salvador and having gone through different experiences with various practitioners, trainers and masters, in 1976 I moved permanently to Spain. At

that time, American Kenpo was almost totally unknown in Europe. I was very lucky because in those years there was a great enthusiasm, diffusion and development of all the arts and sports of contact. So, in 1978, I started in the FullContact and Kick-Boxing by the hand of the greatest in those days: Dominique Valera, the "European King"; Jan

Plas and Johan Vos, from Amsterdam, Holland; Bill "Superfoot" Wallace and Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, from United States.

I had started in the arts of Kenpo with Claudio Chaparro and Arturo Petit, from Chile. Then I continued with Grand Master Robert Trias, Frank Trejo and Ed Parker, in Pasadena, California; with Jorge Vazquez, from Polynesian Kenpo, and Jeff "Perfect Weapon" Speakman, in Newark, Utah and various other courses in Spain. My main encounter came in 1982, when Robert Trias introduced me to Grandmaster Thomas Barro Mitose, 22nd descendant of the Clan of the Mitose Kosho-Monks.

In those years, Grandmaster Mitose and his children, Mark, Debbie and Elisabeth, were in full peak as great and outstanding competitors. I myself competed in the same division with the Grand Master Mitose during the USKA world championships, held in Miami, Ohio, Chicago and Houston, Texas.

From our first meeting with Grand Master Thomas Mitose, our souls got linked in admiration, respect and joint work. At first I used to teach my students Kosho-Ryu Kenpo and Fu-Shih Kenpo by separate, mainly because they were two different arts and also out of prudence and respect toward the Mitose family. Later I combined both into one single program and then, over

the years, I split them up again. Often Soke Mitose used to joke with me in a healthy and friendly way, by saying that the Kosho was an art of peace, and the Fu-Shih or I were the Tiger part of Kenpo, i.e., the aggressive, wild or violent side. However, he always liked my way of feeling and expressing kenpo in the pursuit of efficiency and simplicity of maneuvering.

When I met Soke Mitose, I immediately began to campaign for him, interviewing him and taking plenty of pictures and videos.

Also I edited books and got him into the major martial art magazines of Spain. I brought him to Madrid for the first time in 1985. Since then and up to present day, we have brought him over on many other occasions. I also took him to England, Portugal, Argentina, Chile and Mexico. Many of his now foreign representatives were previously formed by me or by my own representatives throughout the world.

In the next future I'm planning to take him to Norway, Italy and other countries still unconquered by Kenpo.

Soke Thomas Barro Mitose has stated publicly and through various media such as videos, magazines, interviews or public lectures that our styles do not collide, rather, they complement each other. We are like Yin and Yang. Always supporting each other and never bothering. In his most recent visit to

Segovia, Spain, last May 2014, in a recorded speech in front of the students and general public, he openly and honestly said that he considered me like "the brother he never had", and that I was no longer just a student or a Master of Kosho-Ryu Kenpo, but rather a member of the Mitose family.

Similarly, I've always admired him and felt a deep respect for him. And so have I shown during these 32 years of a peaceful and friendly coexistence (1982/2014). I love his humble and noble way of being and living, his art and his spiritual and human greatness.

Then, it's perhaps the time to unite our mutual strengths to make way for a project we had together back in the 80s, when we wanted to merge both styles, but at the end it never came to fruition for various reasons, always beyond our control. In this project, the Kosho would contribute with its traditional appearance and its art, and the Fu-Shih Kenpo could provide its selfdefense system, weapons and combat. 've never been jealous of "what is mine is mine".

Rather, I believe that "unity is strength". Without having ever met James Masayoshi Mitose, I was always attracted by his image and history. I've felt him so close that I felt like part of that family, a family to which the current Soke has taken me with love, friendship, admiration and respect.

Both arts have given me a great human and martial training, and have kept me alive and strong even in the worst moments of my life. I think that thanks to them, I've always kept kindled the eternal flame of my motivations, the strength that moves me towards my increasingly simplicity, harmony and peace of mind.

Two arts: Kosho-Ryu Kenpo and Fu-Shih Kenpo; two sisters, two brothers. Hail our Soke Thomas Barro Mitose and the whole family Mikka worldwide. We still have much to do on behalf of our young followers, instructors and masters.

"Live in peace, harmony and honesty."

BE HAPPY...

RaĂşl GutiĂŠrrez 10th Dan Fu-Shih Kenpo - 9 Âş Dan Kosho-Ryu Kenpo

From the major release or opening of the Kundalini in the “Big Toe Pose” Angusthásana, we then worked to ground the flowing energies in the three main lines of Shushuma, Ida and Pingala with the following “Bow Pose” Dhanurásana posture.

This served to avoid health and or emtional issues that too much release of pent up energies can often times cause. As we saw the cold of the ground againstthe frontal Chakras dissipated these overwhelming energies to maintain the balance while still achieving a major release of them. The Seated Primodial additionally grounds these released energies further insuring balance, harmony and awareness.

Kyusho (the Vital Point) of Energy Development Posture 15 “Seated Primordial” Rája Puránásana As the energy released it rose up the back ofthe body as it transcended to the crown and third eye, where it could naturally coagulate and cause the prior mentioned issues.

But by grounding the frontal charkras and drawing these energies from the head to the sixth charkra in the lower abdomen (Dan Tien inChinese and Hara in Japanese traditions), we provided a pathway for these energies as we drew them down away from the brain.

However we did not accomplisha full grounding or circuit of the energies as natural law dictates. The energy was onlydrawn to the sixth chakra and we need to fully draw it down to the root or seventh chakra to complete this main circuit. By placing ourselves in this posture after the prior two, we cannow accomplish this full original circuit. Our

tailbone and perenium now are placed in direct contact with the ground which serves to draw the energies to the root chakra... and ultimately the earth.

Additionally we can see that the backs ofthelegs are also held indirect contact withthe earth to further draw the Kundalini energies from the root charkra and down the backs of the legs and to the heels. The toes are pointed for extra emphasis on the heel, or one of our main grounding anatomical structures. However this pose is not only for grounding, it is for full energetic circuit development.

As the toes are pointed we are simultaneously grounding the energies transversing the frontal charkras, to the root and down the legs as well as allowing the energies t rise through the inner thighs to the perenium or lower meeting/crossing points. The tailbone is not only

Vital Points

Text: Evan Pantazi Yoga Instructor: Carolina Lino Ponta Delgada, Azores Photo by: Tiago Pacheco Maia Ponta Delgada, Azores

“As you adopt the seated posture, inhale deeply and slowly to feel the vibrations and weight on the backs of the legs and into the ground” grounded, but with the straight back it also allows the energy rising up the inner legs cross the perenium and transverse again up the spine and three energetic paths.

The hands placed on the knees maintains the energy in the body as opposed to exiting if they were to be placed on the ground. This position also stretches and opens the charkra between the shoulderblades allowing further energies to branch off into the peripherals of the arms as well. With this posture rising and grounding energies flow through the complete circuit and lead to balanced awareness and full energetic functionality.

“Seated Primoidial” Rája Puránásana Once finished with the Bow Pose, we transition into this seated and relaxed position. This releases the back muscles as the entire body relaxes and rests into the natural position and contact with the ground.

As you place the legs flat to the ground and palms on the respective knees, feel the spine, especially at the lower lumbar region. It will naturally try to arch backwards as the torsos weight rests on it. By then pointing the toes forward you will feel the slight pull and straightening of this vital area.

This allows the full spine to then be held straighter and allows the proper energetic pathway. If you did not also feel the entire spine straighten, pull the toes back and rest to feel the spinal condition, then slowly point the toes again and focus your awareness on how it incrementally straightens each successive vertebra. Allow this straightening up into the cervical vertebra all the way to the cranium.

Once you feel this full straightening and subsequent energy rise, bring your attention to the feel of the shoulders and arms as the energy then circulates through them as well. With the awareness on the energies in the legs, body, head and arms you have accomplished a full circuit and more importantly the awareness of this circuit. Once this full awareness is easily obtained and felt each time you adopt this posture, then further focus your awareness into the helix pattern of energy flow. You will have two major helix or infinity symbol type energetic circuits that you can sense.

The first helix is the grand circuit where you feel the energy climb the inner leg, transverse to the spine via the perineum, then up the spine over the crown of the head and down the front midline (and chakras) to the perineum and to the heals.

The secondary helix will be as the energy expands from the spine (between the shoulders) and down the inner arms to the hands and then back toward the spine up the outer arms. A strong suggestion is to first focus on the grand circuit until comfortable and natural before adding the secondary arm or full circuit.

Breathing and Intention: As you adopt the seated posture, inhale deeply and slowly to feel the vibrations and weight on the backs of the legs and into the ground. Then exhale slowly and deeply

to relax the entire body so to open all the energetic pathways. You may want to repeat this until fully relaxed and focused. As you repeat this breathing cycle, bring the awareness to the perineum in particular so that you may feel the energetic crossings in subsequent breaths.

Now as you inhale deeply and slowly focus on the energy from the crown transvers the from midline and chakras of the body cross through the perineum, to the backs of the legs and heels into the ground. Exhale slowly to feel the energy draw up the inner legs from the sole of the foot, crossing the helix at the perineum and up the spine to the crown.

Repeat the inhale again working with the same focus as before with the feet back, to fully let the energy drop into the ground. Next exhale as before but as you begin to exhale also point the toes feeling the energy pull from the sole of the foot (at a point called Kidney 1 in Chinese Acupuncture), sense it cross the perineum and transverse the spine to the crown, but this time as it reaches the crown also feel the vibrational sensations travel also down the inner arms to the palms. On the long deep exhale feel the vibrations rise up the outer arms and also down from the Crown Chakra toward the Root Chakra to the backs of the legs and ground.

This completes the grand circuit and greater energetic flow, awareness and enlightenment. Please make sure as you allow the inhale to expand the lower abdomen, it should never expand the abdomen forward. This will retard the flow through the perineum… instead always make sure to expand the inhale into the perineum and downward for full potential and energetic flow.

Next Posture 16 “Pelvic Pose” Katikásana

Yoga & Vital Points

WADO RYU KARATE BY HIRONORI OTSUKA Otsuka was born on June 1, 1892, in Shimodate City, Ibaraki, Japan. He was one of four children to Tokujiro Otsuka, a medical doctor. At the age of 5 years, he began training in the martial art jujutsu. Otsuka's father took over his martial arts education in 1897. Then at the age of 13, Otsuka became Shinzaburo Nakayama’s student.

By 1911, while studying business administration at Waseda University in Tokyo, Otsuka trained at various jujutsu schools. When his father died suddenly Otsuka was unable to continue studying. He found work as a clerk at a bank. Although he wanted to become a full-time instructor, he waited, out of respect for his mother's wishes.

On April 1, 1934, Otsuka opened his own karate school - the Dai Nippon Karate Shinko Kai in Kanda, Tokyo. He blended Shotokan karate with his knowledge of Shindo Yoshin-ryu jujutsu to form Wado Ryu karate. With recognition of his style Otsuka became a full-time instructor. In 1940, his style was registered at the Butokukai, Kyoto. Through the 1950s, Osuka held various karate competitions.

WADO RYU KARATE is a direct translation of the Japanese work by Hironori Otsuka. Masters Publication took on the job of the translation in 1997. Theis book has since then become a best seller around the world.

This book features Wado Ryu katas performed by the master himself, as well as information on the basics. 357 pages. $29.94 paperback Contact us at masters@porchlight.ca or see our website warrenerentertainment.com

If I had been given one Euro every time I've been asked in 27 years dir ecting this magazine, what is mor e necessary to succeed in this sector, I'd be a millionaire, undoubtedly. I will not say, as a good friend of mine who's always answered to me that he doesn't know what makes that a school works, but he DOES know everything that makes it NOT work. Much less will I pretend to arrogate to myself the truth in such a peculiar subject.

I'll do it in a different way: I will tell you what is ALWAYS needed for success to come and stay: K n o w l e d g e , r e s p o n s i b i l i t y, p e r s e v e r a n c e a n d organization are certainly needed virtues, but it's not less important having a product of your own and a good ongoing communication campaign. While these latter are rather external conditions, it is in the first factors that you position yourself in front of the world. Of course, they can be acquired, but one of them is personal, either you have it or you don't: charisma, magnetism, inner intensity, leadership... Call it whatever you want!

I met this exceptional Austrian man years ago and the more I treat him, the more I'm convinced that he has them all. The facts, which are stubborn, speak for themselves and since then, Peter has continued to improve, grow and succeed. His regular collaborations in this magazine are not coincidental; beyond what is strictly professional, are always emerging these other factors, most of them, invisible as everything that is important and secure long-term relationships. Putting each month his texts to the reach of everyone is always extremely gratifying to me. Professional, direct, incisive, Peter is a great communicator and a sensible, practical and conclusive researcher, without ambiguity or false promises. Bravo Peter!

Alfredo Tucci Text: Irmi Hanzal & Thomas E. Schimmerl Photos: Thomas Suchanek

PETER WECKAUF Integral martial artist and system developer In recent issues we presented Peter Weckauf's Tactical Combat Systems seperately. This month we are going to take a closer look at all his close combat systems and the aims, ideas and targets of their attack and defense concepts. They are the results of years and years of experience and research.

As a very young man, Peter Weckauf has started to build his skills in the martial arts. The experience he gained inspired him to incorporate his own concepts into existing defense systems His classes have inspired him to develop his very own approach to trainings methods, scenarios and various aspects of self-defense.

THE INTEGRAL MARTIAL ARTIST “I will tell you what is ALWAYS needed for success to come and stay: Knowledge, responsibility, perseverance and organization are certainly needed virtues” Alfredo Tucci

“Based on tried and tested concepts, Peter Weckauf has developed skills for the use of this archaic weapon, always considering the tomahawk's peculiar handling�

THE INTEGRAL MARTIAL ARTIST

SDS-Concept One of the first things he noticed was that many martial arts use weapons, but never develop their full potential. Some techniques, on the other hand, are so artful, that they can never be used in a real fight. Mr. Weckauf's next logical step was to develop an independent system for the use of everyday objects for self-defense purposes, which could either be trained as a discreet system or can complement existing systems with weapons. The term "SDS-Concept" initially referred to the Kubotan, aka "Self Defense Stick" but by now, Peter Weckauf rather uses items of everyday use for his self-defense system, like bottles, flash lights, spoons, pens, belts, scarves, books, bags‌ Thanks to Peter Weckauf's creativity, the list becomes longer and longer every year as he invents new techniques with and for various objects and teaches these techniques in seminars and courses. Sticking to principles and concepts has top priority for the development of these highly innovative applications.

Knife training Defense against attacks with knives and other edged weapons are yet another topic which Peter Weckauf deals with and discusses within his TCS Knife Fighting Concept. Being able to handle the knife on a martial arts basis is very necessary for the defense against attacks with knives. Combat sport is another way to test one's skill, for example in the annual Knife Cup events. Peter Weckauf is highly skilled in the use of one knife, two knives simultaneously, and the Karambit.

Axe & Tomahawk Axes and tomahawks are weapons you don't see every day. TCS Tomahawk Fighting Concept presents the advantages of this very special weapon, the oldest weapon known to mankind. Based on tried and tested concepts,

“Mr. Weckauf's next logical step was to develop an independent system for the use of everyday objects for self-defense purposes, which could either be trained as a discreet system or can complement existing systems with weapons. �

THE INTEGRAL MARTIAL ARTIST “Sticking to principles and concepts has top priority for the development of these highly innovative applications”

“The term "SDS-Concept" initially referred to the Kubotan, aka "Self Defense Stick" but by now, Peter Weckauf rather uses items of everyday use for his self-defense system, like bottles, flash lights, spoons, pens, belts, scarves, books, bags…”

“The reasonable arrangement of various training levels is one of Mr. Weckauf's personal priorities�

Peter Weckauf has developed skills for the use of this archaic weapon, always considering the tomahawk's peculiar handling.

Unarmed defense As weapons are not always at hand, it seems like a smart idea to have unarmed defense strategies as well.

Panantukan Concept is Peter Weckauf's idea of an integral system for radical defense. Panantukan Concept contains elements of combat sport, martial arts and self-defense. An abundance of techniques, applications and training methods make this system one of the most interesting new look at "Philippine street fighting", which, strictly speaking, comes from the USA. Panantukan Concept is actually a complete self-defense system for martial artists and combat athletes who feel the need to improve and hone their skills and techniques for the use in fights.

Training methods and structures Mr. Weckauf has always regarded training methods as really important which is why he continues to adapt and develop them on a regular basis.

Trainings methods may be important for him, but so are skills and abilities which allow and enable correct use of defense and offense sequences. This is why in Tactical Combat System classes, practicing coordinative skills is as important as practicing physical and mental aspects of the system.

The reasonable arrangement of various training levels is one of Mr. Weckauf's personal priorities. All of his systems are well constructed and understandable. His own ideas which he continuously teaches - be it in instructor seminars or through his online training platform - make the clear structures of the curricula so obvious.

