Innovative Martial Arts Spring Gathering 2007 (at last)

I have been visiting Chuck Pippin Sensei at Innovative Martial Arts for several years and always come away with memories of good times and new friends. After some sort of crew shortage at Midwest Connect, I arrived around 9:30 pm missing the bulk of the “Meet-n-Greet” I was wanting to attend. Way to go Midwest….
Anyway, the primary focus of this gathering was to evaluate Chuck Pippin and Don Young for their 4th Dan Black Belts.

Hetero Life Partners Chuck and Don

Chuck had requested this torture a few years ago. However, a bout with cancer sidelined that until now. Don only got a clue he was testing near the end of the event, but that was part of his test.
Guru Mushtaq Ali Shah led the formal aspects of the testing but was assisted by myself, Guru Bobbe Edmonds, Guru Brian ‘Buzz’ Smith and Terry Trahan directly. One cool aspect of the test was input and questioning by visitors and students of Innovative Martial Arts. The test was a very insightful look into the teaching styles of Chuck and Don as well as a good chance to run them through the paces.

Using the cane

Chuck and Don also had to present a curriculum based on a cane. I found this challenging, but they had delved into various aspects of it with a strong emphasis on using the cane when you really need to use a cane. They also were asked to break down the aspects of their first form and show practical application.
Aside from the formal aspect of the test, Don and Chuck were watched throughout the day while they interacted with guests and guest instructors. We were looking for various things such as adaptation to material and the ability to assist those trying to learn it.
It may not sound like a grueling test, but it was quite demanding, mentally as well as physically.
The test was not the only thing going on.

Saturday morning was started off with Cody Fielding doing some RMAX material from Scott Sonnon. That was a great thing to get the joints lubed up and I took away some good stuff to help with staying loose. I would love to explore more of this as I usually only pick it up here.

After that was Guru Mushtaq Ali Shah with Silat Zulfikari, and we went over the idea of bringing a friend along by using the rear hand wisely using a dasar from Silat Zulfikari called the “dragon’s tail.”

Guru Mushtaq discussing the dragon's tail dasar

This was tied in with the ability to flow with not only the technique, but the opponent. The morning showed the flexibility of Silat Zulfikari as well its effectiveness. Guru Mushtaq is always a pleasure to work out with.

Following a short break, Guru Brian "Buzz" Smith picked up on the idea of bringing a friend along, but not letting the other guy know your friend’s name is Treachery. Buzz had anecdotes about how thieves and thugs would use deception to relieve you of your valuables or life and translated that into ideas within Maharlika Kuntaw.

Guru Buzz introducing his friend Treachery to Bill Bednarick

(Bill has some good products by the way)
Once again, Guro Buzz conveyed his art with a combination of skill and humor that is greatly appreciated by me. If Buzz comes within 200 miles of your town, go, it’s a no-brainer. You will come away with great information and life lessons. I look forward to seeing Buzz in the future, you should too. Did I mention you should train with Buzz?
Don and Chuck shared some Scientific Fighting Congress knife aspects to round out the morning.

Lunch break

With bellies full from lunch we were treated with a last-minute addition to the gathering, Grand Master Bobby Taboada of Balintawak Arnis Cuentada with Guro Robert Klampfer. They presented some of the basics of the system and I had not met them or seen the art before this weekend, but was impressed with it and the way it was presented. Grand Master Taboada is a genial man with a great sense of humor. I would recommend the system to anyone with access to it.
We rounded out the day with the aforementioned cane curriculum and testing of Chuck and Don.

After this was the Pot Luck and it was a good time as usual. The only downer was it was raining so we were unable to have a bonfire. It is a tradition that will have to wait until next time. We were up until 2 AM and that’s pretty normal too!
Chillin' on the porch listening to the rain

Sunday began (late: that’s usual as well. Hey we were up until 2!) with a more in depth warm up from Cody. Everything I have seen from RMAX has been good information. We did some interesting squatting things and some breathing things. Look, they are difficult to explain. I suggest you buy the DVDs or hook up with someone who may be a qualified instructor near you. Your body will appreciate it. If you are in the Bay Area, look up Cody. We also looked at some thresholds of pain and rolling with a hit in order to be a better trainer as well as one who trains.

