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The Ability to Listen
Robert Frost said “You are educated when you have the ability to listen to almost any thing without losing your temper or self-confidence.” That can be deemed true in almost all things especially when one martial artist is talking to another. That is why one of our training hall rules is: When talking about the school to students from other schools use care and caution so you will not cause ill feelings. Remember that each martial arts practitioner believes that their style is the best. Being able to communicate with others about topics which could ...
A Martial Artist’s Christmas Carol
Some version of Dicken’s “Christmas Carol” is featured on any television station that your remote takes you to during the holiday season. This epic is a timeless story with wonderful values and morals. It reminds me of my own martial arts journey---past, present, and future. In my past I see myself, my accomplishments, and my missed opportunities. I see myself as a young serviceman working daily in a dojang in Korea training for his first black belt honors. One of my missed opportunities was not giving proper respect ...
The Most Significant Belt – The White Belt
As an instructor, I have taught thousands of students. Yet only a small percentage attain black belt status. One may think that black belt is the most significant belt - but in my opinion, the white belt is. As a student comes in as a novice, that is the most crucial time in their training. Within those first few weeks, they will find out if they have what it takes within themselves to be a martial artist. Martial arts is not for everyone; just as no one thing is for everyone. As an instructor, it is my responsibility to guide students ...
Evolution to Black Belt
Congratulation to Lane Moore and Ryan Fowler for their promotion to 1st degree black belt in Tiger Shark Hapkido. More pictures to follow about their test in a few weeks. I recently promoted two more hapkido students to 1st degree black belt. This makes a total of 68 first degree blackbelts (33 females and 35 males) whom I have certified. Both of these students were intelligent young men with about a year age difference between them. The younger student came to me with a black belt in a mixed style of Tae Kwon Do and the ...
Regardless of the Question…
As a martial arts instructor there have been many times I have directed students to do something and then be asked the question: “Why?” I never take that question as a student being disrespectful, but I see it as an opportunity to further educate my students. Regardless of the Question, the student deserves an answer. If I can guide my students to a deeper understanding of their martial arts journey, then I will also grow professionally from the experience. There will be times when a student doesn’t understand the answer that I will give them or maybe ...
40 Years of Martial Arts and I’m Still a Student
I have been studying martial arts for 40 years now. Some of the things that I have learned include, for instance, that there are just so many ways to kick, punch or even twist a wrist. After that revelation, I had to look for other ways to further my martial arts development. I became a student in numerous other styles. Some styles that suited me and some that didn’t fit me at all. My next path led me into the healing aspects, as well as Ki energy development and the philosophy of martial arts . Despite how much I have learned, ...
Belt Promotion – The Journey
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 – 1884) said "To travel hopefully is better then to arrive. The success is the labor." Bruce Lee (1940 – 1973) said: “The success is the Journey, not the destination.” Regardless of the journey, each individual’s path is uniquely his own. The achievement of belt promotion will have different meanings and time schedules for each martial artist. For some, it means that anything else in their future can be accomplished. For others, each belt promotion is just a step to the end of their goal of becoming black belt. However, for those who are passionate about their training, the black ...
Flying Crane
As we grow as Martial Artists, we develop new ideas, habits and experiences. these factors help us mature into the people that we become. We find out as we grow that it can be difficult to shed habits that we no longer desire; as it can be difficult for a crane to leave a lake with their wings saturated with water. The shedding of these old habits can be an uncomfortable side effect of positive change. Mother Nature has given the crane the gift of flight; however, it doesn’t fly until the prerequisite skills are developed. As martial artists, our growth ...
Developing the Warrior Spirit
Desire and attitude are the only things that it takes to make a martial artist, but to develop the warrior spirit one would think more is needed but in reality it’s not. Developing the warrior spirit is a process that one can spend a lifetime searching to achieve yet never get unless a true commitment is made to him or herself. The commitment that one needs to make is a commitment or promise to search for a path that they can follow both physically and mentally even though it could be a burden to them. Setting goals and achieving them whether ...
10 Most Asked Questions/Answers About Martial Arts
1. Do I need to be in shape first? No. The reason a large number of people participate in Tiger Shark Hapkido is to get in shape. A workout at American College of Martial Arts is very healthy as long precautions are taken as need be. It incorporates aerobic exercise with stretching, balance and coordination drills along with simply learning how to breathe. 2. How expensive is it? The price varies but it’s about the same you would pay the cable company each month to prevent physical fitness. 3. Are there family rates? Yes. The more members from your family…the bigger ...
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The American Martial Artist: Personal History: Part 4
June 21, 1969 was when I first started martial arts. The style that I studied was Kuk Sool Won. The belt ranking system was white, blue, red, yellow, yellow with a black stripe, then black. At the dojang that I trained at they tested for lo
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The American Martial Artist:Personal History: Part 3
This winter we have had quite a bit of snow which reminded me of my early training in Korea. When I first started martial arts, the class was downstairs. After about a month the school moved upstairs. At the new location there were several smal
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A.C.M.A. March 2010 Seminar Schedule
Saturday, March 6,2010: Jujitsu Clinic: Entering, Trapping To Grappling : Burlington, NC: 10 AM-until taking opponent down from standing or kneeling positions trapping opponent's arms, legs, hand, or body finishing techniques escape techniq
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The American Martial Artist:Personal History:Part 2
My first day... On our first day in a martial arts class in Korea, my friend Jerry and I both made the decision that we were going to work out for three hours each day. The first day we were shown the fighting stances, kick form and block fo
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Qigong Seminar scheduled for Saturday, Feb 20th in Gaffney,SC
Topic: Qigong Instruction by Grandmaster John Dowdy Gaffney, SC Saturday, Feb 20, 2010 Call 336-266-3945 for additional information
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The American Martial Artist…Personal History:Part 1
When I joined the Air Force, my first tour of duty was in Korea. My first day in Korea, I traveled downtown to look around. I came upon a Martial Arts demonstration at the market. I didn't know what style it was then since I didn't know the differenc
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Martial Arts As A Way of Life
Over the past four decades I have had the honor to have worked with some exceptional students as well as instructors. Through my work with them, I have been able to share what I have and gain additional valuable knowledge. Instructing students has al
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Tonfa Seminar in Gaffney, SC Held 1/23/10
Master Dowdy traveled to Gaffney, SC on Saturday 1/23/10 to instruct Gaffney martial artists regarding tonfa /PR-24 use. The seminar was preceded by a three-hour workout with the group which consisted of the following: one hour of updated hap
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Pressure Point Strikes Seminar: Summary and Feedback: 1/16/10
Today's Pressure Point Strikes Seminar at ACMA in Burlington, NC provided the participants with a wealth of information and analogies. Master John Dowdy introduced 28 pressure point strikes. Each pressure point was discussed within the conte
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A Resolution Is A Promise To Yourself
Most of us have made new year's resolutions before in the past. Some we kept and others were swept aside. As a lifelong martial artist I feel integrity should always be an annual standing goal. Integrity, to me, is simply doing what one says that the
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