February Event Roundup: Happy Chinese New Year!

Year of the tiger! Image provided by http://hotleaderceleb.blogspot.com/

February 14 marks Chinese new year, the year of the Tiger. As the tiger traditionally symbolizes bravery in Chinese culture (and with good reason – when’s the last time you’ve seen a timid tiger?), it is believed that those born in Year of the Tiger exhibit a fiercely independent and courageous personality.

Were you born during a Year of the Tiger?
You were if you were born in one of these years:
1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, and 1998.

Not surprisingly, there are many Chinese New Year celebrations happening throughout the Bay Area, including the always exciting celebrations throughout Chinatown in San Francisco. This year’s festivities (sponsored by Southwest Airlines) will include a flower market fair, basketball jamboree, community festival, parade, petting zoo, martial arts demonstrations, Miss Chinatown pageant, Chinatown run, and more!

For a full schedule of events, go to http://www.chineseparade.com/.

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More upcoming martial arts events in the Bay Area:

TAO: The Martial Art of Drumming
2/6-2/26, Friday-Saturday, 8 pm
Marin Civic Center: Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium
10 Avenue of the Flags San Rafael, CA 94903

More Details:

“Athletic bodies and contemporary costumes meet explosive Taiko drumming and innovative choreography in this show that has critics waxing lyrical about TAO’s extraordinary precision, energy, and stamina. The stars of TAO live and train at a compound in the mountains of Japan, reaching the highest level of virtuosity only after years of intensive study. These performers each bring nontraditional flair to the group by drawing on their diverse backgrounds: one as a hard rock musician, another a gymnast, and yet another as a composer. They offer a young and vibrantly modern take on a traditional Japanese art form.”

http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/CU/Main/mc/index.cfm

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Albany Chinese New Year Celebration
2/9, Tuesday 3:30 – 5 pm
Albany Community Center Main Hall, Albany, CA

More Details:
“The Chinese New Year Celebration is one of our most popular children’s events! This FREE event includes singing, dancing, martial arts demonstrations, dragon dance and gift bags for children. Learn all about the history of the Chinese Zodiac and Lunar New Year traditions.”

http://www.albanyca.org/

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Tiny Tigers
2/9 – 3/25, Tuesdays & Thursdays 2:30 – 3:15 pm
Tamalpais Valley Community Center, Mill Valley, CA

More Details:
“Our Tiny Tigers program is designed to help children ages 4 to 6 improve their motor skills and enhance their ability to pay attention and follow instructions. All students will experience a safe, fun, and exciting learning environment. Instructor Greg LeMoi has taught Martial Arts for over 28 years. He teaches children, adults, and those with physical and/or developmental disabilities.”

http://www.tcsd.us/jadworks/tcsd/jwsuite.nsf/sitewelcome/Home

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Family Taekwondo
2/9 – 3/25, Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:15 – 4 pm
Tamalpais Valley Community Center, Mill Valley, CA

More Details:
“The family that kicks together – sticks together! Class is for all ages and abilities. Parents and children train side-by-side. Some of the benefits you can expect from your training are: Physical Fitness, Self-Defense, Coordination, and Flexibility. Instructor Greg LeMoi has been involved with Martial Arts for over 28 years. A member of ATA for over 10 years. He has taught children and adults of all ages, including those with physical and/or developmental disabilities.”

http://www.tcsd.us/jadworks/tcsd/jwsuite.nsf/sitewelcome/Home

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5th Annual BASKA KICK -OFF Championships
2/13, Saturday
Pinole Valley High Gymnasium
2900 Pinole Valley Road
Pinole CA

More Details:

http://www.baskaonline.com/events.php?e=46

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Delta SmackDown
2/20, Saturday
Hyatt Regency
101 American Ave. Brentwood, CA 94513

More Details:

http://www.amapaallstars.com/events.html

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Girl Army Self-Defense 1-Day Workshop for Haiti Relief Fund
2/21, Sunday 1-4 pm
Suigetsukan Dojo
103 International Blvd., Oakland

