First, more books republished.
There’s a list of them at the bottom of this newsletter.
Second, I’m back on linkedin.
Somebody stole my site
and I had to jump through hoops,
but it looks like it is under my authorship once again.
Third,
here’s an article I wrote a while ago,
which has not been available
except through buying
The Biggest Martial Arts Lesson of All!
which is a ten volume collection of my articles.
Lord,
I’m going to have to republish the whole ten volumes!
But,
enjoy this one,
and I’ll be putting them in the newsletter.
Here go…
Hey Mate! What’s Yer Kenpo System?
Maybe you remember that great scene in Enter the Dragon where the bad guy asks ‘What’s yer style’ of Bruce Lee? As over the top as that statement appears, it points up the differences of arts, and how confusing such a thing as lineage can be. In no art is this as true as in the art of Kenpo.
Many people think Ed Parker created the style of Kenpo, but he actually only popularized it. And, to be honest, he more than likely added to the confusion of the art. He created something like five different versions, and he drew from Karate and Kung Fu and whatever happened to be on his mind that day.
Kenpo got its start in Japan. There is some confusion as to the correct spelling, some people saying Kenpo, and some saying Kempo. Kenpo usually refers to martial arts stemming from China, and Kempo refers to the more Japanese oriented arts.
There is confusion on this point as there is not agreement. Further, there is not always common lineage. That said, Kenpo, although believed to mean ‘Fist Law,’ is actually ‘Quanfa,’ which means Kung Fu.
The main types of the Kenpo in the USA come from James Mitose. Master Mitose is sometimes a controversial teacher, for he was tried and convicted of murder and extortion. He served his time in Folsom Prison.
Mr. Mitose taught William Chow, who taught Ed Parker. Mr. Parker, as has been described, popularized the art of Kenpo. Students of Mr. Chow include Adriano Emperado, Ralph Castro, Sam Kuaho, and others.
Names of the arts taught by these people include Shaolin Kenpo, Kajukenpo, American Kenpo, Kara-Ho Kempo, and many other arts. There is an abundance of secondary students who were taught by these people. Kenpo has also continued to grow conceptually, drawing from many other arts for kata, self defense applications, and so on.
Though Kenpo grew at a tremendous pace, and though the lineage is sometimes difficult to follow, as is the art itself, there is much value in it. Many people ‘wet their feet’ in the convenient ‘Strip Mall Dojos,’ and then continue their studies elsewhere. Still, to define the true system of kenpo, and to list the roots and influences that resulted in that art can be a daunting task.
Matrix Kung Fu…Monkey Boxing, simplifies and condenses Chinese Kenpo Karate. Head on over over to Monster Martial Arts and make sure you pick up a free book while you’re there.
Got lots of things today,
including a PHEEEnominal win from a Monkey Boxer.
So…
LET’S START!
First,
it is the month of HanaKwanMass,
and I should explain that to all you newbies
who only joined the newsletter in the last year.
HanaKwanMass stands for…
Hanukkah, Kwanza, and Christmas.
Political correctness is for idiots,
if somebody says Happy Kwanza to me,
I say Happy Kwanza back.
Skin color, religion,
those are just distinctions for the ignorant.
We all bleed red,
and I don’t care what you call your viewpoint
of the Supreme Power.
So
HanaKwanMass,
I reach everybody,
or offend everybody,
and the heck with political correctness.
Second,
the path of the martial arts
involves making a person intuitive.
So they don’t have to think,
but do the right thing,
without thinking about it,
automatically.
What matrixing does is do this FAST.
Look,
there’s a lot to matrixing,
and that’s because the martial arts have had a lot done to them.
People,
well meaning instructors,
have obscured the real arts.
They have hidden the path to intuition.
Matrixing merely cleans up the field,
derails mysticism
with scientific observation,
and heaping helpings of logic.
One of the first things I ever wrote about Matrixing…
If you want to teach somebody how to count,
you wouldn’t say…
4, 7, green, 5 elephant…and so on.
You would say…
1…2…3…4…
and so on.
The martial arts, because of politics,
religion, nationalism, personal interest,
and so on,
are a mixed mesh up of…
4, 7, green, 5 elephant…and so on.
Matrixing returns the art to the logic of 1…2…3…4…and so on.
But there’s so much more,
there is the intense scrutiny of basics,
the rearranging of form,
the alignment of techniques,
and the presentation of a scientific philosophy
so that people no longer get lost in the mysticism.
Unfortunately,
people who aren’t too smart,
can’t let go of the mysticism,
and they resist matrixing.
Invariably,
they haven’t studied it,
but they sure know how to badmouth it.
So,
third,
here’s a win.
It is a spectacular win,
comes from a Monkey Boxing student.
