Annual Universal Systems of Martial Arts Organization Seminar

Another great day of learning and sharing in brother/sister-hood. Thank you to the presenters and all of the participates that made this a special day. The Universal Systems of Martial Arts Organization annual seminar featured:

Hanshi Khalid Newton -Traditional Gojuryu Karate

Gōjū-ryū (剛柔流), Japanese for “hard-soft style”, is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques. Both principles, hard and soft, come from the famous martial arts book used by Okinawan masters during the 19th and 20th centuries, the Bubishi (Chinese: 武備志; pinyin: Wǔbèi Zhì). Gō, which means hard, refers to closed hand techniques or straight linear attacks; jū, which means soft, refers to open hand techniques and circular movements. Gōjū-ryū incorporates both circular and linear movements into its curriculum, combining hard striking attacks such as kicks and close hand punches with softer open hand circular techniques for attacking, blocking, and controlling the opponent, including joint locks, grappling, takedowns, and throws.

Major emphasis is given to breathing correctly in all of the kata but particularly in the Sanchin kata which is one of two core kata of this style. The second kata is called Tensho, meant to teach the student about the soft style of the system. Gōjū-ryū practices methods that include body strengthening and conditioning, its basic approach to fighting (distance, stickiness, power generation, etc.), and partner drills.

Sifu Jamal El- T’ien Shan Pai (Celestial Mountain System) Chinese Martial Arts

Tien Shan Pai (天山派, pinyin Tiānshān pài) is a northern style of Kung-fu which stresses rhythm, the demonstration of power accentuated by solid thuds made by the hands, the emitting of power from the entire body, the coordination of the hands and feet as well as blocks and strikes, high kicks and low sweeps, as well as locking and throwing techniques. At the same time it also contains graceful empty-hand and weapons forms. Tien Shan Pai self-defense is characterized by angular attacks coupled with multiple blocks. If one block fails, the second can cover. Footwork is considered essential to countering attacks. Tien Shan Pai focuses on low and steady steps to the side, along with swift “hidden” steps to trick the opponent. Paired boxing forms and exercises are emphasized for timing and accurate evaluation of distance in reference to a moving, responsive adversary.

Robert Clark – USA Sambo National Team Coach Sambo (Russian: са́мбо, IPA: [ˈsambə]; самозащита без оружия) is a Soviet martial art and combat sport. It originated in the Russian SFSR in Soviet Union. The word “SAMBO” is a portmanteau for samozashchita bez oruzhiya, which literally translates as “self-defence without weapons”. Sambo is relatively modern, since its development began in the early 1920s by the Soviet NKVD and Red Army to improve hand-to-hand combat abilities of the servicemen. It was intended to be a merger of the most effective techniques of other martial arts.

Location: Cheng’s Martial Arts 1720 S State Rd, Bldg 104-B Upper Darby, PA

Sun October 13, 2019 12PM-3PM

USMAO provides practitioners of all styles of martial arts with an open forum for sharing techniques and principles with the express purpose of expanding their martial knowledge beyond that of their core system.

USMAO is group of enthusiastic instructors dedicated to promoting training and knowledge of traditional and non-traditional martial arts.

The USMAO is a nonprofit organization, headed by a group of diverse instructors whose backgrounds in different styles of martial arts and many years of studying and teaching the martial arts and it’s history.