It really doesn't matter if you're 7 or 97 - getting handed a black belt (usually in karate or taekwondo and almost exclusively in the US) after two to three years of training is plain old rubbish.
We see way too many otherwise great and inspiring stories of senior citizens (as well as youngsters) who get the coveted black belt after such a short period of time - and it sadly ends up being a shame and a real insult to the arts - as well as the people involved.
It is in itself such a fantastic thing that these folks take up the arts and stay with it. Isn't it then a real disservice to hand out a black belt simply because you're considered young or old?
At least I know I would tell anyone to stuff it if the came to me with a grade like this prematurely. Let me earn the belt on my own merits, I don't want to buy it!
It is a real pleasure then, to report about a senior citizen from the UK (Northern Ireland), Mr Robert McCracken. This gentleman is 75 years old and he took up karate at the age of 66.
The chief instructor and technical adviser of the association, told belfasttelegraph.co.uk: "I knew he would do it. When I'm teaching he's just one of the crowd. The fact that he's 75 doesn't come into it."
That's more like it and a huge round of applause to Mr McCracken!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Friday, July 09, 2010
Railway Staff Learn Martial Arts
Japan --Recent figures from 25 railway companies show that there were 869 attacks on train crew or station staff in one year.
These numbers have led Japanese railway companies to train staff in martial arts as well as equipping them with pepper spray, according to telegraph.co.uk.
These numbers have led Japanese railway companies to train staff in martial arts as well as equipping them with pepper spray, according to telegraph.co.uk.
Molestation at Karate School
Indiana -- A 22-year-old Crown Point man who is on probation for aggravated assault on a 10-year-old boy in Missouri has been charged with molesting two boys at a Crown Point karate business.
The man, who is charged with two counts of child molesting and possession of child pornography, taught karate at the school and was also a student there, according to post-trib.com.
The man reportedly confiding in a probation officer that he was attracted to prepubescent and pubescent boys and he had molested three boys while teaching martial arts between March and May 2009.
The man, who is charged with two counts of child molesting and possession of child pornography, taught karate at the school and was also a student there, according to post-trib.com.
The man reportedly confiding in a probation officer that he was attracted to prepubescent and pubescent boys and he had molested three boys while teaching martial arts between March and May 2009.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Dies of Judo Injury
Japan -- A 12-year-old boy died in hospital on July 6 from a brain contusion which apparently was sustained during judo practice, according to mdn.mainichi.jp.
On June 27, the junior high school student from Kannami reportedly collapsed while taking part in practice at his judo club. Official said the boy is believed to have been struck in the head.
On June 27, the junior high school student from Kannami reportedly collapsed while taking part in practice at his judo club. Official said the boy is believed to have been struck in the head.
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Instructor Shot Dead
UK -- A 37-year-old bodybuilder, claimed to be addicted to steroids, shot his 27-year-old former girlfriend and killed her new boyfriend - a karate instructor.
The angered and suicidal nightclub bouncer, who had recently been released from prison where he was jailed for hitting a child, blasted his ex through a window in her home with a shotgun at 2:40 a.m., seriously wounding her.
The martial arts instructor tried to escape the house on Tyneside, according to mirror.co.uk. However, the suspected killer with a string of previous convictions, was reportedly waiting outside and shot him dead.
The angered and suicidal nightclub bouncer, who had recently been released from prison where he was jailed for hitting a child, blasted his ex through a window in her home with a shotgun at 2:40 a.m., seriously wounding her.
The martial arts instructor tried to escape the house on Tyneside, according to mirror.co.uk. However, the suspected killer with a string of previous convictions, was reportedly waiting outside and shot him dead.
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Accused of Sexual Assault
Update, August 2011: Although the now 17-year-old victim asked for some "human compassion," the man was sentenced to five years in prison and 10 years of intensively supervised sex-offender probation for two felony sex on a child convictions.
