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Oldman's Bubishi
Published on 2012-03-06 18:20:00
The trailer for the much anticipated release of "Oldman's Bubishi ". Oldman's Bubishi, is a richly illustration introduction to the Bunkai of Karate Kata. The book by Mark "Oldman" Cook focuses on the most widely practiced kata series, the Pinan / Heian / Pyung Ahn series. If you have learned this kata series let Oldman introduce you to the bone breacking beauty of the kata. Dance class is over. It's time to put the function back into your forms. > read more
Reality Programing "The Bachelor" and "Survivor"
Published on 2012-01-03 13:33:00
There is a lot of talk about "Reality Programing" these days. "Jersey Shore", "The Bachelor", "Survivor". Not to be left out, I have created a bit of reality viewing entertainment as well. This video is from the Corporate Karate class at the fitness center at Hallmark. Both of these guys have been training around five years. These guys show up for class two times a week, sometime three. Both are in their 60's. They have outlasted folks half their age. Joe even had hip surgery just last year an [..] > read more
Beginning Again
Published on 2011-12-31 18:41:00
Another New Year. Another year practicing Korean Karate. Another year negotiating with Father Time. As you look ahead at the new year make time for taking care of you. Find a practice that you enjoy and works for you. Let go of perfection and enjoy practice. > read more
Iain Abernethy seminar in Missouri
Published on 2011-10-14 21:53:00
Some of you are already familiar with the work of Iain Abernethy. For those of you who are not familiar with him or his work, here is a short bio from his website. http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/Iain Abernethy is one of the UK's leading exponents of applied karate and kata application (bunkai). His martial arts DVDs and books have sold worldwide and have been translated into other languages. Iain holds a 6th Dan with both the British Combat Association (awarded by Peter Consterdine 8th Dan and G [..] > read more
The Relaxation Response
Published on 2011-10-05 00:49:00
Starting Monday, I will introduce a small group of people to "The Relaxation Response". Dr. Herbert Benson first coined the phrase 1974. In our first class will look at the warning signs of stress an impliment simple, yet proven methods to manage, reduce and even eliminate stress. We will spend twenty to thirty minutes each day for the rest of the week getting together to practice engaging the relaxation response and encouraging each other to take time to breath and relax. > read more
Paul Henson Tae Kwon Do
Published on 2011-10-04 00:43:00
Here is a clip of some of our YMCA students. I had my Flip camera with me and I asked them if they wanted to see a video of themselves. They were very excited about the possibility. They are six and seven years old. They are doing very well. So well in fact that the parents can see the progress. For the last few years I have taught mostly adults. In all honesty as we started the program at the YMCA, I wasn't sure just how it how things would work. I'd just like to say that I am having a great ti [..] > read more
Onward and Upward
Published on 2011-09-26 10:12:00
On Wednesday the 22nd, Prairie Martial Arts held it's first rank test for the new Chung Do Kwan, Tae Kwon Do program at the Paul Henson YMCA in Prairie Village. Six students participated. I'm happy to report that each of the students that tested performed very well and gave their best efforts. Amy and Sam submitted test papers. Both papers were insightful reflections of where they are in their training. As always, testing points out our strengths as well as areas we can improve. This is true [..] > read more
Meekness not Weakness
Published on 2011-09-21 09:16:00
This post was inspired by an exchange with Sensei Richard Kimura and Sensei Takeshi Tamura. One of the beauties of Budo as a spiritual path is that it both encourages the practitioner to strive, persevere, and push ourselves at times to the end of our abilities. In any spiritual discipline there is the danger that ones accomplishments may lead to arrogance and grandiosity. Injury, infirmity and losses suffered in training and in life can remind us of our frailty and weakness which can be an effe [..] > read more
Tae Kuk Chodan
Published on 2011-08-31 11:57:00
Here is a little help for all of you that are gettingready to test for you white belts. Train hard and have fun. > read more
The Agony and the Ecstasy
Published on 2011-08-20 11:33:00
Recently I had the pleasure of being introduced to the art of Isshen-Ryu Karate by Sensei John Kerker. I first became aware of Sensei Kerker after a friend Victor Smith returned from a seminar with him. Knowing Victor to be a skilled and experienced martial artist I noted his enthusiastic review of his time spent with him. Victor mentioned that Mr. Kerker only lived about three hours from me in Iowa. I tucked the idea away in the back of my mind.In one of those "Wow it's a small world" moments, [..] > read more
Step By Step.
Published on 2011-08-09 16:15:00
Hello everyone. Our Tae Kwon Do program at the Paul Henson YMCA continues it's steady growth. I think the neatest thing that is that is developing is the number of families that are training together. We have students that are inching forward, step by step, toward testing for their first belts. As these folks are finding out, this class is a great introduction to traditional martial arts and what it can do for you. If you are looking for a fun class and a challenging workout come on in and give [..] > read more
Grand Master Son, Duk-sung Passes.
