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Martial Arts in Olympics

8/24/2016

The Summer Olympics happens every 4 years...

For some sports it is considered the pinnacle of competitions and an honor to represent not only their sport but their country. Many of the Martial Arts systems are not represented in the Olympics however Martial Artists still look forward to watching the wrestling, judo and Taekwondo.

While tuning in and watching these systems might not seem like such a big deal; not only does it show support for the athletes but it’s supporting Martial Arts being in the Olympics. Most spectators recognize the challenge to qualify as an athlete to compete in the Olympics but what spectators don’t realize is how challenging it is as not only to qualify a sport but to keep it recognized.

Wrestling is one of the oldest sports in the Olympics.

Yes... That old.

It was introduced in the Ancient games in 708 BC. Yet in the 1900 Summer Olympics, wrestling was not recognized. It wouldn’t be until the next summer Olympics that the Freestyle Wrestling would be reintroduced and have weight classes established. The sport was becoming further established when in 2004 women’s wrestling would be introduced.

Yet things took a turn for the worst.

The 2013 IOC or International Olympic Committee voted to remove wrestling starting with the 2020 Olympics.

How could that be?

It all comes down to money. The IOC had been under pressure to reduce events and athletes in each Summer Olympics do to the cost to host such events. The IOC started a program pertaining to “core sports”. “Core Sports” would be protected and continue in the Olympics, but the “non-core sports” would slowly be phased out.

Even after the program was implicated it still didn’t help, so after the London Olympics they re-evaluated the “core sports” again, reviewing studies and results of the London Olympics.

In 2013 the IOC Executive Board recommended wrestling be dropped.

The United World Wrestling immediately responded,

“We were greatly astonished by today’s recommendation of the IOC Executive Board not to maintain wrestling among the 25 core sports for the 2020 Olympic Games. We will take all necessary measures to convince the IOC Executive Board and IOC members of the aberration of such decision against one of the founding sports of the ancient and modern Olympic Games.”

Athletes would still be able to compete in the World Games but the United States wrestlers feared losing the chance of ever competing for Gold again. Wrestling and 7 other sports including Karate were reviewed as “non-core” sports, but wrestling was one of the very few that came out triumphant.

Nenad Lalovic, President of the UWW stated,

"Normally this is done in a few years, we did it in a few months. It was a question of our survival. We did all we could, we changed our sport and the federation was successful. We continue to work tomorrow.”

Some of the sports literally had to fight to be recognized.

Taekwondo started striving for the Olympics in 1974. In 1975 it was accepted for the World Games which is an international competition that recognizes non-Olympic sports. In the 1988 Korean Olympics and the 1992 Barcelona Spain Olympics it was a demonstration sport. At this time Taekwondo was already recognized by the World Cup, The Asian Games, All-Africa Games, and the Pan American Games but the Olympics wouldn’t accept it until the 2000 Sydney Australia Olympics.

One of the requirements to become an Olympic Sport is

To have a recognized international committee that oversees the sport, thus ensuring all athletes are competing under the same rules and regulations.

Tragically over the years it has been almost impossible to unite the organizations.

In 1970 the World Union of Karate-do Organizations was created, but it wouldn’t be until 1985 that the OIC would recognize the organization as the official board of karate.

At this point of time the World Union of Karate-do Organization or WUKO, attempted to unify with the International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF) to form the World Karate Federation, in hopes to finally become an Olympic Sport. The union was unsuccessful, causing the IOC to suspend its recognition of WUKO. When the union was unsuccessful the WUKO created the World Karate Federation or WKF.

It was finally in 2016, in Rio de Janeiro that the IOC announced that Karate would be a recognized and participating sport in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan

The politics and drama associated with organized sports can be trying at times.

Karate has had multiple organizations dating all the way back to 1961, yet because of our inability to unify and work together hundreds if not thousands of Karate enthusiasts have had to wait 59 years before being able to compete in the Olympics.