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Colorado -- Just hours before he was scheduled to board a plane for Japan with a group of his teenage students, a 51-year-old Longmont karate instructor and high school teacher was arrested, according to dailycamera.com.
The man is reportedly suspected of having sexual contact with an underage girl - a student of of his. He is described as a as black belt in karate, leading a local karate club.
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Colorado -- Just hours before he was scheduled to board a plane for Japan with a group of his teenage students, a 51-year-old Longmont karate instructor and high school teacher was arrested, according to dailycamera.com.
The man is reportedly suspected of having sexual contact with an underage girl - a student of of his. He is described as a as black belt in karate, leading a local karate club.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Martial Arts Fighter Died
South Carolina -- A 30-year-old MMA fighter from Gaston died from injuries sustained in a fight in Aiken Saturday, according to chronicle.augusta.com.
The man was pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m. at a medical center as a result of a brain hemorrhage, a coroner said.
The fight, held at an MMA event at the University of South Carolina Aiken's Convocation Center, was reportedly the man's first professional match.
The man was pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m. at a medical center as a result of a brain hemorrhage, a coroner said.
The fight, held at an MMA event at the University of South Carolina Aiken's Convocation Center, was reportedly the man's first professional match.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Drunken Karate Bully
UK -- A 41-year-old karate black belt who was called a drunk bully by a British court judge, has been sentenced to jail, according to thisiswiltshire.co.uk.
The powerful man - weighing more than twice as much as his partner - was found guilty of assaulting his wife and breaking her arm following a row.
The judge said: "(...) for many years your family have been in fear of your violence and intimidation (...)."
The powerful man - weighing more than twice as much as his partner - was found guilty of assaulting his wife and breaking her arm following a row.
The judge said: "(...) for many years your family have been in fear of your violence and intimidation (...)."
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
MMA Fighter Accused
Nevada -- A 25-year-old MMA fighter has been arrested in Las Vegas after a 26-year-old man was killed in an altercation Saturday at a resort on the Las Vegas Strip, according to lasvegassun.com.
A police spokeswoman said the two men, who were friends, got into a fight about 4 a.m. Saturday.
The MMA fighter, who was drunk and aggressive towards his girlfriend ended up punching and killing the other man.
A police spokeswoman said the two men, who were friends, got into a fight about 4 a.m. Saturday.
The MMA fighter, who was drunk and aggressive towards his girlfriend ended up punching and killing the other man.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Charged With Groping Women
Washington -- A 39-year-old MMA fighter and coach from Quincy was charged June 8 with groping and touching two women at a Wenatchee home in May, 2010, according to wenatcheeworld.com.
A woman told police she had been sleeping in a bedroom at a home in Wenatchee on May 2. She said she awoke to find a strange man standing next to her bed with his hands down her pants. She said she grabbed the man's hands and he ran out of the room.
That same evening, another woman sleeping in a different bedroom at the same home, reported that she awoke to find a man she did not know rubbing her buttocks. She yelled and the man ran out of the room.
The suspect had reportedly been invited to the home earlier in the evening by the father of a female resident.
A woman told police she had been sleeping in a bedroom at a home in Wenatchee on May 2. She said she awoke to find a strange man standing next to her bed with his hands down her pants. She said she grabbed the man's hands and he ran out of the room.
That same evening, another woman sleeping in a different bedroom at the same home, reported that she awoke to find a man she did not know rubbing her buttocks. She yelled and the man ran out of the room.
The suspect had reportedly been invited to the home earlier in the evening by the father of a female resident.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
He Hates Karate Kids
Jackie Chan hates karate kids - and seriously, don't we all..? Kidding :-) In any case here's a funny clip for you:
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Another Fine "Expert"
Israel -- A New Jersey woman will need reconstructive facial surgery after being assaulted by a fellow participant on the Birthright Israel program May 31.
