Selbstverteidigung

Yup, 18 letters in one word for "self-defense". It's on the front door of Marc Sigle's school in Esslingen. I've been here for most of the week, working with Marc and his students.
I have to say thanks to his guys Mike and Benny for taking time out of their schedules to pick me up at the studio and show me around. Benny is a physical therapist and a pilot, so we had a lot to talk about regarding kenpo and airplanes. He drove me up to Ludwigsburg and we went through the castle and grounds there, then over for some views of Stuttgart from the high ground. The city lies in a valley and has some beautiful scenery. Some expresso and a great dinner followed.
Mike took me to downtown Stuttgart to visit the art museums. I saw the Andy Warhol exhibition there and some works of Picasso, Miro, and Matisse. The modern art museum had many interesting works we both enjoyed.
I taught a class the last evening I was there and the place was packed. Marc stopped everything and thanked me for my time and efforts, then presented me with an authentic beer stein. Very cool.


Several of us went out after class for dinner and we said our goodbyes. The Saabrucken and Austrian groups had come over again as well and had long drives home again.
Marc and his wife Isabelle were great hosts. I enjoyed my time in Esslingen and look forward to returning.

Seminars in Esslingen, Germany

I spent this past weekend at Marc Sigle's studio in the Stuttgart area. I did a weekend of seminars for Marc's people from Esslingen and Saarbrucken, Germany as well as Austria.
We kicked off the seminar with the formal promotion of Mike Haselwanter to black, he having tested the night before.
It was a very nice group of people of all ranks from white to black. Some of the white belts had studied Shotokan and were picking up the kenpo quickly, even though we were doing some complex material. Saturday the focus was on the knife techniques, with the changes from one attack line to another emphasized. On Sunday we worked on how to improve forms, finished the knives, and went into family groupings.
The days went by fast. We had some interesting conversations at lunch and dinner both days, and everyone was very friendly. Marc took time in the seminars to translate, and I beleive it helped everyone's understanding.
In addition, we had a special guest. Mr. Albrecht Pfluger, who is considered to be a pioneer of German karate came by to watch my class. Mr. Pfluger wrote the first text on karate in German almost 40 years ago, and has since written many more. I thought it was nice of him to stop by and be introduced to myself and the class.
Marc gets around to most of the European kenpo events and comes to the US fairly frequently. Stop and say hello to him if you get the chance.

Mike Haselwanter promoted to black

I get contacted by people all over the world. Some years ago I received a letter from a man in Austria, looking for a recommendation for a school in Austria or Germany. As it happened, I had met Marc Sigle, who was living in SW Germany at the time and had since moved to the Stuttgart area. Mike was living on Lake Constance (Konstanz), about 2 hours away. He had been training with a kenpo group in Berlin, but it wasn't working out for some reason.
Mike arranged to meet Marc and subsequently started to train with him, driving the distance frequently, and going to seminars. After five years, last night we tested and promoted him to first degree black. Mike had a written thesis about a half inch thick in both English and German, with both the written and form parts explained with diagrams. It was very clear as to what his goal was in demonstrating his grasp of the system. You English only speakers should think about your test and consider what it might have been like trying to answer questions put to you in a language not your own, even with a translator, under the stress of the exam. Not to mention the frustration of not knowing the words to explain the answer suitably, and the fact that we often ask questions you don't know the answer to anyway and wondering if it's because you don't know or if you just didn't understand the question because it might as well have been in Chinese.
Mike had experience in Kyokushin previously and did a nice blend at times of the hard Japanese striking and leg kicking into the kenpo techniques. His structure and execution was good. This a guy you want with you in a dark alley.
It was well done and I congratulate Mike. Who would have thought that an answer to a letter from across the Atlantic would have me sitting at his black belt test?
Mike is now actively teaching kenpo to nine students and is the progenitor of kenpo in Austria.

