Blackbelts Discuss Strategy
New Blue Ridge Kung Fu Phone Number
Hello fellow martial artists and prospective students. The school has a new number for you to call and ask questions. Please use this number: (828) 504-0057 for information or come in and talk with Tuhon Rick Ward.
Grandmaster Rick Ward has a CD
Grandmaster Rick Ward is a local musician and brings the music of the mountains to life. Here’s a CD he has out.
Visit here for more information.
Grandmaster Remy Presas
This is for those who never knew a great Grandmaster. Visit here.
1997 Boone, NC (Image courtesy of student/Black Belt Dave Ng)
Reflections of a Christian Kungfu Master
There has been much written about the dangers of Christians practicing Chinese Kungfu. Sadly this has been done out of a spirit of fear and misunderstanding. In this book Master Wilcox uses his 37 years of experience to dispel many of these misconceptions. Topics discussed are: What is the true origin of Kungfu? Who created the Yin Yang symbol and why? What is chi? Is the Chinese dragon really a satanic symbol? Can I train Kungfu as a Chrisitan? Written in simple, easy to read language, Master Wilcox answers all of these questions and more! Check out his book or purchase here.
Choosing the Best Martial Arts Style
Finding the Best Martial Art
Written by By Eddie MaClean
For anyone who wants to learn a martial art, there is a lot to know in regards to the many different styles. Of course there is the question of finding the best martial art, which is a question a lot of people ask with so many martial arts styles to choose from, it can be very complicated to pick one to learn.
No matter what you may hear or what others have to say, it is quite impossible to name one style of martial arts as the ultimate best. Actually, there are several factors that come into play, even though one style may beat another in a competition or a fight it doesn’t always mean that the winning style is the best.
Before deciding to rush out there and learn a martial art, there are several things that you should decide first. Martial arts are great to learn, no matter which style you decide on. A martial art can teach you self discipline, self defence, and several other traits that will help you no matter where you decide to go in life.
Self Defence
All over the world, there are several martial arts schools and dojo’s that emphasize self defence a lot more than others. Schools that focus on kata, forms, or light sparring are less than likely to teach you what you need to protect yourself on the street. If you are looking for street self defence, then you’ll want a style that trains hard and doesn’t let up.
Fitness
Even though martial arts can improve your fitness level, it isn’t the goal behind a lot of the martial arts styles. Several styles, such as Tae Bo, are based purely on martial arts and don’t include a lot of physical fitness training. If you are looking for fitness as your main goal, then you should be looking into something other than martial arts.
Fighting Ability
This will vary among the many different martial arts styles. Self defence schools will most often take advantage of fighting skills, teaching you everything you need to survive. Most martial arts styles are slow in theory, teaching you kata, movements, and forms. Self defence schools on the other hand, teach you how to inflict the most amounts of damage in the least amount of time.
Competition
Competition based martial arts are all about winning trophies and showing the world your style of martial arts. The competition that you have chosen, will greatly impact your style of martial arts. You’ll need to decide if you will be fighting or showcasing display kata, light or heavy contact, or focusing on grappling or striking.
Before you decide on a martial arts style, you should always research the schools and dojo’s in your area and see what they offer. The best schools will allow you to participate in a few free classes, or offer you discounts on your first few months. They will answer any questions that you have, and work with you to help you learn as much as you can.
Martial arts can be a very fun and exciting learning experience. There are hundreds of different martial arts styles out there, although you may be limited in choice, depending on what all is offered in your area. Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, and Jiu-Jitsu and some of the most common types of martial arts, and normally offered just about everywhere. The more distinct styles, such as Kung Fu, Shoot fighting, Kenpo, and Shaolin styles are a bit harder to find.
If you do your homework on some of the styles that are offered in your area, you’ll find one that best fits your reasons to study. Martial arts can change your outlook on life – all you have to do is devote yourself to learning all you can about the philosophy of your martial art.
About the author: You can find out more information on martial arts styles and which one that might be right for you at www.martialarts-technique.com .
Article Source: www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
A Grand Seminar
Tuhon Gaudiosa Ruby teaches the Comjuka-Kali art
Written by Guro Robert Moore
Tuhon Ruby made her yearly visit to Blue Ridge Kung Fu Arnis Academy from her headquarters in El Paso, TX., and shared the Comjuka-Kali (meaning Combat-Judo-Kali) system with her Boone students. It was a pleasure to learn from such a knowledgeable Tuhon in the Kali art and she, along with her husband Punong Guro Gary Ruby, taught a great seminar April 14-16, 2011.
She is called “The Queen of Filipino Martial Arts” and has traveled all over the globe teaching and showing her system. It is a family based, and shared combative martial art, that is comprised of combat weapon fighting, unarmed combat, combat ground fighting, as well as Filipino customs and cultures. During this seminar, we touched on it all.
Thursday, the senior students were treated to the native language of the Philippines, Tagolouge, in which Tuhon and Punong Guru had fun hearing us learn the words. Understanding the language is a critical part of the art and a must to know in order to advance. We messed up plenty of words but in the end, we had too much fun.
Friday, the kids had a blast with Tuhon. She taught how to defend against a bully. Guru Marks was the bully for most of the night and was tossed around a few times from Tuhon. Well, more than a few times. Please check the images from the kids class online here. Other images are in the gallery also.
Saturday was an all-day event which started at 10 a.m. The lower belts were treated to Tuhon, she drilled them hard, and the high black belts
were treated to Punong Guro Gary Ruby who kept us going form after form after form. The lower belts focused on knife attack defense, knife attacks, forms, and stick drills. The higher belts progressed through the forms up to black belt level working the kahoy (stick), the kutsilio (knife), and the empty hands. Some stick drills were also worked on towards the end. This was an outstanding seminar and the knowledge gained is extremely valuable.