The 25-year-old woman was attacked in the hallway of a hotel at a kibbutz guest house near the Dead Sea. The fellow participant, claimed to be a martial arts "expert", allegedly made advances to the woman, which she rebuffed, according to jta.org.
The 25-year-old woman was attacked in the hallway of a hotel at a kibbutz guest house near the Dead Sea. The fellow participant, claimed to be a martial arts "expert", allegedly made advances to the woman, which she rebuffed, according to jta.org.
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Samurai Sword, Porn
California -- A porn actor with the stage name "Steve Driver", wanted for allegedly murdering a co-worker ("Tom Dong") with a samurai-style sword on Tuesday, is reportedly dead after jumping from a cliff edge following a standoff with Los Angeles police, according to google.com.
The porn actor plunged around 50 feet off a sheer rock face after being stunned with a Taser by police officers who had been negotiating with him for hours.
"He jumped down off the cliff after he was Tased," a police spokesman said. Whether he died from being Tasered, the fall or possibly landing on the sword he was armed with was under investigation, the spokesman said.
The porn actor plunged around 50 feet off a sheer rock face after being stunned with a Taser by police officers who had been negotiating with him for hours.
"He jumped down off the cliff after he was Tased," a police spokesman said. Whether he died from being Tasered, the fall or possibly landing on the sword he was armed with was under investigation, the spokesman said.
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Teens Arrested
Canada -- Two teenage boys, aged 16 and 17, have been charged with causing a disturbance after police was directed to a Youtube video of a MMA type of fight in a Kingston park, according to thewhig.com.
Police said they were alerted to the video, showing a consensual fight in Leo Lafleur Park that was staged at 11:30 a.m. on May 25.
The confrontation was watched by a group of around 30 spectators, and the boys wore UFC style gloves, according to police.
Police said they were alerted to the video, showing a consensual fight in Leo Lafleur Park that was staged at 11:30 a.m. on May 25.
The confrontation was watched by a group of around 30 spectators, and the boys wore UFC style gloves, according to police.
Charged With Sex Assault
West Virginia -- Police have arrested a 38-year-old Elkview man and charged him with sexually assault on a 13-year-old girl according to wvgazette.com.
The man, a part-time karate instructor, was charged with sexual assault for allegedly having sex with the girl in St. Albans in May 2010, according to officials.
The suspect is reportedly an acquaintance of the girl's family. He had allegedly met her through a karate class, officials said.
The man, a part-time karate instructor, was charged with sexual assault for allegedly having sex with the girl in St. Albans in May 2010, according to officials.
The suspect is reportedly an acquaintance of the girl's family. He had allegedly met her through a karate class, officials said.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Sumo and Gangsters
Japan -- It has been revealed that two stable masters in the Japanese national sport of sumo is accused of providing tickets to members of an organized crime group for prime ringside seats to a major tournament in July 2009, according to yomiuri.co.jp.
The accused stable masters allegedly helped arrange for more than 50 gangsters to get the tickets via a third party. The front-row seats are primarily reserved for sponsors and are not for sale.
Police are reportedly investigating whether the gangsters made any profit from the tickets. A police spokesperson said the gang members may have obtained the ringside tickets so imprisoned members watching sumo on TV could see them.
The revelations came just days after reports that one high ranking sumo wrestler has been blackmailed by former associates of a gang and is allegedly in heavy debt from gambling.
The accused stable masters allegedly helped arrange for more than 50 gangsters to get the tickets via a third party. The front-row seats are primarily reserved for sponsors and are not for sale.
Police are reportedly investigating whether the gangsters made any profit from the tickets. A police spokesperson said the gang members may have obtained the ringside tickets so imprisoned members watching sumo on TV could see them.
The revelations came just days after reports that one high ranking sumo wrestler has been blackmailed by former associates of a gang and is allegedly in heavy debt from gambling.
Confuse-Us Speaks #20
A martial arts master in Gambia tried to explain to today.gm the various activities at his academy.