As a Kenpoist, I tend to view my system more as a self-defense system rather than a sporting system like Judo. Nonetheless, I always find myself watching the Judo, the Taekwondo and the Wrestling because these athletes are not just representing their sport and country…

They are representing our community.

Let's not forget a community is defined as a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

It’s another 4 years before the next Olympic Games and the Karate Community is already buzzing about the Tokyo Games and we should be happy for them because it has taken so many years and so much dedication to reach this point.

But let’s not forget, it’s not guaranteed that the Martial Arts will continue in the Olympics…

Especially if we don't support them.

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Cane Seminar for Veterans

8/10/2016

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If you ask any martial artists why they study there are typically 2 answers; self-defense and to improve their quality of life.

Quality of life is defined as a standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual or group. Generally this quality of life is obtained by maintaining health. Many believe the enhancement of strength and physique often provided by Martial Arts is limited to only youths…

But what about the other generations that study Martial Arts?
Are these benefits available to elderly or disabled students?

People in their 40’s to 70’s are essentially untouched by the Martial Arts Community, yet senior citizens are the most vulnerable age group for violent crimes. There is a stigma of weakness associated with the elderly or disabled but it’s considered worse when one of them requires a cane or ambulatory device.

It couldn’t be further from the truth.

Canes have not only been used as ambulatory devices for centuries but also as weapons. Bartitsu is a martial art and self-defense system that originated from England in 1898 to 1902 whose approach was to use canes and walking sticks as weapons. Yet Bartitsu was “Asian-influenced” meaning the Japanese, Chinese and various Oriental origins had worked with canes and walking sticks.

A fun fact: Sherlock Holmes knew Bartitsu.

There are now many different systems were the curriculum is specifically set up to assist students with physical disabilities and require either a cane or walking stick. Cane Masters is not only one of the world’s finest purveyor of custom made walking and combat canes but also instructional media pertaining to self-defense, exercise and rehabilitation while using a cane.

Robert Pilkington started Cane Masters in 2015 with knee and back problems.

Robert Pilkington: 2nd Dan in Kenpo, Shotokan and Taekwondo.
Developer of Cane Po.

He explained,
“After 9 months of training in the Cane Masters system, I went to my primary care physician for my annual check-up and he barely recognized me. I was standing up straight, not limping, was able to get up and down, had lost weight and my overall health had improved tremendously. “

With Cane Masters you can find information on various Cane Systems such as Cane Fu, Cane Chi, Silver Dragons and the American Cane System Belt Ranking System. Cane Masters has been active since the late 1980’s.

Their most recent non-profit program is changing lives.

The Cane Seminar for Disabled Veterans is a seminar structured to assist those who have lost limbs for our country. Many of the attendees have prosthetic limbs, are in wheel chairs or are suffering from PTSD.

Robert is also a Veteran,
“I also suffer from extreme PTSD, and when I train, it gets my mind off all my issues, and for a few hours I have some peace in my head.”

Many Veterans are used to working out on a regular basis.

Their lives depend on maintaining a healthy physique in battle, but when they are injured and return home the focus shifts from preventing injury to coping with injury. After seeing so many Veterans with disabled physically and mentally, Cane Master’s created the seminar in hopes they would help then by obtaining improving quality of life through exercise and boosting confidence with self-defense.

So far the Seminar has been a huge success and hundreds of Veterans have completed the course.

Bill believes the positive effects of the program are due to changing the frame of mind,
“If Veterans accept the challenges presented in the Cane Masters System, it will help them physically and mentally. It gives the veteran something to think about and study rather than the day to day misery that most of us suffer through, both physically and mentally.”

The program is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) through Homeland Heroes.

Homeland Heroes has been effective since December 2006. Every position is non-paid and strictly a time donation position. All monies and time goes directly to Veterans.

The program is perfect for Veterans and the ability for one to carry canes or walking sticks in public is protected under the American’s With Disabilities Act or ADA.

