Poekoelan in Pflugerville TX: Rose and River Martial Arts

2009-07-14T14:17:00.002-05:00

The demonstration went great! I told the audience a little about Poekoelan and gave them an idea of the differences between Tae Kwon Do and Poekoelan. I gave them some of my history with martial arts in general and Poekoelan specifically. Then I demonstrated Set 1. I think they videotaped it. I'll post the video (or a link to it) as soon as I get the information.

Afterwards, I had a couple people come up with some questions and a few ego-stroking comments (apparently from people who never saw The Matrix). The TKD instructors were impressed and invited me back any time they have a demonstration. As part of the event, I donated a gift certificate for a 1-hour private lesson as a door prize. We'll see if it's redeemed.

Brief Update

2009-07-08T07:48:00.004-05:00

Unfortunately, the Pflugerville YMCA closed down; however, I am now teaching through the Northwest YMCA (across from McNeil High School). Classes are going well. All the students have passed at least one test since the move.

There is a martial arts demonstration at the Y on Friday--one of the organizers invited me to participate. I'm definitely planning on attending and will demonstrate a set or two. I'm grateful for this opportunity as it shows a sense of community between martial arts styles and schools that I've noticed seems to be missing.

A Change In Direction

2008-08-20T15:51:00.005-05:00

Rose and River Martial Arts has gone through several major changes recently. First and foremost is that Mas Jessica Brawner is no longer a part of the school. As part of that change, classes out of the private studio are no longer available. All classes are offered through the Pflugerville branch of the YMCA.

I am reevaluating how Rose and River stands in terms of business. I anticipate that there will be a significant shift in services and products offered in the future. For current students, have no fear that Rose and River will just disappear. Until the reevaluation is finished, however, new students should contact the Pflugerville YMCA. Their phone number is (512) 928-9622.

Weapons Tournament at Four Winds Ren Faire

2007-10-19T13:55:00.000-05:00

Heres a tournament with an interesting twist. We're not planning on participating, but did think it looked interesting enough to promote it a bit.

Battlefield Weapons Tournament

What exactly is this tourney, anyway?This is a controlled-point sparring, weapons onlytournament for all styles - Asian, European, SouthAmerican - all traditions are welcome. There will beno Kata and no kids. It is an elimination-style eventwith winners from each weapons division (staff againststaff, pole arm against pole arm, swords againstswords, etc.) competing against each other for GrandChampion.

The final Grand Champion winner willreceive prize money of at least $1000. Second throughfourth places will receive prize monies, also.This is a chance to combine knowledge of weapons,knowledge of the human body, and knowledge that youcould wind up across from anyone in historical warsgone by, to safely duplicate a true battlefield-stylefight. It is a chance for those of us who are serious about what we do to find out how good we are.

Where can I find more info?
http://www.freewebs.com/battlefieldweaponstournament

Updated Schedule

2007-07-26T14:10:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone!

A couple of notes for the summer, all private studio classes are cancelled until September. If you want a private lesson, or an introductory lesson, please call us 512-587-9189 and we will set something up.

Class schedule at the YMCA is:

Kids Tues. Thurs. 6:30-7:15
Beginner Adult Tues. Thurs. 7:30-8:30
Advanced Adult Tues. Thurs. 8:30-9:30

To contact the YMCA Pflugerville call 512-928-9622

I hope everyone is having a great summer!

Summer

2007-05-22T12:12:00.000-05:00

Summer's just around the corner, most of the kids are done with school and looking forward to 2-3 months of fun and freedom from homework.

I just wanted to let everyone know that our class schedule at the YMCA will remain the same through out the summer.

Kids Classes: T-TH 6:30-7:15 pm and 7:30-8:15pm
Adults Classes: T-TH 8:30-9:30pm

Private Studio Classes
Saturday Cun Tao: 9:00-10:00am
Saturday 3rd phase: 10:00am-11:00am

There will be no classes Thursday, Aug. 30th - Tuesday Sept. 4th.

If your interested in starting classes, please don't hesitate to call us at 512-587-9189 or check out our website for more details at www.roseandriver.com

Students Tested on Saturday

2007-04-16T12:12:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Sean and Maranda for passing their white sash tests!
It has been a much longer than expected journey for both of them, but they both did outstandingly well.

In other news, the classes at the YMCA are going well. We finally had enough people to run the Women's Self Defense class this session, and they all seem to be enjoying it.

The Kids class continues to gain new members and they are all enthusiastic and energetic.

We've also become a member of the Gotong Royong Organization. Check out their website at http://gotongroyong.org/

Rose and River Updates

2007-02-28T16:32:00.000-06:00

Wow! It has been a busy couple of months. I apologize for not updating this more often.

Classes are running smoothly both at the YMCA Pflugerville, and at our private studio. We had a large influx of students this month -6 new students in the kids class. We also tested on of the kids for their yellow belt last night. Congratulations to Mas Ben for doing an excellent job!

A few updates on the schedule.

The class schedule at the YMCA is as follows:

Tuesday & Thursdays
6:30-7:15 kids class ages 8-16 (this is not what the YMCA schedules says, but until the class is full, we will continue allowing all ages in that class)

7:30-8:30 adults - This is listed as the teen class at the moment, but until the earlier kids class is full, we will run adults at this time.

