In This Issue: ☯ Welcome to 2010! 2 ☯ An Interview with Sah Bu Nim Tapio 3 ☯ Dieting, Hapkido and You 3 ☯ My 3 Sublime Moments in 2009 4 ☯ Do You Want To Fight? 4 ☯ Adults Grading Congratulations 5 ☯ Kids Grading Congratulations 6 ☯ Complete Self Defense Hutch 7 ☯ One More Forward Roll, Please? 7 ☯ New IHA/AHG Members 8 ☯ You Can Make 2010 3 Times Better 8 ☯ Bayside Grading 8 ☯ The Misconceptions of Hapkido 9 ☯ And The Winner Is... 9 ☯ AHG Sydney Spirit Award Winners! 10 ☯ My Hapkido Journey 10 ☯ Hurstville—Rebranded, Refreshed... 11 ☯ On Its Own 11 ☯ 5 x The Masters, 5 x The Fun 12 ☯ AHG Turns 17 12 ☯ Upcoming Events 12 Each year I write a letter to CSD about the plans for the ☯ The launch of the AHG Sydney Spirit Awards; year and I wanted to share some of them with you as I feel ☯ The release of our new “How To” DVD Series; and they are appropriate to the IHA/AHG as well. ☯ My recognition as a Grandmaster by Dojunim Ji. As usual we start each year with an annual motto or saying that is meant to reflect our plans and/or vision for the year. 20 So this will be the year known as Two 10 out of 10! Thousand & Ten out of Ten! Before I get onto the plans for 2010, I wanted to briefly touch upon some of the milestones from 2009: ☯ The USA and having Dojunim Ji teach; ☯ The return of Hell Camp (most successful ever!); In 2010 we are continuing the awesome events with: ☯ The BBC Series “How To”. A great tool for breaking down many aspects of Hapkido and understanding them in far more depth than class allows us to teach. ☯ Our first “Weekend of Masters” to be held in March where we will be hosting a number of different Martial Arts Masters for an excellent weekend of training. ☯ The visit of Dojunim Ji to Australia. This will be his 4th visit for us and possibly his last as he has started to wind down his international travelling. This is a once- ☯ The BBC series “Art of” (probably our best); in-a-lifetime chance to spend some quality mat time with our Art’s founder! Plans should see DJN Ji visiting with us during September. Last year a new initiative was launched and that was the formation or the unification of the 3 Sydney Dojangs to form AHG Sydney. This combined Dojang drive was created to bring our 3 Dojangs closer together. This is one program that we will be continuing and building throughout 2010. On the International Scene, we will continue to work with our International branches to make sure that their standard continues to grow, with 2 visits planned overseas this year in April and August. There will also be more information released about our plans for the 4th International Training Seminar (ITS) in 2011, here in Sydney. On a personal note I will be on the mats with a focus to ☯ The first AHG Sydney Christmas Party (with over 200 improve our quality and this year we will be introducing attending it was a huge success); the new “Sun Bae” program aimed at getting our senior coloured belts ready for Black Belt, and the Black Belts ready for Sahbunim and Master levels! 2010 should see our Black Belt family grow with plans for a Black Belt test in October (dependant on sufficient candidates). All the great new ideas and plans we have for 2010 will be listed on the Hapkido Forum and also in our Event Calendar to help you plan your attendance to our great events this year! “09 was Sublime” and I feel it definitely lived up to that, of course we need to continue to set the bar high and this year we are aiming at that- 10 out of 10! - Grandmaster Geoff How long ago did you start training and how did you get What do you like the most about Hapkido? into Hapkido? Most I like the diversity of Hapkido and the fact that I can My first contact with martial arts was with boxing when I realise my own style and the way of doing things. was 13. Then in 1993 I was dragged to a Hapkido What is your favourite Hapkido technique? beginners course by a friend. My friend stuck around for exactly that very first class but I am still on that road. There are many but at the moment I am very fond of finger locks. I like teaching them too Have you done any other martial arts since they are very practical and and if so, what rank (if any) do you effective regardless of one’s size and hold? age. I have tried out and trained in many As one of the 4th Degrees in the self defence and martial arts styles. organisation, what do you consider to Besides Hapkido