On Choosing a Style or System: A Chinese Kenpo Instructor Weighs In
May 8, 2008
In my experience, the particulars of how a system works typically means very little to the average prospective student. Instead, the most common interests expressed to me over the years by people considering taking up the martial arts are:
- The desire to learn self defense,
- To build confidence and
- To improve physical fitness.
How this was to be accomplished, more often than not, had little bearing on whether or not a student enrolled in my school.
It was once explained to me by one of my students who owned a tattoo business that the majority of his clients had only a vague idea what they wanted when they entered his shop. He continuously encountered this even though the choice his clients made would be with them for the rest of their lives. It was up to him to match them with the tattoo that was right for them.
Much in the same vein, the average prospective martial arts student normally does not have a great interest in the system; all they are concerned with is that it meets their needs. Interest in a system’s background and a sense of school pride often does not develop until later, perhaps even years down the road.
Based on this line of thinking it is my belief that finding a school that is right for you should be influenced just as heavily by the school environment and the personality and professionalism of its instructors as much as the system itself.
Having said that, I am going to explain just why I believe Chinese Kenpo is an excellent system that will meet the needs of most prospective students.
Chinese Kenpo is a striking based system that originated in mainland China around 2,000 years ago. Joint locks, holds, throws and ground techniques are intermixed in the system as a compliment to the striking skills. Over the years Kenpo has branched in numerous directions and has developed into distinctly different styles, with different looks, training methods and interpretations of this ancient art.
The word “Kenpo” (also spelled as “Kempo”) translates literally as “Fist Art”. Despite the differences from school to school, most Kenpo based systems typically rely on rapid hand strikes as their primary instrument of defense. This means that you do not need to be particularly flexible to practice the art, a bonus for many adult students.
The Chinese form of Kenpo is typically more fluid, circular and practiced with an emphasis on developing within the student the ability to quickly transition from one strike to the next. In addition, most Kenpo systems are known for their use of self defense techniques to teach responses to common self defense situations.
Training in Chinese Kenpo relies heavily on learning to practice with and without a partner, learning how to use forms and developing the ability to spar effectively. It is this emphasis on self-defense and practicality that makes the system so appealing to adult students.
All in all, Chinese Kenpo is an excellent choice for anyone who is just starting out in the martial arts. If you can find a school in your area, I encourage you to contact the school for a free trial lesson. Who knows? It may end up becoming a lifelong endeavor for you or your family.
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About the author: Mark O’Dell began training in White Tiger Kenpo in 1984, and hasn’t stopped since. A full-time instructor for the last 23 years, he teaches Chinese Kenpo Karate classes in Moreno Valley California.
A Brief Introduction to Judo History
May 7, 2008
Judo, which is translated as the “gentle way”, teaches the principle of flexibility in the application of technique. This is the flexible or efficient use of balance, leverage, and movement in the performance of Judo throws and other skills. Skill, technique and timing, rather than the use of brute strength, are the essential ingredients for success in Judo. For example, in Judo classes you may learn how to give way, rather than use force, to overcome a stronger opponent.
Judo is many things to different people. It is a fun sport, an art, a discipline, a recreational or social activity, a fitness program, a means of self-defense or combat, and a way of life. It is all of these and more.
Judo comes to us from the fighting system of feudal Japan. Founded in 1882 by Dr. Jigoro Kano, Judo is a refinement of the ancient martial art of Jujutsu. Dr. Kano, President of the University of Education, Tokyo, studied these ancient forms and integrated what he considered to be the best of their techniques into what is now the modern sport of Judo.
Judo was introduced into the Olympic Games in 1964 and is practiced by millions of people throughout the world today. People practice Judo to excel in competition, to stay in shape, to develop self-confidence, and for many other reasons. But most of all, people do Judo just for the fun.
As in all sports, Judo has a strict set of rules that governs competition and ensures safety. For those who want to test their skills, Judo offers the opportunity for competition at all skill levels, from club to national tournaments, to the Olympic Games. There are separate weight divisions for men and women, and boys and girls.
Judo is best known for it’s spectacular throwing techniques but also involves considerable grappling on the ground utilizing specialized pins, control holds, arm locks, and Judo choking techniques. Judo emphasizes safety, and full physical activity for top conditioning. Judo is learned on special mats for comfort and safety.
Judo is unique in that all age groups, both sexes, and most disabled persons can participate together in learning and practicing the sport. Judo is an inexpensive, year-round activity, that appeals to people from all walks of life. Many people over sixty years of age enjoy the sport, as well as very young boys and girls.
Judo develops self-discipline and respect for oneself and others. Judo provides the means for learning self-confidence, concentration, and leadership skills, as well as physical coordination, power, and flexibility. As a sport that has evolved from a fighting art, it develops complete body control, fine balance, and fast reflexive action. Above all, it develops a sharp reacting mind well-coordinated with the same kind of body. Judo
training gives a person an effective self-defense system if the need arises.