For more information about seminars and instructor courses go to www.sami-international.com

Autodefensa

PANANTUKAN CONCEPT www.panantukan-concept.com In this month's article I will deal with yet another part of our SAMI systems: TCS Panantukan Concept is a 100% independent and highly effective unarmed close-combat system, based on fighting concepts and principles. Many of its techniques are derived from Philippine Kali, Western-style Olympic boxing, Indonesian Silat and a number of other styles.

The word "Panantukan" is of Filipino descent and simply means "punch" or "fight". Nowadays, Panantukan is an independent style. Boxing has always had a strong influence on Panantukan, which is why Panantukan is often called "Philippine Boxing" or "Dirty Boxing" which also clearly hints at Panantukan's most noticeable element, which is punching. The biggest difference between Panantukan and "normal" boxing is of course the fact that Panantukan has no strict rules, which allows the use of all body weapons, like punches to the opponent's weak spots, locks, takedowns and body manipulation.

The differences between and weightings of various styles of Panantukan are mainly based on different points of view and underlying ideas. Some systems show a leaning towards Silat whereas others are clearly influenced by Jeet Kune Do. Text: Peter Weckauf, Mag. Irmi Hanzal, Thomas Schimmerl Photos: Thomas Suchanek

What is Panantukan Concept?

Panantukan Concept "the unlimited fighting art" is my way of looking at unarmed self-defense. The name stands for "concept-based unlimited fighting". I did not mean to create a new system when I devised Panantukan Concept, I just came up with curricula, teaching methods, techniques and exercises for our SAMI trainers and schools.

The unlimited fighting art Panantukan Concept does not exclusively focus on "dirty" boxing, it rather covers all

areas of self-protection. What most people find so fascinating about the system are its varied and unlimited training options. We cover it all: from limitless boxing techniques to the use of all body weapons (open hands, forearms, fists, legs, knee, head-butts, shoulders), destruction concepts, infight training, third party protection, defensive against more than one aggressors, offensive concept, and very important! - unlimited, unrestricted defense.

Why Panantukan Concept?

Like for all our systems, we use the term "Concept" to make it very clear that Panantukan can be taught as an integral system. I share Bruce Lee's philosophy that one shouldn't allow oneself to be forced into fixed shapes, but should rather be able to adapt to necessities and to create something

new. Concepts, which can be used as needed follow this philosophy and also stand for our independence and uniqueness of approach.

The concepts of Panantukan Concepts are the pillars of this effective martial art and make it so unique and powerful. According to a given situation, the concepts can be used isolated or in combination with other concepts. Let me now explain some of the concepts in more detail.

Weapon concepts in Panantukan Concept I have always been fascinated by weapons concepts, I find them very interesting and we have always attempted to develop them further. Many systems teach unarmed defense first and only later show their students how to use what they have learned against weapons.

In Panantukan, we teach "checking" of the armed hand (i.e. holding and controlling, typical for the fight against weapons) from the very beginning, so that it comes natural for real defense against weapons in later stages. This approach is a clear indication for the fact that Panantukan Concept is really a system for and with weapons.

Destruction The word says it all. Based on fighting techniques with weapons, the idea is to destroy or hurt the opponent's limbs in a way that he can no longer use them or that he even loses hold of his weapon. This concept is really aimed at the armed hand of

the opponent. In Panantukan Concept, we go one step further and use these techniques not only against the opponent's arms, but also against his legs (leg

destruction) to rob him of his agility.

Special training concepts to attack the opponent's head and neck are also part of Panantukan Concept.

Body manipulation Body manipulation is one of the main pillars of Panantukan Concept. It is used to move the opponent in a position which is bad for him and good for us as well as to break the opponent's balance.

Body manipulation is mainly used concurrently with attacking techniques, like hits, kicks and locks.

Body manipulation works as pushing, pressing, and pulling or as a combination of these elements. Arms, legs, shoulders, neck or head can be the targets of body manipulation techniques. Effective manipulation requires correct distance, which is punching distance.

Body manipulation is one of the most fascinating techniques in Panantukan and is, of course, also used in armed fighting. Lots of

exercises, drills and special training methods are used to improve body manipulation techniques.

Street defense Panantukan is basically defense against punches and kicks. For Panantukan Concept, however, we have created a program which also includes the release from grips, techniques for threats with arms (knives, firearms), defense against more than one aggressors, defense in lessthan-perfect environments (in a car, at a table,..) and third party protection. For this we use, of course, concepts of Panantukan, but also training methods and strategies taken from modern selfdefense systems. This seems logical, as we want to prepare our students for unfavorable events and improve their self-defense skills.

Instructors training Diversity and unlimited use are what makes Panantukan Concept so

interesting for instructors of other martial arts, both as an extension of their own martial arts or simply as an educational device.

SAMI Inter national offers instructors courses, in particular for trainers of other styles who wish to improve their knowledge step by step. Of course, we follow our own path when we teach future instructors of Panantukan Concept as practical lessons are supported online. One of the most important issues, though, is to understand didactic concepts, methodical arrangement of the curriculum and well-structured access to training programs. At the moment, Panantukan Concept is taught in a number of European countries, still, we are developing more locations in order to allow even more people to access our unique close-combat system.

For further information about seminars and instructor: courses go to: www.panantukan-concept.com

“TAOWS Academy. Wing Tsun Advanced”. Sifu Salvador Sánchez Wing Tsun is an excellent style of Chinese boxing that permits a lifetime training experience and an integral development of the individual.

Its ideas, techniques, philosophy etc , it all belongs to an ancient art and must be studied and understood in its whole. Sifu Salvador Sánchez focusses his second dvd on the wooden dummy and how it influences all of the Wing Tsun practice. Given that the wooden dummy form is taught at the final levels of the actual system of today, most practitioners that leave the system before time don't have the opportunity to know the ideas and concepts hidden within the form, and they cannot incorporate them in their practice.

For TAOWS academy it is very important that the practitioner understands what he is doing always and in every aspect, and for this, in this dvd we are going to follow the same outline that we follow in our classes, seminars and training sessions. Our outline follows six steps, the first one is to develop an idea, what we want to achieve. The second part are the forms, Siu Nim Tao, Chum Kiu, Biu Jee, the wooden dummy form, depending on each s level, the third part is footwork, mobility understood. The fourth pillar is Chi Sao, Chi Gerk, stickiness, the soul of the system. The fifth element is non stickiness and no contact, to know what to do in order to reach contact with the opponent in a safe way.

REF.: • TAOWS-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. net

Kapap "The Most Difficult Journey Is The One You Must Make Within Yourself..."

Hanshi Patrick McCarthy Just a few years ago a group of Krav Maga practitioner's tried to gain market-share with the only skill they knew, slander. They tried to character assassinate me using lies and nonsensical claims. Using a few guys that I had removed from KAPAP: One was a war criminal, and once I found out, he was out. One was kicked out of the Israeli Army for being AWOL and shameful and I also refused to allow him to test to get in YAMAM unit. One was an Ex-YAMAM member that tried to become an instructor, but wasn't good enough, and instead the YAMAM unit took me as it's Instructor.

One guy was discharged from the Israeli Army with Mental Health issues after just 3 weeks of service. He claimed to have training from the Israeli Secret Service, but in reality he was merely trained by a guy that was once a military driver. The second was an Air Force technician and the last hardly served in the Army having the lowest IDF military profile 31, which meant that one more point down and he would be out of the Military. Yet this 'great team' managed with real Kapap that popped up after 15 years, to claim there was no Kapap, but since Kapap had gained popularity, now all Krav Maga best sellers were becoming KAPAP. This 'team' claimed that Kapap was the YAMAM system, but they forgot that I instituted it and set it in YAMAM with Lt. Colonel Chaim Peer. This 'team' united with a pedophile that was convicted 6 times in Israeli court for raping his students.

But 'now' they are the 'real-deal'!

One day my kid came home from school and asked me why in school when they ran a Google search on my name, it popped up that I was a fraud!

This was one of the most disturbing moments of my life. How can evil win?

These criminals were even using the power of the internet and internet forums to try and set bad names and slander on my father RIP. That was when I decided to fight back.

My father taught me lots of things, but the first and most important was respect.

What's the meaning of respect? My father never spoke of his past, of wars even though he'd been in 5 wars and was one of only a select few men that can wear the dress Red Wings in Israel! I asked my father just two weeks before he died to talk to me about his past, but he said "we did what we had to do, not for reward, but we defended what we believed in, and

our country, and for what we built and our families and nothing more."

My father lost his two parents when he was 11 years old. He moved to live in Israel and did not have an easy life. I remember as I visited and then lived in Japan that my father would go to work at 5am, and on a cold day I just understood what he'd said many years ago to me: "I may have hard work but I will manage to send you to the best schools and get the best education so you can have successes in life." I owe him my successes for sure, as I also became an officer in the Army even though I wasn't interested in it, but he pushed me hard to choose the good ways in life.

After my father died I understood how many people loved him and respected him and then understood how 'rich' he was. In this article I'll try to share some ideas as to why I continue to ignore evil and push it away. Evil people and my enemies: enemies are never my friends as bad people are just bad people. This opened my eyes to study more. As hard as the slander has been it's taught me a lot and made me a better person. I can also say that it has shown me a lot about my friends, as Martin Luther King said "In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." And yes, my friends kept silent as many would like to be taller by stepping on others.

I try my best to teach with love and peace, keeping ego away as in Machado BJJ there is a great quote: "leave your ego at the door when you enter this dojo." I'm old school. I try to instill in people good values and good morals and good education, not just skills of physical techniques, and in my school there will be no bullying or egotistical martial art. That brings me to a nice read to share with you by Hanshi Patrick McCarthy: "People will forget what you said.

People will forget what you did, but People will never forget how you made them feel."

I dreamt I had an interview with God. "Come in" God said.

"So, you would like to interview Me?" "If you have the time" I said.

God smiled and said: "My time is eternity and is enough to do everything; what questions do you have in mind to ask me?"

"What surprises you most about mankind?"

God answered: "That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again. That they lose their health to make money

and then lose their money to restore their health. That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live neither for the present nor the future. That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they had never lived..."

God's hands took mine and we were silent for awhile and then I asked, "As a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?" God replied with a smile: "To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. What they can do is to let themselves be loved.

To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but who they have in their lives.

To lear n that it is not good to compare themselves to others. All will be judged individually on their own merits, not as a group on a comparison basis!

To learn that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.

To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love, and that it takes many years to heal them.

To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.

To learn that there are persons that love them dearly, but simply do not know how to express or show their feelings.

To lear n that money can buy everything but happiness.

To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it totally differently.

To lear n that a true friend is someone who knows everything about them... and likes them anyway.

To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others, but that they have to forgive themselves."

I sat there for awhile enjoying the moment. I thanked Him for his time and for all that He has done for me and my family, and He replied, "Anytime.

I'm here 24 hours a day. All you have to do is ask for me, and I'll answer.

"People will forget what you said.

People will forget what you did, but People will never forget how you made them feel."

I try to get my students to journey more inside themselves and not so much into others - "The Most Difficult journey is the one you must make within yourself..."

In the last several years I have travelled almost non -stop to teach KAPAP and today we have KAPAP world-wide from near the North Pole to the Antarctica and all around the world.

I didn't target rich people, as I have no interest in the rich ladies of Beverly Hills fighting in their tight pants "doing the fierce Israeli Army system."

I want to teach communities and poor people and to give people something more in martial arts that's not about showing off. And that has gotten me into becoming 'Sensei on the Road' - and where the road ends, the adventure begins.

I've started to teach native tribes and travel into real-life communities teaching, but I find myself mostly studying and looking into myself. I've studied that when you see the tribe leader living with his village and when his village is floating, his home is

floating too. That shows me that our way of life, with our leaders living in golden temples, is far from us...

Teaching martial arts make me wonder many times about life, as martial arts is the study of life - where most real Grand Masters are at best fools. If they had really been smart they would have found something better to do and more profitable.

What is teaching?

All GREAT teaching comes from the heart - there are no words for

it. Finding words to explain the 'Do' - way is like throwing stones at the moon.

In the last few months I've been teaching in a new project for Native Indians from the Cree and Inuit tribes and have also started a great study myself about life and visions of life from their perspective.

When I was a kid I always loved cowboy movies, but I was always on the side of the Indians. The older I got, the more I understood why. I could feel their spirit, and it spoke to me more truly than western money ideas and perspectives of life. Here are some inspirational

Kapap quotes that I've found that we can all learn from, provided by Native Indian Tribes - that are still valid today, and which are new inspiration and guide posts for me, and hopefully for you as well.

children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love."

Red Cloud

"I am poor and naked, but I am the Chief of the nation.

We do not want riches, but we do want to train our

"Only after the last tree has been cut down. Only after the last river has been poisoned. Only after the last fish

has been caught. Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten."

Cree Indian Prophecy

"Certain things catch your eye, But pursue only those that capture your heart."

Old Indian saying

"Our first teacher is our own heart."

Native American proverb

"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."

Cherokee expression

"When the blood in your veins return to the sea, and the earth in your bones return to the ground, perhaps then you will remember that this land does not belong to you, it is you who belong to this land."

Unknown

"Lose your temper and you lose a friend; lie and you lose yourself."

Hopi

"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children."

Ancient American Indian proverb

"We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees."

Qwatsinas, Nuxalk Nation

Kapap

Here is an outline and Mission statement that I provided to present my program:

Project Mission Statement: "Through this project children will develop healthy attitudes and social skills through targeted physical activity in interaction with peers. Through the success of the process of mastering different skills and activities which are included in this project children will develop self-confidence and build a positive image of themselves and their environment. Sports and physical activity greatly decreases the degree of

"Certain things catch your eye, But pursue only those that capture your heart" Old Indian saying

aggressiveness, i.e. to divert it through creative engagement in physical exercise. In developing this project, the focus was the current situation of the society and of all the problems facing today's society, families and young people, such as alienation, violence in the family and among peers, the impact of media pressure and the internet, enjoying the opiates... In order to achieve objective and realistic knowledge children need to be trained.

With this project of martial arts we want to form a strategy that will help children and young people in the wider understanding of their environment and their place and role in the family and society. Young people at this age are not mature enough to understand

Kapap the issues and they can still be affected in a positive way to social values. One solution would be to promote and popularize sports and we believe that the School of Martial Arts was one of the ways to promote human values and increase the level of sporting aspirations in young population.

The objectives to be achieved by the implementation of the proposed project: The project aims to introduce sports and Martial Arts to students in elementary and secondary schools, so that their interest directs towards activities that help them achieve better living conditions, promote mental and physical development. Practicing sports in adolescence contribute to the prevention of violence and drug abuse and create awareness among youth about the value system.

Informal education project activities: Within the project and in addition to sports activities it will be worked

on the role of sport in the wider context of the development of i n t e r p e r s o n a l re l a t i o n s h i p s a n d communication. Through various forms of sporting activities, in addition to physical education, students develop general s p o r t s m a n s h i p a ff i r m a t i o n a n d positive learning attitudes and positive life values such as developing trust among people, identifying and re s o l v i n g miscommunication and misunderstandings, as well as a positive view of diversity and tolerance. Developing trust between people is essential for mutual respect, open minds, understanding and empathy. You can thus promote the development of communication skills and team cooperation and positive appreciation of diversity. The achievement of the trust, communication, competence and tolerance enables easier development of personality, behavior m o d i f i c a t i o n , a n d p re v e n t i o n o f potential conflicts within the family and society.

The goal of informal and educational activities : Raising awareness of social perception, i.e. awareness that the accuracy of the observations of others depends on the precision with which we highlight (collect, perceive) certain information (verbal and nonverbal.)

This experiential knowledge improves the personal observations and increase confidence in interpersonal communication situations. The project aims to converge youth sports to their interest directed towards activities that allow them to better living conditions, promote mental and physical development, and further information and encouragement that takes part in the development of the same.

"Knowing yourself beginning of all wisdom."

is

the

Aristotle "Know yourself and you win all battles."

Sun Tzu

Element “Fire“ Rapidly straight as well as pushed strike sequences (chain strike) symbolize the explosive character of the element fire and its blazing heat, with which it eats up its surroundings.

In the organic system, the element fire is associated with the heart and the small intestines.

Fire is one of the five elements in the Hung Gar system. Techniques, which are allocated to the element of fire, usually find their way to the mark straightforwardly, as for example the so-called chain-strike does.

Generally speaking, fire techniques symbolize the element’s explosive character and they often are associated with the tiger style

respectively tiger-techniques.

Looking at the nature of a tiger’s attack more closely, one recognizes that a tiger tends to attack straightforwardly and with razor sharp claws. The work with the Qi is also important in the execution of fire techniques, as it also requires an explosive type of power. Watching a Hung Gar practitioner exercising

typical fire techniques, the image of a spirited warrior who is using a very direct kind of fighting techniques arises. In traditional Chinese medicine the element fire is linked with the organs heart (ying organ) and small intestine (yang organ).