More Details:

“Girl Army is offering a one-day basic self-defense workshop for women and trans folks on Sunday, February 21st. All proceeds from this workshop will go to Partners in Health for Haiti relief efforts. Please come out and show your support! Girl Army is a self-defense collective dedicated to peer-taught and affordable physical and psychological self-defense for women and trans folks of all cultures. We are committed to providing a safe and supportive space. We are a community-based collective, run entirely on volunteer work and some student contributions. $0-100 sliding scale (no one turned away for lack of funds).”

http://bluesnakeblog.wordpress.com/2010/02/08/be-a-one-girl-army/

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Tales of the Nian
2/23, Tuesday, 11 am
Marin Civic Center: Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium
10 Avenue of the Flags San Rafael, CA 94903

More Details:

“Lions have never lived in China, so why do “Lions” dance at Chinese New Year Celebrations? Blending masterful Lion Dance with storytelling and martial arts, Marin Chinese Cultural Association reveals the legend behind the Lion Dance and other New Year’s traditions. Watch lions frolic with their “babies” and “climb the mountain” and learn why celebrating a new year in China is known as “Surviving the Nian.” General Admission: Adult $8.50 General Admission: Child $8.50”

http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/CU/Main/mc/index.cfm

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Chinese Culture Center Spring Festival
2/28, Saturday, 11 am – 4 pm
Chinese Culture Center
750 Kearny Street, 3rd Floor San Francisco, CA 94108

More Details:

“Great fun for the entire family! Exhibitions, crafts, demonstrations, New Year food tastings, performances of lion dances, martial arts, folk and classical dances and much more. Come and bring your friends and family! There will also be interesting booths and prizes for participants to win. This is the largest indoor celebration in San Francisco. Don’t miss it!”

http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/events/springfestival.html

Don’t see your event listed? Tell us about it! We’d love to feature all of your upcoming Bay Area martial arts events on our blog. Email us at kengh[at]northatlanticbooks[dot]com.

Be a One Girl Army

Girl Army 1-Day Workshop for Haiti Relief Fund

Girl Army is offering a one-day basic self-defense workshop for women and trans folks on Sunday, February 21st. All proceeds from this workshop will go to Partners in Health for Haiti relief efforts. Please come out and show your support!

Girl Army is a self-defense collective dedicated to peer-taught and affordable physical and psychological self-defense for women and trans folks of all cultures. We are committed to providing a safe and supportive space. We are a community-based collective, run entirely on volunteer work and some student contributions.

$0-100 sliding scale (no one turned away for lack of funds)

Sunday, February 21st
1-4pm
Suigetsukan Dojo
103 International Blvd., Oakland
(near Lake Merritt BART)

To pre-register, please email girlarmyoakland[at]gmail[dot]com.

For more information about Girl Army: http://girlarmy.org
For more information about Suigetsukan Dojo: http://suigetsukan.org

Have a Bay Area martial arts event you’d like to post on the Blue Snake Blog? Email us at Kengh[at]northatlanticbooks[dot]com.

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Can’t make it to this event, but still want to learn more about self defense? Check out our book, Self Defense for Peaceable People by John Townsend.

Great online self-defense resources:

No Nonsense Self-Defense

KidsHealth.org

Safety for Women

Defend U

Blue Snake Is Looking for an Intern!

Publicity Intern – Blue Snake Books
(Berkeley, CA)
Blue Snake Books is offering an exciting opportunity to intern at a growing independent trade publisher.  As an intern, you will work closely with our publicists and marketing staff to learn the fundamentals of book promotion while gaining valuable, real-world experience in a highly competitive industry.  Our supportive, small company environment (around 25 employees) will allow you to gain an understanding of a publishing house as a whole. This unpaid position is ideal for anyone looking for hands-on experience in book marketing and publicity.

Blue Snake Books was developed in 2005 as a martial arts imprint and is presently the largest publisher of internal and historical martial arts books in the world. The ideal candidate for this internship will have some interest and/or knowledge of martial arts.

