sorry for the delay

I have been meaning to get some pictures from the tournament posted for some time now. It was a very good day and a lot was learned. I will be posting some new stuff very soon, I promise.

!!TOURNAMENT!!

Sat. February the 28th we will be holding a school tournament. This tournament is for Piasa students only. The main purpose of this tournament is to gain experience. All students are encouraged to participate as part of their martial arts training. The day will start at 10:00 a.m. We will have three different sparing events to compete in: Olympic style Tae Kwon Do, Karate, and Grappling. It will be a great opportunity for learning and excitement. For more information call the school or speak to Mrs. Hatten next time you go to class.

Testing Information

Before testing, you need to be validated, by a black belt in four separate areas, which are represented by colored tape placed on your belt. These four areas are as follows:

• Yellow - Kicks & Horseback Stance Drills
• Green - Forms
• Blue - Self Defense
• Red - Combination Kicks

A more detailed list of the requirements for each rank advancement follows:

White to Yellow I

Yellow I to Yellow II

Yellow II to Green I

Green I to Green II

Green II to Blue I

Blue I to Blue II

Blue II to Red I

Red I to Red II

Red II to Brown

Black Belt

Black Belt

I. Write an essay addressing these questions

• why do you want to be a Black Belt
• have you paid your dues to be a Black Belt, if so how
• what does it mean to become a Black Belt
• What short term, intermediate and long term goals have you set for yourself as a Black Belt

II. All the hand techniques from horse back stance and oblique stance

III. All Stationary Kicks

IV. All Previous Forms plus Koryo

V. Self Defense

• All One Step Defences
• Escapes, Holds, and Counters for; 1Wrist grabs, 2Shoulder grabs, 3Hair grabs, 4Choke holds(front and back), 5Bear hugs(front and back, arms pinned and free), 6Head locks, 7Front face locks, 8Full nelsons, 9Shove defense, and 10Tackle defense
• Escapes done blindfolded
• Holds and counters done with control
• all throws and take downs
• Grappling skills to include execution, escapes, and finishing techniques
• Defense against multiple attackers

VI. All Previous Combination Kicks

VII. Breaking Technique

• 3 two board stations for kicks
• 1 three board station for kicks
• one brick (palm thrust or hammer fist)

Red II to Brown

I. Hand Techniques

• jab, cross, hook, uppercut
• jab, cross, uppercut, hook
• jab, uppercut, hook, cross
• jab, hook, uppercut, cross

II. Form

• Palwgae Chil Jang
• Palwgae Pal Jang

III. Destruction Techniques

• O/I cross palm block with a judo knuckle nerve strike, while executing oblique kick to shin. Then from right front stance execute scissors arm bar, turn sharp strike with palm heel to floating ribs. Reverse action with palm heel thrust to occipital ridge. Finish with a sweep and stomp.
• Slip back into cat stance while executing slap block and elbow strike to opponent's fist. then step forward to the out side and use a nerve strike to bicep, followed with knife hand strike to neck while simultaneously trapping arm behind opponents back. Grabbing by belt and hair execute knee strike to face and throw forward and down.
• Slip to out side and execute a high X block jamming your opponent. Grab with top hand turn into an out ward elbow strike to floating ribs. Quickly exchange hands, turn forward with O/I fore arm smash. Then slide bottom hand behind opponents back and your upper hand behind the neck and execute knee strike. Finish with a forward throw onto face.
• (against a hook punch) execute an I/O fore arm block while simultaneously striking with a rising ridge hand to the groin. Then slip both hands to opponents back and drive a knee strike to abdomen. Follow that with downward elbow strikes to back, finish with another knee strike to face.
• (against a hook punch) execute an I/O fore arm block and grab opponent's wrist while striking a rising ridge hand strike to the groin. Then turn opponents palm up locking arm while ducking under arm. Follow by putting your other arm across his opposite shoulder and use your neck and shoulders to bar and break opponents arm. Finish with a clutch sleeper hold.
• (against a hook punch) dive both hands over opponents attacking arm. Trap arm and front face lock opponents head while executing knee strikes to opponent to soften him up. Finish with a twirling neck breaker, arm bar.
• (against a hook punch) execute an I/O block while simultaneously O/I knife hand strike to the neck. Then use blocking hand to knife hand strike other side of neck. Next use Muai Thai style neck grab, and execute knee strikes, head butt, and finish with circle take down to break neck.

