Arrowhead Martial Arts Studio Blog

WELCOME TO MY MARTIAL ARTS BLOG! Keep up to date on all the latest news, tips and ideas from Arrowhead Martial Arts Studio by subscribing to my RSS feed or you can receive email updates right to your inbox. Thanks for visiting! -- Ryan Wheaton

I was going through some boxes the other day and came across a small notepad I carried with me to classes and seminars with Mr. Mills. It was fun to flip through and see all of the things that he taught. One of the entries was for a seminar Mr. Mills gave in Jackson Hole, WY circa 1995. I had to laugh as the drills that Mr. Mills taught at this seminar, hosted by Mr. Herb Padigimus, were in fact foundation of many of our yellow belt techniques today in the AKKI. It was fun to review and think about how many seminars I’ve attended with Mr. Mills (I stopped counting at 50) and all of the information he’s given over the years.

Write thoughts, ideas, and even quotes down after class and any seminars you take. Keep track of your testing dates and who was in the test with you. Be sure to also write down your own thoughts as they will help you make stronger connections within the art, faster.

I personally have four large binders full of notes full of concepts, principles, and ideas I’ve learned over the years. To me, this information is priceless as I can refer to it for decades to come. It’s amazing to go back and read an idea that was taught 12 years ago and how relevant it still is today.

If you’re not documenting your martial arts journey already, I suggest you start!

Social Bookmark This Post!

Mr. Mills has always said not become a “pattern junkie” with our Kenpo techniques. But what does that mean? To me, it means there are far more important things to work on and internalize than to sit around collecting self defense techniques (forms, sets, etc). In the end, it’s not a contest of who knows more.

Techniques are case studies for us to learn, experience, dissect and try to internalize. They are a means to an end. At some point, however, we need to be free of the techniques. While it’s true we do need to first learn them so we can absorb the concepts, principles, and movements, we don’t want to forever be bound by them.

Remember, it’s not how much you know, it’s what you can do with what you know.

Social Bookmark This Post!

I hope you all enjoyed our workouts last week where our theme was “becoming spontaneous.” Remember, it’s not how much you know, but rather, it’s what you can do with what you know that matters most. Hopefully our training has opened your eyes to what you need to work on and why it’s best to “keep it simple.” If we don’t practice to become spontaneous with what we know, it won’t magically appear in the street when we need it. We must diligently and purposefully practice how we want to respond in the street in order to make it a reality. That’s why we’re spending so much time working on this topic lately. The drills and exercises we did only scratch the surface of things to come so we’ll see you in class as we continue to learn to spontaneously put what we know to the edges of our hands and feet.

See you in class!

Social Bookmark This Post!

This week our theme has been to go “back to basics.” After all, everything we do is just a combination of basics. You just can’t practice them enough and form the bedrock of the system and your ability to execute the art to your full potential. To this day, almost twenty years after taking up martial arts, I still spend a good deal of time just working one or two basics at a time to really hone in on things (for example, a back knuckle strike in a neutral bow). However, many Kenpoists spend their time just working multiple combinations at a time. While that is certainly something you should do, it’s not the only thing. Be sure to spend the time to isolate one or two basics. As discussed in class, spend a good chunk of your personal practice time on things that matter most (i.e. master Keys) that apply to the greatest number of elements in the system to help get you the furtherest, the fastest.

Social Bookmark This Post!

I just got back from the AKKI Camp and wanted to give everyone a quick update.

First, it was great to have so many people there attending the camp. Thank you to all who made it. For those who didn’t, start saving your nickels and dimes for the next one! I will post the dates of the next camp as soon as they’re available.

Second, congratulations to Christine, Jess and Rex on their advancement to 2nd degree brown belt. Next stop, black belt! You represented our studio well and, as always, you did an outstanding job out on the test.

Third, I can’t believe all of the “secrets” that were taught in the seminars. There were definitely some things let out of the bag, as it were. I know I came back with a ton of notes on new ideas and things to work on.

Fourth, the banquet was outstanding. The slide show that Mr. Jacob put together was fun to watch. There were a ton of photos from 1966 on up of Mr. Mills and Mr. Parker. I even made it in a few of them. I will post some of these photos at some point. For some reason, everyone seemed to like the one of Mr. Mills putting my head through the wall … I wonder why that is?!

I will be posting photos and details of the event shortly to our website. More soon!

Social Bookmark This Post!

