Just a note to say thank you for helping us turn our son around. He was in trouble and fighting at school and could not seem to get along with anyone. We were at the end of our rope and didn’t know what else to do. Since our son has joined the Red Dragon Ju-Jitsu family his attitude and behavior in school has done a complete turn around. I say family because the parents as well as the staff, are very friendly and are always willing to help and share information.

I was getting calls and e-mails from his teacher at least 2-3 times a week asking me to come in for conferences about his attitude and his inability to get along with others. A few weeks ago his teacher sent me an e-mail and wanted to know what we had done to change his behavior. I told her that since he joined Red Dragon we had noticed a huge difference at home. She said that his attitude and performance in school had changed tremendously. His grades are better and he is now sitting with the class and not by himself at a desk across the room.

My husband and I are so pleased with what Red Dragon Ju-Jitsu has taught our son. We would recommend Red Dragon to parents who want their child to experience a lesson in discipline while making new friends and having fun in the process.

With sincere thanks and gratitude,

Earl and Sandy B.

Press Release

Contact:  Suzanne Saporta                                               

Contact Phone Number:  410-272-6770

Red Dragon Judo Club will Conduct a Flip-A-Thon to Raise Funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Havre De Grace, MD (May 16, 2009)- A Flip-A-Thon benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will be held on 16 May 2009  at 10:00 a.m. at the Red Dragon Ju-Jitsu Dojo, 2132 Pulaski Hwy, Havre De Grace, MD 21078. 

Members of the Red Dragon Judo Team will solicit donations to benefit St. Jude.  The goal for each participant is to throw one-another 100 times in a one-hour period.  Sponsors may pledge a flat rate or may pledge a specific amount per throw.  Local businesses as well as members of the community may support this fundraiser by sponsoring the participants or by pledging matching donations.

“Our goal in holding this event is to give back to the community.  We strive to impress upon our students that Judo is more than a sport, it is a way of life,” said Suzanne Saporta, coordinator of the event.  “One of the principals of Judo is Mutual Welfare and Benefit. Through events such as the Flip-A-Thon for St. Jude, our students are able to use their Judo skills to benefit children around the world.”

If you are interested in participating in the event or making a donation, please call Suzanne Saporta at 410-272-6770.  For more information about St. Jude, please visit www.stjude.org.

Please visit http://www.reddragonjujitsu.com for more information about Red Dragon Ju-Jitsu

Please visit http://www.reddragonjujitsu.com for more information about Red Dragon Ju-Jitsu.

Evan and Chance competed in the Shufo Open Judo Tournament today. We could not be more proud of our competitors. Evan took first place in his first division and third place in his second division. Chance took second place in his division. Evan fought a total of 7 matches today. He won every match in his first division and one in his second division. Chance had an exceptional day. After warming up and gaining his confidence during his first match, he came back to win three in a row with ippon throws. Chance is a shining example of what you can do if you never quit.

In Judo, in order to get an ippon for a throw, the judoka must throw an opponent with force, speed and good technique. The opponent must have both feet leave the mat and land mainly on their back. Both Evan and Chance won every one of their matches with ippon throws. That highlights the level of skill they have achieved and they both should be very proud of their accomplishments in Judo. Please congratulate them when you see them.

Please visit http://www.reddragonjujitsu.com for more information about Red Dragon Ju-Jitsu

There are 5 basic elements that make up a person. Chi - Jing - blood - body fluids - shen.

The kanji for Chi is made up of the characters for gas and rice. Chi is the vital energy or life force
Everything in the universe is composed of chi. When chi gathers, life is formed, when it disperses the body dies.

Most of the common terminolgy used when discussing chi is Chinese.
yuan chi - original - before heaven- “inherited” at conception
gu chi - comes from food - after heaven - resides in spleen
kang chi - comes from the air - after heaven - resides in lung
gu chi and kang chi “gather” to form zong chi - the chi of the chest
zong chi is catalyzed by yuan chi to form zheng chi - noraml chi
zheng chi is the chi that flows through the bodyand forms the basis for ying chi or nutritive chi. It nourishes the tissue and organs. It also fofrms the basis for wei chi or defensive chi which circulates outside the body and protects it from external forces.
If zheng chi flows through organs it is called zang fu zhi chi if it flows through the meridians it is called jing luo zhi chi

Functions of chi are: the source of the body’s movement and activity; warms the body; protects the body; transforms food and air; governs retention and containment (holds the organs in place).