Cape Coral, FL seminar

One of my black belts, Mike Squatrito, and his wife Renee, recently bought and re-opened a kenpo studio in Cape Coral, FL. That's across the river from Ft. Myers, and is the second largest city (land-area wise) in Florida.
On Monday, June 18 I did a seminar for some of his students there. We all had some fun, and the class was easy to work with. The subject was basics and foot maneuvers. Mike's got some good people there and it looks to me that they're going to have a high quality student coming out of that school.
Mike says his feedback on the seminar was good and he's planning to have another in 3-4 months. The studio name is Gulf Coast Kenpo Karate. www.gulfcoastkenpo.com
By the way, this is the same Mike who is in my Kenpo Karate 301 book , and will be in my next one as well.

Technique analysis

I have a "Members Only" section on my website. In there I have what I'm told is some pretty useful and insightful information I have written and posted. I wrote a three-level Technique Analysis paper, part of which is in there. I have started to touch on the subject at some seminars and I get some fairly apprehensive looks. However, after the last one, one of the participants, sent me the chart below. His name is Gary Bell and he's from North Carolina. Gary drives down to Orlando once a month to take my PDS. If you take a look at what he did, it illustrates well what I am trying to get across. Yes, it takes some work. yes, it will pay off in increasing your understanding of the kenpo system. Well done, Gary.
Mr. Wedlake,

This is my first attempt at the technique analysis. I was hoping that you might be able to see if I'm working in the right direction, I don't want to travel the wrong way for too long. I had started this some time last week to see if there was any relationships within the last 4 techniques.



Escape from the Storm
Fatal Deviation
Entwined Lance
Circling the Storm

Attack
right overhead
right, left punch combo
right high thrust
close overhead

Attack Direction
3 to 9
12 to 6
12 to 6
12 to 6

Opponent's forward leg (ideal)
right
right
right
right

Our front leg on first move
right
right
left
right

Our leg in reference to their leg
outside
inside
inside
outside

Blocking hand
rear
front
front
front

Our block
outside the arm (inward parry)
inside the arm (inward block)
inside the arm (outward parry)
outside the arm (inward block)




Regards,

Gary

Gary did this in chart form and it's better represented that way. Obviously Gary is farther ahead on the computer stuff than I am.

A new forum

I was contacted by Troy Bohlander of New York and he told me Ed Parker Jr has started a new online kenpo forum. I've included a portion of Troy's e-mail with the website address and a quote from the site by Edmund, which I thought was nice - I'd never have come across this and I thank Troy for the information.

"I was looking at some pictures that Ed Parker, Jr. put up on the new
American Kenpo Community site (http://americankenpoforum.com/) and ran
across the following text that he placed below a picture of the two of you.
If you have not run across it yet, I thought you might appreciate seeing it."

"I honestly feel that at least the successor of my father written works is
Mr. Lee Wedlake Jr. He is someone I am proud of and I am certainly have no
doubt my father is proud of him too. The Kenpo Karate series by Mr. Wedlake
is a must have in everyones kenpo library without a doubt."
http://americankenpoforum.com/photos/epj/picture1138.aspx

Kenpo Karate 501

My next book is just about done. The subject is Form Five, the take-down form. It's about 60 pages and the cover will blow you away. Ed Parker Jr did this cover as well and I think it captures the essence of the form's theme beautifully.
Graham Lelliott wrote the preface. There is a contribution by Dr. Rowe as well, a condensed version of what he and I are working on for an article on sleeper holds (approved by Steve LaBounty, by the way!). My guys Mike and Kyle are modeling the techniques. Ed Cabrera and Danny Sullivan are in there too, choking each other in the sleeper hold section.
With a little luck it will go to the printer in July. Keep your fingers crossed.

You're getting sleepy, very sleepy

The following article was sent to me by a Mensa acquaintance of mine. I found a few intereting items in it, one about bullying that was very interesting.


ALISON HARDIE SENIOR NEWS WRITER ( ahardie@scotsman.com)

MARGARET Thatcher, Napoleon and Florence Nightingale all famously got by on four hours, but a conference on sleep has uncovered some startling results for mere mortals who try to follow in their footsteps.

