- PAMA Open House - Women's Self Defense - Student of the Month - Events - Recommended Video - Announcements - Video Technique - Dietary Supplement -
Celebrate PAMA's 22 Year Anniversary - Open House
Date/Time: Saturday, March 7th from 1 pm to 3pm
Open to the Public as well as PAMA Friends and Family
Demonstrations, Tours, Give-aways, Refreshments and Celebration!
Student of the Month
- Joseph Naggar -
Joseph Naggar
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Give us a little background of your life outside of PAMA.
I have a great family, with four kids (Mac, Winnie, Arnold, and Ellie) and a brother who is living in Georgia getting his doctorate. My parents and in-laws live right outside of Philadelphia and we get to see them often.
I work in the asset management business focusing on fixed income structured credit. I have been in the fixed income structuring, trading, and capital markets business for most of my professional career. I received a degree in mechanical engineering from Penn State and an MBA with a focus in financial engineering from MIT. I love the financial markets.
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How did you get your interest in martial arts? How did you hear about PAMA?
I have always been interested in martial arts, and started to actively pursue it about 2 years ago, starting in New York at Bo Law Kung Fu. When we moved to Princeton, I looked around and found PAMA online. I did a trial class and knew immediately that PAMA was a great place. I can't believe how lucky we are to live so close to PAMA.
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What is martial arts to you?
Martial arts is a lot of things to me. It is a physical workout. But it is also a mental exercise. It is discipline. But it is also freedom in a way. It is new for me. But it has been around for a very long time. It is a confidence builder. But it is also quite humbling.
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How has training at PAMA helped you in other areas of your life?
I've noticed that PAMA has been creeping into other areas of my life, sometimes in more obvious ways than others. For example, I recently went on a golf trip and played the best game of golf I have ever played. I scored a reasonable score on a very tough course. What is interesting about that is that I haven't played golf in 2 years, and I am not that good at golf. As I played, I realized it had a lot to do with a similar hip motion that is used in hooks and crosses. I had some ridiculously long drives, that went straight and far, and I think it was due to this hip motion! Same trip, I did some rock climbing and I am very afraid of heights. I felt like I somehow used PAMA to help center me to give me confidence to climb it. Another subtle lesson that seems to be influencing, is the concept of trying to be fully present in the moment, a lesson Sifu taught during the New Year's class. I'm sure this pattern of influence will continue.
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Your son Mac also trains at PAMA. What benefits do you think he is getting from his training?
One of my favorite things about PAMA is the kids class. For Mac, I think the benefits are around discipline and learning to use his body and mind. I feel lucky to be able to share this experience with Mac. Going with Mac to PAMA on Saturday mornings is one of my favorite experiences in life.
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What is your favorite thing about class and PAMA?
My favorite thing about PAMA is its depth. I've been going to PAMA now for about 1 year (with a 6 month hiatus due to a knee injury), and I feel like I am just scratching the surface. I feel like Sifu and the instructors really care about teaching and growing the students. The class schedule is alive, the types of arts so different and so complimentary. Great stuff! Like I mentioned before, I think we are very lucky to have PAMA right beside us.
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Any additional comments?
I look forward to continuing down the path of learning at PAMA. Many thanks to Sifu and the instructors. It is a great organization, and I hope someday I can give back to it.
Events
- Silat Seminar a Huge Success -
by Bernie DudleyOn Saturday, February 7th, Guro Rick Tucci held his first seminar in Pentjak and Maphilindo Silat conducted at PAMA. The seminar was well attended by both PAMA students and outside students of Silat and related Martial Arts. Guro Rick is in high demand both nationally and internationally for his instructional seminars but this Silat seminar was unique in that it was the first Silat seminar taught by Guro Rick at PAMA, making it available to PAMA students of all levels as well as interested outsiders seeking instruction and training in Silat by a highly certified instructor.
(left) Guro Rick explains Silat's history and lineage, (right) Guro Rick demonstrates common ground postures
Body toughening exercises
Click here to see all the pictures taken at the Silat Seminar.
Guro Rick started the seminar by providing a detailed history of Indonesian Pentjak Silat going back to 1355 A.D. when the art was called "Maen Po." Moving on to give detailed explanations of several prominent Silat styles, e.g. Tjimunde, Tjikalong, Harimau, Madi, Kari, Serak and Mande Muda to name a few; he then went on to give the names of those Silat instructors who helped to preserve and spread the art. He cited and gave histories of his personal instructors, the late Pak Herman Suwanda (Mande Muda), Pendekar Paul DeThoaurs (Pentjak Silat Bukti Negara), Guro Dan Inosanto (founder of Maphilindo Silat) and Guro Richard Crabbe DeBordes (Harimau Minagkabau). Guro Rick also gave credit and respect to Silat masters Jhon DeJeung, Eddie Jafri, Hanafi, John LaCoste, Pak Serak and Victor DeThoaurs. Of special note was Guro Rick's detailed history of the Baduy tribe of Indonesia and their role in the development of Pentjak Silat.
Guro Rick demonstrates what happens when the proper lines are followed... sweeps with deadly efficiency.
Guro Rick displays and describes an assortment of weapons common in Indonesia.
Click here to see all the pictures taken at the Silat Seminar.