The next generations of Kali warriors should think about attending a seminar of Tuhon Ruby’s if she comes to Boone. She teaches plenty of skill to have in the bag in order to defend against the unexpected.
Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed Martial Arts has become an Increasingly Popular Combat Sport
Mixed martial arts has become an increasingly popular combat sport. MMA, as it is commonly shortened to, makes use of various fighting techniques and a minimum set of rules to create an organized but hands-on contact sport. In the past, mixed martial arts has been criticized as being nothing more than free-for-all fighting, but with rules and guidelines in place, MMA has been able to shake off most of the negativity that seems to surround it. Mixed martial artists are people who have trained for the MMA, and people who compete are referred to as MMA fighters.
So, what is MMA? Mixed martial arts is a structured setting in which two people fight one another, without endangering one another. Special training and cross-training is what ensures MMA is never considered as nothing more than street fighting. It is also becoming very popular in the United States and even around the world. MMA has a long history, dating back to the Olympic Games in Greece in 648 BC. The purpose of MMA at this time was to provide combat sport, amusement and training for Greek soldiers. Rules for the fight were minimal and basically ruled out eye gouging and biting, and a fight ended when one or both solders became incapacitated. The fighting at this time was very brutal, and many participants often died from the encounters they had with one another.
Today’s MMA is much more structured, but still allows for interested participants to get out aggression and tension, which is probably why it is so popular. More rules are in place that prohibit eye gouging, biting, hair pulling, fish hooks and other painful, underhanded techniques, so more people are willing to try their hand (no pun intended) at mixed martial arts.
As mentioned earlier in this article, MMA is comprised of several fighting techniques. Having a mixed bag of fighting techniques ensures lively and unique fighting styles and competitions, which is part of the allure of the sport. Some commonly found fighting techniques in MMA include boxing and kickboxing, judo, freestyle wrestling and shoot wrestling, Sambo, Muay Thai, Kyokushin karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. A lot of these fighting, offensive and defensive techniques have some common themes among them, but each style of fighting has its own unique aspects, which is why MMA is so interesting when everything is brought together.
MMA is often criticized as being nothing more than brawling and a way of encouraging violence, but those who take part in the sport understand there it is a lot more than “just a fight.”
About the author: Kim Green is appreciating the art in Mixed Martial Arts more and more as she shares her insight to the wide world of MMA. Article Source: www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Meaning of the Belt Colors
White to Black–and then Red: Originally, the white belt was simply dyed to a new color. This repeated dying process dictated the type of belt color and the order of the colors. The standard belt color system of Blue Ridge Kung Fu is white, yellow, green, blue, brown, black and red. Due to the dying process, it was only practical to increasingly use darker colors. All of this came about shortly after the Second World War, when Korea and Japan were very poor countries. Dying the belts to a new color was a cheap way to have a visible, simple and effective ranking system.
It is also said that there was only one belt/sash (black) to start with and in time the wearing of the belt/sash in training would begin to fade into a white belt. In some arts the white belt is the highest belt. In our systems it is either the black or the red. There are also stripes added later to signify rank at that level.
To start, the new student will begin with the white belt. Below are the meanings of the belts within our system.
White Belt: White signifies a birth, or beginning, of a seed. A white belt student is a beginner searching for knowledge of the Art. The white belt is the beginning of life’s cycle, and represents the seed as it lies beneath the snow in the winter.
Yellow Belt or Sash: Yellow signifies the first beams of sunlight which shines upon the seed giving it new strength with the beginning of new life. A yellow belt student is given his first ray of knowledge, opening his mind, from his instructors.
Green Belt or Sash: Green signifies the growth of the seed as it sprouts from the earth reaching toward the sun and begins to grow into a plant. A green belt student learns to strengthen and refine his techniques.
Blue Belt or Sash: Blue signifies the blue sky as the plant continues to grow toward it. A blue belt student moves up higher in rank just as the plant grows taller. The light feeds the plant so it can continue to grow. The student is fed additional knowledge of the Art in order for his body and mind continue to grow and develop.
Brown Belt or Sash: Brown represents the ripening of the seed, a maturing and harvesting process. A brown belt is an advanced student whose techniques are beginning to mature, and he is beginning to understand the fruits of his hard work as a beginner.
Black Belt or Sash: Black signifies the darkness beyond the Sun. A black belt seeks new, more profound knowledge of the Art. As he begins to teach others, he plants new seeds and helps them grow and mature. His students, many whom will form roots deep into the Art, blossom and grow through the ranks in a never-ending process of self-growth, knowledge, and enlightenment.
Red Belt or Sash: Red signifies the red-hot heat of the Sun as the knowledge learned is now passed and nurtured to the newest and purist white belt. As a red belt student acquires even more detailed knowledge. Red is a sign of danger, and the red belt is beginning to become dangerous with their knowledge and abilities but also posses the knowledge to pass the system along and keep the energy flowing.
There are also ceremonial belts or sash’s but that depends on the system you are associated with and what they are meant for.
Children’s Classes Offered!
Children taught respect and discipline.
Children participating in classes are taught respect for the instructor, fellow students, and themselves through strict discipline and customs which must be observed within the classes.
Through the repetition of forms and techniques, they also acquire patience and perseverance, while sparring allows self confidence to emerge as the individual grows in knowledge and ability.
Martial Arts training is more than a sport. It prepares a child to excel within the bounds of their art. By learning to excel under a controlled set of circumstances, the child has an opportunity to learn how to excel on his own. Martial Arts then prepares a child to excel in all areas of life, just as it teaches him/her to respect that excellence.