South Korea's traditional brand of wrestling, called ssirum, has a lot in common with Japan's national sport sumo. Both are centuries old, steeped in tradition and feature jumbo-sized wrestlers battling in a small circle.
While sumo is flush with cash, fans and name recognition, however, ssirum is facing a financial crisis, an organizational crisis, an identity crisis -- in short, just a whole lot of trouble.
Source
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Mirrored movements
Judging by the effortless way he goes through each motion and by the smile on his face, he's done this routine a million times before.
The verbal and physical limitations that beset an autistic child do not keep 14-year-old Kyle Swofford from hitting the mat twice a week with Suzie Franz, his 17-year-old Tae kwon do teacher.
Family members say Swofford has become more verbal, focused and agile.
'I don't plan on stopping teaching Kyle. I plan on teaching martial arts as my career. When I open my studio, I would like to have a class set aside for people that need that one-on-one time,' Franz said.
Source
The verbal and physical limitations that beset an autistic child do not keep 14-year-old Kyle Swofford from hitting the mat twice a week with Suzie Franz, his 17-year-old Tae kwon do teacher.
Family members say Swofford has become more verbal, focused and agile.
'I don't plan on stopping teaching Kyle. I plan on teaching martial arts as my career. When I open my studio, I would like to have a class set aside for people that need that one-on-one time,' Franz said.
Source
Jail sentence
Canada -- A former Brampton city councillor was given a six-month jail sentence today in connection with four historical sexual molestations of young boys.
The 65-year-old man was taken into custody immediately after Justice Bruce Duncan rendered his decision in a Brampton courtroom.
The convicted sex-offender's wife was visibly upset in and outside the courtroom.
Justice Duncan gave the man four concurrent six-month sentences for his May 19, 2006 conviction of four separate gross indecency charges stemming from the early 1970s and ordered him to perform 80 hours of community service when he's released. He will also be placed on a year's probation once he gets out of jail.
Source
The 65-year-old man was taken into custody immediately after Justice Bruce Duncan rendered his decision in a Brampton courtroom.
The convicted sex-offender's wife was visibly upset in and outside the courtroom.
Justice Duncan gave the man four concurrent six-month sentences for his May 19, 2006 conviction of four separate gross indecency charges stemming from the early 1970s and ordered him to perform 80 hours of community service when he's released. He will also be placed on a year's probation once he gets out of jail.
Source
WTF Secretary General
World Taekwondo Federation has named a Korean-American as its new secretary general.
Yang Jin-suk, 65, graduated from Kyunghee University in Seoul in 1965. After moving to the United States, he operated taekwondo gymnasiums in Colorado and California.
Yang, who holds American citizenship, will return to South Korea soon. He worked as a civilian attache for the U.S. military in South Korea from 1976 to 1986.
Yang now serves as a council member in the town of Corte Madera, California, where he was once mayor.
Source
Yang Jin-suk, 65, graduated from Kyunghee University in Seoul in 1965. After moving to the United States, he operated taekwondo gymnasiums in Colorado and California.
Yang, who holds American citizenship, will return to South Korea soon. He worked as a civilian attache for the U.S. military in South Korea from 1976 to 1986.
Yang now serves as a council member in the town of Corte Madera, California, where he was once mayor.
Source
Friday, February 09, 2007
Taekkyon
Here's a nice clip showing an old taekkyon form. It is performed by Jeong Kyong-hwa.Some (mostly TKD people) claim taekkyon is "an old form of taekwondo".
The taekkyon practitioners on the other hand, claim that their art is anything but TKD.
Still, some similarities will be found, at least to an untrained eye as far as the forms go. The fighting/competition is quite easily distinguishable.
You can download or watch the clip here (35.40MB, asf format).
Read more about taekkyon (and other martial arts) here.
Determination
Dressed in uniform, brown belt tied at her waist, Trish Thyret stands with knees bent, hands raised and determination in her eyes.
Thyret, 37, is mentally challenged, borderline obsessive compulsive with some and has borderline manic depression.
