Trouble uploading video to Studio Blog:(

Yep! I've thrown a few hours at the Studio Blog this morning....having tons of trouble's uploading another video clip of the 'internal warm ups' I shot yesterday morning. So.....I'm going to go practice now!!
I'll try again later....thanks for tuning in and thanks for your patience.

FYI - There is still time to sign up for the 'Special Training Seminar' I'm offering this coming Saturday 7/18 from 1-5 at the Studio. Fun time for all!!

Harvard Medical School's Harvard Health Publication - "Simple life style changes can have enormous impact on our longevity and quality of life"

Harvard Health Publications July 2009
We all know aging is an inevitable process, yet most of us are eager to maintain our health and enjoy our life in the most vibrant, vigorous way possible. We want to age gracefully, while retaining our vitality, energy, and memory. The good news is that simple lifestyle changes can have an enormous impact on our longevity and quality of life (*).
One of the most important factors to aging gracefully is avoiding the onset of common medical conditions. From heart disease and stroke to Alzheimer’s disease to hearing and memory loss, sidestepping these conditions can add years to your life and life to your years. It’s important to know the steps you can take to prevent these conditions and other common threats to your good health.
But it’s not just physical ailments that can impact your health in your later years. Keeping a sharp mind and memory is equally important. As many as two-thirds of people age 50 and over notice greater difficulty remembering names, appointments, and other details. But research has shown that our brains can keep growing new neurons (brain cells) and making new connections throughout life. People who keep learning (*) and stay mentally active increase their odds of retaining good brain function as they age. The more you use your brain (*), the stronger it gets — and the longer it stays strong.

Lesson 1:

(*) Developing a daily martial arts practice

can have an enormous impact on our health

mentally and physically, our quality of life and overall happiness

To be effective, that practice should include:

whole body exercises (That especially includes the mind),

with proprioceptive awareness of principles,

for strengthening (especially legs) and stretching,

solo forms (especially T'ai-Chi, Bagua) and basics,

weapons forms and basics,

qigong and standing meditation

NOTE:

To be effective it's imperative that practices are done with correct principles and concepts.

"The mind directs, the body follows" - Old Chinese Martial Arts saying

"Observe, then adjust according to principles" - Sifu

"When practicing, awareness of oneself is key" - Sifu

Always practice with a mental focus on observing oneself,

then, adjust according to correct internal and external principles and concepts,

Your goal is to practice with the correct spirit (inward feeling).

"Strive to be present and in the moment" - Sifu

Lesson 2:

Pay attention to injury management,

properly attend to injury and illnesses

adjust your practice,

so that you can do it daily!

Lesson 3:

*A note to those that are on the ‘path’ to Mastery:

Eventually, your daily practice will become a daily routine just like brushing your teeth and bathing. With personal hygiene, one learns to adjust around injuries and illness.

There are occasions when it may be impossible to do our daily hygiene, because of illness or injury, but, as soon as you are able to, you would immediately get back to the daily routine of bathing and brushing, right?

For those that are on the ‘path’ to Mastery, if there was an interruption to their daily practice, they would return to it as soon as they were able to. Now their art has been elevated to the same status in their personal life, as bathing and brushing! That's a Master!!

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American Karate-Do - Self Defense Technique - The Lever

Studetns LS and SG practice the second Self-Defense Technique, The Lever.

Lesson 1:

This is an medium escalated version of the lever

defending against single lapel grab with a straight arm.

There is a de-escalated version with no counter attack

and a more escalated version with multiple counters

ending in a take down or throw

Lesson 2:

In a potential Self-Defense situation

asses the amount of force you need to defend yourself

with the use of force continuum in mind.

It's always better to avoid physical conflict whenever possible

and to use the least amount of force necessary to subdue the attacker

to allow you enough time to escape.

Modern Arnis - Slap off and re-grab drill

Sifu and JRRMAS staff member LS practice the Modern Arnis counter the counter, slap off and re-grab drill

Lesson 1:

The attacker (LS) strikes with one of the 12 angles of attack,

Sifu block, checks and counters the original attack,

The attacker stops the counter with their 'live hand',

either on the inside or the outside of the fore arm (Sifu's)

Then Sifu will either

'slap off'

then..... re-counter from the same side

or

're-grab'

then..... re-counter from the same side

Lesson 2:

A central theme in Modern Arnis is to 'Counter the Counter': 'Tapi Tapi'

.....infinitely....

until you steal their time

and achieve a superior body position,

Until you find

or create the opening

allowing you to successfully Counter their Counter!