And I should say something about this.
Matrixing presents the logic,
can be applied to any art.
Monkey Boxing is me teaching.
I use matrixing,
and all the tools at my disposal.
You might see a drill I learned in the Kang Duk Won
45 years ago.
You might see a translation from Wing Chun to Aikido,
that I worked on 40 years ago.
You might see something I made up yesterday
to help one student make the leap
from the hard grind of repetition
to the joy of intuition.
It goes this way and that,
an intuition of teaching,
and I have no way of judging
whether my instincts are correct.
So to get a win like this
really makes my day.
Here’s the win…
Al,
I don’t have room here to say this big enough or joyfully enough— but if I did, I’d put a HUGE big “Whoopee!!”
I’ve finally been through the first few videos of the Monkey Boxing course. I have a habit of watching all I have- this from a learning technique I picked up years ago called “super-learning” and it basically says to learn anything- first skim over the material, which creates a ‘sense of familiarity’ to the information. I’ve done that. I have been left on CLOUD 9.
I was injured in an accident in 99– got mashed between two HUGE trucks– my 16 ton tow truck and a 9,000 pound Ford Excursion SUV…. and after that, I took almost 3 years to learn just to walk semi-normally again and I still limp. Lately, I’ve had more “arthritic” effects and stiffening as a result. The other effect it had on me is, for some reason, and no doctors have been able to tell me why- I’ve lost a LOT of memories of my life. I can put all my past memories probably in a two or three hour video if I could transfer my thoughts to video. My 5th degree black belt in Kenpo- for instance– is GONE. I know it did it, and every so often get a little “glimpse” of things but doesn’t stay with me. My bodyguard years- I have a few memories of that- and even the last few years since the accident, most of the past part is just not there.
I’m telling you this because I wanted to get back into a martial art- more for self- defense than the “art” part. I’m 60, not in good health at all, but want to learn to take care of myself.
What I found, just watching the first 14 videos (for some reason I missed 13- which I’ll get when my internet is back on- my data limit ran out).. was that it IS exactly as you said– SO INTUITIVE!! It’s a truly NATURAL grouping of actions and motions- and I easily flow with it. I’m So excited, I could scream– probably will a bit later!! 🙂
I have begun, and will have to work consistently and SLOWLY, and let it build on its own. I can see myself doing it all- very slowly- and with dynamic tension to get the motions correct and build the muscles for that particular move as the same time- then over time the drills will build the motion back into my muscle memory (which hopefully will stay with me since they ARE natural- logical motions). I don’t know how long it will take me to learn and get really good at this- and don’t really CARE– because I KNOW it works- my “spirit” says it WORKS… and my mind KNOWS it works- because it is NATURAL/LOGICAL and REAL. I’ve already put my Kenpo books, cds., and other stuff I was looking at BACK in storage– and won’t be needing them. I’m not interested in spending another 5+ years just learning something that is NOT right for me anyway. And I love that just doing the Forms is the only realy “workout” I need. I DO a workout- have begun recently- called 7 miracle tiger moves.. which is dynamic tension in motion.. and LOVE them- they are very effective and are working. I can just AD this system to my routine and learn Monkey boxing while “working out” at the same time!! I LOVE this.
You can’t possibly KNOW just how happy this has made me. I have no one to work out with–and the forms will take care of that. Later, once I’m settled where ever I go- I want to get a dummy and stuff to work out on. I’ll probably teach it to someone close by once I get settled too.
I DO have a lousy internet right now, though– it’s wirless through Net Zero– which is a good service– but the “hotspot” I got from them is crappy. It’s a pad that I use for hotspot- and most of the time it kicks out right in the middle of whatever I”m doing- and I have to shut everything down and start over… and the signal strength is weak- so it doesn’t pick up well at all when it’s cloudy. I’m ordering a better “hotspot” later- like Jan. (my check this time is already spent on my truck).. Until then- I’m hoping all the videos you post are ARCHIVED– because I will miss from now to about the 5th… That is why I want to DOWNLOAD them all to my hard drive– because I use up “data” limit time watching them directly and can’t do them over and over like here at home.
I thought I would have loads of questions– but don’t- because it IS so “intuitive” and natural (or maybe the kenpo and tai chi is still in there helping with that somewhere- just unconsciously).. and I just LOVE this.. I was seriously looking at JKD online, and Wing chun online– etc.– but not now– I’m Doing MONKEYBOXING totally!! Forget all that other long time stuff!! 🙂
Anyway- hope this wasn’t too long- but just wanted you to know- I have FOUND my “niche” in this!!! THANK YOU.
David C
pS– There’s NO WAY I can possibly do the Monkey in a Box for a bit– I have trouble getting up and down out of a regular chair lately… but I’m working on it.. and I’ve always had this “feeling” in me that there was “an answer” or a “secret” to ALL martial arts– and this is it!!
