We are saddened to announce that, after 34 years of martial arts study, Master David Neal Brown is retiring.  Master David’s presence and guidance will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate to train with him.  We wish him the best of luck on his new journey and look forward to appreciating all that he will accomplish as he takes his unique talents to a new community in a new capacity.

Master David’s impact on the martial arts community, and especially on Seattle Close Range Tactics, will never diminish.  At Seattle CRT, we still hold to the commitment of providing the very best martial arts and self defense training possible.  Our goal is maintain and cultivate Master David’s dedication to excellence in our endeavors and balance in our lives.

Click here to read Kru Yai Katherine Holmes’ open letter to the Total Confidence Martial Arts Community.

This past Saturday at Total Confidence Martial Arts, Sifu Cory and ten other Black Belt Candidates received recognition at the Rank Promotion Celebration.  Their hard perseverance and commitment to bettering themselves and their communities is an inspiration to all martial artists.  While a great achievement for all, this is only another step on their martial arts journey. 

For the newest Black Belt recipients, this is a new chapter in their lives as they now take on the task of learning new systems of martial arts and self defense.  For the 2nd Degree recipients, having already proven their commitment to interdisciplinary martial arts training, they now begin the journey of studying Close Range Tactics (Wing Chun) and learn how to incorporate more techniques into their martial arts understanding.

Kru Yai Katherine Holmes and Kru Brooke Pete now take up the mantle of Master David Neal Brown and the future of TCMA.  That future is strong!  Master David’s commitment to excellence is instilled in all his students.  With their leadership and the help of all the Black Belts, I am confident TCMA will continue to grow in its teaching of the highest quality martial arts training!

Congratulations to you all!

Last Saturday, Sifu Cory Walken along with Kru Kathy Holmes, Kru Brooke Pete and Brian Rhodes underwent the punishing physical conditioning test know as, “The Crucible”.

As outlined in a previous posting, The Crucible is a three part physical challenge consisting of 45 resistance/coordination exercises, running approximately four miles and ending with two sets of line sprints.  While the physical challenge of the test is obvious, the mental toughness required to complete the test cannot be overstated.

The true purpose of The Crucible is not to determine how many chin ups a person can do or fast they can run a few miles (although, Brain and Kru Kathy run times were very impressive).  The purpose is to drive a person to their perceived physical limit and then beyond – to find that warrior spirit.  That spirit, requiring a willingness to honestly challenge one’s supposed limits, is not possessed by most people.  It’s easy for an ordinary person “try their best” and when they go as far as they physically can, they quit.  A person with that mentality would never survive this test, no matter their physical condition.  This test requires you to be extraordinary.  Example: Imagine yourself with an injured back and a pair of shin splints.  Now run four miles without stopping and then sprint two sets of lines(approximately 0.61 miles) as fast as you can.  Do you imagine you could survive that?  Kru Brooke doesn't have to imagine it -- she did it!

Strong mental toughness is necessary to complete this test.  Razor sharp focus on success and the unwillingness to fail is required.  Those characteristics must exist inside you and must then be constantly encouraged.  For us that encouragement came from Master David Neal Brown.  His mental training (along with physical) taught us to understand and then believe in our ability to succeed.   That foundation was created the day we walked in the door at Total Confidence Martial Arts.  But his encouragement alone wasn’t going to get us through the day.  Moreover… it would not even be available for us.

Master David was not present for The Crucible as he was undergoing his own mental and physical challenge.  Therefore, we needed to look elsewhere for that outside encouragement and we found it – in each other.  Throughout the whole test (which, by the way, lasted about three hours), we looked to one another for moral support.  That team attitude which screamed, “We will not let you fail!” was overwhelming throughout the day.

But in the end, neither Master David nor any amount of team support can negotiate this kind of test for you. 

YOU must possess the fortitude to succeed!  YOU must dig as deep as you can (and then deeper) into your heart to find the courage to endure!  YOU must refuse to accept failure!  YOU must defend yourself against the specter of defeat!  Those qualities of fortitude, courage and the refusal to surrender are known by few, but are possessed by all.  It takes encouragement, support and a commitment to oneself to realize them.

At Total Confidence Martial Arts and Seattle Close Range Tactics, when a person believes they possess that warrior spirit, are willing to prove it and can survive the course, they are and forever will be known as BLACK BELTS!

Just two days until Sifu Cory attempts to survive “The Crucible!”  This conditioning test is a requirement for all 3rd Degree (and above) Black Belt candidates.  While all Black Belt candidates must display superior strength and conditioning, the higher the level you are reaching for -- the higher the physical requirements become.