Lesson 3:

This is an excellent drill for skill acquisition!

American Karate-Do - Self Defense Technique - Crash of the Eagle

Students LS and SG practice Crash of the Eagle, a defense against a rear shoulder grab or push. This is first required self-defense technique for rank in the American Karate-Do system in it's medium 'escalated' form with a single back fist/hammer fist counter attack. It's more escalated form would have multiple counter attacks ending in a take down or throw.

Lesson 1:

In Crash of the Eagles 'de-escalated' form

students first learn to step forward,

turn quickly to face the attacker

and with a descending elbow,

break the hold (or regain balance from a push),

then,

withought countering,

but with awareness,

simply ......step away from the attacker

with your hands up in front of your face,

palms out,

fingers spread,

projecting a peaceful (but secretively defensive) hand position

then to look for a means of escape..........

then......ESCAPE!

Lesson 2:

The sole purpose of self-defense is to ESCAPE!

Wudang Sword - Split practice

Internal Exercise Set - Part One

This is the first two exercises at beginning of what I'm calling the "Internal Exercise Set".

It's a set that I've based on Master Haywards Warm Up Exercises with a few additions and variations.

Trouble uploading better quality video...

Hi everyone....just to let you know that I've trying to upload a video clip from my new Cannon video camera....for the past 4 hours!

Anyway...thanks for bearing with me and for tuning in!

Just a reminder about the Special Training Seminar that I'm giving on Saturday July 18th from 1-5 PM
Click of 'Seminars' in the label column to your left to see more information on the Seminar

Well, I spent another few hours at it and I just can't seem to get the video to upload and now it's time to go in to the Studio to teach classes. So.....I'll try again tomorrow. Working through this computer/digital video stuff and keeping ones central equilibrium, is good for the practice. Breathing deeply in Leyden:)

Wudang Sword basic Stab practice

Sifu and JRRMAS Staff members WF, SK and BL practice lines of basic Stabs (Thrusts) with Broadswords.

Lesson 1:

Take any single technique

the more basic the technique is ....the better!

Choose your technique wisely.....

One, that is a common denominator to the Art or Form

Then.....while paying attention to principles and details

repeat the single technique in a line or row

amassing as many repetitions as you have the capacity for

Remember the idea is develop and refine .....

Changing the way you do the technique should happen daily...

Because:

Mastery is the goal!

Lesson 2:

To achieve Mastery in Martial Arts...

Correct practice is essential!

A basic level that is available to everyone is around 10,000 (correct) repetitions

Mastery is only available to those with a life long,

regular daily practice and is around 36,000 repetitions!

Repeating rows of the basic, is the main practice method

Rows makes it relatively easy to repeat the basic 100 or more times in one practice session

Then the secret is to do that practice daily......

It's amazing how quickly the repetitions will amass!

Modern Arnis - Redonda - Forward and Reverse

JRRMAS Staff member PH practices Redonda with Brown Belt student AG.

Lesson 1:

Redonda.....

one circle on the same side

two circle's on the opposite side

The first strike crosses over when going forward

and under when doing the reverse

train both sides simultaneously

Keep the beats even

especially in between side changes

and feel the one, two, three...it's a triplet.....without accents....

add in Rompida and Abinico

Now add stance work...forward, backward and to the sides

It's all there....study the nature of circles, timing and momentum

Truly marvelous practice!

Modern Arnis application from Stick Form 1

JRRMAS Staff member PR leads a recent class in an application exercise based on the first Stick Form (Anyo).

Lesson 1:

In order to lead the mind properly during solo practice...

it's imperative that the practitioner is able to visualize the application of the movement

Practicing the applications of the forms with a partner is the 'secret'

to higher level solo practice...

Visualizating the applications will give the practitioner the correct 'feeling' of the solo gesture

Lesson 2:

"The mind directs, the body follows"

6 year old practices Single Sinawalli

Sifu and his 6 year old (he is now 7) Grandson DR practice Modern Arnis' Single Sinawalli with padded sticks, before the Youth Karate-Do class. Besides stick work DR has been exposed to the Jian (double edged straight sword) and the Broadsword. He very much enjoys the weapons practices with Sifu.

Lesson 1:

When teaching younger students weapons...

The practice always starts and ends with respect!

The weapons should be fun ...but it's NOT play time.....

The practices should be formal and with a qualified teacher

Younger students should learns to hit weapon to weapon first..

NOT weapon to body!