Responsibilities may include:
*Creating and proofread press releases
*Researching martial arts media outlets for online publicity
*Mailing promotional review copies as needed
*Contributing original material to the Blue Snake Books blog
*Compiling excerpts for online use
*Contacting local dojos for info on upcoming martial arts events

Requirements:
*4-7 hours a week time commitment (1-2 days per week)
*Undergraduate or Graduate student
*Interest in publishing
*Excellent written and oral communication skills
*Comfortable working in a Mac-based environment
*Microsoft Office experience and familiarity with the internet (Adobe Suite skills a plus)
*Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize

Internship will run through Spring Semester, 2010, between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday. Start date is flexible, preferably early as soon as possible. This internship is unpaid, but interns may arrange for academic credit through their college or university.

If you are interested in this position, please send your resume and a cover letter detailing your interest, qualifications, and availability to Kat Engh (kengh[at]northatlanticbooks[dot]com).

Great Deals on Bay Area Martial Arts Classes

Kitaido image provided by Wikimedia Commons

‘Tis the season to get in shape, grow stronger, find peace, and gain a better grounding. What better way to keep your new year’s resolutions than to enroll in a martial arts class? There’s no better time to sign up for martial arts classes than January, when dojos and fitness centers begin offering specials in anticipation of new members hoping to unload the post-holiday guilt. Below are just  few deals we’ve found in the Bay Area, but as we’ve learned, if there’s a dojo, studio, or gym close to your home that you’d like to check out, many are willing to offer a free first class to check out their style of teaching and find the right fit for your needs. It never hurts to stop by or give them a call to find out about any special rates or promotions they’re offering.

Free Meditation Classes
Sundays, 6:30 pm
7th Heaven Yoga
2820 7th St, Berkeley
http://7thheavenyoga.com/schedule.html

Open Roda – Capoeira
Last Friday, every month, 6 – 7 pm
United Capoeira Association, Berkeley
http://www.capoeira.bz/index2.html

10% OFF a 1, 3 or 6 month membership when paid in full
$75 Gift Card, good for pro shop, with a one year membership when paid in full
(Offers expire 1/31/10)
One Martial Arts, San Francisco
http://www.onemartialarts.com/

Three Lesson Confidence Course – No Strings Attached
Berkeley Martial Arts & Kickboxing Academy
http://www.berkeleymartialarts.com/trial_membership_berkeley_ca.html

Free Trial Class
Bay Area Martial Arts Academy, Belmont and Portola Valley locations
http://www.bayareamartialartsacademy.com/

Free Trial Class
Academy of WingChun, San Francisco
http://www.iaw-sanfrancisco.com/05_contactus.html

TECHNIQUE AND THE WAY By Phillip Starr

Phillip Starr demonstrating an example of freestyle sparring practice (from his book Martial Maneuvers)

Phillip Starr has authored three books with Blue Snake Books, including Martial Maneuvers and Martial Mechanics, and is a regular monthly contributor to the Blue Snake Blog.

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It occurs to me that many martial arts schools nowadays don’t really teach a martial art, per se.  Rather, they emphasize the development of martial technique as the be-all, end-all of a student’s training. Certainly, learning and practicing technique is important but I believe that a true martial art must go beyond mere physical skill.

The Eastern martial arts are different from most other art forms because they place high importance on the development of the practitioner’s character as well as his physical technique.  In the West we’re not accustomed to thinking of, or practicing any particular art with  this idea in mind.  In the West it’s all about technique, about getting from Point A to Point B as efficiently as possible.  We rarely consider looking at everything that happens in the process of getting from A to B and how those things impact our character.
I know, it sounds pretty abstract.  Let’s put it into perspective by looking at one particular Oriental art; chado.  The word “cha” refers to  tea (in both Chinese and Japanese) and the word “do” (or ‘dao” in Chinese)  refers to a “way, a path…”  So “chado” means, “The Way of Tea.”  And it  involves much more than simply boiling a nice pot of tea.  Much.  More.