David,
thank you very much for the win.
Thank you for allowing me to share this,
I know it will inspire people.
And,
for all you guys and gals.
David’s points are very simple…
anybody can learn it,
it is intuitive,
it can be learned fast…
or slow.
Depends on what you need and want.
And,
I don’t wish to replace anybody’s arts,
but that sometimes happens.
I actually prefer that you take my material
and revitalize your own art of choice.
Here’s the key,
matrixing breaks apart and rebuilds,
it makes logic, and logic becomes intuitive.
Monkey Boxing is me teaching.
I teach matrixed art,
and I draw on ALL my experiences
to get the student to experience ALL of his abilities.
Now,
those of you who have signed up for Monkey Boxing,
you’ll get a Monkey Boxing newsletter shortly
giving you the heads up on the new videos,
and other things that are happening on the site.
Here’s two links…
http://monstermartialarts.com/martial-arts/matrix-karate/
starts the matrixing path…
and…
http://monkeyboxingnow.com/internet/
a page I’m trying out
to gear to ads on the internet.
Why would I recommend those?
Because those three forms
focus on grounding,
and dedicated hand motion.
All three forms teach one how to move in any direction,
and yet keep your ground,
and use that ground in your hand techniques.
There is a tremendous swirl of energy
up the body in those three forms.
And,
the energy is easily manifest in the hands,
and the hands,
almost perfectly fit the ‘slap-grab’ concepts
which are outlined in Binary Matrixing.
This is not to say the forms of classical Karate aren’t good,
they are,
but they are ten,
and the request was for three.
And,
this doesn’t mean Shaolin isn’t good,
but Shaolin spreads out over a number of concepts.
And,
why not Matrixing?
There are three forms in Matrixing?
Because the purpose of matrixing
is to put logic in the martial arts.
What good is all that knowledge
if you can’t apply it to a variety of martial arts,
to more than three forms?
So I was sort of caught,
hoist with my own petard,
I believe it is called.
I wanted to say matrixing more than anything,
but if you only had three forms,
then those are the three.
They give more internal energy,
contain more face to face,
hand to hand combat.
And,
I can’t resist,
I would recommend the iron horse
(kima shodan/tekki 1)
as a fourth form.
Just because it causes
oodles and oodles of pure energy.
Anyway,
that all said,
the reason the question was so good,
so appropriate,
was because when I write a book
I always think it is the best.
You have to, or why write?
So I think a book is the best,
but it may or may not be,
I have to wait to see what people say.
And the idea that one could study only three forms,
aligned with my purpose
in the Tiger/Butterfly book.
My purpose,
as always,
is to put together
a better martial arts system.
Each time I sit down to write,
I am thinking,
how can I make this better,
how can I formulate what I’ve done,
into better and better art.
How can I give people the purest information
to cause them the quickest progress,
and the most profound experience
in the martial arts.
So if the question had been,
what seven forms,
then I would have rejoiced mightily.
But…
three forms.
Zowie.
What a question.
You guys feel free to consider your choices.
Put them in the comments for this newsletter
at monstermartialarts.com.
Hey,
again,
thanks for purchasing
the Tiger and Butterfly book (amazon)
Thank you to everyone who has purchased the Tiger and Butterfly Martial Arts System.
A complete Martial Arts System! ~ Click on the cover!
If you want videos of the forms, if you want to expand your understanding of the two systems from which this system came, check out the Matrix Karate and Shaolin Butterfly courses.
Don’t forget to leave a good review on Amazon.
Okay, here’s some stuff about martial arts drills.
When somebody is training a person, maybe to close distance, they might set them up a few feet from a bag/wall/whatever, and have them practice shuffling forward.
You shuffle and shuffle, people get tired and go do some boxing.
Hey, it’s true. People don’t understand the classical, get tired of the grind, they want to fight, so they go somewhere where people do more fighting and less drilling.
But the drilling is crucial. The martial arts are like a wall, the bottom bricks need to be firmly in place before a student can build the wall higher. So you have to practice these basic drills, and build the basic building blocks.
So, you are drilling, practicing closing with the wall, trying to get the time from launch to impact to disappear. And you are making a crucial error.
There are two directions to a line, and no matter which direction you are going, both directions are important.
Watch a person start to walk from a standing still position. chances are they lean backward so they can push a foot out. It’s true, they unbalance themselves, so they can fall forward. They go in two directions to go in one. A most inefficient method for starting the motion of walking. But, if you watch the martial arts, you will see the most amazing examples of similar inefficiency. People just don’t know how to get started.
The correct method is to bend the legs slightly, and cause yourself to lean forward, into the motion, by thinking about it.
