Power for the Beginner - Part 1

Power for the beginner begins with the end in mind: Delivering the maximum potential your mind and body can generate. We are not here to advocate violence, so delivery is just as important to not being moved as it is to moving or striking another. Most of you will likely never fight for your life, but you will learn that you use your martial training each day of your life.

You will learn to move properly, stand for long periods without discomfort and do physical activities you never thought you could. Probably the only time that you will ever fight with another person is in class. This is not really fighting, but only serious play. Serious play is where to learn and practice your blocking, striking and grappling techniques without the danger of serious injury. The only real similarity between serious play and fighting is that if you get hit it was because you failed to block.

Beginning with the end in mind, that is again maximum power, sets the stage for the mind to begin achieving small goals in order to achieve the larger goal of total power. Power for the beginner starts with learning to stand. Sure, everyone thinks that they know how to stand, but standing properly does not mean just not falling down. It means having the ability to take action and be effective with that action. If the action is walking, then walk with power and intent. If it is not to get hit, then it is moving before the strike lands.

Check back for Part 2 soon.

Joe Eidson

Joe Eidson started his martial arts training while stationed in Japan with the US Army in 1959. He received his black belt in 1964 back home in Atlanta, GA from his sensei in Japan. He trained with a number of people in Atlanta including Bobby Fischer, Dudley Evans, and John Vanderwater. In 1972, Sensei Eidson, Sensei Evans, and Sensei Vanderwater started a school at Sumner Park in East Point, Ga. Terry Joyner was there in first class in 1972 and still actively training. Sensei Eidson was promoted to 7th dan in Shito-Ryu in 2007.

Roland Ouellette, Tom Turner, and one other American trained in Japan with Sensei Eidson back in 1959. Sensei Ouellette and Sensei Turner both continued training in martial arts after turning to the states for more than 30 years. That was some class back in Japan in 1959 I would say.

Doc Stroud

Hanshi Lemuel Stroud resides Kinston, NC. He’s known to his friends as “Doc.” His primary art is Hakko-Ryu, but also holds black belts in Shito-Ryu Karate, Kubudo, and Judo. He started training in ju Jitsu in 1962 under Gene Roper (Sensei), his first instructor. Sensei Roper was a student of Soke Baillargeon. Doc received his black belt in Hakko-Ryu Jujitsu 1967 in
Wilmington, NC. He also trained in Kudokan Judo under Master Bill Coward in 1970, he traveled to Japan where he studied Hakko-Ryu Jujitsu at the Hakko-Ryu headquarters.

Starter thoughts on martial arts.

I have a bit of a different view on martial arts than most folks. First off, a bit of background on myself. I’m Mark Moore and my karate sensei is Joe Eidson who I began Shito-Ryu training with in 1975 at the age of 15. My Hakko-Ryu Ju Jitsu began in 1976 under Lemuel “Doc” Stroud. Finally, writing is not my strong suit. I’m more than a bit dyslexic. So, read for content and not my grammar.

I believe that martial arts is a life long pursuit of perfection of ourselves. Not in the religious god like sense, but in the mind, body, and emotional spirit sense. This is not a children’s game. It’s not an after school activity for the wee ones. Doing it right is way too complex for children to absorb and be a “black belt” by the time that they’re six. Children should be included in the martial arts, but they should be managed properly.

My intent here is to share some of my experiences in teaching martial arts and maybe a few techniques along the way.