The process begins long before the tea is even made.  The chado practitioner (chadoka) must take time to center himself and prepare his mind and spirit for the task at hand.  If the event is to be conducted in a  traditional Japanese teahouse, the path leading to the door must be ceremonially cleaned before anything else is done.

All of the utensils that will be used in the making and serving of the tea must be scrupulously cleaned and all in accordance with certain “rules of technique and conduct.”  The tea must be prepared in a very specific way and it is served and experienced (I hesitate to use the word “taste”, as that simply doesn’t get the idea across…), and so on.  The whole event can be likened to performing a Japanese kata (form), not unlike those that are seen in the practice of myriad martial disciplines.

In the West we would see all of this persnickety-ness as a waste of time.  After all, isn’t the idea just to brew up some tea and drink it?

No, it isn’t.

The whole process is an experience.  It is disciplined, precise, and simplistically beautiful.  And doing it impacts the character of the practitioner.

When you practice a particular technique, you know that it must be done just so.  Perfection of any technique is a lifelong pursuit.  The same is true of forms.  Most people practice for a short time and then give in and give up.  Some of them are happy to settle for being mediocre and they lack the intestinal fortitude to continue to push and discipline themselves.

Learning technique isn’t too difficult and almost anybody can achieve some measure of skill with it.  But the true art is beyond that; it is a striving for perfection for its own sake that reveals the real art and develops the true martial arts practitioner.

Bay Area Martial Arts Events: January

The world of martial arts really offers a myriad of opportunities to grow physically, spiritually, and mentally, and the upcoming martial arts events in the Bay Area provide ample possibilities to grow in just about every capacity. Whether it’s a relaxing meditation class to overcome stress and grief, or an exciting kicking tournament, Bay Area local dojos, masters, and martial arts associations are offering classes, tournaments, and other exciting opportunities this month for martial artists of all ages.

BASKA Earth Shattering Tournament
1/9, Saturday
Bay Area Sport Karate Association
Overfelt High School
1835 Cunningham Avenue
San Jose CA

More Details:

http://www.baskaonline.com/

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AMAPA Open Mat & Black Belt Judges’ Meeting
1/16, Saturday
Affiliated Martial Arts Promoters Association
Pallen’s Martial Arts
13752 Doolittle Dr.
San Leandro, CA 94577

More Details:

“Contact Jordan or Felipa Pallen @510.483.6560 for more information”

http://www.amapaallstars.com/events.html

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AMAPA KickOff IKF Point/ Muay Thai Kickboxing
1/23, Saturday
Affiliated Martial Arts Promoters Association
Deer Valley High School
4700 Lone Tree Way
Antioch, CA 94531

More Details:

http://www.amapaallstars.com/events.html

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The Gold Cup 2010 “Kick Off”
1/23, Saturday
Gold Cup Circuit
Portola Junior High School
1021 Navellier St
El Cerrito, CA 94530

More Details:

“Gold Cup Circuit has been promoting Open Karate Tournaments since 1995. We invite you to come to our Kick Off event on January 23, 2010 to see for yourself what we have to offer.”

http://www.goldcupcircuit.com/index.cfm?page=5

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Destiny’s First Annual Move-a-Thon
1/23 Saturday 10 am – 10 pm
Destiny Arts Center
1000 42ND Street
Oakland, CA 94608

More Details:

“Back-to-back hip-hop, modern, salsa and hula dance classes, along with yoga, martial arts and kick boxing classes.”

http://www.destinyarts.org/

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Peking Acrobats
1/23-1/24, Saturday-Sunday, 2 pm (Saturday)/ 3 pm (Sunday)
UC Berkeley – Zellerbach Hall
Berkeley, CA

http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/CU/Main/mc/index.cfm

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Imagery, Energy, Movement & Relaxation
1/30, Saturday,10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Sutter VNA and Hospice Bereavement Support
San Mateo, CA

