Winter/Spring Edition

We're Moving!
New Location Inside the Mall

Dear KMA Students and Parents,

   KMA will be moving to a new and larger location within the Pittsburgh Mills Mall. The unit number is 519 and is next door to ITT Tech and across from the News Stand. The best way to get to classes will be to come in at the Police and Mall Offices entrance just to the right of Houlihan's and the Theaters from the outside perspective. This new location has a main floor that is larger than our current location as well as two additional rooms in the rear. We needed this extra space to accommodate the larger classes in one room. It will also only have one main doorway to the Mall inside area and smaller windows (so we can not feel like we are in a fish tank).

I am very excited about this new location and hope everyone feels the same once we start training there. We will be making our official move Saturday March 2nd, many students have already pledged their help for the move and anyone else who cares to join us is welcome. We will have a pizza party at some time during the day to keep your strength up as well. We will get started at around 10 am but I will be their from 9 on. I will also be moving some smaller things to the new location this Saturday Feb 23rd beginning about the same time (yes I can use some help).

Thank you and keep up the Great Training!
Master C Osu!

KMA
Into 2013 and Beyond
School Update and Classes Information

Dear Students and Parents of Students,

I have spent many years in training and exploring a vast array of martial arts receiving more than a few black belts or higher rankings in each of them. I have aligned us with some of the greatest martial artists within each of these arts so that we know we are getting the best source and the highest credentials that can be had within each art.

The Dan Inosanto Academy under Sifu Hal Deily
The World Hapkido Association with Hapkido Legend SGM Hwang In Shik and GM Tae Jung
Sigung Paul Vunak Contemporary JKD "Descendents of the Masters"
The International Progressive Taekwon-Do Federation with GM Javed Khan.

Each student in our TaeKido Program works toward earning their coveted Black Belt in each of these arts as well as TaeKido itself and all at the same time. No other school can offer this to their students.

  I am still training and still a student in each, but not so many people have the time, energy, resources and drive to go and train in all these different programs. I truly do consider myself fortunate to have had this opportunity. I also consider myself fortunate to be able to pass this learning down to you, my students. All that I ask of you is to make each training day, your best training day and learn as much as I can teach you because you are the future of our art.

 TaeKido includes all 5Zones of Self-Defense :
1.  Weapons: Gun, Stick, Knife, Bottle, Belt, Box cutter, Screwdriver etc...
2.  Kicks: Kicks and Knees. Throws, blocks and counters against kickers.
3.  Hands: American Boxing, Chinese Boxing (Trapping, bridging and counter striking)Throws and joint locks against punches.
4.  Takedowns: Defense against and use of take-downs, throws and joint locks.
5.  Ground: How Not To go to the ground. How to get up from the ground. Solid escapes and finishes from the ground.

* We will adding a regular children's class each Saturday morning at 10-10:45 that will include sparring and anything else that may be pertinent to whats coming up on our school calendar (testing). Beginning Dec 3, 2012.

* We of course will continue our very well taught children's Taekwon-Do program and now with the addition of a Jung Bong (Bo-Staff) and Kum Bop (Sword) program. This program is of no additional cost and will be alternated on certain weekdays or Satudays that Sam Dan Tom Shotts will announce in classes each week. This should be very exciting for the children and a skill that they can use in competitions in the near future.

* Our Warrior Fit Program is our Kyuktooki or Korean Kickboxing program and is a primary class for TaeKido, teaching proper fighting stance techniques, footwork, strikes, counters, bridging and pad work. Not to mention a great way to build up your stamina. In addition if you wish to compete in any Muay Thai, MMA events or continuous sparring competitions, this the class you need to take regularly. We have added a Saturday class at 9:30 am to accommodate those who have busier schedules during the week Beginning Dec 3, 2012. Red belt candidates and above must take at least 6 per month and will need at least a Level 2 Certificate to test in TaeKido. I really get a chance to tweak participants in their fighting techniques during this class. We will be actively seeking out Muay Thai school "Smokers" events as well as any sparring events that will allow us to use what we learn here in their competitions. Any BJJ or Shan Shou events that anyone hears of should be reported to myself or an instructor so we can pursue the info. We will continue to post an "Upcoming Events" flyer at the school for those who want to compete. If we are not testing our methods we can not be sure they work or what works for us as individuals.

* I have purchased closed face head gear in a variety of sizes so that we can include "all striking" into training and sparring. It is not a slug fest by any means but it certainly will keep hands up and defensive. This also keeps the random finger or thumb from the eyes especially since we get close and personal with the throws and take downs. This type of sparring is not mandatory but it is highly recommended. Anyone (or parents) wishing to not do this type of sparring need only say so and we will work around it.
 
* School Tuition Prices for 2013 will remain the same as 2012. $75.00 per students, unlimited classes. I am dropping testing fees to be one fee to cover the TaeKido testing that in turn will cover all the arts within- $40.00. Additional family memberships will remain the same as well. (It will no longer be $40 and $25 for each additional art.)