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About the author: Mark J. Speranza is a 6th degree black belt and full-time instructor. He teaches martial arts in Lindenhurst and Oceanside New York.
The Ancient Fighting Art of Southern Shaolin Kung Fu
May 6, 2008
There are numerous accounts and legends of the origins and history of the Shaolin Temple. In my humble opinion and what has been past down to me from my teacher’s this is the story of Shaolin. Most likely you learned of the Shaolin Temple through the Chop Sokey Kung Fu movies and the Kung Fu TV series of the 70’s.
Some of what you watch was true, yet some of the story lines are fictional. There were indeed 36 Chambers that a monk would have to successfully complete before exciting the temple and graduating. In the Kung Fu TV movie and series young Cain picked up the burning urn between his forearms to engrave the tiger and dragon.
In reality that scene is authentic, however in actuality the engravings on the forearms were both dragons. The legendary Shaolin Temple (Sil Lum in Cantonese) was also known as the “Number One Temple under Heaven” due of those incredible fighting monks. The Chinese characters for Shaolin translate to “Youthful Forest” or “Youthful Gathering.” Shaolin is the mother of all Asian martial arts (Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Jiu Jitsu, etc.).
Kung Fu went from mainland China to the island of Okinawa and later to Japan in the early 1900’s. They called it “karate” which originally translated to “Chinese hands.” Shaolin is translated to the Japanese language as Shorin-ji. Shorin-ji Karate came from Shaolin Kung Fu. The Indian monk Bodhidharma also known as Damo traveled to the Shaolin Temple taught the monks internal exercises for health, yet he was not the originator of Shaolin Kung Fu. Thousands of years before Damo’s visit there were already fighting arts in China. Shaolin is part of the rich history of China.
You can say that Shaolin was the first mixed martial arts arena. The Shaolin Temple was a place where numerous martial artists including fugitives hiding from the authorities, met and shared their martial arts systems. This was a place where different styles and weapons were put to the test before they went out to do battle.
The Northern Shaolin Temple was burned in approximately the 1750’s AD. According to Chinese legends, a monk by the name of Gee Seen survived the burning and traveled to Southern China to become the Abbot of the Southern Shaolin Temple. Gee Seen used the Southern Temple as an underground training center to overthrow the Ching Dynasty and restore the Chinese ran Ming Dynasty.
Numerous other styles of Kung Fu originated in the Southern Shaolin Temple including Hung Gar which I’m a Master of and Wing Chung popularized by Bruce Lee. There are five family styles that came from the Southern Shaolin Temple they are Hung, Lau, Choy, Li and Mok. These family kung fu systems continued the Shaolin tradition as rebels fighting the Ching Dynasty.
The Southern Shaolin Temple also taught the monks the 5 Animal styles of fighting. These movements were developed by monks carefully observing and imitating the moves of the Tiger, Crane, Snake, Leopard and the mythical Dragon. From the Tiger we learn tenacity and acquire power. From the Crane we learn to evade and strike vital points. From the Dragon we get wisdom. From the snake we learn patience and flexibility. From the Leopard we attain speed and power.
You can classify Kung Fu styles into four major categories: Southern, Northern, and External (hard) and Internal (soft). Southern Shaolin is a southern external style. A southern school is known for low stances, kicks below the waist and fast and powerful overwhelming hands. It is an external style which emphases mostly on power.
The Chinese have a saying “Southern Fist/Northern Kicks” which means that in the south they use their hands more and in the northern part of China they use their kicks. Much of this has to do with the terrain and their size and built of the people in the two geographic.
In Northern China they tend to be taller and more slender. Due to the Northern terrain, mountains and open land they walk and ride horses. They favor high kicks and acrobatic movements; where as Southern China’s terrain is agricultural wet land which produces rice and waterways which people live near.
In Southern China the people tend to be shorter and stockier. Due to the southern life style and terrain they make use of their arms more than their legs. Fighting in wet land or in a boat made it difficult to make large movements and kick high. The low Southern horse stance, for training balance and stability, was developed by the southern kung fu warrior.
Today Southern Shaolin schools teach numerous traditional Chinese weapons of war. Yet, in the Shaolin Temple no blades were allowed. Only non-bladed weapons were allowed through the gates of the temple. Monks were known for their great skills with their walking sticks, or as we call them today the staff.
Many define Kung Fu as a pretty, soft, circular, acrobatic, jumping, high kicking art that looks good in tournaments and in movies. The Chinese call this “flowery kung fu” which means that it’s pretty yet it has no defensive value in the streets.
A true Southern Shaolin school will teach you an art that was used for war. You will learn to use every move in a form to defend yourself. A Southern Shaolin fighter will attack his opponent violently with tiger claws and crane beaks to the eyes, elbows, tearing grabs, knees, kicks to the knees and groin, Chin Na (joint locks), sweeps, throws and take downs.
Southern Shaolin Kung Fu if handed down and taught traditionally, is not a sport but a reality based street self defense. In the end the only trophy that those fighting monks of Shaolin could win in ancient China was their life.
