Lions Martial Arts Federation

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  • Silver Lions Introduction

    Silver Lions Introduction

    Our “Silver Lions” program is one of five different programs of Lions Martial Arts Federation. This program encompasses elements of Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Tang Soo Do, utilizing alternative training methods which are more suitable for adults ages 35-64, or for anyone who is more prone to joint injuries and/or pulling muscles. Adults of all ages are welcome.

    Many elements of this program come from Grandmaster Mark Shuey's "Silver Dragons" curriculum.  GM Shuey also graciously offered to let us also use the "Silver Dragons" name if we wish, but we are Lions, not Dragons. 

    Our Mission:

    We believe that one of the greatest losses of this generation is people dying before their time.  The mission of this program is therefore to add years to your life, and life to your years. 

    What's different about Silver Lions? (compared to Lions):

    Predictable Workout

    The classical martial arts class will often use various psychological techniques to "trick" the student into pushing harder. For example, they might conceal what's coming next, and encourage you to blow your steam, just before doing an even harder exercise. Or, they might use competition to get students to push extra hard. All of this can be great for kids and some younger adults, but for many adults, it all too often leads to injury.

    We work up to it slower, and we stretch differently

    Kids easily get bored if you work up the intensity too slowly, but many adults get injured if they don't work up to it slowly enough. In Silver Lions, the pace is more suitable for the targeted demographic. Also, our warm up routine has specific stretches that are more closely aligned with the needs of older people.

    Deemphasize certain techniques

    Don't worry, these techniques are not often used successfully in real fights anyway. To reduce the chance of injury, jumping and spinning kicks are deemphasized, as well as certain kicks that can put more strain on joints, such as hook kick.

    Martial Arts Grandmasters are succumbing to knee replacement surgery and hip replacement surgery at a rate that exceeds the "non-obese" general population.  It is true that controlled and limited joint shock brought about by proper exercise can strengthen the joints, but it is also true that pushing too far does the opposite.

    Other changes in emphasis

    More emphasis on weapons, especially the cane, with techniques borrowed from Hapkido. We chose the cane, because a cane can be carried anywhere (including airplanes), and can be quite deadly in the hands of a skilled practitioner. Other weapons, such as nun chucks, spears, swords and Sai’s can look flashy, but we don't think older people are as interested in "flashy" as they are in getting the job done.

    More emphasis on Hapkido grappling and joint lock techniques, which are generally performed from a standing position.

    This program emphasizes "ball of the foot" front (snap) kick over "top of the foot" front kick because it is usually a more effective kick, and we believe adults can more readily learn the ball of the foot technique, while kids tend to have difficulty.

    Deemphasize Bone Conditioning

    Impact conditioning is very common in most martial arts. They work by deliberately developing micro bone fractures that then heal to be stronger, or by traumatizing the hands causing them to scar up to become tougher. We don't think that is what seniors generally should be expected to do, so we don't do that in this program. Thus, there are no wooden dummies, makiwara boards, sand buckets, or striking boards in this program. Also no practice with an opponent of repeated bone striking techniques for the purpose of bone conditioning. Also no knuckle push-ups.

    Reduced Need for Memorization

    Karate means Kara (empty) + Te (hand). The way is do. Thus, karatedo is the way of the empty hand.  Taekwondo is the way of the hand and foot.  The word judo consists of two Japanese characters, ju, which means "gentle," and do, which means "the way." Judo, therefore, literally means the way of gentleness.  These martial arts all have a "do" component, which is the life philosophy or spiritual way associated with the art.

     
    Older people generally have greater difficulty memorizing complex patterns than younger people, making it difficult to “teach an old dog new tricks”. They are also already pretty set in their life philosophy (their "do"). Attempting to change their already ingrained "do" is probably not going to work, and if their existing “do” is not compatible with your organization, you have deeper problems to solve.

    This program therefore eschews teaching the typical martial arts "do", and avoids long memorization of tenets and philosophies, and loaded memorization rank requirements.

    Kata (Poomsae)

    "Kata" was never meant to be used as a standalone solo exercise, nor as a medium of expression for competition. Those are modern inventions. Originally, kata was created as a memory tool – so you could practice various self-defense techniques used against a violent attacker on your own. This particular philosophy of Kata is known in Japanese as "Bunkai". When used in the context of Karate, Bunkai symbolizes the process of breaking down the movements of a kata to understand how the techniques can be applied in self-defense. If you are not visualizing an attacker during your kata practice, you are not doing "Bunkai". You are doing something else.