Delegates at Sleep 2007 will today unveil the full details of their investigations into what can happen when people deprive themselves of sleep, or radically change their sleeping patterns

The results are particularly important for students and the parents of young children, as both groups appear particularly susceptible to problems if they do not get enough sleep.

Lisa Witcher of the University of Louisville, Illinois, said: "Parental reports [we made] indicate poor sleep is associated with both internalising and externalising behaviour problems, specifically those associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder."

For adults in taxing professions, the consequences of not enough sleep can be grave.

A lack of sleep is said to have been a contributory factor to a number of international disasters such as Exxon Valdez, Chernobyl, and the Challenger shuttle explosion.

More than 5,000 leading researchers and clinicians are meeting today to take part in the four-day Sleep 2007 conference in the US city of Minneapolis.

The aim is to bring together cutting-edge research into serious sleep problems including insomnia, narcolepsy and sleep apnea in an effort to improve diagnosis and treatments.

The conference does have some good news for people suffering the misery of insomnia.

Researchers in Brazil reported significant improvements in a group of 24 sufferers once they were trained to relax before bed by conjuring positive images in their minds before attempting sleep.

Snoring link to hyperactivity
CHILDREN who snore may have an increased risk of behavioural problems including hyperactivity, attention problems and even perfectionism, according to a study.

Researchers at the University of Louisville, Illinois, interviewed the parents of 52 children between the ages of five and eight who were identified as snoring "frequently" or "almost always".

The results showed many of the children had symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The researchers said: "While no causation can be inferred ... this deserves further study."

Late nights are bad for studies
GOING to bed late not only means less sleep, but also a poorer-quality rest - and students who adopt a late-night habit will see it hit their academic results. That is the outcome of a study by scientists in South Korea who examined the sleeping habits of 399 students at Pohang University.

One of the researchers said: "This shows that the greater one stayed up at night, the more maladjusted [one becomes] in college life, in terms of mental health and academic performance.

"It seems important to give relevant information and helpful guidance on good sleep habits to students from the beginning of college life."

Potential to end bullying
CHILDREN who are aggressive or bullies at school may be exhibiting behaviour triggered by sleep-related health problems.

A study carried out in Michigan, in the United States, found that young people who bully also tended to suffer sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD).

As one in ten children is affected by SRBD - the most common is snoring - the findings could be significant in work being done by schools to curb bullying and aggressive behaviour.

Worries just melt away
INSOMNIACS who relax before bed by conjuring up calming images can overcome their condition, according to a study.

A group of 24 chronic insomniacs took part in tests at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in which half were given CDs designed to help listeners relax and release their worries.

The results showed the severity of insomnia in the experimental group diminished and their worries about sleep also improved.

The success of this "imagery rehearsal therapy" trial may lead to improved treatment for insomniacs.

A recipe for poor results
STUDENTS who sit up all night "cramming" for an exam should simply put away their books and go to bed to ensure better marks.

Research has concluded that all-night studying marathons are no substitute for regular and substantial nights of sleep and can cause low marks.

Pamela Thacher , of St Lawrence University, New York State, said: "Sleep in college students is generally inadequate, irregular and of poor quality. As sleep quality and quantity decrease, academic performance worsens. This study [of 111 students] indicates that the use of a single night of total sleep deprivation is not an effective practice for achieving academic goals."

Batting ahead of average
ATHLETES who obey their trainers' demands to get extra sleep before a big event will do better, research has shown.

A study of six healthy students in a United States university baseball team found that after a two-week period during which they were asked to get as much sleep as possible, their athletic prowess was greatly improved.

They could run faster, throw baseballs further and reported feeling more energetic and generally in a better mood. The study was carried out by Cheri Mah of Stanford University.

Maths involves counting sheep
MEDICAL, engineering and maths students are more likely to be cursed with sleep disorders than those studying for a humanities degree, according to research.

