Milwaukee Martial Arts Training
What is Martial Arts?
The following information includes excerpts from Wikipedia:
Martial Arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for combat. Many arts are practiced competitively, most commonly as martial sports, but may also take the form of dance or katas (memorized & performed series of martial arts movements).
The term "martial arts" refers to the art of warfare (from Mars, the god of war). It comes from a 15th-century European term for fighting arts now known as historical European martial arts. A practitioner of martial arts is referred to as a martial artist
In popular culture, the term "martial arts" often specifically refers to the combat systems that originated in Asian cultures, especially East Asian martial arts. However, the term actually refers to any codified combat system, regardless of origin.
While each martial arts style has unique facets that make it different from other martial arts, a common characteristic is the systemization of fighting or self-defense techniques. Methods of training vary and may include sparring (simulated combat) or formal sets or routines of techniques known as forms or kata. Forms are especially common in the Asian and Asian-derived martial arts.
Martial arts systems generally fall into one of two categories:
- "hard" style arts, and
- "soft" style arts
At American Dojo we teach New Berlin, Waukesha, and Brookfield martial arts that fall into each of the above categories. Master Konley believes that this is important in training as a well-rounded martial arts practitioner.
The following information highlights the 3 main martial arts styles taught at American Dojo in Waukesha:
Milwaukee Taekwondo Lessons
Taekwondo (a hard style) is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. It is the world's most popular martial art in terms of number of practitioners. Gyeorugi, one type of sparring, is an Olympic event.
In Korean, "tae" means "to strike or break with foot"; "kwon" means "to strike or break with fist"; and "do" means "way"/"art"/"method"; so Taekwondo is loosely translated as "the way of the foot and fist".
In general, Tae Kwon Do emphasizes kicks thrown from a mobile stance, employing the leg's greater reach and power (compared to the arm). Taekwondo training generally includes a system of blocks, kicks, punches, and open-handed strikes and may also include various take-downs or sweeps, throws, and joint locks.
Taekwondo is especially well suited for developing balance, agility, strength, focus and coordination in children. The built-in frequent reward system of earning belt ranks (colors) develops their confidence and self- esteem as well.
Master Konley earned his first dan Black Belt in Taekowndo in 1986, and has been training students in this art for more than 20 years. He currently holds the rank of 5th dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and more than 300 students have earned the rank of Black Belt under his instruction and training.
Waukesha Jujutsu Lessons
Jujutsu (a soft style), literally meaning the "art of softness", or "way of yielding" is a collective name for Japanese martial art styles including unarmed and armed techniques. Jujutsu evolved among the samurai of feudal Japan as a method for defeating an armed and armored opponent without weapons. Due to the ineffectiveness of striking against an armored opponent, the most efficient methods for neutralizing an enemy took the form of pins, joint locks, and throws. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it.
There are many variations of the art, which leads to a diversity of approaches. Jujutsu schools (ryû) may utilize all forms of grappling techniques to some degree (i.e. throwing, trapping, joint locking, holds, sweeping, etc.).
Today, jujutsu is still practiced both as it was hundreds of years ago, but also in modified forms for sport practice. Derived sports forms include the Olympic sport and martial art of judo, which was developed from several traditional styles of jujutsu by Kano Jigoro in the late 19th century; and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which was in turn derived from earlier version (pre World War II) of Kodokan judo.
Master Konley has trained under both Mike Swain (pictured above) who is a four-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo, as well as the famed Jiu-Jutsu master, Carlson Gracie. Jiu-Jitsu is an important part of the MMA training at our Milwaukee area dojo.
Wisconsin Hapkido Lessons
Hapkido (combines both hard & soft style elements) is a dynamic and eclectic Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, pressure points, throws, kicks, and other strikes. Hapkido practitioners train to counter the techniques of other martial arts as well as common unskilled attacks. Traditional weapons are also practiced including short stick, cane, rope, sword, fan and staff.
Hapkido contains both long and close range fighting techniques, utilizing dynamic kicking and percussive hand strikes at longer ranges and pressure point strikes, joint-locks, or throws at closer fighting distances. Hapkido emphasizes circular motion, non-r
esisting movements, and control of the opponent. Practitioners seek to gain advantage through footwork and body positioning to employ leverage, avoiding the use of strength against strength.
The art evolved from Daitô-ryû Aiki-jûjutsu or a closely related jujutsu system taught by Choi Yong Sul who returned to Korea after WWII, having lived in Japan for 30 years. This system was later combined with kicking and striking techniques of indigenous and contemporary arts such as taek kyun and tang soo do. Its history is obscured by the historical animosity between the Korean and Japanese peoples following the Second World War.
Master Konley trains directly under Hapkido Master Steve Seo, and his father, Hapkido Grandmaster In Sun Seo (pictured above), founder of the World Kido Federation, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Because Master Konley holds his Masters rank within the prestigious Hanminjok Hapkido Association, and maintains a membership with the World Kido Federation, all belt ranks granted through American Dojo's Milwaukee area academy are internationally recognized by the Korean government Ministry of Culture.
