Archive for the 'Martial Arts' Category
Hwarang Taekwondo Academy’s 15th Anniversary
This past Saturday, May 17th, marked the 15th year anniversary of the Hwarang Taekwondo Academy in my hometown. For 15 years, Grand Master Jimmy Park has been teaching the kids of Del Rio & Eagle Pass the Korean martial art of Taekwondo, along with the discipline and self-confidence that comes with it.
I had the privilege to attend the academy early on during high school and loved every minute of it! However, the life of a high school student is already busy enough, so I regrettably took an extended break from Taekwondo.
More than four years later, I returned older and wiser than before. Over the last year, I’ve risen from a simple orange belt up to a purple belt! In the larger scope of things, a purple belt might not seem very high, but its actually the sum of my hard work for a year. Hours of practice, hordes of welts & bruises, and tons of form repetitions.
I’ve grown to known the majority of the students in my class, and I hope that they get something out of their continued training. Parties and demonstrations like this past weekend are a great way for the kids to see the higher belts perform some of the harder techniques, and for them to see if its something they’d want to keep learning in the future. Of course, giving the students a chance to shine is also a great way to build up their self confidence and help them become less introverted.
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1 commentKenpo, Orange Belt! Taekwondo, Purple Belt?
Having been training in Chinese Kenpo with my teacher for just a little under a year now, he finally felt it was time to test a select few students for their orange belt. Of the 15 students in class, only five were selected to take the test.
We were tested on a long list of techniques and maneuvers which most of us recalled and performed with accuracy. Sure, most of us erred a few times, but we performed effectively enough to earn a passing grade.
As a reward, the new orange belts were invited to a cook out at the instructor’s house, this past Sunday, as a chance for us all to get to know one another in a more relaxed setting, no martial arts involved.
Most martial arts styles and schools have a ranking system which normally consists of colored belts or sashes. These ranks are normally earned by students after much hard work and dedication, with the ultimate goal in most organizations being some level of black belt.
Ranks are bestowed upon students after the student has proven himself capable of performing at a particular level. Sometimes belts can also be earned by seniority, since a student who has been learning from a master for years, is better versed in the master’s philosophy and style than one who just began.
With martial arts schools operating all over the world, some school’s ranking systems have been heavily monetized. Some schools operate with the sole intent of taking their students money and giving them very little knowledge of actual self defense. I’ve heard of these kinds of schools referred to as “McDojos”, where one can walk in throw down some cash and walk out with a black belt.
Some martial arts instructors go to great lengths to become “masters” by setting up their own school/style and having other “pseudo-masters” acknowledge the new school/style as legit by giving that “pseudo-master” an additional “master” title in the newly established martial arts style. A community of pseudo martial arts masters is created which can leech off of each other for credibility, while milking their students’ money.
These pseudo-masters are ultimately hurting their students, and setting them up for extreme failure should they face an actual self-defense situation. Martial arts instills a sense of confidence and humility into a person, but should the situation arise where you must defend yourself armed with pseudo-martial arts, you are surely guaranteed to hurt yourself by using improper techniques, or getting beaten by your opponent.
The Taekwondo school I attend charges a monthly fee, and an additional belt test fee every time you are ready for a belt promotion test. The first few belt ranks in this school are actually pretty easy to obtain, but after the first three, the master decides when/if you are ready to take the next belt exam. This adds a degree of reliability to the ranking system in my school, but nothing is full proof. I myself only request permission to test, from my master, when I am 100% sure I know everything that is required for the next belt. I hate being the guy who looks at/copies others in a weak attempt to cover up my inadequate knowledge and form, I want to be the one everyone attempts to copy off of! This coming Tuesday, I will hopefully be partaking in a test to earn my Purple belt in Taekwondo!
No commentsHow To Fight Jyuuken Style
While “Jyuuken” may not actually be a real form of martial arts, at least to my knowledge, it seems to be a very popular form of fictional fighting style heavily based upon kung-fu/Kenpo and the principles of Chi/Ki energy, which are directly linked to the ancient belief of Chakra.
In many cultures and in some martial arts, it is believed that your power comes from the release/flow of Chi/Ki energy from specific Chakra points in the body. To inhibit the flow of natural Chi/Ki energy in a person is believed to cause dire effects on the physical body, such as aches and pains, depression, or even disease, and paralysis. The opposite holds true if you constantly work to improve the flow of Chi/Ki energy. It is believed that regular practice of Chi/Ki flow sustainment, “can significantly increase the strength, intelligence, and vitality of the practitioner, as well as inuring him/her to all forms of diseases.”
While some claims of the power of Chakra Chi/Ki energy may seem a bit far fetched, many resemblances, in function and location, can be found between the multiple Chakra points, and the human body’s own endocrine system.
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“Its Morphin Time!”