When a group of 129 students were asked to record their levels of sleep quality and consequent sleepiness, those studying humanities consistently did "significantly" better.

Aryn Karpinski, of West Virginia University, is now attempting to find a cause for the differences, because "poor sleep quality affects academic performance".

Weekend lie-in 'addles brain'
TEENAGERS who burn the midnight oil during the week and then make up for it by staying in bed all weekend are storing up academic problems.

Academics have found that the confusion irregular sleeping patterns causes to the body clock can muddle the brain.

Researchers at Brown University, Rhode Island, found that "when teenagers stay up late and sleep in over the weekend it resets their daily clock. This can push back the brain's cue to be awake on Monday morning for school".

Well, at least she didn't cry

This is Samantha Smith. She's the daughter of David and Suk Yee of Pennsylvania. They came out the Graham Lelliott's camp last month and sent me this picture. We enjoyed having her around, and I think she had some fun, too.

Ozzie Rivero

I was at lunch with Kyle Zwarg and he mentioned that a medical transport plane had crashed somewhere. Now that causes concern on different levels. As a human being we are concerned for others. As pilots we want to know as well, for several reasons. As a kenpo instructor I am concerned because I have a black belt who is on an organ transport team for the University of Chicago. His name is Oswaldo Rivero.
I contacted Oz to find that he was OK, but naturally upset. The transplant teams are few and they tend to know each other, as was the case here. It was a team from Michigan that went down, all aboard were killed. He asks that we pay for them, and keep them in mind since they "fight the good fight" (his words), saving lives and accepting the risks involved in that fight.
Let me tell you a little about Ozzie. He was born in Cuba and came to the States very young. Grew up in Tampa and wound up in cosmopolitan Ft. Myers. He took Tae Kwon Do to the rank of brown belt (maybe red) and came into my school shortly after I opened. He was more curious than really looking to change schools but he did and trained with me, bringing a few more guys that are still around and teaching.
Oz told me he hated doing forms. I explained the reasons for them and related them to fighting, which is what Oz really likes to do. Wouldn't you know, Oz got good at forms. Funny how that works - when someone understands something, they can make it theirs.
Bob Brandt, another Chicago transplant, met Oz at my studio and hired him. Then he transferred him to Chicago. Oz was working for Bob at the U of C, where they liked him so much they hired him away. Since then Ozzie has earned his master's degree and become the transplant coordinator for the program. He married a lovely lady named Jill and he's working toward his third degree.
Many of you know or have met Ozzie. He's a fun-loving guy, with a quick wit, and strong-will. He's been to Sweden and Denmark with me and was always ready to help out at the studio. And he's always in the group picture.
He's the guy to have on your side.

Even the dog knows

Since I sold my school I don't teach many kids classes, but one I taught last year comes to mind. I was telling the kids about how we don't usually hit the same target twice. Ed Parker told that story in his seminar about "Lightning never strikes twice in the same place." (I'll write that one if there is a demand.)
I have seen over the years that people try to force a technique to work even when the lines are closed. Like in Delayed Sword when a guy puts his left hand up to cover and accidentally blocks the chop. Then the defender tries to get the chop in anyway, sometimes repeatedly, and to little or no effect. We teach that you should change the pattern to meet these situations but lots of people don't seem to get it.
I was telling the kids that when I "fight" with the dog, he may be trying to chew on my arm and when I frustrate him by moving or blocking with the other hand, he will ALWAYS pick an alternate target and then go back to the primary. He'll go for the arm and if that doesn't work he'll nip the leg or whatever else is close to distract me and then go back to the arm. Luckily he's never been in position for a groin shot - years of kenpo pay off!
Most of the kids got it, but one raises his hands and says "Is that true?" You have to laugh but maybe he never slugged it out with the family dog. Maybe he's only got a goldfish. To him I say "Be a man. Buy a pirahna."