Following Cody, was Guru Bobbe Edmonds whom I have been wanting hang out with for a while and this once finally the opportunity. His teaching approach may stun the average seminar attendee, but I was digging it. I highly recommend you tap his brain at some point too.

I took away a better understanding of silat in general and will be hosting Guru Edmonds at some point in Des Moines once we agree on a date and can arrange for a keg of Guinness to be drop shipped from the factory. Did you know it takes 119.5 seconds to pour the perfect pint? (That’s a double pour Bobbe, not the heavenly three pour version.)
Time was slipping by us now and Terry Trahan presented an abridged version of WeaselCraft.


Take the time and get a hold of him. He has a lot of real world experience and I am looking forward to seeing him again. For more information on him check out the following: TPI Forum, he is a moderator.

Lunch was brief and followed by another round with Grand Master Taboada. He focused on some empty hand drills that worked up a good lather. They were quick and gave a heightened awareness to both parties. They reinforced the trainer/trainee relationship as touch on by Cody Fielding earlier in the day.
The main aspects of the seminar rapped up at that time, so I showered and sat down with Sterling Heibeck to record a Podcast for his site. That was an interesting experience. I used my best “radio voice” for that one. He also interviewed Grand Master Taboada and Guro Robert Klampfer, Cody Fielding and Guro Buzz.
After a quick lively dinner with Guru Edmonds and Terry Trahan, it was time for me to return home. To read what went on after I left see Guru Mushtaq’s blog and Guru Edmonds blog.
Overall, I am impressed more and more with the caliber of instructors and participants that come to this gathering each time. The Fall Gathering is just around the corner, so as soon as I have a date I will post it here.
And he bought me dinner

1001 Malaysian Night

The other night I attended an event at Drake University celebrating the Malay culture. It was put on by the Malay Student Association at the University. What intrigued me was the advert I saw said that, amongst the other activities, a Silat demonstration would be presented.
The evening was emceed by three students from DU and their banter was fun and it reminded me what college was!
The description in the program of Silat describes it as a martial art of the region with similar styles throughout the surrounding countries. It even said that most aliran were based on the movement of animals.
The demonstration of Silat was done by Wei Hao Tan “Frederick” and was described as being Harimau. The audience was very into it and enjoyed what they saw. What they witnessed was some interesting stances followed by one-steps and then a grand melee of multiple attackers setup as a robbery scene. There were some interesting moves in that scenario.

I spoke with Frederick afterward and he said that he mostly studies Tae Kwon Do and he was only ever shown a small amount of Harimau. I suggested he try to get involved with the annual CelebrAsian event to tell more about Malaysian culture. At the time I didn’t know the deadline was April 1st! Bummer.
Since Malaysia is a hodgepodge of cultures, they highlighted the majority of them at this event. We watched a cool performance of Dikir Barat led by Frederick initially. From the program: Dikir Barat is a form of singing that came from Kelantan, as state of Malaysia. It is a ritual of celebration for various occasions such as rice harvest season. Traditionally the Dikir Barat is performed by an all male group, but modern arrangements include women.

Another presentation was a Malay dance which was mostly women. Two guys were in and out throughout the performance as well. It was reminiscent of Hindi style dancing. Very entertaining.
Following that was a Bamboo dance where the participants step in and out of and across a pair of bamboo sticks that are being bounced and slapped together. It’s all about the timing.

There was also a Chinese Lion Dance to open the ceremony. Those guys are certainly in shape! The local performers are Iowa State students and they do a lot of shows for various Asian celebrations around town.

