tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-130558942024-02-28T02:34:38.157-05:00Shaolin KempoShaolin Kempo student and teacher. I've been teaching for over a decade and have been studying various arts for around 30 years. Notes, observations and what not may go here...Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-15183314788763155392022-01-01T13:51:00.002-05:002022-01-01T13:51:12.378-05:00Animal Techniques Part 4<p><b> Snake</b></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Snake represents endurance, flexibility and accuracy. The Snake is noticed for
its suppleness and rhythmic endurance. The Snake is cunning and deceptive in
its fighting method; it can coil, zigzag and use rapid twisting motion to
compensate for its lack of limbs. The Snake goes for vital points. The eyes and
throat are common targets for Snake techniques. The Snake is very calm and
accurate. Flexibility is a key part of a Snake's effectiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snake strategy uses the focused application
of force to subdue, control, or incapacitate an attacker. When employing Snake
strategy the defender focuses his efforts on the smallest area possible, thus
making the most use of his available force. The Snake is completely supple in body
and mind.</span></p>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-28148079501067809302021-01-26T13:20:00.004-05:002021-01-26T13:20:13.137-05:00Animal Techniques Part 3<p> The Crane represents grace, balance and breathing. The Crane prefers to work at a distance from the opponent and at angle off-line from his attacks. This can involve using long range striking to keep an attacker away, short range strikes like knees and elbows to drive an attacker back, or creating space while grappling in order to set up a reversal or counter attack. Effective use of Crane requires the development of balance. With a calm and quiet nature, its movements are soft, relaxed and circular. However, they are explosive and can be used in close or at a distance. The Crane has excellent balance and is very good at disturbing the balance of others. The Crane is very aware and evasive. Many underestimate the Crane's power. It doesn't have much body weight, but it utilizes it very well and it positions itself effectively. The Crane has excellent stances, but its understanding of being in the proper position at the proper time is probably its most valuable resource.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-91397936337038209852020-04-24T09:37:00.000-04:002020-04-24T09:37:25.309-04:00Animal Techniques Part 2Leopard this time:<br />
<br />
The
Leopard represents speed and agility. The Leopard is more precise than the
tiger. Leopard strategy uses speed and angulation to confuse and overwhelm an
opponent. Leopard strategy uses rapid fire striking combinations to attack
multiple targets from every conceivable angle. The result is an opponent who
doesn’t know where to defend and is always open to attack. Training in Leopard
strategy involves developing speed and agility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Leopard's power is primarily produced
from a loose, relaxed, whip-like action generated by speed and balance as well
as limber waist and hips movements. The Leopard employs many crushing
techniques and a lot of Internal strikes with the hands. It gets in close to do
its damage. From The Leopard, we learn speed and agility in our techniques. The
Leopard is extremely fast and angular. It is noted for its sudden changes of
movement and varied angles of attack.<br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-61697148110604483362019-06-09T10:53:00.002-04:002019-06-09T10:53:28.894-04:00<strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1981584668/eclipsswebwarren">What is Self-Defense: Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu</a></strong> by James Mitose<br />
<br />
This classic is back in print. My copy was printed in the early 1980s. The original was printed back in 1953. Most of the <a href="http://kempofaq.org/">Keno/Kempo</a> taught in the United States traces directly back to James Mitose, and the most famous of his students, William Chow. <div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-55933281169074283882018-07-08T11:12:00.000-04:002018-07-08T11:12:41.519-04:00Animal TechniquesThe branch of Shaolin Kempo I study has a lot of "kempo" techniques. These are similar to the combinations, but are not numbered, and are not rank required techniques.<br />
<br />
Personally, I like teaching kempos. Plenty of interesting techniques that isn't in the forms and combinations. I throw a lot of them at my students, with the goal of having them remember the ones that work well them.<br />
<br />
Some are sorted by the traditional five Shaolin animals. That method helps in remembering them as well. If you have two of each animal, you have ten kempos right off the bat.<br />
<br />
When the students hit the brown/black levels, I want them to start identifying the animal techniques by principle, not just because their teacher told them so. So I put together short description of the principles of each of the five animals. Here is the description of tiger techniques. I'm starting with Tiger, because I <i>like </i>Tiger techniques.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Tiger is
