From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #281 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Tues, 8 May 2001 Vol 08 : Num 281 In this issue: the_dojang: fyi, Krabi-Krabong the_dojang: Master Herb Perez Sparring Seminar the_dojang: more numbers the_dojang: . ========================================================================= The_Dojang, serving the Internet since June 1994. ~1111 members strong! Copyright 1994-2001: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource The premier internet discussion forum devoted to the Korean Martial Arts. Replying to this message will NOT unsubscribe you. To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe the_dojang-digest" (no quotes) in the body (top line, left justified) of a "plain text" e-mail addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com. To send e-mail to this list use the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com See the Korean Martial Arts (KMA) FAQ and the online search engine for back issues of The_Dojang at http://www.MartialArtsResource.com Pil Seung! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Ray Terry Date: Mon, 07 May 2001 18:46:00 PDT Subject: the_dojang: fyi, Krabi-Krabong A Visit with Ajarn Sumai, Krabi-Krabong Master, Bangkok, Thailand By Terry Tippie (with a little help from Greg Nelson) The Buddhai Swan Sword Fighting Institute is a place where the ancient weapons based art of Kabri-Kabrong, the mother art of Muay Thai, is taught to young Thais, the Thai military and, recently, martial arts enthusiasts from around the world. Buddhist discipline and tradition are also an integral part of the training. I visited the school briefly in late 1994. The school is located in suburban Bangkok and has a thatched roof that stretches out over a large open-air training area trimmed all around with tropical ferns, flowers and vines. The walls served as racks for a storehouse of well-used weapons. Students, many of them high-school age, were dressed in the bright blue pants and tunic of the Buddhai Swan school. They worked in groups of two or more and focused on their training with all the seriousness of professional fighters. My eyes were drawn to two men circling each other with double swords, knees bent, eyes locked. The taller man stepped forward and initiated a savage combination of powerful alternating slashes, which the shorter man skillfully blocked, sending sparks from the steel blades showering across the floor. Then the smaller one shot back a foot jab to the taller man’s solar plexus that knocked his opponent to the ground and leapt at him with a fully committed two hand slash that carried all the intensity of a Muay Thai kick. Ajarn Sumai Masamarn, Founder and Director of the Buddhai Swan school, rounded the corner and strode towards me with a vast smile and a firm handshake. I had been told Ajarn Sumai is ‘very young’ for a man in his 80s, but still I was amazed at his agility and vigor, which is like a 25 year old. He guided me through the school, explaining the training and taking opportunities to point out its history. Ajarn Sumai had been a champion saber fencer and judoka in his youth, but turned to Kabri-Kabrong at an early age. By the time he was in his late 20s, his skill at Kabri-Kabrong was renowned. Upon the opening of the school in 1934, the King of Thailand himself paid a visit to the school and gave Ajarn Sumai a flag which still hangs with pride in the school. Today the Buddhai Swan is the only government recognized institution dedicated to the development and maintenance of Kabri-Kabrong. Ajarn Sumai explained that Kabri-Kabrong consists of six different weapon categories: Staff, gnow (bladed staff), single sword, double sword, mai sau (wooden club worn on the forearm), and the combination of spear and shield. In addition, Kabri-Kabrong utilizes empty-hand techniques that are the battlefield ancestors of modern day Muay Thai. The intense methods of training full force with live blades, weapon against weapon, make this art extremely combat effective and no-nonsense. Each of their weapons has certain attributes which are unique, yet all are equally effective in skilled hands. During training the practitioner will first learn the weapons matched against the same weapon. As time and learning progress, each weapon is matched against the other in order to learn the strengths and weaknesses associated with each. Drills involving all the weapon categories are combined to form extravagant demonstrations and effective drills for combat reflexes. Despite its roots in the military clashes fought by the Siamese army, Kabri-Kabrong involves spirituality and tradition that is very important to the Thai people. Upon enrolling at the Buddhai Swan, students go through a ceremony in which they will be protected from injury. During this ceremony, they promise to uphold five principles of the Buddhai Swan: 1) always speak the truth and do not deceive others, 2) never steal, 3) never take life in vain (this applies to both animals and humans), 4) refrain from incest or wrongful sex, and 5) abstain from alcohol and other mind altering drugs. As part of the initiation ceremony, students are brought into the proud brotherhood of the Buddhai Swan, which extends to countless Thai royalty, the Thai military, and generations of young