FMA Informative Newspaper Vol5 No.1

Vol 5 No 1 - 2016 Newspaper Propagating the Filipino Martial Arts and the Culture of the Philippines On Martial Arts Racism in the Martial Arts Alliances In this article they are do not mention the Filipino martial arts. However through the experience By Mustafa Gatdula and meeting of many Filipino martial arts practitioners, the FMA Informative has to say “it does Article ring a bell.” The staff of the FMA Informative has heard of it, seen it, and experienced it. The Power of Specializing in the FMA By Mustafa Gatdula Author: Bret Gordon of Nito-Ryu Kenjutsu at the ripe old age of Even in the turmoil of today’s so- 15, after defeating numerous opponents of Article ciety, the hypocrisy of certain individu- classical sword styles in his famous duels. The Business of Doing als never ceases to amaze me. One need • Ji Han Jae, founder of Sin Moo Hapkido, Martial Arts Business only turn on the news to know of the ra- studied under Choi Yong-Sul from 1953-1956 By Mustafa Gatdula cial tension growing among the American before he opened his own school. In 1959, Article population, but this is not the racism I am he coins the name “Hapkido” to replace the referring to. What I’m referring to is the self- name “Yusul” currently used by Choi and is inflicted inferiority complex of American currently revered as the Founder of Hapkido. martial artists to their Asian counterparts. • Hwang Kee, at the age of 31, combined About ... When discussing the topic of young Soo Bahk Do with the Chinese T’ang meth- Past Events Masters, the argument always references the od to create Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. Health & Safety maturity level of the practitioner as well as • Masaaki Hatsumi began his martial arts Building Blocks of FMA their life experience (or lack thereof). If the training at the age of 26 in 1957, and by Tid-Bits study of Budo is a lifelong journey, how can 1972 (age 41) had achieved Menkyo Kaiden someone under the age of 35 (still pushing in 9 different martial arts and founded the the boundaries) have enough life experience Bujinkan. or even martial arts experience to claim high There are numerous other examples, rank in any martial arts system, let alone mul- but I think I’ve made my point. I’ve heard tiple systems, or even worse - claim to be the the counter arguments that say “Well, their founder of their own system! This argument culture is different. They trained from dawn generally comes by way of traditional/classi- to dusk with a severity that the average cal practitioners who may have reached the American can’t handle.” That may be true in peak of their martial arts progression. They some cases, sure, but you’re telling me that use the argument that in a true traditional an American (age 23) with 19 years of mar- system, mastery cannot be achieved at such tial arts experience does not have the same a young age. However, the history of their amount of experience as a Japanese practi- own system(s) seems to get conveniently tioner with five (Kano, age 22)? So then, the overlooked. only logical explanation is that it’s accept- ________________________ able for a martial artist of Asian ethnicity to Let me provide you with some exam- make such a claim simply because they’re ples of well documented historical cases of Asian, and that Americans (and all West- young Masters, even Founders! erners) are truly the inferior race. Sounds • Kano Jigoro, founder of Kodokan Judo, ridiculous right? Oh, and then there’s that began his martial arts training at the age of inconvenient example of Peter Urban who 17. By the time he opened the Kodokan in broke away from Yamaguchi sensei and 1882 (age 22), he had earned master level claimed 10th Dan at the ripe old age of 30. certification in Tenjin Shin’yo Ryu Jujutsu as Let’s end this hypocrisy and racial pro- well as Menkyo Kaiden in Kito Ryu Jujutsu. filing in the martial arts. In a world where • Bruce Lee died at the age of 33, already everyone seeks equality, for the right to be experiencing worldwide acclaim as one treated as fairly as the person next to them, of the greatest martial artists that ever to be judged on their own merit alone and lived (a controversy for another day) and not to be compared to another, how can we the Founder of Jeet Kune Do, though he tolerate such behavior in the martial arts? www.fmapulse.com had never officially earned a black belt. • Miyamoto Musashi founded the system USAMA BLOG www.join-usama.com Visit the FMA Informative Group on Facebook Click Here 2 FMA Informative Vol5 No1 2016 Vol5 No1 2016 FMA Informative 3 On Martial Arts Alliances A true alliance with equal- If you spread a 50 gallon joined hands with other Japa- Karate that stands to this day. By Mustafa Gatdula ity will have those with more drum of water in a parking lot, nese masters, some who even Perhaps we will talk about that knowledge sharing informa- the water will quickly evapo- disliked him, and built a world- method soon. There are many roads to the is usually the case with such sparring partners for yourself he took what he exchanged tion and even resources with rate and disappear within a day wide reputation for Japanese top of a mountain, and like- exclusive tournaments. Then and your students, to further and often did it better than those who have less. What or two. But if you keep all that wise--there are many paths they have the nerve to call your learning (rather than the person who taught him. good is a martial arts com- water in the 50 gallon drum- “Secrets” of the Filipino Fighting Arts to perfection and mastery of winners “World Champions”... rank or pad a resume). The al- To this day, I still don’t know munity if most of the teachers -it will remain for years if you Words from a Modern-Day Warrior filipinofightingsecretslive.com the martial arts. One of the • Seminars: You guys already liance can put you in the com- who his teachers are. But I can’t keep their doors open? keep it together. When martial most underused and misused know my stance on this hus- pany of other philosophies, know that he was an excellent • Respect: Real respect for artists complain that tradition- of these paths is the Martial tle. I dislike seminar training give you true friendships lifelong martial artist. the martial arts comes when al Masters have lost ground Arts Alliance or Organiza- so much, I will attempt to where you share information Here are some other uses for teachers of the martial arts to the MMA gyms, this is the tion. Sadly, the ones misu- discredit in person every per- and learn from each other- the martial arts alliance: respect each other. Too of- reason why. We are spread all ing this institution are the son I meet who learns this -even provide you with rival- • Purchasing Power: One ten, I see teachers right up the over the place, doing our own most knowledgeable of the way. How it is misused is that ries who will make you stron- school may only need $200 street from each other who thing, and not caring if every martial arts community: The teachers will hold a round of ger and sharper. Some of the a month worth of martial have never met, dislike each other teacher is putting food Martial Arts School Owner. seminars among a group of best martial artists we know arts equipment and sup- other, bad mouth each other, on the table. That’s not what The association of mar- friends and the students of have derived their greatness plies. But imagine if 6 schools or know nothing about each this art was ever about. Yes we tial artists can range from these nine schools will attend from alliances. Few know this, pooled their purchasing other. But if you have a com- are fighter warriors. But we are your typical backyard sparring (and pay for) the tenth teach- but well known Filipino mar- power to demand a larg- munity of teachers who all ex- community minded leaders, group to an alliance made up er’s seminar, and next time tial arts Master Billy Bryant’s er discount from suppliers. cel, have a mutual respect for who use this art to help oth- of martial arts schools to a around--another of the nine martial arts genius originated • Learning: Teachers hold- one another, and help each ers and keep them alive. How federation of schools within schools will host, and so on. I from alliances he made in the ing group workouts among other keep food on the table- about joining with others who the same system. There are understand keeping the mon- 1980s upon relocating from themselves to share infor- -martial arts in that commu- have the same goal and mov- many benefits to connect- ey circulating through the New York City to Washington, mation. This information nity will be respected by all. I ing forward as a true broth- ing and networking with schools. However, students DC. When he came, we knew can be brought back to the had such a relationship with a erhood? There is an African Books by Mark V. Wiley other teachers, masters and are often unfairly pushed to him as “Jabba”, and he was a home school to figure out Do you have these publications? Do you even know about them? few teachers in my area, and proverb that says if you want Well here is a chance, you can get them.

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