South Africa -- Being diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth has not prevented Ryan Jeffery from leading a completely independent life and achieving his second Dan black belt in the demanding sport of Funakoshi karate.
Come Sunday, the 40-year-old will be grading for his third Dan black belt at Winklespruit, where he will undergo a series of rigorous tests and pit himself against other athletes.
Because of his illness, Jeffery had a loss of muscle control and balance on his right side, requiring him to find different ways of doing daily tasks, such as clipping his nails or unscrewing bottle caps.
Certain aspects of karate training were slightly modified to accommodate Jeffery's weakened right side, but he has been pushed as hard as any other able-bodied student.
Source
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Real-Lee?
A huge fan, a tad vain, or just a real-lee big ego?
Story:
A Hong Kong man paid $5,000 on Saturday for a car license plate that read "BRUCELEE," after the late kung fu movie star.
"When I studied in England, foreigners would only know two Chinese people. One is Bruce Lee. The other is Chairman Mao (Zedong)," the buyer, identified only by his surname, Wong, said on a Hong Kong cable television station.
The Lee-inspired plate was among several vanity plates to be auctioned Saturday by the Hong Kong Transport Department, according to the department's Web site. The results of the auction weren't immediately available.
Source
Story:
A Hong Kong man paid $5,000 on Saturday for a car license plate that read "BRUCELEE," after the late kung fu movie star.
"When I studied in England, foreigners would only know two Chinese people. One is Bruce Lee. The other is Chairman Mao (Zedong)," the buyer, identified only by his surname, Wong, said on a Hong Kong cable television station.
The Lee-inspired plate was among several vanity plates to be auctioned Saturday by the Hong Kong Transport Department, according to the department's Web site. The results of the auction weren't immediately available.
Source
I'm Perfect
I knew it - I'm perfectly perfect! :-)
Story:
"Martial arts have been known to be very effective in reducing body weight. Martial arts involve a variety of techniques to overpower an opponent and learning these techniques involves a lot of physical exercise to the body. Joining a local martial arts club may be very effective. It is very a necessity to be physically fit to learn martial arts. Physical fitness will be acquired during training. Regular training in martial arts like judo, karate and jujitsu will improve agility and make one perfect."
Source
Story:
"Martial arts have been known to be very effective in reducing body weight. Martial arts involve a variety of techniques to overpower an opponent and learning these techniques involves a lot of physical exercise to the body. Joining a local martial arts club may be very effective. It is very a necessity to be physically fit to learn martial arts. Physical fitness will be acquired during training. Regular training in martial arts like judo, karate and jujitsu will improve agility and make one perfect."
Source
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Kicking at 80
How absolutely cool!
Story:
Larry Allen says that on a lot of days, he feels real comfortable sitting at home and doesn't feel like leaving. "But then, I know I have to get motivated," he says.
The Zanesville native recently celebrated his 80th birthday, and even after 34 years of karate, the 4th Degree Black Belt isn't close to slowing down. He still helps fellow sensei and Black Belts at the karate school whether it's with classes or with various community presentations. And yes, he still competes, and does well.
"A couple of months ago, we had a karate obstacle course for the kids, and he helped supervise," said Hardwick, a 6th degree black belt. "The last stage, you have to dive over a 2 or 3-foot barrier, roll, jump up and sidekick a pad.
"Well, it wasn't enough for him to just watch. He had to try it himself. Not only did he do it once, he did it three more times! We all about fell over."
Source
Story:
Larry Allen says that on a lot of days, he feels real comfortable sitting at home and doesn't feel like leaving. "But then, I know I have to get motivated," he says.
The Zanesville native recently celebrated his 80th birthday, and even after 34 years of karate, the 4th Degree Black Belt isn't close to slowing down. He still helps fellow sensei and Black Belts at the karate school whether it's with classes or with various community presentations. And yes, he still competes, and does well.
"A couple of months ago, we had a karate obstacle course for the kids, and he helped supervise," said Hardwick, a 6th degree black belt. "The last stage, you have to dive over a 2 or 3-foot barrier, roll, jump up and sidekick a pad.