And she is focused on replacing her brown belt with black at graduation this summer.
Source
Thyret, 37, is mentally challenged, borderline obsessive compulsive with some and has borderline manic depression.
And she is focused on replacing her brown belt with black at graduation this summer.
Source
Pleaded not guilty
A Brazilian martial arts instructor accused of lewd acts against four boys, including three students, could face a jury as soon as next month after not waiving his right to a speedy trial on nine charges.
The 25-year-old man pleaded not guilty Friday to one felony and eight misdemeanors. He has already sped his trial considerably by previously foregoing a preliminary hearing on the evidence and moving straight into Superior Court
On Friday, he was ordered back to court on March 6 for a pre-trial conference and March 19 for a jury trial on charges including contributing to the delinquency of a minor, annoying a child under 18, sexual battery and lewd and lascivious behavior.
Source
The 25-year-old man pleaded not guilty Friday to one felony and eight misdemeanors. He has already sped his trial considerably by previously foregoing a preliminary hearing on the evidence and moving straight into Superior Court
On Friday, he was ordered back to court on March 6 for a pre-trial conference and March 19 for a jury trial on charges including contributing to the delinquency of a minor, annoying a child under 18, sexual battery and lewd and lascivious behavior.
Source
Geneticist sentenced
A world-renowned geneticist William French Anderson was sentenced Friday to 14 years in prison for molesting an employee's daughter who took martial arts classes at his home.
Judge Michael E. Pastor said he caused "incalculable" emotional damage to a victim he described as an insecure and trusting immigrant.
Prosecutors said Anderson molested the girl from 1997 to 2001, starting when she was 10.
Source
Judge Michael E. Pastor said he caused "incalculable" emotional damage to a victim he described as an insecure and trusting immigrant.
Prosecutors said Anderson molested the girl from 1997 to 2001, starting when she was 10.
Source
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Fighter shot dead
A man held for questioning in Thursday night's shooting death of a Tucumcari martial arts fighter has been released, police said Friday.
Albert Jason Pacheco Jr., 31, was killed in a fight on Main Street, police said. Police detained a man immediately after the shooting, then released him and turned the case over to New Mexico State Police. Officials have declined to name the man they questioned.
Pacheco was shot about 7:45 p.m. Thursday while fighters were being weighed in a gym in preparation for a martial arts event slated for Friday night at the Tucumcari Convention Center. The event, called the Desert Xtreme Blood War, was canceled because of the shooting, said the director of the center.
Source
Albert Jason Pacheco Jr., 31, was killed in a fight on Main Street, police said. Police detained a man immediately after the shooting, then released him and turned the case over to New Mexico State Police. Officials have declined to name the man they questioned.
Pacheco was shot about 7:45 p.m. Thursday while fighters were being weighed in a gym in preparation for a martial arts event slated for Friday night at the Tucumcari Convention Center. The event, called the Desert Xtreme Blood War, was canceled because of the shooting, said the director of the center.
Source
Using martial arts?
Using martial arts? Are you sure we're not talking "plain old" torture here? In any case, this sounds really bad.
Story:
Vietnam -- "The Security police was using forms of martial arts such as Karate and Kung Fu. It seemed as if he was practicing his strikes on a restrained Yum. As blood flowed down from Yum’s mouth, nose and ears, Yum fell down on the floor unconscious. At noon they let Yum go back home, but by the time he arrived, his face, eyes and lips were all bruised and swollen and he couldn't eat. As of now, he is still suffering from those severely beatings," the group added.
Grun, who is from the same village, was named as another victim. He was also taken to the local Security Police station on January 24 where officers allegedly "were using martial arts to beat him mercilessly." Although Grun "did not talk back to them, they still beat him up severely." At noon Grun too was allowed to leave "but his face and eyes were all bruised up and swollen and he could barely walk," MFI claimed. He is reportedly unable to work and is recovering from what MFI described as "severe" injuries at home.
