Balls of Fury

A huge comedy about tiny balls ended our last official class of Spring Phase 2016! 

This year's project was probably one of the best groups in many years and I'm kind of sad that we've ended. 

I hope that the guys will take their lessons to heart and continue with daily training and practice. The focus and dedication should carry over to academics as well as the responsibilities in their regular lives too. Omedeto and Arigato Gozaimasu. 

-Sensei 

Osu

Nunchaku No Kata

Nunchaku No Kata

Last Trip

For our last field trip, we went to the movie theater and saw X-Men: Apocalypse. The movie was o.k. and I

liked how they brought back the original X-Men uniforms. I thought the movie could have been done better and the main villain, Apocalypse was a little disappointing. I wanted to see his full power. Somehow they didn't show all of his ability.

The character who had major development was Magneto. I liked when the movie showed what motivated him to became evil and want to destroy humans.

This has been the greatest class ever!

Wind down

Watching X-Men: Apocalypse was epic! The movie had me fully immersed in the great plot and well done characters. 

As the days wind down in our class, I realize that I will miss this class with all its great information and great people. Thanks again to Sensei Riley.

Final Project Trip was Apocalyptic!

The SBP History of Martial Arts Spring Phase Project pretty much ended its already great experiential learning on a super note! We took our last field trip to the AMC Loews Jersey Gardens 20 Cinema and got that super-bargain matinee price to see the premiere of X-MEN: APOCALYPSE.  

The consensus response of the class..."It Was Lit!!!!"  

  

 

 

 

 

Iron Monkey

Yesterday, we watched a really good movie called, Iron Monkey. This is a good movie because in the movie a Robin Hood-like ninja is stealing from the rich and giving it to the poor. The rich people who are in charge are very corrupt, abusive, and oppress the poor. The Iron Monkey helps the poor, so the people worship and revere him as their hero. This movie teaches me to be generous and to share what I have with people who are in need of it.

Africans at Shaolin Temple Comes Full Circle

No denying the early African presence among Shaolin. Just look at the murals and statues. 

   

 

Techniques

I had a hard time doing take downs mainly because I had trouble maintaining my balance. Therefore, I would often fall down with my partner, instead of just throwing him.

We got a chance to watch two movies, Enter the Dragon and Iron Monkey. In Iron Monkey, they used a great amount of wire work to simulate superhuman feats. I could see how it would work in explaining some part of the martial art skills that the main characters possessed.

"Take him to Brazil"

Once again, we had another fun day.  We watched one of my favorite childhood movies, Enter the Dragon starring Bruce Lee.  It was interesting to see the different fighting styles and weapons used by Lee and the other major characters in the film.

After that we trained and learned even more self defense. We learned how to do take downs and how to apply an arm bar. Ever since I heard the master say, "Take him to Brazil!", in the movie Redbelt, I could not stop saying it every time I saw Sensei Riley or any other dojo mates perform the technique.

Overall, this has been a great project for me and my classmates to experience!    

Great Movies

Today we saw two movies that interested me a great deal, Iron Monkey and Enter the Dragon. Out of the two, I liked Enter the Dragon the most. Prior to today, I've only seen parts of Enter the Dragon and today was my first time seeing the whole thing. 

Sensei Riley brought up interesting points in the movie that I would have never looked for or noticed. They included: Jackie Chan being one of the bad guys that Bruce Lee demolishes. Bruce Lee's sifu, Ip Man had a brief role in the movie. One of the extras in the background was caught on film laughing at Bruce Lee beating everyone up in a fight scene rather than being serious. 

It amazes me how Bruce Lee's work ethic was beyond satisfactory which is what, in my opinion, made him a legend in martial arts. 

5/25/16

More Lessons Learned

I learned that Muay Thai is one of the world's deadliest martial art.  It is known for using powerful punches and kicks but also devastating elbows and kness. It's called the art of eight limbs.

I feel that the techniques taught by Sensei Riley in the History of Martial Arts Project can be good for me in the long run because the skills can be useful in my daily life to protect myself.

What A Great Project!!!

Before getting into this class, I thought I was just going to read and stay in the classroom learning about karate and its history. I had no idea that we were going to actually learn self-defense. We've learned to punch, kick, throw each other as well as to fall properly in order to prevent injury.

Also, we saw some really good movies and documentaries about the different styles of martial arts and their origins. Overall, it has been a fun and interesting class and I'd recommend it to anyone that wants to learn more about themselves as well as martial arts.  

5/23/16

Polar Opposites

Today we saw a movie about polar opposites of sorts: Shaolin and the Wu-Tang. Even though they were very different, at the end of the film they worked together to defeat the Qing (Manchu) ruler. 