Moving from the historical to the physical, Guro Rick led the seminar attendees through a series of Silat breathing and stretching exercises and body toughening drills to prepare them for the physical demands of the art. Next came Harimau (Tiger Style) walking drills that had even the hardiest seminar participant's legs quivering from the demands of the deep, low to the floor postures. Guro Rick demonstrated and instructed the attendees in several Harimau walking and leaping drills unique to that style of Silat.
(left) Students practice ground postures, (right) Guro Rick shows how a low position can translate into a high attack.
Participants get their chance to ask questions pertaining to history and technique.
Click here to see all the pictures taken at the Silat Seminar.
Transitioning into combat applications of the Harimau techniques (many of which resulted in spectacular takedowns and throws), Guro Rick introduced the styles of Maphilindo and Pentjak Silat Bukti Negara. Displaying several ways to counter striking attacks, Guro Rick taught the seminar attendees numerous entries, traps, body levers, anchor points, sweeps and throws found in those arts. Interspersed with the combat applications were drills in Mande Muda footwork, hand djurus and sweeps, and Bukti Negara Lanka foot-sweeping methods. A very detailed explanation of Pentjak Silat Bukti Negara's triangle principle and forward levers was provided by Guro Rick to enhance one's understanding of the techniques being taught. Guro Rick also covered the many weapons of Silat, both flexible and edged, displaying several types of Karambits, Goloks, Tjabong, Kris and Sarongs, giving in depth information regarding each weapon and answering all questions presented to him. Giving the seminar participants an added treat, Guro Rick led everyone through a Mande Mude Silat Kembangan that had been taught to Guro Rick by Pak Herman Suwanda. The seminar concluded with the presentation of certificates by Guro Rick to each participant noting their instruction and training in Pentjak and Maphilindo Silat and a brief photo session.
(left) Guro Rick leads students through the beginning of the Kembangan,
(right) Participants of the 2009 Silat Seminar held at PAMA
Click here to see all the pictures taken at the Silat Seminar.
- Governor Corzine Hosts Lunar New Year Reception -
by Ray AlcantaraOn February 6, 2009 Governor Corzine hosted a Lunar New Year reception at Drumthwacket, the official residence of the New Jersey Governor, for various community leaders of the Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asian cultures that celebrate the Lunar New Year. Guests at the reception were treated to Asian cuisine, cultural music performed by students from Rutger's renowned musical department, and paper art. It was a fabulous night for all in attendance.
Pictures with Governor Corzine
The reception was attended by numerous community leaders and other dignitaries. Notable Dignitaries in attendance were; The General Consulates from the Chinese and Korean Embassies in New York, Ronald Chen the NJ Public Advocate and member of Governor Corzine's cabinet, Assemblyman Upendra Chivakula, member of New Jersey's General Assembly, Mayors; Hsueh of West Windsor, Birge of Montgomery Twp., and Choi of Edison, and Councilman Kim of Palisades Park.
(left) Symbols of Good Luck - Chinese character comprised of thousands of smaller characters
(right) From the Governor's desk...
Testing
- Jun Fan 4 and 8 Month Tests -
(left) Kerrin Paul, (center) Pete Baron, (right) Hannah Everist and Allie Raghavan
Congratulations to Kerrin Paul and Pete Baron for passing their 4 Month Jun Fan test. Also special congrats to Allie Raghavan and Hannah Everist who passed the 8 Month Jun Fan tests with an excellent understanding of the curriculum. See you ladies in the Intermediate class!
- Childrens Testing: 9-13 Year Old Test -
Sriram Raganathan
Sifu Recommends a Video
- Flow: For Love of Water -
Flow: For Love of Water,
a film by Irena Salina
Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis.
Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.
Interviews with scientists and activists intelligently reveal the rapidly building crisis, at both the global and human scale, and the film introduces many of the governmental and corporate culprits behind the water grab, while begging the question "CAN ANYONE REALLY OWN WATER?"
Beyond identifying the problem, FLOW also gives viewers a look at the people and institutions providing practical solutions to the water crisis and those developing new technologies, which are fast becoming blueprints for a successful global and economic turnaround.
Announcements
- Sifu Rick will be conducting a Jeet Kune Do, Kali, and Silat seminar in Essex, England on March 13, 14, & 15. For more information, check out the Seminar Page.
Video Technique
- Learn a Technique from Sifu Rick -
For the Technique of the Month as well as other great videos of Sifu Rick, visit the PAMA Channel on YouTube:
Dietary Supplement
- EPA/DHA Essentials by Pure Encapsulations -
EPA/DHA Essentials
by Pure Encapsulations
EPA and DHA from fish oil promote cardiovascular health by supporting healthy triglyceride and lipid metabolism, maintaining healthy blood flow, and supporting healthy platelet function. Fish oil is also important for optimal joint function. It maintains healthy prostaglandin and leukotriene production, which is important for maintaining connective tissue health and comfort. Furthermore, omega-3 fatty acids are important components of neuronal cell membranes and are essential to cognitive function. By supporting vascular health, fish oils promote oxygen and nutrient delivery to the brain. Studies suggest that healthy red blood cell membrane omega-3 fatty acid concentration is associated with emotional well-being. Both epidemiological and double blind placebo- controlled trials indicate that fish oil supports positive mood.
Excerpt taken from Pure Encapsulations.
Credits:
Video/Pictures: Mary Jo Colli, Kurt Komoda, Mike Lee
Stories: Ray Alcantara, Mary Jo Colli, Bernie Dudley, Mike Lee