Author: Jackson

Author: DANNY ROBERTS
TALENTED instructors and students alike gathered for the 1992 Bujinkan Ninjutsu Summit, with representatives from many Australian Bujinkan Dojos all eager to participate in this greatly an­ticipated annual event. The summit was held within the Hunter Valley NSW this year, and all in attendance partici­pated one hundred percent in their efforts to make the week­end successful.

Without a doubt the overall success of this year’s summit was primarily due to the en­ergy and unique skills and knowledge of the Australian Ninjutsu Academy’s Chief Instructor, Bujinkan’s Shid­oshi Michael Tattoli (5th Dan) and leading Bujinkan instruct­or from Taree, Sensei Chris Somerville (3rd Dan). The combination of Tattoli Sensei and Chris Somerville’s skills and understanding of the art meant that all participants were exposed to a diverse array of subjects in traditional Ninpo.

The aim of the Ninjutsu summit was to bring together instructors and students from a wide range of Australian Dojos, and to concentrate on intense training using trad­itional techniques applied to the Australian natural environ­ment.

Tattoli Sensei opened the proceedings with an informal lecture and welcomed one and all to the summit. As the rain began to fall, the students were led to an area for training in Taihenjutsu, with the empha­sis placed on harmonising with the rough terrain.

The morning training sess­ion continued with various techniques and stimulants in Bojutsu (Bo and Hanbo) and Shinobigatana (short sword), and covered the principles and applications of these weapons and their use in natural surr­oundings.

The afternoon session be­gan with instruction on emerg­ency first aid procedures Gust in case) and an invigorating bush run. Students were then instructed and participated in climbing and rope-traversing techniques, which included high speed aerial coverage. The late afternoon session dealt with securing an area for defensive purposes, which included techniques for trapp­ing and warning for the app­roach of intruders.

As evening fell the students were instructed in the ancient art of Ninjutsu’s concealment techniques. This was immedi­ately followed by the ever popular night movements ex­ercises. Students were required to utilise all their Ninjutsu skills to arrive at a set destination undetected by sight …

Author: Augustine Fong
Three fundamental motions are sometimes called the “seeds” or “the three families” of Wing Chun motions. Despite oblique references to the three families; there are not always clear enough explanations of their full meanings: why there are three how they are related and why they are important in martial activity. The questions are certainly important in Wing Chun but some of the physiological implications may inform other arts as well.

Physiologically the first section of the forearm immediately after the wrist is less muscled than the section closer to the elbow. This first section is used extensively in many styles. In Wing Chun the first section is often referred to as the “bridge” and is very important in the art. Conceptually this “bridge” performs many important functions. The bridge can be a crossing-guarding one’s structure. It is also an important platform for delivering power and energy to an attack. When in contact with anything it’s a crossing that has to be controlled. Given these and many other functions it is no wonder that the bridges are important in many things including Wing Chun’s unique learning tool called chi sao or sticky hands.

Tan, Bong and Fok
In addition to chi sao the bridge is an important element in Wing Chun attacks and defenses. Alignment of the bridge with the correct pathway for energy and power is important for all hand motions which in turn must be properly linked to the rest of the structure. The bridge or the sleeve part of the forearm is somewhat of a flattened oval section with a middle section and an outside and inside bony edge on the thumb side and the pinky side of the hand. The bridge therefore can be seen as having three sides: the two edges and the middle.

These three sides provide the foundation of the three families of all Wing Chun hand motions — namely the basic tan, bong And fok. Micro-circles controlled by the elbow link these three families depending on the side of the bridge being used. The legs also have similar names for …

Author: sensei
Many martial artists staunchly support “breaking.” They believe that a martial artist needs to understand the power behind the art. Still others argue that if break­ing were not part of the fighting art, it would not be a true martial art.

Breaking helps the practitioner to experience the principles behind self-defense through equivalency: understanding the technique and its ultimate use and power. When a break is attempted it represents the strike to a designated area. Depending on how many boards or bricks are broken, the material is equivalent to a particular body part.

Before breaking boards, the stu­dent should be well-conditioned and understand the mechanics of the break to be protected from injury. Before conditioning, he or she needs to understand the bodily functions of the skeletal structure. Also, what physiological changes happen during training and how the body reacts to these changes must also be realized.