Why is it that growing up involves pushing aside the very things that made you who you are? Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was my absolute favorite show growing up! I remember waking up extra early every Saturday morning just to watch the newest episode. Everyday after school I’d immediately turn to Fox Kids to watch my brightly colored heroes save the world yet again.
Getting together with the other neighborhood kids and playing Power Rangers was always a real treat, we’d fight invisible enemies using our individual pseudo-martial arts, and when things got really rough, we knew what we had to do. “Its morphin time! Dragonzord! Mastodon! Pterodactyl! Triceratops! Sabertooth tiger! Tyrannosaurus!” Invisible evil space aliens everywhere feared our legendary morphing abilities! My front yard being the main stage, I of course, was always the Green Ranger. Thus my favorite color was selected and remains to be changed, even a decade later.
At some point, I “grew up” and stopped watching the series. Over the years, the show matured, cast members were changed, and even spandex outfit designs changed, but no matter who or what the rangers looked like, I always had a deep level of respect for them.
Power Rangers was the reason I became interested in martial arts to begin with, not for self defense purposes, but in preparation of me becoming a ranger one day and saving the world from “evil space aliens.” To this day, I’m still heavily involved in martial arts, and for what? Self defense? Sure, I may need to defend myself one day, but deep down inside I still feel that one day I may just have the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life using martial arts. Weather it be by teaching a kid discipline, restraint and integrity, or by standing up for whats right with the self confidence instilled by years of training. In the end, thats what Power Rangers was really about. A team of self-sacrificing heroes fighting for whats right against unbelievable odds.
So again I ask, why push aside the very thing that made me who I am today? In a society where stealing, killing, and taking advantage of other people is admirable, Power Ranger morals and values are needed more than ever! While I may not have the brightly colored outfit, I am a ranger at heart, and I hope to inspire the kids in my class to walk a virtuous path. If that makes me “childish”, then so be it!
Jyuuken Sentai GekiRanja
With Hollywood’s writers taking an extended leave of absence, we’ve been left with little to no good television. Unless of course you believe “reality TV” is good television, in which case I must ask you to push that little red x on your top right hand corner.
Good, with them gone I can continue. Sure we’ve got a few shows still airing, but these writers have left quite the void in our television infused lives. What are we supposed to do with all this spare time? Go outside? Outside is over rated! Let me suggest something to keep you entertained until those pesky writers get back to work.
To feed your superhero/martial arts appetite I recommend a moderate serving of “Beast-Fist Squad Fierce-Ki Ranger”, or as its known in the land of the rising sun, “Jyuuken Sentai GekiRanja.” These days, it shouldn’t be too hard to find places to download episodes of GekiRanger on the net. 
Some of you may recognize the term “Sentai”, and for those of you who don’t, let me take the time to briefly explain. Sentai is best described as a genre of television shows in Japan featuring a team of super heroes wearing brightly colored spandex outfits and helmets. These heroes have giant robots known as “mecha” to help them fight giant monsters. Yes, like the American Power Rangers, only better!! In fact, Power Rangers is actually a combination of censored Sentai footage dubbed with American voices and meshed with American written footage.
Jyuuken Sentai GekiRanja is this seasons Sentai series; each season starts anew with new costumes, characters, and mecha (aka “Zords” in the US.) This season is based around martial arts, Kenpo to be exact. The premise behind the entire show is that a group of legendary Kenpo warriors split into two distinct groups. One group fought to protect the innocent, and bring about peace and justice; this group was known as Geki Jyuuken. The other group fought only for power and personal gain, this group was known as the Rin Jyuuken. Still with me? Good.
The Geki Jyuuken users are able to transform into animal themed GekiRangers by using their Geki Changers, better known to us as “Morphers.” Rin Jyuuken users focus their power and transform into representations of their Kenpo style and inner Ki, usually some form of animal.
You all should know the formula by now, bad guys send evil monster to attack the city, the good guys show up and destroy said monster using flashy martial arts, and crazy looking weapons. Said monster is defeated but suddenly grows to humongous proportions and continues destroying the city. The rangers then summon their giant robots and defeat said monster. As old as that formula is, the Japanese writers always find ways of keeping it interesting by tossing in various levels of drama, comedy, and twists to keep us hooked.
Don’t come in expecting a silly children’s program just because I compared it to Power Rangers! Sentai is actually a show aimed at young adults in Japan. The show contains more serious subjects, and features more violent fights. The characters sometimes actually draw blood, and some of them even die on screen. Disney would not approve!
Like all good martial artists our team of heroes must rely on strength, heart, will power, abilities and techniques to attain victory. Each Ranger has one primary strength which is detailed in their introductory phrases.
“This body swells with infinite energy, Unbreakable Body! GekiRed!”
“With daily purification polishing the heart, Honest Heart! GekiYellow!”
“Techniques color this grand flower! Fantastic Technique! GekiBlue!”
“Excitement, my style, to the limit of my will! Iron Will! GekiViolet!”
“Polishing the talent, I cut open my future! Amazing Ability! GekiChopper!”