More Details:

“Workshop is for adults grieving current or past deaths or those anticipating an impending death. Images that fill our minds have a powerful effect on our wellbeing. Using imagery, we explore blocks to natural energy flow & release what is stagnant. Movements use the natural forces within & all around & invite balance. Facilitator Kitty Costello Ms, MFT is a licensed psychotherapist & 5th degreee blackbelt Shoalin Master martial artists & teacher. Suitabile for ages 21 and up, price: sliding-scale $20-$25; scholarships available.”

http://events.contracostatimes.com/san-mateo-ca/events/show/93038465-imagery-energy-movement-relaxation

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WingChun Seminar
1/31, Sunday, 1 – 5 pm
International Academy of WingChun, San Francisco

More Details:

“Goal: Solidify and check your program, Testing: SL 1-8, Prerequisite: None, Instructor: Sihing Paul Wang.”

http://www.iaw-us.com/events.html

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Don’t see your event listed here? Email us! We’d love to support your upcoming martial arts events in the Bay.

Yiliquan Goes International

Mr. Mark Stapleton, a well-known Seven-Star Praying Mantis and Wing Chun instructor in Ireland was recently certified as European Director for the Yiliquan Martial Arts Association, which is chaired by Blue Snake’s own Phillip Starr (founder of Yiliquan Kung-Fu and author of Martial Maneuvers and Martial Mechanics). Mark has been training in Yiliquan for some time and has made more than one trip to the U.S. where he stays in Mr. Starr’s home and trains daily with both Mr. Starr and Jeremy Thompson, the Chief Instructor for the Association. Currently, Mr. Stapleton is organizing the First European Yiliquan Training Camp, which will be held in Kilkenny, Ireland in February.

Congrats, Mark! Phillip Starr has trained you well!

Using Reason This Season: Gift Ideas to Inspire Kids to Aspire

Image from http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/

Yesterday, a poll was released asking parents what lengths they would be willing to go to secure the perfect gift for their children this holiday season. Though the number seems low at first glance, it still surprised me that 6% of parents polled said they would be willing to knock over another person to grab the toy most-coveted by their children. When I hear stories like this, or the story of someone actually getting trampled and hurt/killed during the holiday gift rush, it makes me wonder what kind of self-control and life lessons these people are teaching there children. Is it OK to go to extremes if it means putting a smile on the face of your child Christmas morning? What makes any toy so valuable that a parent would lose sleep over it? And more importantly, what does this kind of attitude and behavior teach children?

While holiday gifts don’t have to be educational or contribute to building personal ethics/morals/etc, one of the greatest gifts you can give to your child is something that is both fun and character-building. Martial arts classes can be a great gift to your children; they learn personal discipline, build strength and overall fitness, and gain confidence as they progress. There’s a couple bonuses for parents, too; you’ll never find yourself standing outside of the doors of a dojo at 4 am, elbow-to-elbow with other parents, waiting to do a hundred-meter dash to the ideal gift, and this time of year, many local martial arts centers offer specials and discounts for the new year. If you’re looking to lose a few pounds and/or work on your own fitness, an even better gift would be signing up together with your child. You’ll save yourself money on a gym membership, have quality time built into both yours and your child’s schedule, and have fun as you watch yourself transform.

Because there’s nothing quite like tearing the wrapping paper off of a gift and revealing the surprise, a great way to still give your kid something tangible Christmas morning is to pre-purchase something related to the martial art you’ve chosen. Wrap a ghi in your child’s size, and when he or she tears through the paper, you can reveal that it is more than just something to wear when playing “ninjas” in the backyard.

Our book, The Kids’ Karate Workbook by Didi Goodman will also make a fun and thoughtful gift this holiday season. Filled with puzzles and games to help young karate students learn the principles and training practices of the art, Examiner.com hails Goodman’s guide as “an exceptional choice” for a gift for young martial artists. (Read the full, glowing review here.)