Below is a list of what is required for the “The Crucible”:

1 minute sets, 30 second rest

Fireman carry
Fire rescue carry
Medicine ball pass
Medicine ball pass sit ups
Pull ups
Strap Push ups
Strap Straight row
Jump rope
Strap Incline push ups
Strap Incline row
Squat thrust roll
Strap Decline push ups
Strap Decline row
Agility ladder
Chin ups
Spider man push ups
Bear crawl
Thread through push ups
Alt and base Switch
Chimpanzee shuffle
Caterpillar push ups
Gorilla shuffle
Tripod reach back
Crab walk
Shrimp tripod
Somersault and sprawl
Get off the ground
Circle planks on the Swiss ball
Forward dives
Bench hops
Commando crawl square
Offset push ups
Mountain climber
Slam downs
Leg swoops
Chair dip
Crow hops
Backward tank & Forward tank
Backward shoulder roll– forward shoulder roll
Boats
Sit ups
Parallette Press ups
Shrimp
Long jumps
Crows


Run to Whatcom falls bridge and back to civic field,  2 sets of line sprints.  No time limit but no walking and no stopping.

Seattle Close Range Tactics (CRT) is pleased to announce the creation of its women’s self defense class.  We understand that self defense classes can be intimidating for some women.  Our goal is to create a comfortable environment for women to train in and learn quality, real self defense techniques.

At Seattle CRT we are committed to providing students with applicable self defense tools for real world situations. Training in self defense is an insurance policy -- You hope you never need to cash it in.  But unlike typical insurance plans, this one comes with the added benefits of increased health, confidence and personal growth and achievement.

Close Range Tactics (CRT) is a system of martial arts based on Wing Chun Kung Fu (wing tsun, ving tsun, etc).  CRT offers straight forward approaches to self defense.  Through an effective system of arts, based on sensitivity and principle, students develop incredible speed and adaptability in the body.  CRT teaches systematic solutions and proper reactions to the practitioner (despite size or strength) in the event of sudden violence.

 

DON'T BE A VICTIM! 



If you are looking for confidence and to know you can protect yourself or your loved ones, then you need to check out Wing Chun.

Because Wing Chun does not employ physical strength in its techniques it is ideally suited for women as they are generally targeted by stronger men. As a matter of fact, women excel in Wing Chun much faster than men do because they do not try to use unnecessary strength when learning techniques.

So what makes Close Range Tactics (CRT) unique from other forms of martial arts? 

First, it important to understand that CRT is primarily derived from Wing Chun (wing tsun, ving tsun, etc).  CRT offers an aggressive, straight forward approach to self defense.  Through an effective system of tactics, based on principles and sensitivity, students develop incredible speed and adaptability in the body. 

I use the word “system” intentionally because various martial arts around the world are not what would be characterized as systems, buy rather styles.  These styles are more of a collection of techniques, rather than a system of tactics.  Wing Chun is based on an array of principles that each techniques must fit into.  The benefit of this self defense system is its simplicity an ease of understanding to the trainee.  Once the principles are understood, then various techniques become much easier to employ.

Unlike many martial arts styles, Wing Chun does not include dozens of different techniques that could all be used in the same scenario.  HOW MANY DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES DO YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO HIT A PERSON IN THE HEAD WITH YOUR LEFT HAND?  Wing Chun strikes that delicate balance between simplicity and completion.

However, like anything in this world, nothing’s perfect.  Classical Wing Chun does have some deficiencies.  Therefore, CRT was developed in the hope of plugging up a few holes in the self defense system.  As my teacher once said to me, “You don’t own a classical computer, do you?”

To learn more about Wing Chun and Close Range tactics, contact us on our website, www.SeattleCRT.com.  We look forward to meeting you!

With spring finally rearing its much anticipated head, we are looking forward once again training at Gasworks Park on beautiful Lake Union in Seattle!

Martial arts are always best performed outdoors.  The fresh air and natural environment offer students a more energizing atmosphere to train in.  Contact us at www.SettleCRT.com to find out more information on our self defense classes in Seattle!

Wing Chun is well known for a collection of techniques known as Chi-Sau.  Chi-sau literally means “sticky hands”. 

However, it is extremely important to understand when and how chi-sau is employed.  The “poon-sau” (rolling arms) drill you may have seen in videos is simply a drill.  While important for the student to master the poon-sau drill, it is more import to understand how that drill translates into self defense.  You are not going to find yourself in a self defense situation where your attacker proceeds to start “rolling with you”. 

So when should you employ your chi-sau techniques?  Well first, the range between you and your opponent must be closed; whether by you actively engaging them or by them engaging you.  Ideally, your “bridging techniques (called “lat sau”) or your reactive/defensive techniques (called “Shock Defense”) will nullify the threat.  However, if you attacker defends your attack or counter attack, you become “stuck”.  This is the opportunity to employ the chi-sau tactics and move around your opponents force.  After nullifying your opponent’s energy, you then proceed forward to your target (i.e. their head).  This is how and when chi-sau is used.

One of the greatest contributions of Grandmaster Leung Ting was his coordination of all the Wing Chun chi-sau techniques into series of “sections”.  These sections are taught in a particular order to a student throughout their training at Seattle Close Range Tactics.  Check out www.SeattleCRT.com for more information!