| MARTIAL ARTS |
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| I've been activly involved with some for of martial arts since I first started in 1994. I earned my first degree black belt in October 1999 in Tae Kwon Do. |
| MY PHILOSOPHY: I learned from my instructor that the human body moves the same way, regardless of what style of martial art one studies, and that there are only two kinds of martial arts: the kind that works, and the kind that doesn't. From the begging, different styles of fighting are extremely different, but as a student progresses hard styles become soft, soft styles become hard. And though movements become more and more similiar, most instructors refuse to believe this. Why? Because they are not open to other styles. I believe that every martial art has some essential part to a puzzle that is a far superior style and technique. I believe that every one who learns karate should be an ever changing and advancing student, learning from other instructors and learning from instructing students. How I long sometimes to work with another black belt, and say "I know something you don't know, you know something I don't know, let's better each other by exchanging knowledge." But this rarely happens as most martial arts are stuck in their beliefs that "my style is the best" or "I'm an instuctor now and I only teach what I've been taught." This train of thought aggrivates me, because it's like talking a brick wall, and these kind of black belts don't like what I have to say. I by no means, believe that I am the best martial artist or better than any other black belt out there, but I believe that there are many styles that are becoming watered down my instructors and students who refuse to think for themselves and ask if why they are training the way they are and if what they are learning is practical. Learn as much as you can. I believe in a balance of everything one learns. So many people believe that Tae Kwon Do is impractical because of of all the kicking, but just because I know how to do difficult kicks does not mean that is all I'm going to do. Kempo, Shotokan, and Kunfu are incredible styles with close inside fighting, but when there is a distance between fighter, someone who knows how to kick practially has the advantage. And with both styles, if you are knocked to the groun, someone whose studied Aikido or Judo will have an advantage. Why should anyone have an advatage? Because a disadvantage comes to the one who hasn't had experience in that particular situation. So logically, as a student, we should want to train for every possible situation: ground fighting, inside fighting, distance fighting, evation techniques, and defense against weapons. As an eternal student, this is my goal. To take many styles to learn the similarities and differences so I may better myself and those who I teach. |
| MY EXPERIENCE, THUS FAR: 7 years Tae Kwon Do, 1st Degree Black Belt 5 years Phiipino Stick Fighting (i.e., Arnis, Eskrima, Kali) 2 years Shotokan Karate 1 year Aikido and Traditional Japanese Weapons |
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| As a serious martial artist I love Jackie Chan movies. His movies are fast, fun, and action packed, and despite his humorous perfomance, there is always a sense of realism and practicality ot his techniques. |