8:30-9:30 adults - we will push the adults class back to this time, if the earlier teen class becomes full.

For pricing at the YMCA please call 512-928-9622.

Private studio classes are 9:00 am on Saturdays - please call in advance if you wish to join (512) 587-9189 and check out our website www.roseandriver.com for pricing and other information.

Christmas Schedule Updates

2006-12-12T10:31:00.000-06:00

Classes will be cancelled the week between Christmas and New Year's Day both at the YMCA and at our studio.

There's not much to update about progress in class.

Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy New Year!

Holiday Schedule

2006-11-20T09:03:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Classes have been going fairly well, there's not much to report on that front. Class will be cancelled on Thanksgiving Day. We will be having classes on Saturday morning however.

I hope everyone has a great week.

November Updates

2006-11-06T15:47:00.000-06:00

The adults class will be preparing for white sash testing all of this month. The kids class should continue as normal.

Congratulations to the kids that were awarded their white belts this past week!

There will be no classes on Thanksgiving day. (Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!) We are unsure if the Saturday adults class will be cancelled the Saturday after Thanksgiving, input is welcome.

The Women's self defense course starts up at the YMCA on Tuesday, we're hoping for a larger turnout this session, but at the moment the outlook is not great on that score. If we don't end up with at least 5 participants we will have to discontinue the course, so everyone grab a female friend and come out and learn to defend yourself!

That's it for this week, everyone have a great week!

www.roseandriver.com

Updates

2006-10-23T11:07:00.000-05:00

Sorry there was no post last week, I wasn't in class due to injuries.

Congratulations to Maranda, she did very well on her third stripe test.

The kids program is finally up and running at the YMCA. We had two students start last week, and they're both very enthusiastic.

We made the rounds at the Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce business fair on Saturday and handed out quite a few business cards. We also worked the YMCA table for an hour or two and pushed our programs. I'm hopeful that the Women's Self Defense class will get off the ground for the next session.

If anyone is interested in taking classes, please feel free to visit our website at www.roseandriver.com or give us a call at 512-587-9189. We're happy to answer questions about the classes.

We're Back!

2006-10-09T08:24:00.000-05:00

We're back from our trip to visit our Sensei in the North East. We both competed in a tournament in Rhode Island while we were up there and we each took 3rd in forms in our separate divisions.

Classes are back on schedule, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the YMCA and Saturday's at our private studio.

The Women's Self Defense Class started last week, with somewhat poor attendance, and may be cancelled, though we won't know for sure until later today.

For information regarding classes, please visit our website at www.roseandriver.com or call for information at 512-587-9189.

Update from Provincetown

2006-09-25T09:10:00.000-05:00

Hi Everybody,

We're up in Provincetown MA to train with our teacher this week. We had a great class on Saturday, and we're expecting several more fantastic days this week. We will be participating in a tournament next Sunday in Rhode Island, and we'll be back late on Monday. Things are looking good here, we'll give everyone a full update when we get back.

Class is Cancelled

2006-09-18T12:01:00.000-05:00

Classes will be cancelled September 21st through October 2nd. We will be up in Massachusets visiting our Instructor during that time. Classes will resume as normal on October 3rd.

For information about our classes please visit our website at www.roseandriver.com or visit the YMCA Pflugerville and sign up at the front desk.

Congratulations! and Schedule Updates

2006-09-11T13:35:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Mas Sean for passing his 3rd stripe test. He tested this past Saturday.

Schedule Updates

We will be having classes as normal this week, but we will be out from Sept. 21st through October 2nd. Classes will resume on a normal schedule starting October 3rd.

Congratulations! and Schedule Updates

2006-09-11T13:35:00.000-05:00

Class Update

2006-08-28T11:23:00.000-05:00

Well, the first class at the YMCA didn't have as good a turnout as I had hoped, but we did have two girls for the ages 8-12 class. We had one boy come in for the second class. We'll see who returns on Tuesday.

Classes at the YMCA are $40 for members, $85 for non members.

The adults class at our studio is going well. We will have one person testing in two weeks.

Reminder to all students, we will NOT have class this weekend. Classes will resume after Labor day.

If anyone is interested in classes please feel free to check our our website at www.roseandriver.com or call us at 512-587-9189.

YMCA Updates

2006-08-23T08:08:00.000-05:00

Ok, the YMCA is offering 2 free class to test run our martial arts program. The classes will be this Thursday and next Tuesday. Kids age 8-12 are at 6:30-7:15 Ages 13-15 are from 7:30-8:15 and Adults are from 8:30-9:30

The Women's Self defense class has been postponed until October 3rd. Starting October 3rd we will have two 5 week sessions (October - Mid November & Mid November through December) Each session will have 2 classes per week Tuesday & Thursday from 8:15-9:15. There will be an additional $10 fee due to the instructor for handouts and material.