my other major be the secret of sticking with Hapkido? martial art is Defendo in which I am at the highest level (S.T.A.R). I Train hard with the right attitude. Set occasionally still train Brazilian Jiu yourself goals with realistic timeframes Jitsu in which I hold a Blue Belt. as for instance a new Kup you want to achieve. How did you first get involved with Grandmaster Geoff? Remember to enjoy your achievements and don’t be too critical about yourself. In 2000 we founded the Finnish Maintaining a routine is very Hapkido Federation and this year we important for your development. have our ten year anniversary. At the Breaks that are too long make it time we were looking for an difficult to jump back on the train. experienced collaboration partner Thus try and establish for yourself a with a strong vision in the field of schedule so you are able to train on a Hapkido and a practical syllabus. And weekly basis. Be open and get so in 2001, we invited Grandmaster acquainted with your fellow Hapkido Booth to Finland to teach us. students. Without good relationships What has been the highlight for you long lasting training is hard. I advise throughout all your years of training? students to pick up other forms of physical activities like jogging, The highlight for me has been the swimming and so forth because if you founding of HMAC (Helsinki Martial Art Centre). It’s my are in good shape Hapkido is even more fun. dream come true. Now I can teach and train Hapkido as a profession. Can it get any better? :) Another very Enjoy yourself and smile when training, it gives you power memorable moment for me was when I passed the test for for your every day life too. 4th Degree. Remember, one day you will need to defend yourself - never give up! Don’t quit training! The word 'diet' gets bandied around a very important. There's a very simple So if you're concerned about your lot. Some people cringe, others roll formula which 'experts' would have weight or just interested in the whole their eyes, some come down with a you believe is this highly technical, idea; I encourage you to do your case of the shakes and start wringing unattainable mystery that can only be research and learn. It's quite their hands in fear and shame. solved by three easy payments of interesting. Sound familiar? Well, don't get too $29.95. To end with a word of warning; Start upset about it. There's a veritable Calories In > Calories Out = Weight reading the labels of items you buy. dearth of information and it's easy to Gain The amount of rubbish that gets get confused about what the term 'diet' thrown into food is amazing. 'Low fat' Calories Out > Calories in = Weight actually means. The truth of the is often stuffed with carbs, or salt, and loss matter is this: If you approach a 'diet' vice versa. That's it. No magic. No smoke and as a temporary measure, you will fail. And to those who know me and are Your eating habits need to be part of mirrors. That's all it ever was. Fat, your lifestyle, not seen as a 'quick fix' carbohydrates and proteins make up sniggering; Yes, I do fail to follow my to all your problems. Pass the fries, the bulk of this. It gets more indepth own advice. 'Tis good to be human. will you? Thanks. (different types of fats/carbs/ proteins/vitamins etc), but it can be - Jeremy B Anyway, I just wanted to remind kept relatively simple. everyone that what you eat is indeed Three big Hapkido aspects stick out Master, Grandmaster McKenzie. DJN recently undergone a minor surgical for me from 2009. Of course, CSD’s on the mats is a sight to enjoy (I’ve operation still gives his time to show 2010 welcome letter outlines some of done ‘99, ‘03 and ‘09 now), laughing, his Hapkido, including his breathing the Hapkido high points like the ITS in playing and demonstrating his technique. USA, Hell Camp, BBC seminars, Do Ju Hapkido, revelling like a happy kid “Why pride and joy?” you ask. Nim Ji and Master Geoff’s promotion with the Australian travellers. Imagine that our small Aussie group to Grand Master. These are big events Of course there was that unforgettable was probably the last international in 2009 and I (and you, I suspect) moment of promotion when DJN says group to train with GM Kim. Hapkido enjoyed them immensely. … ‘from now on you call him Grand lost another GM one month after we My thanks to GMG (and others Master’, referring to Master Geoff.