That's So Gay

UK -- A Canadian, petite female martial arts instructor reportedly knocked out a Coldstream Guard for "dancing gaily" during a fracas at a Woolwich Barracks Christmas ball in 2008.

The 24-year-old, 5ft 3 karate instructor, supposedly became enraged at the sight of soldiers dancing in a "gay" camp manner and proceeded to floor a Lance Sergeant with a single punch.

The woman also threw a Sergeant into a sound system and punched his wife.

The woman, who is said to have attended the event with her husband, who was teaching unarmed combat at the barracks, reportedly shouted "[this] should not be allowed in the British Army".

Yoga Fraud?

Illinois -- You may sign up for a yoga class and then find yourself trapped in a cult. 24 people claim that's what happened to them. These people are now suing Dahn Yoga, according to cbs2chicago.com.

The nationwide group reportedly makes millions and is said to have 12 centers in the Chicago area that often target college students.

Former members are claiming that Dahn Yoga is a cult and a con. "I think that Dahn Yoga is an extremely deceptive and very dangerous cult," one former member said.

Kung Fu That Spina Bifida

Maryland -- A columnist from washingtonpost.com suggests we share the story of young Jessica Gregory with children who complain about the possible injustices of life, and I couldn't really agree more.

It truly is an inspirational piece about a 10-year-old Forestville girl and her struggle with Spina Bifida. Jessica was born with the congenital disorder of the spine that may cause several problems.

This young fighter has become proficient in kung fu, overcoming obstacles very few of us would face with such style and grace.

Kudos also to her doctors, who suggested she should take up martial arts or ballet to strengthen her legs! Dr. Tosi at the Children's National Medical Center said: "A critical challenge to pediatric hospitals is what happens when a patient turn 18 or 21? How do we care for the adult with a congenital disorder?"

Oh, and while you're reading the whole Washington Post article, why not take part in their annual Children's Hospital fundraising campaign. A worthy cause by any standard!

Youth Leader Arrested

North Carolina -- A 64-year-old youth leader in Morganton, Burke County has been charged with more crimes of sexual nature involving juvenile boys. This occurred after another alleged victim came forward following the man's arrest, reports wsoctv.com.

County Deputies reportedly began investigating the man after his daughter found somthing she labelled a disturbing photo of her father on a camera - a picture taken in the man's home.

Previously, the man had used his daughter's dance studio to teach karate to more than a dozen kids. It is also being said the man volunteered with several county youth organizations.

Judo Bravery Award

UK -- Lizzie Lansley - eight year-old - was recently given a bravery award at a national ceremony in London.

Lizzie met Prince Harry and accepted her award from British judo champion (and her hero) Craig Fallon, according to dailyecho.co.uk.

The young yellow belt has astounded medics to become a judo, dance and swimming fan even though her parents were told when she was a baby that her outlook was very poor.

Not Older Than You Feel

Illinois -- "I don't act it, and I don't think I look it. I'll tackle anything, anywhere," Vera Williams said about becoming a septuagenarian. according to thesouthern.com.

Williams, who's just turned 70, is currently working toward a second-degree Black Belt rank in taekwondo.

She also teaches dance and continues working for a finance company, where she has been an employee since 1973.

Way Out of the Way

Here's an inspirational piece from sfgate.com. Don't know about this statement though: "the little-known Philippine martial art of escrima". Little known?

Story:
As Carlito Bonjoc Jr. gets his arms going, it's best to get out of the way. Like way out of the way.

The blur of hands wielding wide, stocky knives interspersed with flashes of reflected sunlight is a hypnotic, fluid movement. It's a bit like watching a finely choreographed dance.

But what Bonjoc is demonstrating is the little-known Philippine martial art of escrima. The other difference: He does it from the seat of his wheelchair or with the aid of crutches.

The 46-year-old escrima master was born with spina bifida, a congenital spinal cord defect that can affect the lower body and result in paralysis, yet he doesn't tolerate pity.

Disco Dojo

Yep, it's the latest fitness fad from LA - [...drum roll...] Disco Dojo (sic.)

"We can't possibly have the boring old stuff, now can we? People want to be entertained, they demand something fresh and exciting... This karate stuff is sooo last week!"