Especially the heart has a significant position in traditional Chinese medicine, similar to the one allocated

to it in the modern Western medicine. Without a heart, creatures would simply not be able to live, as all organs are being provided with vital substances via the bloodcirculation, which is prompted by the heart. As already mentioned in my article about the five elements in general, Hung Gar Kung Fu does not know techniques which are “exclusively hard” or “exclusively soft”; techniques can be both. The nature of fire techniques can be described as a straight and unerring kind of power, techniques that can strike like a destructive flash, but also move softly like a flame in the wind and encompass its obstacles. It is important to understand that the element fire consists not only of mere fighting techniques but also knows various different strategies or forms of power, always depending on what the Hung Gar student needs or aims for in a certain situation. The connection between the element fire and the tiger style is probably the easiest one to make for Western students and often it is the first connection made between the various principles in Hung Gar. Furthermore, the association of fire and tiger with the organ heart, which represents strong emotions like joy or love, seems

very logical as well. Perhaps this is also the reason why those connections are the ones most likely to be discovered by new and curious students. With regard to the real fight, a fighter always uses fire techniques when a direct and relentless approach is needed. A careful observer can identify fire techniques by these attributes.

Admittedly, this is easier said than done, as the elements in Hung Gar are not simply embodied in single techniques, but are complete systems in themselves. The elements are subsystems which are an integral part of the comprehensive Hung Gar system itself. However, regardless of how complicated the elements might be to comprehend, on his way to better skills, the strong-willed and disciplined student will inevitably reveal this knowledge – as long as he constantly tries to broaden his horizon, does not stop exercising and learns from a skilled teacher.

Element “Metal�

The element metal is characterized by divisive movements (strong backhand strikes), which imitate the blow of an axe. In the organic system, the element metal is associated with the lungs and the large intestine.

The element metal is another one of the five elements in the Hung Gar system. It repeatedly causes confusion among students, as its principles are quite difficult to grasp. To enhance their understanding, students look for

hints or answers within the five-partdoctrine, where the element metal (like the four other elements) is explained as a part of various cycles and described with different attributes (for example: “The axe splits the wood, and can be blunted by this wood”). Since most people hardly ever encounter the element metal in nature, unlike the

elements wood or earth, students in the beginning of their Hung Gar career often have difficulties to associate metal with certain techniques. In a recent article about the five elements in general, I wrote about the status of the elements in the Hung Gar system and that their purpose is to fight efficiently. To put it in the words of my Si Hing: “Just to destroy the human

body.” To describe the fighting techniques, the picture of an axe and its strong divisive blows is very fitting, as the principles of the element metal in the fight are often embodied in a technique which pulls or tears something apart. Furthermore, metal techniques are ideal for short fighting distances, which is why the element metal is linked with the leopard style.

In using the typical leopard-fist, a halfopen fist, a target can be hit with a small point of impact, the knuckles, from a short distance and with a highly destructive power. Beside its function within the fighting system, the element metal is important within the traditional Chinese medicine as well and linked with the organs lung (ying organ) and large intestines (yang organ). As mentioned in the text about the element fire with regard to the organs heart and small intestines, a ying organ is generally considered more important than a yang organ, therefore yang organs are usually only mentioned in passing. Not only the

traditional Chinese medicine has recognized that there is a connection between the lungs and the skin, but Western medicine also acknowledges this link and that the skin mirrors the state of health of the lungs to some extent. The cause for several skin diseases can be explained by an imbalance in the lungs and can be therefore attributed to the element metal. A popular example is smoking.

It causes various adverse affects and also influences the skin in a negative way. Discussing the element metal relating to fighting or self-defense techniques, an inexperienced student often struggles to establish an

understanding for metal techniques.

Nonetheless, or rather for that very reason, I hope that this article, as well as constant practice, enhances everybody’s perception of these very interesting principles. It is the same as with the four other elements: the depth of knowledge and understanding depends on regular exercise, a curious mind and a skilled teacher. I sincerely hope that many students of mine will choose to go all the way to become Hung Gar masters one day and thereby discover the full potential, subsystems and secrets, which are embodied in the Hung Gar system.

The Three Foot Rule Once you’ve set an appointment for an intro, its important that you confirm the appointment 24-hours in advance.

Confirming appointments greatly increases the likelihood of your potential students showing up for their classes prepared for action. In your phone call you mention that you'll be following up with a courtesy call (either the day of their lesson or the day before).

The call isn't to ask them if “they're still going to make it," or some other negative statement, but to make sure they know exactly where the school is located. It’s meant to be a friendly reminder.

And, if there's time, the rapport-building process should be continued during the confirmation, regardless whether a secretary or the instructor makes the call. The information sheet for a scheduled introductory should have the essential information for the caller, such as: Parent(s) name, child's name, age and any other notes taken during the course of the call (For example: "Johnny's been getting bullied at school.").

Adding Friends and Family During the initial phone call and then again on the confirmation call, it’s a good practice to ask a prospective student if they would like to invite friends or family members to participate along with them in their first lessons.

The Greeting Anyone coming through the front door of your school should, at the very least, be acknowledged before they can take their fourth step into your reception area. No matter how many introductory lessons you might schedule in a single evening, it is important to treat each lesson as if it were your only one of the night, or the month, or the year.

You should know their name(s), and so should your entire staff. It's best to have a welcoming board at your front desk where the names of your next lessons are written for all to see.

They're VIP's, and having a front desk person say, "Hi, are you the next intro?" is a universe away from, "Good evening Mr. & Mrs. Johnson…and you must be Johnny? We've been looking forward to teaching you!"

The Three-Foot Rule Make sure train your staff to greet everyone within the first three steps into the school and to come out from behind the counter to greet intros and their families.

It's also during the greeting that the potential student fills out a school application/questionnaire and release form.

In a perfect world, your front desk person is a master of entertaining everyone who walks through the doors — incoming and outgoing students, parents and potential students. And anyone in your school who comes in contact with an instructor or other staff member should get the same kind of consistent courtesy and goodwill.

John Graden is the Executive Director of the Martial Arts Teachers’ Association and the author of the bestselling books on how to run a successful martial arts school without selling out. www.MartialArtsSchoolOwners.com

Major Avi Nardia is one of the leading head official instructors for the Israelite army and police in anti terrorism and CQB, he along with Ben Krajmalnik have made a new basic dvd in the field of firearms and safety, training techniques in IPSC. Instinctive Shooting in Combat. Combat Instinctive Point Shooting - IPSC is a shooting method based on instinctive reactions and kinematics to shoot short distances fast and in dynamic situations. A self defense discipline in order to survive in life t h r e a t e n i n g situatuations , where you need a very fast and accurate shooting abilities, when you must take the gun out as soon as possible and shoot at a short distance without using the sight.

In this first volume you will study how to handle the weapon ( revolver and semi -automatic ) dry firing practice and security, "Point Shooting" or instinctive shooting , at a close range and a series of movements and exercises for weapon retention , low stress and multiple attackers ; exercises on how to recharge with one hand, ... and finally practice shooting gallery with guns such as AK- 74, M -4 , M -249 machine gun and even M -16 grenade launchers .

REF.: • KAPAP7 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.

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Bruce Lee For Bruce Lee, Jeet Kune Do was not a style. It was a process of self-discovery and constant growth. Martial arts styles from around the world have their own forms, movements and techniques, and practitioners of each go into battle believing that they have all of the answers.

Bruce Lee refused to call Jeet Kune Do a style, as he felt doing so would be to limit it. He often said “There is no such thing as a style if you totally

Text & Photos: Harinder Singh CEO and Senior Training Officer for Progressive Fighting Systems

Jeet Kune Do understand the roots of combat�. The true genius of JKD is evident in the change, and can be seen in the metamorphosis that both Bruce Lee and his art underwent. From its classical Wing Chung beginnings, it has transformed into the effective military and law-enforcement techniques that we at Progressive Fighting Systems now teach around the world. To truly understand JKD, we need to map the progression and evolution that Bruce Lee made from a 13-year-old teenager studying Wing Chun under legendary master Ip Man, to being dubbed the Grandfather of MMA by UFC president Dana White.

Jeet Kune Do The Evolution of Jeet Kune Do Wing Chun - The Nucleus Of all the styles of kung fu being taught in Hong Kong in the 1950s, why did Bruce Lee pick Wing Chun?

Even though Bruce Lee had some training in the flowing movements of Wu-Style Tai Chi from his father, his serious training in martial arts began at the age of 13. When he enrolled in the Wing Chun school headed by Grand Master Ip Man, Lee's sole purpose was to be able to survive the dangerous street fights he would encounter in the back alleys and roof tops of Hong Kong. As a teenager Bruce had some run ins with gang kids and began to develop a reputation as a street fighter. For his own security, Lee spent countless hours sharpening his skills with Ip Man and his senior students. Bruce learned all three classical forms: Si Lum Tao's “little idea form”, Chum Kil's “seeking the bridge” and the “shooting fingers of “Bil Jee.” From this foundation, he went on to learn Chi Sao - sticking hands - and 60 of the 108 movements on the Mook Jong (wooden dummy). Wing Chun was the only formal martial arts training that Bruce received, and it forms the nucleus of Jeet Kune Do. The ideas of economy of motion, simultaneous block and hit, centerline theory, interception, constant forward pressure, and sensitivity training are the core fundamentals of JKD. Even at this early stage, Bruce had a very curious and inquisitive mind. He would seek out masters of other styles and trade martial arts secrets with them. He also incorporated principles of fencing from his brother.

He even took part in, and won, a high school western boxing tournament.

At the age of 18 Bruce Lee left Hong Kong and came to America, where he immediately began to adjust his system of fighting to fit his new environment and larger opponents.

Considering the traditional form “too rigid” Bruce began to adjust the angles, stances and footwork of Wing Chun. He felt that Wing Chun placed too much emphasis on close-range hand techniques at the expense of long-range kicking techniques.

Jun Fan Gung Fu A major tur ning point in the metamorphosis of Bruce Lee was his infamous clash with kung fu master Wong Jak Man. Bruce ended the fight within a few minutes, and had to

“Bruce Lee wrote that Jeet Kune Do was just a name, and that we shouldn't fuss over it” be pulled off of his challenger. After the fight Bruce began to analyze his actions, and was less than impressed with his performance. He felt that he should have ended the fight in seconds.

His adherence to his style, kept him from adjusting to his opponent's Law Horn Kuen techniques. He was also unusually winded at the end of the encounter, and felt that he was in less than perfect shape. This encounter intensified Bruce's search for the ultimate reality in combat. Through this lens, he could finally see the limits of the Wing Chun style and realized the importance of physical conditioning, functional strength and attribute development. Bruce Lee became fanatically devoted to overall development as an athlete - so much so that the principles and training strategies he employed in the 60's and early 70's are still cutting edge nearly 50 years later. Jun Fan Gung Fu derives its name from a variation of Lee's Chinese name. It's a hybrid form in which Wing Chun formed the main nucleus, and a total of 26 other styles revolved around it. It was while developing Jun Fan that Bruce Lee found his own particular style of kicking, based on Northern Chinese styles and French savate. This was the art that was taught at the schools in Seattle and Oakland during the early sixties. Up until 1967 Bruce Lee and Dan Inosanto dissected the 26 arts in their search for universal combat truths, the evolution of a their research and training in these 26 arts became the art known as Jun Fan Gung Fu.

THE TWENTY SIX FIGHTING ELEMENTS OF JUN FAN 1. Wing Chun 2. Northern Praying Mantis 3. Southern Praying Mantis 4. Choy Li Fut 5. Tai-Chi Chuan (Wu Family style) 6. Paqua 7. Hsing-I 8. Bak-Hoo Pai (White Crane) BakFu Pai (White Tiger) 9. Eagle Claw

10. Ng Ga Kuen (Five Family System) 11. Ny Ying Ga (Five Animal System) 12. Bak Mei Pai (White Eyebrow) 13. Northern Shaolin 14. Southern Shaolin 15. Bok Pai 16. Law Horn Kuen 17. Chin Na 18. Monkey Style 19. Drunken Style 20. Western Fencing (Foil) 21. Western Boxing 22. Western Wrestling 23. Jujutsu 24. Escrima 25. Filipino Sikaran 26. Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)

Jeet Kune Do On the last page of “The Tao of Jeet Kune Do,” Bruce Lee wrote that Jeet Kune Do was just a name, and that we shouldn't fuss over it. As a matter of fact, Jeet Kune Do was coined in 1968 when Bruce Lee and Dan Inosanto were driving home from an intense sparring session. Dan Inosanto said to Bruce Lee, “you have gotten so good that you hit us before we can do anything.” Bruce responded that what he was doing was intercepting, or stophitting his opponent before they were able to launch their attack. Dan asked, “What do you call this method in Chinese?” Bruce replied “Jeet Kune Do,” - the way of the intercepting fist.

Jun Fan Gung Fu naturally evolved into Jeet Kune Do. Its purpose was to introduce the practitioner to the basic principles and provide them with the necessary truths of the reality of combat. Principles like the 3 times to hit someone, the 4 ranges of combat, the 5 ways of attack and the 6 diseases of the mind. From there it was up to each individual to expand on that knowledge, to find their own personal expression and discover their own truths. Jeet Kune Do is not a product, but a process of discovering the cause of your own ignorance. Only by knowing your own strengths and weaknesses can you exploit your opponent's weaknesses and stay away from their strengths. JKD is much more than a collection of techniques and strategies from many different styles and systems. Rather, JKD unites diverse styles by identifying central themes like broken rhythm, preserving the centerline, maintaining rhythmic flow and the ability to “fit in” to the opponent's techniques.

Bruce Lee challenged martial artists to continuously grow, to change and evolve as the times or situation demanded. He also said to find the

best art for the given situation and then find a way to cheat within that art. After all, when fighting for your life, there's nothing unsportsmanlike about gouging the eyes, kicking the groin or biting the face. Before Bruce Lee left for Hong Kong to do films, he certified only one man as level III in Jeet Kune Do, Dan Inosanto, leaving him in the position of Principal Instructor at the LA Chinatown school. After Bruce Lee's passing in 1973, Dan Inosanto was left with the legacy of Jeet Kune Do. He continued to teach and develop the art as Bruce Lee wanted by opening the Kali Academy. He traveled the world for over 35 years perpetuating Bruce Lee's art and philosophy. Thanks to Inosanto's influence over the last 35 years there are qualified JKD instructors around the globe. The beauty of JKD is in its ability to change and adapt. Over the years, Dan Inosanto and Paul Vunak added Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the biting and gouging of Kina Mutai, to deal with the dangers of ground fighting.

Whether it is someone who outweighs you by 50 or more pounds, or a multiple attacker scenario, the ability to handle yourself on the ground and pop back up to your feet is paramount for success in a street fight or military operation.

Contemporary Jeet Kune Do the MMA influence As JKD continues to change and evolve, so do our training methods.

If your art is to consider itself contemporary and functional at any given time period then it needs to stand up to the strongest art of that time period, and right now we consider that art to be MMA. No longer do we do our techniques out of static reference points - we do them out of sparring. Practicing techniques with the threat of a jab to the face or a kick to the leg keeps you honest, and better represents the reality of combat in today's world. If you were lucky enough to get into the JKD class in the late 70's and 80's, at Inosanto's

Kali Academy, you would be trained as a complete fighter.

You had to know how to fight in all of the ranges of combat, to flow from Thai Boxing and Savate for stand up, then to Jiu-Jitsu for the ground, and back up to Wing Chun for trapping, then to Kali or Escrima for weapons.

The idea of being like water, and being able to conform to an empty cup, is much like the idea of being picked up and dropped off in the meanest, nastiest, most dangerous dark alley in the world.

Only by adapting to the situation will you be able to survive any kind of street fight that might occur, be it standing, ground, weapons, or mass attack.

In 1993 UFC was introduced to the world. At that time there were no weight classes and no time limits. We saw individual styles matching up with each other: boxing vs. wrestling, JiuJitsu vs. Kickboxing, Karate vs. Judo. In almost every case, the conflict boiled down to strikers vs. grapplers. By 2010, UFC has blown up on a global scale, and MMA is the world's fastest growing sport. Weight classes and timed rounds have been introduced, and martial artists now understand the necessity of having a simultaneous striking and grappling game. When we watch Lioto Machida in the octagon, we get a chance to see Contemporary JKD principles exhibited at their highest level. Machida uses his attributes of footwork, distancing, line familiarization, and spatial relationship to set up and attack his opponent. He does not stand in the pocket and try to trade blows or block punches. Lioto understands the MMA Fighting structure essentially Thai Boxing standing up, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu on the ground.

Lioto knows that his opponents aren't going to crouch in a low stance and approach him with a cocked reverse punch - the way his fellow traditional Karate stylists would. Instead, they will be up on their toes using boxers' footwork and launching jabs and crosses. He knows that his opponents are not going to be launching side kicks to the head, instead they will be doing Thai round kicks. He also knows that at any time, his opponent has the option of diving at his feet for a takedown. After all, that's why he earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This understanding of the MMA fighting structure allows him to apply the attributes he developed from his traditional Karate training. He intercepts his opponents in a Bruce Lee-esqe fashion, resulting in spectacular knockouts while never getting hit. In a very JKD manner he has adapted his Karate attributes to shine in the MMA fighting structure, he has evolved his way of fighting to make it contemporary. Traditional martial artists should look to Machida's example.