an offensive strategy that deals with using committed force and structural
alignment to attack with maximum power. The Tiger represents courage, tenacity
and power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By learning to use their
whole body as a single unit, students exposed to Tiger are able to generate the
most power possible. The Tiger relies on frontal assault, aggression, and
power. Ripping and tearing as it moves always pressing. The Tiger is very
powerful, direct and aggressive. The Tiger commits its entire mind and body
into each move. There is no hesitation in the Tigers mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tiger strategy is very effective when an
opponent is trying to maintain distance using Crane.<br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-85713023550100011122017-07-25T13:01:00.003-04:002017-07-25T13:01:42.700-04:00Quart of Blood TechniqueI'm a big movie buff, so I have a habit of using obscure movie references.<br />
<br />
A classic example is the "Quart of Blood Technique."<br />
<br />
The term comes from the 1983 comedy "Trading Places."<br />
<br />
In order to establish cred (and not get his ass kicked) in jail, one of the characters demonstrates a martial arts move called the "Quart of Blood Technique." That is because when you are finished with the technique, a quart of blood drops out of your opponent. He learned because he is a "Chain Belt."<br />
<br />
I use the term for a technique that will seriously harm your opponent. "If you have to drop your foe quickly, and you don't want them getting back up, and there are no witnesses, what technique would you use? That would be your "Quart of Blood Technique.""<br />
<br />
Ya, it's goofy, but then so am I, and I teach a lot of teenagers. It sticks in their head and makes them think.<br />
<br />
How much is a quart of blood? It's two pints, or double what you lose in a standard blood donation.<br />
There are approximately 10 pints in an adult human. So a quart is about 20% of the total amount of blood. Loss of 40% (two quarts) is considered fatal. Losing 20% quickly is no fun either. Rapid drop in blood pressure. Then they will probably continue to bleed. So an actual Quart of Blood technique is nothing to joke about.<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-31740447382184176972017-07-10T21:58:00.001-04:002017-07-10T21:58:43.282-04:00Observations on 3 CombinationI was watching YouTube videos on 3 Combination today. <br />
<br />
There are lot of them. Many of them want to 'fix' problems with combination.<br />
<br />
IMO, those problems come from not executing 3 Combination correctly.<br />
<br />
For example, the second strike is not a back fist. It's a back two knuckle punch. The person in the video made a good point about hurting the bones in the back of your hand if you missed the target with a back fist. The replacement strike he offered in the place of the back fist was a hammer strike, which is the same as the back fist in gross motor skills. I still prefer the back two knuckle punch, which is a linear strike, as opposed the circular strike of the back fist or hammer.<br />
<br />
There are also a lot of good videos that show some interesting variations of 3 combination. I'll post links to those later.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-10842101887255680252017-01-04T13:04:00.001-05:002017-01-04T13:04:52.281-05:00True words<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span style="font-family: '.SFUIText';">In practice, never allow speed to replace good form.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-70216438201987910682016-02-18T08:45:00.001-05:002016-02-18T08:45:19.308-05:00Things I want work on in my next classTwo Man Fist Set<div>Wrist and other joint locks</div><div>Falling</div><div>Take down techniques </div><div><br></div><div>The order of the last two is important. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-56721562503412120972015-10-19T10:50:00.001-04:002015-10-19T10:50:01.140-04:00Butterfly SwordsSo I've got a few years of butterfly sword work in. Now to start teaching a form to some of my students. <div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-86931897216358567922015-04-06T12:52:00.001-04:002015-04-06T12:52:12.648-04:00A note on uniform sizes<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" id="docs-internal-guid-bff5b218-8fa3-bf38-4a27-0692a5f39606"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;">Just a note on “traditional” martial arts uniforms. I’ m not under the “bell” in their sizing curve.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;">To get a uniform that fits without tailoring, I wear a size 7 top and size 5 pants. </span></p><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-47929639882282285372015-02-05T10:34:00.001-05:002015-02-05T10:34:19.621-05:00New ClassMy teaching schedule has changed.<div><br></div><div>I'm now running the Adult Black Belt Classes.</div><div><br></div><div>I've done Black Belt only classes before and they are fun. Especially when you have Sandan & Yondan's in the class. </div><div><br></div><div>You can go deeper into concepts and principles, which is way cool.</div><div><br></div><div>Spend most of last class digging into Swift Tigers with the upper ranks. </div><div><br></div><div>The lower ranks were analyzing each other doing Six Kata. A good skill for them to develop.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-89028013322658597812014-11-15T15:12:00.000-05:002014-11-15T15:12:24.558-05:00Eight hands of the LeopardOne of the other black belts at the school (Tom) found this technique.<br />