"Well, it wasn't enough for him to just watch. He had to try it himself. Not only did he do it once, he did it three more times! We all about fell over."
Source
Porn Charges
Florida -- A Lakeland martial arts instructor was arrested Thursday, charged with possessing child pornography, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said.
The 27-year-old man used his home computer to download and distribute child pornography, according to a FDLE spokeswoman.
Agents took the man into custody Thursday, charging him with 100 counts of possessing child pornography. Each count is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Source
The 27-year-old man used his home computer to download and distribute child pornography, according to a FDLE spokeswoman.
Agents took the man into custody Thursday, charging him with 100 counts of possessing child pornography. Each count is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Source
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Practical Sword
Finally - Apperently a sword being put to good (practical) use!
Story:
New Jersey -- Police said a 61-year-old woman was letting her dogs out at a home in Beverley when man barged into the back door at about 10 p.m. Monday night.
The woman's daughter was upstairs when she said she heard her mother screaming."I came downstairs and he was standing there beating her with a board," the daughter said. The suspect turned his attention to the younger woman when she intervened, striking her with the board and punching her in the head, she said.
But the daughter decided to fight back. She said she ran upstairs and grabbed a Samurai sword, which she collects. With sword in hand, the young woman ran down the stairs and the suspect ran out the door and fled on a bike.
The older woman was taken to hospital where she received 18 stitches, eight staples and suffered a concussion in the incident. The younger woman was also given several stitches.
Source
Story:
New Jersey -- Police said a 61-year-old woman was letting her dogs out at a home in Beverley when man barged into the back door at about 10 p.m. Monday night.
The woman's daughter was upstairs when she said she heard her mother screaming."I came downstairs and he was standing there beating her with a board," the daughter said. The suspect turned his attention to the younger woman when she intervened, striking her with the board and punching her in the head, she said.
But the daughter decided to fight back. She said she ran upstairs and grabbed a Samurai sword, which she collects. With sword in hand, the young woman ran down the stairs and the suspect ran out the door and fled on a bike.
The older woman was taken to hospital where she received 18 stitches, eight staples and suffered a concussion in the incident. The younger woman was also given several stitches.
Source
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Confuse-Us Speaks #16
Ah what the heck - it's all ai-kung-fu-kwon-do-karate-jutsu after all ... Not?
Story:
Karate's connection to the animal kingdom is legendary. So it doesn't come as a surprise that a 20-year-old who is studying for a master degree in zoology is good at this Chinese marital art.
The old monks in Bruce Lee movies spoke about speed of a cobra and stealth of a leopard. These were the things Rajasthan's Titikesha Jain studied for the gold medal she got for her bachelors degree in the science that deals with animal behaviour.
Source
Story:
Karate's connection to the animal kingdom is legendary. So it doesn't come as a surprise that a 20-year-old who is studying for a master degree in zoology is good at this Chinese marital art.
The old monks in Bruce Lee movies spoke about speed of a cobra and stealth of a leopard. These were the things Rajasthan's Titikesha Jain studied for the gold medal she got for her bachelors degree in the science that deals with animal behaviour.
Source
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Some Altar Boy
Baby sitter, karate instructor and altar boy? Makes perfectly sense if you're a "little bit" too fond of young boys, I'm afraid.
Story:
A 21-year-old baby sitter and volunteer karate instructor who had pleaded guilty to three counts of endangering the welfare of a child has been sentenced to three years in prison.
The man was arrested in 2005 after a co-worker discovered child pornography on his computer, an Assistant Prosecutor said.
He also was charged with sexually assaulting three boys, ages 6, 12 and 14 by groping them through their clothes. The boys were either karate students or children he was baby-sitting. The groping incidents occurred in 2004 and 2005.
The man taught at a martial arts academy in Lawrence and also had served as an altar boy at a church, officials said.
Source
Story:
A 21-year-old baby sitter and volunteer karate instructor who had pleaded guilty to three counts of endangering the welfare of a child has been sentenced to three years in prison.
The man was arrested in 2005 after a co-worker discovered child pornography on his computer, an Assistant Prosecutor said.
