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I really enjoy playing volleyball, especially two on two or three on three sand volleyball. We did not have a team when I was in high school, but I probably would have enjoyed playing on it if we did. I have even toyed with assistant coaching volleyball at Upper Arlington. My wife was the Most Valuable Defensive player on her high school team so it is a sport we both enjoy. To the right: The sand volleyball pit that John Yohman and I built at 3475 Refugee Road. |
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to fight injustice
to develop personal characteristics such as. . .
for physical fitness
for self-defense
Despite what many think, martial arts are not about violence but about the resolution of violence. Of course like any other good thing, evil has corrupted it. In the beginning, martial arts developed out of religious reasons. Monks would pray for hours in set stances. To alleviate muscle tension, the monks developed "kata" to exercise these muscle groups. Later, when marauding groups tried to seize the land of their worship, the monks fought back. At one time, weapons were banned from certain countries in Asia, forcing countrymen to take up "arms" literally if they wanted to provide any self-defense.
The true martial artist is about winning the encounter without violence. He or she is a strategist who truly believes that violent minds wield careless swords. The martial art is the positive, active pursuit of really living, an awareness of reality through direct action. While many of the martial arts were created based on eastern religion, the skills of self-defense and the characteristics learned (as listed above) fit the christian religion as long as the practitioner is honest about his or her motives and cautious about where he or she gets his or her instruction.
Through the study of the way God made nature and animals, martial artists learn how to interact with their environment. They learn to be as swift as the wind, still like the forest, as invading as fire, and as immovable as the mountain. The learn to see the cycles God has programmed into life and how everything has its time.
God's animals reveal other positive characteristics. The horse
is ready to hold ground, uncompromising while the deer runs with
high jumping kicks as defense. The monkey has the ability to throw
opponents into confusion and the tiger with his sharp claws and
strong legs provide strength and speed. The snake uses his ability
to attack sensitive areas with accuracy while the leopard likewise
uses his strength on the offensive. The crane teaches a valuable
lesson about balance while the praying mantis uses great patience
and is able to kill its enemy with one blow through the art of
perfected timing and speed.
Meet Dune Do: the art forms I want to combine to be balanced
I want to learn from many different sources. I would like to incorporate
the Northern Chinese Kung Fu's low stance (learned from balancing
boat while defending) and punches/strikes (learned from using
hands while farming) with the Southern Chinese Kung Fu's kicks
(learned from using legs to climbs hills.)
I want to include Okinawan Karate's use of "hands on" weapons such as the bo for practical self defense. I could learn how to make straight paths, quick attacks and retreats through Japanese Karate and I could learn to do high spinning kicks (learned while knocking enemies off horses) through Korean Tae Kwon Do.
Ultimately I want to learn about Flexibility, Breathing, Punching, Kicking, Blocking, Off-balancing, Throwing, Grappling and weapon use.
Judo
I learned some basic throws, chokes, and grappling techniques when I took Judo I at OSU. I would have liked to continue but the coursework was only offered when I was at work or in class. I really regret not taking advantage of these courses when I was in college.
Tae Kwon Do
I started my Tae Kwon Do instruction under Master Ko at the Ohio State University. I learned basic movement, blocks, punches, strikes, and kicks in this class. While I only earned my first belt, the yellow belt, before having major back surgery, I really enjoyed the Korean art.
Aikido
Aikido would probably be the best art for me to study as a school teacher since very rarely would I flat out punch, kick or choke a student. Aikido focuses on using the aggressor's energy and motion against them.