One of the mst important aspects of avoiding injury with throws is not the training of the thrower (tori) but the training of the one being thrown (uke). Once a student of Judo or Aikido learns to fall correctly, the responsibility of the safety of the technique is primarily that of Uke. Tori does, however, have the responsibility to assure that the throw is executed in such a manner that Uke is not forced onto an extended arm and that Uke's arms are not dislocated or broken by the Tori's grasp during the throw. In Judo, Aikido and Jujutsu, there is great importance placed on knowing how to fall. In many dojos a student may be thrown by another only after his competence in "taking a throw" is certified by the instructor.
In Dragon Kenpo we may be frequently lulled into thinking that knowing how to fall is not very important because there are only a few throws. This is a misconception. Before the level of black belt, including the "entries", there are at least seventeen techniques involving throws. Some of these, such as Yellow 4, would not be allowed in many sport styles because of their inherent danger to Uke.
Most students can learn break-falls on their own with good video instruction. There are several jujutsu instructors that offer break-fall videos separate from their other training at a reasonable price. Most of us practicing Dragon Kenpo do not have the benefit of a matted surface on which to work. Gym mats present a danger in and of themselves because they tend to slide around and Uke frequently ends up next to the mat rather than on it. Although less than ideal, a good soft lawn can provide a good place to practice break-falls.
Once falling has been mastered, both partners can devote their full attention to learning the self-defense techniques because throwing and falling safety has become second nature.
- Jim Patus
BREAK BREAD WITH COACH PFEIFFER AND THE STUDENTS OF THE LAKE GENEVA SELF DEFENSE CLUB!
Members are advised to begin making their plans for our 4th Annual World Dragon Kenpo Banquet and Exams in b-e-a-utiful Lake Geneva Wisconsin. September 23 of 2006 is the date for our event. This year we will be doing a pot luck dinner. Exams and demos in the morning, Pool time for everyone in the afternoon, dinner and awards in the evening.
Contact Coach Pfeiffer for local lodging information as many places are within walking distance of our facility.
Unfortunately, injuries are a reality when we participate in sports or martial arts. At the beginning of each WDK lesson, we are reminded of the importance to warm up our muscles and joints by stretching and other movements. These warm-ups prepare us for the physical rigors of Dragon Kenpo. It is integral to remain flexible, and not rigid. What we study is for use in potential daily situations where warming up is not an option. As I quoted Bruce Lee last month, "The more relaxed the muscles are, the more energy can flow through the body. Using muscular tensions to try to 'do' the punch or attempting to use brute force to knock someone over will only work to opposite effect."
Warning Signals & Common Sports Injuries
Often, our bodies send us warning signals that we should heed. For example, bone or joint pain, severe muscle pain, often accompanied by muscle swelling or spasm, severe joint stiffness with restricted range of motion, altered sensation.
Since Kenpo requires punching, kicking, and evasive movements of many muscular and joint systems, perhaps it would be helpful to list some common sports injuries:
Achilles Tendonitis, Heel Spur, Iliotibial Band Pain (the area below the outside of the knee), Pulled Hamstring, Runner's Knee, Shin Splints, Shoulder Pain, Sprained Ankle, Stress Fracture, and Tennis Elbow.
Proper Footwear
Studies indicate that shoes, regardless of their price or materials, lose from 25 to 50 percent of their resiliency long before they appear worn out. Replace shoes when they have lost their bounce or when the heel support begins to collapse. Worn-heels can also create problems in other parts of the body. For example, with our skeletal posture and alignment that may create back or joint problems.
RICES: A Formula To Treat Injuries
This is a five part method to treat sport injuries:
Exercising In The Elements
While most of our Kenpo techniques are practiced indoors, there may be times when you choose to exercise outdoors. Let's look at ways to stay safe in the heat or cold.
Heat:
Drink plenty of fluids. Despite all of the specialized sports drinks on the market, water is the best resource for fluid replenishment. During hot and humid conditions, don't over exert yourself. You will sweat more; however, the perspiration does not cool the body as effectively as it does in cooler temperatures. You are more susceptible to heat injury if you are: obese, unfit, dehydrated, not used to heat, ill, under 15, or over 40.
Cold:
The real danger in cold weather is hypothermia, which occurs when our body temperature drops to dangerous levels. Here are ways to safeguard yourself if you work-out in the cold: Avoid fatigue, which is the true cause of most hypothermia. Dress in layers. Stay dry. Wear a cap.