He also was charged with sexually assaulting three boys, ages 6, 12 and 14 by groping them through their clothes. The boys were either karate students or children he was baby-sitting. The groping incidents occurred in 2004 and 2005.
The man taught at a martial arts academy in Lawrence and also had served as an altar boy at a church, officials said.
Source
Crapoeira
Note to self: Deadly moves should be performed on others - not oneself. Another note to self: Not all we see on TV is as easy as it looks.
Story:
A poorly executed martial arts move may have led to the death of an 18-year-old man on Friday at a local park, Santa Ana police said.
Passersby called police after they discovered a teenager on the ground at about 8 p.m. at Sandpointe Park.
Witnesses said the young man had performed some "extreme martial arts" moves before they found him unconscious and not breathing, a Fire Department spokesman said.
Source
Story:
A poorly executed martial arts move may have led to the death of an 18-year-old man on Friday at a local park, Santa Ana police said.
Passersby called police after they discovered a teenager on the ground at about 8 p.m. at Sandpointe Park.
Witnesses said the young man had performed some "extreme martial arts" moves before they found him unconscious and not breathing, a Fire Department spokesman said.
Source
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
A Tai Cheater
This story is from August 2006:
An American Chen (tai chi) teacher originally born in China was allegedly running a child pornography site. The site supposedly featured numerous pictures of scantilly clad or naked girls between the ages of 9-16 in various poses.
Apparently, he started taking photos of female wushu athletes in bikinis at various schools around China and it snowballed from there. He then started the site, which eventually drew the attention of several Chinese who revealed what was going on.
Source
An American Chen (tai chi) teacher originally born in China was allegedly running a child pornography site. The site supposedly featured numerous pictures of scantilly clad or naked girls between the ages of 9-16 in various poses.
Apparently, he started taking photos of female wushu athletes in bikinis at various schools around China and it snowballed from there. He then started the site, which eventually drew the attention of several Chinese who revealed what was going on.
Source
A Shake-Down
Japan -- Three gangsters have been arrested by police in Tokyo. The men are held on suspicion of attempting to extort money from a former sumo wrestler named Kyokushuzan.
The 34-year-old Mongolian, whose real name is Daver Batobayal, is reportedly saying his problems with the three were part of the reason behind his retirement.
Citing heart problems, the wrestler suddenly retired as komusubi, sumo's fourth highest rank in November.
The three are suspected of threatening the wrestler at three meetings in Tokyo in autumn 2006. The gangsters allegedly attempted to extort money over a mine development project in Mongolia in which an acquaintance of Batobayal was involved.
The 34-year-old Mongolian, whose real name is Daver Batobayal, is reportedly saying his problems with the three were part of the reason behind his retirement.
Citing heart problems, the wrestler suddenly retired as komusubi, sumo's fourth highest rank in November.
The three are suspected of threatening the wrestler at three meetings in Tokyo in autumn 2006. The gangsters allegedly attempted to extort money over a mine development project in Mongolia in which an acquaintance of Batobayal was involved.
Wooden Dummies
Sweden -- Using a wooden plank as a weapon of choice, a gang jumped a martial artist in Eskilstuna. The intended victim was hit to the back of the head before he was able to retaliate.
Being trained in martial arts, he turned the table on the attackers. The first assailant was immediately struck to the ground.
Even the second attacker got a taste of the man's self-defense skills. The other gang members immediately backed off.
The victim will not be charged with assault. According to police, the man acted in self-defense.
Source (Swedish)
Being trained in martial arts, he turned the table on the attackers. The first assailant was immediately struck to the ground.
Even the second attacker got a taste of the man's self-defense skills. The other gang members immediately backed off.
The victim will not be charged with assault. According to police, the man acted in self-defense.
Source (Swedish)
Monday, August 06, 2007
'Brasilly' judo
Brazil -- Two Brazilian judo directors have been kicked out of the Panamerican Games for their part in a brawl following a match.
The Brazilian Olympic Committee added that the pair would be banned from all official events for the next four years, including the 2011 Panam Games in Guadalajara.
Trouble erupted after Cuba's Sheila Espinosa beat Brazilian Erika Miranda to win the gold medal in the women's 52 kilo category on Sunday.