Despite the hard, dry appearance of a skeleton on display, bone com­position is 25% water and 30% organic material. The strength and hardness of the bone is largely due to calcium. Bones contain living cells whose function is to manufac­ture connective material. Bone cells produce the formation of mineral matter which is deposited in the organic framework, harden­ing bone and giving it strength.

When a bone is injured, blood flows through and around the damaged tissue. The injury itself increases the local supply of blood. Additionally, the blood carries the needed nutrients to the injured tis­sue while eliminating waste prod­ucts. Increase the blood supply and you should accelerate healing. During repair, an injured bone depends on three different types of cells: Osteoclasts which tear down the old bone to make way for heal­ing; Osteoblasts which manufac­ture tissue that hardens and becomes bone mass in clotted blood surrounding the injury and forms a callus which connects the new bone; and Osteocytes which keep bone alive. If the bone dies, it is surrounded by soft substitute tis­sue that fills the space of the old bone without having equal strength.

Exercise makes the bone build­ing cells more active. An athlete usually has not only …

Author: Miles Henderson
CARLOS NAVARRO, grandmaster of the Black Eagle Escrima style from Cebu Island in the Philippines, has been a resident of Brisbane for the past eight years. In his mid-sixties, Carlos is a living encyclopaedia of Escrima technique and history.

Black Eagle Escrima is a composite of two old styles, Escrima de Llave and Escrima de Avinico; as well as Carlos’ own personal improvements which he calls ‘New Generation’ style. The curriculum of Black Eagle Escrima covers all the traditional weapons and combinations used in the Filipino Martial Arts: single stick, double stick, staff, dagger and sword. It also includes effective empty hands techniques.
Escrima de Llave was taught to Carlos by his grandfather, a grandmaster of the art. It was an old style, even in his grandfather’s time, with a history stretch­ing back to the days of the Spanish invas­ion. Escrima de Llave specialises in using the stick to apply a comprehensive array of locking and throwing manoeuvres. The stick is often held in the middle in order to be more effective at short range and for applying chokes. This style was origin­ally practised with a heavy stick, using crushing blows swung from the shoulder. In Black Eagle Escrima, however, the techniques have been adapted to a lighter stick which is swung from the wrist and forearm to deliver a ‘stinging’ impact.

Escrima de A vinico was taught to Carlos by his father, a grandmaster of this style. It is a style characterised by fast, fan-like, multiple strikes used in deadly combination with a dagger. Many of the double-stick techniques taught in the Black Eagle style are adaptations of the stick and dagger techniques from Escrima.

The ‘New Generation’ style has been developed from Carlos’ own experience on the Cebu City streets, in challenge matches, and from practising with other Cebuano Escrima masters. In ‘New Gen­eration’ the hand is the primary target for rapid, up-and-down slashing strikes. The intention is to destroy the attacker’s cap­acity for wielding a weapon …

Like all teachers who have taught over a number of years, Carlos has ‘gener­ations’ of students who …

Author: sensei
Jim Sheedy 4th Degree Black belt Chief Instructor – Sydney Australian Freestyle Taekwondo Academy

The Australian Freestyle Taekwondo Academy is one of the strongest martial art systems in Australia today. This is due to two main areas, technical standard and gradings assessments.
The A.F.T.A. has developed a reputation for having one of the strongest Dan examinations in the country in Taekwondo. We believe that to create a strong spirit and excellent ability, you must be tested, both mentally and physically to the limit.

Organisations are judged on their standard and strength, and these qualities are fostered through gradings. This is one of the reasons why the A.F.T.A. has made the blackbelt grading examinations one of it’s top priorities.

The examination board of the Academy, headed by Chief Instructor, Mr. John Callegari researches exams on an international level. This is to maintain the highest level possible for black belt examinations. Mr. Callegari is an internationally recognised instructor and examiner for Taekwondo world wide. It is through his guidance and direction, that has made the A.F.T.A. one of the leaders in Taekwondo, both in Australia and overseas. His view, is if you are going to wear a blackbelt around your waist, then you must have the ability and maturity to back it up.
Two of the strongest black belt exams in the Academy are the 2nd and 3rd Dan’ gradings. These exams promote different aspects of black belt. The 2nd Dan grading tests the physical and mental ability of a blackbelt, while the 3rd Dan examination tests the maturity and experience of a blackbelt.

In Kyokushin Karate, there exists the ultimate test of physical and mental perseverance in martial arts, the “Hundred man Kumite”. The great Sosai Oyama adopted this idea as the supreme test of the spirit.