V. Combination Kick

• jump front snap, jump round house, jump spin side
• jump round house, jump spin side, jump round house
• jump spin side, jump round house, jump spin side
• jump round house, jump round house, jump round house

VI. Breaking Technique

• spinning heel

Red I to Red II

I. Hand Techniques

• jab
• cross
• hook
• uppercut

II. Stationary Kicks

• spin crescent
• spin heel
• jump round house
• jump front snap

III. Form

• Palwgae Yuk Jang

IV. Self Defense

• front mount
• rear mount
• side mount
• guard
• half guard

V. Combination Kicks

• I/O crescent, spin crescent, jump round house
• back leg side kick, spin heel left and right sides
• O/I axe, spin crescent, jump round house
• step spin hook, slide side, jump spin side

VI. Breaking Technique

• O/I crescent or jump front snap

Blue II to Red I

Review of prior testing info

I. Hand Techniques

• palm heel block, spear thrust
• C punch
• I/O support block
• rear elbow strike/over the shoulder punch
• 6 strike(with target identification

II. Stationary Kicks

• I/O crescent
• O/I crescent
• fake crescent into side kick
• front leg push kick

III. Form

• Palwgae O Jang

IV. One Step Self Defense

• inside grapevine take down
• out side grapevine take down
• hip toss (and variations)
• double leg take down

V. Combination Kicks

• I/O crescent, spin side, jump round house
• O/I crescent, jump round house, spin side
• O/I crescent, tornado crescent

VI. Breaking Technique

• jump spin side

Blue I to Blue II

I. Hand Techniques(from horse back stance)

• O/I back fist
• I/O back fist
• scissors block
• cliff block
• diamond block

II. Stationary Kicks

• I/O axe
• O/I axe
• front leg hook/round
• rear leg hook/round

III. Form

• Palwgae Sa Jang

IV. Self Defense

• scissors block vs. 2 opponents with counters
• cliff block vs. 2 opponents with counters
• circle arm drag take down
• Muai Thai style neck harness take down
• single leg take down

V. Combination Kicks

• front leg hook/round, O/I axe, jump spin side
• front leg double round, slide double side, jump spin side
• rear leg hook/round slide double side, jump spin side
• O/I axe, slide double side, jump spin side
• I/O axe, rear leg hook/round, jump spin side

VI. Breaking Technique

• O/I axe or I/O axe

Green II to Blue I

Review of Prior Testing Info

I. Hand techniques

• All previous hand techniques in oblique stance
• upward palm heel, reverse punch, O/I back fist(combo)

II. Stationary Kicks

• rear leg hook
• rear leg hasang
• front leg side, rear leg hasang
• front leg round house, rear leg hook

III. Form

• Palwgae Sam Jang

IV. One Step Defenses

• all blocks left and right
• Apply all hand techniques and kicks from one step defense

V. Combination Kicks

• rear leg hasang, spin side, round house
• rear leg hook, spin side, round house
• rear leg round house, spin side, hasang
• rear leg round house, spin side, hook
• rear leg hook, spin side, hasang

VI. Breaking Technique

• front leg hook kick

Green I to Green II

I. Hand techniques (done in horse back stance)

• O/I ridge hand
• I/O ridge hand
• high block
• X block
• ridge hand, back fist, palm heel low block, high block(combo)

II. Stationary Kicks

• front leg hook
• front leg snap round
• front leg hook, rear leg spin side
• front leg snap round, rear leg spin side

III. Form

• palwhae E jang

IV. One Step Defenses

• evade or slip left, high block
• evade or slip right, high block
• evade or slip left, X block
• evade or slip right, X block
• 8 directional blocking

V. Combination Kicks

• back leg front snap, round house, spin side
• back leg round house, spin side round house
• spin side, round house, spin side
• front leg hook, spin side, round house
• front leg snap round, spin side, round house

VI. Breaking Technique

• front snap kick or palm thrust

Yellow II to Green I

Review of prior testing info.(each test that goes up a color ranking also includes a review of all previously tested material)

I. Hand Techniques

• All previous techniques in oblique stance
• fore arm smash
• fore arm smash, I/O knife hand, palm thrust(combo)

II. Stationary Kicks

• front and back leg front snap
• front and back leg round house
• front and back leg side kick

III. Form

• palwgae IL jang

IV. One Step Defense

for each of these, use any slip and block and then follow with;

• palm thrust
• tiger claw
• hammer fist
• forearm smash
• elbow strike
• I/O knife hand strike
• O/I knife hand strike

V. Combonation Kicks

• offensive 180 round house, spin side
• step sin side, round house
• front leg round house, spin side
• front leg side kick, back leg round house