And, if you are going to close distance in the martial arts, you need to set your stance so the ‘wave’ of your legs can be properly unleashed, and every part of the body can contribute to the forward motion.
CBM, Coordinated Body Motion, put to work in the simple act of walking.
Now, if you are not guilty of unbalancing yourself to walk, if you are already engaged in CBMing to walk, then let me give you a further example.
Do both the hard and the soft!
I had a group of students attempt to close distance. They would shuffle and punch, and they were abysmally slow. And they didn’t even like it.
So after a few minutes of springing forward, I had them play a game. I had them move forward, extend a forearm for the grabbing, and spring back when their opponent grabbed.
This put a whole new excitement into the drilling. This made the student think backwards, even as he was going forwards.
Then I had them do the original exercise, and they were shocked at how they had improved at closing distance.
Try it for yourself. Drill one way, then set up the opposite direction, then go back to the original direction, it won’t be long before you are faster.
And, the drill can be used quite gloriously when it comes to freestyle. You can set up different targets, move them into range, retreat with verve, and, here’s a kicker, set up a counter to attack. And you will be most excellent at the counter, because you are adept at moving in both directions. You haven’t gotten bored with going only in one direction, which breaks the concept of yin and yang, of opposites in the universe, and have become adept at the whole motion.
This drilling, incidentally, is the product of neutronics.
Matrixing provides logic. Gives understanding to the whole picture. But who is doing the martial art? You. That is what neutronics is about. And in this case, you are taking advantage of the two directions of a line, and training in both directions, to fully understand one direction.
Most people only train in one direction.
Here’s a neutronic datum for you:
The purpose of the martial arts is to deliver a force or flow while avoiding a force or flow.
How are you going to accomplish that purpose if you don’t understand the martial arts in, at least, two directions? How are you going to master the hard, if you don’t understand the context of soft from which it comes? And how are you going to master the soft, if you don’t understand the contact of hard from which it comes?
So, I say it again, if you know Karate, or TKD or Kenpo, or some other hard art, then you need to learn Aikido, or TCC, or some other soft art. Only if you understand two directions, will you master one.
The new Martial Arts book is called ‘Tiger and Butterfly,’ and it’s pretty darned good.
click on the cover!
If you look at the title, and you have done any matrixing, then you can see that I have used portions of the Matrix Karate course, and portions of the Shaolin Butterfly.
This was interesting, because I didn’t want to fall into the trap of having systems disagree. I wanted the concepts to build on each other, not work against each other.
In a way, there is a certain similarity between Tiger and Butterfly and the MCMAP books I wrote.
The similarity is in the arrangement of material. This had to be, because when you make a system, certain things have to be done, certain rules have to be followed, certain principles have to be included, and all the way up the belt levels.
One of the reasons I wrote this book is because I visited a few schools, and I saw how the modern schools have let forms and techniques fall by the way. They work on freestyle, on fighting. The students get better, but they can’t do certain things. For instance, they don’t understand how to take a punch. And, they have limited knowledge concerning what happens when you complete the circle (cycle) of a technique.
The system has eight belts, white yellow orange purple blue green brown black
There are no degrees. Each belt is designed to be done in about three months. Brown belt might take longer, but the material on the brown level is pretty advanced.
When done, the student will have those liquid kicks, those floating kicks that look so light, but knock down a elephant. They should be able to take any kind of a punch. They will be able to freestyle with authority, and make a grab art out of any technique. They will have knowledge. Real knowledge. Not just the fast reflexes of freestyle, but a complete body knowledge, how the body is constructed, how to tweak it for more energy, how to construct it for total effectiveness.
I want you to think about something. When you study matrixing, there are several courses, and I recommend that you do them all, that you get the complete picture, from striking to locking to guiding to manipulating to predicting to taking down… and more.
But, I can’t reach everybody, and some people don’t understand just how big the martial arts are, and that you have to understand them as a science. They are locked in ‘hit and punch,’ ‘ground and pound,’ and don’t see or understand the bigger picture.
This book is for those people. Hopefully it will get them excited for the big picture. But even if it doesn’t, it will afford a massive education, and do a lot towards bringing these people who are studying arts that have degraded over time into the real art. They will appreciate it as science.
And, even if they don’t, if they do the book, not just read it and say… ‘oh, I knew that,’ or… ‘we have that in our system,’ but actually do the book, all the drills and techniques, all the forms and fighting drills, then they will be doing the true art. Whether they were stupid and didn’t even understand what I am talking about, if they do the drills and exercises, they will end up doing the true art.
