A big bite

There are a couple of things I have the greatest respect for. Large predators are one of those. Tough guys like this Australian guy is another. Wow, here we're talking sharkarate!

Story:
An Australian diver who was attacked head-first by a huge great white shark today described how he spent two minutes in the darkness of its jaws before poking it in the eye and escaping.

Eric Nerhus, 41, was almost swallowed when he was diving for seafood off the southern coast of New South Wales yesterday. The professional diver and black-belt karate exponent was prising abalone off rocks nine metres (30ft) below the surface when the 3m (9ft) shark suddenly swam out of the sea weed and attacked.

"I was hit very hard. I wasn't sure what had happened. I was in a dark cave that was squashing me like a vice," he said.

Mr Nerhus said the impact knocked his oxygen regulator from his mouth and for the next few seconds, he feared he was about to become "fish food".

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More swords

A couple of things is quite clear:
1. These people are really incompetent, and/or they did not use proper swords.
2. There must be something with swords and people from the UK.

Story:
UK (Scotland) -- Four teenagers were among at least five people stabbed in a street battle linked to gangland wars in north Glasgow.

Samurai swords and knives were used by youths as young as 15 as the Milton area erupted into violence.

Police today said five males were taken to the Royal Infirmary and released after treatment for stab wounds.

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Something he loved

It began on the advice of his doctor. Toby McGilvary, age 4, was born with Cerebral Palsy. The debilitating disease made most normal physical activity almost impossible. His legs were crippled, his speech slurred and his balance and coordination precarious at best.

His doctor recommended to his mother, Connie, that he enroll in a martial arts program to help with his physical therapy.

Toby enrolled in the Yreka Martial Arts Academy and began working with an instructor. Toby found it almost impossible to stay up in class. The pain in his legs was constant, but it did not deter him from his twice-a-week classes.

Toby found something he loved.

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Cook fu, kung food

Housekeepers that can speak fluent English or are skilled in martial arts become a new fad in Beijing, reported the Beijing Morning Post Thursday.

Recent college graduate Zhong Xuehui, 20, had two potential employers competing against each other to offer her a job. Zhang's clean-cut good looks and outstanding academic record in college won the bidders' hearts.

"Your Kungfu is a plus. Do you know how to cook?" an employer surnamed Chen asked a graduate at the Chuan Mei Zi Housekeeping Service Intermediary. Chen said she needs a housekeeper who can cook and safeguard her villa.

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'Street kata'

This class blends elements from tae kwon do, shodokan aikido, capoeira and tai chi with serious dance moves. Imagine "The Karate Kid Goes Break Dancing." Street Kata, according to a class description, is about "understanding movement, which flows into understanding self."

Wow! Really ...
Most of this stuff is plain stupid, perhaps funny at best. Now, I can relate to people making money with martial arts - no problem with that what so ever.

Also, coming up with a 'catchy' name; not knowing that kata is a karate term (that has nothing to do with tae kwon do or aikido); or making up "Grasshopper" phrases like "understanding movement, which flows into understanding self"; I really have nothing but a big smile for all that.

The sad part is all these people that need something new - constantly - not to be bored. Today it is quite OK to be almost anything - even dead - as long as you're not BORING. It's like we have become stuck inside a teenagers 'I'm bored' statement forever.

How do these people intend to become good at anything, when they can't repeat a task over and over? After all that is really boring, you know!

So folks, we have to make martial arts entertaining: No repetitions, always new stuff, just plain fun. Why not put on rubber noses and funny hats while we're at it?

It's showtime!

No Boldenone

According to The Nevada State Athletic Commission, lightweight Kit Cope tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid Boldenone following his stoppage loss to Rob McCullough on January 20.

A respected Thai boxer, the 29-year-old Cope's transition to mixed martial arts has been a difficult one, taking just one victory in five fights. Boldenone, popularly known as Equipose, is an anabolic steroid developed for veterinary use.

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A real kick

The Oklahoma family of Marissa Graham was celebrating over this weekend, because the 10-year-old had escaped from her kidnapper.