What’s better, to make things really easy, you can order it online here. No lines, no hastle, and no headaches necessary. Order your copy today!

Guest Blog: CHI-KU AND TRADITIONAL TRAINING

 

Phillip Starr has authored three books with Blue Snake Books, including his latest work, Martial Maneuvers, and a monthly contributor to our blog. He has been involved in martial arts for over 50 years and has been teaching martial arts professionally since 1971. Included in the “Kung Fu Hall of Fame” by Inside Kung Fu magazine, Starr has been named a U.S. National Champion by the United States Karate Association.

For more insights and updates from Phillip, follow him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/yilishihfu

 

CHI-KU AND TRADITIONAL TRAINING

by Phillip Starr

In the practice of contemporary martial arts there is a tendency for instructors and students to shy away from any training routine that involves the possibility of much discomfort or injury. This is only natural; as human beings we usually don’t usually flock to engage in activities that are inherently painful or risky and we tend to take a hard look at those “weirdos” who do.

I recall watching a group of students practice one-step fighting in a particular martial arts school some years ago. The attacker would step back into the usual pre-attack position, executing a snappy low block as he did so. When the receiver was ready to perform his defensive maneuver he would utter a strong chi-he (kiai) and the attacker would execute a powerful lunging thrust. The receiver would step back, block the attack, and deliver a crisp counter-attack.

Sound familiar? Sure, it does. It’s the usual one-step fighting drill, which is used in all percussive martial arts. Except for one thing…The participants were standing at least eight feet apart. When the receiver executed his blocking technique he never touched the aggressor’s arm! And when he counter-punched his fist was at least four feet away from the attacker’s body!

Naturally, I asked the instructor why the students didn’t touch each other at all during this common training exercise. He told me that he didn’t want them to bruise their arms or risk striking each other if their blows weren’t adequately controlled.

Good Lord.

Well, these folks will be in great shape if they’re ever attacked by a strong gust of wind.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I certainly don’t advocate uncontrolled violence as a training tool. I remember visiting another martial arts school whose members engaged in full-contact sparring within two weeks of enrollment! The neophytes, who had no real knowledge of martial arts technique, were thrown to the lions (the more experienced students) like so much raw meat. To say they got the stuffing pounded out of them would be a serious understatement. The instructor reasoned that if one wanted to become skilled at fighting one had to know what it is like to get hit. Students were told that they had to learn to keep going even if they’d been struck very forcefully because this is what “real combat is like.” Good thing they didn’t teach swordsmanship.

Certainly, I believe that students need to develop strong technique and a strong spirit through rigorous training. The key word in that sentence is rigorous. I believe that real martial arts technique and spirit cannot be understood or developed except through the application of controlled violence.

Beginning students are unable to understand this concept and it has to be presented to them very gradually. But as they grow and develop their skills, they must learn to accept this fact and train accordingly. Violence is, after all, why the martial arts were originally developed. They were not cultivated to help their followers discover their “inner child”, as a panacea for various ailments, or for thrilling audiences.

I recently told my students that they would learn much more from pain and discomfort than they ever would from sheltered contentment. In traditional Japanese martial arts there is a term describing this type of practice. It is nangyo (in Chinese, nanhang). It refers to hardship (nan) and a road which is traveled by many people, perhaps a crossroads. This is an accepted part of the traditional martial ways; a necessary ingredient for the development of true skill and understanding. The Chinese usually refer to this particular aspect of training as chi-ku (literally, “eat bitter”).

In contrast to the aforementioned karate school wherein participants never touched each other, the former head of the Japan Karate Association, Master Masatoshi Nakayama (dec.), recalled that when he was training under Master Gichin Funakoshi during his college years his arms would be so sore and bruised from blocking his partner’s attacks that he could hardly lift them. Another kendo master spoke of being struck so hard on the front of his helmet (men) that it knocked him to his knees and splintered his partner’s shinai.