Contemporary Jeet Kune Do - cheat for the street Our Contemporary Jeet Kune Do ground fighting strategy is, put simply, to cheat. To do this we employ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the Filipino Art of Kina Mutai. Kina Mutai is the ancient art of uninterrupted biting and

Jeet Kune Do gouging that was included by Guro Dan Inosanto for serious street fighting situations: those in which your life or the life of a loved one is in danger.

Neither Kina Mutai nor Brazilian Jiu Jitsu were among Lee's original 26 fighting elements, they were added later by Dan Inosanto and Paul Vunak to deal with the danger of many street fights going to the ground. I would like to pause for a moment and say that the techniques we employ using Kina Mutai are some of the most brutal, barbaric, and vicious known to man.

“Only by adapting to the situation will you be able to survive any kind of street fight that might occur, be it standing, ground, weapons, or mass attack�

There are only two justifiable reasons for inflicting such brutality on another human being: military engagement or defending your family from lethal threat. Anyone can bite, but to bite effectively you must know when, how, and where to bite. You must be able to bite your attacker for 5 to 8 uninterrupted seconds in order to do enough damage to create space and escape. You must be able to bite in combination, and to draw your attacker into a bite. You need to know how to fake a bite in one direction to

open a softer target, a technique called “progressive indirect biting.� The biting and gouging in Kina Mutai is like the tip of an iceberg; the remaining 90% of it is under the water and you don't see it. Therefore the secret of Kina Mutai is in its integration with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the development of a united mind and body coordination, primarily dealing with the conservation of one's physical, mental and spiritual energy.

The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is like a tank that provides you with your mobility on the ground, taking you from position to position with proper base, balance and posture. In an all-out street fight when a larger man slams you to the ground, you need to instantly put him in the guard and latch on to him. He will pick you up again and slam you repeatedly. He will punch you in the side. You need to take it, wait till he gets tired, and bite as he runs out of gas.

Exhausted, he won't be able to move or defend himself. The shells that this tank fires are bites and the gouges. If you try to bite your attacker before he is exhausted, his adrenaline will kick in, and he will throw you off. You will have revealed your secret weapon and it will be very difficult to bite him again. You need to be cunning, and maybe whisper some obscenities in his ear, get him riled up, and hold on. Let him struggle as you relax and hold on. Let him punch as you take it and hold on.

Endurance, or your ability to conserve your energy is the most important attribute you can develop for a street fight. When a large man has you pinned to the ground, you're finished if you don't know how to breathe and conserve your energy. You will need to whether the storm before you can trigger your Kina Mutai response. To conserve energy you need to develop functional fitness and always maintain control of your breath. To develop these tools we employ The Contemporary Jeet Kune Do training methodology known as

Jeet Kune Do “action strength”. Action Strength employs Kettlebells, Tai-Chi, Malavidya(Ancient Indian Body Weight Exercises), and the Gada(The Indian Mace) to help contemporary Jeet Kune Do practitioners to develop their attributes for the Ring and the Street.

You need to develop isometric strength in order to hold on long enough to outlast your attacker. Isometric development targets the tendons, since tendons are 500 times stronger than your muscles. The benefits are everlasting: once you've got it you've got it! Bruce Lee and most traditional martial arts systems, whether they be Chinese, Japanese, Indian, or Filipino, all knew the necessity of isometric training because of its functional benefits. The biting and gouging we do, is un-interrupted. Latch on to your attacker like an alien and set the bite for 5 to 8 seconds, wreaking irreparable damage. This renders your opponent physically and emotionally disabled.

Consider most Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ground positions, such as guard, closed guard, side control, mount, and full mount. Notice how close your mouth is to vital points, like ears, eyes, throat, nipples, lats, biceps, toes, Achilles and groin. After studying primates and training with the Gracies, Sifu Paul Vunak further evolved the art by adding over 144 bites combining Kina Mutai

“Bruce Lee's art evolved and changed to adapt to the environment and opponents that he was facing” with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu positions. This forms a crucial part in our worst-case scenarios in Contemporary Jeet Kune Do.

Summary Bruce Lee's art evolved and changed to adapt to the environment and opponents that he was facing.

This is clear in his progression from Wing Chun to Jun Fan and to finally Jeet Kune Do. This is also clear in his physical evolution. He built a world class physique that was all parts functional muscle and no parts flashy show. Bruce Lee has inspired millions around the world because he showed us what is possible if you truly and honestly express yourself to your fullest potential.

His

metamorphosis proves that man the living thing is much more important than any set patter n or stylized system. Contemporary Jeet Kune Do has progressed to morph around the athletic progression of MMA, and also morphed around the increasingly barbaric demands of a modern street fight. Kina Mutai and Brazilian JiuJitsu, the 27th and 28th arts, allow you to fit in with your opponent when a worst case scenario hits the ground.

They allow you to adapt to an attacker's movements, and make his techniques your techniques. “The end result of Jeet Kune Do training is the production of a martial artist who possesses no structure or form.

Hence, he possesses all structures, all forms. He is able to adapt to any situation, like water adjusting to the shape of any container. Able, for example, to fill an empty cup.”

- Paul Vunak Harinder Singh is the CEO and Senior Training Officer of Progressive Fighting Systems. He will be coming to the UK in November to teach Paul Vunak's Contemporary Jeet Kune Do. For more information, please contact UK Regional Director Michael Wright through the website www.thepfsevent.co.uk

his article is not a terrorist plot and is only written for the purpose of creating security awareness and preventing the potential scenario described in this article.

A Cessna jet with three passengers leaves a local Los Angeles-area airport for a VFR flight to another local airport which takes only 10 minutes. The three passengers, dressed in pilot uniforms, seemed like they were going to work as usual. But on this day it was a different mission. As the Cessna was cleared for landing, they were going over last minute details of another flight they had planned. When they left, the Cessna had a lot of baggage and was loaded to the maximum weight but within the takeoff limitations of the plane. The destination airport was one of the world's busiest general aviation airports in the world. The three men had rehearsed this several times. The pilot requested runway 16 left to land at the destination airport, an airport used by many Hollywood celebrities, politicians, and business executives, because it protects their anonymity.

There are about 1700 flight operations a day. There is a small police force with two officers per shift and no private security.

The location of the police office is on the North side of the field. They make regular patrols but focus on the perimeter of the airport grounds.

Earlier that day, the people passengers in the Cessna were focused on a website called “flightaware.com, which allows people to view incoming and outgoing flights from all airports in theUnited States. They had a specific interest in one of the outgoing flights at the destination airport. The tail number of the plane, a Gulf Stream IV, was N254TC, and was owned by a famous celebrity. Parked at Charter Aviation Company, the plane and its famous owner are preparing for departure in the next hour forNew York City. The passengers in the small Cessna are obsessed with this flight as they were landing, but their obsession goes unnoticed, as there is no one but the hired pilot to notice and he is preoccupied with the landing.

At the passengers request, the pilot taxis near the charter aviation company, where the celebrity's security detail is dropping their client at the charter company's gate to board his plane. The passengers have done their homework-the celebrity never takes security on the plane with him-security will resume inNew Yorkupon his arrival. The airport police confined primarily to the airport's perimeter, by policy and practice, were no where in sight.

As the Cessna pulled into the charter company's airplane parking area the men exited their plane rather quickly. They took their luggage from the hull and walked directly to the Gulfstream. As you may have figured out by now, they were not looking to get an autograph. In their bags were automatic weapons and as they boarded, they immediately took control of the plane. They already knew a flight plan was filed, knew how to fly the plane, and were now en route toNew York City.

During the flight they turned off the transponder to avoid radar contact. No one knew the flight had been hijacked and that a famous celebrity was their hostage. But this was not the final mission of the kidnappers.

The plane took off from the airport and quickly reached a speed of 350 knots, and made a right turn toward downtownLos Angeles. Ten minutes later it slammed into city hall building in downtownLos Angeleswith full tank of fuel on board.

The World Protection Group, Inc. assesses this type of attack as more likely than another commercial airline hijacking. This type of attack would be easier to accomplish.

If the above scenario is moved to some of the other GA airports throughout theUnited States, it may be even easier,

T

where security is sometimes non-existant.

Let's review what the terrorists did: 1.

Celebrity Surveillance on the celebrity, research on his plane, tail number, and chronicle of trips the celebrity makes-how often, what time of day, etc.

2. Airport Police Surveillance on the airport Police force. Number of officers, routes of patrols, times of patrols, and lunch breaks.

3. Air Charter Companies - Security? Planes locked? Does anyone challenge them if someone parks at their location and goes into an unlocked jet? What do their flight uniforms look like? Where can they purchase a pilot uniform? What do their security badges look like so they can make a false badge?

4. Targeting - How far from the airport is their target. What building would be the best to hit in downtown Los Angeles?

Would the building survive an attack by a Gulf Stream IV or will it collapse?

5. Military Response - What is the time frame if a hijack is detected that the military can scramble a jet and shoot down the plane?

How do we prevent this from happening?

1. All Private Air Charter services should have adequate security and electronic security systems in place.

2. All Air Charter Services must make sure that anyone coming onto the field from their gates or entrances have been identified, screened for weapons, and cleared before entering the airfield.

3. All Air Charter Services should train all personnel on the airport watch system that the AOPA has recommended for smaller airports.

4. Report all suspicious activities to the Airport Police and private security.

5. All Air Charter employees should be issued ID badges and access cards. If an employee is terminated, these badges must be retrieved and their access removed.

6. Do not assume that all people dressed in Pilot uniforms are legitimate Pilots. Check for identification and ask what company they are with.

7. All Air Charter Services should be required to conduct background checks on all employees.

8. If the Air Charter Service sub-contracts with another Air Charter Service they must ask for background checks to be done on the employees that will be carrying their passengers.

9. If you own a private jet you should have security on the plane or request that the plane have a pre-flight check by a security company that has expertise in aviation.

10. If a person has private security they should also have the security on-board the plane. Even though they will arrange private security on the destination location it is recommended they have a security agent on the plane to protect them. If possible, the security agent should be an instrument-rated pilot.

By Kent Moyer, CEO of The World Protection Group, Inc. in Beverly Hills, Ca.

Text & Photos: GM Maurice Elmalem

Grand Cayman Islands is known for its legendary turquoise surroundings, clear waters, adventures playing with friendly stingrays, cruising, action packed day of water fronts jet ski, sailing, swimming, diving, snorkeling and unlimited water sports. The beaches are fantastic for a day of relaxing and enjoying the wonder world spectacular of the sea.

Night of the Champions at Grand Cayman Island May 2 &3, 2014 Grand Cayman Islands This weekend of action packed martial arts activities, spectacular training and demonstrations by Team Paul Mitchel Karate and myself is credited to Bob Daigle, a former world heavyweight karate champion who also runs the Cayman Karate Academy. His hard work, determination and the gracious sponsors of the Cayman Islands including Thrifty Automotive Group, Thrifty Body Sculpture Fitness, Camana Bay, Fast Signs, Walters Metal and Zulu Distributors, all made it possible.

The events started on F riday nig ht wit h indelible memories for the Caymanian children who wit nes s ed spectacular demos by Team P aul Mitchell K arat e. Team leader, promoter and founder GM. Mas ter Do n Ro drig ues , a wo rld leader of various martial arts organizations, a man o f depth and fine qualities which no doubt help to g alv aniz e him into a permanent figure for training: Team Paul Mitchell, Wako -US A .

Team Rodrigues Karate.

He along with his wife Chris t ine Banno nRo drig ues o perat e a martial arts school out of his home town Warwick RI., USA. Don, a 9 time world karate champion

who has captured more than 20 world titles with, Krane WAKO and NBL organizations. They both have a v ery impres s iv e martial arts history and experience of over 50 years in the palm of their hands and hav e been no minat ed in countless Hall of Fame world wide.

Team Paul Mitchell is comprised of young dynamic champions that are carefully selected by Don and his associates from Paul Mitchell Hair Product Company - sponsors of the entire team.

Kyle Montagna - Taekwondo - 3 years with the Team.

Austin Jorgensen - Chinese Mushu - 3 year with the Team.

Jackson Rudolph - Taekwondo -2 years with the Team - 10 years experience.

Lauren Kearney - Kempo - Forms coach part of executive marketing team - 12 years with the Team.

Tyler Weaver Taekwondo/Kempo - 1 year with the Team.

Justin Ortiz - Shotokan Karate, Taekwondo/Karate/Gojuru - 2year almost with the Team.

Damon Gilbert - Kajukempo black belt. Fighting coach - 9 years with the Team - 35 years martial arts experience.

Cass Sigmon - American Free Style/American Kickboxing, Karate for 18 years - I year with the Team.

László Gömbös - Fighting and Sparring/ 17years experience - 2 years with the Team.

Zsolt Mórádi - Point Fighting 17years experience- 2 years with the Team.

Austin Crain - Taekwondo, Kempo - 6 years with the Team.

Caitlin Dechelle - Black Belt Japanese Gojuru/TKD. 10 years with the Team.

Nicole Pelland - Point Sparring. 2 years with the Team.

Each member spoke highly of their experience and opportunities gained being on the team, how it motivates them, the excellent support of their exceptional team leader, GM Don Rodriguez and the Paul Mitchell Organization.

The main event of this spectacular extravagant demonstrations of outstanding karate feats was held on Saturday night May 3rd, 2014 at the State of Art, billion dollar city development center created and built by Kenneth Dart. The center was packed with local children as well visitors from other countries who were in town for the weekend of fun that also

included mid-day of Cayman Martial Arts Festival in down town with over 50,000 spectators who packed the streets to watch the demos of fighting forms, and breaking by the team and myself.

They were in such awe as each act had them mesmerized. Tyler Weiver, Caitlin Dechelle, Justin Ortiz and the entire Paul Mitchell Team gave some fantastic performances.

There was much laughter and dancing as the cheers went up in appreciation for each act. Each member was presented with of short introduction. The show concluded with Team members signing autographs, taking pictures, interacting with local Cayman children and their families. The night segment included student belt and board breaking from Bob Daigle Karate Academy which was a delightful to watch. Local TV and newspapers reporters were on s ite including Budo Inter natio nal Martial A rts magazine.

Bob Daigle what a great guy, a professional martial artist with big ideas, vision and sincerity helping to promote the martial arts and the Cayman Islands.

Until next time all the best.

Our regular contributor Salvador Herraiz, a fervent defender of a traditional kind of karate based on an attitude in line with the dojo-kun principles, now brings us a friendly dialectical duel with the leading representative of sporting karate, Antonio Espinós Ortueta, the president of the World Karate Federation.

Herraiz, besides stating his own opinions, raises with Espinós a number of topics that are being talked about behind the scenes in karate circles but are seldom if ever dealt with openly. A fascinating exchange of views is revealed in this interview with the man who has been working tirelessly for karate to be included in the Olympic programme.

THE WKF PRESIDENT ANTONIO ESPINÓS IN AN IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW ANTONIO ESPINÓS WITH SALVADOR HERRAIZ

Karate We arranged to meet in Madrid, at the offices of the World Karate Federation. From the very beginning Antonio Espinós was open and helpful. We’ve always got on well and he knows that although there are clear differences in our thinking, I do what I do from the heart and take it very seriously.

I first met Antonio Espinós the day he was elected president of the Spanish Karate Federation. I was a member of the Federation’s General Assembly, the senior body that would elect him. He didn’t really seem to be the favourite, up against the incumbent president Celestino Fernández, but he won the election. In 1988, I counted on Espinós’s presence at the exhibition tournament that I organised in Guadalajara. Also, since the year prior to that, I had been

writing for the Karateka magazine, which was published by the Spanish federation that he presided over. I would continue to write for the magazine for several years more until it was wound up.

My relationship with Espinós in the late 1980s and early 1990s was very good, partly because at the time I was the activities director of the Castile–La Mancha Karate Federation (a regional member of the Spanish federation). A few months later, Antonio Espinós even came to my wedding in Guadalajara. Our relationship, despite our clear differences, has always been and still is cordial and respectful from both sides, which is the way it should be.

Years later, in February 2001, Antonio Espinós wrote the prologue for my book on the history of the WKF and the Olympic movement in karate. He wrote some very kind words, for which I have always been very grateful: “First of all I should recognise the impressive compilation work that Salvador Herraiz has done and the considerable effort and dedication that I am sure it involved. I must say that the quality of his documented information is admirable. I would like to thank you once again, Salvador, for your passionate work and the huge amount of research that you have done. As the president of the WKF, but above all as someone for whom karate is so special and means so much, I thank you and urge you to keep working as you always have. If we didn’t already have a Salvador, we’d have to invent him.”

Antonio Espinós was bor n in Bilbao on 13 October 1947. He graduated in 1963 from the German School in Madrid, the city where he also qualified as an civil engineer in 1973 and where he still lives.

