JOE LEWIS

What His Karate

Career Can Teach You
About Jeet Kune Do
Q&A WITH
STEPHEN K.
HAYES
A Mature Martial
Artists View of the
Ninja Arts
JOE LEWIS
JUNE/JULY 2014 Display until 7/29/14
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AIKIDO
A Traditional
Design for
Modern Living
Haruo
Matsuoka
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huck Norris,
Sam
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ung,
W
esley Snipes
Take Their
B
est Shots!

REVISITED AND EXPANDED
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 30 YEARS!
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To order, call toll-free: (800) 581-5222 or visit blackbeltmag.com/TAO

Explore the philosophy behind Bruce Lees martial
art with digitally enhanced illustrations by Bruce Lee,
never-before-seen Chinese translations, and editorial
commentaries by many of Bruce Lees closest friends
and colleagues, including:
s Chris Kent
s Jerry Poteet
s Diana Lee Inosanto
s Tim Tackett
s Richard Bustillo
s Yori Nakamura
Thirty-seven years after its initial publication, Tao of Jeet
Kune Do continues to provide the rare opportunity to learn
directly from Bruce Leeone of the most celebrated and
inspirational gures in martial arts history.
Pages: 248 t Code: 524 t Retail: $26.95 t ISBN: 978-0-89750-202-3
BRUCE LEE
NEW EXPANDED EDITION
TAO JEET KUNE DO
OF
Jeet Kune Do is the enlightenment.
It is a way of life, a movement toward willpower and control.

Bruce Lee
BRUCE LEES MOST
INFLUENTIAL BOOK!
To order, call toll-free: (800) 581-5222 or visit blackbeltmag.com/TAO

contents
6
/
7. 2014
DISCLAIMER: BLACK BELT COMMUNICATIONS, an Active Interest Media Pub-
lication, as publisher, does not endorse and makes no representation, warranty or
guarantee concerning the safety or effectiveness of either the products and ser-
vices advertised in this magazine or the martial arts or other techniques discussed
or illustrated in this magazine. The publisher expressly disclaims any and all liability
relating to the manufacture, sale or use of such products and services and the ap-
plication of the techniques discussed or illustrated in this magazine. The purchase
or use of some of the products, services or techniques advertised or discussed in
this magazine may be illegal in some areas of the United States or other countries.
Therefore, you should check federal, state, and local laws prior to your purchase or
use of these products, services or techniques. The publisher makes no representa-
tion or warranty concerning the legality of the purchase or use of these products,
services and techniques in the United States or elsewhere. Because of the nature
of some of the products, services and techniques advertised or discussed in this
magazine, you should consult a physician before using these products or services
or applying these techniques.
Bruce Lee, the Bruce Lee image, likeness and all related indicia are trademarks
and copyrights of Bruce Lee Enterprises LLC and are used herein with its express
and prior permission. All rights reserved. www.brucelee.com
COVER STORY
34 SYNERGY, STRENGTH AND SIMPLICITY
Haruo Matsuoka, a student of Seiseki Abe and the
former chief instructor at Steven Seagals Tenshin
Dojo, explains essential principles gleaned from a
lifetime devoted to aikido.
FEATURES
42 MARTIAL ARTS VS. MONSTERS
In martial arts movies, the harder the antagonists
are to defeat, the more fun the fick, right? These
six flms - in which the good guys take on
vampires, ghosts and other assorted monsters -
are guaranteed to entertain.
48 JKD LESSONS FROM JOE LEWIS
A university professor analyzed the career of the
greatest karate fghter of all time and came up
with an intriguing interpretation of jeet kune do.
54 WAR ART OF SRI LANKA
You may not have heard of angampora, but in
South Asia, this ancient martial way has had a
ferce reputation for centuries. Even better, its
making a comeback.
58 KEYS TO BETTER KICKS
In 18 Things You Can Do Now to Become a
More Effective Kicker! a second-degree black
belt gives big-picture guidance that will get your
whole body in sync with your intentions.
60 STEPHEN K. HAYES EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Now 65, the American ninjutsu authority shares his
mature perspective on martial arts training, self-
defense preparation and the ills of modern society.
64 ANGLES OF ATTACK
If youre bewildered by angles of attack, take
heart. Black Belt Hall of Famer Leon D. Wright
wrote this beginners guide so you can start using
the concept in the dojo right away.
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BLACKBELTMAG.COM
18
VERSUS
No matter what you carry for self-defense perhaps
its a tactical folder or an expandable baton you need
to know how to access and deploy your weapon. So
says columnist Mark Hatmaker.
20
FIGHTBOOK
A teenage girl with no formal training in self-defense
hooks up with Black Belt Hall of Famer Meredith
Gold for an adrenalized educational experience that
promises to change her life.
22
MIL-SPEC
Our resident combatives expert Kelly McCann talks
about reality-based self-defense and the hard training
required to make it work.
24
DESTINATIONS
In the fourth installment of this series, Antonio Graceffo
looks at some of the ways the martial monks of Shaolin
Temple are enriching the lives of Chinas youth.
26
KARATE WAY
Even if kata is the focus of your martial arts practice,
theres a good chance the true purpose of these
prearranged routines remains hidden from you.
Fortunately, Dave Lowry is here to remove the veil.
28
FAR EAST
What do two of the biggest upsets in MMA effected
by Matt Serra and Chris Weidman have in common?
Both fghters had the same striking coach, and his
name is Ray Longo.
30
WAY OF THE WARRIOR
A former member of the U.S. Armys elite Delta Force
answers 10 questions about how self-defense should
be viewed in civilized society.
32
FIT TO FIGHT
If youve ever fallen onto an outstretched arm or onto
your shoulder when your arm was at your side, your
acromioclavicular joint was at risk. Heres the medical
info you need in case it happens again.
72
BETTER BUSINESS
Most schools are successful because they have
a core of dedicated students who are in it for the
long term. A veteran instructor has some advice for
keeping them happy.
74
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
Why is Defensive Services International a force to be
reckoned with in the martial arts community? Because
John Pellegrini makes sure his instructors tailor their
services to the needs of the student.
8
EDITORS NOTE
10 MAILBOX
12 TIMES
69 ESSENTIAL GEAR
76 BLACK BELT PAGES
82 FROM THE ARCHIVES
VOL. 52 NO. 4. BLACK BELT (ISSN 0277-
3066) is published bi-monthly by Cruz Bay
Publishing, Inc., an Active Interest Media
company. Advertising and editorial of-
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2014 by Black Belt Communications LLC,
an Active Interest Media Publication. All
rights reserved. Reproduction without per-
mission is strictly prohibited.
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8 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
VOLUME 52, NO. 4 JUNE/JULY 2014
GROUP PUBLISHER Cheryl Angelheart
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Robert W. Young
GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR Alexander Norouzi
GROUP ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Donna Diamond
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA Raymond Horwitz
SPECIAL PROJECTS ART DIRECTOR John Bodine
SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR Vicki Baker
WEB EDITOR Jon Sattler
COPY CHIEF Jeannine Santiago
COPY EDITOR Gretchen Haas
A/R MANAGER Alice Negrete
RESEARCH DIRECTOR Kristy Kaus
ADVERTISING ACCT MGRS
Julie Stone, Laura (Flores) Thorne
PRODUCTION MANAGER Patrick Sternkopf
ART DIRECTORS Dana Collins, Paul Duarte
VIDEO/PHOTO EDITOR Richard Alexander
MARKETING MANAGER Laureen OBrien
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Floyd Burk, Mark Cheng, Antonio Graceffo,
Mark Hatmaker, Mark Jacobs, Dave Lowry, Kelly
McCann, Keith Vargo, Dr. Robert Wang
CONTRIBUTORS
Lito Angeles, Dr. Jerry Beasley, Jason Brick, Laura
Probert, Steven Ronai, Harjit Singh Sagoo, Leon D.
Wright, Erynn Young
BLACK BELT COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
An Active Interest Media Publication
24900 Anza Dr. Unit E, Valencia, CA 91355
Toll Free: (800) 423-2874
In CA (661) 257-4066
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For information about selling Black Belt magazine,
contact BGiacalone@aimmedia.com.
Back issues can be purchased from
Palm Coast Data, (800) 266-4066
Efrem Zimbalist III
CHAIRMAN & CEO
Andrew W. Clurman
PRESIDENT & COO
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EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CFO
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EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
Kim Paulsen
VICE PRESIDENT GENERAL MANAGER
Jason Brown
VICE PRESIDENT OF DIGITAL
Nelson Saenz
VICE PRESIDENT OF IT
SOCIAL MEDIA MEMES
I
n case you havent been keeping up with the news,
the popularity of our Facebook page (facebook.com/
BlackBeltMagazine) has exploded. Four and a half months
ago, we were at 56,000 fans. This morning, we topped
250,000. Part of the reason behind that growth and the
popularity of Facebook in general is the publics ability to
comment on posts. Its not uncommon for a photo or quotation
we post to yield 500 or even 1,000 comments from our followers.
The majority of those comments are a joy for me to read; in
fact, it would be hard to think of a better way to start the day.
Some of them are nothing but attempts by trolls to instigate
arguments or tear down the accomplishments of others, but
thats the case in all aspects of life.
Interestingly, theres a third category of comments: those
that come from martial artists who are propagating martial arts
memes. Some make a certain amount of sense on the surface
but start to show holes when you analyze them. Others are
diffcult to regard as appropriate for any situation. Here are a
few that crop up on a regular basis:
I dont need that; I carry a Glock. This statement, or a
variation mentioning a 1911 or a .357, is made by someone
whenever we post anything about traditional martial arts
weapons or modern self-defense tools. I get it; you plan
to rely on a gun for self-defense. So do I under certain
circumstances. But I dont wave it in peoples faces when the
subject of the conversation is Japanese swords.
The best defense is to run. Im not going to argue with this
one; Im just going to remind you that running isnt always an
option. What if youre with your kids? What if youre in a room
and the bad guy is blocking the exit?
I dont practice grappling because going to the ground is
the stupidest thing you can do on the street. No argument
about choosing to go to the ground, but didnt the Gracies
demonstrate decades ago that you cant always avoid being
taken down? Seems wise to have a backup plan.
If you know martial arts, size doesnt matter. Good luck
with that one. Size and the muscle mass that almost always
accompanies it can render many punches and kicks ineffective,
and throws and grappling techniques can become impossible
to pull off. Unless youre purely a headhunter with your straight
blast, you might not want to keep telling yourself this.
"A true martial artist doesnt put himself in places where fghts
happen. This one gets added to most of the self-defense posts
we make on Facebook, and its troubling. It probably originated
with instructors telling students that the best way to win a
bar fght is to not go to bars, and thats fair enough. But what
happens when a fght breaks out in a restaurant? When a guy
follows you out of the store and into the parking lot? When a nut
starts stabbing people in a classroom?
I wish I had time to reply to the people who post these
messages on our page, but I dont. The next best option: Print
the comments here to open a discussion for the beneft of all
our readers. Write or email us to share your opinions.
Robert W. Young
Editor-in-Chief



The Jet Inspires
I fnd most articles about stopping mul-
tiple attackers hard to swallow. The one
that featured Benny Urquidez, in the
April/May 2014 issue of Black Belt, was
different. All the techniques and combi-
nations the kickboxing legend described
were totally believable. In fact, I couldnt
think of a better way to handle any of the
situations he mentioned.
My ongoing challenge is to develop my
physical and mental skills to a level that
even approaches Urquidezs. Then I wont
have anything to worry about if a similar
altercation ever involves me. Thanks for
the inspiration.
Tommy Apollo - via the Internet
SmaII Towns Can Be Stiing
I must take minor issue with the Way of the
Warrior column Keith Vargo wrote for the
February/March 2014 Black Belt. He lauds
the virtues of small-town life because it
can provide more opportunities for a mar-
tial artist to really dig into his or her chosen
style. However, thats true only if the small
town is large enough to sustain a dojo in
the frst place.
The village in which I was raised until age
19 didnt have a single martial arts school.
As far as I know, there was just one other
martial artist living there. I couldnt wait to
get out and move to a bigger city, where Id
have my choice of schools.
Michelle Sanders - via the Internet
Vicarious Living
The best part of the past three issues of
Black Belt has been the Destinations col-
umn, in which Antonio Graceffo recounted
his adventures at Shaolin Temple. De-
cades ago, I made the obligatory-for-all-
martial-artists pilgrimage to Shaolin, but
I didnt have time to train there. Now,
as I read about Graceffos experiences
learning san da with the monks and other
teachers, it makes me think about what
could have been with me. I look forward
to future installments.
Tom Jensen - via the Internet
Legends Needed
At times, it seems like Bruce Lee is the
only American martial arts icon capable of
withstanding the test of time. Im guessing
in large part its because of his movies.
Other fght disciplines seem to lack such
icons. In boxing, John L. Sullivan was a big
deal, then Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and
Muhammad Ali. Of course, boxing is no lon-
ger what it used to be, in part because of
MMA, and Ali is no longer in the limelight.
MMA continues to be a dominant force,
but how quickly will the best in this sport
fade away? At one time, Royce Gracie was
the MMA star, but where is he today? He
never got a chance to make movies, which
might have changed things.
In non-MMA martial arts, we had Joe
Lewis, Bill Wallace, Benny Urquidez and
others, all big names back in the day, but
they never came close to Lees level of
fame. I wonder if anyone will.
Jeremiah Davis - via the Internet
Fresh Arts Welcome
With great interest I read the Far East col-
umn in the April/May 2014 issue, which
focused on Master K and the Russian mar-
tial artists hes bringing to America. Dont
get me wrong: I love the Asian arts, but I
cant wait for more masters from Europe
- teaching sambo, systema, savate, local
styles of grappling and so on - to set up
shop in the United States.
The martial arts community here is so
strong precisely because this country is a
melting pot of skills and techniques. Dont
believe me? How many schools are churn-
ing out more capable students nowadays
because Brazilian jiu-jitsu has been added
to their course of study? Plenty! Hybridiza-
tion is the way of the future.
Corie Mendell - via the Internet

JUNE/JULY 2014 I BLACK BELT 11

12 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
TIMES
MARTIAL ARTS NEWS YOU CAN USE. READ IT - KNOW IT - LIVE IT
FROM OLYMPICS TO FILM
GOLD MEDALIST TO PLAY JUDO HERO IN MOVIE
Kayla Harrison, the martial artist who made history at
the 2012 Olympics by becoming the frst American to
win a gold medal in judo, will portray judo great Rena
Rusty Kanokogi in a movie titled Dont Call Me Sir!
In 1959, when Kanokogi was a single mother, she
disguised herself as a man to compete in the New
York State YMCA Judo Championships. She beat the
reigning champ but had to return the medal when she
admitted that she was a woman.
Kanokogi went on to train in judo at the Kodokan
in Tokyo. She married judo great Ryohei Kanokogi,
raised a family, and helped get women's judo ac-
cepted as a competitive sport and, in 1988, an Olym-
pic event.
Rusty Kanokogi never called herself a feminist, yet
her efforts on behalf of women in sports led to her
being the only foreigner to receive Japan's Order of
the Rising Sun.
Bo Svenson, an actor, writer, producer and director
with a black belt in several martial arts, obtained the
rights to Kanokogi's life story, then pursued Harrison
because he believes only she could portray the judo
pioneer. Svenson's MagicQuest Entertainment will
oversee the production.
I am thrilled and extremely honored to be playing
Rusty," Harrison said. "She was instrumental in helping
make my personal dreams, as well as the dreams of
countless young women around the world, come true."
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14 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
Entertainment News
SINGER
WILLIE
NELSON
PROMOTED
TO FIFTH-
DEGREE
BLACK BELT
On April 28, 2014, Wil-
lie Nelson the musi-
cian who's known for his
renditions of On the Road
Again, To All the Girls Ive
Loved Before and Always
on My Mind, among other
songs received his
ffth-degree black belt in
the modern Korean martial
art of gong kwon yu sul.
The ceremony took place
at Master Martial Arts in
Austin, Texas, a studio
operated by Sam Um. The
following day, the country
music legend turned 81.
Nelson, a member of
the Country Music Hall
of Fame, has practiced
martial arts for much of
his life. He began with
kung fu lessons when
he was a songwriter in
Nashville, Tennessee. The
past 20 years have seen
him focus on the Korean
arts, including taekwondo
and gong kwon yu sul.
Nelson often can be seen
practicing his techniques,
even when he's on tour.
Before his 80
th
birthday,
Nelson revealed his
preoccupation with the
arts in an interview in
Mens Health: Really,
all my life, Charles Atlas
and Bruce Lee were on
my mind. It's a good form
of exercise, especially
as you get older. I went
through school playing all
kinds of sports. I played
shortstop. I ran track. I
played football. I was a
pole vaulter. Then when
I went to Nashville, I got
into some martial arts and
kung fu. I liked it. We used
to offer kung fu lessons to
the kids in town. It's good
for you."