YMCA Tentative Schedule

2006-08-14T13:50:00.000-05:00

The tentative schedule for the YMCA is as follows:

Tuesday & Thursday 6:30-7:15 Ages 8-12 Instructor: Mas Jessica
Tuesday & Thursday 7:30-8:15 Ages 13-15 Instructor: Mas Shandy
Tuesday & Thursday 8:30-9:30 Adults - Instructor: Mas Shandy

Tuesday & Thursday 8:15-9:15 Women's Self Defense - Instructor: Jessica

Students should come to class in loose comfortable clothing. Uniforms are not required for the first class, however students should be prepared to buy a uniform within the first month. Jewelry is not allowed and you will be asked to remove any jewelry prior to class.

Uniforms will not be required for the Women's Self Defense class. There will, however, be a $5 materials charge for handouts.

If you have any questions about classes at the YMCA please feel free to call us at 512-587-9189 or check back here for more updates.

We do not currently have the price schedule for the YMCA classes.

Getting the New Space Ready

2006-08-07T09:21:00.000-05:00

Well, the new workout space is ready to go, and we had our first class there this weekend. We've added space for a hanging bag as well as more storage space for the equipment. We're not completely moved in yet but hope to be by the end of next week. We would like to thank everybody that came out and helped us do the fixing and painting this past weekend.

There will be no class next Saturday. We are picking up the moving van at 8am, we hope to start loading by 9:30 down south.

We will be teaching at the YMCA starting in September, but we do not have a schedule yet. We will post a schedule as soon as one becomes available.

If you are interested in starting classes with us, or want to come by and watch a class, please give us a call at 512-587-9189 or visit our website at www.roseandriver.com

2006-07-31T13:43:00.000-05:00

No Blog this week, way too busy with the move. Have a great week!

Women's Self Defense Booklet

2006-07-24T10:06:00.000-05:00

This fall we will begin teaching a Women's Self Defense class at the Pflugerville YMCA and we are developing a booklet as a supplement to the class. This weekend we made a major leap forward in the production of this booklet.

Two of our students came in on Saturday and helped with the photos to demonstrate the various self defense moves. Most of the photos look fantastic! This was one of the most time consuming areas of the booklet to put together, so I'm glad that it's almost done. We may still need to re-take a few of the photos to clear up a few issues though. The editing thankfully went smoothly now that our computers have been upgraded. So far the booklet is up to 35 pages!

Thanks to Sean and Maranda for all their help!

We are still waiting to see what the schedule at the YMCA will look like, but as soon as we have it we will update the website.

Moving To Pflugerville Cont.

2006-07-17T14:43:00.000-05:00

Preparations for moving into our Pflugerville location are underway. We anticipate holding our first class at the Pflugerville location the first weekend of August, followed by a workday to get the property up to shape. We will provide lunch and drinks to students helping with the work.

Official Move-in date will be August 12th. We will not have classes that day. Lunch will be provided to students who help us move. All classes after August 12th will be held in one of the Pflugerville locations (YMCA or our Private Studio).

For information about about classes contact us at 512-587-9189 or check out our website at www.roseandriver.com

Poekoelan and the YMCA Pflugerville

2006-07-10T19:46:00.000-05:00

I am happy to announce that we will begin teaching at the YMCA Pflugerville location as of September. We will be teaching kids classes, adult classes and self defense classes.

Our Kids program will be aimed at ages 8-16. The kids classes will be divided up by age bracket (ages 8-12 and 13-16) and will be on a belt system instead of a sash system. Kids will be able to transition to the adult program starting at age 16. Since it is the policy of Rose and River Martial Arts not to award black belts to people under the age of 18, students will have to transition to the adult class before they are eligible.

The adult classes at the YMCA will follow our current curriculum. Current students have the option of transitioning to classes at the YMCA or maintaining their current schedule, but prices will differ and the fees at the YMCA will not cover classes outside of the Y.

We will also begin teaching a Women's self defense course. The course will run once a week for an hour and a half over a 5-6 week period, possibly on a recurring schedule. (Depending on interest).

That's the news for this week! Check back here for more updates. As always, anyone interested in taking a class, or observing a class should call in advance 512-587-9189 or email us at info@roseandriver.com

Independence Day - Fun Facts

2006-07-03T10:10:00.000-05:00

On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, starting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

2.5 million-In July 1776, the number of people living in the colonies. (1776 population from Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970.)

300 million-On this July 4th, the population milestone our nation soon will be closing in on.

Fourth of July Cookouts
150 million-Number of hot dogs (all varieties) expected to be consumed by Americans on this holiday. (That’s one frankfurter for every two people.) There’s more than a 1-in-4 chance that the hot dogs made of pork originated in Iowa, as the Hawkeye State had a total inventory of 15.2 million market hogs and pigs on March 1, 2006. This represents more than one-fourth of the nation’s total. North Carolina (8.5 million) and Minnesota (5.8 million) were the runners-up. (Data on hot dog consumption courtesy of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.) Data on hogs and pigs at <http://www.nass.usda.gov>.

