C&S Online
An Online Newsletter For The
C&S Self Defense Association
Fall 2001

Confidence. Fitness. Success.

Views From Around the Association...

The practice of women in the martial arts has not necessarily been common in the past. As with anything there are always exceptions, but it is safe to say that women have mostly been in the minority when it comes to martial arts training. Only in the last couple of decades has it become common to see women in the dojo.

Unfortunately, women are still not always welcome. Instead, the "places of the Way" have often been exclusive to men. As one woman of our Program personally discovered in a previous school, woman are often allowed in the dojo, but are then physically and mentally intimidated to a harmful degree until they leave.

The students at Chung Fu-do have been fortunate to see a different set of circumstances. There are presently five women studying in our Program, not including one new member who will begin her study within two weeks of the writing of this article. Our current female membership includes one advanced student as well as another currently in the chute.

This group of women studying at Chung Fu-do has seen the importance of the community and support of other female Karate-ka. Together, they have shown that it is not only possible for women to study, but that it is also quite beneficial for them as well as for the other members.

It can nonetheless be difficult, even in an accepting school, for women to participate in what has traditionally been an endeavor for men. No matter the environment within the dojo, the environment outside the dojo affects the female karate-ka. Sometimes, this includes negative attitudes and/or lack of understanding on the part of friends and family. Fortunately, it is one aim of our Art to succeed when obstacles are placed around us.

As the women of Chung Fu-do have discovered, banding together is an incredible tactic in persevering in the Art. Our women often meet outside of class for informal practice and social events. In fact, they have tried to organize some form of outside event once a month for the past year. This usually includes a mild work out and lunch.

In November of 2000 a group of five were discussing possible activities for the women. Through this they stumbled on the idea of taking a retreat. No one had an idea that it would actually happen at this point in time, it just sounded like one of those wonderful ideas that never is followed through.

However, as if it were meant to happen, things began to fall into place. It was decided that we would include more than just the female Karate-ka from Chung Fu-do, but three other karate schools in the Colorado area and women connected to Chung Fu-do in some form or another. The date and location was set, July 13-15 in Vail, Colorado. All that the women were asked to pay for was gas for the trip and the materials for part of a meal they would make. There were ten women who attended along with one lucky little man, Gokyu Nicki Patterson's new son.

Ages ranged from fifteen to fifty-something, which provide for some very intense discussions. The theme for the retreat was "How women oppress themselves and each other," with two main discussions on body image and self-esteem. The one absolute rule during our discussions was that there would be absolutely no serious male bashing.

For some this retreat was just a chance to get away and relax but for some it was a place where emotional and spiritual growth was made. There is a sense of power, strength, and energy created when a group of women come together around a common bond.

We have hopes that next year we can make this an even bigger event. Perhaps we may inspire the outreach of women from all of the C&S Self Defense Association through retreats and other experiences. As the world progresses, so must we. As women continue to learn of their strengths, may they benefit from an Art such as Shudokan Karate-do, and so may the Art benefit from them.

---

Chuck Fussman of Home Finance has been a student for 4 years at Chung Fu-do under Sandan Wilkewitz. He can be reached at chuck@fussman.com. Yonkyu Liz Cooley is a Freshman at Colorado State University and has been 2 years at Chung Fu-do under Sandan Wilkewitz. She can be reached at calmwatertiger@hotmail.com.

So You Want to be a (fill in the blank)!

"If you seek, how is that different from pursuing sound and form?
If you don't seek, how are you different from earth, wood or stone?
You must seek without seeking." - Wu-men

Everyone can have their own interpretation of this Zen koan. Over time, you may even come up with multiple interpretations depending on what is going on in your life at the time. I'd like to share with you what it means to me at this point in my life.

In a student's quest to earn a new rank, or a promotion at work, sometimes they only see the color of the belt or a new job title. Their focus is on the rank and their goal is to wear that piece of cloth around their waist. On the job, employees may want a promotion because they expect better benefits - such as having an office or getting a company cell phone, car, etc. Like the saying above - this is like pursuing sound and form - it is something you might be able to see or hear but that really has no substance or is short lived.

In "not seeking" a student is not active, not participating in class or not paying attention to his own thoughts and actions. In the working environment it might mean that you do just enough to get by on a day to day basis; that you don't make an effort to continue your education and get better at your job. The result is that you are like a piece of wood or stone. You are basically lifeless.

