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COLORADO - HapKiDo & Knife Tactics
February started off with me heading out to Colorado for the Annual World HapKiDo Winter Camp. I learned a lot and was honored to help judge a black belt test and also lead a session on staff training as well as body control and clinching.
While in Colorado, I also taught a defensive knife seminar at Grand Master Doug Fuechsel's Pro-TKD of Carbondale. Teaching Gun Defense and Knife Defense along side me was my good friend and World HapKiDo Association Sec. General - Master Dan Piller. Grand Master Fuechsel also taught empty hand defensives.
Funny story, I flew back home out of Aspen Colorado, where I watched the first half of the Super Bowl in the airport (and also where I bought a croissant and soda for $12.68). I had a connecting flight to the Denver airport - where I watched the second half of the super bowl. Wild stuff !
Chapel Hill, NC - Tai Chi
The very next weekend, Master Cheryl Weston, Master Ellen Hendrix and myself took off to Chapel Hill, NC and were all certified as instructors in Dr. Paul Lam's Tai Chi for Arthritis program which is based off the Sun Style of Tai Chi. The program was conducted by one of Dr. Lam's Master Instructors - Mrs. Caroline Demoise.
Austin, Tx - Knife Tactics and Old Friends
In an effort to be sure I would get absolutely no rest during the month of February, I then took off the next weekend to Austin Texas, to teach defensive knife tactics to school owners at the WTF/USAT U.S. Open tournament. This is one of the largest martial arts tournaments in the world! Teaching along side me again was Master Dan Piller and Grand Master Doug Fuechsel. We rocked the house and are scheduled to teach this course again later in the summer in San Jose, California.
The seminar went very well and I was very excited to get an opportunity to visit with my old friend while in Texas - Mr. Jon Davis, who was a training partner of mine at the Late Grand Master Bong Soo Han's school in Santa Monica, California where Mr. Davis was also the Chief of Operations for Grand Master Han's International HapKiDo Federation. Mr. Davis currently lives in L.A. as an actor but has a home in Austin and happened to be back in Austin that weekend for a wedding ! What a lucky coincidence.
Greensboro, NC - HapKiDo, Jeet Kune Do & new Apprentice Instructors!
I wound out the final weekend of February by teaching two super seminars to our own students. One on HapKido Knife Defense and one on Contemporary Jeet Kune Do's defense ground positions. Additionally I promoted Essential Martial Art's first set of Contemporary Jeet Kune Do and Philippine Martial Arts Apprentice Instructors! In the EMA Jeet Kune Do & Philippine Martial Arts program, Apprentice Instructor is like our 1st Degree Black Belt. (See the main article to the right for more details)
Oak Ridge, Stoney Creek, Greensboro - Belt Tests
I immediately jumped into March with both feet as the first week of the month was Essential Martial Arts belt testing week. We had awesome tests in Oak Ridge, Stoney Creek and Greensboro. (see pictures to the right). We saw dozens of students go to new ranks, including passing black belt pre-tests,black belt mid term tests and even black belt tests.
A special thanks to our Program's coordinator - Mrs. Connie Wagner McLaughlin and our Operations Director - Master Ellen Hendrix who both always make sure all the details are taken care of for each test. Also many thanks to the incredible crew of EMA black belts that always help judge and organize testing day. You guys ROCK!
All in All
February and the first part of March was a long, crazy and exciting time. Luckily for me I have a very supportive wife who is an exceptional martial artist herself and knows that I am trying to spread positive martial arts and the Essential Martial Arts "way" far and wide. Plus I have two children who like for me to travel b/c they want me to bring them home a "prize" from where ever I have been.
Crestview, Florida - Korean Martial Arts Festival
Luckily the rest of March is a month where I will be at home on the weekends but in April I will be off to lead a session at Master Gordon's Korean Martial Arts Festival in Crestview, Florida. I'm looking forward to this event as it's a total first class event and Master Gordon is one of my very best friends. Plus, I was able to arrange my travel so that I'm down and back all in one day. So, it will be a long day but it will be like I was never gone.
Maybe I will see you there:
-Master Hendrix
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