Source
Story:
Vietnam -- "The Security police was using forms of martial arts such as Karate and Kung Fu. It seemed as if he was practicing his strikes on a restrained Yum. As blood flowed down from Yum’s mouth, nose and ears, Yum fell down on the floor unconscious. At noon they let Yum go back home, but by the time he arrived, his face, eyes and lips were all bruised and swollen and he couldn't eat. As of now, he is still suffering from those severely beatings," the group added.
Grun, who is from the same village, was named as another victim. He was also taken to the local Security Police station on January 24 where officers allegedly "were using martial arts to beat him mercilessly." Although Grun "did not talk back to them, they still beat him up severely." At noon Grun too was allowed to leave "but his face and eyes were all bruised up and swollen and he could barely walk," MFI claimed. He is reportedly unable to work and is recovering from what MFI described as "severe" injuries at home.
Source
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
battery charge
A Watsonville elementary school teacher and martial arts instructor, pleaded no contest Monday to a charge of battery.
The 44-year-old, a fourth-grade elementary school teacher and owner of a now defunct martial arts school, was charged with felony child molestation and a misdemeanor of committing lewd acts with a child.
Prosecutor Ross Taylor said the charges stem from an incident where the man had an 11-year-old girl grab his genitals during a kung fu lesson at the martial arts school.
In his plea to the battery charge, the man admitted he had the girl touch him for sexual gratification, Taylor said.
Source
The 44-year-old, a fourth-grade elementary school teacher and owner of a now defunct martial arts school, was charged with felony child molestation and a misdemeanor of committing lewd acts with a child.
Prosecutor Ross Taylor said the charges stem from an incident where the man had an 11-year-old girl grab his genitals during a kung fu lesson at the martial arts school.
In his plea to the battery charge, the man admitted he had the girl touch him for sexual gratification, Taylor said.
Source
Ninja couple
Hey ... I thought ninja were invincible, as well as deadly. Maybe these goons here skipped some vital parts of their training?
Story:
A New Mexico man convicted in a 1993 ninja-style kidnap attempt at a Governors Island home using automatic weapons and stun guns has been paroled.
The Albuquerque man, then 38, was sentenced to 13 to 26 years in prison for his role in the attack and his former wife, then 28, received a 10 to 30 year sentence. Both were convicted after entering negotiated pleas in the failed death plot.
Their conviction stemmed from an incident which occurred in the early morning hours of July 18, 1993.
Authorities alleged that the "ninjas" — the couple and another female named Chandra — dressed in hooded black martial-arts outfits, entered the Governors Island home and attacked a couple and their son. The son was Chandra's ex-husband.
The residents fought off the attack and tackled Chandra while the "ninja couple" were able to flee. The two were captured several hours later.
Source
Story:
A New Mexico man convicted in a 1993 ninja-style kidnap attempt at a Governors Island home using automatic weapons and stun guns has been paroled.
The Albuquerque man, then 38, was sentenced to 13 to 26 years in prison for his role in the attack and his former wife, then 28, received a 10 to 30 year sentence. Both were convicted after entering negotiated pleas in the failed death plot.
Their conviction stemmed from an incident which occurred in the early morning hours of July 18, 1993.
Authorities alleged that the "ninjas" — the couple and another female named Chandra — dressed in hooded black martial-arts outfits, entered the Governors Island home and attacked a couple and their son. The son was Chandra's ex-husband.
The residents fought off the attack and tackled Chandra while the "ninja couple" were able to flee. The two were captured several hours later.
Source
Master N'don't
Malawi -- Police in Lilongwe on Monday arrested a renowned martial artist, popularly known as Master N'do, who runs a karate academy in the city for allegedly sodomising seven young boys aged between 10 and 13 and were his pupils.
Confirming the arrest, a Lilongwe Police public relations officer said the man was arrested after parents of one of the boys reported the matter to police after noting injuries sustained by their son.
Source
Confirming the arrest, a Lilongwe Police public relations officer said the man was arrested after parents of one of the boys reported the matter to police after noting injuries sustained by their son.
Source
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Rare feat
What started as a mere athletic activity to stay in shape for a man nearing his 60s has evolved into a rare feat.