The organizers also had a fashion show highlighting the various clothing types of the country. These ranged from the always comfortable sarong to lush silk outfits of Chinese and Indian design.
After a meal of a variety of foods representing the cultures of Malaysia, I had to leave early for another commitment. We missed the other main cultures represented in Malaysia: Chinese and Indian. There was gung fu and Indian dancing.
I hope they do this again as there was a good turn out and would like to be able to see the whole show as well as hang out with the people.

Spring Gathering in Michigan

The Annual Spring Gathering of the Tribes

Brought to you by
The League of Non-Aligned Martial Artists
Hosted by
Innovative Martial Arts

When: Weekend of May 25 - 28th
(Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday)

Where: Innovative Martial Arts
2400 Grand River NE
Grand Rapids, Mi 49525
Contact: Chuck Pippin
Phone: 616-364-0019
email: Chuck Pippin Sensei
website: Innovative Martial Arts

Cost: $50 Per Person (RSVP as soon as you can please, Space is LIMITED)

Itinerary:
Friday: Evening “get to know ya”
Saturday: Work out 9am - 5pm...Pot Luck Feast to follow
Sunday: Martial Arts and Healing , Silat Zulfikari Workshop, etc.
Monday: Holiday! Stay and get more training...or just hang out!

What will the weekend consist of?A variety of empty hand, blade, and stick/staff work as expressed through Pencak Silat, San Yun Do, Scientific Fighting Congress, Maharlika Kuntaw (Tausug version taught by Guru Buzz Smith), and other martial arts.
Instructors include Guru Mushtaq Ali, Sensei’s Chuck Pippin and Don Young, Guru Buzz Smith, and other Guests...


(Please Note:
These events are more fun that is legally allow in some States, so please check you local regulations)

An Echo from the Net

Keluarga 2007

Theme: No. I don't play nice!
Location: Des Moines, IA
Length: 3 Days of training
Cost for Training: $180
Hotel: Heartland Inns
Room Rate: $67.50 per room, per night, plus tax for a traditional room with one king size bed or two queen size beds.
10 Rooms set aside (8 Doubles, 2 Singles)
Group name: Keluarga (ask for Keluarga Rate when you book a room to get the special rate. Also, please let Jay know if you book a room so if we need more we can add some AND you must book them at least 2 weeks before the event to get the special rate. You can't wait until the last minute.)
Complimentary Breakfast Daily 4:30-10am (hot and cold items)
Wireless Internet
Pillowtop Mattresses in Every Room
Indoor Swimming Pool and Fitness Center
Complimentary Evening Snacks
24 Hour Airport Shuttle Service
Airlines:

American,
Comair,
Continental,
Midwest Connect,
Northwest,
Skywest,
United,
US Airways
Car Rental:

Recommended by Jay - Enterprise Rent-A-Car(type in DSM for the airport location)
Event Information:
Plan on tuning up your pencak silat. We will work on:
PSP fundamentals
jurus-jurus,
harimau-monyet,
applications - bela diri,
understanding and doing pencak silat movement,
connectivity of fundamentals to create techniques,
training methods,
weapons work,
Explosive Entries,
Level Testing,
various adhoc discussions on strategy, psp, philosophy, spirituality, pencak silat, leadership, teaching, and growth.
bonfire at Jay's
It's going to be a great three days of training to introduce people to PSP and help those who are midway and nearing the end of the general curriculum. As always, it's a great time to test. Don't wait for Keluarga, but if you can push a little to test in person is a great opportunity.

We will probably work/play harder this year than in past years.

Equipment to bring:

MMA style training gloves,
Full face headgear,
kicking shields,
focus mitts,
training and "sharps" (pisau - knives),
Golok,
Looped sarong
Pay for the event by sending payment to pesilat@combat-silat.net via paypal to reserve your spot. We are looking to have around 20 people this year so get in before it's full.

If you have questions about ammenities, training location, car rentals, or event resources, contact Jay Carstensen.

Event particulars, equipment, and questions related around participation in the event should be sent to Guru Stark.

My Turn

Every once in a while one of these fun quizes pops up and I get pulled into trying it out.

