Choi Hong Hi
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Mastering Martial Arts: Santa Barbara instructor to receive Central Coast’s top Black Belt
By NICK C. TONKIN — JUNE 4, 2011
Andrew Hollingsworth, the lead instructor at Santa Barbara’s Martial Arts Family Fitness, has been selected to receive one of the top honors in martial arts.
The 27-year-old, a third degree black belt in Dynamic Circle Hapkido, will receive the Central Coast’s Top Black Belt. He earned the honor after a competition that began in February.
Hollingsworth will receive the award at 11 a.m. today at the facility.
“I was fortunate to have competed with some outstanding martial arts athletes,” Hollingsworth said. “We pushed each other weekly, and we encouraged one another to do our best. This recognition is for all of us, as well as for all martial artists on the Central Coast.”
The competition was held at Jong’s Karate Center. The sessions were videotaped and will appear on Santa Barbara’s Community Access Channel 17. Contestants were challenged in various aspects of the martial arts, including forms demonstration, memorization of techniques, philosophy and board breaking. The judges were masters John Macurdy, Teri Coffee and Travis Middleton.
Dave Wheaton, founder of Martial Arts Family Fitness, said Hollingsworth is everything people might think of in a martial artist: fast, powerful and aggressive. But when the competition is over, the fighting done and the work finished, he said Hollingsworth is one of the nicest guys in the room.
“He is as gentle and kind as he is ferocious in the ring,” Wheaton said.
At a time when mixed martial arts competitions on television have soared in popularity, Hollingsworth believes there’s too big a perception that martial arts are all about fighting.
“They think of two people in a cage beating on each other, rather than understanding the other philosophy and education that is really what martial arts is about,” Hollingsworth said.
It’s that philosophy that attracted Hollingsworth to Family Fitness eight years ago. Hollingsworth had gotten his start in martial arts when he was nine and enrolled in an afterschool program. The class was a prize for selling See’s Candy for a Washington Elementary School fundraiser.
Hollingsworth started dabbling in a variety of different martial arts systems over the next decade. He came to Family Fitness after seeing a sign outside of the building for Hapkido. After talking with Wheaton and taking a class, Hollingsworth found himself at home with the school’s focus on promoting personal growth.
“It was kind of like love at first bow,” Hollingsworth said.
And it’s that same focus of personal growth Hollingsworth said drew him to the competition. Central Coast’s Top Black Belt is for black belts above the first-degree rank. Judging categories include forms, demonstrations, breaking, philosophy and learning new movement patterns on short notice.
Hollingsworth said these are things beyond just the, “two people in a cage,” mentality of some mixed-martial arts competitions.
“This was really great to kind of get back to the roots and the honor and the tradition of martial arts,” Hollingsworth said.
Wheaton, familiar with some of Hollingsworth competitors, said he couldn’t be prouder of his student.
“Over a three-week period, he proved himself to be the best of the best,” Wheaton said.
Hollingsworth plans to continue teaching and pursuing competition. In the spirit of personal growth, he’s looking to start competing on an international level and pursue fitness aspects as well. A longer way into the future, he hopes to establish his own Family Fitness affiliated school.
“Most people would describe [martial arts] as a hobby and I get to live it out as my day job, so it’s a win,” Hollingsworth said.
He advises aspiring martial artists to not get discouraged early on. Hollingsworth said martial arts can be the cornerstone of someone’s life and something that important can’t be built overnight.
“Anything worth doing is going to take time,” Hollingsworth said.
He also encourages anyone curious about martial arts to give it a try, regardless of age or ability.
“Athletes all have a shelf life,” Hollingsworth said. “Martial artists can train into their nineties.”
Professor Wally Jay dies aged 93
Posted on May 29, 2011
Our Great Grandmaster and Founder Professor Wally Jay, one of the last great martial artists, has passed on peacefully at 2:20 am California time in Redwood City Kaiser Hospital. Prof Jay experienced a stroke on Tuesday May 24th and on Saturday as per his previous wishes was removed from life support. He survived another 12 hours and had family and friends with him. The Jay Family extends their gratitude to those that were there to lend support and to those that had him in their prayers.
The Jay Family after discussion have decided that to honour his wishes, Prof Leon Jay should continue the seminar in Long Island and Small Circle Jujitsu Camp in Indiana, Wed. June the 1st and 3rd 4th and 5th respectively. He will then continue to California to be with family to make arrangements for the funeral.