Students of the legendary Morihei Uyeshiba (founder of aikido) recalled how his vise-like grip would leave bruises on their wrists and Americans who trained in judo under the revered Kyuzo Mifune spoke of being thrown so hard that they were rendered unconscious. My own teacher, Master W. C. Chen, remembered seeing exhausted classmates bow, run out of the drill line, and vomit.

Some of these things would be considered a tad excessive by today’s standards but it gives you an idea of what traditional training was like “back in the day.” It was not done because the instructor was a sadistic brute who wanted to puff out his machismo for all the world to see (although such instructors, if that term can be applied to them, have always existed). The instructor’s first and only concern was for the students, to help them develop real skill as opposed to something that only looks good but has no real internal substance.

In time, students develop a strong sense of self-confidence. They don’t fear being attacked because that happens every night that they attend class. Some years ago one of my students was forced to defend himself against what I call an “Americanus Vomitus” (otherwise known as a common “puke”). When he told me about it he smiled and said, “I wasn’t really afraid of the guy at all. Heck, I get punched at by professionals at least three times a week in the training hall!”

For the teachers of the traditional budo (“martial ways”; in Chinese, wu-dao) it’s a delicate balance; how far to push the students and keep the violence inherent within the martial arts under control. Naturally, no competent teacher wants to see a student get hurt but some minor injuries are unavoidable and to be expected. Anyone who’s spent much time in the martial arts has had his or her fair share of split lips, strawberries, bruises, and the like. Some have even broken a small bone or two. It happens; it’s simply the nature of the beast and a necessary part of the developmental processes of the budo. But it is the responsibility of the instructor and senior students to do their best to ensure that the violence never escalates beyond a certain level.

As a student’s skill increases the attacks he faces in the training hall must be more realistic until, at an advanced level, they are real. That is, if he fails to perform his defensive maneuver correctly he may well be knocked on his tail.

At the same time, students must (gradually) learn that a bloody lip isn’t the end of the world and it’s still possible to continue training even after getting smacked in the ribs. Chi-ku.

December Event Roundup: Upcoming Bay Area Martial Arts Events

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Open to the Public: Aikido Training & Instruction at UCSF
12/2, Wednesdays, 8pm-9:30pm
UC San Francisco – 500 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco
Millberry Union Building, Level I, Studio 1
For more information, contact Toyama Sensei at aikiodori@yahoo.com

New students always warmly welcomed. No prior experience with martial arts, uniform, or equipment required.
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Annual Rank Promotion Cermony
12/5, Saturday, 10am-1:30pm
Santa Cruz Dojo, Claudio França Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 2-1507 East Cliff Drive
Santa Cruz, 95062

http://www.claudiofrancabjj.com/calendar.htm

Note: Ceremony is followed by a holiday lunch.

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Bay Area Martial Arts Academy
Annual Winter Promotional & Potluck
12/5, Saturday, 5pm-8pm
617 Moutain View Ave, Suite #8, Belmont, CA, USA

http://www.bayareamartialartsacademy.com/?q=node/107

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Women’s Self Defense Course in Alameda
12/12, Saturday, 10:15am-12:15pm
Alameda Aikido Dojo – 2025 Clement Ave. Alameda 94501

This is a 2 hour women’s self defense course focusing on self defense techniques modified for street and home defense from attackers. The cost is $35 (adults), or $20 (teens). You may prepay through Paypal or pay on the day of the course by cash or check. No credit cards accepted. Instructors include Elmer Tancinco, 4th degree black belt in Aikido (Chief Instructor Alameda Aikido), and George Sandoval, 4th degree black belt in Aikido ( Chief Instructor Hayward Martial Arts).
****IF YOU BRING 1 GUEST, YOUR FEE WILL BE REDUCED BY 50%, 2 GUESTS & YOUR FEE WILL BE FREE! ****

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Tribull Mixed Martial Arts Centers
Christmas Party
12/19, Saturday, 6pm-10pm
1043 Garland Ave. (at Race St.), San Jose, 95126

http://tribullmma.typepad.com/my_weblog/calendar.html

Details to be announced.