Lansdale's Self Defense Systems
February 14, 2000
Volume 2, Issue 2

Shen Chuan Review

Shen Chuan warrior

Harvest your winters, burning

Truth's pure blossoms free

- Andrew Vachss

A BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR. WELCOME TO SHEN CHUAN 2000!

Inside This Issue
Camp #3 is a Success!
Aiki News
Master Instructor News
Other News
Black Belt Training
What's New for the Year
Video's ???
Camp #4 is Coming!
Sensei Coy Harry Interview - Part I
Photo Gallery
 
CAMP LANSDALE #3 A MAJOR SUCCESS!
The camp last fall was thought by many to be our best ever. Each camp and seminar has its own unique personality, but this was certainly a fine one. A great three-day black belt test, beginning Friday night through Sunday afternoon, was certainly a great contribution to the camp's success.

We were fortunate enough to have Ryukyu Kempo seventh Dan, Master Will Higginbotham, as our major guest this year. The camp brochures erroneously ranked Master Higginbotham an eighth dan. He's a seventh. But, his next promotion is surely soon to come.

Master Higginbotham showed how to apply our techniques to the concepts and principles of pressure point knockouts. We have been experimenting with these for some time, but Master Higginbotham helped us learn to be more precise about angles and combinations.

We plan to have Master Higginbotham back soon. He and Professor Lansdale worked beautifully together. Master Higginbotham was also impressed with our black belt testing, and was kind enough to offer some very nice words about our black belts.

We're proud of them as well.


In SHEN CHUAN, Jared Taylor and Jeff Luman showed tremendous vitality and determination, as well as demonstrated a plethora of technique. Jim Moore, with a knee injury and two taped thumbs, kept pulling himself up from the pain and performing. His last three techniques (the demonstration part of his test) were really awesome, as were all the black belt candidates. But Jim Moore gets special consideration for working so well with injuries. He showed tremendous guts. It should also be noted that the first night Jared Taylor took an accidental blow to the face that swelled up his head to about the size of a pumpkin. In fact, it was noted by his partner that Jared "looked like E.T." Jared gutted it out as well and passed with a beautiful test.


 SHEN CHUAN, AIKIBUJUTSU / DAITO RYU, U.S.A. / AIKIDO:
This time out Lansdale's self defense gave its last ranks in Aikido. We have taught this separate for a few years, but we have decided to combine the concepts and techniques with our more realistic self defense system to be labeled SHEN CHUAN AIKIBUJUTSU. Sensei Coy Harry directs this division under Professor Lansdale's direction.

Our first and last Aikido black belts are: Bob Lacher, Rick Abel, David Allen, and Jimmy Crow. All of these men were also promoted in Shen Chuan, Aikibujutsu. Good job! David Allen and Jimmy Crow looked exceptionally smooth.

Bob Lacher deserves special praise for testing in Aikido, Aikibujutsu and Daito Ryu -- boy was he busy. Bob already has a black belt in Aikido from the Tohei system, but we are happy to have him as one of our own now, as well as having him ranked in Daito Ryu U.S.A., and Shen Chuan Aikibujutsu.

Rick Abel, another one of our "not a kid" black belts also performed beautifully, and like Bob Lacher, with toughness and realistic intent.

Dr. Brian Carlin, a third dan in judo, was promoted to first dan in Daito Ryu. All Daito Ryu and Aikido promotions are through Professor John Denora.

Sensei Ronnie Branton, due to a snafu, was overlooked for promotion announcement. Our apologies. Since he had already tested in Combat Hapkido, and we had so much going on, we forget to announce his certificate, which we had saved purposely for the camp. Sensei Branton, with his usual modesty, didn't remind us.

Sensei Ronnie Branton has been promoted to second dan in Combat Hapkido, via Grandmaster John Pellegrini. Congrats to Sensei Ronnie Branton, and our apologies.

Also: All the black belts were given the honorary title of sensei, with the exception of Jeff Luman, whose title is not honorary. As a brown belt he has had a lot of experience assisting Professor Lansdale, and teaching our informal Saturday classes. Our apologies for not noting this, or giving Sensei Jeff his Instructorship during the camp.