From my earlier years spent riding motorcycles, I learned that over 80% of the body's heat loss comes from the neck area. That is due to keeping our brain at the correct functional temperature. If you keep your head and neck areas warm with hats and scarves during cold weather, you will feel warmer in other parts of your body. As you can see, this is one time that being a hot head may have some benefits. ;-)
Reference Source:
Restoring The Body: Treating Aches and Injuries, Time-Life Books, 1987.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only. WDK and the author are not medical experts, and are not liable for the use or misuse of the supplied information. For any injury, please consult with a medical professional.
- Steve Amoia
As we drove back from Austin I reflected on the movie "Peaceful Warrior" we had just seen. Based on Dan Millman's book "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior," the movie follows the story of Dan Millman, a gymnast injured in a motorcycle accident. While based on Millman's real life, the character of Socrates is said to be a combination many teachers Dan had while attending college.
A Peaceful Warrior sounds like an oxymoron. How can one be a Peaceful Warrior. The root of the word "Warrior" is "War," and "War" is generally considered the opposite of "Peace." So what is a Peaceful Warrior? Dan never really says what a Peaceful Warrior is, but we see one in Socrates and in his lessons to Dan. In the book, "Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior," Chogyam Trungpa tries to teach us how to be "Peaceful Warriors",
but he never gives a "definition."
Quite simply, defining a Peaceful Warriors with words is difficult. They are, however, easy to identify. Examples of Peaceful Warriors include King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Samurai of Japan, and Shaolin Monks of China. Even Jedi from the Star Wars movies would qualify as Peaceful Warriors. But how can they be "peaceful?" All of these groups are known for their ability to fight. While Peaceful Warriors may know how to fight, that is not their focus in life. In fact, if any of these Peaceful Warriors were to ever lose their ability to fight; nothing would change—they would still be Peaceful Warriors.
People are often attracted to the skills possessed by a Peaceful Warrior. Dan was attracted to Socrates when the latter was in a chair leaning against the wall of the gas station one second and on the roof of the gas station,
some 12 feet up, the next. He continues training with Socrates in the hopes of learning that one secret.
Socrates tells us that Peaceful Warriors look inside themselves for the answers. All of the problems we face in life have solutions inside of ourselves. That is because all of the problems in life come from inside ourselves. We are creatures of desire. When we do not get what we desire; we suffer, when we get more than what we desire, we suffer; even when we get exactly what we desire, we suffer because we can not hold on to it. Socrates teaches that getting rid of the desire is the true key to happiness.
Chogyam Trungpa tells us that Peaceful Warriors are fearless. But he describe fearless as being "beyond fear," not "without fear." A Peaceful Warrior acknowledges fear; fear is natural and instinctive. Fear is a tool that reminds us to be cautious, and only a fool ignores fear. Peaceful Warriors experience fear but do not let fear control their actions.
Both teachers tell us to recognize the moment. Live your life in the moment, here and now. Trungpa teaches us that there is a "basic goodness" that exists in everything, and it can be perceived in flashes. Basic goodness exists at pre-thought; before we label or judge anything we see. Socrates teaches that only by living in the moment, without judging, are we ever truly aware of anything. As Dan realizes, "There is never nothing going on. There are no ordinary moments."
And this is just skimming the surface. A Peaceful Warrior is a simple, yet extremely complex archetype. The path of a Peaceful Warrior is a life long pursuit; as soon as you think you have made it, you realize there is much
farther to go. Only somewhere along the journey, you do realize it is the journey that is more important than the destination. When Dan is asked at the end of the movie if he ever learned how Socrates got to the top of the
gas station, he replies "It doesn't matter." And he was right.
- Randall Hall
I offer greetings to all of you fellow Dragon Kenpoists and martial artists. My name is Joel White and I am a student and instructor of martial arts in Connecticut.
I mention "student" first to illustrate my honest belief that while on our journeys through the arts, we are always learning with a thirst for knowledge, driven by that little voice inside us that perpetually asks; “Do I know everything I should, for the rank I hold? What else might I do to become more proficient... to maintain my ability to react spontaneously to any situation, any threat, without the need for forethought?" I immediately think of Mushin; the Japanese word for no mind, which implies the benefits of relying of muscle memory versus the need to always think movements through, such as in a mechanical stage of learning.
Such introspective thoughts, where we second guess our abilities, are not necessarily something we need to be overly concerned about. In fact, in my opinion it's when we stop asking these questions and believe there is nothing left for us to learn, that we have the greatest cause for worry and need for knowledge. While we may wonder from time to time about our abilities, we must have trust in ourselves, in our training & practice and in our mentors through life, whether they are our masters, teachers, or coaches.
To offer a little insight into my background; I am currently a Sergeant with the Glastonbury, CT. Police Department and have been a member of that agency for the past 16 years. Prior to relocating to Connecticut, I started my police career in 1984 in New York City, on Roosevelt Island; the same year I started in the martial arts.