Published on 2011-05-11 10:56:00
Grand Master Duk Sung Son, 88, of 375 Thames Street, Newport, RI, died Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at Newport Hospital, Newport, RI. Son, Duk-sung, was born in Seoul, Korea, on June 17, 1922. Grand Master Son was a student of Lee, Won Kuk at the Chu > read more
Why at the Y?
Published on 2011-05-03 16:17:00
A friend asked me recently, "Why teach at the Y?". Though I didn't have a quick answer for him his question caused me to reflect a bit. An even better question might be "Why teach Tae Kwon Do at all? The world certainly doesn't > read more
YMCA Healthy Kids Day at The K.
Published on 2011-04-17 17:25:00
It was a busy weekend for my YMCA Tae Kwon Do program. Saturday we held our first demo class on the fitness floor. Students from both Hallmark Corporate Karate and Duncan's Karate helped out. Susan Smith the wellness Director mentioned that w > read more
Prairie Martial Arts at the Paul Henson YMCA
Published on 2011-03-27 21:44:00
Starting May 2nd I will begin teaching classes at the Paul Henson YMCA in Prairie Village. Classes are currently scheduled for Monday and Wednesday 7:10 to 8:00. Chung Do Kwan, has a long history with the YMCA. There are many YMCA's that currently&nb > read more
Six Keys to Being Excellent at Anything
Published on 2011-03-18 22:44:00
The Following is from Tony Schwartz1.Pursue what you love. Passion is an incredible motivator. It fuels focus, resilience, and perseverance.2.Do the hardest work first. We all move instinctively toward pleasure and away from pain. Most great performe > read more
An Invitation
Published on 2010-11-28 19:55:00
I recently posted the above video on YouTube. I'm hoping to find a few new people that are interested in beginning or returning to practicing martial arts. Our situation at Prairie Martial Arts is unique. It's certainly not for everyone. First > read more
Corporate Karate at Hallmark
Published on 2010-08-23 21:34:00
We started a new session at Corporate Karate today. It was a really fun class. The high point of the class today has the addition of a new student. Erin, is new to both martial arts and Hallmark. Erin jumped in with both feet. I'm sure she has no ide > read more
The Lesson of the Knee
Published on 2010-08-18 23:44:00
I first came to know Roy Dean’s work in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from his YouTube videos. Impressed, I purchased his Blue Belt DVD series and used them as the curriculum for a BJJ experiment. I had a small group of guys that trained with me in the > read more
In The Dojo
Published on 2010-07-17 13:36:00
Shikaku
Published on 2010-03-31 22:01:00
Shikaku: The dead corner. The vulnerable angle. The blind spot. > read more
Shikaku
Published on 2010-03-30 00:44:00
Shikaku: The dead corner. The vulnerable angle. The blind spot. > read more
The Magic of Five Minutes
Published on 2009-12-08 19:41:00
It is often said that people overestimate what they can do in a month and underestimate what they can accomplish in a year. How about what you can do in five minutes? I want to share a tip with you that I learned from my high school art teacher. He m > read more
Bunkai Pinan Sandan, PyungAhn Sam dan
Published on 2009-12-07 22:01:00
Part of tonight's lesson. > read more
Little Drag Ins
Published on 2009-12-04 21:16:00
I have been thinking lately about "Little Drag Ins". Not Little Dragons, Little Drag Ins... you know the little kid that REALLLLY doesn't want to be in the dojo that day or even at all. It's not that adults training don't face the same ambivilence, b > read more
The Ultimate Currency
Published on 2009-12-02 12:14:00
The Yen? The Pound Sterling? The Dollar? Not according to Tal Ben-Shahar. In his book "Happier" the Harvard professor defines happiness as the ultimate currency. That's all well and good but this is a martial arts blog. Martial arts are not about bei > read more
Pyung Ahn Edan / Heian Nidan
Published on 2009-11-28 14:43:00
I thought for today I'd mix it up a bit and post something from Pyung Ahn Edan. We worked on this applicaion in class today. The application is different from most of the applications you see. Most interpretations show a response to two incoming punc > read more
Developing Speed, Power and Accuracy.
Published on 2009-11-23 20:48:00
Above is an illustration of an exercise for developing greater speed, accuracy and control with your punches and kicks. You can do the exercise by yourself or as a game in class. First you will need some kite string and a few buttons. Cut a piece of > read more
Chung Do Kwan Sparring
Published on 2009-11-22 17:14:00
If you search Chung Do Kwan on the web you will find a wide variety of approaches. This is true in both forms and sparring. In regards to forms/hyungs/poomse some organisations practice WTF,ITF or even forms designed by the organizations head. Still > read more
Dancing with the Scars
Published on 2009-11-20 20:14:00
Recently I began reading Kane and Wilders "The Little Black Book of Violence". It is a very interesting treatise on the topic. It does as well as any book can to remove any romantic notions from violence and fighting. It reminds us that the ramificat > read more
Spiritual Disciplines
Published on 2009-11-13 21:56:00
When we think of Spiritual Disciplines in relationship to the practice of martial arts, many people automatically think of Shaolin Monks or Zen temples. Many others have very little interest in anything remotely "spiritual" or religious. Some will sa > read more