Espinós was a competitor and a member of the national team run by the then–karate section of the Spanish Judo Federation between 1971 and 1974, and a karate teacher between 1975 and 1978, the year when the Spanish Karate Federation proper came into being (before then karate came under the umbrella of the Judo Federation). Its first president was Celestino Fernández, who served until 1984, when Antonio Espinós was elected to replace him and also became a member of the Spanish Olympic Committee.

“The only World Championships that I missed was in 1988 in Cairo, because my father was very ill and died shortly afterwards. I was thinking about this the other day when I heard that your father had died, for which I offer my condolences, because I was there with you at your house in Guadalajara when he was in hospital.

Back then there were far fewer mobile phones than there are today and I was worried about being able to find out how my father was. The two memories are linked for me and that was over 25 years ago now. Wow! So much has happened since then.”

Thanks, without doubt, to his management skills and capacity for hard work, Antonio Espinós began to make a name for himself in the world of inter national karate politics.

Between 1989 and 1995 Antonio Espinós was the general secretary’s assistant at the European Karate Union (later renamed the European Karate Federation)). In 1994 he became the senior vice-president of the World Karate Federation (WKF), and a year the same position at the European Federation, to be elected as its president in 1997.

“I left the Spanish Federation in December 1996, and then I was elected the European Federation in May 1997, in Tenerife. Then in October 1998 I was elected president of the World Karate Federation, in Rio de Janeiro.”

I remember that a few days before that we spoke on the phone about one of my books, Karate: mucho más que un deporte (“Karate: Much more than a sport”), which was almost ready for to be sent to the printers but I wanted to include the fact that a Spaniard was the president of the World Karate Federation. And that’s what happened.

How did you come to set your sights on the European and World Federations?

“It all began in Granada, at the 1992 World Championships. It was a situation I just found myself in.

Before then I’d never even considered it. I’d never even thought about the executive committee of the World Federation. It wasn’t something I was concerned about, because I was very busy at work as an engineer, with the Spanish Federation and so on. But things turned out unexpectedly and it all happened very fast. It also helped that we had lost our recognition from the IOC, with Jacques Delcourt who had no options to access the IOC. What happened with the ITKF was more a personal issue against Delcourt, who was not very highly thought of, and the truth is that with him we had no chance of being IOC recognised, regardless of whether we joined forces with the ITKF or not. Then someone like me came along and you can see what’s happened since.”

Indeed, that affair, which seemed to demand the coming together of the

Interview World Federation and the organisation of the master Hidetaka Nishiyama, was always rather strange, because besides Nishiyama many merits as a master (as other people have), it seemed odd that he should have so much clout on the Olympic issue when his organisation was not remotely comparable with the World Karate Federation in terms of its size and reach. It was also odd that such a traditional master as Nishiyama should have fought so hard for an issue affecting karate as a sport. It was all quite bizarre.

In 1997 Antonio Espinós was awarded the Spain silver medal for sporting merit, and the following year he was elected at last as the President of the World Karate Federation.

Antonio Espinós was awarded the Spain gold medal for sporting merit in 2002, he was re-elected as the President of the European Federation in 2001, and in 2004 he was also reelected as the WKF President. He still holds both offices today, and with hard work, clear ideas and well thought-out goals — and a tough approach when necessary – he continues to achieve for sporting karate the Olympic status that has eluded it for so many years.

Antonio Espinós has been at the head of international sporting karate for many years now. After so many years as President of the World Karate Federation, what’s been the best and what’s been the worst “Best of all has been the experience of having been able to do what I felt needed to be done as President of the WKF. Taking those decisions that only the person holding that office can take because otherwise all you can do is carry on thinking what needs to be taken. As for the worst thing, I’m not sure.

Looking back there were lots of good things and lots of bad things.

Worst of all, though, has certainly been that karate still hasn’t made it as an Olympic sport, which is very unfair. Karate deserves that and more. We’ve been working very hard, not to get Olympic status but to build a federation like we now have. Compared with other sports on the Olympic programme we clearly more than deserve to be there. We haven’t achieved it because…. There’s a saying in Spain that goes “más vale llegar a tiempo que rondar un año” (roughly equivalent to "strike while the iron is hot") and we’ve arrived at a time when the expansion of Olympic programme was completed and so there was much less chance of the sports on the waiting list getting in.

That’s the main reason why everyone acknowledges that karate and the WKF more than meet all the

parameters for being an Olympic sport. Because in the end what the Olympic programme recognises isn’t a sport but an Inter national Federation representative of that sport. In other words, the IOC hasn’t recognised karate as such but the WKF as representing karate all over the world. And this is one of the things that must be changed, in accordance with the plans of the IOC’s new President. It should be done by sporting modalities instead of by International Federations, and that would give us a new opportunity, not just for karate but for other sports as well.”

I mean that the reason you give doesn’t seem to justify the fact that karate isn’t an Olympic sport when others, which with all due respect are not comparable in terms of the data, are Olympic. As you know, I’m not quite sure whether Olympic status will be a good thing or quite the opposite for the traditional karate that I practise and enjoy. But even considering only the sporting side of karate, it does seem odd that karate can’t achieve Olympic status. What’s behind the attitude of the IOC members after the recent failure? There must be something very odd behind it for karate, with the number of people who practise it all over the world, its outreach and so on, not to be an Olympic sport.

“Well, yes, there is a clear reason and it’s that there are too many combat sports on the programme and some members of the IOC feel that there should be a balance between the different families of sports on the programme, and the truth is that, in that respect, taekwondo has a lot of clout. It’s been a burden for us that taekwondo managed to get in before us. In fact, they jumped the gun, really, because karate was way ahead of taekwondo in the Olympic stakes. The IOC recognised us in June 1985, when taekwondo didn’t even exist in the form of an International Federation like it has today. But the same IOC then withdrew their recognition of the World Karate Federation in July 1992. They took it away! That has happened very few times before. But they took it away and that's that.

And there’s no point in crying over spilt milk.”

Antonio Espinós doesn’t mention it but I’ve always thought, and I said so in my book about karate and the Olympic movement (which Espinós wrote the prologue for), that the people who run taekwondo and enjoy a lot of power at the IOC could have put pressure on to keep karate out of the Olympic programme and so avoid

severe competition between two disciplines that, while they are very different, can look quite similar when viewed with an outsider’s eyes. The facts speak for themselves, because it is estimated that as many people practise karate all over the world as practise judo and taekwondo together!

Except in Asia, where the figures are similar, in the rest of the world karate is way ahead of the other two disciplines in terms of the number of people who practise it.

Antonio, I also think that taekwondo has always had strong support from the government of its country of origin, Korea, while karate hasn’t been a priority for Japan. Is that the case?

“Yes, that’s right. Taekwondo is the sport of a country and a government with a lot of resources and so on. And you just can’t compete against that. But in the end I don’t really think that was the reason. In 1985 there was an Olympic programme with twentyodd Sports and there was space for others, but we wasted the opportunity. Those seven years between 1985 and 1992 were fateful ones in the history of the World Federation. But if that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be here today either. Delcourt would still be there!

So it all depends on how you look at it. There would have been continuity, either with Delcourt or with a successor of his, which could have worked out or not, I don’t know, but it’s what would have happened. The loss of recognition was just one factor, not the only one, and maybe not even the main one. In the end, in order for there to be a change like there was in 1998 various circumstances have to come into play at the same time. And that’s what happened. Maybe if I hadn’t appeared not even everything that happened would have resulted in any change, but… I did appear. It’s the same as now: if nobody comes along with the specific characteristics and circumstances that people are looking for, and so on, in a WKF President, then I could be here forever, but….”

And now, do you feel like sticking at it or are you a bit disappointed.

Because I don’t suppose this latest no decision was what you were expecting, was it?

“I am disappointed, very disappointed. And I never thought of being here forever. As you know, I’m a civil engineer and I’ve always been involved in my profession. It’s been a lot of hard work to combine that with the Federation’s work. A lot.

I’ve always had to make a huge effort to be able to do it. My priority has always been my profession,

On the left, the first international attendance of the Spanish National Team in 1971, in Paris. Antonio Espinós, center, along with Fernando Franco de Sarabia, Jesús Pastor, Yong Hoon Cho and Antonio Oliva.

which is what has enabled me to have the lifestyle I’ve had and look after my family.”

For many years, Antonio Espinós has worked for Dragados y Construcciones, running the Madrid office before moving over to the firm’s international department.

In the summer of 2013 a huge problem erupted between you and the person who until then had been your closest colleague and even your friend, George Yerolimpos from Greece, the general secretary. Supposedly Yerolimpos demanded explanations from you for the work being done to achieve Olympic status and you felt a lack of confidence with him and so you let him go. What happened? You’d been together from the start, hadn’t you?

“Yes. Right from the beginning. I never thought that he was capable of doing what he’s done, neither personally nor professionally. For several months he’d been doing things that he’d never done before.

Taking decisions without consulting me, ones that were not his to take….

I had to tell him that I didn’t think what he was doing was right.

Everything started with a letter I sent to the Executive Committee (EC) to ask them how they felt about us holding an extraordinary

congress at Guadalajara 2013 to explain what had happened with regard to the issue of Olympic status. Every time there had been an important IOC decision in the past we’d always organised a congress or a working breakfast. So then he sent another letter to the EC saying that what should happen at Guadalajara was to bring forward the elections for all officers. That was clearly out of place. The members of the EC responded by saying that they were not at all keen on the idea. He got nervous and started to call people on the EC telling them to urge me to resign.

And all this without even calling me.

Him, the general secretary, one of the President’s closest collaborators and holding that position on my proposal. Nobody voted him in. In late June I confirmed that there would be no extraordinary congress and he then got even more nervous and sent a letter to the treasurer, with copies to me and the EC, demanding explanations of the accounts and the contracts entered into with a Spanish firm, which he dismissed as incompetent, claiming that the failure of our Olympic bid was all down to them. He also said that he'd asked to examine the accounts on several occasions and

hadn’t been allowed to see them. All lies, and anyway it’s not his role, as the general secretary, to ask to see the accounts. Then he sent a copy of that letter to all the National Federations in the WKF. I fired him the following day.”

Which makes sense, given the loss of trust between the two of you and the fact that he was your general secretary.

“Yes, of course, but even so I had my doubts because it was such a dramatic step to take. I think it was the only option I had, and anything else would have meant me leaving first. He resisted, saying I didn’t have the authority to do that, but under the Statutes the president elect proposes the appointments of the general secretary and so on to the EC for their approval, and they also grant the power to call for such an appointment to be revoked at any time. There’s also an article that empowers the president, in emergency situations, to take decisions attributed to the EC provided that the EC ratifies them at its next meeting. As if there could be any more of an emergency situation than that! He appealed to the Lausanne court of arbitration petitioning for provisional measures to postpone the decision for a week

Interview until the tribunal decided. And he was granted that, without our lawyers even being asked for any data, explanations or information.

He then said that he was still the secretary general and had no option but to ask the members of the EC for a postal vote, a measure for which provision is made under the Statutes. This was done and my decision was ratified by 16 votes to one. I didn't vote even though I could have done, so it would have been 17–1. And there were three other people didn’t vote either. He was therefore off as WKF General Secretary and also the European General Secretary, where there are ten people on the EC and the vote was 7–1.”

So there’s no decision still pending by the Lausanne court of arbitration or anything is, there?

“No, nothing at all.

An investigation was launched and it’s been suspended. He’s appealed, and once the internal appeal has been heard, it’ll also be heard before the court of sports arbitration in Lausanne.”

Have you seen each other again?

Because it’s quite sad to think that you’d been friends, so the situation....

“We’ve seen each other once, because he also holds a position at SportAccord and he showed up at the Combat Games, wanting to represent karate. I had him thrown out straight away.”

You’re Vice-president of SportAccord as well.

“Yes, but most of all I’m the President of the World Karate Federation where he is no longer welcome. We haven't spoken since, nor has he ever told my why he did what he did. What’s would he have to say to me, anyway?”

George Yerolimpos was also a strong defender of the campaign The K is on the Way, which had its big moment on 7 October 2012 with the celebration of World Karate Day, didn't it?

“It was the best campaign we’ve ever done. Five hundred cities from ninety countries took part and we spent a lot less money than we could have. He supported that.”

In Guadalajara (Spain) we took part in a very pleasant public event, also presenting the city as the venue for the 2013 cadet and junior world championships.

Before we leave the Yerolimpos affair to one side and move on, what do they think of him in Greece, where he's from? Because I think he’s got some internal problems there as well, hasn’t he?

“Possibly, but he still controls the Federation there, although for how

“He said that he'd asked to examine the accounts on several occasions and hadn’t been allowed to see them. it’s not his role, as the general secretary, to ask to see the accounts.

I fired him the following day” much longer we’ll have to wait and see. He lost control of the Balkans, which is quite a few countries, and from there he hoped to become the president of the European Federation to put pressure on me and so on. But he lost the control of that too. He’s completely out on his own.”

The WKF now has Tony Mendez, from Puerto Rico, as General Secretary.

“That’s right. He’ll hold the post, as was approved at Guadalajara 2013, until the Bremen congress in 2014 makes a new appointment.

There we’ll amend the articles of association slightly to streamline certain processes, but under a coopted arrangement (inter nal appointments that any organisation can make from its own members without depending on any external criteria). Now, for instance, at Guadalajara, we co-opted someone as a member of the executive committee for him to familiarise himself with the WKF. I’m talking about Toshihisa Nagura, who is a strong candidate for the new WKF general secretary.”

Nagura is a good friend of mine. I met him years ago because he’s the master of the karate club at Keio University, in Tokyo. Although he’s very traditional, he also likes competition a lot and still takes part in veterans’ tournaments now and again. I think he has a lot of integrity and will do a good job.

“I met him in 2013, when I was in Tokyo. He’s a very polite person, well educated, speaks perfect English because he’s lived in America, and he’s very closely

involved with karate. I was very impressed by him, although I didn’t have much to do with him being proposed, because that idea came from the Asian federation. All I wanted was to try to make sure, seeing as the WKF president is from Europe and the previous general secretary was too, that the new one was someone from Asia. He couldn’t be appointed at Guadalajara because he wasn’t a full member of the EC but only co-opted, and the Statutes didn’t allow it. As I said, there are some things in the Statutes that we’re set to change.”

Francisco Alegrete – for many years an important figure at the Spanish Karate Federation, and also one with considerable influence in the running of the World Federation – has recently occupied the newly created post of WKF director general. President Espinós will be relying on him to implement his new projects.

“I’ve known Francisco Alegrete for many years now. Someone introduced me to him when I was already President of the Spanish Federation. I’d been introduced to Emilio García Manrique, who’s now the secretary in Madrid, by Antonio Torres, the current Madrid President.

He ran the Moscardó gym, in Calle Pilar de Zaragoza. When I was elected President of the Spanish Federation I chose both of them.

Francisco Alegrete was working at the Spanish Sports Council. He’s a very good worker. We were together for twelve years at the Spanish Federation and he’s still working with me at the world federation and it’s worked out very well indeed.

Without him the World Karate Federation definitely wouldn’t be what it is today.”

I met him in 1987 or thereabouts, back in the days of Karateka magazine. Do you remember that?

“Yes, of course. I remember it very well!”

It was published by the Spanish Federation and I used to write for it, as you know.

How is the WKF financed for its dayto-day running?

“Well, it’s quite simple. We have a budget that comes from the affiliates’ own ear nings and participation in championships, from our federations, and then larger income from sponsors, endorsing sports equipment, karategis, tatamis and so on, and a few other sources of income as well.”

How healthy are the WKF’s finances?

“The financial position is very healthy. Our reserves are strong and we have no problems at all in that respect.”

Espinós, on the right on the picture, in 1973, close to the then Prince Juan Carlos, along with Dominique Valera, Adam Czartoryski, Antonio Oliva, Tino Fernández and other illustrious karateka of the time.

But can you specify how much your annual budget is?

“About one million Swiss francs (€810,000). But from that we don't have any specific amount budgeted.

We don’t have to put any money into the member Federations or anything like that. We’ve structured it very well so that the national federations cover certain expenses, which gives them certain rights to income. This means we can organise major championships with very limited costs for the world federation.”

So what does the WKF do with the money that it takes in?

“We organise our development courses all over the world.”

Tell us something about that, because I don’t think people know very much about it.

“Well we run about 50 courses every year, on refereeing, coaching, help with sports material, tatamis and so on, but principally courses in some African countries, some in Asia too. None in Europe. The only country in Europe that’s comparable with the world’s disadvantaged nations is Moldova. Also for the senior world championships in particular we have a grant scheme for disadvantaged countries. We help certain Federations that meet the requirements by paying the air fares of a competitor and an official plus the costs of a week’s accommodation. The criterion we apply for this is for them to have a harmonised per-capita income of 4,000 dollars a year. That sounds like very little but there are more than 40 countries in that situation, and 30 or so of them are in Africa. Thanks to this we had 116 countries at the 2012 world championships in Paris.

It was the first time we’d ever had more than a hundred.”

“Se estima que hay 119 millones de practicantes de Karate en todo el mundo, 10 millones de ellos forman parte de la WKF” And the Guadalajara 2013 junior World Championships – where do they that stand in terms of participation levels?