<br />
I like it. Interested in your opinions.<br />
<br />
<object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/hsjBkh-ZS8g?hl=en_US&version=3"></param>
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<embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/hsjBkh-ZS8g?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
<br />
I like that the opening block is counted in the "eight hands." That fits with my "blocking is striking, striking is blocking" mantra.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-81134938552106152702014-04-07T22:17:00.000-04:002014-04-07T23:49:16.651-04:00I hope this isn't one of your students<div class="p1">
I really hope this isn't one of your students.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
First off, I've got over three decades of active martial arts experience as well as a similar amount of time in the computer networking field. I've been on line longer than the existence of the WWW, and have been active on various martial arts forums over that time. I've hosted and updated the Kempo/Kenpo FAQ since the early 90s, and have a Kempo blog I infrequently update. Over the decades of doing research for the FAQ, I've communicated with system founders, system inheritors, and senior Masters. Who have been, with few but notable exceptions, extremely polite and well spoken. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Then you get the trolls. For example, here is an email exchanges I had right after I got home from work today.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Random person with a gmail account (RPwaGA): "What about Kempo system x?" [names withheld to protect other people associated with that system]</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
My reply: "Tell me about. Is there a web site with data on it you recommend?"</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
RPwaGA: "Google"</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
My Reply: "Let me guess. You don’t work in marketing."</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
RPwaGA: "Nope. But I am not going to do your research for you. Unless of course you pay me."</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
My Reply: "So you want me to do the research to promote your system and you’re talking about me paying you?</div>
<div class="p1">
You don’t have a sales background either. :-)"</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
RPwaGA: "You wrote an online article. If you are not going to list one of the oldest kempo arts around, then your article is not only biased, but inaccurate."</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
-------</div>
<div class="p1">
These is where I refer to two old Internet terms, "Killfile" and "Plonk."</div>
<div class="p1">
My background is on line. A good chunk of my research is on line.</div>
<div class="p1">
As I've said, I've contacted, and have been contacted by, system founders and other heads of systems, and for the vast majority of them, have had very pleasant, informative conversations on various styles of Kempo.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
This person brings none of that to the table. No history, no background, no common courtesy, just rudeness, insults, and, as the Star Trek nerds say, he has "no guramba."</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Seriously, rec.martial-arts had 13 year olds with a Sailor Moon fetish who troll better.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
I hope this is not a student of anyone on this forum. If he is, please have a quiet talk with him about common courtesy and respect. It's been my experience that those are goals most martial arts should strive for.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-57268315379384721382013-07-01T22:04:00.000-04:002013-07-01T22:04:41.473-04:00Jim Kelly, R.I.P.I just found out that <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/01/showbiz/jim-kelly-death/index.html?iref=allsearch">Jim Kelly died yesterday </a>of cancer in San Diego.<br />
<br />
Jim Kelly, best known for his role as Williams in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASINB00BPJ5Z96/eclipsswebwarren">Enter the Dragon</a>, was a martial arts instructor before he started doing movies. He also had a successful career as a tennis pro after his film career.<br />
<br />