    If you don’t know the purpose of the technique, what’s the point of doing it correctly? Kata without "Bunkai" is just a dance. This program is not a dance class, nor is it an exhibition class. It focuses more on practical application of the kata, and avoids long memorizations of complex patterns.

    Thus, this program de-emphasizes (but does not discard) kata. When kata is taught, foundational pieces that are in harmony with our other programs are taught, so that these different programs reinforce each other. This program also includes a Bunkai analysis of any kata taught.

    Cane Course Introduction 

    Most of our Silver Lions cane curriculum is from Grandmaster Mark Shuey's "Silver Dragons" curriculum (many thanks for permission!)

    GM Mark Shuey 

    Originally trained in the Chuck Norris System of Tang Soo Do, Mark received his 1st degree Black Belt in 1978 under Master Harold Gross, Master Dennis ltchakawa, and Master Neil Citron.  He then began teaching martial arts in 1979. In September of 1999 he was promoted to 7th degree by the USMA and ICHF.

    Mark Earned Degrees In Tang Sao Do, Tai Kwon Do, And Hapkido.

    Mark has a Master's Certification with USNKA (United States National Karate Assoc.), ATAMA (American Teacher's Assoc. of the Martial Arts), and USMA (United States Martial Arts Association).  He has numerous other positions and accomplishments such as being on the Board of Directors for the World Head of Family Sokeship Council, the Independent Karate School Association, and the International Martial Arts Association. In March of 2002, Mark was promoted to 10th Degree Black Belt for Cane Master by the International Martial Arts Council of America (Head founders/Grandmasters Association). Mark is also the Head of Cane Instruction and Nevada State Director for the International Combat Hapkido Federation, and is certified by World Black Belt as a Certified Instructor for their "America in Defense" program.

    Shuey Is A Top Competitor In Martial Arts Tournaments.

    For years Mark Shuey Sr. has been a top competitor in the National Coalition of Martial Artists and was rated number one in weapons and katas in M.A.R.R.S.  for his age division and number two in overall points. 

    Mark Shuey Kept Winning Competitions for Years

    Since 1998, at the Unified World Martial Arts Federation year end banquet, Grandmaster Mark Shuey has earned multiple awards, such as overall Grand Champion in both weapons and forms,1st place winnings in 4 categories: Forms Katas, Weapons, and Kumite (Sparring). He's also earned Grand Champion in Katas for the Golden State Karate Assoc. (GSKA) and the national title in senior weapons in IMAC. Shuey has been awarded Competitor of the Year by IKSA. and he was inducted into the Martial Arts Masters, Pioneers, and Legends Hall of Fame as a "Master Instructor".

    Grandmaster Mark Shuey went on competing and winning more NASKA National and Masters Weapons Titles.

    He has won top honors in the world for the KRANE ratings and was inducted into the USMA Hall of Fame, as well as the prestigious World Head of Family Sokeship Hall of Fame.  He was also inducted into the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame, International Association of Karate, Kobudo, Puerto Rico Hall of Fame and USMA, and was named "Martial Arts Pioneer".  Grandmaster Shuey is in the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Master of the Year/Weapons, and Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame as Weapons Instructor of the Year, too. The World Martial Arts League in Germany honored him as Grandmaster of the Year/Weapons/Cane.

    Grandmaster Shuey has continued to compete, and has participated in the KATA WARS in Las Vegas, a prestigious event only open to those with over 100 wins under their “belt”.

    Grandmaster Shuey Continues to Promote Tournaments, Wellness, and Self-Defense

    Mark has been promoting tournaments in the martial arts since the 1980s, and has hosted many tournaments of his own. Because of his love for the Cane, his weapon of choice, he was one of the founders of "Cane Masters” and “The American Cane System”.

    Although Grand Master Shuey is trained in all of the major martial arts weapons, he's completely sold on the merits of the cane. "It's the most practical weapon a martial artist, or anyone for that matter, can learn," says Shuey. "What other weapon can you carry on a plane or in a casino? Try getting nunchaku past airport security! After all, what good is learning a weapon that you can't take anywhere?