Thompson's Bungo Fu Blog

NEW LOCATION FOR KUNG FU IN THE PARK...CLASSES START SATURDAY JULY 16

2011-07-13T21:13:00.000-04:00

Two of our black sashes, Minh and Kellyn, have some fun between drills.

After the problem with Piney Branch Park last week, we've decided to go back to the location that we used last year. We're holding the class in Sligo Creek Park along Sligo Creek Parkway, just before the intersection of Colesville Road (Rt. 29). On the left-hand side of Sligo Creek Parkway, you'll see two small parking areas just before the intersection. Walk across the little wooden bridge and into the clearing next to the tennis courts. Call 301-351-6159 for more information. Here is a link to the location on Google Maps. The stretching and kung fu forms class will begin at 10:30 a.m, and the 30-minute staff class will begin at 11:30. See you there!

Our Apologies about problem with Piney Branch Park

2011-07-09T11:03:00.000-04:00

We apologize to everyone who showed up on Saturday, and discovered that the construction for Piney Branch Elementary School is blocking the entrance to the park picnic area where we had planned to hold class. We mistakenly thought that we would have access to that area, since it is not part of the project. We are going to switch to a new location for next week, probably the one that we used last year in Sligo Creek Park. We hope you weren't too disappointed, but we'll be looking forward to seeing you next week.

Saturday Kung Fu in the Park!

2011-07-02T20:28:00.000-04:00

Join Sifu Robert Thompson for an hour of outdoor fitness, self-defense and fun, for just $10 a session—pay as you go. All ages and ability levels welcome! Join us next to the picnic pavilion in Piney Branch Park, in back of Piney Branch Elementary School, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park. Starts July 9.

Saturday, 10:30 a.m. Meditation, stretching and kung fu class

11:30 a.m. Bo (fighting staff) class

Call 301-351-6159, email spiritlion7@yahoo.com or go to www.thompsonskungfu.com for more information. See you there!

A great video clip of Shaolin fighting techniques

2011-02-12T23:59:00.000-05:00

I showed this video to Sifu Thompson, because I noticed that Master Shi, who is giving the demonstration, utilizes a trick that we use in Bungo Fu as well--what we call a stabbing kick, which involves stepping on the opponent's foot to pin him down and leave him vulnerable to a strike or a high kick. But as Sifu pointed out, many of Master Shi's other moves resemble ones that are part of the Deer and Sunfist technqiques in our system, and the basic principles underlying them have similarities to the concepts of Bungo Fu as well. Notice how Master Shi lets his attacker get close, and then dodges or blocks the punch at the last instant while simultaneously counterattacking from the side or back. Also, his movements are very economical and efficient--there's zero wasted motion, and he immediately delivers a devastating blow that neutralizes his attacker. One key difference is that Master Shi relies entirely on low kicks in this demonstration, while Bungo Fu fighters like to go high as well. One of the reasons we do so much stretching is that we want to have the ability to reach an opponent's head with a kick, even from close range.

Video of Bungo Fu advanced youth sparring, Jan. 22, 2011

2011-01-22T15:42:00.000-05:00

Two of our young black sashes, Kellyn and Minh square off in a free-sparring session at the first Saturday class of the year. Both of them performed well. Notice Kellyn's take-down and how Minh bounced up and came back fighting, which illustrate two important points. One is that our art has elements of grappling, not just kicking and punching. Second, since we do a lot of controlled contact, rolling and agility work, our advanced students are prepared for anything.

Youth classes in Takoma Park begin on Jan. 22

2011-01-13T00:14:00.000-05:00

We have a new season of our popular Saturday morning classes starting at the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave. Takoma Park. Classes are held in the dance studio at the rear of the building. Many of our students started with the Saturday classes--it's a great way to get an introduction to the art of Bungo Fu. No uniform necessary. Just wear loose-fitting clothes and comfortable shoes.

Saturdays, Jan. 22 - Apr. 9
Beginners 10:15 a.m. -11:15 a.m.
Advanced 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Takoma Park city residents $150
Non-residents $170

Click here for a printable PDF of the rec department's guide, including a registration form. You can also register online with a credit card by clicking here.

Young black sashes sparring

2011-01-11T22:01:00.000-05:00

Here's a video of our two young advanced students, Minh Kiger and Kellyn Barber, doing some free sparring under Sifu Thompson's supervision. Notice Kellyn's quick attacks and use of trapping moves to neutralize Minh's high kicks. Both of them were relying upon the same techniques that they practice in their forms, which is what we strive for.

New Classes starting Today at DC Dance Collective!

2011-01-11T11:14:00.000-05:00

New classes starting at DC Dance Collective,

4908 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington D.C

T-W-TH: 11:30-1:00 pm (stretching, balance, meditation)

4:30-5:15 pm Bungo Fu (children to age 15)

5:15-6:00 p.m Bungo Fu (adults)

For more information call 301-351-6159

Or go to www.thompsonskungfu.com

What is Tai Chi, really?