For instance, at a certain point, a certain belt, I teach a type of kick. It’s a floating kick, then you turn the hips over and slam the energy down into the ground as you strike. The point is… you can’t do that kick unless you use the tan tien in a certain way. You simply can’t. So they will practice it, get it, and stumble over the concept, whether they understand what is happening or not, and they will end up with classical power in a certain mode. And the whole system is constructed so that one mode leads to the next.
Okay, spoken enough. Simply go to Amazon and enter ‘Tiger and Butterfly,’ or ‘Tiger and Butterfly martial arts’ or ‘Tiger and Butterfly Al Case,’ or something like that, and watch it pop up.
Remember it is unique, matrixing brought one more step forward, and it is REALLY potent! It is a COMPLETE martial arts system.
‘Karate is the best thing you can do for your child.’
Who said the above quote?
The answer is at the bottom of this newsletter.
We didn’t have much of a kids class
back when I was learning at the Kang Duk Won.
There weren’t many schools back then,
and there was no shortage of adult students.
Now,
of course,
schools can only survive if they have children’s classes.
But how the heck do you teach a child?
Children have short attention spans,
they tend to whine,
and they don’t remember everything you say!
Which brings us to the solution.
First off,
don’t try to teach classical forms,
just keep working on the basics.
Teach them basic kicking,
basic rolling,
and do lots of freestyle ‘games.’
Here’s a couple of things to illustrate what I mean.
I went into a school, a pretty good school,
and noticed a healthy sized kid’s class.
Interestingly,
there was a riot of color when it came to belts.
white, yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, red.
All with stripes of…
yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, red.
This school had an amazing amount of belts,
and I asked the instructor about it.
He equivocated,
and when I watched a class,
I suddenly realized what he was doing.
He was teaching nothing but basics.
But there was a method here.
Kids can’t remember things,
so he just kept emphasizing basics,
and waiting for an individual child
to reach the point where he could accept instruction.
Until that point was reached,
it was calisthenics,
basics,
and games.
Interestingly enough,
though there wasn’t an emphasis
on teaching classical forms and techniques,
children who were wild and wooly
began to calm down.
The exercise tired them out,
and made them amenable to reason.
The discipline of just doing the basics,
made them more able to focus.
And when were they ready?
When they stopped trying to interrupt the class,
when they began to focus on what they were doing,
when they became aware
that there was more than a game going on.
Here’s something to think about:
I have seen young children
who were mature beyond their years.
I have known adults
who were nothing but children.
The key word is responsibility.
So you teach things like
kicks and shoulder rolls,
basic one step sparring games,
breakfalls and punches,
and you back everything up with
don’t let them rest.
Don’t make them cry,
don’t drive them like an adult,
make everything fun and laughs,
but don’t let up.
It is an interesting line you walk with this method.
When a child starts to look at you,
to understand what you are saying,
and especially when he is willing to help younger students,
then he is ready for instruction.
It might take a month,
it might take years,
but you just have to watch and wait.
You have to keep them there with games and fun,
until they can string a half dozen moves together,
and remember them,
until the light of awareness enters their eyes.
Here’s what you are actually fighting.
Parents that don’t feed their children properly,
that send them off to school
with cereal,
if that.
Electronic games that consume children,
and drive them to frenetic activity.
Peers that squash children.
Drugs that are handed out freely
by adults who don’t understand
what the real solution is.
Karate,
or any martial art,
can be part of the solution.
In many cases,
it is the only solution that is needed.
We live in a weird society,
a place where values have been forgotten,
where parents have never been parented themselves,
and simply don’t have a clue,
where teachers are guided by psychological interests,
and the simple fact of raising a child
has been forgotten and neglected.
As a martial arts instructor,
you may be the first sane person a child has ever seen.
You might be the only sane person a child has ever seen.
Yet your small influence,
being based in common sense and good values,
may be the difference.
Now,
Who gave the quote at the beginning of this newsletter?
Chuck Norris
What’s with All the Bowing Stuff in the Martial Arts?
“Politeness is the greatest strategy.” Al Case
The most polite man i have ever met was my instructor in the Kang Duk Won. He was also the best martial artist I ever saw, which leads to an interesting possibility:
Politeness goes hand in hand with competence.
Think about it, if you are polite, honestly polite, then you won’t be scared, you won’t have hidden demons driving you, the martial arts will have expunged you of all that. You will be honestly competent.
So practice politeness as well as seek competence.
Now, with that in mind, what is the purpose of bowing in the martial arts? Aside from my little diatribe on politeness, why should people keep bowing and bowing all the time?
On one level, it is a sign of respect. I respect the work you’ve done, the level you’ve reached. And under that is the implied question: will you teach me. And the teacher bows to show respect to those who have come seeking his instruction.
On another level, it is merely saying hi. hi to everybody in the school. Hi to everybody who contributed to the school, even if they are passed on, a simple greeting to your friends.
