Blog
Tigershark Hapkido Workout Video Now Available!
Recently Grandmaster John Dowdy completed his first video in the American Martial Artist Tigershark Hapkido Series. This is a double workout video with each component workout being about 54 minutes long (all on one disc.) The workouts are designed to help develop physical stamina, coordination, balance, focus, speed, power, agility, and the use of combinations. This is the first in our series of videos which will eventually include up to 5th degree black belt in the Tigershark Hapkido system. There will also be a selection of videos...
read moreSparring:Part 2:No-Contact Sparring
When learning the art of sparring or free-fighting, it is important for students to spar at least once with no contact or mere touch contact. Some styles never spar or have contact; however, I believe that sparring is a useful training tool for our style of martial arts. No-contact sparring has both its advantages and disadvantages. the main asset is that it teaches control- the control one needs for protection of both themselves and their sparring partner. No-contact sparring helps develop depth-perception, speed, more versatile...
read moreDIRECTING THE MIND SEMINAR:JUNE 19th:GAFFNEY,SC
TIGERSHARK ADVANCED WARRIOR SKILLS PROGRAM PRESENTS DIRECTING THE MIND THIS SEMINAR WILL EXPLORE HOW TO DEVELOP THE MIND WHETHER YOU ARE A STUDENT IN A MARTIAL ARTS SETTING OR SOMEONE WHO HAS THE DESIRE TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES AND THEIR SURROUNDINGS. topics will include: The warrior mind Self-control Proper eating habits Self assessment for change Self empowerment Living by design, not from crisis to crisis Self-discipline [time management] Daily regimen and how to keep them Self-hypnosis/meditations/positive affirmations for...
read moreKata Poem
The warrior stands firmly centered His horsestance strong- like chains to the ground His arms like aircraft move into position Preparing for flight…strongly inhale and… The kata begins Like a private tango One deliberate movement fades into the next The warrior’s intense gaze cuts into His imaginary adversary Like an invisible blade Dramatic pauses in the action Accentuate the circular rhythm of the battle “KIAH” echoes through the dojo- The warrior’s declaration of purpose Control, form, and balance...
read moreDojo Poem
A habitat unto itself The dojo stands as a refuge A place to test our limitations To dare to try To dare to fail Seeing the opponent in the mirror Knowing that our most vocal “silent assassin” Is only the voice within ourselves. The dojo silences the critics Within our mind We stand as a tribe We punch as a tribe We kick as a tribe United in the conquest Helping each other Encouraging each other We travel the same journey Although our paths may vary Led by the warrior Who we all hope to become. -hapkidomoon 2004
read moreSparring in a Classroom Situation (Part I)
Sparring in a classroom situation (Part I) When you spar, do you: Point spar? No contact spar? Touch spar? Light contact spar? medium contact spar? or full contact? No matter what type of sparring you do, the important thing is how you approach your opponent. Do you approach sparring: as a game of tag? one just trying to survive? as a learning experience ? As an instructor sharing your knowledge? or as a warrior determined to defeat your opponent using all your skills? When sparring in a classroom setting, not only...
read moreSeminars scheduled for May and June 2010
Acupressure, Massage, and Reflexology Seminar Saturday, May 12,2010 Burlington , North Carolina A.C.M.A. 10 AM- until Call 336-266-3945 for additional information *************************************************** Life Coaching for the Martial Artist in You Seminar Saturday, June 19,2010 Gaffney, South Carolina A.C.M.A. Call 336-266-3945 for additional...
read moreGrandmaster John Dowdy's Teaching Schedule
Children’s Hapkido Classes: Mon, Tues, Thurs (5:00-5:50 PM) @ Burlington ACMA Adult Hapkido Classes: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs (6PM-7:20 PM) @ Burlington ACMA Judo/Jujitsu/Mixed Martial Arts: Mon, Tues, Thurs (7:30- 9PM) @Burlington ACMA Jujitsu: Wednesday (8:10-9:30 PM) @ Neill’s Tae Kwon Do in Chapel Hill, NC Jujitsu:Friday (8:10-9:30 PM) @ Neill’s Tae Kwon Do in Chapel Hill Seminars, workouts, and weapons clinics: select Saturdays @Gaffney ACMA in Gaffney, SC and Burlington ACMA Private Instruction available by...
read moreThe 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 lower belts every two months. I started on an off month and regardless of how hard I worked I wasn’t ready to test for my first belt, which was blue, the next month. After three months of training I was then ready for my blue belt plus I was very close to testing for my next belt (which...
read moreThe 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 small window panes that were broken out, which wasn’t so noticeable until cold weather arrived. Every day the first person to arrive at class would have the responsibility to sweep the mats. Most of the time I would be the first one there. To keep the school warm we would stuff paper in the...
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