Authorities say Marissa was biking to a friend's house Thursday, when she was grabbed and thrown in the trunk of a car.

Her kidnapper drove her 200 miles, from her hometown of Texhoma on the Texas border.

But when her kidnapper stopped for gas in Clovis, New Mexico, Marissa -- who takes martial arts -- was able to kick her way out of the trunk.

She then walked into the store and calmly told the clerk she had just escaped. Police are calling her a brave young girl.

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Karate mayor

Baltimore -- Sheila Dixon became the first woman to occupy the mayor's office on Thursday, taking over the remainder of new Gov. Martin O'Malley's term and facing the challenges of a rising murder rate, a continuing ethics probe and a number of challengers for the seat.

The mother of two and aunt of former Maryland basketball star Juan Dixon, who now plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, is a longtime student of karate and former elementary school teacher with a master's degree in educational management.

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Proud?

How can anyone in their right mind connect a piece of cr** like (reality show) 'Big Brother' with the term proud? This show has got to be THE most stupid thing ever to be invented.

A bunch of air-heads talking about nothing of significance, doing nothing of significance ... How about feeling shame or pity, rather than pride?

Story:
Glamorous Indian film star Shilpa Shetty is among the favourites to win Britain's Celebrity Big Brother reality television show, a symbol of Bollywood's advance into Western culture.

Despite being largely unknown in Britain, viewers have warmed to the 31-year-old, one of Bollywood's hottest actresses.

"I just want every Indian to be extremely proud that I'm in here," the karate black belt said on entering the house.

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Lewd jitsu

California -- A Brazilian martial arts champion who runs a Half Moon Bay jiu jitsu studio drank beer with four boys, including three students, and gave them inappropriate massages, according to prosecutors.

The 35-year-old man is accused of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, annoying a child under 18, sexual battery and lewd and lascivious behavior.

He pleaded not guilty and asked for a court-appointed attorney. If convicted, he faces about three years in prison, he said. The investigation is ongoing but police believe they have identified all the victims.

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WTF reform

Korea -- Choue Chung-won, the president of taekwondo's world governing body, said Wednesday he will complete full-fledged reform of the global body by this month, including recruiting foreign employees.

"Reform is the only way for the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) to survive, and without change the WTF has no meaning to its existence. With sweeping organizational changes, the body will soon embark on a new start," Choue said in a news conference in the body's headquarters in Seoul.

"I will transform the WTF in a drastic way and put more internationally minded and professional staff into the secretariat to make the WTF a truly global sports federation, helping taekwondo retain its Olympic status for good," Choue said.

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Sword drama

UK -- A man armed with a sword was shot by police during a drama at a caravan park.

The incident happened at the Woodside Caravan Park, near Ryton, on Tuesday night. The site is used by travellers.

The man was shot with a rubber bullet by a police marksman using a baton gun.

A spokesman for Warwickshire Police said the man was armed with a samurai sword and was making threats to kill.

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Kung-food fighting

UK -- A drunken man subjected a McDonald's employee to a terrifying ninja style attack while proclaiming he was the "karate champion". A 47-year-old man appeared in court on Friday charged with assault.

The prosecutor told the court that the man walked into McDonald's in Lancaster at 9:30 p.m. on November 20. He was "very drunk" and"stumbling around" but managed to order some food, which he took over to a table.

Suddenly, the man started spinning on the spot and performing karate moves in the middle of the restaurant.

He shouted "I'm the karate champion – do you want to give it a go?". When he was asked to leave by a McDonald's employee, the man responded by punching and slapping him in the face.

The man also landed several karate chops on the employee and took off his shirt during the attack.

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Van Damned

Has anyone for a second disputed this? ... apart from kids who believe that movie action is for real, that is.

Story:
Actor Forest Whitaker refuses to believe champion kickboxer Jean-Claude Van Damme is a combat martial artist.

Whitaker, 45, has studied martial arts since he was 12 and co-starred with Van Damme in 1988's 'Bloodsport'.

He says, "His form was very good. I don't consider him a combat martial artist, though. He'd be laid out in a pub fight."