Guy DeWolf, the 75-year-old owner of Williamsburg Coin & Stamp, last week became likely the oldest person in the state to practice the martial art of Aikido.
Eleven years ago, DeWolf earned a black belt in Aikido at the Peninsula Ki Aikido Club in Yorktown.
However, during the last five years, he has battled through crippling arthritis that has kept him off the mat with regularity. Just three months ago, DeWolf had both of his hips replaced and was unable to walk.
But after a month-long recovery process, he was able to continue his passion and participate in a two-hour Aikido class at the Gloucester Rec Center last Tuesday.
Source
Guy DeWolf, the 75-year-old owner of Williamsburg Coin & Stamp, last week became likely the oldest person in the state to practice the martial art of Aikido.
Eleven years ago, DeWolf earned a black belt in Aikido at the Peninsula Ki Aikido Club in Yorktown.
However, during the last five years, he has battled through crippling arthritis that has kept him off the mat with regularity. Just three months ago, DeWolf had both of his hips replaced and was unable to walk.
But after a month-long recovery process, he was able to continue his passion and participate in a two-hour Aikido class at the Gloucester Rec Center last Tuesday.
Source
Monday, February 05, 2007
Soprano-do
The Sopranos star Michael Imperioli has found a way to quit smoking - take up martial arts.
The actor, who plays mobster Christopher Moltisanti in the hit TV drama, insists he's healthier than ever, at 40, after becoming a fan of tae kwon do.
He says, "I was in terrible physical shape. I smoked a pack (of cigarettes) a day."
And he was so impressed with his tae kwon do lessons, he signed his wife and kids up for classes in Manhattan, New York.
Source
The actor, who plays mobster Christopher Moltisanti in the hit TV drama, insists he's healthier than ever, at 40, after becoming a fan of tae kwon do.
He says, "I was in terrible physical shape. I smoked a pack (of cigarettes) a day."
And he was so impressed with his tae kwon do lessons, he signed his wife and kids up for classes in Manhattan, New York.
Source
Hot temper, killer
Turkey -- As both the media and politicians concentrated on pondering the actual reasons for the murder of Hrant Dink, the police said yesterday that the suspect has no ties to illegal organizations or political underground groups, based on the his testimony so far.
Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian descent, was killed outside his bilingual Turkish-Armenian Agos newspaper's office in Istanbul on Friday.
Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah added that the suspect, Ogun Samast, committed the murder due to the influence of nationalistic sentiments.
Samast is reportedly a hot-tempered teenager open to manipulation and has been practicing martial arts for years.
Source
Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian descent, was killed outside his bilingual Turkish-Armenian Agos newspaper's office in Istanbul on Friday.
Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah added that the suspect, Ogun Samast, committed the murder due to the influence of nationalistic sentiments.
Samast is reportedly a hot-tempered teenager open to manipulation and has been practicing martial arts for years.
Source
Brazilian sue-jitsu
For 20 years, Wallid Ismail was a winner in the brutal, fast-growing sport of mixed martial arts, building a worldwide reputation as an aggressive fighter and able businessman.
Now, he is squaring off against four former business associates in a U.S. District Court in Newark.
The Brazilian jujitsu fighter has filed suit against Pro Elite Inc., a New Jersey corporation formed to promote the sport, claiming the company's three principals and another partner broke a multimillion-dollar deal with him to mass market the sport.
Source
Now, he is squaring off against four former business associates in a U.S. District Court in Newark.
The Brazilian jujitsu fighter has filed suit against Pro Elite Inc., a New Jersey corporation formed to promote the sport, claiming the company's three principals and another partner broke a multimillion-dollar deal with him to mass market the sport.
Source
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Real-Li?
Few people in their right minds would pick a fight with Jet Li. After all, the actor in martial arts flicks like Fearless and Hero is known for his gongfu skills.
But there were no flying kicks or showy moves on Sunday, during a real life face-off with some angry villagers from China.
Jet and co-stars Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro were in Hebei province to film the Chinese period epic titled, ironically enough, This Violent Land.
