Music For Coordination And Free Flow

I just finished working out to music this morning when I decided to write this article. What I wanted to talk about was using music to develop rhythm and timing. I love to watch the X-Treme Martial Arts athletes and how they have excellent perfoming music as they go through their routine of gymnastics mixed with martial arts.

When we work out at the Dojo we use music to stay in time (and go "off beat") to help with our rhythm. This is not such an easy task because we change up the music from African Drums, R&B, Hip Hop, Rock, Classical, Salsa, Merengue and World Music (music from other countries that is not in the "mainstream"). I have experienced music that just overwhelms me!! That's why we call it PRACTICE! But I am getting better at it over time!! LOL!

Let's say we are moving to System Of A Down's "Kill Rock 'n Roll". Now anyone familiar
with "Systems" music will know that this band loves to switch tempos in their music in a heartbeat!! The key is to pace yourself or you'll be off beat and you'll burn out!! We will start off by possibly working out with Deftones "Change (in the house of flies)". As we work the concepts of the "Rub A Dub" exercise we will then put one "Attacker" (a fellow classmate) to throw punches and kicks to the tempo of the music at another student who will be the "Defender". As the defending student gets a rhythm going another student will join in on the "attack". A track like "Change (in the house of flies)" keeps a mellow tempo that allows the student to get a good rhythm to block, redirect and deflect CONTINOUSLY on the move! As the student becomes rhythmically in tune with this beat it is encouraged to move to that "fly" baseline in "Change". Now remember the "defending" student can use any part of their body to defend themselves. The elbows and knees can be used for gentle blocking and redirecting (we don't ever want to have students hurt themselves or each other).

All students involved in this exercise MUST be relaxed. Nobody is trying to "finish" anyone off. It is a drill of deflection and subtle movement because you are being overwhelmed by two or several opponents! You can only "hit and run" with this type of attack. You cannot "Hold Your Ground" because you will be overwhelmed by your attackers onslaught.

There are other levels to this drill but this is where we start. This type of exercise will force the student to deal with attacks they cannot see but feel so they can roll off the attack and keep it moving.

I recommend moving to every type of music you can get your hands on. Fast tempo or slow tempo- move to them all! Below I have a list of music to move to to get you started:

Bass Swagger Chronicles- Sweet Talk

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJpHOfd7fjI&feature=share

Mazze- Molten

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRdHDJ4SItk

Missy, Jay Z, Twista & Mephis Bleek- Is That Yo Chic

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRKkOFdyl_c

Deftones- Change (in the house of flies)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL4MGwlZuAc

Lakme'- Flower Duet (performed by Erika Milo'sa & Bernadett Wiedemann)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX-6Ej2lnwg

System Of A Down- Kill Rock 'n Roll

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwBAivs3x9A

This is a very SMALL sample of what we move to. But I believe you get the idea. Try it out by going slow and work with people who are into learning- not abusing or being an idiot!

Osu!

Train safe, train smart.

-Buddha

Dan Bong 2

I just finished putting up the "Dan Bong 2" video on YouTube. And I am very happy that I can share my information with folks. My best friend and Assistant, Senpai Tyrone Turner has once again helped me to tape the video and be the "bad guy" (Uke) in the video. The Dan Bong is a fantastic weapon to strike and lock with and can be used as a flail. But I very rarely ever see demonstrations using the rope portion of the weapon for joint locks and "control" techniques. I hope that some interest will be considered after folks view this video and I welcome any feedback- as long as it's "real" (sincere martial critique). The Dan Bong is a Korean weapon that can be used with or without a rope either single or double weapon. I love the length of this medium range weapon because it can be stored away comfortably until needed.

I would like to thank Sabumnim David Herbert and his Black Belt Staff of the World Martial Arts Center (WMAC) for sharing their knowledge of this weapon with me. Sabumnim has stimulated my weapons applications principles with this unique and dynamic weapon.

Until next time good folks watch your back !!!

Kindest regards,

Buddha

WMAC
475 Atlantic Ave. (between 3rd and Nevins)
2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Phone:

(718)855- 9898

web:

www.happykicks.com

For your martial training needs visit Cane Masters.

web:

www.canemasters.com

The "SAF-T- WRENCH". . . Pure Brilliance !!!!!

Wow !!!!! Just in a "nick of time", the "SAF-T-WRENCH" by Datu Kelly S. Worden has arrived to put a new spin on a popular but well regarded "fist load" !!! It's a combination of a Dulo Dulo, Pasak (Filipino) and Yawara (Japanese) all rolled into one !!! I got mine two days ago from Shomer-Tec and man, the possibilities are endless !!! And it really stays secure in your hand with no tight or binded feel to it !!!! Just totally comfortable !!!!! For those of you who don't know, Datu Kelly S. Worden is a Martial Arts Master and maker of brilliant low profile self defense aids. The first of his great designs that I recall was the Impact Kerambit which had total success at my Dojo and among others who train and wanted a nice convenient self defense tool. The "SAF-T-WRENCH" was easily adapted to our Yawara and hand held defense loads. I was able to manipulate the tool very well within two hours of maneuvering it in my hand. When I struck some wooden boards laying on top of one another the tool felt real good in my hand when I struck down on the boards (using a hammer fist) and decimated them !!! My hand held firm with no pain at all. The "knuckle guard" of this weapon was very impressive as well. When I punched through another set of boards, again I felt no pain and the tool did not break or fail.

