SEATTLE TRIP

To those of you who were present at the Iowa Bobbe seminar, this will make perfect sense.

Deb and I arrived at the SeaTac airport to see Bobbe and we were wearing blue “T” shirts one of the “T” shirts said -“I’M BUZZ”, the other said - “I’M BUZZ’S CHICK. The look on Bobbe’s face was priceless. And when we handed him another blue “T” shirt that said “I’M BUZZ’S BUD” it was a Kodak moment. And of course there was but one last “T” shirt that said – So…Who’s Buzz, which of course was for Caren.

I finally found out what makes Bobbe so hyper- seems his coffee is 3 times as strong as I am used to. He must be immune to it, or it has replaced his blood because once he is up- he is UP.

Bobbe and his better half ,Caren, are consummate cooks. If it doesn’t have 4 different spices and requires 6 steps to make, it ain’t real food. Me, I’m a meat and potatoes type of guy. The week was spent stuffing our faces with all types of cuisine Malay,Chinese, Hawaiian, Indonesian, and Filipino.. We spent 3 days searching for a cinnamon donut. I just had to have one. Finally found one around the corner from Bobbe's place. We went to the Malaysian Restaurant and had already offered to take Caren out for dinner. When the check came, Deb snatched it up, Bobbe argued in vain for a few minutes but to no avail. Deb looked him right in the face and said ”don’t mess with the midget chick”. He looked at me and I replied - "even I don’t mess with the midget chick." This was the first time I saw Bobbe speechless. (I have no idea where the midget chick term came from)

The last time I was in Seattle was in 1972 while attending the Seattle Seafair
with the US Navy. This means- I had no idea where to go or what to do.
Deb did a few searches online before we left and that gave us a starting point.

We went to the space needle and you could see that Deb was turning a bit
white in anticipation. Seems she has an aversion to heights. But, like
a trooper, she went up the elevator and even looked out into space. At
the top she looked over the edge and even walked clear around the
upstairs observation lounge. The view was spectacular. The weather was
in our favor and it was pretty clear for as far as you could see.


Bobbe gave us a ride (jeepney fashion ) to the Kubota
Gardens. This place is not heavily advertised and it was a wonderful
place to walk around looking at all the plants and the water features.
Almost a Japanese Garden but with a lot of just plain plantings. I
think we took the most pictures here.

I notified Bobbe that his passenger brake wasn't working, Deb chimed in that the rear passenger brake didn't work as well. (We live back in the woods where we deal with tractors and tourists,not Indy 500 drivers)

“I beat you old man” said Bobbe on the 7th day, “one victory out of 7 does not a conquest make, first you have to wake up not using the alarm.” This was brought on because we wake up early and we had been gone before Bobbe or Caren woke up. Seems that we are early risers and like to get moving in the morning and Bobbe is
more of a night personality. Deb and I wake on our own at 5 or 6 am. Bobbe rolls out of bed sometime after 10 am. So we went out for breakfast each morning and arrived back to start our days touring or checking out the local shops or sights. The local bus system will take you almost anywhere .Besides, I didn't feel comfortable borrowing Bobbe's car. Tho we did end up borrowing a few times.

Things we did, places we went:
Kubota Garden
Bellevue Mall
Space Needle and Monorail
Pike Place Market
Chinatown tour
Mount Rainier and Scenic Railroad
Private Classes for Bobbe and his students

I did a couple of class workshops with Bobbe's guys to introduce them to this strange brand of Kuntaw. I hope they all got what they wanted, I know I showed a lot.
They
were quick studies. Friday before we left we had a small seminar where
each student could pick and choose from the menu. All were very
receptive to what was shown.

On
Saturday, before we had to run to the airport, Bobbe and Caren hosted a
small party for Franklin , one of Bobbe's senior students. He is
retiring from the military and about to move to Florida. Talk about a
smorgasbord . Stuffed potatoes, Filipino Ribs, strawberry shortcake, 3
types of fried chicken, veggies and dips of several varieties, cheeses,
wines, beers of many flavors.


The backyard was askew with people
eating, drinking, and comparing notes as well as telling war stories.


I guess Mushtaq Ali had similar problems with the passenger brake too.


Words To Live By
1. A day without sunshine is like night.
2. On the other hand, you have different fingers.
3. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
4. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.
6. He who laughs last thinks slowest.
7. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
8. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets The cheese in the trap.
9. Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.
10. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
11. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.
12. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
13. How many of you believe in psychokinesis? Raise my hand.
14. OK, so what's the speed of dark?
15. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
16. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.
17. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?
18. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
19. What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?
20. Why do psychics have to ask you your name?
21. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering, 'What the heck happened?'
22. Just remember -- if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.
23. Light travels faster than sound.. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
24. Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

GATHERING OF THE TRIBES "Land of the lost boys"

To those who know me there is no need to explain the GATHERING OF THE TRIBES, for those who do not know me or what I am into, an explanation will be hard to deliver. Two times a year a number of like minded martial artists from all over get together to share food “beer” curry and various IMA/FMA lines of thought.