We believe that every black belt in our system must be tested in the same manner. Although we do not fight one hundred men, we believe that all skills must be tested to the limit. If you are not capable of knowing your full potential and ability, then how are you to …

Author: MASTER HEE IL CHO
There has been a lot written and said over the years about the concept of belt testing in the martial arts. Most styles of training have some form of promotional exam, while some styles do not. For those people who are training in a discipline which grades its students for each higher belt, testing is often a mysterious and nerve­wracking event which causes more stress than perhaps any other aspect of training. This should not be the case, and students should be encouraged to discover what belt testing is truly about.

“Testing” is perhaps the wrong word for the event since in the west a person who “tests” is also a person who can possibly “fail”. If we are taught that in the martial arts there is no “failure”, how does one rationalize a belt “test”?

In each school, even where there are dozens of students, the master should be able to keep accurate track of each student’s progress. However, for each student to come up to the master for advice on their training would be impractical. It is for this reason that belt testing was first developed.

What a belt test really is, is a dialogue between the master and a student where the student wants to know how well he or she is doing. Test is the student’s way of asking, “How am I progressing?” By leading the student through exercises and techniques, the master can then assess the student’s ability under pressure. At the end of the test, the master will say one of two things: “I think that you are doing well. Why don’t you progress to the next level of training,” or “Why don’t you continue training at your present level for a while longer.”

This is why there is no “failing” in the belt test. To be told that certain techniques need additional work isn’t “failing”, it is constructive criticism. It is for this reason that a student shouldn’t be nervous during testing. Once all students understand that there is no “failure”, the pressure of testing is lessened considerably.…

Author: Tao Jianyun
Baguazhang is one of the youngest traditiona martial arts of China; yet its principles are based on one of the oldest philosophical works, the I Ching. It belongs to the school known as Nei Jia Quan (Internal Family Boxing) along with its sister arts of Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. All of these arts, but particu­larly Baguazhang, are deeply rooted in Taoist meditative and Qi cultivation practices.

Baguazhang is believed to have been created by Dong Haichuan. Before devel­oping Baguazhang, Dong was a practic­ing Taoist belonging to the “Chuan Chen” (Complete Truth] tradition of Taoism, in the branch known as the Lung (Dragon Gate) school.

For many generations, before the development of the eight palm fighting set of Baguazhang, the ‘Tung Men” Taoists practiced Bagua Circle Walking as a meditative Qigong art, combined with Mantra Recitation (chant­ing). Little is known about the circle walking practiced by Lung Men Taoists, and my own research into this area has been met with many dead ends. However, it s believed that when these Taoists were walking in a clockwise direction, the mantra recited was designed to awaken the mind to generate a clear understanding of reality.

This involved refining the (vital­ity Qi (energy) and 5hen (spirit) to develop a realization of emptiness (Tao). After walking the circle a minimum of three rotations and sometimes as many as 108 rotations; the practitioner would then cross though the center of the circle in an “S” shape; replicating the Taiji diagram. This would send the practi­tioner in an anti-clockwise direction. At this pointy the mantra would change and the focus became associ­ated with the purification of past negative karma. Again; the circle was walked from 3 to 108 rotations.

This article will be discussing Baguazhang’s circle walking on a meditative and Qi cultivation level; so little reference will be made to its fighting applications. This focus has been chosen as it is my understanding and belief that Taoist martial arts are not primari ly concerned with fighting. Taoists being concerned with spiritual refinement and the pursuit of immortality (enlightenment); became recluses and retreated away to …

Author: sensei
DALE EAGLING is probably the least nationally written about Taekwondo Master, but right now he could modestly claim to be one of Taekwondo’s most influential and successful leaders. Master Eagling has built his reputation nationally by word of mouth, and he has influenced instructors to rethink their martial art attitudes, and all who come under him would confirm, he has a motivational capacity which encourages instructors to strive for higher technical and ethical standards.