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School owner charged

Canada - According to media, the grand master of a martial arts school in Port Coquitlam (A 54-year-old Surrey man) has been accused of sexually assaulting three of his former students.

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She came forward

A Las Vegas karate instructor is under arrest and accused of sexually assaulting a minor. the man's arrest came shortly after his alleged victim came forward and an investigation was launched.

Police say the victim in this case is the 13-year-old daughter of the man's girlfriend. Police say the investigation was initiated after a victim disclosed the ongoing abuse.

The man recently owned and operated his own karate school. At this time, police think there is only one victim. However, they are continuing their investigation.

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Fitness and fun

Yes it's both fun and fitness. Also I think it is absolutely brilliant that seniors are doing martial arts. We ought to see more of that!

Story:
South Dakota -- On Friday mornings at the Senior Center, three women punch the air with high blocks, knife-hand moves and the deft movements of karate.

For almost five years, Alice Melin, Bernice Rubach and Jean Kroeger have followed their sensei, or instructor, through the katas, a regimented series of moves.

The three women, who all celebrated their 70th birthdays some time ago, have achieved brown-belt status.

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"Ax on - ax off"

Is it making karate moves in the middle of the night that makes this weird, or is it the other stuff? Guess he really hated his neighbor's truck though! Or maybe it all was an "ax-ident" (yes, bad pun, I know :)

Story:
According to the Woodland Police Department, residents at a neighboring apartment complex had informed officers that a man was outside talking to himself, rattling things around, digging through people's garbage and "making karate moves and slicing up the truck with his ax."

Police said the man, who has lived on the Elm St. residence for four years, is usually quiet, but neighbors reported that he goes through "episodes" of strange behavior.

Woodland police have responded to a few disturbance calls at the house prior to this incident, a spokesman said.

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Confuse-Us speaks #10

Russian President Vladimir Putin likes to play karate (Japanese style of fighting). Belarusian "President" Aleksandr Lukashenko likes to play hockey. So, both of them are using very different means to resolve Russia-Belarus gas conflict.

This is according to americanchronicle.com

Sorry to be such a pain in the you know what part of the human anatomy, but Putin does judo, not karate.

Judging from the level of knowledge being demonstrated here - I wouldn't be too surprised if Lukashenko really likes to play the slide trombone. Same s***, right?

Eventually arrested

UK -- A Whitehaven karate instructor who allowed his home to be used as a hangout by teenage girls has been jailed for two years for child abduction.

The 47-year-old man, continued to allow the teenagers into his house despite warnings from parents, the police and the local education authority.

He was eventually arrested after police raided his property and found a 14-year-old girl, who had been reported missing, hiding inside a hollowed out armchair.

They also found a quantity of amphetamine worth over £500.

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Alleged rape

The Philippine Karatedo Federation is conducting its own investigation on the alleged rape case filed by a female athlete against her coach/instructor in Cebu City.

PKF president Ed Ponce said yesterday that he has just learned of the incident from a friend in Cebu, but promised to personally lead an investigative panel to look into the merits of the case and help the victim get the justice she deserves.

Sketchy reports received by the Philippine Olympic Committee, through text and e-mailed messages, claimed that the 19-year-old karateka, a consistent medalist in local tournaments, was allegedly sexually abused by her trainor.

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Lawsuit lost

The grandson of Kungfu master Huo Yuanjia has lost a lawsuit against producers and distributors of Jet Li's biographical film at the Beijing First Intermediate People's Court, where the case was heard on Tuesday.

The court ruled that the film "Huo Yuanjia", or "Fearless", was an exaggerated and fictitious portrait of the late Huo, one of China's most revered martial arts masters, but contained no defamatory or libelous depictions.

Huo Shoujin, 81, Huo Yuanjia's only surviving grandson on the Chinese mainland, had said the film contained fabrications of his grandfather's life and character, and it besmirched his reputation.

Huo filed a lawsuit in March, seeking a halt to the worldwide release of the film, and a written public apology.