* SEMINARS: We of course will be hosting Guro Deily, Grand Master Khan and 10th Dan Kancho John Farrell at different times thru out the year again in our pursuit of perfection. Classes will be in Jun Fan Gung Fu or Bruce Lee Kung Fu, Jeet Kune Do, Silat, Kali Knife, Kyokushin Karate and Taekwon-Do.

* The World Hapkido Association Winter Camp 2013 will be taking place in Santa Monica California this February 15-16-17th. I will be attending and anyone who cares to travel with me is more than welcome. I will be traveling out a few days early to train with GM Jung for a few days. I am sure after seeing how the Summer Camp here in Pittsburgh went that you already know how tremendous this camp can be. Try to make it if you can.

* Grand Master Jung has given us the honor of being the annual or at least the semi-annual location for the WHA Summer Camps. He was very very happy about how the Camp turned out this past year. This allows those that are WHA members located on the East Coast of the USA and Europe to have a more reachable location to attend at least one camp per year. The other location will be at Master Monty Hendrix's school in North Carolina. Very probable to be here again this year though.

Train to Live
Live to Train!

Yours
Senior Master Joe Cosentino
Osu!

This Months Quote:

It is unfortunate that some instructors just seem stuck in the past. Yes be traditional but also bring to your students what the great martial arts melting pot has presented to us all. It is an injustice to the students who depend on us to not do so.
 

Master C

ONCE UPON A TIME... In Martial Arts...

ONCE UPON A TIME…  Martial arts instructors were dedicated, tough, strong and intelligent. They taught the
arts because they wanted to uphold a tradition in the arts. They taught the arts because they
loved it and wanted to share with others. They taught the arts because they believed it was their
calling. They taught the arts to give something back to their community and most of all "they taught".

ONCE UPON A TIME…  The dojang was a place of sweat, training pain and sacrifice. It was a place where
strong moral character was forged in the fire of extremely hard work. It was not a social club
where one gathered to meet friends. It was not a place of music and health drinks.
You would never here vulgarities or swearing of any kind or you would be in a world of pain.

ONCE UPON A TIME... Martial artists considered the training hall a temple dedicated to the
excellence of human personal achievement. Where Modesty, Courtesy, Integrity, Self-Control, Perseverance
and Indomitable Spirit were your highest goals not just what you repeated for testing. Where each member of
any rank showed respect and courtesy to each fellow instructor or student. No "Hey" or "Wuz up"

ONCE UPON A TIME...The martial arts were not for everyone; and were never intended for
everyone. If someone could not keep up with the class, if they could not "get" the techniques,
they were never promoted to the next level. You had to step up or step out...

ONCE UPON A TIME... Promotion exams were not a major social event. Mothers, fathers,
grandparents, wives, boyfriends, and girlfriends were not seated around the testing area
watching the students perform. Testing was private; after all, it was possible to fail and have to
retake the test.

ONCE UPON A TIME... Everyone strove for improvement to reach that proverbial high bar. The bar
was never lowered so that everyone could rise over it. If you couldn't reach it, you worked
harder, you put more time in. You strove for excellence and were not satisfied with mediocrity.

ONCE UPON A TIME…  The black belt had meaning. A brown or red belt was someone to be feared and
respected. A black belt was something else. A second degree was extremely difficult to get, not
even to mention a third or fourth degree. Becoming a black belt was a long hard road to
travel and required extremely intensive study.

ONCE UPON A TIME…  Uniforms were either white or black. You could identify the school
of a student by the simple patch on the uniform. The name of the school was not emblazoned
across every stitch of the uniform and it did not look like a costume of a cartoon super hero.

ONCE UPON A TIME… Techniques and philosophies worked and you knew they worked because
they were tested against peers in the dojang or at a tournament. Plain, simple and true; if your
philosophy did not work, you got your backside handed to you.

ONCE UPON A TIME…  Martial arts magazines were filled with information about exceptional martial artists,
styles, systems, training methods and tournaments. They were not ads or pseudo articles espousing the virtues
of a particular school or "Grandmaster" who spent the most in advertizing in that magazine.

ONCE UPON A TIME... If you were in martial arts you were part of a unique, small and elite family.
It was a family rich with history and traditions. You were proud to be a part of that family. You
were not belittled or degraded; people did not walk by the dojang and make fake Bruce Lee
noises. You were respected and you earned that respect.

ONCE UPON A TIME…  The air was cleaner, flowers smelled fresher, candy was much sweeter... or was it?
Was it just the perceptions of the world through the tinted eyes of youth? Maybe... it seemed so long ago, once
upon a time... Please let us try to make it so again...