BLACKBELTMAG.COM JUNE/JULY 2014 I BLACK BELT 15
History Celebrated
KARATE GREAT JIM HARRISON HONORED IN TEXAS
Bob Wall, Steve Selby and Gary Lee organized and hosted a
tribute to martial arts pioneer Jim Harrison on March 15, 2014. At
the event, which took place at the Hotel InterContinental in Ad-
dison, Texas, Harrison was feted for having dedicated his life to
the propagation of the arts. In addition to being a founding father
of karate in America, he was one of the nation's premier fghters
during the blood and guts era of the 1960s.
The event started with a video presentation of Harrison's life in
the martial arts, which culminated with vintage fght footage from
three of his best-known bouts: against Roger Carpenter, Fred
Wren and Victor Moore. When Harrison defeated Moore, he be-
came the frst U.S. light-heavyweight kickboxing champion.
After lunch, the hosts gathered a group of famous martial art-
ists from the 1960s, '70s and '80s, including Wren, Pat Burleson,
Allen Steen, Ed Daniel, Skipper Mullins, Roger Greene, Steve
Mackey, Keith Yates, George Minshew, Troy Dorsey and Bob
Thurman. The men took the stage to share their stories about
Harrison and laud his achievements.
The festivities culminated in a surprise appearance by Chuck
Norris, who likewise shared his recollections about Harrison.
After all the presentations were fnished, Harrison, who few
in from his home in Montana, walked onstage, took the mic and
began reminiscing about his life during the wild-and-wooly days
of martial arts in America, especially those that involved panel
members. It served as a poignant conclusion to a dignifed event
honoring a legend of the American martial arts.
Lito Angeles
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Like Father, Like Son
DAVID CARRADINES SON
LANDS FILM ROLE
Free Carradine, son of actor David Carradine of the Kung
Fu TV series and numerous motion pictures, has landed the
lead role in The Jade Trader, a martial arts short written and
directed by Gerald Pallay. Also on board are Calista Car-
radine (David's daughter), James Lew, John Kreng, Michelle
Lee, William Christopher Ford and Daniel Mah. Filming
will take place in Southern California, said Rob Moses, co-
producer and fght choreographer. Also known professionally
as Tom Carradine, Free has trained extensively with the
dagger, stick and sword.
Floyd Burk
Jim Harrison (standing)

16 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
Tang Soo!
WORLD TANG SOO DO ASSOCIATION
GETS NEW GRANDMASTER
On July 9, 2012, the World Tang Soo Do Association lost Jae C. Shin. Regarded as a
legend in his own time, Shin left a legacy of accomplishments: He traveled the globe as
an advocate for the martial arts, he was a prolifc author and, of course, he founded the
WTSDA, as well as the nonproft World Tang Soo Do Federation. His crowning achieve-
ment was the construction of the WTSDA headquarters in Burlington, North Carolina.
Since that time, the association has continued on its mission to spread the traditional
Korean martial arts, and offcials say there was no exodus of studios after Shin's pass-
ing. In part, that's because of the leadership of Dr. Robert Beaudoin, the new grandmas-
ter of World Tang Soo Do.
Beaudoin began his training in the art in 1964 while stationed at Osan Air Base, South
Korea. Beaudoin worked out in the same class as martial arts legend Chuck Norris.
Both students were promoted to black belt under Shin. Norris went on to become the
John Wayne of our age, providing a hero image for young people around the world to
emulate. Beaudoin took a different path: He became a teacher and now the leader of
one of the premier martial arts organizations on the planet, boasting more than 160,000
members. From those humble beginnings at the air base in Korea, both he and Norris
have brought dignity and honor to the world of martial arts.
To a new black belt like me, in the early '70s, Beaudoin was something of a mystery.
I'd heard about the frst American master instructor under Shin, but I didn't meet him
until 1982, when we ran into each other at the frst WTSDA convention in Philadelphia.
In 1984 we cemented our relationship on a trip to Shaolin Temple, written up in the April
1995 issue of Black Belt, and we've been friends ever since.
When Shin passed away in 2012, it left our association in shock. Only weeks after his
death, we held the grand opening for the new WTSDA headquarters, but it was bitter-
sweet. It didn't take long for the executive committee to nominate and appoint Beaudoin
as interim grandmaster/president director. At the next meeting of the board of directors, it
was unanimously agreed that he should serve as the WTSDA's new leader.
Since that time, Beaudoin had been a guiding light, sending a message to all WTSDA
members that an able leader is once again at the helm. He's vowed to carry the torch
that's been passed to him and continue to disseminate traditional tang soo do around
the world.
Chuck Vaughn
RIP
AMERICAN MASTER
OF JAPANESE
MARTIAL ARTS DIES
Karl E. Geis, a 10
th
-degree black
belt in judo and aikido, died on April
7, 2014, after an extended battle with
cancer. He was 81.
A stalwart in the American martial
arts community, Geis began studying
judo in 1955 at the Kodokan while
stationed in Japan as a member of
the U.S. Air Force. He received his
introduction to aikido the next year
and fell in love with both arts. Karl
and I studied judo together in Japan
during the 1950s, said judo icon Hal
Sharp. In those days, he was truly a
tiger on the mat.
On returning to the States, Geis
continued his studies in the 1960s,
'70s and '80s, both at home and on
sabbaticals in Japan. It was during
this time that he was exposed to jodo,
the way of the short staff. He eventu-
ally earned a ninth degree in it. His
blend of Western analytical thought
and traditional Japanese martial ways
gave him a unique perspective on the
arts, one that was cherished by his
students around the world.
Geis pioneered the positive-rein-
forcement method of teaching martial
arts in the early '60s, long before its
effectiveness was widely accepted.
His work with children infuenced
martial arts schools everywhere.
Geis received his fourth degree in
judo from the Kodokan in 1967. In
1968 he helped found the U.S. Judo
Association. In 1974 he was inducted
into the Black Belt Hall of Fame
as Judo Instructor of the Year. He
earned his sixth dan in aikido from
Kenji Tomiki in 1979. The USJA pro-
moted Geis to 10
th
degree on March
12, 2014.
0
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18 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
Weapon vs. Wardrobe Accessory
Im addressing this to all you folks who carry a designated weapon for the de-
|ease c| car |||e cr ||e |||e c| a |ce1 cae. U|e||er ||a| weapca |s a rear, a
|ac||ca| |c|1er, a \e1a|a1e |a||e, a cc||aps|a|e aa|ca cr a |a||ca e1|ea| ace
doesnt matter what Im about to say still pertains to you.
by Mark Hatmaker
I
know that you walk around armed
because you want to be prepared,
and I admire this mindset; I simply
want to make a few points to ensure
you get the most out of what you carry.
FIRST, IF YOU DO NOT CARRY a desig-
nated weapon, not even a teensy pock-
etknife thats ine I iespect youi ueci-
sion. But Id ask why you dont. If the
answei is you inu those who uo caiiy
a bit paranoid, Id counter with a ques-
tion Bo you inu people who have a iie
extinguisher in the kitchen paranoid?
If your I-do-not-carry answer is based
on morality, as in I never want to harm
another human being no matter the cir-
cumstances, well, chances are people
like that wont be reading this column.
If your answer assumes that you dont
need to carry because your tax money
pays for professionals wholl protect
you in a time of need, Ill concede that
youre partially correct. Yes, there are
men and women with professional
training who are but a phone call away
and will readily come to your aid but
how is this any different from having
a iie extinguishei in youi home You
safe. A good working knowledge of the
item in question is essential.
Heres where we get into the meat
of this topic: Most of your training is
probably in the use of the carry item,
not in how you carry or access it. That
is to say moie time is spent with a iie-
arm on the range when the weapon is
already in hand or tabled than is spent
working on your ability to access the
iieaim Noie time is spent woiking on
blaue lows anu mock blaue sciimmag-
es than is spent on drills that involve
carrying and accessing your knife.
I get this short shrifting its fun.
The excitement of weapon training lies
in the weapons actual use, not in its
nonuse. Unfortunately, this is where you
could be making a mistake. What does it
matter how well you group your shots
unuei stiess oi how pioicient you aie
with a knife if your weapon-access skills
arent equally deft? Your weapon skill
means little if you fumble your access or
take your eyes off your assailant to see
your reach. You dont want to mess with
the safety on a gun in a time of stress.
Iikewise you woulunt want youi iie
extinguisher buried behind pots and
pans and old phone books when that
stovetop iie laies up
I LIKE TU FINETUNE these skills with
specialized training weapons to make
such access second nature. I dont want
students fumbling for what they need
when they need it most. I want them to
be able to keep their eyes target-focused
and still deploy their own weapon no
matter where or how they carry it. I
want them to treat the tool they carry as
something they can use when they need
it, not merely as a wardrobe accessory
to transport to the next drill session.
The key is training. Practice deploy-
ing your carry weapon with your typi-
cal clothing choices. Dont assume ac-
cessing your semi-auto will be the same
as accessing your revolver. Dont as-
sume your tactical folder cross-appen-
dix draw will be as smooth with your
go-pick-up-a-pizza sweatshirt as it will
be with a tucked-in T-shirt.
With all personal-defense weapon
choices, remember this: If you wear it
or carry it, drill it!
uont have a iie extinguishei because
you expect to foigo the iie uepaitment
anu take all iieighting matteis into
your own hands. You regard these tools
as I-need-to-deal-with-this-right-now
aids to be used until the professionals
arrive. You dont call those who learn
CPR wacky because there are profes-
sional lifesavers at the hospital; you
know CPRceitiieu citizens aie simply
prepared to do what needs to be done
until the better-trained and better-
geared ones hit the scene.
Theres one thing those who do carry
and those who dont carry have in com-
mon: When trouble rears its head, both
contingents call people who do carry a
weapon. Those who carry are simply a
little aheau of the game in the iieex-
tinguisher sense.
WHEN YOU MAKE A DECISION to
carry a weapon, you accept that some
responsible training should be thrown
into the mix Aftei all what use is a iie
extinguisher if you have zero idea how
to use it? Mere possession of any of
these items iieaim tactical foluei
iie extinguishei uoesnt ienuei you
Have you heard of hoplology? Its the
science of why and how people fght. Learn
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blackbeltmag.com/weapon-guide




20 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
T
hey werent trying to scare me
out of going (although my dad
might have been); they simply
wanted me to understand the
dangers a girl faces when living alone in
a large foreign city. Being my teenaged
and careless self, I blew it off.
Time passed, and although my depar-
ture was still six months away, my dad
insisted on my participation in a self-
defense class. I mumbled. I grumbled. I
pouted. I didnt want to go. I could not
have cared less about learning how to
throw a punch or how to scream No!
and run away. And I certainly didnt
want to spenu ive houis leaining those
things when I could just as easily be
watching YouTube videos.
But I went.
MY DAD AND I ARRIVED at the studio
after driving for an eternity. It was hot,
and I didnt want to be there.
We weie the iist ones at the school
and as my dad chatted with the owner
about a bunch of martial arts hullaba-
loo, I amused myself on my phone. I
noticeu the pauueu looi gieat That
probably meant Id be expected to per-
form some kind of self-defense move.
One by one, women trickled in until
we were six, and my dad took his cue
anu left The teacheis Neieuith uolu
anu Nike Belzei joineu us anu be-
fore long, we were all sitting cross-
legged in a circle. Inwardly, I rolled my
eyes. I wasnt thrilled to be mock kick-
ing butt in front of a crowd, but I also
wasnt thrilled to be sitting in a circle,
holding hands and singing Kumbaya.
But as I had no choice, I listened. And
what I heard was actually inspiring.
WE TALKED ABOUT what we hoped to
gain fiom the class A point iecognizeu
by Neieuith was that we all wanteu to
get a better sense of personal security
and strength. She explained how the
class would help us obtain those things
and that it was a shame that because of
our gender, we had to waste an entire
day learning how to protect ourselves.
She said the class would spend time
on the establishment of boundaries.
Nost conlicts can be avoiueu she ex-
plained, if we establish clear boundar-
ies. Are you kidding me? This was sup-
posed to be a self-defense class, and
we were going to learn how to talk our
way out of a potentially problematic
situation? I sighed. I whined. I groaned.
I rolled my eyes again. Inwardly, of
course. Then we began.
Neieuith outlineu the impoitance of
speaking iimly anu cleaily anu meaning
what we say. Predators and other evildo-
ers can detect a lack of belief in oneself.
Therefore, its necessary to set personal
boundaries and express those bound-
aries in a nonconfrontational yet effec-
tive way. This can be conveyed via body
language: Stand with your feet planted,
roughly shoulder-width apart and stag-
geieu this makes physical uefense
easier, should it be necessary, she said.
Shufling away fiom the auveisaiy is gen-
erally discouraged, although a moderate
amount of repositioning is OK. Continu-
ally sliding away from a potential attack-
er can be interpreted as fear, she said,
and thats the opposite of what you want.
If the situation escalates, your hands
must be in front of your upper body to
waiu off the attackei Neieuith saiu
She noted, however, that this protective
stance can be assumed without stiff
aims anu lat palms which communi-
cate insecurity through overcompensa-
tion. A more relaxed state is less con-
frontational and less likely to infuriate
the aggressor.
WE STOOD UP and practiced.
Nike anu his assistant uonneu caps anu
glasses, posing as shady men. One by one,
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Self-Defense,
Force-Fed
Watch the movie Taken! were
WKH UVW ZRUGV RXW RI P\ SDUHQWV
PRXWKV ZKHQ , WROG WKHP DERXW P\
SODQV WR VWXG\ LQ 3DULV
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Meredith Gold vs. padded assailant

BLACKBELTMAG.COM JUNE/JULY 2014 I BLACK BELT 21
they would approach us, sometimes say-
ing vulgar things and other times asking
for assistance. It was our job to clearly
communicate when a decent amount of
personal space had been breached and
that wed be happy to assist from a safe
distance. We were told not to apologize
unless it truly was necessary because an
apologetic state conveys vulnerability.
Sometimes, the aggressor would
grumble, call us names and sulk off.
Other times, hed become frustrated
and start yelling.
My scenario unfolded like this: A man
approached me, excited. He cried out,
begging me to help him because some-
one had been hurt. He inched closer un-
til I put my hands up and said, Stop!
He halted in his tracks.
What the hell is wrong with you? he
asked. Someone is hurt! I responded
with If theres been an accident, I can call
911 for you, but Im staying right here.
With that, he became frustrated: No! You
have to come with me! Right now!
The stress of the situation and the
supposed danger made it dificult to
say no. Generally speaking, I enjoy help-
ing others, especially those in need. But
we must always be skeptical, Meredith
said, and in cases like this one, that
means offering nothing more than to
call 911. Exasperated with my refusal
to follow him, the man stomped off.
This exercise opened my eyes to the
possibility of being attacked in even
seemingly normal interactions. For ex-
ample, when a role-playing opponent
approached Meredith in a scenario, he
simply asked for the time. She respond-
ed, and he crept closer, complimenting
her on her watch. Meredith laughed
nervously, thanking him. By then it was
too late for her to establish a boundary,
and he got her in a chokehold.
I sat and stared, dumbfounded. Situa-
tions like this have happened to me
minus the chokehold, thank goodness.
Not once did I even consider that the
person could have malicious intentions.
I thought about how easy it would have
been for those situations to go south
and promised myself Id never let that
happen again.
THE PHYSICAL ASPECT of the class
came as expected. Growing up with
a father whos worked in the martial
arts world forever, Ive learned a few of
the weak spots to target, and Meredith
reiterated them: eyes, groin, head (in
that order).
She had us focus on power. We were
taught to use certain body positions
to exploit the strength of, lets face it,
our usually smaller and weaker bod-
ies. When gouging the attackers eyes,
she said aim for one eye and use all ive
ingers to really drive it in hen knee-
ing the groin and the head, she said,
use your hips to build momentum for
a more resonating blow. Make contact
with the lower part of your thigh (just
above the kneecap), she said, because
its a sturdier weapon that results in
minimal pain for the defender.
The shady men then donned insanely
thick padding, complete with a foot-
ball helmet decked out with even more
padding. We were told it was OK to go
full out because the men couldnt feel a
thing. Their reactions would be theat-
rics intended to communicate the effec-
tiveness of our strikes. All right. Cool.
We took turns nailing them and
were timid at irst ur attacks were
often met with a Harder! or HARD-
ER! until we were all certain the men
werent getting hurt. Then we really let
loose. There was screaming (No! No!
No!) and kneeing and gouging. It was
beautiful. In the heat of the moment,
some women forgot the exact routine
(eyes, groin, head) but were able to
improvise simply because they knew
which tools to use.
SWEATY AND OUT OF BREATH, we
sat back down in a circle. This time,
we actually did sing Kumbaya. Only
kidding. We discussed what wed
learned the most surprising things
and the most empowering things.
For me, it was the power of setting
boundaries, something Id have never
even considered a viable option. How
could talking stop a man from attack-
ing a woman? Well, like Meredith said,
most predators are looking for easy
prey. They dont expect women to be
prepared and engaged, so we need to
catch them off-guard and deliver the
message Hey buddy, not interested
take it somewhere else.
I walked away with an all-but-lost
voice and a better understanding of
the power of knowledge and what it
means to know that, should a situation
turn ugly, I now have a chance. I possess
the skills necessary to deal with an un-
expected or uncomfortable situation. I
have the power: raw power.
But I think that, more than anything,
I now possess an awareness I never
had. I acknowledge that Im in poten-
tial danger at all times, and while para-
noia might not be the most enjoyable
thing, its certainly better than any of
the states I could end up in should I be
victimized. Wherever I go, I make ob-
servations. I look for exits, for helpers,
for danger and, yes, for weapons. Wher-
ever I go, I am ready. Wherever I go, I
am aware.
For more information, visit r-a-wpow
er.com.
I acknowledge that Im in potential danger at all times, and while
paranoia might not be the most enjoyable thing, its certainly better
than any of the states I could end up in should I be victimized.
Download a free guide to women's self-
defense featuring Meredith Gold.
blackbeltmag.com/meredith-gold