7.3 billion pounds-Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2005. Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for over one-sixth of the nation’s total production. And if they did not come from Texas, they very well may have come from Nebraska (4.5 billion pounds) or Kansas (4 billion pounds). <http://www.nass.usda.gov>

6-Number of states in which the revenue from broiler chickens was $1 billion or greater between December 2004 and November 2005. There is a good chance that one of these states — Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina, Mississippi or Texas — is the source of your barbecued chicken. <http://www.nass.usda.gov>

Better than 50-50-The odds that the beans in your side dish of baked beans came from North Dakota, Michigan or Nebraska, which produced 60 percent of the nation’s dry, edible beans in 2005. Another popular July 4th side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California and Georgia together accounted for 51 percent of the sweet corn produced nationally in 2005. <http://www.nass.usda.gov>

Please Pass the Potato Salad-Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items at July 4th barbecues. One-half of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington in 2005. <http://www.nass.usda.gov>

More than 68 million- Number of Americans who said they have taken part in a barbecue during the previous year. It’s probably safe to assume a lot of these events took place on Independence Day. See Table 1230, 2006 edition: <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract.html>

Fireworks
$201.9 million -The value of fireworks imported from China in 2005, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($211 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $14.9 million in 2005, with Australia purchasing more than any other country ($4.4 million). <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>

$17.3 million-The value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks in 2002. <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i325998t.pdf>

Flags
$5.5 million-In 2005, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags; the vast majority of this amount ($5 million) was for U.S. flags made in China. <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>

$993,000-Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2005. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $529,000 worth. <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>

$349 million-Annual dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation’s manufacturers, according to the latest published Economic Census (2002) data. <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i314999t.pdf>

Patriotic-Sounding Names
30-Number of places nationwide with “liberty” in its name. The most populous one is Liberty, Mo. (28,528). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.

Thirty-two places are named “eagle” — after the majestic bird that serves as our national symbol. (Places include cities, towns, villages and census-designated places.) The most populous such place is Eagle Pass, Texas, with 24,847 residents. There is also Eagle County, Colo., with a population of 47,530.
Eleven places have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Mo., with 111,023 residents.
Five places adopted the name “freedom.” Freedom, Calif., with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these.
There is one place named “patriot” — Patriot, Ind., with a population of 195.
And what could be more fitting than spending the Fourth of July in a place called “America”? There are five such places in the country, with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, population 22,387.

<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/005268.html><http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/006563.html><http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en>

Coming to America
34 million-In 2004, the number of foreign-born residents in the United States; they accounted for 12 percent of the nation’s total population. Another 30 million Americans were “second-generation,” meaning that at least one of their parents was born abroad.<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/foreignborn_population/003969.html>

53%-As of 2004, the percentage of the nation’s foreign-born population born in Latin America. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/foreignborn_population/003969.html>

946,000-Number of immigrants granted legal permanent residence in the United States during fiscal year 2004. More than 1-in-4 settled in California. <http://uscis.gov/graphics/shared/statistics/yearbook/YrBk04Im.htm>

537,000-Number of people who became naturalized U.S. citizens during fiscal 2004 (Oct. 1, 2003 to Sept. 30, 2004). Mexico contributed the highest number of naturalized citizens in 2004 (63,800), followed by India (38,000), the Philippines (31,400), Vietnam (27,500) and China (27,300). <http://uscis.gov/graphics/shared/statistics/publications/NaturalizationFlowReport2004.pdf>

Thanks to the Census Bureau for their list of Fun Facts.

Making the transition from the Cun Tao class to the Poekoelan Class

2006-06-26T08:35:00.000-05:00

Once students pass their White sash test they will have completed the Cun Tao curriculum. This means that they will then be eligible to begin taking Poekoelan Classes. Students moving in to this phase of training will see a few changes.

Firstly, the Poekoelan classes are taught by Mas Shandy. He will be in charge of the curriculum for those classes. Students will begin learning Poekoelan forms and stances and will have some in class time for sparring. Students will need to purchase a full set of sparring gear, either from us, or from some other source. A list of required equipment and costs can be found here.

Secondly, once the students pass their White sash test, the cost of classes increases to $30/month for one Poekoelan class per week. Please see our website for a full listing of costs.

Thirdly, students are expected to attend at least two Cun Tao classes per month both to keep up their own skills in Cun Tao and to assist with teaching new students. The cost of attending the Cun Tao classes is included in the Poekoelan class charge, and to make scheduling easier, the Poekoelan class will be held immediately after the Cun Tao class.

Anyone interested in finding out more about our classes, please visit our website at http://www.roseandriver.com or give us a call at (512) 587-9189.

Point sparring vs. Free sparring at Rose and River

2006-06-20T13:06:00.000-05:00

Apologies for the late post, yesterday was very busy.

Sparring is a topic that comes up in almost all martial arts schools, types of sparring, rules, etc. There are basically two different types that you might encounter, Point sparring, and Free sparring.

Point sparring is usually considered a sport, opponents must reach a pre-determined number of points to win a match, there is a referee to call the points, and after each point the fighters line up on the line again. Points are determined by the area of the body, 2 points for some areas, 1 point for others, and striking to joints, the face, or below the belt is usually not allowed. There is an agreed upon set of rules that is set down by a "governing body" per region for point sparring used in multi-style tournaments. Many open tournaments in Texas use the A.O.K. rules found here http://www.theaok.org/rules2004.pdf The goal of point sparring is fairly straight forward...To score points on your opponent in order to win the match.