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A great initiative

Maybe there's hope after all?

But what's up with this dribble: "Education campaigners have warned that the school should not stray too far from competitive team games, which foster team spirit and help prepare pupils for adult life."

We could begin to talk about a few other things those "sacred" team games can foster ...

Story:
A British school is downgrading traditional sports like rugby, football, hockey and netball in favour of yoga, karate, kick-boxing and Frisbee.

Authorities at the historic Suffolk school, founded in 1550, say the new activities help reluctant pupils to enjoy physical education lessons and encourage them to keep fit.

But education campaigners have warned that the school should not stray too far from competitive team games, which foster team spirit and help prepare pupils for adult life.

The school has become the first state school in Britain to hire its own martial arts instructor. It has also appointed a personal trainer to coach the school's top-performing athletes and increase physical activity among less confident pupils.

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He never quit

Louisville, Kentucky -- After more than two years and 33 surgeries, one thing became clear to Kevin Trees - perhaps his only chance to regain his active lifestyle and return to being a police officer was to have his leg amputated.

So, on October 3, 2005, Trees underwent his 34th surgery, losing his right leg above the knee.

But thanks to a high-tech titanium prosthesis, his determination and support of friends and family, Trees has returned to the force - having recovered enough from the off-duty April 2003 motorcycle crash that nearly killed him.

Then in February (2006), he started taking some martial arts classes with now-retired Maj. Bill Weedman. Trees credits those classes with making the difference in his physical recovery.

Eventually, Trees said, his strength and confidence returned. He's now able to run on a treadmill, work on martial arts and do many of the things he did before.

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"The Flashing Blade"

UK -- The enigmatic hero struck as two unarmed detectives tackled a violent gang of criminals in a street in South Shields.

The villains were armed with knives, chains and a hammer. The detectives had only their wits. Suddenly a man appeared and shouted: 'Leave him alone, he's a police officer!'

He ran up to the criminals, slashing frantically with the 3ft samurai sword and caught one of them on the arm. His actions panicked the gang and the police were able to arrest three of them.

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Bulllies beware

School children in Dubai could soon be taking self-defense lessons in their lunch hour, in a bid to stamp out bullying.

Motivational instructor and martial arts expert Steve Drake, originally from Nottingham, England, has approached GEMS schools with the idea of teaching streetwise classes for the emirate’s 13-19 year olds.

Around 35 per cent of school children in the UAE are reported to suffer from bullying, a global problem, but qualified instructor Steve, who was so badly bullied that by the age of 12 he no longer wanted to go to school, believes learning simple self defense techniques will instill young people with a sense of confidence that will stop them becoming victims.

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Bid for Guinness

Is it OK to be impressed and disgusted at the same time? Hope so, because I tend to have very mixed emotions with stuff like this. Small kids running a full Marathon, being beauty "queens", or breaking records ...

Story:
Mysore, India -- Over 400 people including dignitaries watched with awe as Deia S. Urs, the six-year-old wonder karate kid broke 31 clay tiles in just 60 seconds with her forehead in Manasagangotri here today.

The event was filmed as per statutory rules and will be sent for a likely entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. There is no record of such an event, it is learnt.

The event took place from 11.09 am to 11.10 am. About 40 tiles were arranged in a single row and Deia broke it with effortless ease and composure, 31 of them in just a minute. The target set was actually 30 but she exceeded that.

Deia is a student of Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate Do-India, Kuvempunagar. Her trainers were present.

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Bong Soo Han dies

Los Angeles -- Korean martial arts master Bong Soo Han, who helped revolutionize Hollywood's understanding of martial arts by creating fight sequences for modern American films, died on Monday. He was 73.

Often called the father of Hapkido in the Western world, Han was careful about whom he promoted, awarding only slightly more than 100 black belts in more than 35 years of teaching in the United States.

Han was discovered by Hollywood in 1969, shortly after he arrived in the United States, while giving a Hapkido demonstration at a park near Malibu. Actor Tom Laughlin saw him perform and asked for help with his action film "Billy Jack."