I am currently an Associate Professor of Martial Arts and I hold the ranks of Godan/5th Dan in Kenpo, Nidan/2nd Dan in Dragon Kenpo (I'm currently working toward my Sandan/3rd Dan), and I was recently honored with the title of Renshi, upon receiving the rank of Yondan/4th Dan in the art of Fusho-Satori-Ryu through Soke Bruce Calkins. I am a Certified Senior Martial Arts Instructor and Certified Martial Arts Rank & Promotion Examiner.
Additionally, I hold affiliations and have my school and ranks backed by several well known and well respected international martial arts organizations, to include; the United States Martial Arts Association (USMA), the International Combat Martial Arts Unions Association (ICMAUA), the Brotherhood of Martial Artists (BHMA) and the Diversified League of Martial Artists (DLMA), to name just a few.
I teach privately under the banner of the Combat Kenpo Fighting Academy (CKFA), an officially registered and backed school of the organizations previously mentioned. I'm excited that recently, the CKFA affiliated with the Golden Dragon Dojo of Fusho-Satori-Ryu in Perry, New York operated by Soke Calkins. We are now brother/sister schools and our students are able to access free training and complete studio manuals and lesson plans for each other's arts and styles; as such, each school now offers its primary arts as well as those offered by the affiliate school. Soke Calkins and I have found that our students are becoming richer and more varied in their abilities and skill sets as a result of their exposure to the arts practiced by each other's schools. More importantly, Soke Calkins and I, as well as our students, are now linked by lineage and as a martial arts family.
After speaking at length with Coach Pfeiffer about World Dragon Kenpo and all of its visions, goals and student/instructor member benefits, I was awestruck by all of the commonalities and how the pieces are further coming together.
In spite of this flurry of activity with the CKFA, my primary focus for the past couple of years has been as a volunteer instructor with the local PAL (Police Activities League) Martial Arts school located in the town where I live. In connection to that, I continue to feel honored to teach under, and be taught by Professor Bruce R. Tyler, the PAL MA School’s head instructor; a MA practitioner for 40 years. My wife Barbara and my 9 y/o daughter Brooke are also very talented members of the PAL Martial Arts family. Both currently hold the rank of brown belt in Kenpo, a rank achievement they have earned themselves, without any involvement on my part.
As for education, I have a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Martial Arts Science from the International University of Sports & Martial Arts Sciences, an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Combat Arts from the WMAOA University of Martial Arts Science and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Management (Summa cum Laude) from LaSalle University. I also hold the accredited credential of Certified in Homeland Security – Level III from the American College of Forensic Examiners; Board for Certification in Homeland Security.
Some of my most recent awards and honors are;
Inductee - 2004 United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame, in St. Louis, MO.
Inductee - 2005 World Martial Arts Black Belt Hall of Fame, in Kuching City, Malaysia.
Inductee - 2006 Brotherhood of Martial Artists Hall of Fame
Inductee - 2006 Diversified League of Martial Artists Hall of Fame
Awarded both, the Bronze and Copper Medals of Honor for Courage by the International Combat Martial Arts Unions Association (ICMAUA).
**Subsequently inducted into the ICMAUA Medal of Honor Union.
2006 DLMA Spring International Breaking Contest:
Category: Adult Men’s Black Belt/Under 200lb. Board Breaking Division:
1st Place winner Hammer Fist break; breaking 7 [12”X10”X 1” thick] Boards.
1st Place winner Elbow Strike break; breaking 4 [12”X10”X 1” thick] Boards.
2nd Place winner Palm Heel Strike break; breaking 5 [12”X10”X 1” thick] Boards.
Appointed to Board of Directors for the Diversified League of Martial Artists in 2005, serving as their Director of Kenpo & Combat Kenpo.
Appointed a member of the Master’s Council of the World Martial Arts Organizations Alliance in 2005.
Appointed to and held the position of Provisional President of the United States Chapter of the Combat Martial Arts Federation in 2004.
Finally, but no less important, I am a proud new member (and student) of World Dragon Kenpo. I am thankful for the warm welcome I’ve received thus far and I look forward to a long, fruitful relationship with the organization and all of its members.
As always, I remain yours in the martial arts.
- Joel B. White
The following list of promoted members of World Dragon Kenpo contains both local and distance learning members. Many of the following hold high ranks in other styles or received promotion through other Dragon Kenpo or other martial art programs.
