Launceston Wushu-Sanda

21/03/2025

Chinese ideogram 武 - pronounced as Wu means martial.

The earliest ideograms of Wu that we have evidence of are found on Oracle bones/shells of Shang dynasty. (1600 BCE - 1046 BCE.

The ideogram is comprised of two symbols. One means avert/thwart/prevent. The other means Ge - a ancient pole arm used during Shang and Zhou dynasties. Implicitly, it denotes To deter/avert aggression.

There are many philosophical meanings in formations of Chinese ideograms.

14/01/2025

Learning and practising martial arts are not for everyone. And there are many people who have mentioned to me that they're really physically unfit, overweight etc and would like to shed kilos and improve their health and physical fitness. So a special course for those who are hoping to improve their health and physical fitness, I'll share participants the knowledge of dietary science, ideas on preparing delicious and healthy meals, and how improve one's physical fitness and physique. And in due time, every participants should be able to develop a more trimmed and tomed physique. Perhaps even find this routine rather attainable.

14/01/2025

Here's an invitation to anyone who would like to

1. Train Taekwondo at competitive, elite level that match the competitive levels of major Australian cities, or even at national and international level.

2. Train Sanda-Wushu. More about Sanda later on. Put it simply, Sanda is analogous is MMA.

My priority is Sanda because Sanda is very practical. Basically, think of Sanda as a combination of
1. Boxing
2. Taekwondo
3. Gongfu
4. Muay Thai
5. Shuaijiao/Wrestling

Sanda for practical skills.
Taekwondo for those wanting to enters competitions/tournaments. Perhaps representing Team Australia.

I have competed in international level. And had trained Launceston based athletes to beat competitors from Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Geelong to win Gold medals at their respective category.

14/01/2025

Whenever people talk about intelligence, people seem to narrowly refer to information acquisition, ie. via book learning only. That's a very narrow scope. I much prefer Howard Gardner's ideas because broadens the scope of the definition of intelligence by listing 8 categories of intelligence.

The conventional education methods too often focus too narrowly on nook learning, neglecting other aspects of intelligence. That's what I hope to cover above and beyond nook learnings.

29/06/2024

Start good dietary habits from when they're very little. Otherwise, they'll grow up to develop metabolic syndrome in their 30s or earlier.

09/04/2024

Remember I mentioned to everyone on several occasions that robustness of skeletomuscular and cardiovascular systems are very important? And that I invited all students and parents to join us for free sessions whereby we meet at the Royal Park to do some calisthenics, agility and mobility exercises? And then we would go for a walk up Zigzag Track to the Fist Basin, and then walk back via the flatter track on the north bank of the river?

My main intentions were so that the kids (and parents also) would have a stronger skeletomuscular and cardiovascular systems so that when they grow into adulthood, they would less likely to become obese,less likely develop type 2 Diabetes, osteoporosis, having to undergo heart bypass surgery, hypertension, chronic backaches/knee-pains, and clusters of various physical ailments, including kidney problems, before their 42nd birthdays. And I haven't included various afflictions on mental health.

Development of certain life habits would aid a child in coping with trials of life better without having to turn to 'recreational/illicit' drugs as coping mechanism or descend into long term dependence on pharmaceutical products just to keep one alive and/or functional.

05/04/2024

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Jhoon Rhee, often referred to as the "Father of American Taekwondo," was born on January 7, 1932, in Korea. He began his martial arts training at a young age, studying under some of the most respected masters of the time. In 1956, Rhee moved to the United States to further his education, earning a degree in political science from Texas A&M University.

During his time in the United States, Rhee recognized a growing interest in martial arts but noticed a lack of organized instruction. Determined to change this, he became one of the first instructors to introduce Taekwondo to the American public. In 1962, he opened his first Taekwondo school in Washington, D.C., laying the foundation for what would become a martial arts empire.

Rhee's innovative approach to teaching, which emphasized not only physical skill but also mental discipline and character development, quickly gained popularity. He became known for his dynamic demonstrations and his famous motto, "Nobody bothers me, I don't bother anybody, but if somebody bothers me, I'll finish them." This mantra encapsulated Rhee's philosophy of using martial arts for self-defense and personal empowerment rather than aggression.

Throughout his career, Rhee made significant contributions to the development and promotion of Taekwondo in the United States. He organized tournaments, authored instructional books, and trained numerous students who went on to become influential figures in the martial arts world.

Jhoon Rhee's impact on Taekwondo and martial arts cannot be overstated. He played a crucial role in popularizing Taekwondo in the United States and ensuring its growth and recognition as a respected martial art worldwide. His legacy continues to inspire martial artists of all ages and backgrounds, emphasizing not only physical prowess but also the importance of integrity, perseverance, and self-improvement.

25/03/2024

I have trained in several combat arts. And have trained people in Taekwondo, Boxing, Muay Thai, Arnis/Kali, Shaolin Qinnashou.
Because of tournament rules and other reasons, various very useful techniques are not taught in mamy disciplines. Eg. This is a very useful technique. But it isn't allowed in many disciplines. I will teach this to my students when their skills have reached certain level. There are also many throwing, tripping and sweeping techniques that aren't taught in Muay. That's why I decided to use the term Sanda because it is more encompassing.