The master said there were presently two active martial arts disciplines in the academy, Taekwondo and Viet Vo Dao. He said that they wanted to introduce ‘Hapkido’ which is a Korean martial arts and ‘Jeudo’ which is a Japanese martial arts. "Karate is yet to start, but our plan is to expand, we want to introduce Hakido, which is a Korean martial arts similar to Taekwondo and we want to as well add up ‘Zeudo’ a Japanese martial arts," the master said.
Jeudo and zeudo...? Are they perhaps referring to judo. And this one is brilliant: "hakido, which is a Korean martial arts similar to taekwondo." Even if they were talking about hapkido, I would say that it is not even close to taekwondo. That would be the same as stating "ju-jitsu, a Japanese martial art similar to karate." Dang :-)
The master said there were presently two active martial arts disciplines in the academy, Taekwondo and Viet Vo Dao. He said that they wanted to introduce ‘Hapkido’ which is a Korean martial arts and ‘Jeudo’ which is a Japanese martial arts. "Karate is yet to start, but our plan is to expand, we want to introduce Hakido, which is a Korean martial arts similar to Taekwondo and we want to as well add up ‘Zeudo’ a Japanese martial arts," the master said.
Jeudo and zeudo...? Are they perhaps referring to judo. And this one is brilliant: "hakido, which is a Korean martial arts similar to taekwondo." Even if they were talking about hapkido, I would say that it is not even close to taekwondo. That would be the same as stating "ju-jitsu, a Japanese martial art similar to karate." Dang :-)
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
MMA Fighter Gets Jail Time
Wisconsin -- A 34-year-old MMA fighter has been sentenced to 28 days in jail and a two years probation period following a 2009 incident in River Falls, according to piercecountyherald.com.
The man told the judge how he had quit drinking after the February 2009 incident, which ended with two counts of felony battery, plus a misdemeanor battery charges.
"Given the multiple victims, the injuries of the victims and the fact he was convicted of a similar case before, jail time is warranted," the judge said.
The man told the judge how he had quit drinking after the February 2009 incident, which ended with two counts of felony battery, plus a misdemeanor battery charges.
"Given the multiple victims, the injuries of the victims and the fact he was convicted of a similar case before, jail time is warranted," the judge said.
Stolen Kung Fu Panda Idea?
California -- An American tai chi master has reportedly accused the movie company DreamWorks Animation of stealing one of its most lucrative characters - the Kung Fu Panda.
The man describes himself as ... are you ready for this ... a writer-producer-teacher-philosopher, according to abcnews.go.com. He also says ... are you even ready for this ... "he pioneered the practice of tai chi, kung fu and qigong in modern medicine." No sh** Shirley...
The man is reportedly claiming in a lawsuit that he originated the idea for a movie about a "spiritual kung-fu fighting panda bear" and that he contacted the company in November 2001 and had meetings with them before they, months later, decided to make "Kung Fu Panda" without involving him.
The man describes himself as ... are you ready for this ... a writer-producer-teacher-philosopher, according to abcnews.go.com. He also says ... are you even ready for this ... "he pioneered the practice of tai chi, kung fu and qigong in modern medicine." No sh** Shirley...
The man is reportedly claiming in a lawsuit that he originated the idea for a movie about a "spiritual kung-fu fighting panda bear" and that he contacted the company in November 2001 and had meetings with them before they, months later, decided to make "Kung Fu Panda" without involving him.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Jaa Ordained as Monk?
It is being reported that Tony Jaa of "Ong Bak" Muay Thai fame has withdrawn from the movie industry to become a Buddhist monk in the North-Eastern Surin province of his native Thailand, according to pattayadailynews.com
He has reportedly shaved off his locks, taken his Buddhist monk vows and has been officially ordained by the abbot at a local temple.
He has reportedly shaved off his locks, taken his Buddhist monk vows and has been officially ordained by the abbot at a local temple.
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