There are many different views on free sparring so it will not be possible to go into all of them. Free sparring is usually rougher than point sparring, and there are fewer rules. Opponents still line up on the line to start the fight, and usually fight for a pre-determined length of time, one to two minutes is the most common. The fight is not usually stopped unless there is a safety issue (such as safety gear coming off by accident, or getting too near sharp corners or mirrors) or if one opponent has been pinned by the other.

The goals in free sparring are somewhat more complicated and depend largely on the atmosphere of the school itself as well as the student's personal goals. Some goals at the level of the school could include the students' learning to defend themselves in a fight, learning what the limits of their endurance are, and learning what they are capable of. Student goals could include learning new moves, building endurance etc. In Free sparring there are no points, the referee is only there to ensure that things don't get too out of hand, and determining a winner is often not the desired result of a match. The students are there to test their skills against the skills of another, not to collect "glory", and as such, if both students have had a good fight, and no one got hurt, then they are both winners.

At Rose and River we do both kinds of sparring, but focus primarily on Free Sparring. Students do not begin any kind of sparring until they have completed the beginner's Cun Tao class and passed their white sash test. At white sash students begin learning the basics of Poekoelan which includes some sparring. Point sparring is for student who wish to participate in open tournaments.

For more information about classes at Rose and River please visit our website at http://www.roseandriver.com or call us at (512) 587-9189.

Poekoelan: Looking for location in Pflugerville

2006-06-12T14:47:00.000-05:00

We are in the process of looking for a new location in Pflugerville. We have found a likely location, and are in the process of getting it inspected and making our decision. We will hopefully be moving to this location either at the end of July, or early in August. Once we have made a decision on the new location and purchased the property some renovation will be needed, but classes should continue as normal.

Anyone interested in starting classes should contact us at 512-587-9189 or at info@roseandriver.com

Beginner's Class Starts First Form

2006-06-05T15:18:00.000-05:00

Last week the beginner's Cun Tao class began to learn their first form, Cun Tao Lunka. The purpose of this particular form is to help teach the various strikes (punches, kicks etc.) and to help the students learn to make their strikes both powerful and snappy. Hand strikes should start at the hip, strike and recoil in a clean, distinct manner. Kicks should be snappy and clean.

This particular form is very much for teaching purposes only and students should use it to learn the basics of the strikes as well as hand/foot coordination and striking power.

We promoted two students this weekend to second stripe. Congratulations to both of them!

Anyone interested in taking Practical Self Defense classes, or coming to watch a class please give us a call at 512-587-9189 or email at info@roseandriver.com Classes are held in a private studio and are limited to 4 people per class.

Memorial Day

2006-05-30T08:14:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day!

Cun Tao Progress Report - Martial Arts In Austin

2006-05-22T12:18:00.000-05:00

The Beginner's Cun Tao class is progressing well. We have started adding some conditioning material to the class to help build endurance. All of the students have completed the first 12 weeks of holds and show a good grasp of the material. Everyone has shown a marked overall improvement from when they joined the class, better balance, more endurance, and a good grasp of body mechanics.

We've changed the class time to begin at 9am due to the increasing heat. Students need to start bringing a T-shirt to work out in, shoes for outdoor workouts, and extra bottles of water or sports drink.

Beginner's class time has changed!

2006-05-15T12:05:00.000-05:00

Saturday class times have changed. The Cun Tao class will now meet from 9:00 to 10:00 AM and from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.

As always, anyone that would like to come and observe a class is welcome, but due to space limitations we ask that you call in advance.

We encourage you to come out and try one of our introductory classes! We offer 2 free classes to new and potential students. The first class is a private lesson that covers some of the basic safety issues in class, as well as rolling, falling, and some of the first week of material. The second lesson will be with a regularly scheduled class.

We can be contacted by email at info@roseandriver.com or by phone at 512-587-9189

Martial Arts Tournaments in and around Austin

2006-05-08T13:58:00.000-05:00

Here are a few links to Martial Arts Tournaments and or Tournament calendars for the Austin and Central Texas area.

Although we do not currently participate in the tournament circuit at Rose and River, we will likely start either this summer or early this fall.

The Amateur Organization of Karate Tournament Schedule http://www.theaok.org/schedule2006.htm

Austin Martial Arts Festival
http://www.austinmartialartsfestival.org/index.php

Texas Karate Organization
http://www.tkokarate.com/tournaments/calendar.asp

SportMartialarts.com has a searchable tournament database
http://www.sportmartialarts.com/index.cfm?action=maslinc.show_tournaments

Things you should never say to your Sensei...

2006-05-01T16:05:00.000-05:00

This is a bit tounge in cheek, but there are definitely a few in here that I have experienced first hand.