Members of both delegations became involved in a fight along with a television crew, while spectators threw cups of water and plastic seats into the arena.
Source
The Brazilian Olympic Committee added that the pair would be banned from all official events for the next four years, including the 2011 Panam Games in Guadalajara.
Trouble erupted after Cuba's Sheila Espinosa beat Brazilian Erika Miranda to win the gold medal in the women's 52 kilo category on Sunday.
Members of both delegations became involved in a fight along with a television crew, while spectators threw cups of water and plastic seats into the arena.
Source
Sunday, August 05, 2007
A Senseless Tragic Murder
California -- A man accused of fatally stabbing another man during a fight outside a Pacific Beach restaurant last year has been convicted of second-degree murder.
The 27-year-old man was found guilty of murdering Mission Valley resident Jonathan Thomas Lefler-Panela, 25, who died of multiple stab wounds.
During the three-week trial, the defence lawyer argued that his client stabbed Lefler-Panela in self-defense January 8, 2006, when the two squared off in a parking lot. He said Lefler-Panela - who was trained in mixed martial arts - slammed his client to the ground and bit his nose, while others kicked him in the head.
However, prosecutors said the accused was the aggressor when the two men engaged in a contentious "staring contest" inside the restaurant. The accused punched Lefler-Panela, and both were escorted out.
Source
The 27-year-old man was found guilty of murdering Mission Valley resident Jonathan Thomas Lefler-Panela, 25, who died of multiple stab wounds.
During the three-week trial, the defence lawyer argued that his client stabbed Lefler-Panela in self-defense January 8, 2006, when the two squared off in a parking lot. He said Lefler-Panela - who was trained in mixed martial arts - slammed his client to the ground and bit his nose, while others kicked him in the head.
However, prosecutors said the accused was the aggressor when the two men engaged in a contentious "staring contest" inside the restaurant. The accused punched Lefler-Panela, and both were escorted out.
Source
Saturday, August 04, 2007
A French Playboy
Texas -- At least two more women have contacted Frisco police, saying they may also be infected with HIV after sleeping with a 51-year-old martial arts instructor.
A female acquaintance of the suspect, describes him as a French playboy who seduced women he met through his job as a martial arts instructor at a Plano school for cheer leading, tumbling and karate.
The school teaches young children, and there are always mothers around. "He was dating women that were married, and they didn't know about each other," the acquaintance said. "I knew about four or five."
Source
A female acquaintance of the suspect, describes him as a French playboy who seduced women he met through his job as a martial arts instructor at a Plano school for cheer leading, tumbling and karate.
The school teaches young children, and there are always mothers around. "He was dating women that were married, and they didn't know about each other," the acquaintance said. "I knew about four or five."
Source
Friday, August 03, 2007
Cane-Do in Canada
How I would have loved to see this, and shake this gentleman's hand; Go Canada!
Story:
Canada -- A scrappy senior is being hailed a hero for being able to cane two crooks, one of whom was wielding a knife, and put an end to a drugstore robbery in Oshawa.
It was a situation that would leave most 64-year-olds severely shaken, but not Roy Dixon, who has trained in various martial arts since he was just a child.
Dixon walked into the store to get a prescription filled as the robbery was in progress and said he couldn't help but get involved. He claims one of the men threatened to kill him and then lunged at him with the knife.
"They underestimated me," said Dixon, who is only about 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds. "I definitely surprised them. I'm not a dangerous person but I am prepared, deadly prepared. And I'm not afraid of anybody."
"I eat, drink and sleep martial arts," said Dixon, who retired last year from GM after 34 years on the job and still practises judo and karate daily.
Dixon said he was the Canadian light-heavyweight champion in karate for seven years as a young man. He also taught Durham police officers self-defence 20 years ago.
Source
Story:
Canada -- A scrappy senior is being hailed a hero for being able to cane two crooks, one of whom was wielding a knife, and put an end to a drugstore robbery in Oshawa.
It was a situation that would leave most 64-year-olds severely shaken, but not Roy Dixon, who has trained in various martial arts since he was just a child.