Some thoughts on the development of TaeKido

From my original Taekwon-Do Grandmaster:

Taekwon-Do’s Hee II Cho values the stability of tradition, but recognizes the need to move forward
by Jose Fraguas (circa 1990)

GM Cho Quotes:
   "The time has arrived for the fresh air of change to sweep away the static insular attitudes and exchange them for new ideas and rejuvenation. This needs to be a porous acceptance of change within all aspects of the various systems of martial arts, especially from the martial artists themselves."

  "The future of all systems of martial arts depends on continual growth. While holding onto our noble traditions, we should explore new concepts and training methods... "

   "My martial arts’ ancestors may curl up and cringe at my ideas, but I am interested in analyzing and exploring the most effective scientific methods for developing techniques. The great masters of the past were indeed excellent teach­ers but, surrounded as we are today by new technology and innovative research into new training methods, there may be better ways of developing certain techniques. I, therefore, do not feel guilty nor compelled to stick to one method for­mulated many years ago."

   "I see myself as a traditionalist and non-traditionalist. I follow the mental, ethical, and moral principles of traditional martial arts, which includes self-control, perseverance and indomitable spirit. As a non-traditional master, I have adapted my training regimen to my students and will incor­porate new techniques to benefit them. As I said, I maintain an open mind to all styles of fighting and recognize the ben­efits of each discipline."

  "I insist on being open to change and to throwing out what is unessential. If one hopes to improve his art and his life then that is an absolute necessity. Life is change."

   Taekwon-Do Grandmaster Hee Il Cho,  Sometimes known as the "Taekwon-Do Prophet"

I couldn't agree more...

My Guro and leading force in my martial arts training and development...

Guro Dan Inosanto...
    Guro Dan was groomed by Bruce Lee to be his successor in the art of Jeet Kune Do. Inosanto developed a hybrid philosophy of martial arts, choosing elements from different systems that all led to one common goal: fighting proficiency. Lee told him to "take what is useful [from each art] and discard the rest." In 1967, Inosanto became the only student Lee ever awarded a third rank in jeet kune do, the level Bruce considered necessary to teach the system. A consummate student of the martial arts, Inosanto spent decades studying and researching martial arts such as the Filipino Martial Arts, Malaysian Bersilat, Indonesian Penjak Silat, French Savate, Muay Thai, Krabi-Krabong, Japanese Shoot Wrestling and Machado Jujutsu. He has trained with many highly regarded martial artists around the world and consequently has held Instructor or black belt level ranks in numerous, different martial arts. In addition, he is well known for promoting the Filipino Martial Arts. He is responsible for bringing several obscure forms of the South East Asia Martial Arts into the public eye such as Silat, a hybrid combative form existing in countries as Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
For over 30 years, Dan Inosanto has taught thousands of students from around the world The Art and Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do, Filipino martial arts, Shoot wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Silat, mixed martial arts and other arts at his California school, the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts.

Guro Dan Inosanto : Quotes

"We are all climbing different paths through the mountain of life, and we have all experienced much hardship and strife. There are many paths through the mountain of life, and some climbs can be felt like the point of a knife. Some paths are short and others are long, who can say which path is right or wrong? The beauty of truth is that each path has its own song, and if you listen closely you will find where you belong. So climb your own path true and strong, but respect all other truths for your way for them could be wrong."

Talent is God Given – Be Thankful.

Fame is Man Given – Be Humble.

Conceit is Self Given – Be Careful.


and Finally From the force of nature...
   Sigung Bruce Lee:

“Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it.”
― Bruce Lee, Tao of Jeet Kune Do

“It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the inessentials.”
― Bruce Lee

“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.”
― Bruce Lee

“Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.”
― Bruce Lee

“Using no way as a way, having no limitation as limitation.”
― Bruce Lee, Tao of Jeet Kune Do

...and the one that means the most to me...

“Time means a lot to me because you see I am also a learner and am often lost in the joy of forever developing.”
― Bruce Lee

My thoughts...
"You must learn the martial arts before you can mix the martial arts"
~Master Joe Cosentino~

Announcements:

I am sure everyone understands what a great honor and opportunity it was to attend a seminar with both Grand Master Tae Jung and Supreme Grand Master Hwang In-Shik.  They joined us for the World Hapkido Association Summer Camp in Pittsburgh, PA.  We were also joined by Master Monty Hendrix, Master Joseph Cosentino of the hosting school Komplete Martial Arts, and sisters and brothers from all over the United States.  Also present was Shane “Mr. Irish” Mc Quillan all the way from Dublin, Ireland! 

The weekend started with black belt testing on Friday, August 10, 2012.  The judges were Grand Master Jung and Master Monty Hendrix.  The black belts bowed in at 6:00 pm and started their testing promptly.  Congratulations to Danielle Glebocki, Billy Tasker, and Frankie Abbamonte who attained 1^st Dan, to Daniel Post who attained 2^nd Dan and to Mike Barnard who reached 3^rd Dan!