22 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
O
ver the years, Ive estab-
lished the following ground
rules to maintain order and
keep things from getting out
of hand. They hold people individu-
ally accountable for their own and each
others safety, ensuring that training is
intense but relatively injury-free.
NO ONE GETS TO WATCH. If you show
up, youre training. This rule reduces
the performance pressure felt by stu-
dents as they learn and attempt new
techniques. No one likes to do anything
theyre not good at, looking and feeling
a little foolish until their skills improve.
SAVE THE CHEAP SHOTS FOR THE
STREET. If youve been training awhile,
youve no doubt run into the guy who
loves to let one rip and then immedi-
ately apologize: Oops! Im sorry, man.
You OK? But then it happens again
and again. Dont let anyone get away
with that in your training group. Sure,
everybody slips up once in a while; its
inevitable. But this guy? This guy you
promptly knock on his ass when its
your turn. Give it back to him as hard as
he gave it to you but without the apol-
ogy. Hell get the hint.
When everyone understands that
gratuitous smackdowns arent toler-
Ground Rules for Combatives Training
Hard training FDQ EH WULFN\ EHFDXVH D ORW RI SHRSOH DUH XQFRPIRUWDEOH DW UVW ZLWK WKH LQWHQVLW\ 'RQW WDNH LW SHUVRQDOO\
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by Kelly McCann
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If everyones sharing the challenges,
getting sweaty and banged up, no one
feels self-conscious.
By the way, instructors are not ex-
cused from training. No preening
or prancing prima donnas allowed.
After demonstrating a technique,
instructors should crank out some
reps alongside their students, then
prowl the mat. It maintains credibil-
ity and provides another opportunity
for students to watch, learn and then
execute techniques. Everyone is sub-
jected to each others scrutiny. Every-
one sweats. Everyone bruises. Every-
one bleeds.

Download Kelly McCann's Combatives for
Street Survival e-book for $9.99 today!
blackbeltmag.com/combatives
ated and that excessive force is recip-
rocal, unpleasant situations just dont
seem to develop.
STICK TO THE DRILL. Do the drill as
demonstrated and directed. If youre
the role-playing attacker working with
a partner whos fending off high-line
strikes, then throw high-line strikes.
But lets say you close on your partner
and throw a low-line shin kick to set up
your high-line strike you should pay
for that.
We have a saying: If someone gets out
of line, redline. It means that if you go
ofline by doing something in a drill that
you werent directed to do, your partner
gets to go ofline too hen everyones
training hard, theres a real potential
for injury. Dont increase that potential
unnecessarily. Save your creativity for
freestyle sessions when its appropriate.
ALWAYS PROTECT YOURSELF. Some-
times training gets pretty crazy, espe-
cially during duress drills. Its every-
ones personal responsibility to protect
themselves he result could be tragic
if a students depth perception is off
by just a few inches when executing a
stomp to the ankle, an ax hand to the
throat or an elbow strike to the base of
the skull.
Role-playing attackers and victims
are responsible for protecting them-
selves at all times. Training with that
assumption ensures an additional ele-
ment of safety.
The most dangerous partners are
newbies because they dont understand
how serious training injuries can be
hey get amped up because theyre do-
ing something new and extreme. Theyre
usually a little (or a lot) intimidated at
irst hey havent developed enough
skill to balance their speed of execution
with power regulation. They cant judge
distance well enough to trust that they
wont get it wrong, and they dont know
which techniques are safe to throw hard
and land on a training partner. Finally,
they dont know when to pull power
from a technique or which techniques
should be practiced at full power near
the target but not on it
ell new students can even be danger-
ous when striking pads. Without the skill
or control to ire off fullpower elbow
strikes and keep them on the pad, theyre
bound to skip one off and smack their
training partner in the face eventually.
WE HAVE A SAYING in irearms train-
ing: Go slow to go fast. That means
you have to fully understand and be
competent in executing all the fun-
damentals of tactical shooting before
you can push your personal limits of
speed and accuracy. Similarly, if youre
patient in combatives training youll
develop your skills more quickly. Youll
ultimately become far more effective
and dangerous if you just remember to
walk before you try running y follow-
ing the ground rules listed here, youll
give your skills a chance to catch up to
your enthusiasm.
This is excerpted from Combatives for
Street Survival: Hard-Core Countermea-
sures for High-Risk Situations, by Kelly
McCann. For more information, visit
blackbeltmag.com/mccann.

24 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
Return to Shaolin Part 4: More Than Just Fighting
In most of the martial arts I studied in Asia, my teachers told me to catch my opponents roundhouse kick and then
sweep his base leg. But in the san da throw I was practicing at Shaolin, my sifu had me not just sweep the base leg; I
was supposed to turn my back to my foe and execute a judo-like hip throw.
E\ $QWRQLR *UDFHR
T
he difference was, instead of
holding his arm, I would grip
his leg. Those times I was on
the receiving end, I discovered
that getting hip-thrown by the leg is an
unpleasant experience, to say the least
The next lesson my sifu taught me
involved the basic back suplex. In
wrestling, you lift your opponent, then
bridge your back and drop him and
yourself on the mat. Your combined
weight lands on his head. Its a great
technique, but not everyone can back-
bridge, especially while carrying the
weight of another person. The san da
solution: Lift your adversary, then fall
straight back no back bridge re-
quired. It wasnt as devastating as the
wrestling version, but at least I could
do it.
constantly making an effort to commu-
nicate. And the Chinese kids were just
as eager to interact with us, making it
a mutually beneicial cultural exchange
BECAUSE I COULD understand Chi-
nese, I learned a lot about the kids who
trained at the facility. One was devel-
opmentally disabled and consequently
got picked on in his village, so his par-
ents sent him to Shaolin, partly to get
rid of him but also to see if kung fu
would improve his motor skills.
The house also harbored two broth-
ers whose parents were divorced. Be-
cause the adults had abandoned the
kids, their older sister paid the tuition.
Sadly, I found out she had two children
of her own to support and was plan-
ning to pull the brothers out of the
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DESPITE ALL THIS EMPHASIS on
combat, I concluded that if you simply
want to learn to ight there are better
places in Asia even in China than
Shaolin. But if you want a unique cul-
tural experience, Shaolin is one of the
best options. In addition to my martial
arts classes, the administrator of the
house where I stayed arranged daily
Chinese-language lessons for me. I sat
with a tutor for two hours ive days
a week, pouring over my exam-prep
books. Living with a bunch of kids who
spoke little to no English provided
plenty of opportunities to practice.
Although most of the foreigners
couldnt speak Chinese, they, like I,
wanted to understand their host coun-
try. Id see them walking around with
their dictionaries and phrase books,


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Odyssey: The Travels of a Martial Artist
Through Asia.
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school next year. Two other boys were
16 years old and had lived together in
Shaolin schools since they were 10.
Closer than real brothers, they pos-
sessed excellent kung fu skills and were
promoted to the rank of trainer while I
was there.
Frequently, Id see cars pull up, car-
rying parents who were driving from
Shaolin house to Shaolin house, looking
for the right place to leave their kids. I
didnt know what criteria they used to
decide, but some wound up dropping
their children at our house, while oth-
ers opted for different houses. I was
amazed to ind that this type of culture
still exists in China. The only thing that
comes close is the boxing camps in Thai-
land, but children usually go there out of
economic necessity, not because their
middle-class parents choose it for them.
ONCE A CHINESE CHILD goes to a Sha-
olin school, his proper education ends.
None of the ones I met there had more
than an eighth-grade education. Most
came from poor families even though
its a struggle for parents to pay $1,500
a year in tuition. But the parents sacri-
ice hoping their kids will land a good
career with the police or military, or
perhaps become a sports instructor at
a government school.
The house administrator explained
that most of the careers the parents
were counting on simply werent that
lucrative in the new China. Today, the
average wage for an unskilled worker
in a foreign factory is higher than most
civil-service, police and military wages.
Some college graduates in China earn
as much in a month as those govern-
ment workers earn in a year. But many
parents arent unaware of this, and they
dont know what else to do for their kids.
There was, however, a glimmer of
hope for the kids of Shaolin. At my
school, children studied three academ-
ic subjects during the long rest period
in the middle of the day. They had one
hour of English, one of math and one of
culture. That base will enable them to
take the exam to enter a sports univer-
sity without having to pass the normal
university test. It seems that even 1,500
years after the temple was founded, the
Shaolin martial arts are contributing to
the betterment of society in decidedly
non-martial ways.
Frequently, Id see cars pull up, carrying parents who
were driving from Shaolin house to Shaolin house,
looking for the right place to leave their kids.
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do. There are 20 drills for the straight lead punch alone.

26 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
I
f you think of kata as a solo dance,
a way of cataloging techniques, a
method for memorizing sequenc-
es or a means for learning moves
too dangerous to practice with an op-
ponent, youre in error. Youre also in
error if you think kata is the artistic
part of karate training, one thats vastly
inferior to sparring when it comes to
learning real self-defense.
If you think of kata as primarily solo
training, in fact, you misunderstand
it. The concept of a class of karateka,
lined up and going through kata, is not
traditional karate. Its quite modern.
Kata by the numbers and as a group
activity dates back to the early 20
th

century, when karate became openly
popular in Okinawa and began being
taught to schoolchildren. It was safer
and easier to teach two dozen kids
to perform ritualized solo routines
against imaginary opponents.
Kata has always been primarily a
paired exercise. Solo kata existed as a
way of training by oneself, of course,
but when one was with others, it would
have been a wasted opportunity to have
gone through kata alone. Why train
counters we forge nerve connections
of a speciic soit We begin to associ-
ate the movements of karate, practiced
within the conines of the dojo, which
is a known and comfortable place, not
with trauma but with a certain familiar-
ity. Violence is associated with posi-
tive memories and sensations. We have
dealt with danger and the physiological
aspects of a violent confrontation, so it
does not come as a shock.
But woulunt this same beneit ac-
crue through sparring? To some extent,
yes. There are aspects of kata training,
however, that cannot be duplicated in
free exercises. Think about the variety
of techniques used in sparring; chances
are its mostly front punches and front
kicks. How often will you see the joint
locks and other techniques contained
in kata? Well, you say, those front kicks
and punches are what works. Perhaps.
But whats happening is that, under the
stress of sparring, practitioners fall back
on their favorite techniques. They dont
expand their range; they contract it.
SPARRING INTRODUCES the unex-
pected. Yes, thats a vital part of ad-
uiessing a ight Bealing with combat
is confronting the unexpected. Remem-
ber, though, that were talking about
training for combat, not combat itself.
By immersing ourselves in kata, in at-
tacking and countering in prearranged
sequences, we can modulate the inten-
sity. We can ramp it up or slow it down,
manipulate timing and rhythm. Its pre-
cisely because kata is expected that we
can use it to condition ourselves for vi-
olent encounters that are spontaneous.
That kata is so predominant in com-
bat training in Asian martial arts should
offer proof that it has great value. Its
easy to think that all those people in
ages past were so out of touch with
combat and that were so much more
sophisticated and know what really
works. Its also comfortable to think we
know what kata tiuly is to conine it to
our own stereotypes.
But kata, real kata, has depths that
can take a lifetime to plumb. You may
not understand it yet, but that shouldnt
discourage you; it should excite you to
explore it further.
Kata You Might
Have It All Wrong
Theres a great deal you may not know
about kata.
by Dave Lowry
Learn how Sokon Matsumura changed the
way karate was taught forever in this free guide.
blackbeltmag.com/shotokan-guide
against imaginary opponents when you
have real ones?
Kata was designed to be done as a
paired exercise. It works well in that
capacity anu it has beneits few maitial
artists understand.
HERES AN OVERSIMPLIFIED expla-
nation of one of those beneits Nany of
our emotional responses to stimuli can
be conditioned when two events occur
simultaneously, even if theres no con-
nection between them Example Theie
was a severe thunderstorm when you ex-
perienced the symptoms of food poison-
ing. After you recovered, you found that
thunder makes you queasy. The reason
is the nerve cells in your hypothalamus
connected the thunder and the illness.
Even though you know theres no link,
something deep in your brain is over-
riding your intellect. Thats why smells,
sounds and other stimuli can create emo-
tional responses that seem unrelated.
violence anu ighting obviously in-
voke deep emotional responses. If the
last time you weie in a ight was yeais
ago when you were young, there are still
some stimuli that can cause you to relive
the same tension. Fighting creates an ex-
treme negative reaction in most people,
but because we may inu it necessaiy to
ight thats a big ieason most of us uo
kaiate we must iguie out how to ueal
with the negative emotions of violence.
This is a purpose, a profound one, of kata.
WHEN WE TRAIN regularly in kata
in prearranged exchanges of attacks and


28 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
The Upset Master
In the brief history of MMA, arguably the two biggest upsets have been Matt Serras defeat of Georges St-Pierre and Chris Weid-
aas rs| |c|cr cer /a1ersca S||a. /a1 ||eres cae |||ag ac|| w|aaers |a1 |a ccca. ||e|r s|r|||ag ccac|, ka |cagc.
a ar| iaccas
I
ts no coincidence Ray was there
foi both those ights Seiia saiu
Be took two guys known foi
giappling anu hau them beating a
paii of guys who aie mentioneu in the
pounufoipounu best evei categoiy
by knockout Be maue me believe in my
stiiking anu foi that he ueseives all the
cieuit in the woilu
LONGO, 55, IS FINALLY STARTING to
get some of that cieuit although not
necessaiily in a way hes comfoitable
with Aftei Weiuman bioke Silvas leg
by checking a kick with his knee uuiing
theii iematch in Becembei u1 ev
eiyone wanteu to know about the tech
nique uubbeu the uestiuction
that Iongo hau taught him with some
calling it a uiity tactic
I got it iight fiom jeet kune do, Iongo
saiu In kali, theies a philosophy calleu
uefanging the snake wheie if a guy is
punching you check it with youi elbow
anu its going to take away his ist Its
the same foi using youi knee against a
kick I uont unueistanu how kneeing a
guy in the face is consiueieu acceptable
but kneeing his shin is somehow uiity
Iongo began maitial aits as a teenagei
piacticing kung fu befoie switching to ka
rate and taekwondo in college It wasnt
until he giauuateu fiom St }ohns 0nivei
sity that he uiscoveieu Biuce Iees ait
It was aiounu 19 when I hookeu
up with these }KB people who woulu
biing in Ban Inosanto anu Richaiu
Bustillo foi seminais Iongo saiu
They weie uoing stuff Iu nevei seen
befoie like kali tiapping anu kick
boxing Back then it was cutting euge
Because kickboxing gyms weie so
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iaie then anu }KB hau always incluueu
kickboxing in its cuiiiculum local mai
tial aitists began coming to Iongo to
coach them foi fullcontact events Anu
Iongo was nevei picky about wheie
heu take ighteis to compete tiain
ing stuuents foi uoluen uloves boxing
matches fullcontact kaiate bouts anu
even the occasional muay Thai match
up none of which biought much in the
way of gloiy oi money
THEN, IN THE EARLY 1990S, the maitial
aits lanuscape began to change with the
auvent of the 0ltimate Fighting Champi
onship But iathei than iesist the iauical
ieoiientation Iongo ioue the wave
Befoie theie was evei a 0FC Paul
vunak tolu me about Biazilian jiu-jitsu,
Iongo iecalleu Be saiu an instiuctoi
nameu Ciaig Kukuk was coming to New
Georges St-Pierre (left) and Matt Serra