2011-01-01T16:00:00.000-05:00

What is Tai Chi? Some people would tell you that it is an ancient internal Chinese martial art, first developed in the late 1500s by Chen Wangting, and that there are five traditional Chinese styles that evolved from his teachings. Others might tell you that in order to practice Tai Chi and realize its benefits, you must pick one of these styles--the Yang family style, for example--and strive to master all of its myriad forms.

But those answers would be missing the point, because in the martial arts, adherence to tradition is not so important as grasping the underlying point of what we do, and what we hope to accomplish. Sifu Thompson, in contrast, defines Tai Chi, simply, as "moderate kung fu." What he means by this is that the core elements of Tai Chi--such as mindfulness, establishing and maintaining balance, neuromuscular control through relaxation, and the use of breathing to tap into a person's internal power, or chi--are not dependent upon what style you do. Sifu's belief is that it is not what particular movements you perform, but how you move, that provides the health and psychological benefits ascribed to Tai Chi.

Thus, Sifu teaches his own Bungo Fu-version of Tai Chi,. Basically, it involves performing various movements used in our art in a slow, measured, meditative manner. Because many of our moves involve high kicks and are performed in low stances or while balancing on one foot, Bungo Fu-style Tai Chi is a bit more physically challenging than some of the traditional Chinese styles. But we believe that it also provides greater benefits, in terms of balance, strength and flexibility. We'll provide more information about all this in future posts.

Pictures from some of this year's classes

2010-12-22T15:17:00.001-05:00

Here are a few snapshots from this years' classes at various locations. We're very pleased with the progress that many of our students made this year, and their enthusiasm for learning is the best reward an instructor could have.

Practicing blocking technique in our summer outdoor class in Sligo Creek Park.

Michael, one of our most promising students, demonstrates his kicking technique.

Side kick practice. Notice the minimal turnout on Sifu Thompson's base foot.

Kellyn Barber and Minh Kiger doing some free sparring, under Sifu's close supervision.

We work hard in class, but our students have some playful moments too.

Beginning students, working on punching form.

In this sequence, Sifu Thompson and Minh Kiger demonstrate 1 of 1 for an audience of summer campers.

Minh proves that even a 60-pound boy can use his leverage to knock an adult attacker off balance.

Group stretching and balance work.

Sifu Thompson demonstrates proper form for monkey-on-a-limb.

The importance of having a complete fighting system

2010-12-22T01:07:00.000-05:00

If you read the comments by MMA fans on martial arts videos on YouTube, you'd think that the martial arts are divided into "grappling" and "striking" categories, and that only fighting style that works is a hybrid of Muay Thai or kickboxing and Brazilian Jujitsu (BJJ), and that everything else is hopelessly obsolete.

You can get away with that myopic mindset if you do all your fighting inside a cage with padded walls and a padded floor, you're wearing MMA gloves, and you're fighting a single opponent who must adhere to UFC rules. Those rules prohibit numerous tactics--including joint locks and attacks to the spine, the back of the head, throat, and eyes--out of concern that the competitors might be injured or that they might appear too brutal to government regulators. And that all makes sense, because the UFC is a sport and a form of entertainment.

If you're compelled to defend yourself in the real world, however, you're likely to have to do your fighting in a much more unforgiving environment, such as a darkened parking garage or outdoors on uneven surfaces, or in an alley strewn with broken glass. Your opponent--assuming you have just one--isn't going to follow any rules, and there isn't going to be a doctor on hand to stop the action if it looks like you're going to get hurt. You can't get ahead on points and run out the clock to win. And nobody is going to lift your arm and give you a fancy belt afterward. In the real world, you win if you escape without injury to yourself or a loved one. The goal is to survive, by whatever means are necessary.

Unlike MMA, Bungo Fu is designed for precisely that sort of life-and-death situation. Our system is not a sport. To the contrary, many of the techniques we teach--such as spinning an attacker around and kicking him in the kidneys, or trapping a punch in a way that snaps the bones in the attacker's arm--would never be allowed in any sort of civilized competition. These moves originally were developed for close-quarters battlefield combat by ancient warriors in Asia and Africa, whose survival depended upon their ability to quickly neutralize an enemy soldier and move on to the next adversary. The balance and sensory-awareness drills that we do were invented to prepare a person to navigate an unfamiliar, asymmetrical arena and to be able to detect the movements and intentions of multiple opponents.