Since this time, Rick Abel, who started a young adult Shen Chuan Aikibujutsu class, has also been given instructor certification, and Jim Moore, who has assisted so much in class, has also been certified as an instructor. 

   MASTER INSTRUCTOR:
A rare thing has occurred. Sensei Billy Jack Worsham was promoted to third dan and received Master Instructorship in Shen Chuan. Though Shen Chuan does not have set ranks for instructorships, we are not quick to award this for anyone less than fourth dan. And not always then. So this is a rarity.

Sensei Worsham's contribution to the system, teaching, promotion of the art, and his incredible physical performance, actually made this overdue. Professor Lansdale sites him as one of the people most responsible for the growth and development of Shen Chuan, and many of his ideas, takes on techniques, have been adapted into the system.

Congratulations Sensei Billy Jack Worsham.


Master Instructor Richard Metteauer, who gave a great session on Shen Chuan kicking, is currently learning a form from Ryukyu Kempo, as taught to him by Master Higginbotham. At the moment, he is considering training and pursuing rank in Ryukyu Kempo.

Master Instructor Eugene Frizzell also learned some new Arnis drills from Master Higginbotham, who is a black belt in Modern Arnis under one of our favorite martial artists., Professor Reamy Presas.


SPECIAL THANKS to all our seminar leaders. Sensei Paul Britt gave a great demonstration of how to apply Shen Chuan concepts and principles to groundwork. And, we should note, is now a proud Papa. Olivia Britt is a real charmer! Congratulations Sensei Paul.

And, thanks to Sensei Eugene Frizzel. Sensei Coy Harry. Sensei Billy Jack Worsham. Master Higginbotham, and, of course, Professor Lansdale.

Thanks to those who assisted so admirably. Sensei Ronnie Branton, Sensei Britt Labbit. Thanks folks!

Thanks to our visitor from Corpus for driving up to try us out. Glad you liked it.

Thanks to one of our alumni, Sara Stone, now from Tyler.

Thanks to Karen Lansdale who helped do all the things that no one else wanted to do.

OTHER NEWS:
Professor Lansdale has received promotions in COMBAT HAPKIDO -- Fifth Dan -- as well as an Orange belt in SMALL CIRCLE JUJITSU. He hopes this will inspire his students to continue doing what he's doing.

LEARNING!

It's not the rank that matters, it's the knowledge and willingness to be a student, no matter how much experience you have.

Professor Lansdale and Senseis Coy Harry and Eugene Frizzell will be traveling to Indianapolis in February for further training in Small Circle Jujitsu. Professor Lansdale will be traveling to Houston late in February and early March to train under Grandmaster Pellegrini in Combat Hapkido, as well as attend a seminar conducted by Grandmaster George Dillman on accupressure knockouts. Professor also intends to travel to Indianapolis in May for testing in Small Circle Jujitsu. He hopes, if not this year, next year, to bring in Sensei Ed Melaugh, one of the Soke Dais to the Small Circle system.

You never know it all. Keep training.

 
BLACK BELT TRAINING SESSION:
February 12 will be the first of this year's Black Belt meetings and training sessions. This session will stress our concepts, principles, philosophy and basic techniques. Of course, these are taught constantly, and all black belts have trained at least to some degree under Professor Lansdale, but this will be focused entirely on black belts.

Those black belts who expect to move up in promotion must attend these sessions, two or three a year, as well as contribute to our camps and seminars. We can't maintain quality control without these sessions. This gives each black belt a chance to train directly under the founder.

Black Belt training sessions bring us back to the basics. It also puts all black belts on the same page as far as understanding our concepts and principles, and contributes to their individual growth and person expression of the system.

This also allows updates in both business and techniques to be passed on to our black belts. It all comes from the high ranks, so once again, it is necessary for all black belts to be on the same page.

No matter if your emphasis is SHEN CHUAN, SHEN CHUAN AIKIBUJUTSU, SHEN CHUAN STREETBOXING, or SHEN CHUAN STICKBOXING, these concepts and principles apply.

Remember. Shen Chuan has many expressions, but if those expressions are not based on the sound concepts and principles developed by Professor Lansdale, then you aren't doing Shen Chuan.

There is no charge for this training session.
 
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