With those two viewpoints in mind, here are the times you would bow.
Bow when entering the school. Bow to senior classmates. Bow to junior classmates. Bow when stepping onto the mat. Bow to the instructor, especially when asking a question. Bow after receiving instruction. Bow at the beginning of class. Bow at the end of class. Bow before you engage in any drill, be it sparring, form, etc. Immediately disengage and bow if an injury has occurred as a result of something you’ve done.
AND, bow to a classmate outside of school, or, if not considered appropriate, give him/her some sign of greeting.
AND, whenever entering another school, always bow, show that you have studied the martial arts, and that you are aware of martial etiquette.
Sounds like a lot of bowing, yes? Well, it is, but let me offer an insight. I can’t imagine not bowing, I strive to bow the most, to set the best example of being polite. I am constantly running into students who are surprised when I bow to them. But, it encourages them to bow. And, it makes you feel good.
Imagine walking into a school gymnasium, or an auditorium, with 500 people present. Imagine yelling out… HI EVERYBODY! And having them all yell to you… HI, AL!
After near 50 years in the arts, that’s what it feels like to me when I bow.
And I like to think that maybe I’m as competent as I am polite. One can hope.
Here’s a link to the martial arts I have been studying for near 50 years. Take a look, and see if I’ve made any inroads, if the changes i have made from the classical have value.
“It’s not how hard you can hit, it’s how much weight you can deliver.” Al Case
I just received a great letter, a fellow name of Damian, said Yogata helped his arthritis, and he talked about how he sometimes had trouble with a fist because of arthritis.
Click on the cover!
I recommend Yogata, or any form of yoga, but I really want to talk about punches, which may impact on concepts about arthritis.
Arthritis is an interesting condition, doctors sometimes lump everything under the term arthritis, and there are a lot of causes behind arthritis. It’s all sort of generic, but generic with a bite.
So here’s the thing: injury leads to inflammation. The body is swelling. Sometimes the swelling is obvious, sometimes not, but the pain, or lack of usability, is real.
Many, many years ago I realized I wasn’t a breaking kind of guy. My instructor was, many people are, there is something seductive about Power, and power is often associated with breaking things.
But I figured out that it’s not how hard you hit, it’s how much weight you can transfer into the opponent. So I thought about it, and I realized something:
“you don’t have to tighten the fist.”
This is weird, we all tighten the fist, and it is important…for beginners.
Tightening the fist upon impact teaches focus, introduces one to concepts of power, but, at a certain point, you don’t need to tighten the fist. Here’s something to think about”
take a stick and poke it into a watermelon.
Did the stick get ‘tight?’ No. It just had to be aligned, and it required a certain amount of ‘quick’ weight. Although, when you think about it, you could puncture a watermelon with a stick using ‘slow’ weight.
So I started working on the idea of poking the bones of my arm/fist through an opponent’s body without tightening the fist.
Having the idea of puncturing the body in my mind.
It worked. No fanfare, no big deal, just relax, align the bones, feed a little energy into the structure to keep everything in line, relax and throw the body.
Worked like a charm.
And… I started holding thumbtacks in my fist and breaking things.
And… here is the kicker, the more I relaxed, the better I was able to thrust my thumbtack holding bones through an object.
There’s all sorts of things to think about here. My favorite is this:
if you threw 20 pounds at somebody it would hurt. (especially if that 20 pounds had 200 pounds of body behind it)
So when you tighten the arm, when you focus the fist, the tightening of the muscles actually holds the strike back.
That’s very zen, very tai chi, very true.
BUT, don’t stop practicing with a tight fist, you need a certain degree of focus to develop internal power. And hitting with just the bones, as I describe here, is not the only strike, and focusing the energy is VERY important.
In fact, I would say that it would be VERY difficult to learn how to strike with a relaxed fist if one doesn’t first gain an understanding of how to focus the energy with a tight fist.
Anyway, those are my thoughts, and I want to thank Damian for making me think, and sharing his win with me.
If you have arthritis, or ANY condition, there are ways to keep training. You just have to relax your thinking, look around, and find what works.
Relaxing is the only way to find the True Martial Arts
I remember reading of Koichi Tohei,
many years ago,
and some scientists asked if they could test his ki.
Like, on machines.
Click on the Cover
Now this isn’t a smart idea.
Ki is an energy motivated by thought,
sometimes the energy can be registered,
but the thought never can,
so science often proves there is no such thing as ki.
Can’t be measured…doesn’t exist.
Which is the same reasoning
that kept the world flat for so many centuries.
They just don’t what to measure,
and there isn’t a machine in existence
that can measure thought.