That is why
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31/12/2023

It will be 2024 in a few hours. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a prosperous, rewarding, happy new year ahead.

If there's any message that I'd like to.convey, it would be 'Apply yourself. Do your best. If your best aren't as good as other's, that's OK. Because you have applied yourself. You have tried. If your best happens to surpass all your peers in Tasmania, that's even better. However, that will result in some people, possibly some in your immediate family, hating you because of your achievements. Regardless, don't let those jealousy, snide remarks, negative noises affect you. Keep being yourself. If your self is one that keeps achieving excellence. And that you're not harming anyone.

Keep attaining excellence. Even if others hating you because of your extraordinary achievements.

Best wishes to you all.

30/12/2023

https://youtube.com/shorts/x-eRxuqRlTs?si=j_T612eUrnpgqKyn

From "Panel Discussion and Closing Remarks - 2015 COAST/SSEW Symposium"

13/12/2023

When I started the public Sanda Wushu course in early February this year, I noticed kids of today aren't the same as kids I grew up with, that I observed when I was that age. After few months of observations, I wondered if there is a sudden rise in the percentage of kids with Dyspraxia.

I observed that certain things that my daughter attempted and was able to do before she was 2½ years in age kids in grade 1, grade 3, even grade 6 found too daunting and couldn't bring themselves to do it. Such as climbing up some parts of playground. And then there were certain movements that Grace used to challenge me to do when she was 4 that I found some grade 7 & 8 couldn't do. Some outright refused to even attempt doing some movements.

Upon asking some parents some questions, I then realised that many parents, in their overzealous attempt to protect their children from injuries, had stymied their children's natural instincts to explore what they could physically do before they could even speak. Hence natural development of various natural abilities of various physical movements of some children were curtailed. Hence what should come naturally and freely in most children were stymied, curtailed, prevented from developing. Hence what should be children's natural drive were purged from their systems. With that the believe in their own physical capabilities and courage to attempt were smothered and thus never given opportunities to develop physically and mentally. With that, they lost the courage to take on even the most basic risks and fearful of even slightest challenges. Opting to NOT even try. Perhaps the fear of failure was/is too overwhelming. That reminds me of part of the film Shawshank's Redemption - that some kids' natural abilities, not that dissimilar to the long term inmates, are locked up, prevented from ever developing. And their minds and self-belief are locked up, imprisoned, institutionalised, prevented from going outside of the walls that are imprisoning them. But because some kids are so used to not being allowed to do some of the most basic challenges, due to perhaps overprotectiveness on the parts of those who brought them up, their inner-beings are used to being locked up in the confines of their safe zones. The fear of failure gets so crippling that they are unwilling to try anything due to their fear that they could fail.

Fortunately, some kids managed to overcome their fear and conquer certain challenges. In the process, building up their musculoskeletal system, as well as self-belief. And with better developed spatial awareness and skills, they lower risks of accidents when one day.they learn to drive and actually go about their lives in a world that is dominated by automobiles.

Most people know what they are. But they know NOT what they can be. Many are content to be imprisoned by invisible prisons others have set up to contain them, either out of love and care for them, or they are daunted by the unknown. Including the fear that.they might excel and shine.

20/11/2023

Decades ago I started learning Judo in the University of Adelaide Judo Club when the university started in February. I could only attend Friday trainings because on Tuesdays I taught Taekwondo in the University of South Australia Taekwondo Club that I founded.

I attended lesson 2 & 4. And then missed the following two weeks. By week 5, during my 3rd lesson, it was already lesson 10. It was then that I experienced my first ever Randori. As luck would have it, my first ever Randori I was placed against a man with a robust built who was around 1.9m tall. His chin was over my forehead. He was a tradie.

That day when I arrived at Dojo, I saw two strongly built men talking to each other. My initial thought was, "I hope I don't have to lock horns against them." Because one was 127kg, the other was 122kg. I overheard their conversation. And they both have strong built.

As luck would have it, the duo were also White belt. And then came time for Randori happened. And that was my first ever Randori. And I was places against Brad, the 1.9m tall 127kg tradie, that tall, strong man, Understandably, he took me lightly. Placing his huge hand on the top of my head and pushed my head about and laughed. Frustrated, I crouched lower and lunged forward, and tossed his both legs upward and he crashed onto the mat. And he was angry. Really angry.

I was 172cm, 64kg, vs a powerfully built tradie about 190cm, 127kg - 128kg. The disparities in mass, height, strength were enormous. So I could only turned to agility, speed and accuracy.

That is why I emphasize so much on building up one's overall strength, agility and sensitivity to subtle changes in opponent's physical stance and intention.

After that incident, I was placed in the Yellow and Orange belts group. And then one more Randori with a very vigorous Orange belt man with very competitive attitude. Something happened that startled the whole Dojo. And I was told to sit by the side and no more Randori for me until the lesson ended. After the class was dismissed, the Black belts asked me to stay back, because they wanted to have Randori against me.

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