We will post more information as needed and have also asked long time loyal family friend, Norm Johnson to post on facebook.
Thank you for your prayers and well wishes,
The Jay Family
Students learn discipline, confidence and how to be a leader through martial arts training.
By Davy James | Email the author | June 2, 2011
At the Family Karate Super Center in Monmouth Junction, lessons in martial arts often go hand-in-hand with important lessons about life and what it takes to succeed, no matter what your goal is. The center, which was established in 1987, employs a multi-facted approach to have the greatest impact on the lives of students with each and every lesson, according to owner Donnalynn Patakos.
“Martial Arts is the single best way for children to gain confidence, respect, honor tradition, self discipline, focus, and good eating habits,” she said. “(Kids) learn how to listen to mom and dad, learn coordination, temper control, self-defense, how to deal with bullies, have a sense of family, community and honesty. I believe, in our school in particular, we become part of the extended family. I love discipline, I love respect, I love thoughtfulness. If we can teach our students to impart these traits on others, then we have succeeded.”
The center, which opened at its location on Ridge Road in 2002, has been recognized year after year for its commitment to excellence, Patakos said. All of the full time instructors have won Instructor of the Year awards, while the program directors are known world wide as a top ten in the country, she added.
“We consider our school to be full spectrum Martial Arts, meaning we teach a blend of arts that apply to life in every facet of it,” Patakos said. “Everyday I am overjoyed to come and see the progress the students and the staff are making. This year in particular has been our best year yet. We have been on our A game, just giving the students more than they expect and working on curriculum so the student is taught effective technique and the mindset of a champion.”
The school has also hosted some of the top martial artists in the world, including three-time freestyle karate World Champion Chris Rappold. The school is adding a Jiu Jitsu program this month taught by Brazilian National Champion Fernando Cabeca Sarmento Jr., who was voted Instructor of the Year by Full Contact magazine in 2005. He is also featured in the book “Mastering Jiu Jitsu” and was also featured on the History Channel.
“It is not one person that makes our center special, it is all of us,” Patakos said. “The team is amazing and very dedicated to bringing out the best in our students and their progress. Our students are our main priority.”
Recently, Family Karate Super Center held a seminar for business owners to learn some of the most effective tips of the trade and to help grow the art form.
“The purpose of the conference is to really raise the standards in the martial arts field as a whole, by giving the school owners the business tips and skills they need to train their staff and their students for success,” Patakos said. “It only benefits the reputation of the Arts to uphold the tradition and moral code that we stand for. Many people, when they think of Martial Arts, they think of beating people up, but it is quite the opposite. All members are brought in by referral or reputation. They are very strict to only have people who uphold the expectations of ethics, loyalty and dedication to the art.”
One of the members who attended the conference was retired UFC star Ricardo Almeida, who runs a school in Hamilton.
“Ricardo is a great guy, he came to the school with humility and ready to learn,” Patakos said. “He sat in the front row with a pen out taking notes all day. He was just like anyone else there. We all check our egos at the door, and he was a fantastic example of that. He actually came and trained with my staff in our Family Karate Center school in North Brunswick the day after the event as well, as they were being certified by one of the top masters in the business. He blended in very well with our team and was very polite and receptive.”
While world class martial artists often come to the school, the biggest benefit the classes can offer students both young and old is a discipline and inner confidence that only the martial arts can provide, according to Patakos.
“Karate is mental, physical and spiritual,” she said. “To improve in all of these areas is to arrive in life. Parents who have children practicing will tell you of the difference it makes in their lives. Children need a place to go where they feel accepted, loved and can have a good time learning something new. We teach children how to make good decisions and become leaders.”
The classes at the center also offer numerous benefits for adults, including a great way to relieve workplace stress while also getting in shape, Patakos said.
“You can unplug from society, computers and all of your stress and just be in the zone,” she added. “You learn something when you are here, not just lifting weights or riding a stationary bicycle. You are earning a Black Belt with every class you take and we notice very successful, motivated people are naturally drawn to the art for its discipline. It also helps you overcome your challenges by giving you set goals that you can accomplish in a structured curriculum based on your personal best performance. You are not compared to anyone, just your own progress. This is where the self confidence comes from. Every belt you have, you earned.”