Dixon walked into the store to get a prescription filled as the robbery was in progress and said he couldn't help but get involved. He claims one of the men threatened to kill him and then lunged at him with the knife.
"They underestimated me," said Dixon, who is only about 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds. "I definitely surprised them. I'm not a dangerous person but I am prepared, deadly prepared. And I'm not afraid of anybody."
"I eat, drink and sleep martial arts," said Dixon, who retired last year from GM after 34 years on the job and still practises judo and karate daily.
Dixon said he was the Canadian light-heavyweight champion in karate for seven years as a young man. He also taught Durham police officers self-defence 20 years ago.
Source
Coach Arrested
California -- A 54-year-old Albany High School volunteer wrestling coach was arrested Friday in connection with alleged sexual assaults and lewd acts with minors that occurred over a 20-year period, police said.
Albany Police Detectives said victims have reported being sexually assaulted by the man from as far back as 1975.
Details of the alleged assaults were not immediately available. The man was also a football and martial arts (karate and judo) coach in El Sobrante and Alameda.
Source
Albany Police Detectives said victims have reported being sexually assaulted by the man from as far back as 1975.
Details of the alleged assaults were not immediately available. The man was also a football and martial arts (karate and judo) coach in El Sobrante and Alameda.
Source
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Islandickarate
Some di*** in Iceland claiming they "know karate". Yeah right, very likely. Experts for sure... The could rather have "bragged" about knowing how to beat up people, behaving like morons and cowards.
Story:
Two men in their twenties were attacked last weekend in Reykjavik by a group of four men. One of the victims suffered head trauma, and was hospitalized. The other man was briefly admitted with a broken ankle and broken ribs.
"One of the group members was the leader and suddenly he was trying to kick me. When I tried to defend myself the others joined in," the man said describing the attack.
The victim remembered that one of the four men started attacking his friend. The next thing he remembered was gaining conscience on the street when a couple he didn't know stopped to check if he was alright.
The man said that the attackers, ages 20 to 25, had obviously been looking for a fight. They had threatened him and his colleague and bragged about knowing karate.
Source
Story:
Two men in their twenties were attacked last weekend in Reykjavik by a group of four men. One of the victims suffered head trauma, and was hospitalized. The other man was briefly admitted with a broken ankle and broken ribs.
"One of the group members was the leader and suddenly he was trying to kick me. When I tried to defend myself the others joined in," the man said describing the attack.
The victim remembered that one of the four men started attacking his friend. The next thing he remembered was gaining conscience on the street when a couple he didn't know stopped to check if he was alright.
The man said that the attackers, ages 20 to 25, had obviously been looking for a fight. They had threatened him and his colleague and bragged about knowing karate.
Source
Inner Balance
Canada -- Brent Hayden is where he needs to be with just over a year to go before the 2008 Olympics.
The world-champion swimmer from Mission, B.C., is coming off what his coach Tom Johnson says is three of the best weeks of training Hayden has ever had.
The six-foot-three, 190-pound Hayden owns a black belt in karate, which he earned while was in high school. Johnson thinks martial arts may have helped the swimmer find his inner balance.
Source
The world-champion swimmer from Mission, B.C., is coming off what his coach Tom Johnson says is three of the best weeks of training Hayden has ever had.
The six-foot-three, 190-pound Hayden owns a black belt in karate, which he earned while was in high school. Johnson thinks martial arts may have helped the swimmer find his inner balance.
Source
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Deductable Karate
In Greece, weddings, parties and karate lessons would become tax deductible under a new law aimed at cracking down on rampant tax evasion and reducing the country's fiscal deficit.
Presenting the draft legislation, the Greek Minister of Finance said yesterday more personal expenses will be tax deductible to encourage Greeks to ask for more receipts.
"Cracking down on tax evasion is a top priority: it is a phenomenon that results in social injustice and constitutes a very serious crime," he said.
Source
Presenting the draft legislation, the Greek Minister of Finance said yesterday more personal expenses will be tax deductible to encourage Greeks to ask for more receipts.
"Cracking down on tax evasion is a top priority: it is a phenomenon that results in social injustice and constitutes a very serious crime," he said.
Source
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