That said,
the test went round and round,
they couldn’t explain what Koichi was doing,
and they couldn’t figure out the readings they were getting,
and he,
probably with a diabolical sense of humor,
told them he could slow his heart down.
They said nonsense,
a human being couldn’t control the nervous system in that way.
So he did it.
He dropped it some 30 beats,
then sped it up again,
then slowed it down.
And the scientists were really confused.
So let’s talk about what you are supposed to do
with your mind in the martial arts.
First,
forget it.
It’s just a bunch of memories.
Get rid of the past,
at least ignore it,
and you are more in the present,
and then you can better control your body.
Logical, right?
But too simple.
People have a hard time buying into this simplicity.
So,
in Karate,
we trained so that the mind
didn’t become excited,
and so that we kept looking,
and ignored emotion.
Ignored the emotion of fighting.
Didn’t feel the anxiety,
or panic,
or sudden beating of the heart
as the world devolved to chaos.
Note that I am moving at the same time.
When somebody throws a punch at me
I actually slow down.
My mind looks right past any memories,
and I focus on the moment.
I stop reacting,
even to my own training,
and start moving with the person.
In real time.
Now,
there are MANY examples of this in the world.
The baseball player,
for instance,
the guy way out in the field,
takes off…AT THE CRACK OF THE BAT!
Not before it,
not after it,
but at the same time.
AND,
he moves intuitively to where the ball is going.
He attempts to ‘meet’ the ball,
at some specified time and place.
But how did he know where the ball was going…
at THE CRACK OF THE BAT!
There are other examples,
but this is my favorite,
probably because everybody knows what I am talking about.
Especially if they have played baseball.
If you have ever had a sixth sense,
known when something was going to happen before it happened,
felt somebody walk behind you (hairs on end),
that is you,
putting aside memories,
and perceiving directly.
In Karate,
it happened about the time I got to Black Belt.
When I got there I began to focus,
without excitement or distraction,
on what was happening.
And it really screwed people up,
when I displayed no reaction time.
Reaction comes from ‘react’
which means you are so immersed in memories (or training)
that you can’t perceive directly.
Signals have to travel through the body to create motion,
instead of you,
apart from your body,
just creating motion.
Okay,
I’ve talked long enough,
probably left as much confusion as enlightenment.
But here’s the trick…
You have to train with people
in a system which understands this.
In which the techniques support this,
the forms are aligned and orderly.
The freestyle is not a fight,
but a procedure of learning how to look.
Not getting excited,
not getting distracted by emotions,
but calming yourself
so that you don’t get excited.
I’ve done the best I could
to give you a good system.
In fact…systemS.
Here are the systems…
http://monstermartialarts.com/courses/
But you have to work,
and work hard.
You have to get the idea that I’m talking about in your mind.
You have to force yourself to calm,
to put aside excitement,
and become cool and machinelike in your actions.
Good luck with this,
in spite of all the simplicity of my systems,
it is still hard.
It’s hard to restrain emotion,
put aside memories,
memories that you sometimes don’t even recognize as existing,
and function on a high level.
But it is possible.
Good work out to you.
Al
http://monstermartialarts.com/courses/
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Newsletter 815 ~ Sign up now on the Free Books page!
New Karate Black Belt
Good morning! Wonderful morning. I just did a whole bunch of forms, I feel like a million.
The most important Martial Arts book ever written.
Hey, there’s lots of stuff happening, so let me start with… CONGRATS! to Peter Carmody
Peter passed his Matrix Karate Black Belt test.
The test was done on video, and Peter went through having to repeat the test, doing all the corrections, and making all the matrix karate material work.
And he made it look good!
Video testing is interesting. You could probably film yourself on an iPhone, don’t wear black against a black wall, white against white, and so on.
Have some sunlight, or a few bulbs glowing.
You don’t need lots of space as long as I can see your whole body.
Have a partner.
Be willing to fail once or twice, at least.
And here’s the thing, Matrix Karate is pretty darn unique. You see, most karate systems were developed for specific reasons, bodyguarding, the element of being grabbed, having to deal with weapons, etc.
Not saying you won’t encounter these things today, you need some awareness of these things, but the real factor is that we are a fist culture. If you are in a fight the usual weapons will be fists. Then something that can be used as a cub, then a knife, etc.
But fists are the base of it all. And, if you can handle a fist, it is just a short step to a knife, if you have enough brains to adapt.
Anyway, Matrix Karate is designed around the structure of the body, it is a complete art, taking into account all angles of attack and defense. But it is SIMPLE! Because the posing and the unnecessary techniques have all been weeded out.
You have to learn about mistakes, but the essence is in the logic where one move leads to the next, with no circus moves.
It’s funny, I remember one of the first wins I ever received, this was about ten years ago. The guy wrote that he had gone to a martial arts school, and the first technique they taught him was a cartwheel into a jump kick. Not how to block and punch. Not even the basic kicks, but a jumping kick off a whole body contortion.
