Joshua

Without a doubt, I'd have to say I spend 20 hours a day listening to the Counting Crowes....the other 4 hours I've got "Eye of the Tiger" on repeat as I train in my dojo!

Hello, my name is Joshua Pelfrey. Personally, I think you should keep on going, and face problems as they arise, don't worry about what everyone thinks. When the master of our system asked me to open up a class in the next town over for him, I was reluctant to do so because I was only 19 at the time. His response to me was, "wisdom comes with experience, not with age," which I now believe to be very true. I'm 21 years old, and right now I have a class full of great students that I never would have believed. I have a 1st degree black belt, 8 brown belts (mixed degrees) and several white-red belts. One of my brown belt's that is about to go to black soon is even being inducted into the Eastern Martial Arts Association International Jr. Black Belt hall of fame. As far as respect goes, well you have to earn it. I do so by staying 2 steps ahead of EVERY student in my class at EVERYTHING. This is hard, I mean I have students ranging from 8 to 51 years old, and some of them are really tough. You just have to put in the extra practice. I like to get to class an hour early, leave about 30 minutes late, and drop by my dojo at least a few extra hours during the week to work out. A teaching secret that has helped me maintain respect in my class is never showing my cards before I have to. By this I mean, learn a good strategy or seperate style , and never teach it or demonstrate it. Then, if a problem arises, use it. Example- I teach a stand up art, but I study grappling. I never showed any to any of the students in my class. One day I had a big head come in to try class out. He had just graduated hight school, and he happened to be on the football team and one of the powerlifter for the school weightlifting team. Needless to say, he was a powerhouse. When we sparred, he came at me with everything he had, trying to make me look bad. Now, I couldn't just throw a hook kick and bust his temple...wouldn't be very honorable of me, I'd have lost my job as well. So, I referred to my grappling. Waited for him to throw a puch, and seized him and took him to the ground. There I put him in a lock called "The Crucifix" and told him to tap the ground if he wanted to quit. After a few seconds he tapped out. By doing so, i earned his respect and maintained respect throughout my class. He's been the best of student every since then, and hasn't offered to challenge me again. I was also able to end the fight without having to hurt him. So there's my advice, keep doing what your doing, practice five times as much as the hardes worker in your class, and always have a couple tricks up your sleeve. Good luck!!!

I'm sorry for my previous listing about JKD, about saying that it would work if you could get your opponent on the ground. I had been discussing Jujitsu before I replied, and obviously kept talking about it lol. AS far as JKD goes, I've studied it only through reading and videos, due to the fact that it is not taught where I live. Therefore I really don't know enough about it to try to analyze it. Sorry for the confusion!

I think jkd is great...in the event that you can get your opponent to the ground. But..better safe than sorry. Personally, I take jkd for ground purposes, and seiei kan for stand up fighting...you never know if your going to be able to get them to the ground, so it's best to be comfortable fighting upstairs as well as on the ground.

Okay, obviously you know that the best outcome is to avoid the fight. But, there occasionally circumstances when you have to fight...I mean If someone is punching you in the face you don't turn your back to them and try to walk away.... so here's my approach First and foremost, stay calm. Anger, fear, and all those other emotions cloud your mind and slow your reaction time. Next, control your breathing. Don't breathe short and rapid, and don't hold your breath. YOur breath will affect your endurance, and your calmness. Actual method. First you have to get rid of the misconception that people tend to have that you must hist someone in the face or solar plexus to hurt them. In my class we sparr bare knuckle, and focus alot on taking out the areas of the body that most people neglect. #1- the calf muscle and quads. In most cases the opponents legs will be the closest target to you. 2 or three swift kicks will turn their legs to jello, and they'll be more focused on trying to stand up than on trying to hurt you. #2- the wrists. Hands are the primary weapons of most street fighters. So...take them out. Most people will hold their head back, and keep their hands out closer to you. i like to do repetitive knife hand chops to the opponents wrists. Eventually, he's going to pull them in out of your reach. That's when you finish his legs off. Keep attacking the calf, quads, knees, and chin bones. If he can't walk, he can't hurt you. Last note.... after a while the pain will build in the opponent's legs so bad that he won't be able to think of anything else. When you see him paying too much attention to his legs...throw a fake kick to the legs to distract him, then come through with the power puch. But remember, if you don't land with the punch, either jump back out quickly or be prepared to take him to the ground.