Dale Eagling is not backward to point out that most of the problems within Taekwondo today can be traced back to poor communication, and seniors too often have not set a correct model or example of Taekwondo etiquette for others to follow. Control of the human ego and to develop modesty, humility and correct control of one’s actions with skill and focus is what develops a true martial artist. Most of the bad sportsmanship displayed when a competitor looses at a tournament or on the other hand, the absolute obsession to win and overlook correct manner destroys our dignity. Tournament competition and traditional martial values and development can exist in harmony, however there are many schools who neglect, basic drills of thrusting blocking in forward and back stances, kicking combination drills, the forms (Hyung’s), one setp, two step, three step exercises and practical self defence and substitute for tournament oriented training only. Also, he makes the point that if one does become a champion, what does this mean? it means one competitor has scored more points than the other within a set of rules. Take away the protective gear and the rules and you come back to our basic aim and what our art is about, to teach a practitioner to protect themselves against any type of attack without any rules. We cannot be paper tigers in this business. He is surprised at the huge numbers of Taekwondo players around this country who have no idea how to stop knife attacks or firmly gripped chokes, head and arm locks. There is more to good self defence than kicking and punching, each student should be …

Author: Steve Davidson
THE PUDDLE of water on the floor grew larger as an­other drop of sweat trickled off my nose. We were all pros­trate in the lower part of the scoop pushup position. Back up the same way that you came, and push back. Backside in the air and watch, as Sensei Denis May (5th Dan Okinawan Goju Ryu, Chief Instructor, New Zealand) explains the finer points and application of the exercise.

This was Day 2 of the 1991 10GKF Gassuku, hosted by Sensei Peter Oberekar, Chief Instructor for Australia, with guest instructor Sensei Denis May leading the sessions. I had missed the first session at Honbu Dojo the previous night but earlier in the evening, at my own dojo, one of my brown belts had filled me in: “He’s hard!” seemed to be the most significant comment. This came as no surprise, as I remembered training with Sensei May about five years ago. It appeared he hadn’t changed much, besides which … this was agassuku.

Sensei May had explained at the first session that this week’s gassuku would follow the traditional format. First up, physical sessions and then, later in the week, kata and bunkai. So this was the second of the physical sessions trad­itionally known in Goju circles as mongrel sessions.

The previous ev,ening’s session had been long and hard. Very physical warmups, in­cluding the now much -loved scoop pushups, lots of J’cihon. Single techniques, double tech­niques and then combinations, all at a fast pace. Then onto ido and tai sabaki, working in :.pairs back and forward, forever, with Sensei always exhorting ­faster, stronger! The Thumday morning session had been not quite so intense, but followed the pattern.

And so here am I at Se:nsei Chris Larkin’s Kotara Dojo, after travelling halfway aCJross Newcastle, leaving my own dojo after it was up and nann­ing. Doing scoop pushups. Trying to describe them, the best I could do was to imagine doing pushups under a 9-inch high barbed wire fence and coming face-to-face with a snarling Rottweiller. More scoop pushups and the sweat runs. Sensei Dave Lambert ( 4th …

Author: SENSEI RICHARD NORTON
Thanks for finding the time in your busy schedule for this interview, Richard.

RN: That’s fine. I’ve just got back from working on a new film with Jackie Chan in Hong Kong called “City Hunter”, and I’m currently enjoying a hard-earned rest for a short time, before going on to the US.

TH: You are an international ambassador for Australian martial artists. How do you think martial arts in Australia are viewed by other inter­national stars?

RN: I think that as of late Australian martial artists are seen as being pretty good. Chuck Norris, for instance, has been out here and has a lot of respect for us. I first met Chuck in 1976, when he was doing demon­strations at a tournament Bob Jones and I had organised. We had some first-class demonstrations of our own that day, so he had his first introduc­tion to what it was like in Australia. I think he was pleasantly surprised at our standard. Since then I’ve been training with Chuck regularly over the years, and I’ve had a few friends come and train with him. He’s very familiar with Stan Longinidis, who he met when we did some training down at the Jet Centre where Stan trains, and he’s also seen guys like Tassis Petridis training there. So, in other words, Chuck’s had a good introduction to Australians and their martial arts, and as a result he has a lot of respect for them.

Australians overseas have a reputa­tion as having a strong drive, and a real yearning to learn and improve. When Benny Urquidez came out for seminars, he noticed that whatever the Australians lacked in knowledge, they more than made up for in their deter­mination and thirst for that knowl­edge. And he’s commented about that several times to me.

Ruben Urquidez (Benny’s brother and trainer), who is in the world class kick boxing scene, is of the opinion that it’s no longer a case of Americans coming out to give the Australians a bit of experience, it’s now that they’re coming out to really fight, because the …