Humans have the ability to pause in the reaction process. It's stimulus-pause-response. The dog is not distracted by pre-arranged patterns that he thinks must be completed. He just knows that isn't working so he tries something else. So while we have more sophisticated brains, sometimes we just have to be an animal.

Dr. Marc again

I hadn't seen Dr. Rowe for a while because our schedules just haven't meshed but he got to class this week and we had a chance to talk. He is a volunteer with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and his position somewhat mirrors mine with the Civil Air Patrol. We both give briefings for our respective groups from time to time and we were discussing Search and Rescue subjects on Wednesday after class. In the course of the discussion we were talking about the common types of people we run across in our activities and the in-your-face know-it-all type came up. (You're going to love this.)
Marc said he was starting a briefing on drowning, something pretty important to the USCG and boating community. As he starts one of these guys raises his hand and says that there was a paper done by the University of Miami on the subject and that is stated blah, blah, blah, and that it was the definitive work on the subject. Marc thanked him for that. The kicker is that MARC WROTE THAT PAPER. Marc didn't tell him that, he's got too much class for that, but I thought it was temendously funny.
Anyway, here's an article on tai chi and falls in older people that Marc sent along.

Tai chi training may help reduce falls in the elderly
Emory University
March 29, 2004
Emory University researchers have found that intense training in tai chi,
the ancient Chinese martial arts form, may help reduce the risks of falls in
elderly, frail adults. But the benefit of the exercise is somewhat less
pronounced than in more active, "robust" seniors, according to lead
researcher Steven Wolf, PhD, FAPTA, a professor in the department of
rehabilitation medicine at Emory University School of Medicine.

The advantages of the tai chi training in a study population defined as
"transitioning to frailty" became most apparent by the fourth month of the
study, when risks of falling were reduced by 40%, as participants became
less dependent on walkers and wheelchairs and learned the movements of tai
chi. The $1.2 million study was funded by the National Institute of Aging, a
branch of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and results were published
recently in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Association.

Researchers enrolled more than 300 participants from 70-97 years of age in
the 48-week study. All participants lived in assisted-living facilities in
the Atlanta area. Participants were randomized by the facilities in which
they lived to learn either tai chi or to take wellness education classes.

All participants had to be "transitioning to frailty" and all had to have
fallen one or more times in the year before they were enrolled in the study.

"In a previous study known as the FICSIT (Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative
Studies of Intervention Techniques) study, we looked at the effects of tai
chi, balance training and wellness education in elderly people," said Wolf.
"This study enrolled older individuals in the community who were otherwise
healthy and strong, often identified as 'robust'. The results showed that
tai chi had the most profound effect in fall prevention, reducing the risks
of multiple falls by 47.5%, when compared to balance training and wellness
education."

This research study and its findings, published in 1996, were selected as
the best paper in the 1990s by the Journal of the American Geriatrics
Association out of about 1400 other entries.

"With information from the FICSIT study, we decided to evaluate the
population that is considered to be 'transitioning to frailty' to determine
if the outcomes are similar. We haven't looked at tai chi training in less
healthy individuals until now," said Wolf.

The tai chi participants in the most recent study took classes twice a week.
Tai chi consists of slow, rhythmic movements that emphasize trunk rotation,
weight shifting and coordination. Participants in the wellness education
class gathered once a week to learn about fall prevention, exercise and
balance, diet and nutrition, medication management and other topics. Handout
material was provided, but there was no formal instruction in exercise.

"While we saw a 40% decline in falls from the fourth month on in the tai chi
group, we also saw a slight decline in the number of falls per month in the
wellness education group," said Wolf. "Health promotion can be an effective
intervention in preventing disease or injury. The wellness education
activities may have motivated some participants to become more physically
active, adopt healthier and safer lifestyles, and thus reduce their risk
factors for falling," Wolf explained.

Over the 48-week study period, 46% of the participants did not fall. The
percentage of participants who fell at least once in the tai chi group was
47.6 and 60.3% in the wellness education group.