Saturday morning, we hit the mat at 9:30 with a bow in to Supreme Grand Master Hwang and Grand Master Jung.  Supreme Grand Master spoke to us at length about meditation and relaxation.  We began training with instruction and practice with moving from wrist locks into takedowns.  Everyone was on their own for lunch, with most of us heading to the food court in the mall for a quick bite.  After lunch, we worked on ground work with Master Hendrix while the black belts worked on weapons with Grand Master Jung. 

Saturday evening, we met at Sinobi Japanese Korean Restaurant, where Master Cosentino had arranged for us to enjoy an authentic Korean buffet style meal prepared just for us.  We had the entire restaurant to ourselves.  Some of the food included miso soup, bulgogi, Korean barbeque pork, Korean style chicken, beef, various fruits, salads, cellophane noodles, kimchee and sushi.  It was great to be able to spend some off-matt time with the Grand Masters and fellow students, although Saturday evening went too fast for many of us.

Sunday morning began with another lesson from Supreme Grand Master Hwang.  He and Grand Master Jung warmed us up.  We learned a new warm-up exercise from Supreme Grand Master Hwang that I am sure many of us will take back to our schools to implement into our normal warm-up routines.  We moved on to some sparring techniques from Master Cosentino.  Additional techniques were taught by Mr. Barnard.  Master Hendrix added some knife defense work until we bowed out.

All-in-all, the entire weekend was a fantastic experience and learning opportunity for all of us.  I am sure we all looking forward to Winter Camp and the next chance we have to learn from so many great teachers.  A huge, heart-felt thanks to Supreme Grand Master Hwang, Grand Master Jung, Master Hendrix, Master Cosentino and all of the black belts and instructors for providing this learning experience for us.

Announcements:

New KMA Location:
We are very pleased to announce that we have a new KMA location in Portmarnoch Ireland near Dublin. We will be opening another school very soon as well. The Chief instructor is Mr. Shane McQuillan and his assistant instructor is Mr. Daniel Kaneswaren. They will be teaching the TaeKido program which includes: Traditional Taekwon-do and Hapkido as well as components of Kali, Muay Thai and Boxing. Mr. McQuillan is a long time friend and skilled martial artist and I am sure they will be one of the premier schools in the Dublin area in no time. The new locations web site is http://allirelandtaekido.com/Home.html. Won't you please send them a nice hello and good luck from us to our Brothers in TaeKido!!!

Master Cosentino

Upcoming classes:
I am very excited to announce that we will be having a new Saturday class, beginning June 2nd, that will cover our Ch'ang Hon Taekwon-Do Hyungs system and the self-defense techniques within them. I was never taught these techniques or history with other instructors in my past Taekwon-Do journeys but have been awakened to them by a very studious Taekwon-Doist (Stuart Anslow) and dedicated book writer that has brought new meaning to my Taekwon-Do training. We will also train in our One Step Sparring with different applications and entries of the techniques during this class.

Class Description:
We will study the history and development of the Ch'ang Hon Taekwon-Do patterns as devised, taught and developed by the founder of Taekwon-Do; General Choi, Hong Hi. Ch'ang Hon Taekwon-Do is the oldest and original style of Taekwon-Do and was developed with battle and self-defense in mind. It is only it's modern version that has been watered down to be a children's art. Ch'ang Hon Taekwon-Do, Hae Sul is an in-depth study of the Ch'ang Hon Taekwon-Do patterns; their history and their roots; Taekwon-Do's evolution; its genetic make-up; its differences with other martial arts; and the techniques and movements that define the system. Realistic interpretations for the Ch'ang Hon patterns including Chon-Ji, Dan-Gun, Do-San, Won-Hyo, Yul-Gok, Joong-Gun, and Toi-Gye. The patterns are examined, dissected and rebuilt to help both our students and our instructors understand the applications that are really contained within the Ch'ang Hon patterns - many of which were previously unknown and undocumented. In step-by-step detail, learn what the techniques and combinations of the Ch'ang Hon patterns actually represent and how to turn your patterns into a realistic way of training actual self defense techniques that work, and turn them into something much more than they are practiced today. Along the way, our students are treated to a fascinating insight into the history of the Ch'ang Hon patterns as well as Taekwon-Do itself, with many of its understudied principles revealed. Learn what helped to shape the art which became so feared on the battlefields of Vietnam that enemy soldiers were told not to engage the Korean soldiers, whether armed or not, due to their knowledge of Taekwon-Do.
A historical study of Taekwon-Do and its patterns - a mental training manual and an encyclopedia of realistic applications - make this class a must-attend for all of our students that study and practice Ch'ang Hon Taekwon-Do.

This class is an ongoing class that will be the 1st Saturday of each month unless a Holiday of other event falls on that same day.
As always please check the School Google calendar for updates as we keep it very current.

Komplete Martial Arts
Bringing the Tradition back to Traditional Martial Arts

Master Joe Cosentino

PS We have also added a Jun Fan JKD, Silat class Saturday mornings at 9:30 for all who are interested.

