Blog
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 older student...
read moreRegardless 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...
read more40 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, I...
read moreBelt 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 ...
read moreTigershark Hapkido Belt Requirements
White Belt Single Stripe Know Name Of The Art: Tiger Shark Hapkido Bow Wrist Breakaways Kick Form Inside Block form outside Ready Stance Crane Stance Strikes Kicks Techniques Jab Stretch Front...
read moreJujitsu Requirements
YELLOW BELT Falling techniques, front, back, sides, forward and backward Guard Half mount Open guard Spider guard Butterfly guard Hip escape, on back, push one leg up, roll to side, then back on back with both knees bent and feet together Turn on all fours, bring one knee up, slide other knee up and roll over on knees and elbows Crab to toes and hands and back On back and roll to side On back and roll on shoulders having feet over your head touching ground as you roll from one shoulder to next Triangle drill while lying on back with knees bent...
read more13 Ways To Avoid Conflict With A Bully
Make friends Use humor Walk away Use cleverness Agree with the bully Refuse to fight Stand up to the bully Yell Ignore the threat Use authority such as teachers, parents, police, ect. Use an authoritative voice Reason with the bully Take a martial arts stance -Master John Dowdy
read moreFlying 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...
read moreKnowing Your Warrior Spirit
Knowing how to describe your warrior spirit is very important when you find yourself in a confrontation that you did not choose or those you did. By practicing and developing the warrior’s spirit you should develop compassion and begin to feel more balanced and centered. When feeling such, you will feel more at ease and others will feel more at ease around you which diminishes the chance of conflict. -Master John Dowdy
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