As an adult, it’s easy to get caught up in the cycle of procrastination. Everyday life seems to interfere with everything we do making it difficult for us to get everything done in a day we want to get done. We seem to have too much work to do and are always working late. We’re running from errand to errand. We rarely eat at home anymore and are always on the move. If you’re like this, perhaps it’s time to consider regaining control and start adding some balance to your life.

Martial arts can help restore that delicate inner balance you’re longing for in your life. Following are some of the common reasons people take martial arts as adult:

1 - Gain more self confidence. What you learn in a martial arts class directly impacts your ability to project yourself with confidence in your everyday life and can help minimize your chances of becoming a victim. Attackers look for easy prey. Not those who have the confidence to stand up to them.

2 - Keep your mind razor sharp. By memorizing new routines, movements and vocabulary, you’ll keep your mind sharp and in focus. Martial Arts can also help you concentrate better which can help you to be more productive at work or at school.

3- Become more physically fit. With martial arts training, you’ll not only gain cardiovascular endurance, you’ll also start toning up your body and losing some of those unwanted inches.

4 - Learn to protect yourself. Walk the streets with confidence knowing you could protect yourself and/or your family if necessary. Be sure to study a martial art that teaches you modern day martial arts that teaches a wide variety of ideas and tactics.

5 - Reduce stress levels. We all carry it in our shoulders and necks. The pressures of deadlines and home life can sometime make things incredibly tense. Give yourself an outlet that will allow you to release the stress that everyday life can cause you. When you start training on a regular basis, it’s amazing at how much your worries and frustrations can be minimized.

If you know you’re ready to take the next step and begin taking martial arts lessons, I recommend you read my free guide on how to select the best martial arts studio for you. If you’re ready to try my studio’s free trial program for adults, be sure to contact me for the latest dates and times.

Social Bookmark This Post!

We will be closed on November 24, 2006 for Thanksgiving. We will also not be having class on December 26, 28 and January 2, 2007. Classes will resume on January 4, 2007.

Social Bookmark This Post!

What is the best martial art to take to learn solid, practical streetwise self-defense? People have long since asked this question.

The thing to keep in mind is that not all martial arts are created equally. And a while a short self-defense class is a good idea for those without a lot of time, it will only give you some basic moves and not a lot of time to internalize them. It’s just not a magic bullet.

As for taking a particular martial art, the reality is that most were designed for situations that were prevalent in ancient history. However, with the widespread social and cultural changes that have taken place, many martial arts are now out of date.

We no longer live in a time when people ride on horses so we must learn to kick high. There isn’t a ban on weapons so we aren’t forced to learn how to use farm tools to protect ourselves. Our attackers aren’t likely to be wearing any armor. And, last I checked, no one was walking around ready to do battle with a sword.

The times change and we must change with them.

With that said, there are obviously some martial arts that have been “updated” and offer a modern approach towards self-defense. However, that doesn’t mean that the system they teach will make you more prepared on the street. It must also include training that facilitates reflexive response and also give you the tools to have the mindset to do what must be done.

Today, people carry knives, guns, mace and more. They also may have been trained in Boxing, Wrestling or some other type of Karate. To ignore these threats and believe one can defend against them without actually addressing them in ones training is asking for disaster.

If you don’t start with a solid modern day system that gives you the physical and psychological tools to spontaneously respond to threats that DO happen now-a-days, you’re not going to be fully prepared should you be confronted on the street. While it can be interesting to learn to learn historical arts, get you into shape, and can be fun to learn … it doesn’t mean it is the best martial art to teach you streetwise self-defense. My advice, do your research and find a place that covers the bases described in this post.

Social Bookmark This Post!

When executing any sequence, whether it be offensive or defensive, it is important to have a bracing angle. According to Master Ed Parker, here is the definition of a Bracing Angle:

The positioning of the body to strengthen and support the execution of a defensive or offensive move in anticipation of impact upon contact.

A simple example of a bracing angle is in the American Kenpo self defense techinque “Attacking Mace” where you’re driving off the rear foot as you execute a pivot punch to your opponents ribs after executing a left inward block to the outside of a right straight punch. Without this bracing angle, your strike wouldn’t have near the desired effect and would create a “disharmony of force” where your body and strike are going one way and your stance another.

Be sure to plant your foot and that it is in alignment with your body and strike for maximum effect. Remember, this applies to more than just your strikes so look for other areas where this can be applied.

Social Bookmark This Post!

All of the seminar titles (and the instructors teaching them) have just been posted to the AKKI website just moments ago. View the camp schedule (PDF). Let me know if you have any questions on which seminars to take while at the camp.

See you at the camp on Friday!

Social Bookmark This Post!