What you should never say to your Sensei:
-After his impressive breaking demo, say ' boards don't hit back
-Instead of bowing to him, raise your hand and say ' give me five
-What would you do if I shot you ?
-That looks just like Karate
-But WHY would a monkey steal a peach?
-Yes, sensei.
-'That looks more like an ape than a cat...'
-I'm just trying to sweat out a hangover today, so could you take it easy on me?
-When will I be a sensei?
-'You are not a Jedi yet.'
-Ever get your *** kicked ?
-That's not how Billy Blank punches.
-Can we start a Tae Bo class ?
-No, no, Sensei... it's like a finger pointing at the moon...
-No way! If a monkey fought a tiger then the monkey would NEVER win!
-Dragon Fan Form? So you've seen a dragon using a fan have you?
-How the hell can a panther make a fist?
-All right - now show us that again, but put these 18 hole Doc Martens on first. That's what people in the street wear
-Ah, so Jit Fu means Blocking Tiger. How many bullets can a tiger block?
-You come one step closer, old man, and you'll be coughing up pepper spray for a week!
-'What do I do with this long stick?'
-'Your kung fu may be good, but I bet I can drink you under the table...'
-'What do you do in real life?'
-That pushing hands didn't look real. He was just falling over for you."
-'The guy in the dojo down the road says your kung fu is pants...'
-'Aah! Daniel-san!'
-'Aah! Grasshopper!'
-(when sensei shows you a technique).."yeah, but check THIS out...".
-"...hmmm...yeah, that's cool, but I don't know if Bruce would do it that way...".
-I don't think you could hurt anyone with that technique.
-Bruce Lee was the greatest martial artist of all times.
-Wow, your daughter is one hot babe !
-I can't get that block right, can you show me it again (P.S. Be sure to have cell phone pre-dialed to 911 if you use this.)
-Oh, come on! That wouldn't really work.
-That workout wasn't tough at all.
-So, when does the work out REALLY begin?"

Things You don't want your Sensei to say to you...
-I'm going to try to do this lightly.
-That pressure point is located. . .
-Now, throw a punch at me
-Everyone do the next movement in the form, now hold still while I check
-Today we will work on internal strikes, here hold this phone book against your chest.
-Just one more. . .Ok now just one more. . .
-OK, block the first punch. . .
-I like to call myself a groin technologist.
-So, you want to date my daughter.
-Now, hold this apple in your mouth.
-You punch like David Carradine.
-Very funny.
-I once kicked Bruce Lee's ***.
-Try to catch this arrow.
-Okay, today you're all going to spar *my* sifu, whom, as you all know, I've never managed to beat...
-Right, this will be lots of fun...
-(If you are the current "demonstration toy) Now look what happens when I increase the pressure...
-Come and do forearm conditioning with me...
-'The first of you up from horse stance gets the first round in at the bar...'
-Ok better get the tiger balm
-Last one to finish their punches fights the Sensei...
-I brought A special guest To show us how to you the tiger claw right... ok you can let him out now... ouch he must have been hungry...
-Ok today we are sparring with my undefeated daughter full contact!!!
-(while you are sensei's "demonstration toy") "OK, that was the nice way to do that technique. Now let me demonstrate the mean and nasty way to do it."

Texas Heat - Safety and symptoms

2006-04-24T11:15:00.000-05:00

Summer seems to have hit us early this year in Texas, so a reminder about working out in the heat and precautions to take to avoid heat related illness seemed an appropriate topic for this week.

Heat related illness can affect anyone, no matter their physical condition, and people who exert themselves and workout in the heat need to be especially careful.

While working out make sure and drink plenty of fluids, either a sports drink, or water. Avoid drinks that have caffeine since they dehydrate the body.

Wear lightweight clothing and avoid layers. Layers help trap heat next to the body and can cause you to overheat faster.

Take regular breaks.

If you become dizzy, nauseated, or develop a headache stop immediately and move to a cooler place to rest.

"[Signs of Heat Exhaustion are] cool, moist, pale, flushed or red skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal." (1) You should go to a cool place and rest and drink small quantities of water in about 15 min. Intervals. Avoid drinking the water too fast as this could cause you to vomit. You should also apply cool damp cloths to help cool the skin.

"[Signs of Heat Stroke] include hot, red and dry skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high--sometimes as high as 105oF." (1) THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. Call 9-1-1 Immediately. Wrap the person in wet sheets and have them lie down and fan them. If possible, wrap ice packs in thin cloth and place them on the person's wrists and ankles. Keep them lying down.

We want to make sure that we train safely, so if you experience any of the symptoms above while working out, please let an instructor know immediately.

(1) http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/heat.html

New Student Information

2006-04-17T15:35:00.000-05:00

It occurred to me today that potential students might want to know what they're in for as a beginner at Rose and River. First off I will say that we offer the first two classes FREE so as to encourage people to come by and check us out, and to let them see what they will be getting into before committing any money.

The first class that a new student takes will be a private lesson with one of the instructors. The class itself lasts about an hour, and the student should show up 10-15 minutes early to fill out paperwork before hand. This also gives them time to ask any questions that they may have in advance. Students should wear comfortable loose clothing, a uniform is not required for the first few classes. Shoes are not allowed on the mats. Students under the age of 18 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian to their first class to watch class and sign paperwork.

The first class that a student takes covers safety in class, falling techniques, various kinds of rolls (front, back, sideways etc.) and part of the first week of self defense material. The self defense material is divided into 18 weeks and covers 100+ self defense situations. This first class is done as a private class so as not to interrupt other students training every time a new student joins the school.

The second free class is held with the regular class to give the student a true feel for what they are signing up for.

