January, 2008

Happy New Year everyone!!! Welcome to our first FMS newspage of 2008. We have lots of great things planned for FMS this year. We have seminars, demos, special training and so much more for all over the globe. Not to mention we will have 3 official FMS tournaments this year. More details will follow. Alright, we have tons of Modern Farang Mu Sul® news from all around the world, let's get to it. Here are some updates:

FMS - WHQ: As has become our custom at WHQ, we like to start the New Year with some special training. This year, advanced FMS students from around the bay area once again converged in San Francisco for some hardcore training and fun. Inst. Joe Gumina and Inst. Jim Staley coordinated the event at the Salesian Boys and Girls Club in the picturesque North Beach district of San Francisco. And let me tell you, boy did we have some fun.

After a good warm up we jumped into reviewing old and new empty hand forms and weapon forms. We worked on training material for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and even 4th Dan. Talk about a good time!

One of the favorite sessions was going over the formal double knife sets from FMS Dan Gum Sul. We reviewed the basic slash and thrust patterns as well as the first level of the double knife counter to the five angle attack set. Everyone was in a zone, and the techniques were flowing. Great work everyone.

After several hours of good old fashion training, we broke for some tasty food at a nearby Italian restaurant. Justine met us and the food and conversation was on! What a wonderful time. I can't think of a better way to kick off 2008. Farang!!!

(Pics: 1- KSN helps Inst. Leith with double knife techniques, 2- KSN and Inst. Stenson show how it's done, 3- Master Schleeter and Inst. Gumina get the knife flow going, 4- Group shot of FMS New Year training class )

During their last visit up here to WHQ, the FMS Huntington Beach crew came up with a fantastic idea that would be an awesome keepsake, center for FMS information, and just a cool idea all around. They suggested we make an "Official FMS 2008 Calendar". This calendar will be filled with tons of great photos from all over the globe as well as with all FMS black belts birthdays and main events such as seminars, tournaments and special training dates identified in the calendar. Each month features photos of all main FMS schools around the world in very creative picture collages.

What a marvelous idea. The first run of calendars came out very beautiful. Now, why didn't we think of this before? Oh well, we have it now. We would like to make this an annual thing, and start planning the next one for 2009 sometime later this year. So everyone start getting your events organized, and don't forget to take those cool pictures too. Farang!

FMS - Hollister : Master Patrick Schleeter and Kuk Sa Nim were once again invited by Grand Master Rubi Navarro and World Champ Johnny Davis to help oversee another one of their IKF events in Sacramento.

Just the same as last year's event, we both ran the grappling divisions. This year they had so many competitors that we ended up running two rings simultaneously. Once all of the grappling competition was completed, we then presided over the remaining point kick boxing and muay thai fights of the day.

Once again, it was a rock'em - sock'em day of action. We were honored to spend some quality time with our good friends Grand Master Rubi Navarro, Sifu Serene Terrazas, Sifu's Dave and Michael Marinoble, Sifu Dennis Guila, Sifu Jay Perry, World Champ, Sifu Mike Morello, and world famous Sifu Dan "Bam-Bam" Stell.

It was a special treat to have dinner ("the 19th hole" as it is sometimes called) with many of these masters and share war stories, and get to know each other on much more personal levels. Johnny Davis gave us all a great look into the man, and it was a genuine honor and pleasure to have this experience.

We look forward to many more of these fantastic events.

FMS Puerto Rico : It is with much pride and joy that Inst. Francisco Delgado has reached a milestone with his new FMS dojang in Hatillo, PR. He has moved his first group of students through all of their first level of training requirements and with much happiness conducted their first color belt testing.

Huge congratulations to David Rodriguez, Pedro Ruiz, Victor M. Cabrera Hernandez, Samuel Colon Perier and Emilio J. Medina Rosado on their much deserved yellow belt in both Modern Farang Mu Sul® and Hapkido. This is such awesome news. Congratulations again, and keep up the good work everyone. Farang!

Also, I got a blast from the past from our good friend Hanshi Bill Solano in Puerto Rico.

I don't know how many of you know this, but he is not only a fantastic martial artist, pioneer, and promoter in Puerto Rico, but he was also a great tournament champion as well.

He recently sent me several awesome old tournament pictures and great stories about them. There are many shots from him winning first place in both kata and kumite. Wow, just seeing these great pictures takes me back to the "good 'ol days". Congratulations Sir. As always, you are an inspiration to all.