Drink Me

The Monk
You scored 33% Closed Fist, 50% Open Hand, and 80% Honor!
And so, like all things, it ends. Let's see where you fit... Your score is predominantly Open Hand, thus you tend to think before you act, and view each situation from all angles, before taking action. You tend to meet force with avoiding action, rather than retaliation. While this may seem more "RIGHT" than the Closed Fist, it is no more, and no less correct, it is merely a different point of view. But that's only half the story... Coupled with a high Honor score, you tend to be a caring, giving person, more than willing to take the hardships of others as your own. You see the downtrodden as those who need the most attention, and you will go out of your way to help if you can. Though rarely one to force your viewpoint on someone else, your opinions are strong, and you will defend them, often zealously, however violence is always the LAST option. While this view is more "socially acceptable", bear in mind that it is easy to lose ones self in selflessness to others. Seak an emotional center, and work from there. You would most likely find yourself drawn to the "softer" martial arts, as well as those which seek physical and emotional harmony equally. The various forms of Shaolin Temple, Kung Fu, as well as Aikido, which has no strikes at all, may appeal to you. Well, that's it. Thanks for taking my test. Remember, these are only suggestions, nothing is set in stone. This test is NOT meant to pass judgement in ANY way, nor is it designed to tell you EXACTLY which Martial Art to study.

Shameless Plug for a Friend

New PSP Book
I intend to get this book and so should you. It has everything from jurus-jurus to gun stuff. The first volume is an excellent source for PSP and goes well with the DVDs available here: Buy Me
CONSUME!

Keluarga 2007

I will be hosting the 2007 Keluarga here in Des Moines, IA on August 3-5, 2007.
For more information on the art of Pencak Silat Pertempuran visit the PSP website at www.combat-silat.net
I look forward to seeing some friends and making more.
I will have balur on hand for the bruised.
Jay

the future

Just over one year ago I was handed the reigns to Kapatiran Suntukan Martial Arts. In that time I have looked at the group, discussed ideas with active members and we move forward. All things evolve to meet the needs of the community at large. I hope that some of the ideas that have come out of this thinking cause either thought or understanding.
To me, the overriding aspect of KSMA has been and is the community it forms. Regardless of system, style, or creed we come together to discuss this thing we do.
I am not an overtly wordy guy and tend to go with the flow. My purpose is to train and share the information I have had the good fortune to have access to, yet I am also the glue binding together this organization so I have to speak out every once in a while. Right?
KSMA was never about a style. One thing I think that may have been misinterpreted is the idea that we are a Southeast Asian martial arts group. Granted the name tends to lend itself to that, as it is in Tagalog and what most people consider a martial art is Asian in origin. It is what it is and we'll keep it for a while longer. In essence, this Boxing Brotherhood will always be there regardless of what you call it anyway. When one looks past the name and sees the group, the true meaning of the group is there.
When I started training more fervently, I came to understand that one should explore any avenue presented to reach a better understanding of what you have; perhaps even learn a little more. Thus, I have been exposed to gung fu, kempo, western boxing, bowie knife, grappling arts and various Filipino arts. Eventually my paths crossed a few that I wanted to stay on. For me, Pencak Silat has been the most rewarding art to study. That is not in any way detracting or belying any other arts I have studied or not, it is just what I have gravitated toward. There are still aspects I really enjoy about all the arts I have participated in and may continue to do so off and on.
I love training. I love meeting new and interesting people and maintaining the relationships I have made over time. KSMA may not be a huge corporate entity (please don’t let that happen), but what it is has meaning to direct members and their students or families.

An aside: When KSMA was formed, online forums were in their toddler years, now they are a full-grown aspect of society. Most of the time they are used as a tool for discussion free of egos, however, the occasional flame does erupt on them. Arguments are cyclical in nature as they lead participants back to their own starting point without gaining an understanding of the subject at hand. Too bad. The unfortunate truth is that we need to live on this planet together and that takes a little compassion and patience.