So ladies and gentlemen you can add the "SAF-T-WRENCH" by Datu Kelly S. Worden to your list of excellent self defense tools that will be there for you when some fools want to act out of hand. Osu !!!!

Check out Datu Kelly S. Worden's site:

http://www.kellyworden.com/

And Shomer-Tec:

http://www.shomertec.com/

At the Jajovida Martial Arts Ctr. we teach all self defense and impact weapons ! To inquire please contact us:

Website:

www.buddhastrike.com

Email:

www.buddhastrike@optonline.net

Phone:

(718)864-6022

Best regards,

Buddha

No Justice For The Suntetsu.

I had just finished watching the Suntetsu video sold by Sakura Martial Arts Supply and I was left a little disappointed. The Master of the video was putting down the "BOB" (Body Opponent Bag) and said it was useless and then proceeds to "push" his version of an anatomical training bag. He then goes on to say that many of the "secret" or combat hand positions in various forms of Karate- Do were meant for the application of the Suntetsu !!!! I then said to myself "Ok, educate me". But the instructor goes on ragging other Karate systems by implying that karate practitioners are doing hand techniques when they should be using the Suntetsu for those combat hand positions ! I then again said to myself "Ok, educate me" !! His demonstration of such a unique and dynamic weapon was so lame that if you have any problems falling asleep this "lame duck" video will do the the trick and you'll be counting sheep in no time !!!! He does a series of exercises that involve moving around the anotomical bag that were so stiff and weird to me that I had to wonder. There were many good people that came out for his seminar in that video and I feel they did not get what they paid for.

Again, my exposure to the filipino martial arts brings out a different dynamic that blends with all martial systems. You never imply to the good folks who come out to a seminar and say "well, your art is not good or you shouldn't train in this or that" !! That's absolute crap ! In my experience (25 years of training in the martial arts. And 15 years of doing executive protection and club security) I have had the pleasure of working with various men and women from diverse martial disciplines (karate, judo, tae kwon do, kung fu and the "school of hard knocks") and I am thankful that they were all talented in their art and watching my back !!!

The Suntetsu is obviously a close cousin to the Filipino Dulo Dulo, Yawara and Edda Koppa Yawara of Japan. I train with various "hand loads" and recognized the similarities. I purchased two Suntetsu's from Sakura Martial Arts Supply a very fine store might I add. And I have had no problems adapting my Yawara movements to the Suntetsu.

The only thing that is worth mentioning in this video is that he went over some joint locks and a choke that I liked but overall the video was not exciting and not worth the money in my opinion.

In my martial training you will have combat systems that you like but that does not disregard other systems of combat. And whenever I teach someone weapons technique I will refer to their martial style and say "Well, we do it like this- just like you but a variation" ! And once they make the connection their eyes literally pop out of their head ! Because now they understand !!

Sakura Martial Arts Supply
P.O. Box 35471
Canton, Ohio 44735

Website:

www.sakuramartialarts.com



Phone:

(888)725-8720

Here at the JAJOVIDA Martial Arts Ctr. we specialize in small impact weapons and we will show you the similarities and how these weapons relate to your martial system. To begin your path to learn small impact weapons contact us:

1736 Unionport Rd.
Bronx, NY 10462

Website:

www.buddhastrike.com

Office:

(718)864-6022

Till the next time. Train hard, train safe !!!!

Buddha

Martial Arts Training.

Hello to all out there in "Blogger Land" !! Just wanted to write a quick article about an "attitude" I have sadly noticed with some Martial Arts practitioners. It is not the Art itself but a certain mental attitude I've noticed. When practitioners put on their Martial Arts uniform to the time class is over. The training "ends" for them !!!! They put the Sai's, Bo Staffs and Swords back on the wall and that's it !!! In the system of combat I train in Pekiti Tirsia Kali our training attitude is different in that the Art is adaptive and our weaponry is not something that ends with the class. We have empty handed techniques and other forms of weaponry that are less lethal (depending on how you apply the weapon). When I teach a class it amazes me how the students react to feedback when their sticks forcefully impact with other sticks or heavy bags !!! This is an "understanding" as your hands are being "tempered" for the day should you have to "thrash" someone !!!! Also having a small weapon like a Yawara (Japanese) or Dulo Dulo (Filipino version of the Japanese six inch palm stick) changes your mindset towards your training. Training with these weapons keep you on "point". Why ? Because you don't leave your weapon in the Training Hall. It's with you all the time !!! That helps to raise your alertness on how to blend empty handed techniques to getting to your weapon if a self defence situation gets "ugly" !!!

Till then next time train safe,

Osu !!!

Buddha