HONBU TIMES JANUARY 2003

Welcome back to training for 2003 in what promises to be a very exciting year. It's the time to set clear goals and to begin working towards their achievement. It's practice that makes progress.

Winners Never Quit

-Tom Hopkins

Make a mistake, learn a lesson. Learn enough lessons and mistakes are easier to avoid! It's the way that we become black belts here at the Total Martial Arts Centre and in other aspects of our lives.

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TMAC's Annual Junior Sleepover

On Saturday 9 November, 20 parents and 40 students of TMAC travelled down to the Apex Camp Site at Point Peron. After settling in, and the mad scramble to find the right dorm to sleep in, we managed to all survive until late Sunday afternoon when we departed the camp and returned to Perth. During our short stay we enjoyed the beach on two occasions, had an early morning run and warm up session along the coast, experienced the thrill of the flying fox, savoured some scrumptious meals, had a video night, and in general mixed with others. Many people contributed to the success of the sleepover and I would like to acknowledge:

• Morley Apex for there generous sponsorship;
• Ms Julie Tucker and Ms Janet Greenwood for taking care of all the general food shopping on the Friday before we left;
• Mr Nick Foti for his assistance with the meat ;
• Mr Dave Greenwood for meeting our bread, buns and drink needs; and
• all the parents who attended and kindly gave of their time and effort.

Discussion is already taking place about how we should do it next year.

Shihan Steve can hardly wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TMAC End of year wind up.

When: Sunday 15 December

Where: Park on Woods worth Avenue, Yokine

Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm

Nearly 100 people met on this day and enjoyed a sumptious (if not slow) sausage sizzle. All our young students were congratulated for their efforts during the year. Trophies were presented to acknowledge those who had performed "in an outstanding manner" during 2002. Award winners include:

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End of Year Grading 2002

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Ways to Overcome Stress

• Have fun! Schedule it if you have to. Take a quiet walk. throw a party.
• Prioritise. You'll never accomplish everything at once so don't even try. Make a list of what you have to do and list the most important things first. Check them off as you accomplish each task.
• Exercise. Remember your mind and body work together. Get out and run, walk, work in the garden...
• Get involved. Rather than sitting there worrying about your problems get out and help someone else.

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Muay Thai Grading System

Zen Do Kai Freestyle Martial Arts incorporates many different 'schools' that allow us to appeal to a broad range of people. Students can learn not only applicable self-defence skills, but can also choose to participate in classes simply for a workout or with a view to competing in different sporting competitions - such as in the Kickboxing Ring.

All our schools throughout Australasia incorporate, in some way or another, the style known as Muay Thai. Whereas Kickboxing focuses on punches and kicks, Muay Thai incorporates punches, kicks, elbows and knees.

The style of Muay Thai originates from Thailand. It was used in warfare and as a means of self-defence. Eventually, after being passed down orally and through demonstrations, Muay Thai became the national sport of Thailand

BJMA Muay Thai provides students with a system that provides effective self-defence applications combined with competitive and sporting components. The syllabus also includes a grading system, similar to the system used in our Zen Do Kai classes. This grading system is used to distinguish between the various levels attained by individual students. The grading system also provides students with feedback on their progress and development whilst also providing them with achievable goals.

A basic class in Muay Thai consists of a Warm-up, Skipping, Stretching, Pushups and Sit-ups, Technique Work, Shadow Boxing, Partner Drills and Sparring. A typical class provides the student with a great overall workout, which is why many students enjoy the benefits of Thai Boxing classes.

Muay Thai grades are recognizable by the colour of the singlet that the student wears.

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Here at Total Martial Arts, we also include a Yellow and Orange Singlet between White and Blue, so that the grades correspond with those used in the Zen Do Kai classes.

Students should always refer to their Instructor as Mr./Ms (Last name), just as students in ZDK classes refer to their teachers by their appropriate title.

The grading structure for Thai Boxing is very similar all of the way through the grades - with the exception of Grade 5. The gradees will Skip and or do a warm-up. They will stretch and complete a set of pushups and sit-ups appropriate to their grade. Skills learned are then displayed on the various pads - including punches, kicks, elbows, knees, footwork and attack and defence techniques. After this, Shadow Boxing is demonstrated and finally the gradees will glove up and complete a set number of sparring rounds. As the student progresses through the ranks, the sparring should become more technical.

Grade Five is what is known as the 'Marathon' and is an extremely difficult grading to complete. It is designed to encourage people to reach their absolute peak - and then to surpass it. It may sound a daunting prospect but once completed, the feeling is amazing. Grade Five is also the last truly physical grading a Thai Boxer has to complete.

Grade 6 and above are awarded on the basis of the number of classes taught and the ability of the person as an instructor/trainer.

Mr. Glew and Mr. Boylan also wear different singlets. Mr. Glew has a half red and half white singlet. This corresponds with his rank as a 5^th Dan in the style of Zen Do Kai. Mr. Boylan wears a black singlet with a red stripe about a third of the way down his singlet. This denotes that he is a 6^th Dan.

BJMA Muay Thai is appropriate for men and women of all ages. It can be tailored to suit age and physical restrictions and provides you with not only self-defence skills, but also increased self-esteem. So every student at TMAC should be encouraging their friends and family members to at least try a class and see if it fits - if not we have plenty of other classes to offer!

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The Role of Colour in Senjo (Continued .)

By Kyoshi Justin Boylan

Although expressed in different ways and sometimes under a variety of symbols, the scholars of the past had broadly the same basis of colour wisdom that we have now. The science of colour rests on the laws of light as manifested in the seven major rays. The colour rays are also intrinsically related to the seven major glandular centres (Chakras) in the human body.

In sunlight there exist certain particles which contain a special and stimulatory force. These particles have been referred to as "Vitality Globes". Eastern scholars have long known these globules of life under the generic name of "prana", which literally means breathe of life.

The term Chakra (Wheel of Fire) is of Hindu origin and used to designate the dynamic centres of vital force and consciousness. Which in turn are the generators of prana and, when in tune with the cosmos, are the inlets through which cosmic energy flows.

The Chakras form a system of colour in the physical and etheric bodies as follows.

To be continued.

Competition Success

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

The team from the Total Martial Arts Centre was successful in winning the team trophy at the recent AJJGA State Brazilian Jiu Jitsu titles.

Team success was achieved through some fantastic individual performances. Individuals won glory for themselves and points for their team by competing in their weight categories.

The winning team members were:

Mat Kuhn
Mohamad Fenj
Murray McKecknie
William Evans
Peter Clause
Teresa Carter

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Muay Thai - Full Contact

Tom Burns and David Catto have recently returning from competing in Victoria on Sunday October 27, 2002.

Tom Burns fought Evan Themelokis for the Australian Middleweight Kick Boxing title.

David Catto fought Scott Forbes in an interstate clash.

Andy Edgar had his first appearance in the ring in December at the Kalamunda Kickboxing Event. He displayed admirable courage for his first time in the ring. It's amazing how three short two minute rounds can seem like an eternity.

Fight Night

The next fight night is scheduled for Saturday 8 March at the Craigie Leisure Centre. First event kicks off at 7.30pm. At this stage, David Catto, Dan Vernon, Jarryd Main, andRachel Brown have match-ups. Please see Steve or Justin for tickets.

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