“That was the second largest participation we’ve ever had, after Paris 2012.”

Isn’t it in first place in the number of participants?

“Yes, the first. Obviously at junior and cadet levels there are more categories, so even though the participation is limited to one competitor per category per country, there were still a lot of participants. At Guadalajara we had nearly 1,400. There are always more at the junior and cadet levels than at the senior levels, with nearly 30 categories as against 16 at senior level with around 850 competitors.

And we’re going to increase the number of categories to four for the junior world championships in 2015.”

How many members does the WKF now have?

“There are 188 member federations, of which a hundred or so regularly take part in our activities.”

How many karatekas does the WKF estimate they are all over the world,

whether inside or outside the member national federations?

“According to a study done by the member federations, we’d be talking about 119 million people.”

And how many of those are inside the National Federations that are members of the WKF? “About ten million. That’s based on a study that goes beyond the Federations and clubs that belong to those Federations. It’s based on the number of Federation members, the population and the country, from which ratios can be obtained to estimate the total.”

So the number of karateka who are affiliated to the National Federations that are WKF is barely…

“Ten per cent.”

I am not fully convinced that the figures are quite as bad as all that, judging from what I have been told by my international contacts at different and varied organisations. Nor do I think that the characteristics of the study make it completely reliable. In any case, even if the figures do not accurately reflect the true situation, the percentage of affiliated karateka does seem to be rather low. As well as the style organisations that operate outside the sporting ambit (although some of them are present in both, with varying degrees of success), we must also consider the split that was caused in 1996 by the new WKC, led by former senior representatives of the WKF (previously known as the WUKO before 1993), such as Fritz Wendland from Germany, Carlo Henke from Italy and Marco Nicovic from Serbia. Then, in 2004, the WKC gave birth to the new WUKO (taking the former name of the original), which was led by Henke and Oliveira from until 2008, when the Brazilian formed the WUKF.

Interview And how does the WKF view these figures of affiliates and non-affiliates?

What I mean is do you afford it any importance or think that it’s nothing out of the ordinary. What’s your reading of it?

“Well, that in a great many places the only people who join federations are those who actively take part in competitions. Most people who like karate join a club to practice a certain number of days each week.

That’s the only conclusion we can draw, rather than the conclusion others may reach that most people are outside the federation. I don’t really know.”

That’s certainly what the figures seem to show, but it’s not a question that people dwell on very much. So it’s not seen as a problem or an anomaly?

I say this because you obviously focus on developing the sporting and competitive side. Do you understand why people who aren’t interested in the sporting aspects are outside the sports Federation?

“Yes, because in only a few countries are clubs legally bound to register their karateka with the Federation, so which members are registered is something that each club decides.”

I think that comment does you credit. At the level of the national and regional federations they seem to take it more seriously, probably because karateka who are outside their umbrella don’t pay their membership fees and licences, which obviously hurts them.

Each organisation has its own way of operating and the ideal organisation is the one that most closely follows our own ideas and ways of working, those of the group that we belong to. The organisation is the suit of clothes that we wear, so it should fit what we are

“Algunos grupos mantienen que el COI ha reconocido a uno de cada cuatro y que el 75% de los karatekas al estar fuera de la WKF, no tendrían acceso al olimpismo, etc… ¡Dando a entender que están todos en otro mismo grupo!” doing. I honestly believe that focusing too much on the sporting and competitive side could compromise the technical and moral values of traditional karate. It’s already doing so, in fact.

I do think that the sporting federations, particularly at the national and regional levels, are obsessed with opposing any groups that operate outside them, when perhaps what they should be doing is asking why. Those groups prefer to be outside and in many cases they stay outside without any inferiority complex, feeling secure about where they come from and what they're there for, in line with their ideas.

I think that by talking to each other some common ground could be reached. What can be done to get these groups to think it’s worth their while to be on the inside rather than outside? It’s often about black-belt issues, which many people think should be handled through the style organisations, because it’s something that belongs to the martial-arts facet of karate rather than the sporting side. Of course, I’m referring only to those organisations that have been legally set up and are backed by prestigious International organisations or leading masters, or because they have many years’ experience behind them. Let’s think about ways to reach agreements with these important groups of long standing, instead of trying to fight them.

“I can’t disagree with you there. I think we have to show tolerance, respect, recognition, generosity… rather than the opposite. Maybe the sporting federations should organise other, additional activities related to the history and philosophy of karate, with talks and technical publications, on parallel topics, dissertations for exams, and so on. The photos you put together, for example, during the world championships in Guadalajara were very well received and served to acknowledge our history and the pioneers. That exhibition was really good. It was fantastic. Quite incredible.”

It was an extra attraction that to some extent helped to close the gap between the two facets of karate. As for the leading countries in the karate world, such as the United States, Japan, Brazil, China and Iran, is that low proportion of people affiliated with the national federations that are WKF members similar or does it vary?

“It’s lower in the United States. It’s lower there than anywhere, I think!

Left: Antonio Espinós greets Salvador Herráiz, 1988. Center: With Jacques Delcourt in the Granada World Championships, in 1992. Right: With an excited Juan Manuel Pérez Alcalde, after Spain conquered the Teams World Title in 1992.

But it’s bigger in Iran, in Japan too, and it’s much bigger in Indonesia, where they have a lot of people. In France too.”

What about in Spain?

“In Spain not so much. I think there are a lot more people practising karate than there are in the Federation. A lot more.”

But not with that percentage, surely?

“No. Not the same percentage. In Spain I think we’d be talking about around 30% registered. I don’t think it’s any more than that. I reckon one on every three or four is registered with the federation, no more. But, of course, viewed from outside, from other organisations, they make it seem that the WKF only represents one out of every four karateka in the world, so 75% belong to them.

That’s the conclusion they draw but it’s simply not the case.”

Indeed, to be fair we should say that the 75% of karateka who are outside the national sporting federations are in different small groups rather than a single one, which is how some people try to paint the situation to the International Olympic Committee and so on.

“That’s right. Some of these groups claim that the IOC has recognised one in four and that 75% of the karateka, because they’re outside the WKF, won’t have access to Olympic sport and so on — making it sound as though they’re

“That avoids, for example, someone coming in from outside with 20 million, giving money to 40 countries from Africa to vote for them, and then winning” all in one group!”

But that’s simply not true.

“Yes, but that’s what some people are saying.”

Although this doesn’t really change the real issue very much — all it would change, if at all, would be the way some of those organisations think.

What about Japan? Despite the issue of styles, etc., it seems there are a lot of affiliates there, aren’t there?

“Well, according to the data it seems that about a million people are affiliated with the federation there.”

Years ago the Japanese federation was also close to leaving the WKF because of a number of problems, but

we’ll talk about that later. It’s really been quite common for the WKFaffiliate organisation in some countries to change. In England, for instance, there have been quite a few changes in this regard, and even organisations set up deliberately for that specific purpose.

There is one important issue regarding the WKF Executive Committee. Some groups have been saying that there members, or at least some of them, are from countries with little weight and representation in karate, and that you, as the President, only need to keep them sweet by paying for their travel, hotels and so on, to secure their vote in support of the decisions you make. I don’t know them all and I’ve seen that there can be a bit of everything. What can you tell us about that?

“Of the members of the EC, sixteen are elected, five correspond to the Continental Federations, one is currently co-opted, plus the President. That’s more than twenty members. The elected ones represent the continents. From Europe we have Finland, Norway, Greece, Great Britain, France and Spain, which is me. I don’t know how important we are — maybe we’re the scum of Europe! I don’t know how big or small they are, but there’s a bit of everything really. From Africa there’s Algeria, which is a major country for karate, Congo, Senegal

Interview and Tunisia. Which are the most important countries in karate? Egypt, for example, although they’ve never put forward a candidacy and they change their president every two years, so there’s no stability. South Africa is another important country, but it’s a similar story there. In the Americas we have representatives from the United States, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Curaçao and Venezuela I don’t know how important they are, but….”

Some people have also criticised that the Venezuelan representative, Carmen Diaz, who’s the mother of the champion Antonio Diaz, is not a karateka herself, so it could be argued that she’s not a morally legitimate representative, politicising the WKF too much.

“Well, I don’t know whether it’s important or not to be a karateka, but what’s not right is for it to be important for some things and not for others. Like for a karate referee having to be a karateka but a football referee not having to be a footballer.”

I totally agree with you about that.

Politics, even in sport, is politics. And I also think the example of the referees is a very good one, although I do think that karate referees are better qualified because they’ve been karateka themselves, and that’s a guarantee of doing things properly, which I’m generally very much in favour of.

“I don’t think anybody should be disqualified for something like that.

Nor should I be disqualified for no longer being a practising karateka but a practising civil engineer. You can’t disqualify people just like that because in the end, if we demand that you’re an important country, that you’re karateka, that you’re whatever, you’re ultimately trying to catch me out. Carmen Diaz is there and, well, there she is. Then there’s the President of Curaçao, who has also been the President of the PanAmerican Federation for twenty years, since 1993, having been elected, beating George Anderson from the United States, who withdrew in the end.”

Do you mean William Millerson?

“Yes, Millerson.”

I know him. He’s also an eighth dan in my school, Wado Ryu. “Well, until May last year Millerson was at the Pan-American, and then he was replaced by Argentina. What I’m saying is that I don’t know how important they are but… there they are. Brazil has been represented too but they’re not at the moment, but they were until they withdrew only four years ago. That was Oliveira. In Asia we have the Emirates, China, Japan and Taipei. And the member from Taipei is the President of the Asian Federation. For Oceania we have Australia and Fiji, who’s the President of the Continental Federation.”

During the 2008 World Championships in Tokyo.

I suppose as well that with 188 member countries it must be difficult to find only twenty or so representatives.

You can't have an Executive Committee with 50 people on it.

“No, of course not. But what I mean is that there are a lot of countries and people vote for them.

Those who are saying these things haven’t read the list properly. It’s true that Mexico isn’t there at the moment, but for many years it was. I hope Germany will be there soon, because the President they had from 1993 until last year never submitted their candidacy, either because he didn’t want to or it wasn’t in his interest for his own reasons, or whatever. But they’ve got a new President now who wants to join the EC and I hope that’s what happens after the 2014 Bremen congress.”

How is that the some countries that are actually parts of other countries are allowed to take part in championships separately? There’s the UK, with England, Wales, Ireland and the British Virgin Islands, there’s Holland with Curaçao, Aruba and St. Martin, there’s China with Macau, Hong Kong and Taipei); and France with Guadalupe, French Guyana, Martinique….

“Great Britain, for example, has a special agreement to participate in the WKF congress with a single vote even though they’ve got four teams that pay for their affiliation separately. Something similar happens in other sports and it’s

been that way at the World Federation for quite a few years now and it’s not so bad.”

Is that the same as happened with others like France and China?

“Every case is different. It only happens in France with their colonies in Oceania, which can take part in the Oceania championships but not in the world championships. And the same thing happens in Asia with Macao, which is recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia” Are all the similar cases recognised by their respective Olympic committees?

“There are lots that are. Hong Kong has the same status as Macao. That’s China. But their Olympic Committee is recognised by the IOC, whereas the Macao one isn’t – just by the Asian one, the Olympic Council of Asia. I was at the AOC meeting in November 2012 and Macao was there as a full member, but they’re not recognised by the International Olympic Committee.”

It’s quite a mess, whichever way you look at it, although it seems clear that the WKF does have grounds for recognising these countries separately.

“Yes. Curaçao is another case, where their Olympic Committee was recognised by the IOC until eighteen months ago but not anymore.”

Also, wasn't it William Millerson, the WKF Vice-president, who was the president of the Curaçao Olympic Committee?

“Yes, that’s right, and he still is and they still have an Olympic Committee but they’re not recognised by the IOC. But Aruba, which is even smaller than Curaçao, has an IOC-recognised Olympic committee, and it has one member who’s a member of the IOC and a secretary who’s also an IOC member.”

Wow! If the sporting politics of the WKF have their idiosyncrasies, they’re nothing alongside those of the IOC, where everything is obviously a lot more… strange, and even quite incomprehensible at times. “ Right now the re a re a lot of w ome n w ho be ca use the y a re women have certain rights. There are cases where because they’re women they have fewer rights than men until they reach a certain level, but a fte r that the y ha ve more rights. The re ’s a ve r y va gue dividing line, and once you cross it…. Today, being a woman on the I OC is a plus. S ome w ome n wouldn’t be IOC members if they weren’t female. They’re looking to strike a balance and this is what happens. It’s not fair, when you

“Our rules say that hotels can’t be luxury hotels, not five stars but four. They have to be hotels that are decent places” compare them with some men who are more deserving yet they’re not members, but that’s life.”

I agree. There are some cases and groups where striving for parity has led to women rising into positions instead of men where on merit or seniority they wouldn’t yet be qualified. To reach certain positions or ranks you need to have a certain number of years’ experience, so if women have started working in this field later than men, how can parity be fair? You can’t have female generals, or tenth dans, for example, if historically, for whatever reasons – fair or otherwise – they haven't been got the necessary years in. But let’s not get sidetracked. There is one case, where Gunnar Nordahl, from Norway, has been criticised for being a member of the WKF executive committee when he lives outside his country of origin, specifically in the United States. Nordahl was appointed as senior vice-president of the WKF in 2005.

“Yes, Nordahl lives in the States but he’s in very close contact with the Norwegian federation and with karate in Norway. If I had to rank how important the members of the EC are for the WKF or for me, then Nordahl would be close to the top.

He’s a fine professional and is extremely knowledgeable about karate. He’s given us a lot of support for a long time now. Yes, it’s true that he’s been living in the States for a long time, but he stays perfectly in touch with what’s going on. He’s worth a lot. He’s an engineer and he’s been around. He’s a major asset. He also has a very good relationship with the Canadian and American federations. I wish I had more people like him. On the Executive Committee I’ve always aimed to achieve a balance between those who are serving Presidents of National Federations and those who aren’t. It’s a dynamic balance. A lot of changes occur over a four-year term and I want to have people who are well regarded when they’re Presidents in office and also when they’re not. Some people are Presidents when they’re elected but then leave office, and so on, and

after they leave they’re not always well thought of by their Federations any more. This is something I pay close attention to and I try to maintain a balance.”

Do people come and go a lot?

“Yes, a lot. It may not look that way because we live from day to day, but if you look at the photos and data from four years earlier you can see just how many changes there have been.”

What would you say to those who think that you can get rid of anyone who after four years on the executive committee might threaten your position? Because in order to stand for President of the WKF you have to have been an EC member for at least four years, don’t you?

“Yes, that’s the way it is. You can only stand for President if you’ve been a member of the Executive Committee for at least four years over the previous three terms – in other words, over the last twelve years. Even before we agreed it that’s the way it was at the Asian Federation and everyone was happy with that. It’s always been that way.”

It’s not a recent rule, then, but it’s always been that way?

“Always. And before that, when I first joined, you had to be a fourth Dan Grade too. I removed that rule because it made no sense, although some people defended it. To be elected you need to be familiar with the sport and, yes, you have to have been on the EC for at least four years.”

So would it be reasonable to think that you could indeed get rid of anyone who might stand against you?

“Yes, clearly. The power is there, so yes. It’s always been that way but it’s never been used that way. But if people are looking for things to snipe at…. Those who criticise these things haven’t read the Statutes thoroughly, because there’s one thing they haven’t had a go at me for yet but they could. In order to be able to vote at congress you have to have had sporting activity during the previous year and the current year.

I’m sure there are some people who think it's wrong that countries that have had no sporting activity aren’t entitled to vote, but…. That avoids, for example, someone coming in from outside with 20 million, giving money to 40 countries from Africa to vote for them, and then winning. I think it’s a good thing. The idea changed in 2006 when there were some big changes made to the Statutes, and I took this from the Spanish legislation, from back when I was President of the Spanish Federation. It made sense to me. It prevents large groups of people with

agendas who have nothing to do with the workings of the Federation. The Federations should be run by people who are on the inside and work there, not by people who arrive en masse with hidden agendas. It’s happened in other ambits. Rules are brought in when things happen.”

I think it’s a good thing, because there are WKF member Federations from more than 180 countries, but only about 100 of them take part in the competitions. It makes sense to me for the others to have no right of influence.

Does the WKF ask for too much to organise a very clean World Championships?

“People say we’re asking for a lot of money to be able to organise a WKF World Championships and a deposit. It all depends on how you look at it.

I think we ask for very little money and give a lot in return.

We ask for 30,000 Swiss francs in air fares for the organising committee, some Commissions members, some from the Executive Committee — not many – and a few nights’ hotel rooms, which works out at 240 for junior and 280 for senior. All the rest is paid for by the WKF. We ask for a deposit of 40,000 Swiss Francs which will probably go up a bit soon. Look, Salvador, it’s like this. Not long ago at a sporting event there were some South American NOCs presidents there including the one from Peru, they’re organising the 2019 Pan-American Games, and they asked me about the possibility of holding a future World Karate championships there. When I told them what we were asking for and what we give in return, he thought it was cheap! I explained to him that there are image rights for the senior events, that we produce and pay TV, the international signal, and that we sell the advertising slots... He thought it was really cheap! I came away thinking that I should have asked for more to get him to take us seriously! Some people think what we ask for is to be able to live a life of luxury.