Story:
Maybe you want to try kicking things up a notch to make things a little more interesting.
You don't have to be a dancer or practice martial arts to take a disco dojo class. "But you can train like one," says Scott Cole, creator of disco dojo. "

What is this class exactly? "Fun, F-U-N," Cole says. "It's a combination of martial arts and dance. I had a dance aerobic background, and then I started taking martial arts in my early 30s and then started combining kickboxing, tai-chi, taekwondo, all into the mix of Latin salsa, some of the kicks, punches, and some of the disco moves too."

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Bogus Masters Nabbed

One day of training? Sure, what's the problem? Isn't that the average for a master title here in the West anyway? Grand master ... like, one week?

Story:
China -- State media reported that, in a failed plot to sneak into Canada by masquerading as kung fu masters from the famous Shaolin Temple, a dozen Chinese teenagers have been caught.

The 12 had no martial arts experience but joined a team of genuine kung fu performers from a school in Henan province, also home to the 1,500-year-old temple, that was leaving for a tour of Canada, the report said.

They had paid up to $90,000 each to a human smuggler, called a "snakehead," and two coaches from the martial arts school who often accompany students on trips abroad.

The teenagers, ages 17 to 19, had a one-day training session at a hotel on June 24 to learn the basics of the art of Chinese lion dancing.

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She Failed

Washington -- A 54-year-old South Kitsap resident was arrested for driving under the influence at about 9:10 p.m. June 1 after driving her car into a ditch and failing several field sobriety tests.

Deputies asked the driver to perform several field sobriety tests, and during the walk and turn, she misunderstood and thought the deputy was asking her to do her ballet steps.

Deputies said she did several walk/stumble/glide steps, hopped and repeated the process. When asked to stand on one leg, she did a strange plie with her arms in a Tai Chi/ 'Karate Kid' maneuver.

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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!

A little kip up

Melvin Fowler is lying flat on his back when suddenly he swings his legs up, vaults himself straight into the air without using his hands and lands in a standing position.

It's an acrobatic move that is common in martial arts, break-dancing and gymnastics.

It's uncommon for offensive linemen.

"It's a little kip up," Fowler said. "It's a martial arts thing. Back in the day when I was younger, I did jujitsu. I finished when I was a freshman in college, and I did karate when I was little. You bend your legs and you spring up."

Easier said than done when you're 296 pounds, like Fowler. The move is an example of the athleticism the Bills were seeking when they signed Fowler to a free-agent contract in March and made him their new starter in the middle of their offensive line.

Source

Where's the fun?

In my opinion, this is something we should see more of: People in the martial arts not taking themselves too seriously!

Wouldn't you rather be in a place where there's healthy laughter, fun and joy? The answer is obvious, right?
Beats me how some people believe that being serious about their art is the same as being without humor, entertainment and enjoyment.

In some schools there's little or no smiles, laughter, 'high fives', encouragements, funny stories, happy times or goofing around - and then they wonder why people quit...

Yes, training should be serious and hard; yes, the topic is serious enough; and no, we can't go around with a smile on our face all the time like we haven't got a care in the world.

But we don't need to make other people feel bad about themselves and their peers either, now do we?

Story:
At first, spectators packing the Korean-Indonesian Friendship Sports Center in East Jakarta saw the traditional side of the martial art, when 21 Korean taekwondo masters put on a demonstration.

The air snapped with the sound of breaking boards, as the masters' expertly aimed kicks and hand chops made kindling out of solid wood.

What came next though, was a surprise. Many in the audience began to laugh uncontrollably when the po-faced masters swapped broken boards for breakbeats. Pulling their punches, they began wiggling their way into a Britney Spears-style tune backed by pumping hip-hop.

The second poomsae demonstration turned out to be more of an aerobics workout than a controlled fight.

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Defies the odds

UK -- Angi Marsden, 42, had to give up her dream of becoming a professional dancer when she discovered she had FSH Muscular Dystrophy, which causes weakening of the muscles, at the age of 18.