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Down, not out

"Anyone and everyone can achieve their goals once they’re dedicated and committed, regardless of obstacles."

With those words, karate instructor Anthony Dew, a 10th degree international grand master, on Wednesday recognized five athletes for their hard work under his training in martial arts.

Missy Brower, 27, of Cogan Station and Roger Turner, 32, of Nisbet, who both have Down syndrome, were praised by Dew for their commitment as they received self defense certificates and demonstrated the skills they have acquired on the path to obtaining the coveted prize of black belt themselves.

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Karate helps girl

14-year-old Marilyn Sanchez looks sweet, but this Reading teen packs a punch. She has been taking classes at the American Martial Arts Studio in Reading since October.

Beyond proper punches, she's also been able to extend her right arm and leg further than ever before. Marilyn has Cerebal Palsy, but her instructors say it doesn't hold her back.

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Not kiai anymore

Sorry to be the one to break you the news to you: It's reportedly not a kiai or kihap, this shouting stuff we do.
It's ... are you ready for this? ... A grunt :-) Yep, a grunt. Are you kihappy now, you wind breaking gym-rats?

Story:
The exercise grunt is part of the culture at some gyms, especially those that attract lots of serious weight lifters. But it repels others. Some say it's a fading trend.

Grunting isn't physically necessary to lift weights. It's more about getting attention, although tennis players, shot putters, martial arts practitioners or bodybuilders may grunt to psych themselves up and to intimidate opponents.

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Asberger Syndrome

UK -- Teenage black belt Ethan Ward should be an inspiration to all parents with autistic children - according to his karate instructor.

The 15-year-old, who has Asperger Syndrome, successfully completed his black belt grading in Karate last week.

And his sensei John Robertson has been so impressed with the Ethan’s determination to succeed that he recently awarded the Bridgehall teenager the club's Outstanding Achievement Award.

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Space-kwon-do

Will Yi So-yeon, one of two final hopefuls to travel to space in 2008, become Korea's first astronaut after beating her final competitor, Ko San?

It will be a tough task. However, the 28-year-old Ph.D. student has gone through much tougher tasks until now - as the field of astronaut candidates was diminished from more than 36,000 to two.

"I am so grateful for those who have supported female candidates. I want to boost the self-confidence of women,'' Yi said after being chosen with Ko.

Yi is an advanced practitioner of taekwondo, Korea's indigenous martial art - she began practicing the official Olympic event when she was 12 years old.

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He was rude

Japan -- Two teenagers were arrested on early Friday for bashing a 16-year-old high school boy, resulting in his death, police said.

The two teenagers -- a factory worker, 17, and a part-timer, 16, both from Osaka's Tsurumi-ku, -- beat Masahiro Miyoshi, 16, from Joto-ku, for about 10 minutes at Tsurumi Ryokuchi park in Moriguchi on Thursday night. They also threw Misyoshi to the ground with judo throws, according to police.

The two teenagers have admitted to beating Miyoshi. "We hit him because he was rude to the senior boys," one of them said. The two stand accused of inflicting injury resulting in death.

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Confuse-Us speaks #9

If you intend to become "a black belt in something", then I would like to believe it's a bonus (or even a prerequisite) to know what you're actually doing?

I mean, if you aim to be a "black belt" piano player (that is bout one step up from 'Bah, Bah, Black Sheep'), wouldn't you agree it would actually help to play the piano now and then?

After all there is a *slight* difference between "Krotty" (also known as karate) and "Taikwando" (also known as taekwondo). So I suggest that anyone who wishes to be good at karate, actually takes up karate ...

Oh, I almost forgot - I totally agree with the issue here. Keep at it folks!

Story:
My kids and I take karate classes at Dynamic Taekwan-Do in Hollywood.

Without fail, at every belt test, the Sahbum-Nim (Chief Instructor) delivers a short speech in which he reminds parents not to allow their children to flake out, but to make sure they become a black belt in something (regardless of whether that something is Taekwan-Do).