York and that I should start training,
that in a year Id be way ahead of every-
one else in martial arts.
Longo was intrigued. Hed always had
a diverse interest in martial arts, even
expressing a fondness for kata despite
his progressive approach. I still think
the traditional arts hold something
and look at it like everyone in college
should have to take at least three cred-
its of art appreciation, even if thats not
their major, he said. It will make you a
more well-rounded person.
Following Vunaks advice, Longo
tiaineu biiely in B}} befoie an injuiy
siuelineu him When he inally ietuineu
to Kukuks gym, he ran into 19-year-old
Matt Serra, whod previously stopped
into Longos kickboxing school. The
two quickly reconnected.
There werent any other jiu-jitsu
schools around to practice in at that
time, Serra recalled. Id have to prac-
tice in my garage. Ray just said, Use my
place, and gave me the key to his gym.
SERRA AND LONGO became friends,
but it still took some convincing by Lon-
go to get the blossoming jiu-jitsu ace to
see the value of striking for a career in
MMA. It was a different world back
then, Serra said. The Gracies were
taking the martial arts world by storm,
anu stiiking took a back seat But Ray
convinced me that hitting the pads and
doing some Thai boxing would be good
for my conditioning. I never had a con-
ditioning coach, so from early on, Ray
was my conditioning coach.
Although jiu-jitsu had gotten Serra
out of the mindset of trading with an
opponent, it was just that mentality
that Longo sought to re-instill in him
and it scored him a massive upset
when he knocked out St-Pierre with
an overhand right to win the UFC wel-
terweight title. The punch has been de-
rided as a lucky shot, but Longo said
it was no accident. He spent countless
hours working on the strike with Serra,
believing his man needed the technique
to KO the taller St-Pierre.
I started bringing in pro boxers for
him to work with, and one thing I al-
ways liked about Matt was that hed
stay in the pocket throwing punches,
Longo said. If you want to knock a
guy out, you have to be willing to put
yourself in a position to get knocked
out It ueinitely wasnt a lucky shot
Matt prepared to stand up with
Georges the whole time, and I knew
if Georges stood with Matt, hed get
knocked out.
THE TWO MEN remain close, jointly
running the Serra-Longo Fight Team,
in which Weidman not coincidentally
competes. The agreement between
Longo and Serra is based on nothing
more than a handshake. And when Wei-
dman recently partnered with Longo
on their Power MMA Gym in Garden
City, New York, they had nothing but a
handshake agreement, as well.
The world would be a better place
if you could just shake hands and trust
people, Longo said. Maybe I could
have been a millionaire 10 times over
if I was willing to screw people, but
its not worth it. I value my reputation
more than that.
Bis ighteis value it too
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30 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
T
O YOU, WHAT CONSTITUTES
CIVILIAN SELFDEFENSE It
would range from personal
defense to home defense,
neighborhood defense, city or county
defense, and national defense. Personal
is the base for all of them.
WHAT IS PERSUNAL DEFENSE Per-
sonal defense is what you do mentally,
physically, technically and tactically.
Mental sets the stage for the rest: un-
derstanding the need to survive at the
individual level or to protect your fam-
ily friends fellow oficers soldiers etc
Shaping your mental tenacity and en-
durance is also a key component.
Physical condition allows you to train
harder. It allows you to practice longer
to be cautiously aware without being
paranoid.
Another type is the person who has a
near-death experience, sometimes at
age 50 plus and inally understands the
need to prepare because they realize
the world is not the fantasyland they
once believed it to be.
HUW DU YUU TEACH PEUPLE TU
BOOST THEIR MENTAL TENACITY
FUR SELFDEFENSE You need to de-
velop their competence, which will bol-
ster their conidence echnical skills
like shooting, hand combat and situ-
ational awareness that are reality
based will give them the mental coni-
dence to pursue more training.
Modern-Day Samurai:
10 Questions With Paul Howe, Formerly of Delta Force
by Lito Angeles
with your technical tools and bring
them to the ight over long distances
Technical skills are how you train with
and employ your weapons from your
hands to your knife pistol and rile
Tactics are how you employ all of the
above to solve problems.
DU MUST PEUPLE HAVE WHAT IT
TAKES TO FIGHT FOR THEIR SUR
VIVAL Some do and some do not.
The ones who understand the dan-
gers in the world are more apt to
transfer the mindset to their children.
These parents are the same type who
understand the need for their kids to
earn their way in life. They do not
overprotect or coddle their kids. They
find a balance. They teach their kids


An MMA legend reveals the lessons hes
learned about fghtings forgotten factor - the
mental component.
blackbeltmag.com/bas-rutten
HOW DO YOU HELP CIVILIAN STU
DENTS DEVELOP THEIR COMPE
TENCE? You can take away the ap-
prehension by showing them actual
footage of [violent] events. This is
the best way I know to prepare their
minds. Next, use live role players in
scenarios. Remember that we must
teach before we test, so you must
give them the answers and encourage
them to practice.
WHATS YOUR ADVICE FOR FOSTER
INC A FICHTTUWIN MENTALITY AS
UPPUSED TU A FICHTTUNUTLUSE
MENTALITY? Simplify your training
program. Your focus should be on ter-
minating threats as quickly and efi-
ciently as possible.
HOW WOULD YOU RECOMMEND
SIMPLIFYING A CIVILIAN TRAIN
ING PROGRAM? WHICH TACTICS,
TECHNIQUES AND TARGETS SHOULD
BE THE FOCUS? If you can combine
a hand-combat system in which you
strike or block the same way with open
or closed hands and then put a knife
in your hand and execute the same
moves you have one system that will
work with the hands or a knife. This
should cut your training time in half be-
cause you are training for both hands
and knife when you execute moves.
CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF
THAT? A block can be done with an
arm/hand or a blade. Just as you would
redirect a block for an attack, the blade
can be used in the same manner.
WHICH TARGETS ARE MOST PRAC
TICAL IN CIVILIAN SELFDEFENSE
The neck and eyes. The eyes are sen-
sitive and when [attacked] will take
away your opponents will and ability
to ight front attack to the neck can
take away oxygen, which can deter or
stop an attack. Right- or left-side at-
tacks can briely stop blood low
IN YOUR BOOK LEADERSHIP AND
TRAINING FOR THE FIGHT, YOU
STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
OODA LOOP, WHICH STANDS FOR
OBSERVE, ORIENT, DECIDE AND
ACT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW IT PER
TAINS TU CIVILIAN SELFDEFENSE
Observe can keep you out of trouble,
and failure to observe can get you into
trouble. Situational awareness is criti-
cal as it can keep you out of a ight or
help you to posture should you need to.
Orient is situational positioning, which
allows you to observe, to maneuver
around or away, or to decisively engage
your threat. Simply put, orient is where
you put yourself at a tactical advantage.
This might be as simple as creating a re-
actionary gap while you are covering a
danger area that allows you more time
to think and decide all while putting
your opponent at a disadvantage.
Decide goes hand-and-hand with
orient because if you are properly ori-
ented to your threat, you will have the
tactical advantage. This can be to at-
tack, to do nothing, to withdraw or to
move around.
Act is the inal step in the sequence
As soon as you act, the loop starts over
as the situation has now changed.
For information about training with
Paul Howe, visit combatshootingand
tactics.com.
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32 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
The Smaller Shoulder Joint
The acromioclavicular, or AC, joint is a small structure that sits on top of the
shoulder you probably can feel a bump indicating its presence. Its formed
by the end of the clavicle (collarbone) and a bony projection from the scapula
called the acromion. The joint is stabilized by a capsule and ligaments.
by Robert Wang, M.D.
M
ost often in martial arts
practice, its damaged from
a fall in which you land di-
rectly on your shoulder
with your arm at your side. Less com-
monly, its injured when you fall on an
outstretched hand and the energy is
transmitted to the AC joint.
Either scenario can result in a sprain.
More serious is a separation, in which the
end of the clavicle is disconnected from
the acromion. When this happens, the
clavicle often moves upward, making it
easy to notice a larger-than-usual bump
The time it takes to heal varies
there are no set guidelines regarding
when you can return to martial arts
practice. Rule of thumb: When the
symptoms subside and your motion
and strength return, its probably safe
to go to the dojo.
If the end of the clavicle is separated
from the acromion, the recovery time
will vary according to the degree of
displacement. When theres no contact
a type-III injury your doctor likely
will proceed conservatively. Even when
treatment is done correctly, persistent
symptoms may result. In such cases,
surgery may be presented as an option.
In a type-V injury, which means the
clavicle has displaced more than 100
percent relative to the acromion, early
surgical treatment is often the pre-
ferred option, particularly for martial
artists. There are numerous surgical
techniques and implants that can re-
store the alignment of the joint.
IF YOU UNDERGO AC surgery, youll
need to refrain from martial arts prac-
tice for four to six months. Postopera-
tive rehabilitation will vary according
to the recommendations of your sur-
geon; most doctors will, at the very
least, put you in a sling to allow the tis-
sues to heal. Gentle movement of the
shoulder often begins after one to three
weeks. Unsupported motion is not al-
lowed for approximately six weeks,
which ensures adequate time for fur-
ther healing.
Typically, the sling is discontinued
after six to eight weeks. At 12 weeks,
youll probably progress to basic
strengthening exercises, starting with
the muscles of the scapula.
The structure of the shoulder is such
that even a small component like the AC
joint plays a crucial role in functionality.
When you consider the degree to which
most martial arts use the arms, you be-
gin to understand how important it is
to protect your AC joints. Any injury to
this region needs to be taken seriously.
Proper diagnosis and treatment will
help minimize future problems and al-
low a safe return to training.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Robert Wang,
M.D., is a Fellow of the Royal College
of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Hes an orthopedic surgeon specializing in
sports medicine.
on top of your shoulder. Pain and swell-
ing will accompany this acute injury.
AC trauma can result in two other con-
ditions: The end of the clavicle can move
toward the back of the shoulder, poking
through the trapezius muscle; and the
end of the clavicle can displace below
the acromion. Both are relatively rare.
WHEN THE AC JOINT is sprained,
treatment typically entails wearing a
sling for arm and shoulder immobili-
zation. As pain and swelling diminish,
more shoulder movement is allowed.
clavicle
acromioclavicular (AC) joint
acromion

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Synergy,
Haruo Matsuoka on What Makes
Aikido Applicable for Everybody
0G 2@ ;/@9 163<5 >6=B=5@/>6G 0G @=03@B @3744

36 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
is one of those martial arts that people
are rarely on the fence about. They ei-
ther love it or dismiss it. Those who
love it are sometimes so consumed
that they never question it. Those who
dismiss it never look closely enough to
see how much they might beneit from
it. Then there are those who love the
practice of aikido but constantly ques-
tion their understanding of it, search-
ing for a clearer, stronger, more univer-
sal means of application.
Haruo Matsuoka falls into the last cat-
egory. The sixth-degree black belt is no
stranger to the practical aspects of aiki-
do, having been introduced to the art in
Japan by Black Belt Hall of Famer Steven
Seagal. For decades, Matsuoka served as
Seagals top student and assistant, then
went on to study under Seiseki Abe, who
received his 10
th
-degree black belt from
founder Morihei Ueshiba. Abes tech-
niques were known for their subtlety
he could launch even the biggest man
into the air seemingly without effort.
Obviously, Matsuoka comes from an im-
peccable lineage, and hes devoted his
life to spreading whats hes learned to
all who are interested.
The last article I wrote about Matsuo-
ka was Thundering Aikido in the April
2004 issue of Black Belt. Since then, Id
barely had a chance to stay in touch,
even though he runs a dojo in nearby
Culver City, California. When I visited
him to conduct the interview for this
article, he welcomed me into his school
with a smile. Joined by Josh Gold, third-
degree black belt and director of op-
erations for Matsuokas Ikazuchi Dojo
in Irvine, California, we sat on the mat,
absent the ritual thats normally part of
such meetings, and just talked aikido.
OPPOSITION VS. REDIRECTION
Moments after we opened our take-
out lunchboxes, Matsuoka started
filling me in on his newest insights.
Think about two forces rushing to-
ward each other, he said, pointing his
index fingers at each other and mov-
ing them forward like drivers playing
a game of chicken. They can collide
headfirst, and then it becomes a ques-
tion of which one is strong enough to
displace the other or to force it into
another position. Aikido chooses to
make contact and simultaneously
change the vector.
Instead of driving forward stubborn-
ly his ingers touched and then bent
and folded naturally. They stayed in
contact but no longer moved along the
same lines.
Matsuoka motioned to Gold, who
dropped his lunchbox and leapt up.
The master instructed him to at-
tack with an overhead strike, so he
initiated a hammerfist aimed at his
teachers neck. Driving forward with
the sharp side of his ulna, Matsuoka
stopped the attack with an upward
block, knocking Golds arm back.
This is force on force, he said. The
bigger, stronger, faster guy wins. This
is very clear. But aikido happens
when we blend.
As Gold launched another strike,
Matsuoka blended with the movement
not ducking it, not evading it, not
opposing it. The same arm structure
that looked like it was going to block
the strike made contact, then bent and
stuck to the limb without knocking it
backward. It was like Golds arm had
hit a trap door and Matsuokas arm
took the attack ofline while maneuver
ing away from the line of ire
From here, Im safe, but hes off-
balance. I can do anything to him, Mat-
suoka explained, then sent his student
to the loor with a shoulder lock e
inished with a straightarm pin

BLACKBELTMAG.COM JUNE/JULY 2014 I BLACK BELT 37

38 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
Matsuoka motioned for me to come
forward and feel it. I reached for his
sweatshirt, and he allowed me to get a
good grip. As soon as I began pulling to
set up a throw, he redirected my force
and sent me to the mat. Unsure what
had just happened, I got up and tried
again. Determined to counter his force,
I lunged forward to grab and pull, but
all I could feel was that Id made con-
tact and was losing balance. The more
I attempted to regain my balance, the
faster I fell.
Pure speed is good, but if you rely on
pure speed, then only young and ath-
letic people have a chance, Matsuoka
explained. Good martial arts work for
everybody. If you learn to make con-
tact, redirect and control, you dont
have to think that you need to develop
more brute force and you dont have
to be afraid. Just give the opponent
what he wants without sacriicing your
structure, jeopardizing your safety or
unfocusing your mind. Then you guide
him ofline and out of balance
AIKI DEMYSTIFIED
hose with a supericial knowledge
of aikido often deine it as a system of
locks and throws based on cooperative
responses to leverage against joints.
Others see it as a semi-mystical martial
art thats so far removed from the ev-
eryday world that it would take several
lifetimes to be able to apply it under
duress. When experienced martial art-
ists look at aikido they often conine
their analysis to local leverage in which
the technique revolves around crank-
ing a particular joint.
While that last approach has some va-
lidity in self-defense, its not ideal, Mat-
suoka said. If aikido were dependent
on raw strength and the power of single
muscle groups, the biggest guys would
always win and the small guys would
never be able to throw the big guys.
To illustrate his point, he told me to
pull his arms down as though I wanted
to get past them and take his back. On
my irst attempt moved quickly to
seize his wrists, thinking I wouldnt give
him time to outmaneuver me. Within
moments, I felt like I had him under
control e tried to break free by lex-
ing his arms, but my force won out. The

BLACKBELTMAG.COM JUNE/JULY 2014 I BLACK BELT 39
enable the team to prioritize when to
have the ball where.
How we use the body in aikido is the
same, the master said. The kokyu, or
breath that people talk about has a dif-
ferent meaning than just breath. Kokyu
awase means teamwork in Japanese
slang, and this is what I think O-sensei
(Ueshiba) really meant by kokyu or ki
as more than just breath, breathing and
internal energy.
Proper technique with full-body or
whole-body coordination produces
power without having to resort to
greater levels of tension or effort, he
said o live or move eficiently we have
to use all parts of our bodies synergis-
tically to create mastery of a situation
the same way a well-coordinated team
moment became conident however
things changed. Shifting his body slight-
ly, he took me all over the place, off my
base and eventually onto my back. The
change had been almost imperceptible.
he irst time tried to ight your
grip with my arms, my biceps these
muscles might be the biggest enemy
of good technique, he said. If I use
my entire body against your grip, isnt
that more powerful? The second time,
I moved my whole body to redirect
you while you were concentrating on
your grip to maintain control over my
arms. The harder you tried to grip, the
more the point of contact was main-
tained for me.
Lots of people understand the word
aiki as harmonious ki energy like
chi but I think some instructors
resort to using mystical terminology
because they might not be good at
explaining it in simpler terms, Mat-
suoka said.
Using baseball as an analogy, he ex-
plained the aiki concept with a very
Western term: coordination. A base-
ball team has nine players on a rather
large ield he said and all of them are
focused on a tiny ball. A good team is
quick to establish contact with the ball,
to control it and to bring it to a base or
back to home plate. Every player has
to work together to not only sense
where the ball is, but also to know
where the opposing teams players are
and control their interaction with the
ball. Such awareness and coordination
Lots of people
understand the word
aiki as harmonious
ki energy like
chi but I think
some instructors
resort to using
mystical terminology
because they
might not be good
at explaining it in
simpler terms.