Quote of the month

If one really wishes to be a master of an art, technical knowledge of it is not enough. One has to transcend technique so that the art becomes an "artless art" growing out of the Unconscious... ~DT Suzuki~ But told to me many times by Supreme Grandmaster Hwang...

KMA Web Site Of The Month:

 http://www.bluecottagetkd.com/index2.html

This is an outstanding web site for any Taekwon-Do practitioner especially for
Chang-Huhn style Taekwon-Do of which we at KMA are. Enjoy! 

WHA, GM Jung Seminar Pittsburgh, Pa. 

  Once again, the students of Master Joe Cosentino’s Komplete Martial Arts of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania were honored with training with Grand Master Jung on June 18, 2011.  We were joined by five black belts including Master Monty Hendrix of Essential Martial Arts in Greensboro, North Carolina, Mr. Chuck Edwards of More Than Conquerors Hapkido Martial Arts School in Freeport, Pennsylvania, Master Derrick Harris of Michigan Hapkido Community Outreach in Saginaw, Michigan, Mr. Aubrey Lawton who flew in from Staten Island, New York, and of course Master Joe Cosentino.  Master Cosentino earned his WHA 3rd degree black belt the night before with Grand Master Jung, WHA President, and Master Hendrix, WHA East Coast Director, judging.  Graced with all of this knowledge at hand, it was truly a seminar not to be missed.

    Grand Master Jung warmed us up with stretching and rolling, stressing the importance and relevance of proper rolling.  We began with working on circle steps and progressed through much of the WHA curriculum.  We worked on wrist locks, combos, throws, reversals and ended the day with ground work.  The black belts worked on weapons in the back training room.

    While Grand Master Jung gave each of us individual attention throughout the seminar, it was fantastic having so many black belts present.  It was, in essence, a day long private lesson for each of the attendees.  The quality of attendees, from white belt to black, was impressive.  The eagerness to teach, and learn, by all was truly inspirational.

    It was humbling to see Grand Master Jung instruct in person.  The speed and gracefulness of his execution of technique is indescribable.  While our books, descriptions and videos of technique are necessary and irreplaceable, there is nothing like seeing Grand Master Jung in action, in person.  The small changes and adjustments he makes in our techniques makes such a difference in the end result.

     The seminar, that lasted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., ended with a presentation of plaques to both Grand Master Jung and Master Hendrix signifying our thanks and appreciation for taking time out of their busy lives and passing their knowledge and talents to the rest of us.

 KMA Student: Chris Haidze

Recommended reading at KMA is:

The author of "Ch'ang Hon Taekwon-do Hae Sul "- "Real Applications to the ITF Patterns": Vol. 1, by Stuart Paul Anslow.  This book covers the original self defense techniques built into the Ch'ang Hon Hyungs by the General and the founders of Taekwon-Do.

Also "The Encyclopedia Of Taekwon-Do Patterns" "The complete patterns resource for Ch'ang Hon, ITF and GTF Students of Taekwon-Do" Volumes 1,2 and 3 by Stuart Paul Anslow. These books contain the exact and correct moves for each of your Taekwon-Do patterns (Hyungs) up to Grandmaster and are our guides in all pattern questions. These are the original non "Sine Wave" patterns.

Upcoming KMA Seminar’s: Mataas Na Guro Hal Deily will be in this May for seminar on advanced knife and defensive techniques. More info to follow on this Seminar.

A great new online Taekwon-Do magazine that I highly recommend you add to your personal favorites.

This is the Web address for the Free online TKD magazine

http://www.raynerslanetkd.com/TTKD/TotallyTKD_Read.html

Hapki!

Grand Master Jung’s 1st Visit to Pittsburgh, Pa.
The students of Komplete Martial Arts of Pittsburgh, Pa, had the great pleasure of meeting and training with Grand Master Jung, WHA President, on November 27, 2010.  We were also joined by Master Chuck Edwards of the “More Than Conquerors” Hapkido Martial Arts school. Training began at 10AM, GM Jung had us loosen up by getting some reps in rolling. We then began what was to be a progression from circle steps to sensitivity drills and the rudiments of our lock flow basics to almost the entire WHA curriculum up to black belt before the day was over. Grand Master Jung’s power and speed of execution was phenomenal. All of the attendees were extremely impressed with Grand Masters effortless movements while delivering such stunning techniques. We were also equally impressed by the well thought out and developed progressions that had us all up more than a few notches in our locks and take downs by the end of the day.
The other thing that impressed all attendees was the excellent person that Grand Master Jung is and how he taught as if we had all been his students for years. There was a lot of talk afterward about future WHA events and more great training.

The event ended at 4PM with the KMA students presenting Grand Master Jung with a plaque to remind him of how much we appreciate him.  I cannot say enough about the quality of all aspects of the WHA organization. It has left me with a renewed vigor to teach and train. I also want to thank Grand Master Jung for all of his time and insight during our conversations and personal training. I was also greatly honored when Grand Master Jung asked me to test for 3rd Dan at the upcoming 2011 WHA Summer Camp in Austria.  He has truly become a guiding force and new friend in the martial arts for me.