The study also looked at the participants' education and fall rates.
Participants in the tai chi group with no high school degree had
significantly lower fall rates than those in the wellness education group.
This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other
reports.

©Copyright 2003, via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net

Mount Vernon seminars

Last weekend I was at Steve Hatfield's Panther Kenpo Karate in Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
Steve has been student of mine for about 20 years, when he started driving from the Columbus, OH area to Chicago to train.
I visit his school once a year in the early summer to do a black belt test and seminars. His people continue to improve and Steve himself continues to grow as an instructor and student of the arts.
It's always a pleasure to visit his school and watch the progress. And just getting to sit and talk with Steve is always stimulating. He's a very knowledgable guy and he's got a sense of humor I can appreciate, so there is always a lot of laughter.
Al McLuckie was there as well to teach a class after mine. We didn't have much time to talk since I had to head for the airport but it's always good to see him, too.
Photos of the event should be coming this way and I'll post them as soon as I get them.

Anniversary

Thirty-two years ago, on June 2, 1975, I earned my black belt. On June 2, 2007 I promoted Steve Hatfield of Mt. Vernon, OH to sixth degree black.
"What a long, strange trip it's been."

Deep Thoughts

The following short article was sent in by Tim Walker, one of my guys who started a school in Branford, FL a few years ago. Tim is a "make it happen" kind of guy.

Thoughts become real
By Ralph S. Marston, Jr. at http://dailymotivator.com

The thoughts you hold most often and most intensely are the thoughts you
will put into action. What you think about life determines what you do with
your life.

If you worry enough about something you don't want, you will, unfortunately,
find a way to make it happen. In the same way, when your most treasured
dreams are clearly and meaningfully focused by your thinking, you'll find a
way to make them real.

Thoughts can be volatile and easily changed. Yet despite the fact that they
have no physical form, they still have enormous power.

For your thoughts create your map of reality. And that map serves as a
reference for all that you do.

Taking control of your thoughts requires nothing more than the will to do
so. And just as a small change in the rudder can alter the course of a
massive ship, by changing your thinking you can change your whole world.

Think as though your thoughts will become real. For you do surely make them
so.

More on Mommy

I got a few comments on the posting I made on Mommy a few days back. "Disturbing" was one and below you'll find some informative comments by Tony Velada in Chicago.

Lee,

I read your blog today, entitled "Mommy" - regarding a t-shirt you observed a teenage girl wearing. I agree that in light of events involving school violence, its likely to send the wrong message. At least initially. Curious about finding a deeper meaning, I decided to search online, those exact words found on the t-shirt. What I found was interesting. Apparently, "Mommy Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight" is a song by the punk band the Misfits.

Below, I've included links to the lyrics, an audio clip, and a t-shirt for sale on ebay.

Back to my thoughts... Do these words - whether found in song lyrics, on t-shirts, or spoken among the various cliques of our youth today - have a deeper meaning? Do they reflect a general disdain for society? Is it a cry for help? Is it simply something shocking to say to get a rise out of people? Perhaps all the above. The problem is, discerning between the wannabe punk who *thinks* he/she has problems or the truly disturbed individual that needs intervention. The next question can be, who is responsible for helping that person?

What is our role as martial arts instructors, mentors, role models... What are the ethical boundaries for intervention, should we find ourselves or one of our own in such a situation?

I certainly have my opinions about this topic and am not claiming to know the right answer(s). Just found it interesting to dig a little to try and understand the greater context. Unfortunately, I think it takes a tragedy to make society stop and really consider what is really going on.

References:

http://www.lyricsdomain.com/13/misfits/mommy_can_i_go_out_and_kill_tonightq.html

http://www.last.fm/music/Misfits/_/Mommy+Can+I+Go+Out+and+Kill+Tonight

http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-MISFITS-cd-cv-PUSHEAD-MOMMY-KILL-TONIGHT-Shirt-XL_W0QQitemZ270125041562QQcmdZViewItem

Tony Velada MBA