Beyond that, while we do kick and punch, it is a mistake to view Bungo Fu as a "striking" martial art. As a hybrid of Kung Fu and African foot-fighting techniques, it actually is a truly complete, reality-based fighting system, one that integrates a variety of tactics involving the complete body. Instead of bouncing around on the outside and throwing long-distance kicks, we like to get in close and get a grip on our opponents--or even trick them into grabbing us, which opens them up to a counterattack to vital areas. We use sweeps to knock them off their feet. One reason we spend so much time working on flexibility is that we want to be able to spin and kick an opponent in the head from extremely close range, and then, ideally, to trap and break his arm on the way down. That may sound like a horrible thing to do to a person, and indeed, it is. During his youth in Kingston, Jamaica and later here in America, Sifu Thompson reluctantly had to test these fighting techniques against thugs and bullies, and got an opportunity to see the devastating results. That is one reason that he now insists that his students pledge to use their Bungo Fu fighting techniques only when it is absolutely necessary for their survival or to protect someone else.

We're going to switch the staff class to Saturday

2010-12-21T23:19:00.000-05:00

We're going to switch the staff class at our Tulip Ave. location to Saturdays at 11:30. No class this week because of the holiday. More news on the class next week.

Where to get uniforms and kung fu shoes

2010-12-09T22:10:00.000-05:00

You may notice that in our classes, we're not that strict about what students wear. That's because you really don't need a fancy uniform or special shoes to do kung fu. When Sifu Thompson was growing up in Jamaica, he simply wore loose-fitting pants to stretch and practice in, and often practiced outdoors in bare feet, which actually helps to strengthen both the muscles in the foot and one's sense of balance. He notes that he actually can kick harder barefooted than when he is wearing shoes.

That said, if you're a martial artist, there are advantages to getting some clothing that are designed for martial arts use. If you wear jeans or sweat pants that fit too tightly, it may hinder your range of motion for kicking and stretching. Also, your clothing has to be able to withstand vigorous movements, or you're going to be spending a lot of time sewing torn seams. That's why we recommend that you buy an inexpensive pair of kung fu pants (also known as Mandarin pants), which usually are made of sturdy fabric and have extra room in the legs and heavier seams. These days, you can most easily buy them on the Internet. You don't need to spend a lot of money. For example, one of our young black-sash students wears these pants, which cost just $15 at Kungfu4less.com. Sifu Thompson likes this brand, which is slightly more expensive but made of heavier fabric and is more suitable for the rough environment of the forest, where he does a lot of his practicing. If you're big or tall, you also can order a pair of good pants from this company in China, which custom-sews them to your measurements for as little as $29 a pair plus shipping. (Get the cotton twill, which is sturdier.)

It also may help to have a pair of suitable shoes as well, because we sometimes practice indoors on surfaces such as linoleum laid over concrete, which can be rough on the bones, ligaments and tendons of your feet, ankles and knees, especially if you are an adult beginner. If you wear shoes, they should be light and flexible and have low heels and thin soles, so that you can feel the floor or ground beneath you, which is necessary for achieving good balance. Basketball sneakers or running shoes with built-up heels, unfortunately, don't work very well. Sifu Thompson sometimes wears ASICS wrestling shoes, but he also sometimes uses a simple, thin-soled Velcro-strap sneaker that he found in a Chinese clothing store in Wheaton for just $10! (Ask him after class, and he'll give you directions.) There also are a number of good choices on the Internet, such as these $38 Warrior brand training shoes, and Golden Tiger Martial Arts shoes, which are just $25 and come in children's as well as adult sizes.

New class in the fighting staff, Mondays at 7:30 PM 310 Tulip Avenue

2010-11-29T02:31:00.000-05:00

We're pleased to announce that Sifu Thompson will be teaching a new class in the fighting staff at Takoma Park Presbyterian Church, 310 Tulip Avenue. Call 301-351-6159 for more information. Here's a video explaining the staff and the benefits of using it for both self-defense and fitness training.

Kung Fu Saturday in the Park is Starting!

2010-08-01T19:04:00.000-04:00

We've just started a new low-cost ($5 a session) outdoor kids class that will run through August and early September. Join us on Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. The location is along Sligo Creek Parkway, just before the intersection of Colesville Road (Rt. 29). On the left-hand side of Sligo Creek Parkway, you'll see two small parking areas just before the intersection. Walk across the little wooden bridge and into the clearing next to the tennis courts. Call 301-351-6159 for more information. Here is a link to the location on Google Maps.

Demonstration at the Kidnetic Summer Camp, Rockville

2010-08-01T18:52:00.000-04:00

Sifu Thompson, assisted by Minh Kiger, gave a demonstration July 28 for the children at the Kidnetic summer camp in Rockville. The campers all seemed to have a pretty good time. We're hoping that some of them will join our kids' class in the fall in Rockville.

Welcome to the Bungo Fu Blog

2010-07-06T13:34:00.000-04:00

We'll be using this blog both to provide information and tips to our students and to share some of Sifu Thompson's philosophy about the martial arts. We're hoping to get a good discussion going on in this space, and we encourage you to post comments and ask questions (which we'll answer, to the best of our ability). Our only request is that you be sincere and keep the discussion civil. The real goal of Bungo Fu and all other martial arts really should be to experience life and to learn from what it shows us.

Peace and Love to all.