Lesson 2:

Correct weapons training

will greatly speed up the training process of your empty hand techniques,

proper relaxation

and whole body power.

It will help to strengthen you hands, wrists, arms and shoulders.....

it will also help to keep the joints moving properly with good flexibility and range of motion.

Lesson 3:

Weapons training is an excellent addition to an overall health maintenance program

as it will help to keep your hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders strong and flexible.

Grand Master T. T. Liang was still able to write calligraphy when he was well over 100 years old and was still practicing double Dao (Broadsword) and Jian (double edged straight sword) forms well into his 90's! He still remains such an inspiration!

T'ai Chi Ch'uan Solo Form - Part Six - Day 2,922 for Sifu

On June 30th 2001 Sifu was initiated as a 7th Generation Disciple in Grand Master T. T. Liang's Yang Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan lineage.

I made a pact with myself that day, that I would do a minimum daily practice of at least a 'round' of T'ai-Chi Ch'uan with warm ups, Standing Meditation and Qigong. Today will make 8 years (2,922 days) that I have been blessed to be physically, mentally and emotionally able to do that practice daily without fail.

I am so grateful to my teachers and the knowledge and wisdom that they have shared with me. I'm grateful to them for giving me these truly marvelous health maintenance practices and all of their multifaceted parts; Warm ups, Standing, Qigong, Solo Forms, Weapons Forms, Two Person Sensitivity Exercises, Two Person Weapons training....etc. etc.

My main teachers in the chronological order that I met them:

Sensei Steve McCabe

Master Paul Gallagher

Master Ray Hayward

Grand Master Remy Presas

And all the other teachers that I have trained with over the years that have had a serious impact on my life and my art:

Master Ken Cohen

Master Leung Key-Chi

Master Zhang Jie

Sifu Jimmy Morris

Sifu Paul Abdella

Master Duan Zhiliang

And of course many thanks to Grand Master T. T. Liang for the way he handed down the 'complete system' and his words of encouragement for my daily practice. The music and Grand Master Liang counting one, two......assists me everyday I encounter difficulty in my daily practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan...as soon as the music starts and the Master starts to count....It's like domino's falling or like flipping a series of internal switches. Inside of me everything slows down and emotionally and spiritually things start to fall into place and I become more peaceful and tranquil inside. The Master helps me to 'arrive' at my practice.

Over these past 8 years, the daily practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan has greatly contributed to my "Joi de Vivre".

To all of my teachers .............[Bow]

I show my respect for you is in my daily actions, as I practice and research what you have taught me and reflect and meditate on what you've told me. I'm so fortunate to have been blessed with such wonderful teachers and I feel truly grateful. Thank you all! [Bow]

J. R. Roy Sifu

Fight...Flight ....or .....Freeze!

This post is an amazing story about JG, the1st degree Brown Belt Karate-Do student above, who is practicing defensive Hook Kicks against the stretching bar.

JG has studied at JRRMAS since he was a very small child. He has just successfully completed his first year at Deerfield Academy. He was also fortunate to get job at DA this summer as a life guard for the DA pool.

Now for the 'amazing' part; Last week was JG's second week as a life guard. He was guarding a 6th grade class swimming in the DA pool. All of a sudden he notices a 6th grader sinking below the surface. Much to JG's amazement the 6th grader was sinking below the surface without struggling at all! Simply sinking below the surface with limbs limp and the boy was taking water into his lungs. In that very instant of recognition.....Without panicking......or freezing....JG leaped into action and saved the boy's life. Wow....Amazing!

I only hope that the years of training at JRRMAS contributed in some small way to JG acting decisively in that moment of crisis. Correct Martial Arts training is not merely designed to kick and punch others in self-defense but is more accurately designed to give the practitioner that little bit extra that one needs in such a crisis situation.

JG's ability to use the Life Guard Training, the confidence in his own abilities to swim and help others, that enabled him to act decisively, instead of freezing or panicking! You never know if the training is going to pay off until push comes to shove.

Lesson 1:

In Martial Arts it's moments of crisis...

that the training is designed to prepare you for....

So that you...

Don't FREEZE!

Don't PANIC!

So that you are able to ACT,

able to stay CALM,

to stay CENTERED

and feel STRONG

and CAPABLE.....

So that you may act immediately and decisively!

In a crisis...

Yours or someone else's life may depend upon your ability to...... act!!

Sifu

JG ....All of us at JRRMAS are very proud of you......That SAVE was the 'real deal'. Bravo from Sifu!!