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About the author: Master Julio Anta teaches Hung Gar Kung Fu in Miami, Florida. He recently came out with the first video on Iron Ring and iron forearm training “Shaolin Physical Conditioning.” For more information on his training DVD you can log on to his web sites at www.AntaKungFu.com or on My Space at www.myspace.com/ShaolinFitness.
A Brief History of Traditional Jiu Jitsu
May 3, 2008
What is Traditional Ju-jutsu?
Ju-Jutsu (also often referred to as Ju-Jitsu or Jiu-Jitsu) is a fighting system that employs a wide range of techniques - which include strikes, kicks, throws, joint locks and choking. This is taught in stand up style (Tachi Waza) or from the ground (Ne-Waza), which has been recently popularized by the Brazilian jiu jitsu schools. In addition to this, Jujutsu also teaches weapons technique which include Sword, Roku-Shaku Bo (6 foot staff), Jo-bo (5 foot staff) and Han-bo (3 foot staff). Techniques and influences from Jujutsu can be found in virtually all styles of the martial arts.
Ju-Jutsu loosely translated means “science of softness” or “gentle art”, which refers to how the student uses their own strengh, and is applied to many schools of unarmed and hand-to-hand combat. The grappling style was intended to help unarmed soldiers to fight against armed enemies in any way possible, using the least amount of force necessary. Ju-Jutsu was the primary unarmed combat method of the Samurai. Aikido and Judo are both modern day descendents of Ju-Jutsu. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also finds their roots in early Japanese Jujutsu styles brought to Brazil by Maeda Sensei, a high level Kodokan Judo fighter.
Many techniques taught are similar to Karate, Aikido and Judo. These techniques come from many styles such as Takeda Ryu, Yoshin Ryu, Kito Ryu, Asayma Ichiden Ryu, Shinden Fudo Ryu, and Tagaki Yoshin Ryu.
Ju-Jutsu emphasizes turning an attacker’s own force against him or herself, putting them off balance. Ju-Jutsu also emphasizes certain grappling moves (Ne-Waza) and strikes to vital areas (Atemi-Waza). A Ju-Jutsu student is expected to learn how to gauge the force of an opponent’s attack and use it against him, evade attacks, use leverage against an opponent and how to attack nerves and pressure points.
The main goal in Ju-Jutsu practice is to cultivate a person’s mind and body: not to use it as a means to vent one’s anger, frustration or emotional problems. The use of force is condoned only in self-defense or in the defense of those who are defenseless.
The Origins of Ju-Jutsu
The origin of Ju-Jutsu is not clear, however the first publicly recognized Ju-Jutsu Ryu was formed by Takenouchi Hisamori in 1532 and consisted of techniques using a sword, jo-stick and dagger as well as unarmed techniques. The Takenouchi-Ryu may be regarded as the primal branch for the teaching of arts similar to that of Ju-Jutsu.
Several hundred years later there was a general shift from the weapon forms of fighting to weaponless styles. These weaponless styles were developed from the grappling techniques of the weapon styles and were collectively known as Ju-Jutsu.
Fukuno Schichiroemon of Temba started the Kito-Ryu in the middle of the 17th century. The Kito-Ryu gained great prestige and popularity with its “Art of Throwing” and “Form Practice.” In close connection with this branch was the Jikishin-Ryu, whose founder was Terada Kanemon, a contemporary of Fukono. They established two separate systems of Ju-Jutsu. These two systems appear to be the oldest of all the varied systems of Ju-Jutsu.
It has been estimated that over 750 systems of Ju-Jutsu were in existence in Japan from 1603-1868. The branches of Ju-Jutsu grew during the feudal period. The art continued in various provinces in Japan until the later part of the 18th century, when it began to decline with the impending fall of feudalism.
Kano Jigoro opened his first Kodokan dojo in the early 1880’s in Tokyo. Kano used his knowledge and experience of Ju-Jutsu to create Judo. During the Kodokan’s years, Judo almost completely smothered the prevailing Ju-Jutsu traditions of the area, perhaps due to Judo’s success in direct competitions with various Ju-Jutsu forms.
The United States Ju-Jutsu Federation (USJJF) was founded in 1971, and is the National Governing Body for Ju-Jutsu in the United States with the Ju-Jutsu International Federation (JJIF).
The United States Sport Jujutsu Association (USSJA) is the governing body for Sport Ju-Jutsu in the United States, acting as a member of the International Sport Jujutsu Association (ISJA). Sport Ju-Jutsu transcends other forms of martial arts competition in that it encompasses all fighting ranges. It challenges fighters not only to develop hand and foot speed, but also to have the versatility and skill to go into grappling using takedowns, throws and submissions. There is a U.S. National Championship that takes place every year in the fall, and a World Championship is held every two years.
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About the author: Mark J. Speranza is a 6th degree black belt and full-time instructor. He teaches martial arts in Lindenhurst and Oceanside New York.
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