VI. Breaking Technique

• spin side

Yellow I to Yellow II

I. Hand techniques

• inside to outside knife hand strike
• outside to inside knife hand strike
• inside to outside forearm block
• outside to inside forearm block
• hammer fist, elbow strike, palm thrust(combo)
• Six directional blocking
• back fist, reverse punch(combo)

II. Stationary Kicks(rear leg)

• Front snap
• round house
• side kick
• spin side

III. Form

• Kicho

IV. One Step Self Defense(vs. left and right punch)

• evade or slip right, inside out block
• evade or slip right, outside in block
• evade or slip left, inside out block
• evade or slip left, outside in block

V. Combination Kicks(all back leg kicks)

• front snap, round house
• round house, round house
• spin side, round house
• round house, round house

VI. Breaking Technique

• sliding side kick

white to yellow I

I. Hand Techniques(from horse back stance)

• punch
• palm thrust
• hammer fist
• tiger claw
• elbow strike
• low block

II. Stationary Kicks(front leg)

• front snap
• round house
• side kick
• oblique kick
• knee smash

III. Form

• four corners

IV. Self Defense(escapes, counters, and holds)

• wrist grabs
• shoulder grabs
• hair grabs

V. Combination Kicks

• front leg front snap, back leg front snap
• front leg round house, step on round house
• side kick, sliding side kick

VI. Breaking Technique(one board)

• palm thrust or side kick

more validation

Sat, Jan 31st, we will have an open do-jang for those that wish to get some practice and validate for the upcoming test. The test was postponed do to class being canceled earlier this week. The doors will open at 10:00a.m.

No class tonight

Do to inclement weather, there will be no class tonight Tuesday, Jan the 27th.

Historical day at Piasa!

It was a great day for the Piasa Martial Arts Academy. We had a Black Belt test of epic proportions this week end. One of the largest groups of testers ever and one of the largest panels of judges we have ever had. There are so many things that could be said about the test, and all of them good. We had the ladies that showed us true grit and toughness. We had the youngsters that showed us courage and heart expected of much older people. And we had the "Old" fellas show us that they weren't so old after all. Of the judging panel, we had some that have been around a while (20 plus years), we had transplants that have found a new home, we had the younger judges (the next generation), we even had a guest judge. I will also take a moment to congratulate Mr. Johny, he was able to see his first students to achieve Black Belt. We all got to see some blood, sweat and tears (and not just from the testers, I saw several spectators with damp eyes). I have many pictures to post that I promise to get to soon. If you have any you would like me to post, get them to me and I will see what I can do.There is too much for me to talk about, so I will end with the fact that it was a proud week end for the school. You all did great. I encourage any one who wants to, to leave a comment and tell us a memory you have from the test or tell the testers in your own words what you think.

validation

Its time to really buckle down and get ready to test. We will be going over the testing information and doing validations for the next couple of weeks. If there is anything you are not sure of make sure you ask. That is what the black belts are for. If you are a parent of a student, don't be afraid to call some one aside and ask. Just because you have validated on some thing does not necessarily mean you are ready to test. It simply means we have seen you perform the skill and you know it well enough to practice it to make it better. The test is going to be on Sat. January the 31st. Don't forget about the black belt test next weekend. It will start next Friday night, the 23rd, at 7:00 and start again sat morning at 10:00.

Black Belt Test

Don't for get that we have a large number of people testing for Black Belt later this month. Be sure to cheer them on, give them a word of encouragement, and offer help if you can. The Black Belt Test at Piasa Martial Arts is a daunting task to say the least. These students need all the help they can get.

New year

Its a new year and we all have work to do. Its very easy with the cold to want to stay inside and veg on the couch. Well don't! Find some thing creative to do. Read a book. Do your home work. Clean your room. Practice your Tae Kwon Do. In and of it self there is noting wrong with the television. But like any thing else, if used to excess it can be bad for you. My sister was in the hospital once preparing for brain surgery and the doctors had 50 or more sensors place directly to her brain so they could monitor brain activity and function. Our family went to visit as a group(we nearly got kicked out for there being to many of us making to much noise). We all got into the habit of watching the monitor to see what her brain was doing. We were slightly amazed at what we saw. While we where siting around talking her brain was fairly active but, when we turned on the TV to watch a movie(had to get quiet or get kicked out) her brain nearly shut down. what had been a screen full of wavy lines, became a screen of nearly completely flat lines. Her brain was less active while watching TV than it was when she was asleep. And what, you may ask, triggered the most activity? Laughter. When she laughed the monitor went crazy. So in this new year, commit to going and doing, not siting and watching.