...“Covered entities must allow people with disabilities who use manual or power wheelchairs or scooters, and manually-powered mobility aids such as walkers, crutches, and canes, into all areas where members of the public are allowed to go...”

It doesn’t get any clearer than that.
The ADA allows disabled persons to carry canes and other ambulatory devices in public places such as restaurants, hospitals or even airports.

This program isn’t just assisting Veterans and the elderly...

Its tearing down a fallacy those Martial Arts is only for young athletic youths… It’s for everyone. Martial Arts were created to equalize and empower weaker opponents who had a greater chance at becoming a victim.

Programs like this are helping break down barriers.

Not just for their students but for those watching and curious. Programs like this, that the Martial Arts Community should be supporting, because they are executing the exact goal of Martial Arts.

SELF-EMPOWERMENT

No matter your age, physique, or mental capability… You’re quality of life will improve with self-empowerment.

As stated, the Cane Seminar for Disabled Veterans and Homeland Heroes are non-profit organizations that rely on donations. The donations given to the Cane Seminar for Disabled Veterans are what provide the combat canes for the Veterans participating. If you are interested in donating to the cause or are interested in Cane Masters a link is provided below.

Metroplex Military Charitable Trust

Homeland Heroes Foundation

Cane Masters

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Stereotyped Martial Arts: Sumo

8/2/2016

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There are many misconceptions and stereotyping in the Martial Arts community.

I recently went out to get groceries and was wearing one of my Dojo’s karate t-shirts. A man commented about my shirt and asked where I got it? I said it was my Dojo’s t-shirt. He was perplexed that it was my shirt AND that I do karate. When I asked why it was so hard to believe he said, in his exact words…

“Well… you—um— don’t look like you work out often.”

I’m not going to lie, I got my feelings hurt.
I’ve run into many misconceptions concerning Martial Arts but none are as prevalent as the stereotyping of body image. The two largest forms of exposure for Martial Arts is movies and Mixed Martial Arts such as UFC. It’s natural that the general public would automatically assume all female practitioners would look like Ronda Rousey.

Ronda Rousey former Olympian and UFC Champion...

Kenpo Girl: mother and karate instructor that likes cake.... and ice cream.

The truth is stereotyping can be found in every system.

Kenpoists are stereotyped as large middle aged men who love Elvis and Kung Fu practitioners are viewed as tiny Oriental people that wear pajamas. The only way to break stereotyping is educating yourself and not judging a book by its cover.

When I attended the 2016 Dragonfest in California I was introduced to the US Sumo Federation which demolished all misconceptions and stereotyping I had of Sumo. I had the honor of meeting Trustee Bill Gossett and Treasurer Americus Abesamis whom is also an actor and amateur Sumo competitor.

I learned the United States sent a team to the 1st World Championships in 1992 and created the US Sumo Federation, a non-profit organization serving as the governing body for amateur Sumo in the United States.

I was completely shocked to find out that Sumo was so popular in the United States that it would warrant an Organization such as the USSF. The USSF might be considered a small organization compared to other Martial Arts but they currently have over 600 members which includes approximately 100 active adult athletes and with about 100 active youth in competitions. There are numerous active sumo clubs in 15 states. They even have active students or Rikishi in states that do not have an established club yet.

I had a hard time wrapping my head around those numbers.
Whenever I thought about Sumo with my naïve mind; I pictured huge, obese, scantily clad Japanese men wrestling each other. I was blinded by one of the oldest stereotype of Sumo…

Size

The image I had in my mind had been painted by the Professional Sumo in Japan. In professional Sumo there are no weight divisions. Hence the theory—the bigger you are the better you will do. The amateur Sumo has different weight divisions for the Rikishi.

Tom Zabel, President of the USSF further explained,

“During our competitions and demonstrations we show people that our athletes come from a variety of ethnic, cultural, and sporting backgrounds. Many athletes come to the sport with a background in judo, freestyle wrestling, other grappling sports, bodybuilding, football, and mixed martial arts.