I wish you Happy New Year and good luck.
Jay

Here is something I got from Mushtaq's blog. Sometimes I play along.

You are The Wheel of Fortune

Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of
intoxication with success

The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Fall Gathering of the Tribes

I recently attended a seminar in Michigan at one of my favorite places to visit, Innovative Martial Arts with my host, Chuck Pippin Sensei. I consider a trip to see him and his immediate and extended family a distinct pleasure and seriously consider it a home away from home.
Quick review:
Chuck and his partner in the MA, Don Young, woke us all up in the morning to some drills from San Yan Do and the sweat was soon flowing.
Following the duo was Brian “Buzz” Smith of Maralinka Kuntaw and let me tell you, if you have the opportunity to visit him in Northern Michigan or attend one of his seminars, do so. He presents his information coherently and concisely. Aside from the information, he is a ball of energy and his students were a blast to work out with as well.
After lunch we were treated to a bit of Silat Zulfikari with Guru Mushtaq Ali Shah. We focused on structure in movement built upon some of the concepts that Buzz had introduced to us earlier.
The only real bummer of the day was that the opening stuff was supposed to be presented by Sterling Heibeck, but he went off and had his appendix removed. He is doing well, so I am sure that next time he will be rearin’ to go. I know that he particularly missed the fireside chat that delved deep into the gully of geekdom! Next time, man.
Prior to that chat we had a wonderful potluck at Chuck and Jeannie’s and a good time was had by all. The fire was still being stoked at 2 AM and that is par for the course.
The next day was a quick review by Buzz before he headed home with his crew. Once again; good info and sweat.
After a long lunch break, Guru Mushtaq made sure that Tony and I were on the right path with our Silat Zulfikari. We tweaked jurus-jurus 1 through 8 and looked at a few more things needing improvement. I am looking forward to new and improved training videos on the horizon.
All in all, I came away with some good memories, new friends and a better understanding of areas I was looking for.
Now is the time to train.
Jay

PSP Keluarga

Keluarga 2006 was another excellent experience. We covered primarily Level 7 material from the Pencak Silat Pertempuran (PSP), http://www.combat-silat.net/
The group explored Juru Satu extensively as is and with pecuhan. We also looked at the Boar aspects of PSP, ales, and masukan as well as harimau perspectives. As usual, Guru Stark presented his material in a concise and easily understood way. (It’s almost as if things are purposely put together to reach a desired outcome.) I came away with a better appreciation and understanding of Combat Silat.

Special guest Guru Daniel Prasetya from the Inner Wave Pencak Silat Union, http://www.intiombak.com/index.html was very personable and shared his art freely. We went over finishing moves, and a few of the principles that Guru Prasetya teaches such as push-pull, cantilever, rolling and the group favorite, skin separation. Along with that, we also explored the use of the whip. It was about 4 feet long and there was much cracking.

It was a pleasure to see people from last year as well as make new acquaintances and I look forward to Keluarga 2007.

Jay

small seminar review

The Pencak Silat Zulfikari seminar was a success, in my opinion. We touched on principles of breathing and movement with an emphasis on conditioning.
On Saturday morning we started with various up and down movements that are applicable to fighting. In other words, movements to put one in a position to do more than just get a good workout; some of those exercises involved the use of a weighted ball. All placed importance on breathing and being breathed. The group also worked on footwork and its relationship to positioning and dance.
After lunch, we briefly returned to some of the morning exercises to get loose then we moved into screwing the opponent, or using small spirals to get to where we need to be.
Following this concept, we had a cursory look at some of the movements and techniques of piper, a South African knife art. It was most interesting in regard to the footwork and sticking with your opponent, as we integrated what we did in the morning into it.
We were all starting to feel it in our legs by the end of the day. We adjourned and went to dinner at The Cookry, an African restaurant in Des Moines run by a man from Sierra Leone. Good stuff.
Sunday morning brought a return to the weighted ball exercises to warm up. Following that we turned to the fimbo. This is the every day stick of the Masai of East Africa. There are some very interesting dynamics that go with this art and the use of the infinity symbol, or figure eight is prevalent. We did more sticking drills and soft work to familiarize our bodies to movements that most descendants of Northern Europeans lack.
After lunch, Sterling Heibeck covered gun retention and ways to safely hold on to your handgun. If you are interested, I can hook you up with him to have a seminar. He is quite knowledgeable of the art of the gun.
Chuck Pippin closed out the seminar with a clinic on kicking. He presented the material supremely as he has been doing that kind of thing since he was in the womb. He definitely helped me see things a little differently on the art of kicking. I hope to improve in that department based on the information he passed on.
Overall, it was a very good look at some of the concepts that will allow someone to practiced based on energy of the opponent rather than amassing a bucket of techniques. Aside from the working out, the galvanizing of friendships was a fringe benefit. It’s all about the brotherhood.