Now, for those who are in Karate type arts, this is unheard of. But, to us, it is absolutely normal. We meet in a little dojo, bothoan, dojang , qwoon- or polebarn out in the woods just a short drive from downtown Grand Rapids. This little piece of property hosts a number of open hearted and giving instructors, students and afficitionados of the martial way from axe throwing, to slice and dice.

This year was no different. On hand for the GATHERING were;

Guru Mushtaq Ali------Senior Instructor of Silat Zulfikari.
Cody Fielding ---- from San Francisco - Certified sports conditioning specialist and health coach from Empowered Health
Guru Bobbe Edmonds ----- from Seattle Washington- owner and head instructor of Edmonds Martial Arts Academy

James Kohlenberg----- Pressure Point Release- Physical Therapist

Chuck Pippen ------ from San Yun Do Grand Rapids

And Myself

Some camped out, some stayed in motels, and some even crashed on the living room floor. All spent 3 days of various training from knife making, Grappling, Stick compression techniques, pressure point release training, Buno lockflow and applications, Silat knife work, training gear applications, 3 section staffwork, and even a few off to the side one on one training sessions.

This year was one of the best sessions I have been to and it was day after day of nice weather where we could work outside. These people leave their egos at the door and proceed to just explore and dissect many avenues of the arts presented.

A total shock to me was the presentation of acknowledgement of my rank and acceptance as one of the founding fathers of this event - an honor that I did not expect but was dropped on me - blind sided if you will. Guro Bobbe Edmonds had a certificate made up and signed by all of the Nonaligned martial artists that are the core of our group. This means a lot as I hold a high level of respect for these guys. To have them say we recognize you as one of us and one of the core people is quite an honor.

With me this weekend getaway to the land of Lost Boys was Deb. We camped out in the Taj Mahal of tents and ran up a high number of kisses. "Get a room" was heard a few times. She has been my co partner in crime and I am not sure what I would do without her there. The last night was quite interesting from the screeches of a stuck raccoon to the wind playing havoc with the tent. For a while we were wondering if we would be still in Kansas come morning.

Here is a link to some of the photos and videos taken at this years Gathering.

http://www.4shared.com/dir/7277527/111c6465/2008_Spring_Gathering.html

Gathering of The Tribes - Spring Edition

An event that I look forward to at least twice a year is the Gathering of The Tribes at the Innovative Martial Arts Studio in Grand Rapids Michigan. I first heard of it from one of my students. He happened upon these rag tag weird Silat stylists somehow in his travels and somehow twisted my arm to go down and meet these outcasts. Well, let me say- I was glad i did. This 2-4 day camp has been quite informative as well as entertaining. the odd bunch of Silat, IMA< FMA< CMA practitioners have a great way of sharing their knowledge while leaving the ego baggage at the door.

I have attended 4 of these events so far and each one gets better than the previous one. This last Gathering comes at a time when I am at my lowest. I have been diagnosed with Polymyalia and have been suffering sore muscles and swelling of my hands now for almost a year. My ego, or should i say self esteem, has been in the basement.

What Is Polymyalgia Rheumatica?

Polymyalgia rheumatica is a rheumatic disorder associated with moderate-to-severe musculoskeletal pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulder, and hip area. Stiffness is most noticeable in the morning or after a period of inactivity, and typically lasts longer than 30 minutes. This disorder may develop rapidly; in some people it comes on literally overnight. But for most people, polymyalgia rheumatica develops more gradually.

The cause of polymyalgia rheumatica is not known. But it is associated with immune system problems, genetic factors, and an event, such as an infection, that triggers symptoms. The fact that polymyalgia rheumatica is rare in people under the age of 50 and becomes more common as age increases suggests that it may be linked to the aging process.

Polymyalgia rheumatica usually resolves within 1 to 2 years. The symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica are quickly controlled by treatment with corticosteroids, but symptoms return if treatment is stopped too early. Corticosteroid treatment does not appear to influence the length of the disease.

Whether taken on a long-term basis for polymyalgia rheumatica or for a shorter period for giant cell arteritis, prednisone carries a risk of side effects. While long-term use and/or higher doses carry the greatest risk, people taking the drug at any dose or for any length of time should be aware of the potential side effects, which include:

fluid retention and weight gain
rounding of the face
delayed wound healing
bruising easily
diabetes
myopathy (muscle wasting)
glaucoma
increased blood pressure
decreased calcium absorption in the bones, which can lead to osteoporosis
irritation of the stomach
increase in infections
( sheesh- the side effects are almost worse than the disease!!!!)