In aikido, if
were using
the sword,
the jo or
the body, the
principles of
movement
dont change.

BLACKBELTMAG.COM JUNE/JULY 2014 I BLACK BELT 41
for each range and weapon they might
want to master. The ancient samu-
rai had a different way of solving that
problem, Matsuoka said, and it re-
sembles the U.S. Marine Corps motto of
one mind, any weapon.
If you look at samurai-derived mar-
tial arts, the same movement patterns
are used for striking, for throwing and
for weapons, he explained. This cur-
iiculai eficiency meant that iegaiuless
of which range or tool the practitio-
ner was working on, the fundamental
movement patterns were still appli-
cable and effective.
If we have to learn a different way
of moving and thinking with each
little change, we are too slow, Mat-
suoka said. In aikido, if were using the
sword, the jo or the body, the principles
of movement dont change.
UNDER PRESSURE
Nonpractitioners generally regard aiki-
doka as overly compliant to the
point of being loppy oi limp Not in
Matsuokas dojo. People think aikido
is soft, but this is not true, he said.
would dominate the ball. Respiration,
therefore, becomes a means of practic-
ing calmness and initiating whole-body
power and coordination under stress. In
fact, modern sports science has shown
that breathing from the lower abdomen,
which aikiuo teaches is beneicial be-
cause, among other things, it activates
the diaphragm, a crucial part of the core.
Another way of viewing the teamwork
principle, Matsuoka said, is to look at
the natural movement of children. He
related an incident that took place when
his daughter was 8 or 9. He was thinking
about a particular technique and asked
her to grab his arm as hard as she could.
Instead of grasping it with her hands
like most adults would, she hugged it
to her body. Nobody told her exactly
how to grab me, but she really used all
her strength, all her power to hold my
arm, he said. When she did that, I had
a breakthrough in understanding. That
kind of simplicity thats aikido!
EFFICIENCY REDEFINED
Modern martial artists often feel com-
pelled to study a variety of styles, one
We shoulu be luiu enough to ie-
spond, react and redirect the pressure
thats applied on or toward us. Its not
tense and rigid, but good movement
isnt weak, either.
As if on cue, Gold shot in for a dou-
ble-leg takedown. Matsuoka dropped
his stance and struck upward with
both palms, targeting his opponents
chin and face. Its not slow, Matsuo-
ka said. If the opponent moves fast,
you have to move with him, not just
expect him to move only when youre
ready or attack only in the way that
youre ready to defend. Not weak,
not slow but not tight, not frantic.
Thats good aikido.
Bis statement maue him ielect on
the art. Ive been practicing aikido for
40 years, but I still love the basics, he
said. Still so much to learn from them.
Those basics, he explained, are
meant to introduce students to contact
and pressure, to familiarize them with
how to apply pressure, to show them
different responses to an opponents
pressure, and to help them discover the
most eficient ways of ielexively ueal-
ing with pressure.
Ueshiba often spoke about in-
stant victory. The ability to maintain
structural integrity under pressure,
to move in concert with an enemy
while redirecting his force, to act as
a coordinated whole and to create
advantage through simplicity and
directness all are geared toward
stacking the deck in your favor in
combat, Matsuoka said.
As soon as the opponent moves
against you, he is already at a disadvan-
tage because of these things, he added.
Meanwhile, aikido teaches you how
to maintain internal synergy, which
creates strength under the guiding
principle of seeking coordination with-
out conlict Peihaps this is why Nat-
suokas aikido is so appealing and why
his afiliate uojo aiounu the woilu con-
stantly ask him to come and teach.
Smiling the mastei inisheu oui
meeting with a simple statement that
took into account the myiiau beneits
the art has to offer: Aikido should be
for everyone.
For more information about Haruo
Matsuoka, visit doshinokai.com.
Read an in-depth profle of aikido founder
Morihei Ueshiba.
blackbeltmag.com/ueshiba

MARTIAL ARTS VS.
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6 Movies That Are
Guaranteed to Thrill
and Chill and, Most
Important, Entertain!
BY STEVEN RONAI
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44 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
you wonueiing What if a stieet ight
isnt as brief as I was hoping? How
much cardiovascular work should I be
doing to endure a longer encounter?
FEAR FACTOR: This ilm was a joint
effort between Hammer Films, re-
sponsible for a vast catalog of monster
movies, and Hong Kongbased Shaw
Biotheis Stuuio whose licks spaikeu
a kung fu craze in the 1970s. Vampires
rising from their graves share screen
time with spear hands and spurting
bloou Theie aie enough lying kicks
and impaled vampires to make us wish
that this unusual marriage of movie
stuuios piouuceu moie piojects
SPOOKY ENCOUNTERS
RELEASED: 1980
PULSE-POUNDING PLOT: Bold Cheung
(Sammo Hung) spends the night at an
old temple. There, he encounters one of
several corpses that a Taoist priest has
raised and directed to kill him.
TERRIFYING TECHNIQUES: Fists and
feet have little effect on the reanimated
corpse. Cheung relies on blocking
work was obscured by dim lighting and
iapiuiie euiting While this iesulteu
in a ilm thats moie giotesque than
Frankensteins monster, fear not! Other
movies have tackled the task more
laudably. Here are six examples of the
genre at its best.
THE LEGEND OF THE
7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES
RELEASED: 1974
PULSE-POUNDING PLOT: Lawrence
Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) discovers
a Chinese village plagued by vampires.
With help from the Hsi family, all of
whom are kung fu experts, he vows to
free it from the clutches of the undead.
TERRIFYING TECHNIQUES: Watching
Hsi Ching (David Chiang) use kung
fu to fend off a horde of vampires is
a hoiioi aicionauos uieam It also
brings up an issue concerning multiple
attackers: What if you cant incapaci-
tate one opponent before moving on
to the next? Hsi Ching is pushed to his
physical limits when his invulnerable
attackers continue to rise, which leaves
Movies that mix martial arts with
horror seldom seem natural. In fact,
the very notion of such a blend causes
many practitioners to cringe like
Biacula befoie a ciuciix Shoulu we be
concerned that the martial arts might
lose their validity when theyre used
in such ilms The answei uepenus on
how well the ighting techniques aie
balanced with the horror elements.
If the motion picture is billed as a
maitial aits lick you have a iight to
see combat thats at least equivalent
to what youd get in a conventional
action ilm If youie foitunate youll
be treated to situations in which
supeinatuial foes cieate conlicts that
featuie innovative ight techniques
This is easier said than done,
however. Aikido is known for redirect-
ing the attackers force against him. In
Against the Dark (2009), Steven Seagal
could have performed such moves on
the ilms villains who aie exception-
ally strong vampires. Unfortunately,
Seagal focused on swordplay rather
than entering throws. Even the blade
Chuck Norris in Silent Rage
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BLACKBELTMAG.COM JUNE/JULY 2014 I BLACK BELT 45
techniques while he iguies out a way
to suivive Be uelects blows as if hes
woiking with a woouen uummy If
youie a wing chun kung fu piactitionei
youve piobably visualizeu such attacks
uuiing youi woouenuummy ioutines
If not give it a tiy foi a change of pace
The scene in which swoiusmen con
fiont Cheung in a iestauiant showcases
what became a staple of Sammo Bung
anu }ackie Chan ilms using elements
of the enviionment in this case
tables anu chaiis to uiive the action
The fact that a Taoist piiest magically
contiols Cheungs iight aim uuiing the
battle only makes it moie inteiesting
The concluuing ight has a maik
euly uiffeient look Cheung switches
to monkeystyle kung fu his enemies
employ new weapons anu combatants
use biass tiaining iings foi moie than
just isometiics
FEAR FACTOR: This ilm mixes the
macabie with the maitial then auus
a uose of humoi Theie aie plenty of
laughs but theies no lack of chills
Buckets of bloou anu ancient giave
yaius aie inteispeiseu with convuls
ing soiceieis that muttei fiightful
incantations anu manipulate the Asian
equivalent of voouoo uolls
SILENT RAGE
RELEASED: 1982
PULSE-POUNDING PLOT: Chuck Noi
iis plays a sheiiff who must battle a
man ienueieu invulneiable by a scien
tists seciet foimula
TERRIFYING TECHNIQUES: Its a joy
to watch Noiiis lash out with kick aftei
levelchanging kick in a bai full of bik
eis In a fascinating uiiectoiial choice
all ight scenes aie uone without a mu
sical scoie You feel as if youie watch
ing a ieal ight insteau of a movie
Beaiing eveiy snail giunt anu ciunch
cieates a iaw visceial expeiience
FEAR FACTOR: Its uncleai how much
punishment the villain can take anu
still suivive Youie hopeful each time
he falls anu youie illeu with uieau
each time he iises If that uiunt kill
him you inu youiself thinking what
hope uoes the unaimeu sheiiff have
This is paiticulaily unsettling because
pop cultuie has maue us all view
Chuck Noiiis as an unstoppable foice
THE DEAD AND THE DEADLY
RELEASED: 1982
PULSE-POUNDING PLOT: This time
Sammo Bung stais as the unfoitu
nately nameu Fat Boy an appientice
to an elueily Taoist piiest When they
peifoim a funeial foi a fiienu Fat Boy
suspects foul play Bis investigation
uncoveis not only ciiminal activity but
also a vengeful ghost
TERRIFYING TECHNIQUES: The ghost
iemains laigely invisible except to Fat
Boy When they clash it appeais to on
lookeis anu in some shots to view
eis as well that Fat Boy is meiely
punching the aii This allows you to
see techniques in a puie way like in
a foim The fact that these scenes aie
playeu foi laughs uoesnt uiminish the
powei anu giace of the stiikes
FEAR FACTOR: A violent tiio of
uiunken ghosts is both feaisome anu
funny Comeuic elements aie balanceu
After making several monster movies, Sammo Hung co-starred in Martial Law on CBS.
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46 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
with hoiiiic ones incluuing autopsies
buiieu bouies anu an eeiie weuuing
between the living anu the ueau
MR. VAMPIRE
RELEASED: 1985
PULSE-POUNDING PLOT: A Taoist
piiest anu his uisciples must uestioy a
paii of vampiies When a lovestiuck
ghost falls foi one of the heioes things
get enjoyably complicateu
TERRIFYING TECHNIQUES: Accoiu
ing to Chinese loie vampiies can be
ienueieu haimless by sticking piayeis
wiitten on pieces of papei to theii
foieheaus This task is often achieveu
using unoithouox angles of attack The
Taoists believe they can help weakei
vampiies by iebuiying them using a
speciic iitual In such cases they tiy
to inlict as little uamage as possible
This concein is abanuoneu foi stiongei
vampiies that must be uestioyeu at
all costs Youie pulleu into the uiama
because you know that in a ieal ight
you too must ueciue in ieal time which
situations iequiie iestiaint anu which
waiiant a moie aggiessive iesponse
FEAR FACTOR: Mr. Vampire is comeuic
at times but it ceitainly ueliveis chills
anu maitial aits thiills A ight involv
ing a uetacheu heau anu its bouy uoes
both The fouiway battle between a
piiest his uisciple a ghost anu a vam
piie is a must see
BLADE II
RELEASED: 2002
PULSE-POUNDING PLOT: vampiie
huntei Blaue Wesley Snipes foiges
an uneasy alliance with his enemies to
battle an even gieatei thieat
TERRIFYING TECHNIQUES: Bong Kong
action stai anu choieogiaphei Bonnie
Yen makes Snipes look even moie
impiessive The opening ight fiom
the conines of a naiiow alley is a nice
example of closequaiteis combat
Iatei scenes have uiffeient choieogia
pheis anu a uiffeient look but all aie
enteitaining
When Blaue confionts a battalion
of vampiies each opponent patiently
waits his tuin This may not be a iealis
tic take on mass attacks but it uoes
allow foi a wiue iange of techniques to
be uisplayeu Fiom spinning kicks to
inighting elbows selfuefense escapes
to kali stick ighting its fun to see a bit
of eveiything It might ieminu you of
the iunthegauntlet uiills conuucteu
at some dojo, in which you must use
a uiffeient technique against each at
tackei When they get to the iiuicu
lous piowiestling move at the enu
just giit youi teeth anu ignoie it
FEAR FACTOR: Biiectoi uuilleimo uel
Toio uesciibeu the movie as moie vio
lent than scaiy but the ilms antago
nists mutateu vampiies that feeu on
theii own kinu as well as on humans
aie genuinely fiightening Yens
cameo in which he swoiuights with
one of them is especially cieepy
MOVIE TIME
An Inteinet seaich will ieveal that
these ilms anu otheis in the genie
aie ieauily available fiom a vaiiety of
souices The next time youie in the
moou foi something uiffeient fiom the
typical wisemasteitiainsastuuent
lick give the hoiioimaitial aits
mashup a look uiab some popcoin
anu stait the stieaming
Wesley Snipes and Stephen Dorff in Blade
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What the GREATEST KARATE
FIGHTER OF ALL TIME Taught
Us About Jeet Kune Do
BY JERRY BEASLEY, ED.D.