Thais. Before each training session, match or demonstration, it is essential to perform the dance-like Wai Kru ceremony. The Wai Kru are ceremonies which are deeply embedded in Thai culture and their Buddhist beliefs. The Wai Kru pays homage to the practitioner’s deity, their mother and father, their instructor and all those who have passed away teaching the art. Each moment of the Wai Kru is significant and Thai people observing the dance can identify its meaning. Each weapon has two Wai Kru, one standing and one kneeling. Each is highly elaborate and a great deal of training time is spent learning this part of the art. Ajarn Sumai emphasized that it is very important to have a clear mind and a good heart when training with live blades. [The original article had some awesome pictures of Ajarn Sumai and training at the Buddhai Swan school.] ____________________________________________________________________ Bangkok: Getting There Can Be Half the Fun By Terry Tippie The travel to and from the Buddhai Swan school proved to be almost as much of an adventure as the school itself. So severe are Bangkok’s dawn-till-late-night traffic jams that my meeting across town took most of the day. The traffic noise was deafening, and the air was a yellowish broth of humidity and exhaust fumes. Oversized gas powered golf carts called ‘tuk-tuks’—so named because of the sound they made idling in traffic—darted from lane to lane and between cars and trucks with terrifying speed. Built for two, some carried five or six passengers or a dozen boxes of cargo. The downtown sidewalks were full of people, from harried business people scurrying to make a living to street vendors proclaiming the merits of their authentic discount "never can tell, Boss," jewelry. Some areas had plenty of Japanese and Europeans seeking thrills in Bangkok's sex industry. Elsewhere were the golden spires of ornately carved Buddhist temples containing saffron-robed monks, serene and virtuous. In the afternoon, after my first visit to the Buddhai Swan school, the sky darkened, opened up and poured forth rain with reckless abandon, filling the flat, marshy land with puddles and ponds. The rain minimized visibility and made the already nerve-wracking driving conditions even worse. Ajarn Sumai’s son, who I was honored to have as my guide, turned his 4-wheel drive off the main road and wound his way through a maze of narrow back roads, sometimes crossing flooded areas that would have washed out most other vehicles. “Bangkok...very traffic," he said. I agreed. By twilight the still racing city was a remarkable combination of old, new, ornate, garish, tasteful, and atrocious architecture all slapped down in a random pattern with no real center. At dusk, almost as if a switch had been thrown, the rain ended as quickly as it came. I was glad to arrive back at the home of the Sirisute family, my favorite place in all of Thailand. The simple, sincere warmth and playful humor of these people re-defined for me the very meaning of the word "hospitality". And a home cooked Thai meal made from a delightful mixture of spices was just the thing to welcome a hungry traveler. ------------------------------ From: Professor Bill Dewart Date: Mon, 07 May 2001 19:42:40 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: Master Herb Perez Sparring Seminar Greetings Everyone: Just a quick update on my medical condition. Last week they found that the cancer has spread into my lympth node on the right side of my neck. I guess the universe figured I was doing so well battling what was in my nose that they needed to give me a bigger challenge to fight. A week from today I start radiation treatments and it looks like I will be fighting this for most of the summer. On Saturday, May 19th we will be conducting a Dan Certification Testing for both AAU and Kikkiwon Certification. The test will be conducted at the French American International School at 151 Oak St.(between Gough & Franklin Sts.), S.F., CA 94117 from 12 noon to 4 P.M. Anyone interested in participating in this testing should please contact me as soon as possible. The following day, Sunday, May 20th Master Herb Perez, the Olympic Gold Medalist in 1992 at Barcelona, Spain will be teaching an outstanding sparring seminar at the French American International School also. The program will run from 12 noon to about 3 P.M. and will cost only $30. Master Perez is donating the proceeds from this event to my "kick cancer fund" so if you or your students can participate, I will greatly appreciate it. In addition, I want to thank everyone for their prayers, good wishes, and both the emotional and financial support. My family and I really appreciate you kindness. Peace. Yours in Taekwondo, Bill Dewart ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Mon, 07 May 2001 23:02:43 PDT Subject: the_dojang: more numbers More info from the Kukkiwon. Pooms and Dans in the US. 1st Poom 20840 2nd 2177 3rd 206 ------ 23223 1st Dan 28653 2nd 7273 3rd 2718 4th 1052 5th 372 6th 109 7th 55 8th 21 9th 15 ------ 40268 ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Tue, 08 May 2001 7:22:13 PDT Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V8 #281 ******************************** It's a great day for Taekwondo! Support the USTU by joining today. 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