Hard work pays off

The top picture is of Sensei Ray Barrera and me, in the background to the left is my instructor Sifu Bill Roy. In this picture we have all the participants from the 3 schools, from left to right 1st row (bottom) Sebastian Richardson, Jorden Spaulding, Josh Parken, Courtney Richarson, Roheen Despande and Nick Katz. In the middle row, Alexandra Sobin, Ben Beem, Rob Ruddick, Colin Hubbard, Angel Roy, Matthew Nielson and in the rear Sifu Willian C. Roy.

This weekend at the Takai Mae Tournament we had a great time, all three western schools made it, although we really missed the Hidden Dojo clan from St. Louis. After driving 8 hrs in snow and rain we arrived in Albuquerque to kick butt and take some names, and...well, did just that. I am so proud of my little white belt tiger, Sebastian Richardson, he took home the gold, 1st place sparring, 3rd place forms. My bluebelt, Daniel Nooner took 4th in forms...(we know why, don't we Dan?)., and yours truely took 2nd in Executive forms and 3rd in Masters Weapons, ( I don't mind coming in 3rd to the two top weapons guys in the country, Ray Barrera, 5th best in the world and Bill Roy another world champion.)

From the Morino Valley Center in New Mexico,we had my instructor Sifu William C Roy taking the top prize of Grand Champion in forms and 1st place in Masters Forms and 2nd place in Masters weapon forms. Sifu Angel Roy took 2nd in forms.

From the Taos Chinese Boxing Center headed up by Sifu Colin Hubbard, who took 1st place in Fighting and forms, Alex Sobin 2nd que green belt took 1st in intermediate forms , 1st in intermediate weapons forms and 2nd in intermediate sparring. Matthew Nielsen took 1st in forms and 3rd in fighting...(only because he knocked out his opponant with a beautiful hook kick and was disqualified from that round). Josh Parken took 2nd in beginner forms and 3rd in beginner sparring. Nick Katz took 2nd in beginner sparring and 3rd in beginner forms. Roheen Despande took a 4th in beginner forms . All in all we left a wake of dispair and destruction, just as we should.

The 1st video is my sword form for 3rd place, then Bill's 2nd place form and last is the 1st place showing of Sensei Barrera.

Tournament time!

This Feb. 23 in Albuquerque NM we are going to to have the three western schools converge on one day to have fun and get together. We don't get to do this too often so it is a treat when we do.
Also in the future there will be a Kuntaw clinic at the Kuntaw Palace in N. Carolina this March 29.
Sifu Nick Kato ( Burger) will be fighting in St Louis this March also and holding a clinic...this is a must see!
http://www.hiddendojo.com/

one finger board break

Nuff said about chi?

Some more Pictures

This first picture at the bottom, is the driveway and view from the Eagles Nest kwoon.

Next up is nice and crowded inside, perfect to keep warm.

3rd is a group shot of sifu Colin Hubbards school in Taos N.M.

Some Pictures

From left to right sifu Ben Beem 3rd degree, sifu Colin Hubbard 4th degree, sifu Angel Roy 2nd degree, sifu Bill Roy 7th degree, sifu Nick Burger 5th degree. Taken at the kwoon in Eagles Nest New Mexico.

Chinese Boxing addendum

Grand Master Alan Lee, my sigung (teachers teacher) died in 1989. He was a gentle, caring and dangerous man, he gave my sifu the key to unlocking the best in every student. He gave him the finesse which is shared with every participant in our school. He also gave him Grand Master T'sen Ch'o. After attaining the red belt, all students in my sifus class would migrate upstairs...a place, that, as young colored belts, would be held in awe and suspicion. No one under the red belt status was allowed upstairs, but the screams and moans and thumps and slaps only provoked the young ones to imagine what could possibly be going on up there. Once old enough to go up, the curiosity quickly turned to apprehension, because they were old enough to be afraid...and fear, it is said, will keep you alive.

Grand Master Ch'o was a very large, brutish Chinaman with thick wrists a barrel chest and a penchant for inflicting pain. My sifu learned a lot from GM Lee...but he learned a whole new world from GM Ch'o. They say sadism can't be learned...I beg to differ.While my sifu is as kind hearted and selfless as can be, in that what is his, is yours, and his home is open to all...he can be a terror, your WORST nightmare. Given that, it is understandable that his 58-o super lightweight kickboxing record was achievable, and that 3 times he stood to defend his world championship and 3 times stood undefeated in that endeavor. Yes my sifu is a kindly old man, the best teacher I've ever had, and the scariest man I or you'll ever meet. You can see him in action giving a demo on chi at "one inch board bites the dust" and "one finger board break" on You Tube, also in the Wilson N.C. Times there is some good slo mo video of a one finger board break...hard to believe till you see it...and feel it.