Sumo is a contact sport and can be very rough. That roughness keeps some people away and attracts others. An average match lasts just a matter of seconds. It’s amazingly explosive –that’s the reason people love to watch it. The burst of energy and adrenaline makes sumo as physically and mentally intense as any sport can be.”

Definitely not a sport or Martial Art for a lazy person. The USSF is trying to break all stereotypes of Sumo, especially to achieve their ultimate goal…

GOLD

Yes the ultimate goal of the International Sumo Federation (IFS) is to make Sumo an Olympic sport. The IFS has had to make some adjustments, which are changing the face of Sumo.

Any new sport admitted into the Olympics has to be open to both male and female. Thus, women are now invited to compete. The first female World Sumo Championships were in 2001. The USSF sent a full ladies team to the 2015 World Championships for the first time.

Mr. Zabel says,

“The biggest obstacle is the stereotype that sumo is for men and especially for the “big” men. It is slowly becoming more popular with the ladies, mainly due to the fact that they see that there are weight divisions and that there are some very athletic women that do sumo. It’s not just for “big” people.”

These are the battles of stereotypes the USSF and the IFS has had to battle.

The reason they are winning is because they have found the best way to reach out to people is through education. The USSF does demonstrations to help educate the public of their sport and culture.

To some it will always be some that will want to judge a book by its cover.

It’s easier in their mind set to draw up conclusions rather than to take time to educate themselves. You can’t fix stupid and it will drive you nuts trying too.

I study karate to level the playing field in the event I must defend myself and my son. Remember, it takes 25 pounds of pressure to break a smaller bone, it takes even less to break the nose, to pop out an eye ball or to simply crush the groin. I don’t plan on over powering an attacker. I plan on breaking them.

My Sifu always says, “Karate was made for women. It’s an equalizer.”

Don’t let anyone discourage you because you aren’t what they expected. Do what is best for you. Hold your head up with pride because you are one of the few making the attempt to better yourself.

I'm Jesalyn.
I’m a single mother.
I’m an artist and writer.
I fall into the Bantamweight division and like to eat cake.
I am one of the many faces of Martial Arts…

And proud of it.

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KENPO GIRL

Martial Arts in Olympics

The Summer Olympics happens every 4 years...

Wrestling is one of the oldest sports in the Olympics.

Yes... That old.

Yet things took a turn for the worst.

How could that be?

​In 2013 the IOC Executive Board recommended wrestling be dropped.​

​​Some of the sports literally had to fight to be recognized.

Tragically over the years it has been almost impossible to unite the organizations.

​It was finally in 2016, in Rio de Janeiro that the IOC announced that Karate would be a recognized and participating sport in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan

​​The politics and drama associated with organized sports can be trying at times. ​

​They are representing our community.

​But let’s not forget, it’s not guaranteed that the Martial Arts will continue in the Olympics…

Cane Seminar for Veterans

If you ask any martial artists why they study there are typically 2 answers; self-defense and to improve their quality of life.

But what about the other generations that study Martial Arts? ​Are these benefits available to elderly or disabled students?

​It couldn’t be further from the truth.

A fun fact: Sherlock Holmes knew Bartitsu.

​Robert Pilkington started Cane Masters in 2015 with knee and back problems.

Robert Pilkington: 2nd Dan in Kenpo, Shotokan and Taekwondo. Developer of Cane Po.

Their most recent non-profit program is changing lives.

​Many Veterans are used to working out on a regular basis.

The program is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) through Homeland Heroes. ​

​...“Covered entities must allow people with disabilities who use manual or power wheelchairs or scooters, and manually-powered mobility aids such as walkers, crutches, and canes, into all areas where members of the public are allowed to go...”

​This program isn’t just assisting Veterans and the elderly...

​Programs like this are helping break down barriers.