50 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
oe Lewis began his martial arts
journey in 1963. While stationed
in Okinawa, he studied at sev-
eral dojo at his second one,
he earned his black belt in just seven
months. Returning to the United States
in 1966 he won his irst national karate
title, launching perhaps the most stel-
lar career in tournament history.
I didnt meet Lewis until 1982. For
the next few decades, I trained exten-
sively with him. He understood that I
was most interested in how jeet kune
do had been passed from Bruce Lee to
him. It was not until Lewis passing in
01 that took time to relect on what
hed taught the martial arts world. I re-
alized that the most important lessons
were conveyed not by what he said but
by what he did.
Greatest Karate Fighter
In the 1960s, Lewis was the most feared
tournament competitor on the planet.
Perhaps the strongest, best-conditioned
athlete who ever stepped on the tour-
nament loor he used a simple strategy
in the beginning: Once he got his hand
on his opponents sleeve, hed yank the
man in close, frequently ripping the fab-
ric of the uniform, and strike until the
referee made him stop. Hed often throw
in a side kick that was so powerful it
could numb a person with pain. Oppo-
nents were known to run out of bounds
to avoid contact with it.
Lewis prowess didnt go unnoticed.
In 1967 Lee sought him out and took
him under his wing. For almost two
years, Lewis learned JKD directly from
him. Combining Lewis natural ath-
leticism with Lees advanced martial
theories resulted in a ighter the likes
of which the world had never seen. Lee
measured Lewis progress not in terms
of lessons logged in a notebook but in
terms of hard-fought victories in the
toughest tournaments.
At the 1967 Nationals exhibition
match between Lewis and Tonny Tulle-
ners, Lee was ringside to assist his pu-
Joe Lewis (right) vs. Chuck Norris

BLACKBELTMAG.COM JUNE/JULY 2014 I BLACK BELT 51
pil. Bruce sat in the front row behind
my corner and coached me between
each round, Lewis said. That night, I
used a double side kick that Bruce and
I had drilled on that week. I won $300
for that match.
After the win, Lee reportedly said,
Joe, thats the broken-rhythm prin-
ciple I taught you.
Because he was seeing immedi-
ate results, Lewis studied exclusively
with Lee in 1968 and 1969. I trained
with Bruce sometimes on Wednesdays
in a private class, but [we] typically
got together on Fridays and Satur-
days, Lewis said. I often would get
to Bruces house in the afternoon and
leave about 10 p.m.
Jeet Kune Do in Tournaments
With Lee behind him, Lewis won the
1968 U.S. Nationals, USKA Nationals,
Dallas Professional Championships and
U.S. Championships. At the U.S. Cham-
pionships in Dallas, Lewis presented
the iist }KB seminai to a national ios-
ter of black belts. In November 1968
he won the World Professional Karate
Championships in New York.
Lewis continued to train with Lee in
1969, and under the Little Dragons
tutelage, he won the U.S. Nationals,
USKA Nationals and Long Beach Inter-
nationals. Lee continued to coach Lewis
for the World Professional Champion-
ships in November 1969. Mike Stone
dominated everything from 1964 to
1965, then Chuck Norris became even
more dominant from 1966 to 1967 and
then I took over for the next three or
four years, Lewis said. People had to
[notice that] the three most dominant
ighteis in the histoiy of kaiate weie all
endorsing Bruce Lee.
Lewis had trained in Okinawan ka-
rate for less than one year but in JKD
foi almost two Iee was his most inlu-
ential teacher. Lewis was the only stu-
dent of Lees to win multiple national
and world titles while being coached by
him. Lewis sport may have been called
karate, but his art was jeet kune do.
We used to sit for hours to analyze
boxing ilms Iewis saiu We woulu
stuuy the stiategies of uiffeient ight-
ers, how they bridged the gap or inter-
cepted the opponents intentions, and
then we would go to tournaments and
watch guys ight anu analyze them
together. If I got into an altercation
or went to a tournament, Id prove
whether it worked
or not.
In January 1970,
Lewis debuted the
sport of kickboxing.
Using his JKD full-
contact training, he
defended his title 10
times over the next
year and a half, scor-
ing a KO in every one.
That same year, Lee
closed his JKD schools
and stopped publicly
teaching. Even with-
out the constant con-
tact, their friendship
endured. When Lee
was developing his
own screen project in
1971, he asked Lewis
to co-star. Lee wanted
to reunite with his
friend, but it never
happened because
Lee died in 1973.
I always tried to
protect Bruce behind
his back, Lewis said.
When he was alive,
people put him down,
but as soon as he died,
[they] started talk-
ing good about him.
And those who talked
good when he was
still alive switched
on him when he died
and started putting
him down. I always
remained consistent. If I felt that I
couldnt afford to tell the truth, I just
kept my mouth shut.
After Bruce died, when I would be
asked in interviews whether Bruce
Lee was my instructor, I would always
say no. I didnt want to deal with it be-
cause I knew I was going to get into all
these issues that I didnt want to talk
about. People would ask me how Bruce
woulu iate as a touinament ightei
Well I am a touinament ightei so I can
make evaluations objectively. Even so,
whenever I would say something about
Bruce that someone didnt like person-
ally, they would read something into it.
The Joe Lewis Interpretation
Lee continually updated his art. Most
JKD researchers and original students
agree that Lee taught different things
to different students. Its quite possible,
however, that Lee offered the same in-
formation to everyone and that each
student interpreted it differently and,
therefore, retained different elements.
The JKD that Lewis retained and sub-
sequently used in tournaments differed
fiom the commonly accepteu ueini-
tions of the system. Lewis recalled that
Lee initially schooled him in the kicks
and strikes that were adapted from
wing chun and boxing. Lewis retooled
the basic lead-hand strike, footwork
and lead-leg kicks that Lee presented
so theyd be more effective in compe-
tition. Lewis wanted to be faster and
more deceptive, and Lee provided so-
lutions in the form of broken rhythm,
independent motion, the strong-side-
foiwaiu stance the weaponiist stiat-
egy and angular attacks.
Lewis had trained in Okinawan
karate for less than one year but
in JKD for almost two. Lee was
his most influential teacher.
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52 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
Lee made sure Lewis understood that
JKD went beyond the techniques he
was doing; it was to be regarded as a
way of bridging the gap, of making the
techniques work. The JKD arsenal was
not limited to certain punches or kicks.
To ueteimine whethei a speciic tech-
nique should be absorbed, Lewis would
put on the full-contact gear and go at it.
Lee apparently loved having Lewis
test the latest JKD innovations in the
ring to see how they functioned under
duress. He believed that the best way
in fact, the only way to learn to
ight was to spai If something woikeu
consistently, it was worth adding to
ones arsenal.
Neither Lee nor Lewis believed in
the validity of prearranged attacks and
defenses. That may be why much of
the trapping and some other skills Lee
learned in his traditional training were
eventually uiscaiueu It was becoming
apparent that JKD was a delivery sys-
tem with no boundaries.
JKD as Delivery System
If you want to senu a package to a fiienu
you take it to the post ofice anu the
post ofice will uelivei it You may have
wrapped the package in Chinese ribbons
anu }apanese iice papei Insiue may be
Korean silks or American crafts. Re-
gaiuless of the contents the post ofice
knows how to deliver the package. This
is how jeet kune do should be viewed.
In each maitial ait the oiiginal in-
tention was for all techniques to be de-
livered. Over the years, however, some
students concerned themselves only
with maintaining the art as a package
of skills, and they became content just
collecting and sorting those skills. Be-
cause its not intended to be the pack-
age, JKD concerns itself only with the
delivery. Jeet kune do possesses ev-
erything but is in itself possessed by
nothing, Lee said. Because it is a de-
livery system and not an art, JKD can
include any art but is bound by no art.
With proper preparation, any tech-
nique can be successfully delivered.
Lee taught Lewis that JKD is about
delivering techniques, not about devel-
oping a toolbox in which techniques are
neatly soiteu classiieu anu uisplayeu
}eet kune uo is not a ixeu package of
techniques (your toolbox); its how Lee
delivered the techniques he preferred
to use If youie a piactitionei of jeet
kune do, you must develop your own
skills and then use JKD to deliver them.
This notion is reinforced by the fol-
lowing Thioughout the thiee uecaues I
woikeu closely with Iewis I nevei saw
him teach techniques. He always taught
people the offensive approach needed
to deliver a technique. He taught essen-
tially the same thing as Lee but with a
different name: Whereas Lee called it
bridging the gap, Lewis referred to
it as how to offensively approach the
opponent In my postofice analogy
I substituteu the woius uelivei the
package for both phrases. The JKD that
Lewis practiced is all about learning
how to deliver. All arts have techniques,
anu theie is no one best ait In eveiy
one of them, however, the techniques
must be delivered on target.
Traditionally, martial artists have been
taught that if they have the right tech-
nique, they win. Wrong. Jeet kune do
teaches that its the right delivery of the
technique that wins You inciease youi
chance of delivering your technique
when you can maximize your speed,
power, deceptiveness and accuracy. JKD
is about developing those attributes.
Thats why Lee encouraged his students
to woik on theii speeu anu stiength Its
why he insisteu they ight full contact
to inu out what they coulu uelivei anu
what they should discard.
The popular model for studying mar-
tial arts is to learn techniques and then,
maybe, learn how to deliver them. The
JKD model is to learn delivery systems
and understand that you have to master
the delivery of every technique you learn.
Just knowing a set of techniques doesnt
guarantee you can use them effectively.
In fact technique is often inciuental A
boxer may perform hundreds of jabs in
a match. Why do some land while others
miss Its not the technique its the ue-
livery. Delivery can be affected by speed,
power, accuracy and deception.
Some critics say jeet kune do is in-
complete because Lee didnt include
giappling techniques oi iieaims tiain-
ing. Note that the JKD Lee taught Lewis
had no techniques. Lee didnt pass on
techniques to Lewis; he passed on the
way of delivering techniques. Lewis
was told to start with the techniques he
knew, then use the principles of JKD to
make them moie eficient to uelivei Be-
fore he started training with Lee, Lewis
was best-known for his lead-leg side
kick and lead-hand strike. Afterward,
he used primarily the same two moves
with the JKD advantage of being faster
and more deceptive.
The individual is always more im-
portant than the technique or art he
iepiesents Youi ait is limiteu youi
delivery system has no limitations ex-
cept those you impose. The jeet kune
do Lewis learned from Lee is the art of
the ueliveiy It shoulu be iemembeieu
that other Bruce Lee students may have
had a different take on what was being
taught, and its perfectly valid within
the JKD framework.
Formless, Shapeless, Like Water
The next time you read Tao of Jeet
Kune Do, try something different. Dont
ixate on auuing techniques to youi
arsenal. Rather, ask yourself, Which
techniques can I leain to uelivei suc-
cessfully? The art of the delivery is
formless, shapeless, like water, as
Lee said. Techniques are simply ob-
jects in the low You shoulu analyze
each new technique If one is ueemeu
too uificult foi you to uelivei in a ight
bypass it and focus on absorbing those
you can realistically deliver.
Jeet kune do teaches that its the right delivery
of the technique that wins. You increase your chance
of delivering your technique when you can maximize
your speed, power, deceptiveness and accuracy.

BLACKBELTMAG.COM JUNE/JULY 2014 I BLACK BELT 53
Using Lewis JKD as a delivery sys-
tem, youre free to look at any tech-
nique and see not the art from which
it comes but its potential to function
when you execute it. Dont worry about
how youll look performing it; think
about how successful youll be deliver-
ing it. As mentioned above, this is best
ascertained in fullcontact ighting
with a noncompliant opponent.
Since Lees death, many have mis-
taken his techniques for his art and his
curriculum for his way. When he said, I
have not created a new art, he meant
it eturning to the postofice analogy
If you could peer inside the packages
around Christmas, you might think you
were in a toy store. If you were to do
that in the same post ofice in the sum-
mer, you probably wouldnt even see
toys. Just like packages in the post of-
ice differ from season to season tech-
niques that work differ from alterca-
tion to altercation.
You might argue that a function of
the post ofice is to collect and sort
the mail. Although thats true, imagine
the plight of a onceluid post ofice so
crammed with undelivered mail that it
looks like a museum busy post ofice
is a full post ofice one with many
packages waiting to go out n eficient
post ofice is an empty post ofice
with no packages because theyve all
been delivered.
ll conclude with this oncern yourself
not with the art alone because its not the
art that counts. You make the difference.
In the end, its the delivery that scores. In
training, strive to deliver your techniques
(way) the simplest and most economical
way (no way). As Lewis knew so well,
success depends not on how many tech-
niques you know but on which ones you
can consistently deliver.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Jerry
Beasley is a professor of health and human
performance at Radford University in
Radford, Virginia. In 1995 he was promoted
to eighth-degree black belt by Joe Lewis. In
2000 Beasley was inducted into the Black
Belt Hall of Fame. His website is aikia.net.
Download a free guide in which Joe Lewis
recalls his glory days training with Bruce Lee
and competing on the circuit.
blackbeltmag.com/joe-lewis

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BLACKBELTMAG.COM JUNE/JULY 2014 I BLACK BELT 55
F
or the June 2012 issue of Black
Belt, I wrote an article about
qotko iqbtiuq ort of luJios
Sikh warriors. The research that
weut iuto creotiuq tbot report leJ me
to iuvestiqote otber iuJiqeuous mortiol
woys iu remote coruers of tbe worlJ
iucluJiuq ouqomporo oucieut bottle ort
of Sri louko Auqomporo is rore toJoy be-
couse Britoiu wbicb ouuexeJ Sri louko iu
11S bouueJ it like mouy mortiol orts
bowever it surviveJ becouse of tbe self-
less efforts of proctitiouers wbo wereut
JeterreJ from troiuiuq ouJ teocbiuq
Tbe qroup tbots speorbeoJiuq ou-
qomporos promotiou ouJ preservotiou
uowoJoys is tbe Sri loukou TroJitiouol
luJiqeuous Hortiol Art Associotiou co
fouuJeJ by Rieucy Wickromosiuqbe ouJ
bis seuior stuJeut Piumol FJirisiuqbe
Block Belt obtoiueJ tbis iuterview witb
FJirisiuqbe wbo wos receutly promoteJ
to tbe rouk of quru to sbeJ some liqbt ou
tbis fosciuotiuq system
When did you initially learn about
angampora?
In Sri Lanka, original ouqom and our
traditional medicine system are se-
cured in the hands of certain clans. My
mothers family is such a clan. There-
fore, since childhood, I was born and
raised within this tradition. I started to
learn about angam from my grandfa-
ther Dosthora Warnasuriya. Since then,
I have been learning this traditional art
from seven gurus belonging to different
clans. For instance, from Malimbada
Arachchis clan, I learned qoto borom-
ba (grips and locks) and pibi borombo
daggerighting techniques rom the
Wickramasinghe clan, I learned a spe-
cial technique of using two swords
How did you become a teacher?
Its been 18 years [that Ive learned] an-
gampora, and because of my maturity
in this art, my gurus appointed me as a
teacher. Traditionally in angam, you can-
not be a self-appointed teacher; there
has to be at least four gurus who will
recommend you. I believe this is one of
the worlds most powerful traditional
martial arts. However, there are certain
restrictions in giving this out. But after
discussing with our grand guru Wickra-
masinghe and other senior gurus, I, as a
modern guy living in a globalized world,
thought to share its powerful physical
and spiritual facets with the world.
How far back does the history of an-
gampora go?
ngam is a martial art unique to ri
Lanka with a written history of 3,000
years. Angam has its own roots, prac-
tices and philosophy centered on Hela
traditions. Because angam was guarded
among Hela warriors within this tiny
isle, it is not as well-known as kalar-
ipayit or other ancient martial arts and
is only belatedly gaining fame as a le-
thal art of war.
ngam was irst conceived and
taught by a king called Mahasammata,
who passed it down to his grandson Ra-
vana, an extremely powerful king of our
island. Ravana honed the art and intro-
duced many advanced forms of ighting
and striking vital points. Angam [be-
came] the main form of combat used by
ancient Sri Lankan warriors.
Revival of Angampora
Bodes Well for Rare South
Asian Martial Way
BY HARJIT SINGH SAGOO

56 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Harjit Singh
Sagoo is a freelance writer based in the
United Kingdom.
Angam is and was held in high regard
by islanders and invaders alike. History
recounts how our tiny island escaped
invasion from foreign intruders many
times due to our angam warriors. In fact,
the British were so fearful of angam in
1818 that they banned it to prevent up-
risings and rebellions. During this time,
angam was incorporated into traditional
Sri Lankan dance forms so practitioners
could preserve and practice it.
It has to be said that angam is not a
martial art that was developed to aes-
thetically please t is a lethal ighting
form for battles [in which] one man
expects to ight several opponents at
once. Thus, there are no theatrics in-
volved, apart from those that are effec-
tive on the ield
What are angamporas main compo-
nents?
he irst is angampora or unarmed
ighting and the second is illangam, or
armed ighting e can divide angamp-
ora again into three subcategories: pora
haramba, or offensive and defensive
ighting techniques gata haramba or
grips and locking techniques and maru
kala, or the striking of vital points.
Does the art have a spiritual side?
In angam, the main objective is to make
a soldier who is loyal and contributes
to society and to the nation. According
to our art we are not allowed to ight
at the irst provocation n angam
martial artist should [show] patience
three times before getting in a ight
Angam gives prominence to meditation
and other rituals ithout this spiritual
background, no one can survive as an
angam ighter
What types of weapons are used in
the art?
There are 64 weapons in angam. They
are deined according to their shape and
function. For example, we have sharp
weapons, long weapons, short weapons
and even some weapons of practical cu-
linary use which were adapted for war. A
unique weapon used in angam is the we-
laudaya (belt sword), a 6-foot weapon
used only in Sri Lanka. The horn dagger,
or angkinissa, is made using specially
sourced sambar deer found in Sri Lanka.
The horn is infused with a toxic herbal
potion based on an ancient recipe.
arriors choose weapons according
to their body morphology and energy
levels hus a tall wellbuilt ighter
might use the iron club (yagadhawa)
or battle ax (keteriya), both of which
are heavy and require extreme caution
strength and energy eapons in an-
gam are generally regarded as an exten-
sion of the body therefore the aspect
of how the body and the weapon low
is very important eapons are taught
only after the student has mastered his
own body movements. This way, both
the teacher and the trainee have had
plenty of time to gauge which weapons
would best suit the trainee.
You already have some foreign stu-
dents, most notably Oliver Herr-
mann of Germany. If other Western
martial artists want to follow in his
footsteps, how can they proceed?
Anyone who is interested can reach us
through our website (angampora.com).
e will direct them for an evaluation
process [and] start angam training with
the blessings of our grand guru and se-
nior gurus at Angam Maduwa (main
dojo) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
In addition, many Sri Lankans live
in Australia. There is a plan in 2015 to
open an angam training center in Mel-
bourne because many parents have re-
quested us to provide some mechanism
for their children to learn this art to
bring direction and discipline [to their]
life e also hope to open centers in
other countries to spread and preserve
our martial heritage.


