Jackson Throwdown

We're back from the biannual throwdown seminar in Jackson, MS. This is a huge three day long seminaron various topics in the Korean martial arts, mostly Hapkido. I hurt in places I didn't used to have until this weekend. I'm also kind of sick now. If you're ever doing joint techniques, make sure to shake out your joints. Don't ask me why, I just know that when you don't, you end up sick.

Bridget, Charlie, Trent, Daisy, Charlie's roommate Chris Lugo and I left Friday morning. There is a Tangsoodo seminar on Friday afternoon before the Friday sessions begin every year, and we wanted to make sure to get there in time for that and to schmooze a bit. We did lots of kicking and stretching, and had a blast.

The seminar is divied up into sessions, during which three different seminars are held. Most are offered at multiple times so you can take nearly all of them. Each session is an hour long, with a 15 minute break between each. Friday night we did Restraining Techniques, basically how to keep some one in one place while waiting for backup, and Speed Takedowns, or taking someone to the ground REALLY quickly. That one hurt. *rubs wrist* We went and ate at this hole-in-the-wall (no, not that hole in the wall) that we'd discovered last year and then crashed after talking all night. Oh, and the Hotel was... well, less than perfect.

Saturday is the main day of the seminar, starting with demonstrations by the various session instructors. We were witness to no less than 2 knockouts, a couple of kock-sillies, and lots of painful locks - again, this event focuses mainly on Hapkido.

The day's sessions started with Hip Throws, taught by this mountain of a man named Dexter Mangum. Some great tosses there that really made me want to wrestle again. After that I moved on to Effective Kicking, which involved lots of stretches and exercises to strengthen the muscles used to lift ourknees, and ways to push your foot off the floor faster. Great session, followed by a two hour lunch break.

After lunch I did some Clothing Grabs, which was actually defense againts said grabs. Some great stuff - would have been better of half the grabs didn't involve grabbing the sleeve at the wrist and my uniform sleevs didn't stop at the elbow. I managed to make up for it though. Followed that up with Reading and Writing Korean, or, as Bridget likes to call it, Storytime with Master West. It was about the reading and writing of Hangul, the Korean phonetic alphabet. No vocabulary or anything, just the sounds each character represents, and how to pronounce them etc. And then Master West, the seminar host, told some funny stories about his instructor... was a good little break.

Last session of the day we did Forms Techniques and Interpretations with Master Mac, a Tangsoodo guy we've gotten to know pretty well. Fabulous class on what techniques within forms might be. We started with basic stuff, like low block and upper block, and moved on to more complicated movements like the scissor blocks in Pyong An 3. For dinner we joined Master Mac, his daughter, and a ton of his students at a little seafood place with a decent buffet. Great food, great conversation, what more could you ask for?

Sunday is the small day, as a good number of people usually leave, although there are more sessions than on Friday night. Started off with Attacks from Behind, which involved lots of throws. Defenses against hair grabs from behind, bear hugs, headlocks, wrist grabs, all sorts of good things. Followed that with Cane Techniques, or How to Make a Man Squeal and Still Look Injured While Doing It. Objects rolled down wrists and shins HURT. Good chokes with it, too. Might need to go buy a can at some point. last session of the day was Choke Defense, during which I was knocked out - hard to describe, but suffice to say I felt a sharp pain, and I woke up on my knees. I wasn't out for more than 2 to 3 seconds, but still... I was out.

The seminar is absolutely fantastic. It's held in the spring and the fall, although we've only been able to attend in the spring. Hopefully this year we may be able to swing attending the fall one as well. Oh, and did I mention the pre-registration cost is only $65? The at the door cost is only $85, so either way, you're getting a great deal on a 3 day seminar.

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