Since I’ve been here, the official hotel, the HQ, for instance, has to be a hotel for everybody. Our rules say that hotels can’t be luxury hotels, not five stars but four. They have to be hotels that are decent places, with good Top and center: Espinós with the President of the French Federation, Didier Francis, during the opening of the Paris World Championships, in 2012.

Below: During the previous WKF Congress.

meeting spaces to hold the refereeing course, the congress, spaces for the delegations to check in, meeting rooms and so on, but that's all. Then for the European Championships it's similar but on smaller scale. Even the deposit we ask for is only 6,000, while the number of hotel rooms is less than half.”

It’s good that people should know these things, because sometimes they may think that things are different from the way they really are.

“Yes, but I think some people criticise us not because they don’t know the facts but with bad intentions. I don’t know why if the information is there they don’t just deal with it.”

Because each person takes a piece of information and uses only the part of it that fits their agenda. They pick and choose. If people know four good things and two bad things about somebody it’s in their interests to criticise, they only hold on to one of the bad ones.

“I give the figures, the information, and then if someone thinks that 30,000 Swiss francs for air fares is a scandal, daylight robbery, there's not much I can do about it. If people think that 240 nights at the HQ is daylight robbery, then it’s daylight robbery. Everyone’s free to make their own mind up. But the facts are what they are.”

We shouldn’t forget that this is all top-level sporting politics. For those

of us who operate in the area of traditional karate where all we care abo ut – wit h a few ho no urable except io ns – are t he day -t o -day goings-on within the privacy of the dojo, all this seems very far removed from us. To me, except for the WKF World Championships in my home town, Guadalajara, all this is a world apart fro m the way I experience karate, but I do understand that at the level of top competition, sporting politics, and so on, that’s the way things work. It’s like different people speaking different languages. At the Guadalajara World Championships in 2013 I was able to see how all this is a movement that financially affects everybody, everywhere. Those who do t he o rg anis atio n, t ho s e who provide the funds. I have no problem with any of that. But, as I say, it’s quite different for some people not to care about any of that movement because they understand it not to have anything to do with how they practise karate.

Antonio, how have you been able to juggle doing your job at a major construction firm with your duties and the WKF? And what about your family, because you’ve got four children, haven’t you?

“Yes, four children.

Two daughters, aged 35 and 33, one with two children of her own and the other with one, and two sons, aged 27 and 23, who still live at home with me. And, as you know, I’m a civil engineer and I’ve been doing that

until last year, when I retired.”

And how have you managed to keep on working with all the travelling you have to do for the WKF? “Well, by travelling less than I do now since I’ve retired. And with a lot of hard work and dedication. It’s been quite hard. I graduated in 1973 and I've been working since then, 39 years, without missing a single day, working full time. They didn’t let me take early retirement.”

Really?

“It wasn’t in their interests. I ran the firm’s Madrid office but for very many years later I was at international, and there aren’t many people with experience who can do that job. They didn’t let me until I tur ned 65, and even then they wanted me to carry on! But no.”

You’ve never been paid a salary as such at the WKF, have you?

“No. Never.”

Now let’s turn back to your early days in karate, as a karateka. What are your first memories of karate?

“We have to go back to 1969. I started with the Koreans. First with Kim at the Samurai gym on Juan Bravo street. Then Kim left Samurai and set up the Kimicho gym with another Korean, Cho. What they did was known then as Korean karate.

We competed for Madrid, with students of Yamashita, Ishimi, and other Japanese.”

How was your first contact with Antonio Oliva, with whom you would go on to have close dealings?

Interview “Oliva was with Cho. I first met him at the Kimicho gym. It’d be 1969 or 1970. Then those two Koreans split up and one of Cho’s brothers whose name was Shik came in and they set up the Shikicho.”

At the history exhibition that I put on at the World Karate Championships in Guadalajara, I include a picture of you at an international event.

“Yes. That photo is the first trip abroad we made with the owner of the Samurai, who was Fernando Franco de Sarabia, the director of the karate department within the Spanish Judo Federation. For that first international competition – European Senior Championshipswe went to Paris to compete at the Pierre de Coubertin stadium in 1971.

There were three of us competing: Antonio Oliva, Jesus Pastor, an architect, and me. The three of us.

And now I think about it, I’ve been to the Coubertin as a competitor, then as President of the Spanish federation, the European Federation and the World Federation.”

So you then started to have more to do with Antonio Oliva?

“Yes. In 1973 I went with Oliva to his gym which he opened in Bravo Murillo street.”

Where Dominique Valera showed up sometimes, because they were fiftyfifty partners.

“Right. Valera came, who had also been our coach on the national team. In 1973 I finished my

engineering degree and went to work out of Madrid. I kept dabbling in karate now and then but I couldn’t train any more… and in 1974 I stopped altogether.”

For good?

“No, because I did some teaching in Cullera, while I was working on the Mediterranean motorway, which we were building at the time. I worked on the southern section from Valencia to Gandía, and then I was also living for a while in Benicassim until 1978. I taught karate two days a week at a gym in Castellón. They gave me 60% of the money from my classes and that was more than my salary at work back then. They offered me more classes but I said no. I did it because I enjoyed it but I didn’t want to become a slave to it.”

And by then it was under the name of karate, I assume, rather than Korean karate.

“Yes. By then it was karate – Shotokan. Because I’d been with Antonio Oliva, it was karate by then.

From there I’d been travelling to Madrid to do the training for my monitor and regional coach’s badges, which was organised at the industrial engineering school back then, near Plaza de San Juan de la Cruz. I got my black belt in 1973.”

So when did you stop practising karate for good?

“In 1978, when I started working in Madrid, I was simply too busy so it

Left: Antonio Espinós visit to the heads of the Japan Karate Federation in Tokyo, January 2013.

Right: Giuseppe Pellicone, Honorary Member of the WKF Executive Committee and Antonio Espinós, with the K of "The K is on the way" campaign.

was just no longer an option. I did some training with Oliva but… it just all became too hard.”

And how were you called back to stand for President of the Spanish Karate Federation in 1984?

“Several years went by, from 1978 until 1984, and then one day, before the summer of 1984, Antonio Oliva and Pepe Pérez came to see me.

Pepe was also a bit out of the loop by then, but he came anyway. They were quite upset about how Celestino Fer nández had been acting, who was the President of the Spanish Federation at the time. I don’t know what it was about because, as I say, I was totally out of the loop. They started to urge me to stand. They were quite insistent about it. They brought Antonio Torres to see me… Matías Romo and Enrique Guerra as well. There was only a couple of months to go before the presidential election.

They told me about a meeting that was going to be held the following month in Alicante. They urged me to go to get an idea of what was involved. He days went by and I forgot all about it, and I thought with some relief that they’d forgotten all about it too. Then, a few days before, in August, they called me and said, “Hey, you haven’t forgotten about the meeting, have you?” I had to go. They practically forced me to. How many candidates they must have had!”

What did you talk about at the meeting?

“There were about twenty people there, all deeply involved in the details of the Federation, and I didn’t have a clue about anything. They asked me “So, what are your plans?” And I said, “Me? None at all.” And they must have liked. I think they would have liked anything I’d said, frankly. There was no way to stop it after that. They convinced me. I didn’t even run a campaign. I went to Valladolid one day, with Matías Romo and Enrique Guerra.

And that was it.”

So the day of the vote arrived – and I was there, by the way, as a member of the General Assembly of the Spanish Federation, with the right to cast a vote, which I did. What do you remember about that fateful day?

“During the vote there were some people had no idea who I was. Some who were sitting next to me were even saying nasty things about me.”

But did they know that it was you sitting next to them?

“Of course they did. That’s why they were doing it, so I would hear. I felt terrible. What had I done to deserve that? I just didn’t want to be there, in an election there was no way of winning and… But I won, by 53 votes to 58. I couldn’t believe it. I thought, “What am I supposed to do now?” When I first set foot in the federation’s offices, in Martínez Campos street, I was already the President.”

What were those early days like?

“They were very hard because I had two very serious problems to deal with as soon as I arrived.

Celestino Fernández had received the full subsidy for 1984 and had spent it all. A few weeks later we had to go to the World Championships in Maastricht and we didn’t have any money. In the end we got a loan or the travel agency gave us credit or something and we were able to go. Then there was a big problem with the Catalan federation, which had been awarded the European Junior championships to be held in February 1985. The Catalan’s were in Celestino’s camp

and had voted against me, because my style was different and a few other things as well. They’d done some black-belt exams on their own account. I tried to stop it but they went ahead anyway. So then I tried to get the European Championships taken away from them and sent Adan Czartoryski to investigate and based on his report have grounds to take the tournament away from me.

How naïve I was. Adan came back to tell me that they’d organise everything brilliantly, but even so I took the tournament from them. In the end it was held in Madrid, at the Palacio de Deportes, which was a bit of a mixed blessing, but anyway…. What happened was that a war then broke out. A coordinating committee was set up in Catalonia and the truth is that it worked very well for a long time, but there were all sorts of problems.”

Yes, I remember. You were very “popular” there for a time. I remember once seeing some placards about you at some championship in Barcelona, which weren’t very flattering, let’s say.

“I can’t remember how we sorted it out eventually.”

Was Josep Bosch involved back then? He’s still around today.

“Well, back then Casanova was in charge, until 1986, and Bosch has been the President since then. He's a bit… well, let’s say he likes to do things his own way.”

Then the problems, which never end, became all about the Japanese masters in Spain, who until then had wielded a lot of power in karate, for obvious reasons, but you, as the new president of the Spanish Federation, starting trimming them back.

“In 1984 there were Japanese people, like Yasunari Ishimi, who had a lot of power. You might even go so far as to say that they could make or break a President if they wanted to. By 1988 it was no longer like that and now practically nothing at all, as you know. Things have changed a lot. There was one thing that happened in 1988 that was the key moment. It brought me into conflict a couple of times with Antonio Torres, over the Ishimi

business. That was a turning point in the extent of the Japanese influence on karate in Spain. That was the end of it. I understood that it wasn‘t appropriate any more. I mean that with all due respect, but something had to change. It had been accepted in its day, but it was no longer appropriate. I respected him a lot, and a couple of years ago I was at the tribute event that was organised for him.”

Yes, and at a very difficult time for him personally.

“Yes. I'm the first to acknowledge everything the Japanese have done for karate but they were influencing things that I didn’t think they should any more. They didn’t want to lose that power. They were forced. Now I think their position is the right one and that’s good for karate, to make it more universal. And I think I’ve played a role there. Karate has a different feel from how it would have been otherwise.”

I agree with you because the Federation is sports-based (if it was based on traditional karate it’d be something else entirely). What I’m not sure I agree with you on is how some key figures in the history of karate in Spain have been forgotten, like Tino Fernández, Adam Czartoryski and people. History is history.

What about Faustino Soria’s time at the head of the Spanish and IberoAmerican Federations? Tell us about that?

“It wasn’t a very happy period in terms of my relationship with the Spanish Federation, because I don’t think Faustino ever felt he was able to step outside my shadow. I never wanted to impose a candidate after my presidency, but I was the one who suggested Faustino. I first thought of him in 1996. I had some doubts at the beginning between him or Enrique Guerra, but in the end, as Faustino lived in Madrid and had been with me on my team for eight years, as director of the national degrees board, I thought he was the right person. I don’t know whether I made the right choice or not. You never know with these things what would have happened

Interview with somebody else, but things didn’t turn out the way I’d thought. I don’t think he ever got to grips with not being influenced by me. He wasn’t capable of being the president he should have been, a president who supported the WKF President because he was Spanish. There was a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde aspect to him that always held him back. He never forgave me for some things that were really down to his own incapacity.”

What was the origin of his insecurity or becoming distanced from you?

“Well, we once went on a trip to Andorra together and on the way back he asked me what I thought about him standing as a member of the WKF Executive Committee. This was obviously the wrong question to ask. When a question only has one possible answer, it’s the wrong question.

I told him I thought it was fine. What else was I supposed to say? If I’d said no because had no chance of turning against me or not standing and then resenting me for the rest of his life. Who am I to say no to him? I said, organise a campaign.

Work on it. It’s not easy because I’ve got my people and I’m not going to withdraw my support from somebody to give it to you. Don’t put me in that position with my own people.”

When was that?

“It was around 2000 or 2001. Then, in 2002, when the World Championships were organised in Madrid, he stood as a member for the EC and lost. He wasn’t elected. He took it badly and blamed me. He led me responsible. I was happy to appoint him as representative of the European Federation. I did it in a moment of weakness and he never even thanked me for it. He was there for four years as a co-opted member appointed by me. As the President of the European Federation I was entitled to sit on the EC, but I was already there as President of the WKF, so I could appoint someone else and I appointed him. He never thanked me for that. Then, in Tampere, he stood for the EC again without telling me in advance and he lost again. After that he saw me as some sort of horned devil. It’s a pity, because the last few years were really quite unpleasant. He even told me that he’d lost for a second time but he wanted to be on the EC and that I should do whatever it took to get him there.”

So what did you do then?

“Well, it was like this. Back then the WKF shared offices with the Spanish Federation, on Francisco de Sales street. We even shared some of the secretarial staff. Things were different back then. He told me that he was the president of the Ibero-American Federation and as such I had to get him on the WKF Executive Committee. I explained to him that the Ibero-American was

Left: Alejandro Blanco, COE president; Antonio Espinós, WKF President, and Antonio Moreno, RFEK President, during Guadalajara World Championships, 2013.

Center: The World President in the Tribute to the Master Yasunari Ishimi.

Right: Salvador Herráiz, Antonio Espinós and Antonio Moreno during the WKF World Congress 2012, in Paris.

only one of many, and if I appointed the Ibero-American president I’d have to appoint the others too and I just couldn’t do that. Anyway, it was me who had made him President of the Ibero-American federation in the first place. He told me to think about the matter, and I told him that a week later I’d be moving out of there. The WKF was going to share offices with the EKF. That was my response and we moved into our own offices. And we’ve been apart ever since then.”

Why did he lose? Why didn't he win those elections?

“Well, there were four or five candidates. I can’t really remember the details because we changed the system. There was another system in place before, from 2002, when there was karate K and karate T.” K was the sport side that came from what had been called the WUKO, while T was master Nishiyama’s ITKF, after a period of trying to bring them together, is that right?

“Yes, that’s right. Anyway, we ended that in 2006. The thing is that there were four or five candidates: Nordahl, Faustino, Dinsdale and Rita Rairama, who was very good.”

Then she left. Rita Rairama resigned in 2006 and he post was taken over by Finn Yrsa Lindqvist from Finland.

“Yes, indeed, she left. She was very good. Everyone was very well qualified, they spoke English very well, everyone knew them…. The

truth is that Faustino just couldn’t compete with them, but he blamed me. It became an ugly obsession with him. In 2006, after he failed to get elected for a second time, he thought I was going to co-opt him but I did it with Francis Didier from France instead.”

What about Didier? How has your relationship been with him? I’ve been given to understand you had your ups and downs for a time, over issues related to the refereeing director, Tommy Morris, didn't you?

“No, there were no problems.

Everything’s been fine with Didier. I put him in charge of everything to do with the Premier League. The thing is that there was always a lot of rivalry between Morris and Didier, but with no problems at all.”

Where did that “tension” between those two, Morris y Didier, come from?

“Well, Morris is very conservative.

He never wanted to change anything.”

Why did Morris leave the Federation in the end?

“In 2006 we fixed an age limit of 70 for the WKF officers. Morris was already past that so we made a provisional exception of a four-year grace people for anyone in that position. In the meantime, Morris left the European Federation and I put Tomasso Mini in his place. Morris stayed with the World Championships and then I convinced him to leave in the spring of 2010, a few months earlier than

planned, so that the new appointment, Con Kassis, from Australia, would have enough time to get to know the Continental Championships before the Belgrade World Championships, so that everyone would know him by then.

In Belgrade Morris was there as a guest of mine and he wasn’t very comfortable, so he stepped aside.”

Let’s talk about Japan and its role in a discipline – I'm still reluctant to call it a sport – that was born there. Is Japan today just another country within the WKF or is it special because karate originated in Japan?

“Things are running smoothly with the Japanese Karate Federation right now. We have a Japanese technical director, Tsuguo Sakumoto. And soon the general secretary will be Japanese too, Toshihisa Nagura. Japan is a benchmark. My first major trip last year was to Tokyo. We all know where we come from and it’s important that we do. And it’s also important for the Japanese to appreciate that we do.”

But a few years ago there was a time when the Japanese federation had their ups and downs with the WKF, didn’t they?

“There was one tense moment at the Munich world championships in 2000. We changed the competition rules for kumite and the Japanese Federation wasn’t happy about it at all. They even said that if those changes were approved, they’d

Interview leave the WKF. That was when Keiichi Hasumi and Toru Arakawa were in charge.”

