March, 2008

Welcome to our March Modern Farang Mu Sul® newspage. We have lots of FMS activities to cover from several color belt tests, seminars, magazine appearances and more. OK, we have tons of Modern Farang Mu Sul® news from all around the world, so let's get to it. Here are some updates:

FMS - WHQ: We start the month off with another special Modern Farang Mu Sul® black belt and advanced students workshop. This one was held in San Francisco, and was coordinated by Inst. Joseph Gumina, Inst. Jim Staley and Inst. Kim Leith.

It was a great opportunity to cover lots of black belt material from 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Dan. Very fun indeed. It has been on going advanced workshops such as this that has contributed to so many students moving up the FMS black belt ranks. So, that is awesome. Got to take advantage.

In this particular workshop, Kuk Sa Nim covered lots of empty hand and weapon forms as well as many self defense sets that are rank requirements for the various levels. Working on this advanced material is very stimulating and such a pleasure. Everyone keeps thinking, "how does Kuk Sa Nim remember all of this?"

Kuk Sa Nim even picked up on the advanced double knife set he had taught at the last workshop, and showed the next two layers of double knife. Everything just flowed in a natural progression. This was good stuff everyone.

(Pictures: 1- Kuk Sa Nim works with Inst. Gumina on the double knife vs double knife sets, 2- Inst. Matulich and Inst. Shekoyan work the techniques, 3- Inst. King helps Brandon and Thomas De Alba, 4- Kuk Sa Nim teaching Inst. King the 3-Section Staff, 4- Inst. Mark Shekoyan works staff form parts one and two, 5- Group Shop after workout)

We have some more fantastic news. In case you did not know, Inst. Terry King and his lovely wife Heather are expecting a baby very soon. Well, since Heather had a baby shower, Inst. King insisted that he have one too! Truth be told, it was thinly veiled excuse to get together with the guys. We started the night at an old speak easy from the prohibition days in San Francisco called "The Anti-Saloon League". This was followed by some dinner at the Thai House, and ended up at the 450 Cigar bar in downtown. Congratulations Sir, this is very exciting! We understand that he is expecting a girl. No names picked out yet. Well, we can hardly wait. Get all the sleep you can now Sir, because, all of that will change soon. Farang!

FMS Brazil : We got some great news from Inst. Athagil Ferreira and Inst. Edmilson Macário in Brazil. They have collaborated to make an article about Modern Farang Mu Sul® in the great martial arts magazine called "Fighter Magazine".

They covered FMS history, theory, focus on CQC and law enforcement applications. They also elaborated on how Modern Farang Mu Sul® made it's way into Brazil. They explained that it was developed by Kuk Sa Nim, Grand Master Michael De Alba, who passed the art to Inst. Nelson Pinto who traveled from Portugal all the way to FMS-WHQ in San Francisco to learn this art.

After getting official certification, Inst. Pinto brought this art to Portugal, and how he was responsible for spreading it to the fantastic Instructors now responsible for spear heading the art in Brazil. Instructors such as Inst. Edmilsson Macário in Sao Paulo, Inst. Athagil Ferreira in Espiritu Santo and Inst. Christiano Aurelio de Oliveira in Porto Alegre. This is a very exciting and historic period that we will some day look back on fondly. Good job gentlemen. Very cool indeed. Farang!

FMS Puerto Rico : I was informed by Master Dennis Vega they just had a very large color belt testing at the end of this month at the FMS-PR HQ dojang in Arecibo. As soon as we get pictures, we will post them here with more news.

We also got word from Inst. Francisco Delgado that the students from the FMS Hatillo dojang have been in serious training lately. We think that getting those new belts last month has inspired them all. They have been working on lots of stand up and ground fighting. The price for all this good training is a few bumps and bruises. Talk about earning your skills with blood, sweat and tears. This is not too far off from the truth. This is a good thing. Well, isn't that the way it goes sometimes? This is all part of sharing this unique brotherhood, and spreading the art. I think we can all recall a few choice war stories. Good work gentlemen. Keep it up. Farang!

FMS - Huntington Beach : We have tons of martial arts action down in Southern California this month. There has been lots of activity, resulting in a visit from Kuk Sa Nim and a few other FMS black belts for a special advanced workshop, color belt testing and an open FMS seminar.

As we mentioned before, Kuk Sa Nim made the trek to Huntington Beach, joined by Inst. Earl Boyd and Inst. Beth Matulich from FMS Hollister. First on the list was a special advanced FMS workshop. Kuk Sa Nim reviewed lots of empty hand and weapon forms. He broke down many of the movements into short forms, and then gave numerous self defense applications. That was very cool.