What Is the Outlook?

Most people with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis lead productive, active lives. The duration of drug treatment differs by patient. Once treatment is discontinued, polymyalgia may recur; but once again, symptoms respond rapidly to prednisone.

What I was told- "There is no known cause, there is no known cure- live with it"

Now, for a guy who has been very active over most of his adult life, this comes as a kick in the crotch.

So, on with the tirade. Normally we bring 6-12 students down for these gatherings- but, because i have not been active, my club has fallen to zero. The 4500 sq ft facility closed July 7th of last year. I had a hard time finding anyone to run the classes and cover for me while they were trying to find out what hit me. So, blow #2 to my ego.

I loaded up my van with sleeping bags, tents and stuff to allow the students that were coming a place to crash if they wanted to. As it were, only 2 came. Blow #3. Upon our arrival at 9 pm , there were a number of people milling about and swapping lies and stories and generally having a good time. As we unloaded we were met by Chuck and Mushtaq and we set up some folding chairs and jumped in to the fray. As if we were lot neighbors and were just coming over to share a six pack. The night was spent just talking and getting aquainted with some new faces and some old ones.

Carl was nowhere to be found (could it be that I scared him off with all the tricks and displays at the last gathering? NAW he didn't believe any of it anyway) which is unusual as he has been to the last couple of Gatherings with a gusto for info.

I was informed by Guru Mushtaq that Chuck AND Don were being secretly tested for rank in San Yun Do. So my eyes were open to look for the signs of quality that I look for in a senior Black Belt. Sharing, explaining, being approachable, leading by example, patience, and the ability to dissect and reassemble a new technique or concept to fit their own mindset. Hell, what did i have to watch for? These guys have shown that the past 2 years i have been coming. They take what is given and immediately go about helping their students to grasp what is being shown if the instructor is busy, and mind you , not missing a beat, a movement, or a key ingredient. This is easy


The night went well, the mosquitoes weren't too hungry and there wasn't a lot of wild goings on , so it was an early night.


The next morning we woke to a home cooked breakfast by Jeannie Chucks wife and camp cookie. People started to stir and more and more cars pulled up. The seminar started with a nice explanation of how things work body wise and how to prepare your body to do what you want it to do. This section was led by Cody Fielding who came all the way from San Francisco. Needless to say , I was hurting a bit before this was over but I did give it a go. A lot of what Cody was saying underscored what I have been teaching since day one.

Guru Mushtaq took the next session and had everybody moving and grooving to Silat and the "bring a friend along" idea. Mushtaq has a casual but poignant way of passing info along making it look like ballroom dancing til wham! you hit the floor. During his session , he hit on a common note that is in Kuntaw as well, so I stole one of his flows and added the treachery aspect , this made my session easy to run as he opened the door. It seemed to be well recieved.


Now, there have been some unique personalities that have attended these gatherings, but one now stands out to be matched. Guru Bobbe Edmonds ( who I had not met before) was setting the stage for sideline innuendos and comical hecklings that put an end to any possible edge that may have been suspected and toally disolved the event into a free for all. We laughed learned and had an enjoyable training session even tho all authority was out the window. Everyone was fair game.

It was a blast.

Grand Master Bobby Toboada arrived and we shared some oxygen, some stories of Tagalog differences, and i was surprised to find a very humble but dynamic man. He spoke softly but delivered a nasty blow, he showed us the dynamics of Balintawak and I stayed with the class as long as i could, but my hands swoll up to the point I couldn't hold on to a stick. In fact I almost let one fly during our striking drills. So, I bowed out and watched from the sidelines.


On Sunday we had to leave early due to a family matter- memorial day weekend and family matters. We folded up the chairs and the tent , put away the sleeping bags and loaded up the van. I had an interview to do with Dan Williams and Sterling Hiebeck---http://www.roxormedia.com/wordpress/?page_id=161. I had to miss Guro Bobbes session, but I am sure that my students will fill me in next class. But before we left, I spent some time with Guru Bobbe showing him some of the basic sibat/toya concepts from Kuntaw and he picked up on it very quickly. Parking lot seminars arealmost as good as in house seminars. One thing stuck out in my mind- I asked him if he wanted to learn some "hollywood techniques" he respectfully said no- he wanted the good stuff ( I like this guy). So we went back over it and I think he has it pretty good.

We said good bye to all and hit the road knowing - "We would be back"