58 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
Keys to
Better Kicks
18 Things You Can Do Now to
Become a More Effective Kicker!
BY LAURA PROBERT
T
hey dont describe her as kick-
ass for nothing. You know,
that gal in your dojo with the
legs, the one whose superhu-
man kicks leave you wondering what
she puts in her breakfast cereal. Well,
you can have incredible kicks, too. All
you need to do besides practice a lot
is follow the advice presented in this
article. Itll help you get your entire body
working right for peak performance.
I feel safe making such a bold state-
ment because Ive studied human move-
ment for more than 20 years. In fact, I
earn a living teaching athletes how to im-
prove their performance. That means Im
constantly exposed to the latest methods
for stretching muscles, preventing injury,
and building speed and strength and,
believe me, the research is updated often.
Why should you care about new train-
ing methods when youre devoted to a
traditional martial art? Because they
really can help you improve. Example:
Most people whove trained for a long
time feel like theyve reached a plateau
with their kicks. Dont be content to
stay there. Training only your hips and
legs the old-fashioned way isnt enough
to improve; you need to focus on other
parts of your body. One of them is the
fascia, the connective tissue that cov-
ers and supports every muscle in your
body. When neglected, fascia can suffer
from tightness that alters the alignment
of bones and joints, causing stiffness
and weakness. Release your myofascial
tissue and watch your kicks ly
This is just one area you should explore.
Described below are 18 additional keys
that will open the door to better kicking.
n GET HELP WHEN YOU FEEL OFF
Problems with bone alignment in your
hips can cause muscles to tighten and/
or weaken. If you suspect youre mis-
aligned, get checked out. One session
with a movement specialist can be a
game changer.
n DIFFERENTIATE DYNAMIC AND
STATIC STRETCHING
Dynamic stretches are repetitive
movements designed to get your blood
lowing hey belong in your warm
up. Static stretches are one-position,
long-hold stretches. Youre better off
not doing them before a class or com-
petition because too much can cause a
decrease in kicking performance and
even facilitate injury.
n PAY ATTENTION TO PAST INJURIES
If you feel a slight pull or a nagging
tightness in a body part while kicking,
dont wait for it to start hurting. Pay
attention to the whisper before it be-
comes a scream. Tightness is a warn-
ing sign thats best detected by being
aware of your body.
n
Kicking is great training, but your body
will beneit from different movements
that awaken new muscles and address
areas of tightness in a novel way. Yoga
and other movement therapies are ex-
cellent complements to your martial
arts workouts.
n WATCH YOUR EYES
If you look down while kicking, your
kicks will tend to go down. Instead, try
looking at a spot on the wall or ceiling,
then following with your kick. Youll
be amazed at the difference. Why does
this happen? Your body instinctually
adjusts its position and movement in
response to your line of sight.
n BREATHE
Breath is life. If you havent learned
this by now, youve missed a huge
component of the martial arts. All
movement arts, in fact, teach breath
awareness, and for good reason.
Breathing oxygenates tissues and
helps with relaxation. It also mobiliz-
es the diaphragm, which fosters more
powerful motions. If you need guid-
ance, schedule a breath-work session
with a professional.
n STAY IN YOUR BODY
Martial arts practice is so valuable be-
cause it forces you out of your head and
into your body. You may arrive at the
dojo in a distracted state because of the
days events, but as you warm up and
run through the basics, you inevitably
start focusing on the physical. To has-
ten that process which will give you
better kicks faster purposefully clear
your mind and be in the present. This
also helps prevent injury.
n PRACTICE MORE THAN ONCE
A WEEK
This might sound obvious, but there
are plenty of students who attend class
only one day a week. Its tough to im-
prove your kicks without at least a
second workout each week, just from a
muscle-training standpoint.

BLACKBELTMAG.COM JUNE/JULY 2014 I BLACK BELT 59
n STRENGTHEN YOUR CORE
Core strength dictates leg mobility
but only if you know how to bolster
your core dynamically. Your workouts
should build strength in your hips,
abdominals and shoulder blades in a
manner that incorporates movement
as opposed to static positions.
n BE IN CONDITION FOR
YOUR ART
Strive to keep your body supple and
strong, especially areas that are impor-
tant for kicking. That usually entails
stiength tiaining lexibility woikouts
anu coiiective exeicises
n CONSIDER TISSUE RESTORATION
Remember my opening comments
about fascia? Many people use foam
rollers, body balls and trigger-point
release tools to target their fascia and
alleviate soreness and tightness. Try
it foam rollers are cheap to see
if you notice a difference in your kicks.
Nost likely youll inu the iejuvenateu
connective tissue and muscles will be a
boon. Just dont do it before a competi-
tion because it can hinder performance.
n RELAX WHILE YOU MOVE
When you kick, keep the muscles that
arent directly involved in driving your
foot into the taiget ielaxeu Bieathe
uiop youi shoulueis ielax youi ists
For the same reason being tense in spar-
iing usually backiies being tense while
kicking is detrimental. Kicking is a bal-
ance between strength and mobility,
control and agility. Tensing up equals
rigidity, not mobility.
n VISUALIZE
When you cant physically practice your
kicks perhaps youre in a place thats
not conducive to movement or youve
suffeieu an injuiy uo them in youi
mind. Youll be surprised at how much
beneit you can ueiive fiom executing
precision kicks inside your brain.
n CONTRACT, THEN RELAX
AND STRETCH
One of the best ways to stretch for kicks
is to use a gentle, short contraction in
the opposite direction, followed by a full
ielaxation anu ielease into the stietch
If you have a partner, that means she
should lift your leg into the stretch, and
after a few seconds, you press down
against her force, usually for a three or
ive count Follow it with a full ielax-
ation, then repeat. For best results, use
a partner you trust; if necessary, go it
alone using a wall for resistance.
n USE RECIPROCAL INHIBITION
That fancy phrase refers to another
kind of stretching, also called active
stretching or proprioceptive-neuro-
muscular-facilitation stretching. In a
nutshell: All kicks are a form of active
stretching, in which one side of your
body contracts to raise your leg. This
iequiies the othei siue to ielax Apply
this idea during static stretching by us-
ing a contraction of the muscle on the
opposite side of the one youre stretch-
ing befoie you ielax anu stietch it
n SEE YOURSELF FROM AFAR
Perhaps theres a kick you havent been
able to master. Ask a classmate to watch
you and provide feedback. The problem,
invisible from your perspective, might
be easy for another person to spot. An
alternative is to videotape yourself and
then analyze the footage. Why can this
ieveal pioblems you cant feel Because
injuiy anu inlammation can auveisely
affect proprioception, your ability to
sense the spatial position of your body.
Sometimes a view from outside is all
thats required to get back on track.
n SLOW DOWN
Occasionally perform your kicks in slow
motion so you can perfect each compo-
nent on its own You may inu that its
more challenging to go slow because it
iequiies extia contiol anu awaieness
Thats a good thing. Once you have the
pieces down pat, speed them up and
put them all together.
n KNOW THAT PERFECT
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
This update of the old adage reminds
you to never be lazy or sloppy when
kicking. Even if youre practicing kicks as
part of your warm-up, make them good
kicks. Slow down a little if you need to.
Focus on getting each piece of each kick
right. As I like to tell my clients, anyone
can kick well, but incredible kicks take
practice. Perfect practice.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A second-degree
black belt in taekwondo, Laura Probert,
MPT, is the owner of Bodyworks Physical
Therapy and the author of Living, Healing and
Taekwondo. She has specialized in corrective
exercise, John F. Barnes myofascial release
and craniosacral therapy for 20 years.
bodyworksptonline.com

60 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
I
f youre like most people who read
Black Belt, you study martial arts
to boost the odds that youll survive
a physical attack. You probably
train for a variety of other reasons, as
well, some of which are physical, some
mental and some spiritual. To aid you in
your martial pursuits no matter where
theyre focused, Black Belt sat down with
Stephen K. Hayes, a man who has a life-
time of experience that spans all three
facets. He gained fame as a proponent of
Tokakure-ryu ninjutsu, but nowadays he
concentrates on spreading the system he
evolved from his ninja roots. Hayes was
Black Belts 1985 Instructor of the Year
which means the Dayton, Ohio-based
master has plenty of life lessons to dole
out. So curl up on the couch, grab some-
thing to sip and prepare to have your be-
liefs challenged and your mind opened.
How do you distinguish your art of
To-Shin Do from other systems?
In a nutshell we uont piactice to ight
or to conquer others; we practice to
protect and rescue somebody or
ourselves. We practice what to do if we
must stay and end violence rather than
just guaiuing anu iunning away Thats
veiy uiffeient fiom willfully enteiing a
ighting contest with the goal of being
the next champion.
When it comes to rescuing, what are
the most important considerations?
First is to realize that there are
people who are very experienced at
uishing out violence Seconu is to not
expect law enforcement to protect
you Thiiu is that things aient always
black oi white legally When uefenu-
ing youiself even though the othei
peison may have tieateu you wiong-
ly, there are laws that protect the at-
tacker sometimes more than the
defender. Fourth is that people need
to keep in check that desire to leap in
and save everyone.
Whats wrong with a martial artist
wanting to help others?
Theies a ieal attiaction to that Weie
going to clean up the 0lu West as they
useu to say The uificulty is no one
has the legal iight to juuge anu punish
Even the police uont have that iight
they only aiiest anu then let the juug-
ment happen elsewheie Thats veiy
different from the old days in Japan,
when the samurai showed up and were
expected to resolve problems.
The woilu is a ciazy place What
happens if you intervene and it turns
out there isnt one troublemaker but
thiee The situation escalates anu you
might be in way ovei youi heau espe-
cially if theyie expeiienceu at hanuing
out brutality.
Most people in martial arts schools
aie tiaining in conuitions that simu-
late aggiession Bowevei the toinauo
of mayhem with people lying in anu
out anu emotions iunning high they
probably have never experienced that
before. Its very different from the kind
of adrenaline you experience when the
stakes are only I could lose this match.
Youre saying that things are very
different when a student knows his
sensei is about to step in and sepa-
rate people who are sparring.
Yes thats something that neeus to be
emphasizeu moie Some people aie
neivous about acknowleuging this
They say I teach the ultimate foim of
self-defense, but what does that mean?
The ultimate foim of selfuefense
would be some kind of phaser [like in
Star Trek] just stun the attacker so
you can get out of theie
Theies a big uiffeience between what
we expeiience in the tiaining hall anu in
a stieet ight with iespect to oui sense
of self-identity. In the dojo, my personal
identity is a person who will do his best
under the constraints of safety and so
foith 0n the stieet people might be
sweaiing insulting me playing with
The American Ninjutsu Authority, Now
65, Talks About How His Views on
Martial Arts and Self-Defense Have
Changed Over the Years
BY FLOYD BURK

BLACKBELTMAG.COM JUNE/JULY 2014 I BLACK BELT 61
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my emotions and forcing me to make
strategic decisions that normally arent
part of life in a martial arts school. The
big question is, If we are talking about
defense, how do we provide lessons
that will prepare people for that type of
situation ts more dificult than some
martial artists acknowledge.
Regarding people who never experi-
ence real violence how does a per-
son overcome this?
One, you need an instructor who
knows what he or she is talking about
and addresses what will happen in an
honest way.
Two, you have to realize that violence
is a cultural thing thanks to video games,
YouTube, music and whatnot. We glo-
rify the idea of being a thug, a robber
or a gangster. We have young men who
feel manly by strutting around with an
MMA look even though they dont train
in MMA its seen as cool.
In ancient times, virtue was impor-
tant, especially in martial arts. Look
how many Chinese, Japanese and Kore-
an martial arts have the word virtue
in their names. But virtue is misunder-
stood nowadays. Virtue used to mean a
man who was very strong and took care
of people. Thats what was cool, not be-
ing a thug or a robber.
Three, you need to know that laws
will not always protect you. We read in
the news about the knockout game,
in which people are just walking along,
not expecting any trouble, and all of a
sudden some kid runs up and punches
them in the back of the skull. We need
to be trained to be more aware. That
doesnt mean being paranoid or angry,
just more aware. We have to take more
personal responsibility.
Should all martial arts training be
reconigured to prepare students to
deal with these kinds of situations?
I dont know if it should. In a recent
conversation, my wife Rumiko said
that for most people in Japan who
study martial arts, self-defense and
ighting are way down on the list of
what they want out of it. For most Jap-
anese, studying martial arts has to do
with the personal challenge. If some
technique doesnt look like it would
rescue them from a gang assault on a
New York subway, they dont question
it. Thats not why Im training, they

62 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
say Im not going to be a ightei on
the stieet
0thei aits aie even moie extieme In
kyudo, foi example you weai olutime
clothes anu iie aiiows veiy slowly You
can uevote youi life to it The }apanese
know it can leau to peisonal cultiva
tion anu a moie peaceful society When
you take a peisonalcultivation piactice
anu then biing it ovei heie anu call it
selfuefense theies something a little
wiong with that
That biings me back to point No 1
Youve got to have an instiuctoi whos
willing to be upfiont not only about
himself but also about what hes teach
ing Be may be teaching spoit kaiate
oi 0lympic taekwondo anu have a lot
of it young people at his school Say a
police oficei comes in anu says I have
to chase outlaws ovei builuings to ai
iest them can you help me Is the
instiuctoi going to enioll him in his
piogiam 0i will he be upfiont Thats
not ieally what we uo Bell iisk losing
that customei but not to say that seems
uishonest to me
What can martial artists do to spread
this message?
Ah theies the catch A teachei might
ask Bow uo I leain how to live an hon
est anu inspiiing life The only piacti
cal way is to have a skilleu anu accom
plisheu mentoi who can guiue you The
challenge is making that attiactive in an
age when young instiuctois as a iule
uo not want a mastei teachei they want
to stay inuepenuent anu uo it theii own
way They only want the techniques the
mastei teaches not the annoying coi
iections anu lessons fiom him
Lets talk about competition for a
minute. Many people say theres no
room in the ninja arts for it.
It woulu be silly foi me to say theies
no ioom foi competition oi say that
oui stuff is so ueauly it cant be useu in
competition We coulu take pieces of it
anu compete who can cut thiough
the most taigets with a swoiu who can
outwiestle somebouy who can be the
most accuiate at shuriken thiowing
who can climb the best These aie cei
tainly valiu within a ninja maitial ait
Bowevei uue to the necessaiy ie
stiaints competing in noholusbaiieu
ights is not viable Theie its not ie
ally like a stieet ight its a uiffeient en
viionment The emotions the thoughts
the ueinition of winning eveiything
is so uiffeient
Foi guys anu giils in theii late teens
anu us having a safe fullboie com
petition can be a goou spiiit builuei
I have a fiienu whos tiaineu with me
foi yeais anu has a fouithuegiee black
belt in oui ait Bes one of the toughest
Aimy mastei seigeants Ive evei met
When he heaiu that his people weie
going to stuuy Biazilian jiu-jitsu, he al
most thiew up Be saiu This is not the
ieality theyie going to expeiience in
the ielu If youie cieeping though the
villages outsiue a foiwaiu opeiating
base its not going to help you
Iatei he became a fan of jiujitsu Be
saiu We aient teaching them how to
ight weie letting these young guys
expeiience theii toughness }iujitsu
woiks well because its uone in a way
thats not too uangeious I thought
about it anu ueciueu yeah we can tuin
these guys loose like lion cubs It seives
a puipose Its not to teach them how
to ight its to teach them to believe
theyie stiong believe theyie tough
believe they can help iescue someone
else oi themselves fiom an alteication
I think its a valiu pait of tiaining
Do you think traditional martial arts
are good for preparing people to
prevail in a real ight
In some maitial aits theie aie veiy foi
mal movements with kiai. }ust like in
my own classical ninja tai-jutsu, it looks
so uiffeient anu sometimes people aie
veiy ciitical of this foimal movement
But these movements seive a puipose
foi conuitioning Naybe they teach you
to push youi chest foiwaiu tighten youi
legs anu ioai like a tigei Thats a gieat
lesson in life to inu that innei tigei
You might not uefenu youiself that way
in a stieet scufle the puipose of some
of these exeicises is spiiit conuitioning
I hau a conveisation with somebouy
who uiunt appieciate his own kaiate
Be ciiticizeu a kata in which you uont
move aiounu much But the iuea of
the kata is to conuition youi inteinal
muscles which is why you tighten as
you bieathe all the way in anu all the
way out Youie not going to uefenu
youiself like that thats not why people
uevelopeu that exeicise Its conuition
ing youi muscles anu youi bieathing
so if you uo get hit you wont get in
juieu as much The peison hau nevei
thought of it that way maybe because
he staiteu teaching too soon anu hau
nevei leaineu that lesson Theie aie
puiposes to many paits of the maitial
aits that uont look like ighting
Do you think karate students are
taught too many kata, causing them
to never really learn the concepts be-
hind them?
I hesitate to ciiticize anybouy elses
maitial ait but I think its likely Even
in my own ait we wiestle a bit with the
temptation to oveiloau People want
new stuff They uont just like to uiill
its not enteitaining
Do you believe in the old saying
that a few techniques mastered are
worth a thousand sampled?
Know what you know well then go on
to the next level Beies that next level If
you can uo it quickly if you can be tuneu
in enough to sense wheie this peison
is going with his technique then you
can give him the space to allow him to
believe his technique is going to woik
Now you know wheie hes going which
makes it easiei to pick the iight uefense
Thats the ninja way to tiain
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Floyd Burk
is a senior adviser to Independent Karate
Schools of America. For more information,
visit iksa.com. For information about Stephen
K. Hayes, visit StephenKHayes.com.