TBAL

It is important that one has all their balls in order when heading into a confrontation. Therefore, when training, use this acronym to check yourself: TBAL.

What this stands for is Tools, Base, Angle, and Lever.
Tools. This could be whatever you have at your disposal to attack or defend from bare hands to a weapon of some sort. When training, check that the tools are usable or accessible.
Base. What's your structure look like? Is your body properly aligned to deliver maximum force while maintaining your structural integrity? While training, slow down and check this out.
Angle. Disrupt your opponent's energy and break their axis/axes. In other words, break their structure.
Lever. Here's where gravity is your friend and they find out it's not theirs. Once you have broken the structure of the opponent, it is fairly easy to assist them to the floor.

These do not need to be in the order of the handy acronym, but they should be used. Break down your attack and see where you may have a weakness. Think of it this way; make sure that everything is where it needs to be before proceeding. An analogy can be that when the light turns green, make sure no one is in hurry and running their red light, so check your surroundings and be aware of what you are doing.

Jay

breath

Please check out the posting on Mushtaq's blog under the heading, "Breath Play." His ideas on breathing are quite good. The way that breathing and movement are connected cannot be ignored.
http://tracelesswarrior.blogspot.com/
Overall, his blog is one of the best on the net that I have read.
Jay

movement pt 2

One way to practice when alone is through the use of jurus, or meta-movements. Commonly referred to as "forms" in most martial arts, the jurus focus on the movements of the upper body and their relationship to the opponent. They are a set of actions to familiarize yourself and your body with the way to deploy your tools.
The jurus in Silat Zulfikari are short and to the point. That makes for quick retention as well as effective usage.

Jay

movement

This may sound overly simple: if you can't move, you can't fight.
Physcial confrontations usually require movement. They throw a punch or jump on you in some way, you act in response to their move, or before that you take intiative and get them first.
Therefore, I feel that you need to be able to move. We practice this through the use of langkah, or lower body meta-movements.
These are basically footwork patterns that one can use as is or in combination with upper body meta-movements called djuru-djurus (or jurus for short).
The basic footwork is a straight line or garis. You move forward or back. Another form is tiga or triangle stepping. These are usually at a 45-degree angle but not necessarily.
How you move your feet will dictate what your upper body does, so one needs to be aware of positioning.
There are also various ways to move your feet. You can step and then bring the other foot along, you can push with the front or rear to move forward or away from the opponent. Another close range use of the feet is to rapidly replace one for the other in a pendulum-like fashion. This is excellent for close kicks or rapid retreats.
There are variations of a theme for the above and some stylistic versions as well.
Do your footwork!
Jay

so...what would you like to see here?

I know, I know, I did say "nothing to see here," but I suppose there can be.

I practice a couple of martial art styles that usually get this response, "What's that?" I have been doing these arts for a little while and still feel WAY behind. There is always something that makes me rethink what I know and how to apply it.

So, should I give my personal feelings here, or just ramble?

Let me ponder on that....

Jay

nothing to see here

I am just an average guy trying to do the best I can with what I have.
I have little time to contribute to a blog, but will try on occasion!
Jay