For more information about starting classes at Rose and River Martial Arts please email info@roseandriver.com

"Gotong Rojon" vs. "The instructor's right to withhold information"

2006-04-11T10:33:00.000-05:00

In talking with one of our students, (I ask them occasionally what they’d like to see me address in my blog) he said he’d like me to address the “dichotomy between the philosophies “share and share alike” and “the instructor’s right to withhold information because they want to stay better than their students.” For anyone reading who is not in one of our classes I should say that we end every class by saying “Gotong Rojon” meaning “share and share alike”

I cannot address the second half the statement “the instructor’s right to withhold information because they want to stay better than their students” because that is personal to every instructor, some instructors (many) do feel the need to stay better than their students in all areas, and may withhold information to retain their edge, but not all instructors feel that way, and not all instructors withhold information for that reason.

I can address “share and share alike” vs. “the instructor’s right to withhold information”.

The concept of Gotong Rojon as used in our style of Martial Arts is thusly – “The Javanese term gotong rojong--literally "collective bearing of burdens”” (1) we translate it as “share and share alike” to mean that the class as a whole shares everything in class; knowledge, rewards, punishment, laughter and tears. We are there to train in the Martial Arts, but we are also there to be “family”, albeit a tough love family. Higher ranked students are encouraged to teach lower ranked students the material appropriate for their level, conversely, if one student in the class is disciplined, the entire class gets to participate in that discipline (i.e. if one student is assigned pushups, the entire class does pushups). We are, for better or for worse, working together to achieve our collective goals.

The “instructor’s right to withhold information” is more of a responsibility than a right. It is the instructor’s job to determine if a student is ready for new material, and it is also their job to determine the level of detail at which they impart that information. One example would be the teaching of forms; at the lower levels if an instructor gives the student too much information the student can become overwhelmed, and may not remember any of it, thus wasting both their times. If however the instructor imparts the general knowledge (basic moves etc) without the more detailed analysis, the student has time to assimilate the information without feeling as overwhelmed, then at a later date (perhaps a higher sash level) the student will be taught the more detailed aspects of the form, as well as analysis.

The instructor generally works off of a curriculum of what the student is required to know in order to proceed to the next level of training, and for the vast majority of students, proceeding to the next level is their driving goal. With this in mind, many instructors do not feel that they need to teach the “extras” that they may have learned, until such a time as the student is no longer focused on “reaching the next level”. Some students however do warrant the extra attention, at which point it is at the instructor’s discretion if they want to teach that student the “extras”. Some instructors also like to encourage their students to think about and come up with explanations for “why we do such and such move” on their own, as part of their learning process, and so do not give them detailed analysis, preferring instead to have the student come up with and explain it on their own.

In the end, the two concepts “Gotong Rojon” and “the instructor’s right to withhold information” are almost totally unrelated. The former speaks to the class as a whole in how they should treat one another (including the sharing of knowledge) the latter speaks just to the instructor and their responsibilities therein.

(1) http://www.iwp.uni-linz.ac.at/lxe/sektktf/gg/GeertzTexts/AsianStudies1962Review.htm

For more information on the concept of “Gotong Rojon” the first paragraph of the website above has a brief overview of what the term means to the Javanese people.

Server Maintenance

2006-04-06T08:52:00.000-05:00

Our Webhosting service will be performing server maintenance over the next few weeks, so our website may be down at times while they complete their upgrade.

Self Defense Awareness

2006-04-03T16:32:00.000-05:00

While this article is talking about hand gun preparedness, and in that respect is not related to martial arts, their color alert scale for levels of awareness is perfectly applicable.

http://www.teddytactical.com/SharpenBladeArticle/4_States%20of%20Awareness.htm

Mas Jessica

No Class

2006-03-27T10:34:00.000-06:00

There was no class this past weekend due to scheduling conflicts, and there will be no class next weekend (April 1st) because we will be out of town. Everyone enjoy the break, and we'll see you when we get back.

Mas Shandy wrote an article on The four lines of Self Defense. You can check it out here.
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-4-Lines-of-Self-Defense&id=153807

Breathing and Leverage

2006-03-20T09:24:00.000-06:00

In the latter weeks of Cun Tao training, we tend to pick up the pace at which the self defense holds are done. This helps prepare students to react to a dangerous situation instead of thinking it out. It also helps prepare students for controlling the rush of adrenalin and learning to conserve their energy in a tense situation.

One of the important aspects of successfully completing Cun Tao is learning control; controlling breathing is both one of the most, and one of the least important aspects. Most students, once they start having the holds thrown at them faster and faster, tend to try and hyper-ventilate, matching each breath to each move that they do, and when they can't get air, become panicky and less focused on their self defense. Hyperventilation by it's very nature is self correcting; once a person passes out, their breathing will return to normal. This is not what we are aiming for however.

Students should learn to breath slower than normal, taking deeper breaths and trying to remain calm, "finding their center" if you will. This will help them get through the increasing demands of Cun Tao, and later, if they encounter a situation on the street, will help them defend themselves without becoming as panicky and distraught due to lack of air.

A second aspect of learning control in Cun Tao is learning to use leverage. If a student relies too heavily on their ability to muscle an opponent over, they risk tiring themselves needlessly which can affect their ability to breath easily and they risk running into someone bigger than them who cannot be muscled over. In addition there are more mundane hazards to worry about such as pulled muscles and sore backs.