Hapki!
Live to Train - Train to Live
Master Joe Cosentino

The author of Ch'ang Hon Taekwon-do Hae Sul - Real Applications to the ITF Patterns: Vol. 1, 2 & 3. Stuart Paul Anslow, has a great new online Taekwon-Do magazine that I highly recommend that you add to your personal favorites.

Book of the month “A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do” By Alex Gillis
http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Art-Untold-History-Kwon/dp/1550228250/ref=pd_sim_b_1A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do

We are back from the World Hapkido Associations Summer Camp in Orlando Florida. Students who attended are Mr. Dave Endlich, Robbie Magee, Glenn Riddle and of course myself, Master C.

The event was held at a 8000 square foot facility with all you would need for almost any martial art training. There was black belt testing being held on Friday night which we went over to watch and it ended up that Supreme Grandmaster Whang invited us into a smaller room for a 2 hour private lesson there was only maybe 8 to 10 of us. I had never met SGM Whang and now I would never forget meeting him! He was absolutely phenomenal. 72 years young with kicks and punches that would stop a truck. His Hapkido techniques were absolutely pure, with very little effort he would toss us about like screaming rag dolls. His message was that techniques need to be a flowing movement and not just a technical 1-2-3 and lock then takedown. He use a flowing foot movement and subtle weight transfer that was almost imperceptible until he stopped and pointed it out to us.  He was also one of the greatest characters I have ever met in my life, just absolutely irreplaceable and funny. He had us lakeside the next morning at 7 AM for a lesson in Tan Jon breathing exercises, something I had been very interested in before but now I had a SGM teaching me its techniques. This man floated in his motions and had a very easy way to get to where you wanted to be in the breathing exercises. Isn't that how it always is, the most knowledgeable seem to know how to get straight to the point. 

We then were off to the Dojang for our 8 hour seminar with SGM Whang, GM Tae Jung and the rest of the WHA master instructors. This event was one of the most organized events of this kind I have ever attended, especially considering the large number of attendees. We were split up among four master instructors and sent off to four different training areas. My first station was with Grandmaster Jung. It was on rolls, locks and throws. GM Jung was every bit the student on SGM Whang, he again exhibited beautiful flowing movements as he tossed us around flowing from one lock to the next in an endless string of energy and pain(for us haha). He was meticulous in going over all the fine points of each lock and flow not forgetting the most important thing of all, the footwork. We exchanged techniques with our training partners and input from GM Jung for the better part of two hours. Then we sent off to station two which was grappling or BJJ. Again this class was run with expert guidance. We exchanged guard passes, rolling escapes, in the guard attacker punch control and some free sparring.

We then broke for about an hour. When we returned after lunch I was sent to train with GM Jung for 3rd Dan and above instructors, we focused on Korean weapons, the jang bong or five foot staff, jook-gum(aka kendo sword) and the mok-gum or bokken. GM Jung is also a Master with weapons specializing in Kumdo and jang bong. I absolutely loved this section of training almost as must as the lock flow drills. This portion of my training lasted about 2 more hours.

That evening we attended a WHA awards ceremony GM Jung was very gracious and invited me to sit with him and SGM Whang for dinner as well as the rest of the masters of the WHA. These people are genuinely nice people, all are very approachable and warm. The dinner was excellent as was the company. GM Jung gave our school and myself a very warm welcome and a gift of appreciation.

The next day we were off again at 7 for breathing exercises with SGM Whang then back to the Dojang for four more hours of flow drills and locks. When we bowed out SGM Whang gave each of us a warm handshake and a personal parting thought as well except Glenn he gave him one more takedown to remember him by. LOL

 I cannot say enough about the quality of all aspects of this organization if has left me with a renewed vigor to teach and train. I also want to thank Senior Master Piller for all his time and insight during our conversations, he has truly become a new friend in the martial arts for me.

Live to Train - Train to Live

WE ARE AT THE NEW SCHOOL!!!

It is a beautiful facility and I am just overwhelmed with excitement!  

So far the student and parents response has been the same and

I am sure we will be very happy in our new location.

Now lets all kick it up a notch and train!

Guro Melegrito’s Philippine Combative's Seminar … held July 17th, Hosted by Komplete Martial Arts / Master Joe Cosentino … a Great Workshop featuring Double Stick, Single Stick, Empty-Hands and Knife Training … Thanks to Guro Melegrito for an informative, fast-paced day of Filipino Martial Arts. Thanks to all the students who came out and made it a spectacular event. A special thanks to Mataas Na Guro Hal Deily for his attendance and support. It is not often that you will find a martial art that has such a brotherhood of learning and acceptance or a Master martial artist such as Master Deily that would come to a seminar of the same style.