Disharmonies of chi:
Deficient chi - getting old and getting cold
Sinking chi - organ prolapse
Stagnant chi - bruises
Rebellious chi - flows in the wrong direction - rebellious stomach chi would cause nausea and vomiting.

Please visit http://www.reddragonjujitsu.com for more information about Red Dragon Ju-Jitsu

We have added new video clips to the Judo and Ju-Jitsu pages.  Check back often as we will continue to add new techniques and video clips on a regular basis.  If you would like more information about training at Red Dragon Ju-Jitsu, please visit http://www.reddragonjujitsu.com.

Generally speaking, Hojojutsu can be divided into two broad categories. The first is the capture and restraint of a prisoner that was affected with strong, thin cord and the second being the restraint of the person and “bindings” used to transport that person. Sometimes the sageo carried by samurai on the sword-sheaths would double as a defense rope. The sageo was designed to fasten a sword’s saya or scabard to the obi (belt) of a samurai.

One of the few items that are still legal to carry concealed without a permit, practically anywhere one might travel is a small piece of rope. This small piece of rope can be classified as a torinawa, hayanawa, or torihimo.

The hayanawa was hidden in the sleeve or inside the jacket in a small bundle that fed cord from one end. The rope was coiled so that the cord would play out from one end as the bundled cord was passed around the prisoner’s body, neck and arms as they were tied. The torinawa is most commonly described as the “capture rope”. It can be a separate rope or another way of using the torihimo. The torinawa is normally two to three feet in length when described as a separate rope. The haynawa could be used to initially defend against an attack also. The hon-nawa or main rope was used to secure the prisoner for transport.

The torihimo was a length of rope normally six to nine feet long connected as to form a figure eight. The loops could be equal size or one larger than the other. Both of the loops need to be large enough to pass over the attacker’s hand. A kubaton (yawara-bo) can be threaded through one loop of the torihimo to add an impact weapon to the arsenal or the ability to throw the kubaton as a distractionary manuever with the other end of the torihimo in the defenders hand, the kubaton is easily retrieved.

When securing the attacker with the torihimo, the kubaton can be used to add torque to the locking techniques. Attaching a kubaton to the torihimo increases the effectiveness and versatility of the weapon but detracts from the ability to carry it on one’s person as it is more evident that it is weapon.

If you are interested in learning more about Hojo-Jutsu please visit http://www.reddragonjujitsu.com/market.htm.

If you truly want to learn “knife fighting” you were born in the wrong
century. There are not many opportunities for dueling now-a-days. What
you will discover is that you need to learn how and when to use a knife
in defense against a more deadly lethal weapon. Pulling your knife and
hacking away at someone in the middle of a fist fight will only land you
in prison.

To believe that you will be able to pull your pocket knife out and
counter attack someone attacking you with an already drawn knife is
ridiculous and idiotic. You will probably not even remember that you
have a pocket knife let alone where on your person it is. You will have
such an adrenaline dump that you will not possess the required dexterity
to draw and open a pocket knife to defend yourself. The best defense
against someone attacking you with a knife is to remember - If he has a
knife, hope you have a gun, if not run.

Use of deadly force has very narrow parameters in law. Many instructors
teach to continue slicing and dicing until the attacker drops. This will
be very difficult to defend in a court of law. Once the immediate threat
is neutralized, the justification for lethal force is gone.

You will need to learn respect for the blade and the capabilities of the
weapon and the user. Drills are good to teach you respect and that is as
far as that goes. Those drills are only beneficial if both parties are
trying to cut the other. Having your opponent stand there while you go
through your movements is a waste of time. I use marker knives when I
train students so they see the results of their efforts. The theory of
taking a cut to give a cut will get you killed. The only time you should
“take a cut” is to “neutralize the threat”!

If you want realistic training come join one of our seminars.

knife-flyer1

We will start a pre-school class for children 3 - 5 years old in February. The class size is limited to 10 students so sign up early. The classes will begin on 6 February and be held every Friday evening from 5 to 6 PM. Call for details and to sign up.

On 21 February we will be conducting a 6 hour edged weapons seminar. Price is $100/pp. The seminar will start at 11 AM. Call to register soon!