He also reviewed black belt testing material for several FMS Huntington Beach members that are preparing to test later this year. What a wonderful experience. We are fortunate to have these opportunities to train with our art's founder and some of the top black belts. Garner the benefit of all of their years of experience, and bring it all together, in an environment that is challenging, stimulating and loads of fun. Farang! After a full day of training, we were all treated to an awesome Mexican dinner party, prepared by Steve and Stacey Witt. Those were some yummy enchiladas!

(Pictures: 1- Kuk Sa Nim goes over empty hand forms, 2- Kuk Sa Nim gives self defense applications to the moves, 3- Group shot after the advanced class)

And then, finally, it was time for the first ever adult color belt test for FMS Huntington Beach (Inst. Pinto would be sooo proud of you all). After several months of very hard work, it has all paid off. Let us all congratulate Inst. Nicole Miller, Inst. Dylan Hamilton, the testing students and all the FMS-Huntington Beach family on the success of their first FMS adult color belt testing.

It was time to prove that they were ready to show what they have learned, shed that white belt, and move on to the next level. It was a tremendous display of lots and lots of spirit, grace and discipline. Kicks, punches, throws and joint locks were punctuated by sharp movements, snapping uniforms and loud ki-haps.

After months of sacrifice and hard work, it was showtime. It is hard enough to take that first color belt test under normal circumstances, but here they tested in front of no less than five FMS black belts, including the art's founder. Can you just imagine? Talk about turning the heat up a bit. No pressure, right?

As we mentioned earlier, Inst. Earl Boyd and Inst. Beth Matulich came down from Hollister to join in on this historic Modern Farang Mu Sul® test. I'm sure this made the students that were testing just a little more nervous than usual, but they did a fantastic job. Well done. You can be very proud of yourselves, and you know you made lots of other people proud too. Huge congratulations on your new rank to:

Scott A. Miller, Stacey Witt, Dayna Hinsley, Mary Botkin and Mallory Hytrek.
You big bad yellow belts. Good work! Farang!

(Pictures: 1- Students demonstrate kwon bop basics, 2 & 3 - Dayna works the short form and kicking test, 4- Stacy does short form, 5- Mary and Scott doing self defense techniques, 6 & 7- Dayna and Mallory show techniques and grappling, 8- The group reciting the FMS Creed, 9- Kuk Sa Nim awards new kub rank certificates, 10- FMS black belts put on the new belts, 11- Group Shot after first adult FMS color belt test. Congratulations!!!)

And as if that were not enough, as we mentioned earlier, we took full advantage of this trip and had even more fun training. On the last day of this visit, Kuk Sa Nim gave another one of his great open seminars. We worked on tons of self defense techniques, weapons, drills, grappling, KI breathing, and so much more. Everyone was having such an awesome time that before we knew it, four hours just flew by. That's how it goes sometimes. Too much fun.

FMS Portugal: And speaking of seminars and color belt testing, Inst. Nelson Pinto reports that he recently made a trip to the FMS dojang in Bragança (which is in the Northern part of Portugal).

Asst. Inst. Tiago Soares and Asst. Inst. Tiago Silva, joined him on the trip and helped out with teaching, testing and other activities.

The seminar was a huge hit. They covered the awesome CQC empty hand and weapon skills that are now hallmarks of Modern Farang Mu Sul®.

This was actually the first time Inst. Pinto has gone up North to see Asst. Inst. Sérgio Anes and the gang up there since his return to Portugal from Huntington Beach.

Needless to say both the seminar and color belt testing were a great success. Asst. Inst Sérgio Anes and the Bragança crew are doing good work, and it really shows.

Inst. Pinto was very pleased with the progress of all the students. They are truly embodying all the best aspects of this rare and beautiful martial art. Good work everyone. We are very proud of you. Keep on keeping on. 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 March will be: Inst. Carlos Colon Rosa Mar - 22nd, and Inst. Michael Klockner Mar - 24th

Next month of April will be: Inst. Michael Iannone Apr - 4th, and Inst. Carlos Roman Martinez Apr -12th.

Farang!!!

That's all for now. With brotherhood,

Modern Farang Mu Sul® World HQ – SF

DSYSTEM.com web service (the "Service") contains material derived in whole or in part from the teachings of Grand Master Michael De Alba, the International De Alba System Confederation™, Modern Farang Mu Sul ® and their students, instructors, and associates. International copyright, trademark and other intellectual property laws protect these materials. Users, guests and visitors may not modify, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit or distribute in any way or in any form, any material from the Service including code and software. Users, visitors and guests may download material from the Service for personal, non-commercial use only, provided all copyright and other proprietary notices are clearly visible and intact. Commercial use, reference or linkage to the Service site, without the express written permission, of Michael De Alba or his assigns, by registered letter, is prohibited.Copyright 2001® DeAlba Productions

Modern Farang Mu Sul ®

Phone: 415-661-9657

PO BOX 21

Fulton, CA

95439

Webmaster :Stuart McCalla