Together in one collectors edition! Black Belt Books has compiled the best-
selling six-book Ninja series by Stephen K. Hayes into one must-have volume.
Te inspirational and legendary master has updated and added to the original
material, bridging the gap between the needs of contemporary society and the
essence of the ancient once-secret ninja art.
Hayes, inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1985, achieved
the rare rank of judan (10
th
-degree black belt) and was formally
ordained in 1991 as a teacher in the 1,200-year-old Japanese
esoteric meditation tradition. Here, in one volume, he shares the
secrets of the warrior sage.
To order, call toll-free: (800) 581-5222 or visit blackbeltmag.com/ninja
Code: 528
Pages: 927
Retail: $69.95
ISBN: 978-0-89750-206-1
Te Complete
Ninja Collection
by Stephen K. Hayes

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BLACKBELTMAG.COM JUNE/JULY 2014 I BLACK BELT 65
F
or beginners, angles of at-
tack can seem like a subject
thats frustratingly compli-
cated. How are you supposed
to detect a threat, evaluate the angle
of attack and then implement your
counter all in a split second? You
increase the difficulty of that task
when you take into consideration the
possible movement of the opponent.
The good news is, with the proper
preparation, you can overcome those
challenges. The key to doing that is
to learn the concepts, go slow and ex-
periment at every stage he irst stop
on your journey is to familiarize your-
self with the compass principle. Its
a proven method for envisioning and
practicing the angles of attack that
might come into play in a ight
IN THE CLASSROOM
Envision yourself from above, standing
at the center of a magnetic compass.
North is to your front, east is to your
right, south is to your rear and west is
to your left. Its not unlike when you
were in the Boy Scouts, trying to follow
a map using a compass.
In combat, an opponent can approach
you from one of those four directions
or any one in between. Assuming both
parties are stationary, your counter
will need to be ired back in the same
direction to hit him. Of course, if either
person changes position, youll need to
adjust your targeting radar.
Now, keeping track of where your op-
ponent is with respect to your compass
is a great learning tool for the dojo, but
its far too time-consuming to use in a
ight ts main usefulness in selfde-
fense lies in helping your brain remain
aware that an attack can come from
any direction and that your counter can
lash out in any direction.
ON THE MAT
Once you understand angles of attack,
youll need to engage in live training to
ensure you can implement what youve
learned about the compass principle
in real time oull ind that angles of
attack are so closely related to self-
defense training that youll invariably
walk away from the scenarios with
You Don't Need to Be a Master to Start Using Them in the Dojo
BY LEON D. WRIGHT
of Attack
A
n
g
l
e
s
Beginners Guide to
"An effective training method
is 'chaotic sparring.' It's
based on you and your
opponent agreeing to
change your angIe of
attack immediateIy
after your rst
technique and
before you
unIeash your second."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Leon D. Wright
retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2003,
after which he chose to live in Afghanistan
and teach hand-to-hand combat to active-
duty military members. A martial artist for
nearly 45 years, he was Black Belts 2010
Self-Defense Instructor of the Year.
iisthanu knowleuge of the angles
even if you uont know it
Tiaining foi eveiy angle will feel un-
natuial at iist but the moie you conui-
tion youi minu anu bouy the easiei anu
moie luiu youi movements will be-
come The main goal is to expanu youi
awaieness in all the compass uiiections
anu leain which techniques aie best
foi auuiessing attacks that come fiom
those uiiections
Foi example consiuei the fiont kick
It woiks gieat against an opponent
whos stanuing to the noith anu 0K if
hes to the noitheast oi noithwest To
use it against someone whos to youi
east oi west itll iequiie a 9uuegiee
pivot In contiast a iightleg siue kick
iequiies a pivot to attack an auveisaiy
to the noith but no telegiaphing move-
ment to hit one to the east With slight
mouiication it can taiget an opponent
to the south Such aie the lessons youll
leain in live tiaining
Anothei effective tiaining methou is
chaotic spaiiing Its baseu on you anu
youi opponent agieeing to change youi
angle of attack immeuiately aftei youi
iist technique anu befoie you unleash
youi seconu In this way neithei peison
will know wheie oi foi how long a tai-
get will be in a ceitain position Chaotic
spaiiing will take you one step closei to
a stieet ight wheie motion is a given
While youie engageu in chaotic spai-
iing which means you anu youi pait-
nei aie on the move in a iealistic envi-
ionment pay attention to how youi
suiiounuings can affect youi use of the
compass piinciple If youi back is mo-
mentaiily to a wall you obviously uont
have to woiiy about an attack coming
fiom the southeast the south oi the
southwest A smait maitial aitist will
not only auapt to these ciicumstances
but also leain how to manipulate them
Foi example if youie foiceu to uefenu
youiself in a paiking lot positioning
youiself between two cais will hinuei
youi mobility but it will also seveie-
ly limit the angles fiom which youi
opponents can come at you
ON THE STREET
Nost people will tell you that an attack
fiom the ieai oi south is the one they
feai most because of the inability to see
the aggiessoi Theies no magic bul-
let foi uealing with this othei than the
twopiongeu tactic of awaieness anu
mobility By constantly tuining youi
heau anu shifting youi eyes to take in
all 6u uegiees anu then maneuvei-
ing to make suie no one appioaches
you fiom behinu you can minimize
youi vulneiability
Bow can you tiain foi this veiy ieal
possibility Nultiple attackeis in chaot-
icspaiiing scenaiios of couise
When it comes to haiucoie tiaining
foi selfuefense all maitial aitists have
theii own stiategies philosophies anu
piefeiieu techniques anu thats ine
The one constant is the ielevance of the
angles of attack Eveiy technique an op-
ponent can thiow at you has to stait
somewheie anu then follow a path to
youi bouy anu eveiy countei you
launch must uo the same Thats the
logic behinu the angles anu the com-
pass piinciple Its also why so many
maitial aitists apply this concept in the
uojo in piepaiation foi the stieet


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72 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
BETTER BUSINESS
A
s you manage your dojo in these economically turbulent times, youre
probably seeing students drop off the radar. Hopefully, youre also seeing
newcomers take their place. Its all too easy to focus on attracting those
newcomers, but to ensure your success long term, you also need to think
about your core.
Your core is composed of the students who train with you year in and year out.
Chances are they constitute more than 60 percent of your student body. That
means you must be extra diligent about meeting their needs. To keep your core
strong, you must pay attention to three key areas in which issues frequently arise.
SUPPORT SYSTEM: Most core students have a support system that consists of
parents or a spouse hat system is constantly being squeezed inancially per-
haps by the rising cost of groceries or gasoline. If the students begin to speak nega-
tively about attending your class, their support system will be less inclined to dole
out the funds and/or encourage them to continue. After all, if they drop out, some
of the inancial burden will be lifted
To keep the support system happy, avoid increasing tuition when times are
tough. If you determine that you need to raise your rates, consider applying the
higher tuition to new enrollees only. Grandfather in your core at the current rate.
Similarly, dont inundate your students with extra fees. Think about how much
you hate being nickelanddimed by your inancial institution s soon as your
bank enacts one too many fees, you jump ship. Dont give your core a reason to do
the same.
CIRCLE OF ASSOCIATES: Whether you know it or not, many of your students are
under pressure to drop out. It may come from classmates, co-workers or simply
friends who think training is silly. Sometimes it comes from a fellow athlete or the
coach of another sport who regards martial arts as a distraction. Dont inadver-
tently add to those students anxiety.
There are simple ways to do this. Avoid scheduling required classes and events
on Friday nights. Be particularly mindful during football season because thats
when many young people like to hang out with friends. The same goes for holidays
such as Mothers Day, Fathers Day and Valentines Day.
or the little ones aturdays demand lexibility because thats when most par-
The Core of a Successful School
by Floyd Burk
ents like to schedule birthday parties. If
a young student tells you she cant at-
tend a dojo activity because of such a
commitment, dont frown at her. Like-
wise, if an older student says he has an
anniversary obligation, dont drop any
guilt-trip bombs. Instead, tell him how
important it is to keep peace on the
homefront.
If members of your core have con-
licts with other sports consider hav-
ing an alternate class plan for them. If a
parent mentions an overlapping soccer
schedule, allow the student to tempo-
rarily attend the adult class. If need be,
suggest a once-a-week training sched-
ule during the congested period. Dont
be hardheaded and say, If the soccer
coach wont change his practice times,
why should I? Remember that those
coaches have little to no lexibility
when it comes to scheduling ield time
Fortunately, you do.
PERSONAL GOALS: Your core stu-
dents are motivated to train regularly
because theyve set goals they want to
achieve. Its your responsibility to help
them succeed. Be considerate about
not wasting their time. Start class when
youre supposed to. Help them learn
what they need to know to achieve
their goals and offer timely feedback. If
your lesson plans arent helping them
reach their goals on schedule, consider
adjusting your curriculum. If theyre
achieving the goals too soon, consider
beeing up the requirements
Remember that a student isnt always
in the mood to learn new material
sometimes he or she just needs to work
out. The longer you know the student,
the easier it will be to igure that out
fellow instructor recently told me that
poorly planned martial arts classes are
driving people into CrossFit studios and
Zumba programs. That doesnt mean
you must transform your dojo into a it-
ness center; it means people want vari-
ety in their physical challenges.
The bottom line is youre responsi-
ble for everything that goes on in your
school. Its up to you to make the pro-
gram challenging, enjoyable and worth-
while. Thats the best way to ensure that
your core gets everything it needs.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Floyd Burk is a senior adviser to Independent
Karate Schools of America. iksa.com


74 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
Where the Customer Is King
by Jason Brick
A
s John Pellegrini tells it, the
days of forcing martial art-
ists to teach a centuries-old
curriculum and requiring stu-
dents from all walks of life to learn ex-
actly the same techniques are long gone.
Thats why he tasked the instructors of
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Whats good for the military isnt
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legrini says. That concept, relatively
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Believing that any martial arts orga-
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Scali, a DSI instructor for 20 years. He
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Apparently what Pellegrini does with
respect to the art is working. Alfred Me-
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hether a person is a police oficer
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self-defense is possible provided he
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and a qualiied instructor ellegrini
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self, so they dont give themselves a
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To that end, DSI has produced a cadre
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Another group Pellegrini goes out of
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to learn but dont have access to a DSI-
authorized school. Thats why DSI cre-
ated Combat Hapkido University. It
publishes books, manuals and videos
for long-distance learners and admin-
isters their martial arts education. Stu-
dents who participate in the program
are encouraged to attend regional
seminars whenever possible to en-
sure their skills meet the standards of
the organization.
The one-two punch of an effective
curriculum and top-notch programs for
students and instructors has enabled
DSI to become one of the most success-
ful organizations in the martial arts in-
dustry. Its grown to include more than
200 schools in 31 states and 11 coun-
tries, and Pellegrini and crew are pull-
ing out all the stops to ensure it contin-
ues on that course.
P
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82 BLACK BELT I JUNE/JULY 2014 BLACKBELTMAG.COM
The 162nd issue of Black Belt was
dated June 1977. It was 76 pages long
and featured a ninja-masked Michael
D. Echanis (left) on the cover.
From
the
Archives
Vol. 15, No. 6, $1
Of the Special Forces members who volunteer for the
extreme hand-to-hand combat and weapons training
conducted by hwa rang do stylist Michael D. Echanis, al-
most half quit within the iist 4 houis
What could cause those elite soldiers to throw in the
towel A close encountei with uu to Suu knuckle push
ups 1uu wiist pushups Su to Suu situps jogs thiough
tunnels that aie paitially illeu with watei anu then enu
less repetition of basic techniques. Eat lunch and repeat.
On the value of kata in the education of a martial artist,
a reader from Georgia writes: Football players do not
go right out and play football. They exercise, run sprints,
piactice tackling anu blocking anu iun plays To sepa
iate one pait fiom the othei woulu take away fiom the
whole player.
Regaiuing the same subject kata anu speciically
why Biuce Iee spoke against it a man fiom Ios Angeles
opines: Lees brand of combat training is for the self-
uefenseoiienteu athlete while kata has a bioauei iange
of participants.
Rusty Kanakogi leaus the 0S womens juuo team to 1u
gold medals at the British Open.
At Jay T. Wills school, every student gets to go one-on-
one with the mastei The cost is a week he says This
entitles each student to one private lesson, three group
lessons anu one spaiiing class each week
The Battle of Atlanta announces that it will reintroduce
light contact to its annual kaiate competition
The town of Rogeis Aikansas hosts a new 6 mil
lion stateoftheait tiaining centei foi juuo anu othei
sports. Problem is, because of politics and its off-the-
beaten-path location, practically no one trains there.
Want your very own nunchaku keychain You can get
one foi 149
ueoige Billman is pioileu in a page stoiy that
doesnt even mention pressure points. Instead, it high-
lights his boxing tiaining in tiauitional kaiate anu juuo
and specialization in martial arts weaponry.
Is tai chi a ighting ait oi a methou of exeicise Nai
shall Boo iesponus You cant expect something fiom a
culture as totally different as Chinas to be the same as it
was theie People heie uont want to take the time nec
essary to develop tai chi into a martial art, but a martial
ait most ueinitely is
Boo continues If youie talking about a maitial ait in
the sense of competition such as tournaments, then tai
chi is not a maitial ait If youie talking about a means
of uefenuing youiself if attackeu on the stieet then tai
chi is an excellent martial art.
The man who knows weaponless uefense anu contiol
tactics is not going to be unuei the same kinu of pies
sure as the man who can only choose between no force
and maximum force. When the Police Martial Arts Club
in New Yoik City issues a ielease beaiing those woius
the message is intenueu foi its oficeis Civilians no
uoubt inu it just as useful
(Note: Back issues are not for sale. To purchase a hard copy of the cover
of this issue or any other, visit facebook.com/BlackBeltMagazine and click
Cover Reprints at the top of the page.)

"`i o o`> vom l>Vk il ook U n xn-x U Ll>VkLilm>}Vomho
CHINESE GUNG FU (Revised and Updated)
by Bruce Lee
Black Belt Books new edition of Chinese Gung Fu: The Philosophical Art of Self-Defense gives martial arts enthusiasts and collectors
exactly what they want: more Bruce Lee. In addition to the masters insightful explanations on gung fu, this sleek book
features digitally enhanced photography, previously unpublished pictures with Lees original handwritten notes,
a brand-new front and back cover, and introductions by widow Linda Lee Cadwell and daughter
Shannon Lee. Fully illustrated. 112 pgs. (ISBN-13: 978-0-89750-112-5)
Book Code 451Retail $12.95

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