I own some of his other movies, including Black Belt Jones and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004YS7Y/eclipsswebwarren">Black Samurai</a>. Excellent martial artist, a much better actor than his B-Movie career gave him credit for, and from what I hear, a gentleman to his last breath.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-72503432196820273422013-05-03T23:41:00.002-04:002013-05-12T17:25:21.764-04:00Nothing like a nice piece of hickory...One of the black belts at our studio found a place that makes really wooden Japanese weapons from Appalachian Hickory. It's <a href="http://kingfisherwoodworks.com/">Kingfisher Woodworks</a>.<br />
<br />
In addition to the really nice and appropriately priced finished weapons, they occasionally sell 1 inch diameter staffs, about 56" in length. These staffs are not up to their high standards, so they are selling those for only $8. <br />
<br />
The fact that these staffs are 56" long has an interesting side benefit. Cut them in half and you have two 28" long sticks. The standard lengths for Escrima sticks is 26" to 28". So for $8, plus shipping, you can have some really nice solid hickory Escrima sticks. A nice step up from rattan.<br />
<br />
Tom, the instrutor who found them, ordered a staff for each of the other instructors at the school. I've got mine and will be cutting it and sanding the two resulting sticks smooth.<br />
<br />
I'll post pictures of the process.<br />
<br />
Here is picture #1. A 56" length of Hickory.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-tqypyDFr-tCbqWoX8qy85ByORx9DfIW4tCH6uokLB-Wx5SFdKY2yoql1B8H0erdU61Wkw2qSglShi_5HZ5jF1QXcRMDs2PzTQ-UV5MX0KzHo0NYs4fnZun9MOn20T9iqBXK/s1600/56+inch+hickory+stick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-tqypyDFr-tCbqWoX8qy85ByORx9DfIW4tCH6uokLB-Wx5SFdKY2yoql1B8H0erdU61Wkw2qSglShi_5HZ5jF1QXcRMDs2PzTQ-UV5MX0KzHo0NYs4fnZun9MOn20T9iqBXK/s320/56+inch+hickory+stick.jpg" width="152" /></a></div>
<br />
Picture #2. Cut it into two 28" sticks. One is 3-5 mm longer than the other, but I'm not sure I want to bother evening them out. They got a light sanding with 300 grit sandpaper first and then 800. After I took this picture, they got a light coating of lemon seed oil.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQg8qvw3g2-4D06qOTTKecXuJ4FCYvKj9yX9S-VKN009v-Az0YgnQZvDGsItpTvYY1QWNB25M9on-A43RiJdMxHj7jZtOv5X7XYdOrCW8gtcMX3uW0m-FFgfGhOCQT1LJjIZmb/s1600/28+inch+sticks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQg8qvw3g2-4D06qOTTKecXuJ4FCYvKj9yX9S-VKN009v-Az0YgnQZvDGsItpTvYY1QWNB25M9on-A43RiJdMxHj7jZtOv5X7XYdOrCW8gtcMX3uW0m-FFgfGhOCQT1LJjIZmb/s320/28+inch+sticks.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<br />
I'll give them another dose of lemon seed oil after I buy some more.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-13771981193191739242013-03-29T22:24:00.002-04:002013-06-30T21:26:14.231-04:00How to do a proper push upIt's not a proper martial arts class without push ups. <a href="http://lifehacker.com/5992941/how-to-do-the-perfect-push+up">Lifehacker has a good article on how to do proper push ups.</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-59528375735926998922012-11-25T22:02:00.001-05:002012-11-25T22:02:43.520-05:00Joe Lewis, Kempo Black BeltI have a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001SGEUB0/eclipsswebwarren">Circle of Iron on Blu-Ray</a>, and IMHO, the best feature is a thirty minute interview with Joe Lewis. While stationed in Okinawa during his stint in the US Marines, Joe Lewis earned three Black Belts in three different systems, including Okinawan Kempo.<br />
<br />
He also had some interesting statements on why he got called in to reshoot most of the fight scenes after the principle photography was shot. <br />
<br />
I like the movie, but the Joe Lewis interview really is the best part of the Blu-Ray release.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-33095759570633140672012-11-03T10:00:00.002-04:002012-11-03T10:00:35.327-04:00Black Belt test today!<a href="http://www.metrowestmartialarts.com/">MetroWest Martial Arts and Wellness</a> is having a Black Belt test today!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-44661810719503735192012-10-30T11:32:00.001-04:002013-04-04T12:25:40.682-04:00Twin Tigers AcademyEarlier in the year, I was out on the left coast and stopped by the Shaolin Kempo school my nephew studies at. It's the <a href="http://www.twintigersacademy.com/">Twin Tigers Academy of Self Defense</a> in Brentwood, CA.<br />
<br />
I had a good chat with the head instructor. He is an old Shaolin Kempo guy who studied with Charles Materra, so our lineage is really similar.<br />
<br />
If you are out that way, and are looking for a good Kempo school, stop by Twin Tigers!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-88720566022109070412012-05-07T09:48:00.003-04:002012-05-07T09:50:15.785-04:00Footwork<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -1px;">"Firm footwork is the fount from which springs all offense and defense."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -1px;">-- Fencing Master Giacomo diGrasse, 1570</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -1px;">Good Advice for any Martial Artists</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-73664021831739791392012-03-10T08:36:00.002-05:002012-03-10T08:36:40.801-05:00Good interviews for Kempo peopleI've been listening some of the <a href="http://www.malineage.com/">Martial Arts Lineage Project</a> podcasts and there are two with Kempo instructors.<br />