Matthew Murray Orange Belt
Alexander James Mueller Green Belt
Wyatt Starck Blue Belt
Eric Shane Orange Belt
Monica Starck Probationary Purple Belt
Fred Rickel Yellow Belt
Mitchell Stedman 2nd Dg. Brown Belt
Kelsey Stedman Probationary Orange Belt
Erika Martinez Probationary Orange Belt
Claire Kinder Orange Belt
Erik Martinez Probationary Purple Belt
Anna C. Aquilar Probationary Yellow Belt
Christian Martinez Probationary Purple Belt
Alex Rickel Probationary Yellow Belt
Enrique Erazo Probationary Orange Belt
Katelynn Denecke Probationary Orange Belt
Angeli Soto Purple Belt
Daniel Lundberg Blue Belt
Ian Hargreaves Orange Belt
Joel White Yellow Belt
Jason Spotts Orange Belt
Steve Amoia Green Belt
Allen Taylor Blue Belt
Richard Shepard Green Belt
Manatee Jit-Anan White Belt
Rick Collette Green Belt
James Alexander Green Belt
Justin Earhart Green Belt
Charles Humble Blue Belt
Dragon Kenpo Europe (Coach Thor Sulland)
Margaret Evans Yellow Belt
Phillip John Evans Yellow Belt
James T. Dixon Yellow Belt
Josh Carmichael Yellow Belt
Dewi Rhys Arwel Purple Belt
A Special Recognition!
Indiana State Director Jim Patus and his son Jacob recently were promoted to 1st Dg. Brown Belt. We've promoted a number of Brown Belts but these two have been stout supporters of World Dragon Kenpo and Coach Pfeiffer's efforts for a number of years.
Congratulations to Jim and Jacob, members of your caliber are rare indeed!
Members of LGSDC (Lake Geneva Self Defense Club) descended on Mirror Lake State Park Camp Grounds on the 16th,17th and 18th of June to take part in our annual family camping event. This year 50 campers including students, parents, brothers, sisters, cousins and others came along to join in the fun.
Arriving Friday afternoon everyone set up on the 2 reserved group sites and settled in for the weekend. Coach Pfeiffer held a "movie time" at his camp site. We ordered 6 giant pizzas to make for a perfect end to the Pink Panther, until the Rangers showed up to let us know we were being a little loud! Imagine about 40 kids and parents night hiking back to the group site with flashlights hoping that was our last visit from the Park Rangers!!
Saturday morning started off with a Tai Chi Demonstration of The Six Basic Movements by newly promoted 1st Dg. Brown Belt Ron E. Pfeiffer. Coach Pfeiffer talked about the health benefits and some history of Tai Chi, answered questions and preformed the 31 movements of Tai Chi for Arthritis. Congratulations to the testing students for their sincerely dedicated efforts during the exams.
After a short break for lunch (way too much food, leftovers aplenty for supper, special recognition to the Martinez family who brought enough food to feed almost everyone!) many of us headed out for the water parks and fun that the Wisconsin Dells are famous for. Coach Pfeiffer has to fend off several challenges at the WI Dell Go-Kart tracks. An award for bravery should have gone to Green Belt Kurt Zitta who rode with the Coach on the "fastest in the Dells", no one told him Coach Pfeiffer doesn’t believe in using the brake! AHHHH!!!
That evening, back at the campfire, with the help of parents and staff, a large number of worn and tattered American Flags and one Wisconsin State Flag was retired according to the Federal Flag Code. Readings were conducted concerning the history of our flag including how it came to be and who was involved in it’s creation while kids and adults looked on respectfully. The night ended with all camp participants each placing a piece of huge flag in the fire. Then about 12 additional flags were also placed in the fire which was then watched while it burned down so no one would put any trash etc. in the fire pit. Saturday night rain shutdown the movie and moved campers inside their tents till morning when we packed up and headed home.
Special recognition to Ken Hansen for his tireless efforts organizing and seeing to the comfort and safety of all camp attendees. A huge thank you to David Stedman for his assistance. Dave has 2 children (Mitchell and Kelsey) who are WDK students and was recognized as Parent of the Year 2006. Way to go Dave! Jeff Hansen was also instrumental in making our camp trip the success it was, our thanks to him as well.
We're looking for ideas for Karate Kamp '07 so submit yours and be part of the solution!
- Ron Pfeiffer
After numerous requests over the last few years we're now working on creating a CD Rom set with the same training as available in the virtual schools secured members area. Now I made several attempts on my own to get it done without good result. For some strange reason I am able to make the Nunchaku Instructor Training CD Rom with no problem at all. Therefore I would like to recognize Director Randy Hall, Texas Dragon Kenpo and Director Rick Collette, Arizona Dragon Kenpo for all their work concerning the cd-rom project. Besides being accomplished martial artists, both are also a couple of the highest skilled computer types out there and are owed a debt for their bull-dogged support for the WDK, it's members and specifically the CD Rom Project.