I could only be in awe as these two great masters got it on and dazzled all of us with their skill and love for the art.

This Story is truly amazing and shows that if you really try that you CAN make a difference.

A real display of Indomitable Spirit! He is my inspiration and new personal hero!

Master C

Whitehall Boy, 8, Saves Sister From Abduction Attempt

4-Year-Old Girl's Brother Wrestles Her From Attacker

POSTED: 9:31 pm EDT May 16, 2010

UPDATED: 7:08 pm EDT May 17, 2010

MYRTLE BEACH, SC. -- Police in Myrtle Beach, S. C., credit the quick actions of a caring brother for saving a young girl from an attempted abduction.

Police are looking for the man who tried to abduct a 4-year-old girl vacationing from Pittsburgh. The girl’s mother, Erin Kuhns, of Whitehall, told Channel 4 Action News that on Friday, she was walking near the beach with her three children when her daughter, Josie, ran off.

Kuhns said she then told her son, Nathan, to run after the child. When the 8-year-old boy caught up with his sister, Nathan said he saw a man trying to drag the girl into his car.

"I screamed because of the fact someone was trying to pull her in the car and I went down there and beat the crap out of this guy," Nathan said of the rescue.

According to Erin Kuhns, the boy was able to wrestle his sister away from the would-be abductor.

“[Nathan] said, 'Mommy, I just kicked and I punched and I hit, and I just kept doing it,'” Kuhns told Channel 4 Action News’ Shannon Perrine Sunday. “[The man] kept grabbing her, and he kept pulling her and kept trying to put her back in the car.”

Nathan Kuhns was able to provide DNA evidence to police, because he scratched the man so severely.

Neither child was injured in the attempted abduction.

Myrtle Beach police have not made any arrests.

The family has since returned home from their vacation.

(Web site with video of 8 year old hero's story.)  http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/23573993/detail.html 

Hello students and friends,                             

     I have recently been inundated, as I know you have with all of the negative campaign ads that are constantly on the TV. You can’t sit down at any time to even watch the news without 10 minutes of news and 20 minutes of negative ads. I was very amused as I was listening to one negative ad, as the word “Wanna-be” was used. I had of course heard this phrase used before and wonderer where it had come from and how it came to be so negative in meaning. So I started to dissect it.

  I guess the most common use is to use it as a saying that indicates a person trying to be something they are not. Most often being said by someone who thinks that they themselves are a person who “Is” or an “I Already am”. Already achieving whatever it is that the “Wanna-be” must be after.

  So I thought more about the words or statement and what it means to me and how could these words have changed to become so negative.

  My earliest thoughts of “wanna-be” would have to go back to my childhood when I thought I “wanna-be” just like my Father.  Why?  Because my Father always seemed to be sticking up for the little guy, always fighting for whoever seemed to need help regardless of whether they were right or wrong. He also was one of the toughest human beings that I have personally ever known. Even now at 83 I would rather have him covering my back than anyone else. He is now and forever my all time I “Wanna-be”!!! 

  Moving through life I can think of dozens of other people I looked at and said that’s how I ”wanna-be”. Without a doubt, second to my father I truly “wanna-be” just like Guro Dan Inosanto. Why? Because he is the most talented yet humble martial artist I have ever known. Every time I train with him I see new things done with such skill I am always in awe. At the same time he constantly tells us to seek martial arts knowledge in everyway that we can, to take it all in then “Absorb what is useful and discard what is not”.

  I have been training in Kali twice a week for 7 years now under Mataas Na Guro Hal Deily a true disciple of Guro Dan. I still remember the first time that I went to train with Guro Dan. I was a black belt in Tae Kwon do and thought that I would just fit right in and be able to do whatever it was that these Kali people where doing. Man was I wrong.  I felt like a child in with giants. I thought I knew martial arts LOL! I knew nothing!!! Humbled beyond humble! Guro Dan was amazing and knew how many of us felt. I will never forget one thing that he said to us. He said “He admired that we could come to him as white belts because being able to be a white belt means that there is a new journey ahead and new things to be learned. He said when he meets someone that knows a martial art that he doesn’t makes him turn upside down inside like a kid on Christmas Day”. He said “He believed in going out and always learning new martial arts and in fact at his school it was a requirement”!

  Haha WOW! That’s what you call self-confidence and true love of the art!

  It is said that the student will know when he has met his “Master” I knew that I had met my Master… No more questions needed to be asked.

  So am I a “Wanna-be”? Yes, and I really can’t think of a better phrase to describe it.

  Now I don’t know much about politics and smear campaigns (I leave that to the politicians, corporations and unions) but I do know something about martial arts. So I thought about what do I have to compare this to, it came to me quickly. I remember an instructor who used the phrase “Wanna-be” often because he thought he fit into the ” I Already am” description pretty well. We all know the type. The “I know more in my little finger” and the “I forgot more than they will ever know”.

