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Professor
Michael M. Foley addresses the question of why all the
changes to Koden Kan. But first, he would like to ensure
you all that nothing has changed concerning the actual
system of Koden Kan, just the method of presenting it.
He writes:
A lot of people have asked me why I've changed the name
of my martial arts school from Koden Kan Martial Arts
Training Center to Hand-to-Hand Combat Training Center. I have to ask myself a different question;
Why
did it take me so long to come to the realization that
it needed to be changed?
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(Young students training in partner techniques at H2HCTC) |
(Students practicing partner techniques in hand to hand)
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And not just the name but a lot
of the nuances that make up a school of martial arts.
For years I have become more and more uncomfortable
with all the Japanese influence, traditions, history,
language and culture surrounding systems of martial
arts taught in America. Especially those systems of
martial arts primarily formulated in the USA.
Our system
of martial art, Koden Kan, has roots in Japan, Korea,
Okinawa, China, Greece, and Thailand. However, I learned
the vast majority of the founding elements of Karate,
Judo, Jujitsu, Aikido, Kickboxing, Gung-fu, and wrestling
while stationed in the US Army in Hawaii. Most of the
Master Instructors I studied with were born in Hawaii
and had learned their skills in Hawaii. And, as if you
didn't know, Hawaii is the 50th state of the United
States of America! But now it gets better. |
After
I returned from Hawaii, I joined the Army Reserve and
entered college full-time at California State University,
Sacramento. Using the techniques of the martial arts
I had learned over the last nine years as my thesis
for the study of the human body in motion, I began the
meticulous creation of a separate system of martial
art known as Koden Kan. I wanted every technique to
use precise application in order to generate maximum
power and striking impact potential. I even re-worked
the equation for power used to calculate the force a
human body is capable of generating; Mass X Distance
+ Speed = Power. |
(Stretching out a Women's self-defense class in Baghdad) |
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(Instructor Bravo throws Instructor Lowe) |
Through
countless executions of each technique and analyzing
the findings through video files and other kinesiological
methods I was able to develop what I considered to be
the optimal method of executing kicks and punches for power. By using my own body and mind,
Koden Kan as I teach it now was formulated. This is
what I teach at the H2HCTC and to military personnel
around the world. This is my style, an American style
of martial arts with some roots in Asia. And like hundreds
of Asian/Americans I have met over the years, should
only be known as Americans.
So now, I have stopped using
Japanese terms, wearing Japanese training uniforms (gi),
and teaching about Japanese culture and traditions.
I believe with all my heart that America has it's own
culture and traditions just as rich as any other country
in the world. As a teacher I should advance the knowledge
of these things and more, through my school and it's
teachings.
One of America's greatest institutions that
is draped in tradition is the US military. And after
31 years of service in the US Army and Army Reserve
I feel it is my duty and my honor to emphasize the traditions
and rich benefits of patriotism for all Americans who
want to learn martial arts. And let's face it; the word
martial is synonymous with military.
Martial Law= Military Law, Martial Art= Military Art.
My schools new motto says it pretty well;
! Train to fight,
fight to win! USAAH!!"
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