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The first was with <a href="http://www.malineage.com/podcasts/Episode-13-Interview-Senior-Grandmaster-George-Pesare">Senior Grandmaster George Pesare</a>, the man who brought Kempo to the East Coast. Grandmaster Pesare was Nick Cerio's Kempo instructor and the first person to promote Cerio to Black Belt. A lot of good "no shit, I was there" history in this interview.<br />
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The second was with <a href="http://www.malineage.com/podcasts/E22-Interview-Shihan-John-James">Shihan John James</a>. Shihan James was a personal student of the late Grandmaster Nick Cerio and was one of the people selected by Cerio to be on the Board of Directors of Cerio's Kenpo after Cerio's death in 1998. I exchanged several emails with Shihan James around that time. He was always polite and very much a gentleman of the old school. That came across in this interview.<br />
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I recommend listening to them both.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-87678056438360014752012-01-23T12:31:00.000-05:002012-01-23T12:31:37.569-05:00Best Martial Arts School Westborough<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJPA3e7oUCyci19Wi-_fMeoxEEwaTKMOHMCubpg27ansckV8HnshKyowZwsMcH-NgJtmPNWtGs-IBD2s_A4nJPAO-Yrgivxune1SBQhHFThGLx3J_jzE0R1zBMdLgy-0HT8Bc/s1600/MWMAAW+Award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJPA3e7oUCyci19Wi-_fMeoxEEwaTKMOHMCubpg27ansckV8HnshKyowZwsMcH-NgJtmPNWtGs-IBD2s_A4nJPAO-Yrgivxune1SBQhHFThGLx3J_jzE0R1zBMdLgy-0HT8Bc/s320/MWMAAW+Award.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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That's right folks! Best of Westborough Martial Arts Instruction for 2011 was <a href="http://metrowestmartialarts.com/">MetroWest Martial Arts and Wellness</a>!<br />
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A clear choice, and not just because I am one of the instructors there. :-)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-14110156734719964702011-07-03T19:25:00.004-04:002011-07-03T22:16:01.849-04:00MetroWest Martial Arts & Wellness Reopening!<a href="http://www.metrowestmartialarts.com/">MetroWest Martial Arts and Wellness</a> has been closed down for several months as it moves to a much better location.<div><br /></div><div>That move is almost complete! There was a delay while the local building inspectors did their work, but construction is now underway and the school will be reopening soon!</div><div><br /></div><div>The new location is <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?ftid=0x89e40a17d015aded:0xb4fd2174659eda0a&q=74+Otis+Street,+Westborough,+MA+01581&hl=en&sll=42.281425,-71.653162&sspn=0.006295,0.006295&ie=UTF8&ll=42.286294,-71.661479&spn=0,0&z=16">74 Otis Street, Westborough, MA 01581</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>I, for one, am looking forward to getting back to teaching and studying with the other instructors at <a href="http://westboromartialarts.com/">MetroWest Martial Arts</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>For more details, check out the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001395079274">MetroWest Martial Arts Facebook page</a>.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055894.post-63172589013405983042011-06-09T11:33:00.003-04:002011-06-09T11:54:03.240-04:00Really old school KempoI picked up a copy of Dr. Bruce Clayton's book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0897501888/eclipsswebwarren">Shotokan's Secret: Expanded Edition</a>. This books dives into the roots of Japanese Karate, Okinawan Karate. This "history of Shotokan" book doesn't even mention Gichin Funakoshi until page 140!<br /><br />However, this is a Kempo blog, not a Shotokan blog, so bringing things back to the topic at hand, is the short passage on Okinawan Kempo on page 136.<br /><br /><blockquote>"For the record, we also see a fourth kind of karate in Japan and Okinawa, usually labeled kempo. "Kenpo" is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese "chuan fa' kanji. Kenpo is originally kung fu in a Japanese uniform, but in recent years it has mixed in liberal amounts of other martial arts."</blockquote><br />This quote was in a section on the three main, distinct schools of Okinawan Karate (Naha-te, Shuri-te and the arts based on ChotokuKyan).<div><br /></div><div>Personally, I like Dr. Clayton's description of Kempo, even though he gives in a fairly dismissive and offhand matter. It does actually describe the early history of Kempo in the United States, and in particular, the martial arts melting pot of Hawaii in the 1950s and 1960s.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://westboroughmartialarts.blogspot.com/">Westborough Martial Arts</a></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15425720798126022088noreply@blogger.com2