FMS - Huntington Beach : With Inst. Nelson Pinto returning to Portugal, the new FMS Huntington Beach adult class has had to make some adjustments. Fortunately, the whole group has jelled under the guidance of Inst. Nicole Miller, Inst. Dylan Hamilton and all the advanced students. They have done a fantastic job, and have secured a new location for training.

This has not stopped the students progress one bit. The class is in full swing, and as a matter of fact, pretty soon they will have their first group of students ready for that first color belt test. Anyone who has experienced that phase knows just how tough it is. Inst. Miller reports that this group has been working really hard, and are just about ready. There is so much to work on, and yet they are all really just enjoying the process. That's the way it should be. Remember, it is not all about the destination of one's path, rather it is about the journey. That is where the real lessons and biggest rewards lie. Good job everyone, keep up the good work. Farang!

(Pics: 1- John Hamilton works on the 8 basic ground fighting superior positions with Stacy Witt, 2 & 3- Inst. Nicole Miller and Inst. Dylan Hamilton work boxing combos on focus mitts, 4- Dayna Hinsley gets grappling pointers from Inst. Miller)

FMS Portugal: And speaking of Inst. Nelson Pinto, I got word that he is starting a few new classes in Caldas da Reinha. He will be adding a special FMS Tae Guk Kwon class. For those not in the know, Tae Guk Kwon can be compared to a Korean version of Tai Chi Chuan. It is a part of the FMS curriculum, and can be found in the black belt levels. It is wonderful training, and I highly recommend it to everyone.

Also on tap this month, Inst. Pinto is planning to conduct several special FMS Instructor training sessions. The goal being to help give the tools needed to those that are helping spread FMS in Portugal, such as Inst. Sergio Anes in Cidade de Bragança, Inst. Tiago Suares in Vila de Bombarral, and Inst. Tiago Silva in Vila de Cadaval. This is a capitol idea, which is rewarding to both those that are attending as well as the students that will also benefit from this training. Very smart Sir. Good job!

Finally, a magazine printed an article about the FMS Portugal crew's visit with Buddhist Monks. It is so good to see FMS coming out in the various media. Inst. Pinto and crew are doing a stellar job in putting FMS is the most positive light and doing all they can to spread the word. Farang!!!

FMS Michigan : As the FMS Michigan crew push on with their training, they got a very welcome visit from Inst. Robert Hudson (who is back on military active duty). Once his basic training was complete, Inst. Hudson wanted to make a couple of stops on his leave, before going to his new permanent duty station. Needless to say, it was a very happy occasion and all of the students were happy to see their teacher and to feel that they have made him proud. Good work you guys. So, at this point, Inst. Robert Hudson now has orders to report to his new permanent duty station which will be in Colorado Springs. Don't be too surprised to find a new FMS club popping up there soon. Farang!!!

Other News: Well our FMS Long Distance Training Program is really growing, as we have new members joining almost every month. This month we are honored and extremely happy to welcome two new members. One hails to us from London, England. His name is Inst. David Buckner. He comes to us with lots of Korean martial arts experience, including Kuk Sool Won and Hae Dong Kum Do.

We would like to also extend our warmest welcome to Inst. Joshua Paszkiewicz from Butler, Missouri. He also comes with a great martial arts background including Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido and Ryukyu Kempo.

The most important thing that both of these gentlemen bring to us is the rare and much desired qualities of a great thirst for knowledge and advancement, tempered by a humble heart. Welcome gentlemen, welcome. I look forward to lots of good training and many more great things. Let's get to work. Farang!!!

Birthday News: We are happy to announce the birthdays of our FMS Black Belts from all over the world, so all of you students will know exactly when you can show your gratitude and celebrate with your teachers. FMS Black Belt Birthdays for this month:

This month of January will be: Inst. Shayna Merwin Jan - 06th, Inst. Sebastian Dorobek Jan - 16th, and Inst. Chris Mague Jan - 24th.

Next month of February will be: Inst. Jose Medina Rosa Feb - 11th, Inst. Anthony Spataro Feb - 19th, Inst. Joseph Spataro Feb - 19th, Inst. Beth Matulich Feb - 21st, and Inst. Joseph Gumina Feb - 24th.

Farang!!!

That's all for now. With brotherhood,

Kuk Sa – De Alba

Modern Farang Mu Sul® World HQ – SF

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