Also an alumnus from the school came and spoke to us and I learned a lot. He reminded me to stay focused in school and do well in soccer so I can get into a good college and get a good career in the future. 

5/13/16

Amazing Fun!!!

This class has been an awesome experience for me. For example, today we watched a documentary called, The Path of the Dragon. In it, Bruce Lee's daughter, Shannon Lee talked about her father's amazing life and legacy.

Next we went to the wrestling room where we finished our ukemi (falling techniques). We did front falling (mae ukemi) on both left and right sides and then we switched to learning more defensive techniques against chokes, grabs, and headlocks.

Today we learned how to properly thrust kick and its technique. We have to make sure all of our body weight is carried on our back foot to maintain balance and strength to kick. As a class, we are getting better at the traditions that the course requires in either the classroom or the dojo (wrestling room). With non-stop concentration and the whole class focusing, we are capable of learning and adapting new skills quickly and accurately.                            
5/9/16

Today we learned how to fall to the ground without injuring our hands, shoulders, etc. We also learned about the different parts of the body that martial arts focuses on. In order to continue learning we have to abide by the oath which includes obedience, respect, loyalty, training, and harmony. Watching the video on the influences martial arts has had and still has on people was interesting to see because martial arts seems as if it is not appealing to everyone, but people watch it everyday in TV shows, movies, and commercials. 5/5/16

Ninja

Throughout history, a ninja was the living embodiment of a weapon. They were hired by rulers to assassinate that rulers enemies. Many believed the ninja used mystical arts and could perform superhuman feats. When a person got assassinated, the ninja would make it look like an accident and go undetected. Being a ninja, they each had their own nickname or title.

In the past, the person had to be literally born into a ninja clan since the ruling dynasty wanted a perfect weapon to carry out a mission without question. So, only a few select villages trained to be ninja. There wasn't often a choice to decline for those villages. The ninja developed a code that they could not live without fighting because they were educated and trained for their entire life to be a ninja and that their only purpose was to be a weapon.

BRUCE LEE vs. BATMAN

Who wins in hand-to-hand combat?

             The Dragon or The Dark Knight?

Chronicle of Shorinjiryu

FUN FRIDAY: SHINOBI

Real historical characters and events intertwined with anime-like entertainment, martial arts, drama, and Shakespearean romance. 

A SBP History of Martial Arts Project favorite!!!

Free Write

A few days ago I learned that sword fighting is not the same as what we watch on TV and in the movies. In real life, it takes only seconds and then you're dead.

I learned to channel my energy to take kicks and punches.

I also learned that ninjas are able to hide almost anywhere and that they can make poison powders out of plants to use against an enemy. Ninjas can walk up to someone with a poisoned object and touch them with it and they die within seconds.

Samurai and Viking

When learning about the samurai, I found that the samurai's point of view of winning a battle is to play it smart and don't think about surviving on the battle field because that kind of distraction is going to get them killed. When the samurai focuses on his duty, not worrying that they could die, then they will survive.

For the viking, they believe in brute strength! When it comes to battle, it is their wish to die in battle because they can go to their heaven (Valhalla) to party and fight even more in the afterlife.

SAMURAI VS. VIKING

Who do you think would win in a fight? 

Yesterday was a fun trip! We went to another dojo, where I learned new techniques. We met another sensei who instructed us in a different style called Shito Ryu and saw different versions of kata.

After we finished training, we went to Burger King and continued to have a great time together.  

Buki Ho (Japanese Traditional Weapons Training)

Got to work on moving those fingers Gerald!!!

Shoshensa (Basic Self-Defense)

Shuto uke
Chudan Hiza
O soto geri
Tetsui

Sai No Kata

New Green Belt Gerald Chelule working out the details of Sai No Kata

Field trip

Today, I got to train with another master in a different style of karate. Sensei Jose Rodriguez of Shito Ryu Karatedo was his name.  Overall, I had a good experience of learning techniques. I found that it can be hard to adjust sometimes. I had great difficulty doing the warm-up because I lacked stamina. I know that I have much work to do!

FIELD TRIP TO A SHITO RYU DOJO

The SBP History of Martial Arts Project was introduced to yet another style of karate...
Shito Ryu Karatedo
Our hosts Sensei Milagros Aquino and Sensei José Rodriguez

Sensei José Rodriguez sizes us up for how much punishment we can endure!!!

Soke Kenwa Mabuni, Founder of Shito Ryu Karatedo

Meeting El Primo "The Cousin"

Sensei Rodriguez and Sempai Jordan Riley demonstrating 

Kaeshi Ippon Kumite (One-Step Sparring with Counter-Attack)

Sensei Riley was "clutch" with Burger King coupons for the after training feast!!!