  His students listened to this type of talk as well as other negative comments about almost every other martial art for years. Unless you trained under him you didn’t “Earn” your belts and you where only a “Wanna-be”. Then came a day when this “Master” had an international test for his next rank and an opportunity to show everyone that he was an “I Already am”. A show of skills and knowledge for the martial art that he was a master of, to let his students and the world know this is what you should aspire to be!  A “Real Martial Artist”, “Earning your belt”, “Leading by example”… Unfortunately the “I Already am” “Master” failed to do this, in fact he failed in every way that a master of his type of martial arts could have. Embarrassing himself and his students. Of course he had excuses for his failure and of course it wasn’t long before this “Master” was once again calling people “Wanna-be's” and other names. He got his belt too.  So much for the “Earning it” and “Leading by example”.

  The story I have told you here is to emphasize that in real martial arts the truth will eventually come out, unlike in politics sometimes you get duped and you may never find out that the person wasn’t who they appeared to be. 

  One thing I can tell you is that being a “wanna-be” is all I “wanna-be” because I know that my Guro, Guro Dan is a “wanna-be” too. I would rather be the lowest “wanna-be” and be able and tell my students of all the things that I have learned about the martial arts. Training and traveling to meet new masters and learning new arts, than to be the highest ranked “I Already am” and end up as a “Never Was”.

Please my Students always be a “Wanna-Be”

Yours,
Joe Cosentino
Master Instructor
& Always a white belt. 

Check out Guro Deily’s new promo clip on You Tube with Sifu Cosentino and others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=booBjJOHDR0&feature=player_embedded#!

   I am happy to announce that KMA will once again be offering a Jiu Jitsu class. Jiu Jitsu is a requirement for the World Hapkido Assoc. program and a necessity in any self-defense program.

It will be offered as “Introduction to Jiu Jitsu” on Wednesday evenings at 6:30-7:15 beginning in July. The curriculum will include the WHA curriculum as well as dozens of techniques from BJJ America under Master David Meyer.  I was unable to grapple regularly for the last year because of my abdominal condition, but because of my recent surgery and it’s success, I am once again able to offer this class.  Master C  

Reminder: Please make sure to look at the upcoming Seminars and Events posted below. We already have a large number of students planning on attending the WHA event in Florida. The deadline is approaching and I want to make sure that you have all that you need to make it an experience to remember.

Live to Train and Train to Live!

Let's Restore the Dignity of a Black Belt

By Joe Lewis

      " In one aspect of what is called "martial arts", the MMA stuff, many Black Belts come across as heavily-tattooed, cartoon-looking hoodlums, who respect violence and feel free to curse and degrade others on national TV.

       The media completely ignored us during the early sixties but now seemingly only grant visibility to those who believe that it is in vogue to condone violence and/or that it is okay to send kids the message that adults accept the use of violence as a means to resolve problems. This is not the message that parents want their children exposed or taught to value. Just as "Pro Wrestling" is not real wrestling; in a way, perhaps, MMA is not real martial arts.

      Violence by definition is a loss of self-control. Martial arts teaches self-control; therefore, martial arts is not violent - people are. Guns do not kill others-people do.

      We must wake up, Black Belts are leaving the martial arts in droves. We must re-evaluate and grant dignity to the old definition of Black Belt." 

My thoughts on this

        It has been my experience that the bulk of the people that are looking to train in "MMA" are typically ages 17-35. Unfortunately their definition of MMA and mine are not the same. Theirs would be training in three or four different martial arts styles in an abbreviated manner so that they are capable of pummeling someone into oblivion in or out of a cage fight. Hummmmm?

     My definition of mixed martial arts is to train in two or three different martial arts in a very traditional way with the hopes of getting to Black Belt and then passing along your knowledge to others, philosophy and all.

     We do offer at KMA, MMA called Combative Essentials or the 5 Zones of Self-Defense (Not Fighting) but it is taught with self defense in mind and is typically our students learning how to put what they are learning in our traditional classes to use on the street in self-defense scenarios.

     Many times these MMA players have only intermediate belts in a system of traditional martial arts and sometimes no traditional training at all. Some only have really hard heads!

     Yes they are tough, yes they can fight but doing what's right in the real world, getting up and going to work, being a responsible parent, student, friend, spouse are more important and sometimes much tougher to do. These are the things that traditional martial arts teach along with the self-defense aspects and the physical fitness. Things that can be taken with you throughout your life.

     I would have to say that I couldn't agree more with Mr. Lewis' assessment of MMA and it's pollution of traditional Martial Arts.

Quote of the Month

"Martial Arts without Philosophy is just Street Fighting"
Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee

Inosanto Kali Strikes Again! Densel Washington gets his Martial Arts training from Guro Inosanto for the Book of Eli.

Check it out! Train in Kali only at KMA!

Quote:

Respond like an echo
Adapt like a shadow

Guro Dan Inosanto