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REGISTER FOR THIS YEARS EVENT MAY 16, 2009 AHF FIVE MASTER SEMINAR |
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REGISTER FOR THIS YEARS EVENT MAY 16, 2009 AHF FIVE MASTER SEMINAR |
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REVIEW OF THE 2008 American Hapkido Federation Five
Masters Live By Mike DeArruda On Saturday May 17, 2008 The American Hapkido Federation (AHF) held its annual Five Masters Live Seminar. Twenty six attendees from several different martial arts schools converged at the AHF Headquarters School, Royal Dragon Martial Arts in Brandon, Florida. The AHF Five Masters Live Seminars are unique as several Masters join together to share their knowledge in one location on one day. Leading off the program was AHF President Master Frank Ehnle. Master Ehnle's presentation was centered on punch defense. Techniques for defending against jabs, hooks, and lunging punches were presented. Master Ehnle displayed pressure point and brachial strikes, clearing/trapping and joint locks. Master Ehnle ended his presentation with knife defense techniques for defending against low and side knife attacks. The defenses are based on what Master Ehnle referred to as a "catcher’s mitt", blocking the attacker’s arm by overlapping your hands. Master Phil Peplinski followed with defense techniques using the "Wedge" concept, holding your arms at a 45 degree angle from your body with your hands up in a defensive position. Master Phil demonstrated wedge techniques from inside and outside as well as high/low using a split wedge. Master Phil stressed going on the offensive and "running over" your attacker by moving forward as you block an attack, utilizing forearm and elbow strikes to overwhelm your attacker. Master Phil wrapped up his segment with a gun defense technique. Master Frankie Ehnle demonstrated techniques from his MuKiDo traditional weapons program. Master Frankie began with the Bo Staff and featured releases and strikes from different stances such as neutral, underarm, and defensive. Horizontal, downward, upward, and overhead strikes were shown. Master Frankie finished up with nunchaku techniques. Figure 8s, continuous and up/down releases, catches and horizontal/upward/downward/jab strikes were demonstrated. After a lunch break, Grand Master Pedro Rodriguez began with drills to develop hand speed. Master Rodriguez stressed that to develop speed you should practice the drills 100 times slowly, 100 times at medium speed, and then 100 times at medium/fast speed before trying them at high speed. Master Rodriguez also stressed using a defensive technique as an opening go on the offensive. Brushing/popping, trapping, and pinning led to strikes and counterstrikes. Techniques were shown from both inside and outside sectors. Recently returned from a successful testing in Japan, Shihan Luis Santos wrapped up the day with Aikido techniques. Sensei Santos displayed techniques defending against grabs and punches utilizing flowing circular movements. Brush block and clearing techniques were used to create opportunities for strikes and locks. Sensei Santos finished up his portion of the program with a ground defense technique against a punch from a standing attacker that resulted in a takedown and a painful end (for the attacker) to the confrontation. Also attending the Seminar was Master Kent Pike. Grand Master Bram Frank also dropped by for a visit. A DVD of the seminar will be released at a future date. The DVD will be available for order on the AHF website. A DVD of the 2007 seminar is currently available. The hands on experience gained by attendees and the exposure to the Masters' varying styles and techniques as well as the Masters' camaraderie made the day memorable. It was truly a day of martial arts brotherhood/sisterhood.
American Hapkido Federation |
