Eastern Way Martial Arts

2008-05-07T03:25:00.000-07:00

The name of Eastern Way martial Arts has changed. Please see the new blogspot for:

Training Hall of Lions: Simba DoJang

http://simbadojang.blogspot.com/

At Eastern Way Martial Arts you will learn traditional martial arts. Here you will learn self-defense skills, gain fitness and become part of a tradition. One person called martial arts the oldest unbroken chain of human learning. Martial arts is passed from person to person and when you join class you become part of that chain that streches back into the past and into the future.

When I was learning and as I continue to learn martial arts, I learned also a deeper meaning of traditional values like hard work, fairness, integrity, respect, and responsibility. The lessons are there in the martial arts, but like life, if you don't pay attention they pass by without notice.

Besides, while becoming a part of this tradition and gaining fitness, flexibility and learning, you will have fun. Kids and adults are welcome to come try a class with no obligation.

I have to smile when I remember I used to think I was not the martial arts type. Then I gave it a try and found out the "martial arts type" is alot of different people. You will never know until you try.

How to choose an instructor

2008-03-22T09:40:00.001-07:00

Choosing an martial arts school is more than choosing a location to train in. Before you decide, I encourage you to read this article:

http://www.paperwindow.com/tkd/

Then click on "Reference Desk"

Then "Frequently Asked Questions"

The "How do I choose and instructor"

I know it would be easier to provide a direct link, but I can't make that work.

I think the info is worth the effort. :)

No Contracts

2008-03-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

At Eastern Way Martial Arts, you will never be asked to sign a contract.

My goal is to provide a constantly high quality of instruction so you will come back to class because you want to, not because you have a contract.

What can you learn at Eastern Way Martial Arts?

2008-02-28T04:34:00.000-08:00

At Eastern Way you will learn classical Tae Kwon Do (TKD). If you have no knowledge of martial arts, this will give you an idea of what is taught here. If you know what TKD is about, just read on. You may be surprised.

Classical TKD is low to the ground and focuses on straight attacks.

We do the old school stances that generate great power from the ground up. This is especially good for the smaller person who will naturally have less muscle power. Traditional stances teach you to use your entire body and much of the power of your hand strikes will come from your feet, legs, and hips. When your entire body works in cooperation you have awesome power.

TKD is known for high kicks and flying kicks. We do those kicks, which are great for certain body types. Personally, I love them for kicking bags, they are so much fun. But in sparring and self-defense, practical is better for me. Techniques that use less energy are better for me. My decision was to move toward economy of energy and practicality. But some people have the power and energy to make those flying kicks work when sparring. Rather than decide that for you, I teach everything my teacher taught me. Once you become a black belt, then it will be time to decide what to use for yourself.

Some TKD has become so enamored of kicking, that they rarely even use their hands. In fact, some people who only know a little about TKD believe that hands are rarely used in TKD.

That was not always the case. Because my teacher and his teacher and his teacher did not adopt that view of TKD, we still practice all the hand techniques.

Why is that a good thing?

Because while we use the powerful legs when the situation calls for that, kicking uses more of the body, so it is slower and takes more energy. Also, you will need more distance from your opponent to kick. When in close, you will need to use your hands, elbows and knees. And, some of the best self defense targets are more easily reached by hands than by feet. Kicks have their place, but they are not the only weapon you will learn to use.

We all know the saying, "When the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." Taking away the very versatile hands as one of your tools would limit what you even see as a self-defense target. That is the last thing you would need if your life is in danger. You will need the knowledge to use the targets and tools you have available in the situation, whether it is sparring or self-defense.

Why martial arts?

2008-01-29T13:52:00.003-08:00

Why train in martial arts? If you have ever started a workout program, only to slow down, then stop after a while, maybe martial arts will be different for you.

The difference is that there is always a reason to go to class: learning something new, seeing the people you train with, just letting off steam from the day, having fun. You will enjoy making progress that is noticeable.

Some of the benefits are: stronger muscles and greater flexibility, improved balance and coordination, self-defense.

There is no reason not to try. The first two classes are free with no obligation.

On always being a beginner and the lessons of martial arts:

2008-01-19T14:36:00.000-08:00

From Janparker's blog:

11/08/07 My very first Tai Chi student was a man in Eugene, Oregon, named Milton. His daughter wanted me to work with him. She thought the movement and concentration would be good therapy. Milt was recovering from a stroke. I agreed to meet with him for private lessons and I'm not sure who learned the most, me or Milt!

As a result of the stroke Milt lost his short term memory. He couldn't remember anything that had just happened. Each week, was like a brand new time for Milt. I would always introduce myself to him and explain why I was there. It was like having your first tai chi lesson again and again and never remembering that you even had a tai chi lesson. But, each week at every lesson, we would move. I would teach Milt to raise his hands and lower them again. He was able to do it with me, but when asked to do it on his own, well, he didn't know what he had just done, so, he couldn't. What his skill was though, was his ability to mirror me. Extremely well. If I reached out to correct him on a posture, he would reach out to correct me! But then the next week, we would do it all over again from the beginning, brand new.

As time passed the experience we shared, started to go to a different part of Milts brain, and the short term, became the long term. He would remember that he had met me, but not always why I was there. He could remember to move slow, but not any set or form.

One day, Milt's wife called me laughing so hard, you could tell she had been crying. She said, "I wish you could have seen Milton this morning"! He had been getting dressed and she said he was moving in slow motion and had one leg in the air as he put on his underwear. "What are you doing, Milt"?, she asked. "Tai Chi", he so proudly remembered!

I tell this story, because, even if this is an extreme case, it is in a sense how all of us learn. For some reason, as adults, we think if we are shown something once or twice, we should be able to master it. I do this myself and I see this in the classes I teach. Students become full of frustration, embarrassment, and at times shame, because they can't remember or don't understand, the lesson in front of them.

Milt had none of those feelings, in a sense, he was the perfect Tai Chi student. He took what came his way and did his best with it. He practiced when he thought of it.

My full circle study group met with Sam this last week for four full days. In all of it, there were times of comfort, times of intense concentration and times where things just went right over my head. My experience though has taught me, to just stay. The parts that are comfortable change as we understand more, the places of intense focus, will at times become softer and broader and the work that goes over ours heads, will come around again and again and again, until we surprise ourselves and one day, we say, wow, "I'm doing Tai Chi".

Jan
www.JanParkerArts.com

Classes to begin January 14, 2008

2008-01-06T12:11:00.000-08:00

This is a great time to give martial arts a try. Everyone will be a beginner! You know, before I started training, I didn't think I was the "martial arts type." Guess I was wrong! Who knows, you may be the martial arts type and not even realize it. You will never know unless you give it a try.

Come to class 15 minutes early in sweat pants and a t-shirt, or wear a martial arts uniform if you have one.

Time: Monday 6-7p.m.

Location: Room 228
Indian Creek Community Church
12480 Blackbob Road
Olathe, KS

Room 228 is located just above the front entrance on the second floor.

See you there!

New martial arts classes coming to Olathe, KS

2007-12-26T17:55:00.000-08:00

Traditional Taekwondo classes coming soon to Olathe, KS. Taekwondo is an empty hand martial art. Taekwondo literally means: foot hand way. It is a Korean art known for its emphasis on kicking. It's a great work out for mind and body. Stop by to try out a class. More info soon.