I know both of them. Hasumi was Vice-president of the JKF for many years and so Sasagawa’s right hand in karate, while Arakawa is a Wado Kai ninth dan and ran the technical side back then.

“Well, during the World Championships, Arakawa was the one who spoke up about it. But in the end the changes were approved anyway and that was the end of it.”

So there’s no special attitude towards Japan, then, other than the kind of courtesy you mentioned?

“Now we no longer see Japan as a special case, no. In any company or group there comes a time when you have to choose between control and growth. To grow you have to discard some ballast and lose some control.

Something that we’ve achieved is to make karate universal by releasing ourselves from Japanese control.

What we were talking about earlier regarding Spain.”

But karate is Japanese, so shouldn’t it have certain values that are related to Japan?

“We still hold by the values that have made karate what it is today. In that respect the Japanese have done a good job. Yes, Japan is just another country but it’s an important one, and they're way up there in the medals table. They're a major power, with their ups and downs but still a major power.”

Indeed, for several years after International competition began the Japanese were not surprisingly the best, but then they went through a period when they won nothing. Why do you think that happened?

“The Japanese have struggled to adapt to change, but they’ve managed it and done it well. Now the JKF, with their president Sasagawa, has a good relationship with the WKF and that matters to me a lot. Also, the Japanese culture is very different. The Chinese too, and Asian people in general. It’s a different world. We often don’t realise it but they’re still a long way away and that’s an issue that we still need to resolve, whether it’s to do business with them or in several other areas as well. We haven’t managed to win them over the way we have other countries, including America, who we’ve finally managed to reach an understanding with.”

The topic of competitive karate, refereeing and rules is certainly an important one. Do you have any refereeing changes planned?

“Well, we have a standing committee for rules which takes the initiative and proposes certain

changes to the executive committee. After Guadalajara, which was the last time the committee met, it’ll meet again in Holland. I’m very cautious about making changes to the rules because they can often cause difficulties for the smaller Federations. You have to be careful about the impact that any changes could have on the training of referees. Sometimes changes do more harm than good for a lot of people.”

But do you have anything in mind right now?

“A few things. For example, for penalties not to count in scoring. In other words, if you have too many penalties you can be disqualified, but otherwise nobody can beat you because of penalties. This is a significant change, but not too complicated for referees, because it’s pretty intuitive, really. We also thought about some changes with categories, but that’s got nothing to do with rules. We’re also thinking, for the Hantei, on some additional criteria so that’s it not just what the judges decide. For example, for the first one to score to be the winner in the case of a tie. That would be an incentive. Also dropping the men's category from four minutes to three and the women's from three to two.

For penalties to be handled by the central referee alone, because it consulting confusion in these cases for the referee to consult the judges.

Video reviews will also be very important. The coaches will have a card, red and blue, and they can use it if they disagree with something very specific. It’s already being used in taekwondo and it’s working well.

It takes barely 25 seconds between the coach showing the card and the combat resuming. If the coach is right, the card is returned, otherwise it’s taken away from them so they’ll think hard about using the option responsibly.”

Right. They’ll only use it if the risk of being wrong is worth it.

“The results of the tests that we’ve already done have been good.”

That’s interesting. I should mention that the ending of compulsory katas, shitei, is in my modest opinion the right move. I don’t think they should have existed in the first place.

“Why?” In my school, Wado Ryu, for example, in certain categories already affected by Shitei kata, with the Seishan and Chinto katas, the karatekas had to do certain katas which, according to the right path to follow when lear ning karate, they shouldn’t have been doing yet. From the point of view of taking karate step

by step, progressing gradually over the course of a Lifetime. At style tournaments, especially in the past, it was compulsory to do certain katas but they were the ones that corresponded exactly with that category or level. Someone once wanted to see how a caterpillar turned into a butterfly. They breathed on it to warm it up and speed up its development but the butterfly that emerged was premature, with its wings stuck together and useless, and it died. The patient order of nature shouldn’t be broken because of a lack of patience, going step by step and trusting the sensei. Maybe these things don’t matter to many people but they do matter to me.

“Well, it's good to hear that, because we did have some doubts.

Indeed, because of what we were talking about earlier we showed special deference towards the Japan Karate Federation and at the first meeting we held to decide on changes, which was in Tenerife in May 2012, apart from the members of the committee that decides these things, we had a person designated by the Japan Federation for the standing committee. Besides Sakumoto, they appointed Inoue, who was the JKF’s special envoy.

We were sensitive about it and the JKF had a privileged viewpoint. It worked out well. Inoue agreed to get rid of shitei. It was better to have done it with him than without him.”

And for image reasons I think it’s best to have them on your side.

“Well that was the bright idea of someone who lives in America…”

While he should be living in Norway?

Him, you mean? (Laughs.)

“Ha, that’s right, yes. My success can be put down to my having surrounded myself with people like Nordahl.”

And whose idea was it originally to do the tests known as bunkai for the team-kata semi-finals and finals, because that was a huge success.

“That was Tommy Morris’s idea.”

Well, it was a very good one.

The aesthetics of karate and of its katas in particular, their “strange elegance”, is a consequence of its movements and techniques, but aesthetics should never be the ultimate goal. Today, because of competition, positions have often got bigger, lowering the hip, adding unnecessary changes of pace to seek greater aesthetics. That’s totally wrong, creating an invented, exaggerated and artificial sort of aesthetics that has nothing to do with the effectiveness of positions or movements. The kata is, among other things, the link between the past, the present and the future. It shouldn’t be changed. Judges – sometimes without

On the left, the WKF President at the opening of Guadalajara World Championships, in 2013.

even realising they are doing it and swept along by the general tide — “force” things to be exaggerated externally and aesthetically. And when they can’t be done that way – because of age, physical decline, injuries or many other reasons – the result is that many people stop practising, so they no longer reap the benefits that could be obtaining both internally and physically.

Striving to be the best does people no favours in the long run. If, on the other hand, you strive for physical effectiveness when practising, for personal defence and mental and spiritual benefits that make us happier, the external aesthetics don’t matter and you can practice karate and enjoy yourself, with whatever limitations, for your whole life. It’s a mistake to set up karate to be viewed from the outside.

Karate should be viewed from the inside in order to feel it.

People differentiate between combat and kata when really the two facets have a lot of common ground. There's a lot of karate in the techniques established for pairs. That was a breath of fresh air.

“I agree. Morris had done his homework and he’s a very good worker.”

Well, it was a great idea. In my view, at least. Although if I’ m going to tell you what I like I might as well tell you how little I like that gap of a few seconds that is left in the hand to hand that entails certain projections…

“But the rules say two or three seconds and they often wait for five or six. The rules should be applied properly first before we get into whether they should be changed or not. Should we then stop grappling?

Why? Let’s apply the rules properly first because maybe there's no need to change them at all.”

So is the fault of the referees or how they are instructed? Because you know there have been a lot of comments about this issue. People don’t much care for it in lots of different ambits of karate. We know that head to head is part of combat, but this is karate, not judo, and it often ends up as badly done judo to boot, for obvious reasons.

“Yes, that’s true.”

Now because of that we have that kick that the Japanese karateka Matsuhisa has made popular.

“Yes, that kind of horse kick that Aghayev also does.”

Yes. The scorpion kick, some people call it.

“Yes, because that’s what it is, really. They’re holding on to each other and from there…. You see it a lot in Asia and the Arab countries.

Well, it’s everywhere now.”

In some cases it’s fine but in others the distance isn’t right for that, people

lose their balance... I respect competition in karate but as everyone knows I’m more from the side of traditional karate, more private and focused not only on the different technical forms but in a different way of acting, with day-to-day values that also include a cultural and historical vision.

“It’s the never-ending debate between karate as a sport and karate as a martial art. I have my own opinion about this. If karate hadn’t evolved, who would have heard of it? Karate is universal because it’s developed as a sport. If you want to develop it as a martial art, you can do that better once it’s been developed as a sport. It’s a matter of striking a balance.”

The thing is that there’s often a clear lack of balance, and also some people may think, “Why should I care whether karate becomes better known or not?

All I want to do is practise and that's it, regardless of how many other people are practising."

“Well, because the moral values that karate imbues are good enough to merit them being widely known and for young people to improve through them.”

That would be the ideal, yes, but the reality of competition is very different.

It’s clear that competition is different, practical, without including the great technical richness of karate. The spirituality in competition is zero, disdaining the values of respect, humility, tolerance, etc. Health is no more than a hollow gesture that comes from the back, not the heart. Striving to be the best may seem positive in terms of personal challenge, but in order for it to happen many people must be left by the wayside and the result is often frustration and conflict on various levels, resulting in people giving up.

Competition is for certain very specific young ages, when karate should be understood as an experience for a lifetime. The foundations of karate should be respect, humility, tolerance, recognition and faithfulness. More dojo and less gym!

I think that in competition they should pay more attention to these details. I understand that a competitor may spontaneously celebrate winning, but we’ve been seeing people jumping around all over the place, with the five judges waiting in a line while the winner is doing a death leap, hurling himself on the ground and so on.

They’re things that I don’t think are right I any sport but in karate, because of the way it stresses being humble, I think they’re out of place and shouldn’t be allowed.

“I agree with that, Salvador.”

What do you think is going to happen in the coming months or years at the WKF with the Olympic status

issue. I’m not asking you what you want to happen but what you think will happen.

“Well, I think this year there’ll be some important decisions made by the IOC with regard to changes to the programme by 2024. They’ll probably go for a programme by modalities instead of by International Federations, and if that’s the case, then karate will have a better chance however little restructuring is done. There are 28 sports and with them 300 sporting modalities, so that way we’ll have our chance and get to stake our claim. For 2020 there’s the same programme, because although wrestling was out it then came back in, softball and baseball will be out by 2020 with none coming in, rugby and golf are coming in for 2016, but the fact is that in the three processes between 2005 and today there’s only really been room for two sports. It’s very important that karate is in all the multi-sport Games of the Olympic cycle, including the European Games, and that’s important. It’s the only nonOlympic Federation at the European Games. The only one of the 18 that are there! Because there are some non-Olympic modalities of certain Olympic sports, but that’s another issue. The situation couldn’t be better. We’ll keep on trying, because it’s our obligation and our destiny.

And I’m an optimist!”

In theory you’re in office until 2016 (after Belgrade 2010). What will happen then? Are you going to step down or what?

“I don’t know whether I’ll step down in 2016. I’d like to. Of course I’m not going to stick around for all of the next six years. I’m quite clear about that. I may stand in 2016, but I’d only stay until 2018. I’ve never intended to be here all my life and especially not now, when I’ve been the WKF President for over fifteen years. By the time of the 2016 elections I’ll have been here for eighteen years – twenty at the European federation, since 1997 and until 2017 when my term ends. I don’t intend to carry on after that at the European Federation, and it’s very likely that I’ll leave the World Federation in 2016 as well.”

So who do you think we’d be in good hands with?

“I don’t want to impose anything.

All I’d like is not to leave it in the hands of someone who stands for the opposite of what I do.”

But do you see anybody who’s ready or in a position to succeed you?

“No. Well, lots of people are ready but I don't have any particular person in mind. Some people tell me I should

Interview have my successor lined up. But I don’t think so. Imagine if I got run over in the street and died. I’m sure they’d come up with someone to replace me before long. My body wouldn’t even be cold and they'd have thought of someone. Well, that’s the way it should be, not making a big drama about it. When the time comes someone will emerge and that'll be the end of it. What I have to do is tread carefully in the sense of ensuring that there’s some continuity, and that’s the idea of the new restructuring that we’re doing at the WKF office, so that it’s based more on people in business and in services, in operations. We also want some of the office staff to be exportable, so if the incoming President wants to take the office abroad, they can do that and take them along so there’s some continuity and the least possible impact. We want to outsource the web services, which has now been done, and the championship services too, the Premier League, and that’s been done too.

We're also going to continue with Sportdata, which is a good company, and we hope that the three European Championships each year and the annual World Championships will be done with Sportdata. I don’t have any successor in mind and I don’t want to have one. Whatever happens will happen.

My experience tells me that when you try to decide something knowing that you’ve only got a tiny part of the information that you'll have when the time comes, it’s best not to start. It’s best not to waste time on that or have all those headaches.

For instance, I know that by next year in Bremen I’ll know more. Now is not the time. I’m sure I’d clarify some things but… there's no need.

Look, Salvador, in 1998 when I was

elected WKF president I had to convene an Executive Committee meeting the next day to choose a vice-president, general secretary, treasurer, and so on. I had an idea about some but for the treasurer, for example, I didn't have anyone in mind.

George Popper had been there for many years but he wasn‘t elected in Brazil, and he was also one of Delcourt’s men, so he wasn’t wanted.

In 48 hours I had to make a decision.

You get by as best you can. I had a look at the list of the Executive Committee to see who couldn’t be elected. It worked wonders. They

were only two people left in it and I chose John Halpin, who was there until he passed in 2007. That was the best decision I made. I needed to make it. Now it's best not to think about that.”

Thank you for talking to us, and I hope our chat has been of interest to karateka.

“And thank you for your time.

You’ve got more than enough experience and you’ll know how to put my words in the right context.

I’m in good hands with you.”

That’s my aim, at least.

“And you certainly achieve it.”

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 experiences.

REF.:짜 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. net

By Cezar Borkowski

Canadian Black Belt a Hall of Fame, the gold standard for Budo excellence.

The Budo arts of Karate, Judo, Aikido, Kendo, Jujutsu, as well as Taekwondo, Muay Thai, BJJ are widely popular and attract a broad-range of participants - from preschoolers to seniors, men, women and children - throughout the great cities and provinces of Canada. Thousands of great teachers and schools teach the life-changing values of martial arts teaching through the Great White North.

Established in 2006, the aim of the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame (CBBHoF) is to recognize the contribution of the incredible pioneers, influential teachers and champions of Canadian martial arts. Since its inception, the CBBHOF has celebrated the achievements of notable masters including Masami Tsuruoka, Frank Hatashita, Paul Chan, Park Jong Soo, Takeshi Kimeda, Larry Nakamura, Wally Slocki, John Therien, Doug Rogers, Jean Yves Theriault, and other legendary martial artists. This years 2014 Toronto based SRO event (hosted by Cezar Borkowski and Northern Karate Schools) was an absolute success. From great venue, food and decoration, to several live music acts, to incredible array of demonstrations, to action packed fights. This event not only celebrated Canadian excellence, but also entertained the highly receptive audience.

News

The 2014 inductees included.

Rick Joslin One Canada's most dynamic champions. Kickboxing and MMA pioneer.

Marion Manzo International champion and ultra successful school operator.

Mike Bernardo International and World Champion in forms, fighting and weapons.

Robert Kranstz Jiujitsu master and former Sport Jiujitsu champion and coach.

John Douvris International champion, coach and successful school operator.

Bob Loyer

Gord Latimer

Legendary Canadian champion, Karate, Boxing and Kickboxing.

Owner of Norkim Trophies, supporter of countless Karate, Judo and Taekwondo tournaments.

Mo Chow Kung-fu grandmaster, crossover champion and action film star.

Two very special awards were also presented.

Bill Carr

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau award for humanitarian excellence was presented by City Television anchor Gord Martineau to John Therien (Jujutsu Hanshi) of Ottawa.

The Masami Tsuruoka Lifetime Achievement awards was presented by Tsuruoka-sensei (the father of Canadian Karate) to Monty Guest (Karatedo Hanshi) of Toronto.

Plans are already underway for the 2015 induction ceremony to be held in the culturally rich city of Montreal. For information visit CBBHOF.com

Canadian Karate champion, international coach and world class referee.

Kei Tsumura Patriarch of Shito-ryu in Canada.

International competitor and coach.

Armie Rizzo Legendary promoter, leader and a Sport Karate pioneer.

"Vital spot in Taekwon-Do is defined as any sensitive or breakable area on the body vulnerable to an attack. It is essential that the student of Taekwon-Do has a knowledge of the different spots so that he can use the proper attacking or blocking tool.

Indiscriminate attack is to be condemned as it is inefficient and wasteful of energy". - General Choi Hong Hi, ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TAEKWONDO, Volume II, page 88. Taekwon-Do is one of the largest and most professional martial arts in the world today, (founded on April 11, 1955, by General Choi Hong Hi, and continues to flourish even after the passing of its founder in June of 2002. Over time the sporting factors took precedence and much was either ignored or discarded in the area of the original self-protection methods. In the original writings of General Choi much of the focus, structure and even the use of the vital points "Kupso", as well as the weapon development to access them, was outlined but never fully taught. Kyusho International has developed a program to enlighten, educate, integrate and develop this incredible Martial Art back to it's founders concepts. This new program has the full support of the founders surviving son Choi Jung Hwa. The focus of this series is to investigate the Patterns (teul), which are performed in accordance with the founders precepts in "The Encyclopedia of TaekwonDo" (an astounding 15 volumes written by General Choi Hong Hi, including his "Vital Spots"). It is through this structure that Kyusho will be initially integrated back into Taekwon-Do. Kyusho International is proud to assist in this monumental and historic collaborative undertaking.

REF.: • KYUSHO20

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. net

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