Thanks again Gentlemen, Coach Ron Pfeiffer
Steve Amoia has attained the rank of green belt in World Dragon Kenpo. Steve lives in the Washington, DC area, and is a freelance writer. He has published articles and book reviews about alternative health, career-related themes, international soccer, and martial arts.
Rick Collette - Currently the Arizona State Director for World Dragon Kenpo (underbelt now, working towards Black Belt) and Chief Instructor at Collette Martial Arts Academy in Tucson, AZ. On June 1, 2006 promoted to Black Belt in Emperado's Method of Kajukenbo, and under a 1 Year Teaching Certificate for the same.
Website: http://cmaa.dojohome.com
Email: rcollet@gmail.com
Randall Hall grew up in and around San Antonio, Texas. He has trained in many martial arts but settled on Dragon Kenpo after in injury prevented him from continuing his training in his current school. First training under Joe Whittington at Combat Kenpo Academy, Randy moved to World Dragon Kenpo to train under Coach Ron.
"Dragon Kenpo lets me progress at my own pace and applies a Keep It Simple
approach to martial arts that I really enjoy." Randall is Second Degree Black Belt in Dragon Kenpo and Texas State Director for World Dragon Kenpo.
Jim Patus, the Indiana Director of WDK, began studying Kodokan Judo over 40 years ago. He has studied Shotokan karate and has fenced competitively in both foil and epee. He began Dragon Kenpo under Ed Hutchison and has completed the Combat Kenpo Fighting Academy curriculum; he now trains under Coach Pfeiffer through WDK. Jim is a member of the International Ryukyu Karate Research Society and the Universal Martial Arts Association. As professor of Biology at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana – Sellersburg his teaching specialty is environmental science with research interests in human population dynamics and fish ecology. Jim may be reached at jpatus@ivytech.edu .
Douglas Turner, Jr. is a Charlottesville, VA based Instructor with over 20 years experience in the martial arts. He currently teaches private lessons both in person and via distance learning programs.
Website: http://www.motionkenpo.info
Email: motionkeno@gmail.com
Ron Pfeiffer acquired the Dragon Kenpo system in 1998 after his instructor at the YMCA announced his retirement (with no replacement). Ron taught friends and family the art as preparations for opening a school progressed. That school opened at the Geneva Lakes YMCA in Sept of 2000. November 2000 assisted in the formation and establishment of the International Dragon Kenpo Association. In November 2002 Wisconsin Dragon Kenpo and the Geneva Lakes Self Defense Club was recognized by the Unified Martial Arts Association International and Coach Pfeiffer was assigned the post of Wisconsin State Rep for the UMAAI. The classes proved popular and have become a staple program of the facility. In 2005 Coach Pfeiffer received promotion to 5th Degree Black through the Defensive Arts Academy and Rodney Lacey. In 2006, Coach Pfeiffer was certified as a Tai Chi instructor through Dr. Paul Lam.
"Slayers News: About Dragon Kenpo" is to inform, to educate, to inspire and to occasionally entertain the community of Dragon Kenpo Practitioners within our influence.
To fulfill this mission, we will:
An Excellent Opportunity for World Dragon Kenpo Members!!!
Labor Day weekend at the YMCA in Lake Geneva is the time and place for those of you interested in receiving an authentic certification to teach Tai Chi thru a highly respected and recognized association. My tai chi mentor and master trainer Caroline Demoise will be conducting a 3 day in-depth training.
There will be a limited enrollment in this very exclusive opportunity. Contact Coach Pfeiffer for lodging and course fee information. This is a certification thru Dr. Paul Lams Tai Chi organization which is a recognized leader around the world. World Dragon Kenpo intends to become a leader in this area of health and wellness development, so it’s time to step up!
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Do you want to see improvements in this publication over the next year? Send in your ideas! Feedback is important! Let us know what you would like to hear about!!
If you have an article that you would like to submit, contact the editor (Doug Turner) at motionkenpo@gmail.com. Comments and questions are welcome too. Show your appreciation or provide suggestions to the Editor to be posted in the Editor’s corner!
Is your school having an event? Let the Dragon Kenpo community know by placing it in the Slayer News! We’re here to help you and your students get the most out of your training!!!
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Please remember to keep your information updated so that the World Dragon Kenpo Schools of Self Defense can serve you in the best way possible!
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The articles within this newsletter are the views of the writer and not necessarily the views shared by the World Dragon Kenpo Schools of Self Defense