He cautions: If they get to green belt, and then get tired of it and want to quit, then they try piano lessons, but get tired of them and quit, then tennis, then soccer, then something else, you end up raising kids who will never learn to become very good at anything.

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Former city councillor

Canada -- A former Brampton city councillor could be sent to prison or put under house arrest for molesting boys more than 30 years ago while he was a sensei at a Brampton judo club.

The 65-year-old man apologized to his victims, the court and his family Wednesday during a sentencing hearing to decide his fate.

"I regret and am sorry for what I've done," he told the court.

Crown Attorney Paula Thompson asked Mr. Justice Bruce Duncan to send the man to prison for 2 1/2 to 4 years, citing the molestation involved "multiple victims over an extended period of time."

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Marshall arts ...

"The art of strangling, marshal arts, judo, and karate." Oh dear ...

Story:
Rwanda -- The French military helped in setting up death squads (Éscadrons de la Mort) including 'KLAP' and French members of the Detachment d'Assistance Militaire (DAMI), in Bigogwe in the Northern Province, the Mucyo Commission heard yesterday.

Testifying before the commission members yesterday, the witness dubbed, 'Witness Five', who said he joined the army in 1991 and later worked as a commando alleged that the French military helped establish the death squads that later exterminated thousands of ethnic Tutsis in the area.

Witness No. 3, an ex-FAR, said he worked with the French both in training Interahamwe members, and shelling RPF positions.

He said he worked with the French in training Interahamwe in Bigogwe in the art of strangling, marshal arts, judo, and karate. He emphasized: "during training I would stand with a French instructor and translated in Kinyarwanda what he said to trainees." He alleged that 36 French instructors were at Bigogwe from May 91 onwards.

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Coffee-fu

Too much coffee is not good for you I guess ... Or maybe this guy needed his coffee so bad that he just snapped - I know the feeling :-)

Story:
Los Angeles -- A 50ish man "was practicing one of the martial arts" inside a Starbucks in December and allegedly took a swing at someone.

Police gave the amped-up coffee drinker a grande trespassing citation.

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Bring him in!

Apart from the fact that they use the Japanese term karate on a Korean art (Soo Bahk Do), this is a great piece.

Story:
Jane Couser's son, Ryan, 20, had been involved with Special Olympics for years. And although he had enjoyed playing basketball, volleyball and track, he had fallen into a routine. "He was just really getting tired of it," she says.

Couser then thought of Master Timothy Clyde of Clyde's Karate in Inwood. She had taken a women's self-defense class with Clyde and wondered if Soo Bahk Do, a traditional Korean martial art, could help her son.

"I said, 'I want to know if you could teach my son karate,'" she says watching as Ryan and two other students work with Clyde in the room next door. "He said, 'Sure, bring him in.'"

Today, Ryan is one of five active students with a physician diagnosed physical or mental disability who take classes at Clyde's Karate. The main objective is to work with each student so he or she can be included in Clyde's mainstream karate classes, depending on each student's abilities.

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Previously institutionalized

Oh, yes - another martial arts "expert"!

Story:
A man suspected of carjacking at a Stanwood grocery store Monday is now suspected of having killed and dismembered his 33-year-old girlfriend before fleeing the area.

The 40-year-old man, of Granite Falls, Snohomish County, was arrested Thursday afternoon in Fresno, California.

The man suffers from an acute mental illness and was previously institutionalized in California, police said. The Sheriff's office said he is an expert in martial arts.

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"Martial arts fantasy"

As a memento of his last visit to his native Ukraine, Anatoly Dmitriev brought back an ax with a yellow handle measuring almost 19 inches long.

Dmitriev brandished the ax or a pair of nunchucks as he jogged early mornings in nearby Bronx Park and on Pelham Parkway near his apartment, indulging in what his son called a benign martial arts fantasy.

And Dmitriev's neighbors at the Brady Court coops said they would see him jogging without a shirt or shoes, even in the winter. They said the 62-year-old man was odd, but harmless.

The ax ultimately became his downfall Saturday evening, when officers shot him dead after he approached them holding the ax despite orders to drop the weapon, police said.

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