Martial Arts 360
4030 117 St T6J 0Z7 Edmonton, AB, Canada

2020 Little Tigers Demonstration

I would like to watch this guy shovel snow.

After months of online training, we met in person for a demonstration and board break. This was a rough year and this 6 year old is a reminder of how we can still keep growing and have fun. Martial arts training helps us overcome challenges and here is a glimpse of what happens when you keep training. This is a new kick that we have been working on and he is the first to break a board with it.

This guy is the king of martial arts - his skills are unbelievable for his age!

For those who have been interested in attending the Women's and Girls martial arts camp but couldn't because of travel restrictions, here is your chance to attend from the comfort of your own home!

Forms practice is great while we physically distance and imagining the applications of the movements vastly improves our techniques. Here is an exciting interpretation of Koryo. Love the takedown!

For those who have been interested in attending the Womens and Girls martial arts camp but couldnt because of travel restrictions, here is your chance to attend from the comfort of your own home!

via: @nocrysolutions

Are you up for a challenge? Here is a fun activity.

I was lucky to see this beautiful performance by Sifu Sarah Ludden at the National Womens Martial Arts Federation summer camp. Now 6 years later, I am learning the form!

My first Arnis Filipino stick fighting workshop with Sifu Ann (third person from the left). It was beautiful the way Sifu Ann maneuvered the sticks smoothly across the air and the various ways she taught us to trap and disarm another persons stick. She is an exceptional instructor and it was worth waking up for her 7:30am Saturday workshop.

Registration for the July Women and Girls Martial Arts Camp in Buffalo, NY is open! I was chosen to be one of the trainers.

Teaching and training at Emeryville Martial Arts, a Cuong Nhu martial arts style. Moving back in the Bay Area, I expected to brush up on my Vietnamese but I did not expect to learn Vietnamese phrases in martial arts! Its fun to try new martial arts styles. Master Terri and her students are very welcoming.

Feeling blessed to spend a few months with this group of talented martial artists.

Thorough array of takedown techniques still practiced today

After months of working on the front kick, she succeeded and broke the board with her non-dominant leg!

In martial arts, we practice strikes and blocks on both sides of our body. He once struggled with his dominant side and now he can break a board with either leg.

She is strong but needed to work on her technique. Its nice to see someone focus and overcome a technique that once appeared impossible.

Fun moments to close out 2019

A little end of the year fun...

One of the many benefits of martial arts training is the lifelong friendships. About 8 years ago, Master Duong was the lucky one who introduced these adults to martial arts at Cincinnati Taekwondo Center. In November of 2019, she flew back to Cincinnati to witness one of them, an Edmontonian, earn her 1st degree black belt and the other her 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo.

Ms. Duongs first attempts at slicing apples with a blunt sword. It was a fun way to prepare bruised apples for composting.

She moves from her center and connects with her attacker. Impressive Aikido techniques!

Students testing for 1st to 6th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Gumdo (Sword). Congratulations to all who tested and to their instructors and family members who supported them. Photos with the CTC watermark were taken by Master Jolene Pappas; thank you for capturing these amazing photos!

Unbelievable! It is difficult to synchronize without music and these three people move like one entity.

38th OMAC Moogong-ryu (Guardian of Peace) Summer camp completed with a great success - 43 black belts from 1st dan to 6th dan tested in front of 27 masters and ...grandmaster judges from around the world. Kenyon College 7/18-21, 2019 Congratulations to you all. Camp curriculum - Taekwondo, Karate, Gumdo, Hapkido, Kimoodo, Judo, Kung Fu, Weapons See more

Part 2 of 2 of Ms. MyTien Duongs Self-Defense Demonstration. She had so much fun that she had to text her attackers afterwards to make sure they were okay. These are professional ukes (attackers) and no one was hurt.

A different angle of the Ms. MyTien Duongs Self-Defense Demo. When your former student is no longer a Little Tiger and grows into a young man twice your size, you need to kick him down to apply a choke. (Part 1 of 2)

Ms. Duongs Self-Defense Demonstration for her 5th Degree (Master Level) Black Belt Test. It includes elements of Womens Self-Defense, Taekwondo, Aikido, Kung Fu, Brazilian Jujitsu, and Silat. Footage courtesy of Anna Chipman and Sheri Hilgeman.

Valuable advice for martial artists. As someone who is training for an upcoming exam, #7 and #12 are the most relevant right now. I once had a student who seemed to learn quickly and I asked her what her routine was. She reviewed the curriculum right before class! That was why she was a step ahead of her peers...and sometimes her instructor (me!).

Hmm...that person trying to break bricks look familiar.

Ms. Duongs CTC 5th Degree Black Belt Test included a demonstration with her former students. The best part of reaching the Master Level in martial arts is watching students grow, earn black belts, and become instructors themselves. This demonstration symbolized our journey together, a reenactment of a form, and the passing of knowledge to future black belts.

Cincinnati Taekwondo Center video of the May 2013 Black Belt test with Ms. Duong, her training partners, and her oh-so young former students! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jWSehbdw3PQ

For Taekwondo practitioners, here is a tutorial of Taegeuk Pal Jang (#8). There are dozens online but this one clearly shows the second half of the form, the movements and kiyups, correct chambering, and how one can start and end on the same spot. After months of searching, it is exciting to find a clear and concise video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPSt3azIo48&app=desktop

The Creative Self-Defense portion of Ms. Duongs 5th Dan test incorporated lessons from Ms. Jen Para, an internationally known Silat instructor. The fabric is a sarong (skirt) that can be turned into a messenger bag, scarf, or flexible weapon.

The 4-hour test for 5th Dan (Master level) culminated in a series of board breaking techniques. Ms. MyTien Duong broke 10 boards, which were held by her training partners and former students.

Message to Ms. Duongs former students who are black belt recommended and higher: I will be testing for 5th Dan at CTC on May 11th at 2pm. If you would like to be a part of the SD demo but havent learned Johwa, you can still join us. A number of students will be doing the first part (Innae #1) and exiting. Let me know Thursday night at CTC if you are interested or talk to Ms. Carla Cherry or Mr. Chris Benson during the test for details. You were part of my journey to Master Level and it would mean a lot to me to have you there.

A little humor for your day

These students started with a longer than usual meditation. Their focus was sustained throughout the demonstration and it showed in their board breaks.