Week of fun experiences by Sifu Michael Banaag

This past week was a great educational opportunity for myself through gaining the chance to interact with some well known martial artists and instructors, as well as spending time with family.

It all started out last Saturday the 9th when I attended Master Steve Smith's seminar at the Element 5 Fitness center in Kirkland, WA. In an event with a great turnout of 50 participants, Steve got an opportunity to show the blending of Fook Yeung Chuan with what he learned from his other teacher/friend, Jesse Glover - Founder of Jesse Glover's Non-Classical Gung-Fu & the 1st student of Bruce Lee. In attendance were some other well known martial artists including Datu Kelly Worden, Kelly Yeun and Jesse Glover himself. I am still blown away by the friendly commaraderie that Steve shares and embodies with everyone around him, as well as how fluid his movement is and how effortless the techniques are. In my own opinion, in the past, Judo seemed to be the thing to learn if you wanted to learn how to throw. But I have never experienced throwing so effortless as what Steve teaches with Fook Yeung Chuan. I am really appreciative that he was willing to take the time to help me learn the techniques.

Later that day we all had the surprising pleasure of Jesse Glover teaching the last two hours of the seminar. Though I had been to one other Jesse seminar, for myself personally, this seminar was special in so much as I had the opportunity to touch hands with him, and then also train with several of his students; Sean, Tom, Vince, Wallace, Mike and Wes; as well as meet two of his other friendly students Paul and Laura. It was a great experience! I also am really appreciative that Jesse took the time to watch me train the techniques he taught, and help me attempt to execute the techniques even somewhat decently. In a crowd of 50 other participants to get the attention that I received is always nice, and something I promote everyone to actively try and receive when they go to seminars as large as this.

There is absolutely nothing else that beats the learning experience when you not only get to hear and see what these teachers are doing, but also get to feel it as well. And it doesn't even have to be competitive. Just the opportunity to touch hands is something everyone should actively try to do at every seminar they attend. That way there's no miscommunication or anything lost in translation. I'm often surprised with how much a majority of participants in most seminars don't ask to feel the technique being done on themselves. Now if the teacher is a jerk, as some others can be, I would understand the unwillingness to "feel it". But if they are respectable guys like Sijo, Ron Ogi, Steve Smith, and Jesse Glover, you should ask to feel it. And not do so with a challenging attitude, because then you won't like the outcome, or won't get the opportunity. But come in open mindedly, and you'll definitely learn something.

I just want to say thanks again, to Steve and Jesse for giving me an enjoyable & educational learning experience.

Following this event my family and I made our trek down to Sijo's home in the southern portion of the Pacific Northwest to spend a few days with him and his wife at their home. Stopping by Tumwater Falls, we had a great opportunity to see nature in the middle of suburbia and have some good family time. It was a nice teaser for the nice country feel of where Sijo now lives and enjoys his retirement. There we not only enjoyed more family time, but also I received a chance to refine my technique both in training, and the developmental techniques that Sijo has incorporated into our training that allows for accelerated learning, and better confidence. As Sijo puts it, it's training in Defensive Tactics on both a physical and a psychological/emotional level.

Overall it was great learning experience and I'm happy to be back home to get back to training, and growing!