This is the first in our series of videos which will eventually include up to  5^th degree black belt in the Tigershark Hapkido system.  There will also be a selection of  videos  created and produced for Tigershark Jujitsu which will also include up to 5^th degree  black belt in that system.

To reserve your copy of this workout video, contact Grandmaster John Dowdy at

tigersharkhapkido@gmail.com.

or call 336-266-3945 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              336-266-3945      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Cost of video is $15 plus shipping.

Personal checks or money orders should be made payable to John Dowdy.

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 body movement, and peripheral vision.  It assists in recognition of  targets. It   will sharpen both  attack and defense skills.  For those who have never sparred before and are apprehensive about doing so, it is critical for those individuals to spar someone who has both good control,as well as  the patience to teach.

With no-contact sparring one has more time to attempt combinations.  Unfortunately, these sparring partners rarely practice their blocking skills.  the reality that they will not be hit offers a false sense of security when they advance to contact sparring.  Some sparrers develop an invincible feeling because they have never been hit, and thus, have not experienced the sensation of getting punch or kicked.

Overall, no-contact sparring is an essential gateway to becoming an efficient contact fighter where kicks and punches are used.

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 achieving  these

objectives

This Seminar will be conducted by Grandmaster John Dowdy.

Part 2 of this seminar series , Directing Your

Opponent, will be scheduled.

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 united…

Task completed- The kata ends abruptly.

The warrior bows out

He turns away and steps back into his other world.

-hapkidomoon2002

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 should you look at the type of contact -you should look at the skill level of yourself and your opponent.  If you are a novice ,you may think that your main goal is to survive and you are right. Yet you should also look at all sparring as a learning experience.

As a novice your defeats today will be turned into victories tomorrow if you are willing

To:

• watch,
• learn,
• and diligently practice what you have  learned.

It has been my experience that those who

Are:

• willing to do more then others (not just in martial arts, but in life)
• who have both attitude and desire

also are the people who achieve greatness.

(to  be continued)

-Grandmaster John Dowdy 2010

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 appointment

Call  Grandmaster John Dowdy at (336)266-3945 for additional information

It was attended by martial artists from varied backgrounds and experiences. Participants ranged in age from 16 to 57 years old. There were white belts to green belts to various degrees of black belts in several styles. Some drove three hours to attend; some drove 30 minutes, and some came across town.  It never ceases to amaze me how martial artists can gather somewhere to learn and train… and within five minutes a bond of friendship develops. Today was that kind of day with laughing, supporting of each other, and  taking  new risks  while practicing skills on the mats. Perhaps that is just what happens when a group of high energy   people get together . Maybe it was the atmosphere of mutual respect that surrounds a dojo or maybe it was just the joy of learning and being able to be playful again. Yet for whatever reason, it was magical. The seminar lasted five hours and concluded with an endurance grappling drill. At the end of the clinic participants were still smiling…..very tired, but it was a good tired…..

-HapkidoMoon 2010

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 and development is influenced by our instructors, fellow students, styles we study and the elements of the training hall. Along with our desire and attitude, each warrior   determines their own Flight plan.

-Master John  Dowdy (2009)

Crane in flight photography by Pam Jankowski

-Master John Dowdy

-Master John Dowdy