One of the crew members got into a dispute with a local driver, reported Hong Kong's The Sun newspaper.
Source
But there were no flying kicks or showy moves on Sunday, during a real life face-off with some angry villagers from China.
Jet and co-stars Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro were in Hebei province to film the Chinese period epic titled, ironically enough, This Violent Land.
One of the crew members got into a dispute with a local driver, reported Hong Kong's The Sun newspaper.
Source
Saturday, February 03, 2007
"karate skills"
Everett Newcomb is charged with second-degree murder. The case against him is entirely circumstantial. There isn't a shred of physical or eyewitness evidence against him.
From all accounts the victim in this case, 81-year-old Arline Payne, was a generous and kind person who took Newcomb in despite his criminal background and reputation for crazy and sometimes frightening outbursts.
The night of May 19, Newcomb went out drinking with a friend. Alcohol does not mix well with the anti-psychotropic drugs he takes and he got a little crazy. They went to a bar, and patrons started complaining about Newcomb who was bouncing around the place doing "karate moves."
Newcomb's friend testified that Newcomb has "karate skills" that sometimes intimidate other people.
The bar manager asked Newcomb to leave and Newcomb went home, according to his friend, in a foul mood. He then got on the phone and started a mad rush of calls to friends and family, leaving terrifying threats on answering machines.
About six hours after his last crazy phone call, Newcomb called 911 and reported that Payne was dead in her room. She'd been stabbed several times and her neck broken. Payne's English bulldog, usually a protective and loyal companion, was alive in the room with her.
Source
From all accounts the victim in this case, 81-year-old Arline Payne, was a generous and kind person who took Newcomb in despite his criminal background and reputation for crazy and sometimes frightening outbursts.
The night of May 19, Newcomb went out drinking with a friend. Alcohol does not mix well with the anti-psychotropic drugs he takes and he got a little crazy. They went to a bar, and patrons started complaining about Newcomb who was bouncing around the place doing "karate moves."
Newcomb's friend testified that Newcomb has "karate skills" that sometimes intimidate other people.
The bar manager asked Newcomb to leave and Newcomb went home, according to his friend, in a foul mood. He then got on the phone and started a mad rush of calls to friends and family, leaving terrifying threats on answering machines.
About six hours after his last crazy phone call, Newcomb called 911 and reported that Payne was dead in her room. She'd been stabbed several times and her neck broken. Payne's English bulldog, usually a protective and loyal companion, was alive in the room with her.
Source
Friday, February 02, 2007
Gymkata anyone?
Wow, I guess I must see this movie! Read this review - it's great :-)
Story:
Gymkata is not a well made movie. It's not a well acted movie, it's not a well written movie, it's not a well directed movie and it's not a well choreographed movie.
What does that make Gymkata? It makes it an awesome movie for all the wrong reasons. There are bad movies that are just plain boring and some that offer a few brief moments of unintentional comedy, but Gymkata is a tour de force of B-movie greatness.
At no point will you not be entertained. What else can you ask for from a movie starring an Olympic gymnast?
The filmmakers obviously designed the entire film around his skills as an actor and martial artist and should be commended for doing as much as they did with so little. It’s pretty depressing to realize the handicapable fighters in The Crippled Masters possessed more fighting acumen in their stubs than Kurt Thomas has in his entire body.
Source
Story:
Gymkata is not a well made movie. It's not a well acted movie, it's not a well written movie, it's not a well directed movie and it's not a well choreographed movie.
What does that make Gymkata? It makes it an awesome movie for all the wrong reasons. There are bad movies that are just plain boring and some that offer a few brief moments of unintentional comedy, but Gymkata is a tour de force of B-movie greatness.
At no point will you not be entertained. What else can you ask for from a movie starring an Olympic gymnast?
The filmmakers obviously designed the entire film around his skills as an actor and martial artist and should be commended for doing as much as they did with so little. It’s pretty depressing to realize the handicapable fighters in The Crippled Masters possessed more fighting acumen in their stubs than Kurt Thomas has in his entire body.
Source
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