Can you see why matrixing was so desperately needed? A little common sense? And every system, no matter how classical or developed, benefits from the direct infusion of logic that matrixing provides.
Anyway, well done to Peter, and I recommend Matrix Karate and the Master Instructor Course (you need both of them to test). Whether you are accomplished and have a black belt, whether you are a raw beginner, whether you are just in the middle and need to get going, Matrix Karate is the easiest, the best, the most efficient and completely rounded karate on the planet. Period.
Go to the Testimonials in the menu and do a search for your martial art!
Hi Sensei Al!
(On the Black Belt Course) Everything is working great! Thank you for the quick responses. I am enjoying the one on one videos. It may be cliche, but I do feel like I'm there. I also like the conversational style and the way you explain how you're teaching and why. You've got a new student for life. Thank you. ~ Daniel
What's interesting about Al Case's writings and teachings is there isn't any emphasis on 'the unknown' or 'mystery' behind martial arts. Al will slam this information in your face! Quite frankly the data isn't hidden, you'll find you're blind. ~ WG
Al Case is a powerful presence to be around, but if you can confront it, then you will not be sorry, for there is no one like him, and it is an extreme privilege and honor.
I used to read your articles in Inside Karate and was excited when I found your web site. ~ RV
As an old timer with thirty-five years of experience I was really bored, but your works have peaked my interest and shown me that there is much more to learn. I Thank You Again, Sincerely ~ CC
Where was this information 24 years ago? This course is one of the best things to ever happen to me. Thank you Al Case for the gift of knowledge!
Be blessed my teacher, ~ Rev. Ernest R
I bought the Infinite Fist tape YEARS ago and you know? I Keep going back to it! ~ KS
You are a master. You have opened me up to things that I have never thought of before. ~ KFM
I purchased your course on "Create Your Own Martial Art" and absolutely love it. I believe that your matrixing system is very unique. ~ DW
In my entire experience twenty years as a student and an instructor since, no one has contributed more to my martial arts education than you have. I started following your works twenty years ago and although I was young then I knew you had the True Art it was obvious to me even then. ~ Charles C
Students will know longer be slaves of poor instructors and practitioners. ~ Lonnie M
Win from Master Instructor Course
Let me start out by saying thank you. Thanks from all the martial artists who asked why. Al, I'm in the Security and Law enforcement field and carry Instructor credentials, so effective methods in combat and teaching them is what I constantly look for.
Win from Matrix Aikido
I just had to write to you to say WOW. Your INSTANT AIKIDO is great!!! ~ SD
My students have started coming up to me after class telling me how much more they are enjoying it, and that the classes have stopped being so ridged and now flow in a kind of give and take between me and them. I have stopped being a task master and started having fun and letting them teach me as well.
I did the Master Instructor Course and it hit me. The Basics that are so concisely communicated in this course including the Matrix principle IS the solution. It doesn’t matter what “style” I call my art, because all styles follow these same principles. It doesn’t matter how hard I train or how many repetitions I do if I don’t train the right way. And I would never become a master if I didn’t know how it all fits together. Now I do! I can honestly say that I am now on the path that I have always sought as a martial artist. Thank you Al!
I conducted a Matrix Aikido training class for a Security Team at a local manufacturing plant. I tailored the training according to their Use Of Force policy. As you know they need control and takedown skills. I knew Matrix Aikido would be the answer. The training plan you shared was boss. The class went so smoothly. The participants learned very quickly. By the end of the class you could see techniques of Monkey Boxing coming through. They were also able to create their own techniques. There was one female officer in the class who asked to become my private student. She was throwing, locking and taking down guys twice her size. The Security Supervisor wants me to come back and with more participants! I'll keep you posted. ~ L M
Have found your books and dvds excellent. My background is mainly in medical qigong but I practice Sun Style Tai CHi, BaGua and HsingI as well as Eagle Claw, Snake Style Kung Fu and several Wudang weapon styles. This is the first time I have had the underlying principles so clearly explained and in a way that they are immediately workable and demonstratable. I have worked through the Master Instructors Course, Aikido and Butterfly Bagua and have started to breakdown the Sun Hsing I using your matrix method. I was even able to teach a 70 year old friend of mine with no martial arts background your instant aikido where she was able to do some very accomplished locks and throws after the first lesson
Search the testimonials for your martial art!
Free Martial Arts Books
HERE'S SOME FREE MARTIAL ARTS BOOKS, MY THANKS FOR DROPPING BY.
Includes books on Bruce Lee, the Truth About Matrixing, the first Martial Arts book sold in America (It's a real hoot!), and much more!