The very basis of Poekoelan, as taught in Cun Tao, is how to use leverage. Poekoelan was created for small people, to use against larger people, but that does not mean a larger person can't learn how to do it; they just have to work harder at it.

Learning to make use of leverage in the end means a lot less effort needs to be put into each situation, allowing the student to conserve their energy in order to face whatever may be coming next. If partnered with calm, slow breathing, this should help the student succeed in Cun Tao and it's increasing demands.

Safety in Class

2006-03-13T07:57:00.000-06:00

Martial Arts, by their very nature, are dangerous; Poekoelan perhaps more so than others because we encourage students to put their heart into it and commit to their attacks even in class. The goal in this is to prepare students, so that if they are attacked outside of class, they react automatically, and without panic. This format however makes it more difficult to teach students classroom safety and at the same time makes classroom safety doubly important.

The main points of classroom safety that I want to touch on today are paying attention to your surroundings, respect for fellow students, and respect for the instructors.

Paying attention to your surroundings is important in all aspects of life, and being aware that a situation is potentially dangerous can help to keep you out of trouble. In the classroom, paying attention to what's going on around you can help to keep you safe from unintentional flying weapons; can help you to save someone who has lost their balance and gone crashing toward something sharp; and can keep you from injuring someone unintentionally.

Showing resepect for your fellow students can keep you safe in a number of ways in the classroom. In an ideal world, no one would ever get angry, and you would never need to worry about someone's anger. This is not an ideal world, and people can get angry. Being respectful to your fellow students, allowing and helping them to train to the utmost of their abilities and supporting them when they are having difficulties is important to foster good relations in class. Remember, everything you do to them, they get to do to you. Give them respect, and you will gain their respect.

Showing resepct for your instructors is simply good common sense, especially when they are teaching techniques. They are the instructors for a reason, and know more about their particular system than you do. Because of this, attacking without warning, or surprising the instructor can be dangerous. They may simply react to the situation of being attacked and do what they have been trained to do. i.e. bring down lots of hurt. Being disrespectful to an instructor can have different results at different schools, everything ranging from lots of pushups, to unintentional injuring of a student, to being thrown out of the school.

So as you can see, safety in the classroom is very important to avoid injury to yourself and to others. Pay attention to what's going on, and what you're being taught, and be respectful of others and help us keep Rose and River injury free.

Poekoelan Conference in Austin TX

2006-03-06T15:35:00.000-06:00

By all accounts there is a tension that exists within the Poekoelan family. This tension comes from events that happened almost 30 years ago at the time of Goeroe Willy's death, with his students taking one side of the issue or the other. This fracture has haunted the system, and created bitterness (understandably) that still exists.

We (the instructors) at Rose and River are 5th river students. Our students are a few generations removed from Goeroe Willy and those events, and while those events were tragic, we feel that it is time to start working together again, to become a "Poekoelan family" again. It is unfortunate that bits and pieces of the art are being lost due to the inability of those within the system to cooperate and share their learning.

We would like to find out if there is interest within the Poekoelan community to have a 3-4 day conference to bring together the different aspects of Poekoelan so that we may all share and grow within the art. We would like to have a conference in Austin TX, some time next winter (It's nice down here in the winter...Can't beat 60 degrees in February). If anyone is interested in attending this type of conference, or would like to find out more about our ideas for the conference please email me at info@roseandriver.com

Poekoelan: It's not as unknown as you might think

2006-02-28T09:48:00.000-06:00

In all of the time I've studied Poekoelan, I have had it drilled into me that Poekoelan is not a well known art. It is not as prolific as Judo, nor is it as well recognized as Tai Kwon Do, or any of the other big, well know, Martial Arts. So you can imagine my shock, (and delight) to find another practitioner in the Austin area last year. We met and talked a few times, and practiced together once or twice, and then never heard from her again.

Then, to my utter amazement, in a casual conversation with my neighbor I mentioned Rose and River, and that we teach Poekoelan Tjimindie Kung Fu, and watched him almost have a heart attack. It seems he studied Poekoelan in Ohio before he moved to Austin. Poekoelan is out there, you could have a practitioner living next door to you, and never know it.

If you're a Poekoelan Tjimindie student in the Austin Area (or want to become one!) Please contact us through our website www.roseandriver.com

Poekoelan in Austin TX

2006-02-24T14:41:00.000-06:00

We have finally opened our doors and we're looking for new students interested in learning Martial Arts and self defense.

A little about our system:

Cun Tao is the basis of the system of Poekoelan Tjimindie Kung Fu. In the Cun Tao class, a student will learn more than 100 self defense situations--including defenses against gun, knife, and rifle.

It is in this class that the student begins to build the foundation that will be the basis for his or her self expression in the more advanced levels. The student is exposed to the totem animals of the style and is encouraged to explore how each animal moves in terms of the self defense holds.
In addition to the self defense holds, the student begins to learn the two fundamental forms. The first develops the ability to move and strike at the same time, while the second teaches some of the many hand strikes used in Poekoelan.

To find out more about us visit us at http://www.roseandriver.com