When a student focuses on other things besides just getting to the next rank, (e.g., concentration, speed, relaxation, bone alignment, breathing, self confidence, being humble and taking ownership of their life) this is the seeking without seeking. When you're at work and you foster teamwork, increase your troubleshooting skills, develop project planning, budgeting and management skills - this is seeking without seeking. To seek without seeking may sound like a paradox, but it isn't.

By taking the time to sharpen your skills for the rank you are at, you will find that advancing to the next rank level is not so much a test but as a natural progression! By taking the time to sharpen your skills at work and increase your levels of responsibility, you may find that you may get promoted to a supervisor, manager, director or even president. Your continued personal, martial and professional growth will lead you to the things you desire. Remember, belt ranks and job titles are just things - and as such, should not be sought after; instead, enjoy the journey that takes you there. You will appreciate the outcome even more.

---

Nidan Larry Holman is a student and instructor at the Somersworth School Of Self Defense in Somersworth, NH. He lives in Dover, NH, with his wife Sue and their three children. Nidan Holman can be reached at lholman@mediaone.net.

One of the most common grabs that you will encounter is the wrist grab. Ideally, a simple wrist escape would be more advantageous, however, there may be times where the attacker has a stronger grip and you are unable to do the wrist escape. The purpose of this technique is to demonstrate one way of getting out of a wrist grab. Making the box, although a very bold move, allows the defender to capitalize on the situation.

Due to its' boldness, the defender must begin this technique with another technique, such as, a kick to the groin or a punch to the solar plexus. This is not shown in the proceeding pictures because there are numerous ways to get the attacker off guard. Simply, do whatever it takes to give you the opportunity to do the 'Making the Box' technique.

There are two major areas that are important. The first major area is to take your free hand and grab the attackers wrist-lower forearm area. Grab this area as tight as you can because this will create tremendous amount of stress and torque on all the muscles and tendons in the attackers arm.

The second major area of concern is the making the box. The box is formed with the attackers shoulder, elbow, wrist and hip joints. The box is a guide to ensure that ultimate stress and torque is placed on the attackers arm.

---

Figure 1.	Figure 2.	Figure 3.
Figure 4.	Figure 5.	Figure 6.
Figure 7.	Figure 8.

---

Sandan Tim House has been living the Martial Arts since June 15, 1981 and studies under Sensei Bruce Vinciguerra at Somesworth School of Self Defense. If you would like to contact Sandan his email address is thouse@ttlc.net.

This is our country under attack. Our ideals. Our way of life. Our freedom. All at risk.

The following article was published in the Miami Herald Wednesday (09/12/01). It was written by Leonard Pitts the day after the terrorist attack on America. It is a statement of the pain, pride, and concerns held in the hearts of all Americans at this time of crisis. Mr. Pitts can be contacted by email at leonardpitts@ mindspring.com. It is a statement to the world that we stand as one. I hope in the years to come that Mr. Pitts' statements have stood the test of time and action.

===============================================




We'll go forward from this moment

It's my job to have something to say.

They pay me to provide words that help make sense of that which troubles the American soul. But in this moment of airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving eyes, the only thing I can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must be addressed to the unknown author of this suffering.

You monster. You beast. You unspeakable bastard.

What lesson did you hope to teach us by your coward's attack on our World Trade Center, our Pentagon, us? What was it you hoped we would learn? Whatever it was, please know that you failed.

Did you want us to respect your cause? You just damned your cause.

Did you want to make us fear? You just steeled our resolve.

Did you want to tear us apart? You just brought us together.

Let me tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial, social, political and class division, but a family nonetheless. We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional energy on pop cultural minutiae -- a singer's revealing dress, a ball team's misfortune, a cartoon mouse. We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the ready availability of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of that, we walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement. We are fundamentally decent, though -- peace-loving and compassionate. We struggle to know the right thing and to do it. And we are, the overwhelming majority of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God.

Some people -- you, perhaps -- think that any or all of this makes us weak. You're mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot be measured by arsenals.

IN PAIN

Yes, we're in pain now. We are in mourning and we are in shock. We're still grappling with the unreality of the awful thing you did, still working to make ourselves understand that this isn't a special effect from some Hollywood blockbuster, isn't the plot development from a Tom Clancy novel. Both in terms of the awful scope of their ambition and the probable final death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts of terrorism in the history of the United States and, probably, the history of the world. You've bloodied us as we have never been bloodied before.