However, despite having to use a wheelchair or a walking stick to get around, she has managed to juggle a full-time job at Leeds Metropolitan University with being a mother of three, attending martial arts classes and becoming a green belt in karate.

Now Angi is set to take over as leader of the Swarcliffe branch of Slimming World, having joined five months ago and lost a stone.

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Love of the arts

The newly appointed provost of Thurgood Marshall College in California, Allan Havis, has been a member of the theatre and dance department for 17 years.

On the day of his interview, he wore all blue — a blue tie and denim shirt and jeans; a jean jacket hung from a coat rack nailed to his office door. No matter what he’s saying, Havis says it calmly and unwavering. He has the voice of someone who would get paid millions to read lullabies for books on tape.

His soothing manner makes it all the more surprising to discover he has a black belt in Korean-style Tang Soo Do karate.

Source

Two art forms

It's nothing new to the fact that many musicians, writers, painters, dancers, sculptors etc. find great pleasure and even beauty within the martial arts.

Story:
Alyse Bernstein has been practicing aikido, "the art of peace," for five years now, but she hasn't limited the martial art practice to the mats. She's translated the discipline and grace of the form to her first art, printmaking.

Bernstein received an Independence Foundation Fellowship in 2003 to go to Japan, where she trained with the grandson of the founder of aikido, studied with one of the few female instructors in Japan and apprenticed with a papermaker.

When she began working on the prints, she found similarities between the two art forms. "I wanted to stick with a traditional Japanese art, so I took some woodblock printing classes, and had to re-learn the art," she says.

"There was this parallel to aikido training. With aikido, you have to practice, practice, practice. And I had to keep re-cutting these boards [for the woodcuts]."

Source

Positive effects

Antigua -- Her father said 9-year-old Ariel's success in karate has also produced a positive effect in her studies and other activities.

"The focus that you must have in karate helps to transform all aspects of your life, especially on the discipline aspect. For sure she is a lot more focuseded, she is a lot calmer although she has never been a very hyper person. You can see her growing and making wise decisions," he said.

"Karate has certainly helped her with the discipline of everyday life, getting ready for school in the morning, doing her homework, going to bed and it has translated in her studies because she is a straight A student."

"She is really excelling and enjoying school very much. She is also very involved in other activities. She does ballet, modern dance (Hip-Hop) and she has just started playing soccer as well."

"The karate certainly helps with the ballet and modern dance and even her ballet teacher is saying it is incredible what she is capable of doing since some of the stances she needs in karate are transported into balancing for ballet."

Source

Filling in the Blanks

In an interview with the creator of Tae Bo, Billy Blanks in philly.com, it is stated that "In the late '80s, quite by accident, Blanks invented Tae Bo when he combined music, dance moves and Tae Kwon Do. He demonstrated it for his wife, who encouraged him to polish it up and take it to the marketplace".

It is common knowledge that Tae Bo is the invention of Blanks. However, the idea to combine taekwondo/karate with music and dance/aerobic moves was not new. It is believed that John Graden (of MATA - Martial Arts Teachers Association) is the one to come up with that idea.

Blanks is also mentioning that "(...) what I wanted to do was to get women involved with self-defense and karate".

Blanks managed to create a fantastic fitness product, as well as a solid business. However, some are lead to believe that they are doing self-defense while "dancing around" to music. And that is a dangerous misconception!

Tae Bo has nothing to do with martial arts or self-defense. It is simply a great tool for fitness, fun, coordination, endurance, strength and flexibility.

Pas de budo

Adam Perry and his two younger brothers are a tightknit family. They also wear tights.

The three brothers are all dancers with Tallahassee's Pas de Vie Ballet company.

For the misguided people who may kid the brothers by telling them ballet dancing is not a masculine pursuit, keep in mind that the three stay in shape by practicing Aikido martial arts.

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Multiple sclerosis

It wasn't long after Emily Boulden started taking her son to tae kwon do lessons that she too became hooked.

A dancer in her youth, she loved the grace and artistry of the martial art. So at 38, she joined Flying Dragon Taekwon-Do in Smyrna.

Now 46, Boulden is a second-degree black belt devoted to the sport. But she never could have imagined how integral the discipline would become to her life after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

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