The Making of a Grandmaster
A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I MOVED TO THE AREA WHERE I NOW RESIDE. UPON COMING TO THE CHAPEL HILL AREA I STARTED LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO TEACH MARTIAL ARTS. I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL OWNERS IN THE DURHAM AND CHAPEL HILL AREA WITH LITTLE SUCCESS. THERE WERE SEVERAL REASONS WHY THEY DID NOT WANT NOR NEED MY SERVICES AND I RESPECT WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT...
Read MoreRecollections of Ki – Past and Present
This past Saturday (8/14/10), I taught a seminar at American College of Martial Arts in Burlington, NC on the subject of Ki/energy. This was the first in a series of four Ki/Energy sessions. I have instructed these seminars dozens of times, yet it still amazes me each time I do them. What really gets to me is observing the participants as they experience the Ki -building process for the...
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...
Read MoreThe 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 form. I stayed the full three hours while Jerry left after about two hours. The next day when we went to class, the instructor showed us what is...
Read MoreThe 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 difference in styles. I later learned that it was Tae Kwon Do. My friend, Jerry, and I watched these guys in white uniforms do all kinds of...
Read MoreThe 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...
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