But there's a gulf of difference between making us bloody and making us fall. This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time anyone hit us this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and monumental pain. When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in our force. When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any suffering, pay any cost, go to any length, in the pursuit of justice.

I tell you this without fear of contradiction. I know my people, as you, I think, do not. What I know reassures me. It also causes me to tremble with dread of the future.

In the days to come, there will be recrimination and accusation, fingers pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to happen and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. There will be heightened security, misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms. We'll go forward from this moment sobered, chastened, sad. But determined, too. Unimaginably determined.

THE STEEL IN US

You see, the steel in us is not always readily apparent. That aspect of our character is seldom understood by people who don't know us well. On this day, the family's bickering is put on hold.

As Americans we will weep, as Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we will rise in defense of all that we cherish.

So I ask again: What was it you hoped to teach us? It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the depths of your hatred. If that's the case, consider the message received. And take this message in exchange: You don't know my people. You don't know what we're capable of. You don't know what you just started.

But you're about to learn.

---

I was so moved by this article that I wrote the following letter to Mr. Pitts. His automated reply follows.

Mr. Pitts,

Thank you for your thoughts on the attack on our country. I cried as I read your words. It moved me tremendously.

As you know, your article has been going around the internet like wildfire. You have spoken for us all. After reading your words, I visited the Miami Herald site to find out who you were so I could contact you and thank you.

I am the webmaster for my sons US Naval Sea Cadet unit. I have posted your article on that site, with full credit to you and Miami Herald. I hope you do not mind. I am preparing the Fall issue for my karate association's online newsletter. I am posting your article there. I have directed numerous people to the Miami Herald site to read your words. I hope you have been so flooded with emails that you never have time to even get to mine. Everyone should read your words. They are from the soul. They speak for all of us: those who lost their lives and those of us who lost them as fellow Americans.

Thank you again. And may Gob bless us and keep us all.

Sincerely,
Peter Rose

Mr. Pitts automated response is as follows-

I've been making my living by the pen for 25 years and have never seen anything like the response to the column I wrote for 9-12, the open letter to the terrorists. About 15,000 emails to date and they're still arriving at a rate of several hundred an hour. I'm reading them by the hundreds, but obviously will never be able to answer all of you on an individual basis.

Please know that I am humbled and gratified. Thank you for writing, God bless you and God bless the United States of America.

Yours Truly,
Leonard Pitts, Jr.

---

Grandmaster Peter M. Rose holds an 8th Degree Black Belt. He began his studies with Grandmaster S.A. Brock in 1968. He has operated the Rose School of Karate in Portsmouth, NH since 1972. Grandmaster Rose is a senior software analyst, designer, and technical project manager. Grandmaster Rose can be reached at zzrose@yahoo.com , or you can visit his personal web page at http://www.zzrose.com/pmr.html.

Recent events in our Nation have left us all feeling different. Life as I knew it changed on that morning of September 11, 2001. That morning the innocence was taken from my children. They saw the awful results of what man will do to man and unfortunately they may see much more before all this ends. Even with all the horror that they have seen they have also seen the beauty of human nature in response to the needs of the Nation. Duality at its' finest!

I am proud to be an American and wear a pin the shape of the American Flag. Not long ago I was disillusioned with the people of this country. Everyone seemed to be quite angry and stressed out, it certainly was a me-me world. It did seem that everyone seemed to be venting at each other. Life is hard and everyone needs to vent now and then. Over the past few days I have seen everyone come together unified towards a common goal. I look towards the future and wonder whether this trend will continue since we all now have a focal point for our venting, because all our other problems seem petty now.

I know I do not have to state this, but we as Martial Artists must be strong and help participate in any way we can to part of the solution and not the problem. Be Proactive in your community and help your neighbors if you find their in need. Times will be testing for many of our friends, since the Reservists will be called to duty. Stand by them and live by the Code of Ethics.

This is a opportunity for all of us to be true warriors by helping and supporting those that are affected. Use your skill and strength to provide confidence and support in any way that you can. These are interesting times be Proactive that is the warriors' way: don't sit on the Sidelines.

Peace to all

---

Sandan Bruce Vinciguerra is the Sensei of the Somersworth School of Self Defense. He is married with 3 children and has been training in the Art for 18 years.