Shen Chuan Review - The Official Newsletter of Lansdale's Self-Defense Systems

It's been a busy first few months for the Professor, and the spread of Shen Chuan.

Professor Lansdale and Shihan Coy Harry recently were part of a seminar held in Kentucky by one of our Shen Chuan black belts, Mike Casto, who is also the student of Ken Pannell, of the Sikal system. Pannell was one of the main headliners along with Professor Lansdale. Janet Gee was also one of the main instructors, along with Shihan Coy Harry and others.

The seminar, though small, was exciting and informative. Professor Lansdale says that he learned a lot, and hopes what he taught was inspirational for those attending, as does Shihan Harry.

This is the second time Professor Lansdale has been a headliner at this seminar. Janet Gee has agreed to be one of our headliners next year at Camp Lansdale.

Professor Lansdale was very pleased to have one of his students, Adam Coats attend the Kentucky seminar. Adam is one of our rising stars in the system, and we're hopeful he'll stay with it. As a testament to his rising ability, Adam placed first in his weight division at the annual KA Fight Night that was held locally, as did Sensei Jared Taylor.

Adam, tell us about your fight.

"At Fight Night, I fought in the 150lb weight class. I took the match from a well dressed boxer from Kilgore...who was fast on his feet. Fight Night showed me that:

1. Time is limited.

2. The mind can always be used as a weapon.

3. I need to keep my hands up and my elbows down.

I owe my success at the event to my teachers (Professor Lansdale, Shihan Coy, and Sensei's Jared and Norma.) They pointed the way to hidden bridges that otherwise would have taken too long to find on my own.

They helped me to cross those bridges instead of allowing me to aimlessly explore beneath. Most of all, they gave me a few tools and materials to maintain those bridges for the future."

Looks like Adam has got a good head on his shoulders as well. We look forward to his advancement in Shen Chuan, and to his future fights. I'm sure they will only get better.

Not to be outdone, Sensei Jared weighed in on his recent accomplishments. How did you do in your recent boxing matches?

"Well I won both my Golden Gloves Boxing matches on the first weekend in May. Shen Chuan has contributed to all my success in the ring and outside the ring.

In my first fight the biggest impact Shen Chuan contributed to was the ability to take a punch, and to stay calm in hectic situations. For some reason, probably lack of preparation, I forgot to use any defense against my first opponent, who happened to hit really hard. He hit me one time and made me go blind for a second. Thanks to Shen Chuan I am used to this situation so I wasn't scared and didn't over react. My pain tolerance has increased dramatically since I first started Shen Chuan."

And the second fight?

"My second fight was a much easier fight. I actually started to use the relaxation I have been taught and the fight went smooth. The relaxed striking really took it out of my opponent, without making me too tired to throw more punches."

Have any of the Shen Chuan concepts and principle's translated to success outside of the ring?

"As far as my success outside the ring, Shen Chuan has given me the confidence and fortitude needed to accomplish my goals, and as soon as I figure out what those goals are, there will be no stopping me. When I first started Shen Chuan I knew nothing, and I don't mean just about fighting. I mean about friendship, about pride, and most of all about confidence. Shen Chuan is a great art, inspired by a great man, and filled only with great people. Everyone that takes Shen Chuan is part of a family that protects, pushes, teaches, inspires, and most of all loves one another. We don't always get along individually, but we are always there for each other. I am truly privileged to be a part of the Shen Chuan family."

And we're glad you are a part of this family.

Congratulations again to both of you, and keep up the hard work!

Rank Camp, May 14-15, 2005:

This years spring rank camp started of small, but as the day progressed it turned out to be a really good showing. The students worked hard, and it showed in their performance.

For those of you not familiar with our rank camps, let me explain. They are "mini camps" set for a weekend in the spring, and sometimes in the fall, designed to allow a student to work strictly on the material needed to advance to the next rank. In theory, someone already close to advancing could come in and train intensively. He may pass to the next rank early that morning, receive his new material, and by 4:00pm Sunday be testing for the next rank. As I said that is in theory. But it has happened with a couple of hard working and dedicated students. Most come in, work very hard, and are promoted on the material they have been working on. Or they have recently been promoted and receive a hyper intensive training session on their new material, which they may or may not be ready to test on at the end of the weekend. Either way, it is a valuable tool for the students to receive a lot of training, geared directly toward their advancement while being supervised one-on-one by a black belt instructor.

The following were promoted or recognized at the rank camp:

Professor Eugene Frizzell: promoted to 7th Dan in Shen Chuan StickBoxing

Soke Dai Coy Harry: promoted to 7th Dan in Shen Chuan Aikibujutsu

Shihan Billy Jack Worsham: promoted to 5th Dan in Shen Chuan Aikibujutsu

Sensei Norma Almanza: promoted to 3rd Dan in Shen Chuan

Sensei Kelly Owens: promoted to 3rd Dan in Shen Chuan

Shihan Bob Lacher: promoted to 2nd Dan in Shen Chuan

Sensei Greg McEntire: promoted to 2nd Dan in Shen Chuan

Larry Laurich: promoted to 2nd Degree Brown in Shen Chuan

Adam Coats: promoted to 2nd Degree Brown in Shen Chuan

Congratulations to all for their effort and hard work!