Well Bruce, I know it's hard to let someone push you around. Before I started taking karate I would have probably thrown a hay-maker at him...and had him to mop the floor with my face... but afte years of study, I've found that fighting is no good. It solves nothing. You have to look at why people fight most of the time. They fight because they are insecure. Would you have punched a 9 year old girl if she had done the same thing? No, because she's not a threat to you. People only tend to fight when they aren't 100% confident that they can win. I'm not saying you should have ran away in fear. I'm saying, just don't throw the first lick. Treat bigger guys like they are completely inferior to you. Like you think of them as a kid. Smile at them and say "now, why would you want to hurt a little guy like me...what would that prove". No dignity lost, and no blood shed. But, i realize there are times when you have to fight. A push doesn't hurt you, but if you come into danger, then fight. If he would have thrown the first punch, or drew his fist back, then you should have retaliated. I'm a big fan on the mid-shin attacks with the edge of your shoe. 95 out of 100 people probably have really sensitive shins. One good strong attack to most people't shins will leave them immobile. But, like I said, only fight when you have to. You have to stop and think...he can't help it that he's a bully... people act according to their past experiences. He didn't choose to be a bully before he was born, life made him that way. Therefor you must always remember to be sympathetic to every person, because even the crudest of people..are still people. Feel free reply back to me with your thoughts, I'm always willing to hear a good idea. Thanks!! "If a lifetime of endless days of hard training boil down to only one circumstance in which you stand in the face of an assailant and have the courage and confidence to walk away, then it has been a worthwhile journey" -myself

Hello, My name is Josh Pelfrey. I teach a small class of 13 students here in eastern Kentucky. Just like you, I am also a martial arts fanatic. I've been studying Ko sutemi Seiei Kan for a little over 10 years now.I hold a 2nd degree black belt in that system. I've also taken classes in Aikido, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jujitsu, Tai Chi, and Chi Kung. Karate is what I have based my life around. I have classes 5 times a week and love every minute of every one. I started when I was 11 years old and have been hooked from the first day. I started coming to karateforums.com to find people to share my fascination with. So... I would love to get to talk to you some time about martial arts. Feel free to contact me , I'd love to hear from you. My addy is Iron_Cobra_Karate@hotmail.com. Hope to hear from you soon!

Hello Kate, my name is Joshua, and I'm new as well. I joined in hope of meeting matial artists, because I've found that they tend to be the most down to earth and the nicest people I've ever met. Feel free to contact me, I'd love to hear from you.

Hello, My name is Joshua Pelfrey. I've been studying Ko Sutemi Seiei Kan Karate Now for a little over 10 years. I currently hold Nidan (2nd degree black belt). I teach a small class of 13 people here in eastern ky. I've also taken some classes in Brazilian Jujitsu, Aikido, Kickboxing, Tai Chi, and Chi Kung. I'm just scratching the surface on all of them though. But anyway, I became a member of karateforums.com so that I could hopefully meet some good people and learn from them. I'm interested in hearing from people of all ranks and styles concerning maybe some helpful hints you picked up along the way...good exercises that maybe I haven't heard about...and good philosophies concerning martial arts or just on being a good person. Also, if anyone from eastern Kentucky happens to stumble on this, I'd be very interested in meeting in person to work out and share ideas, practices, and concepts. Well, thank you for taking time to read my little post, I'd be glad to hear from you. I'd love to receive any comments, or attempt to answer any questions that you may have. May you have thousands of great days and millions of hard practices! "If a life time of endless daily practice boils down to only one circumstance that you stand in the path of an assailant, and have the courage and confidence to walk away, then it has been a worthwhile journey" -myself

I am a student of Seiei Kan, which I would consider a mixture of shotokan, kung fu, and jujitsu. As for the mental aspects of kung fu, I consider it great. Most importantly, in my opinion, is that kung fu places alot of emphasis on chi, internal energy. It is through chi that the greatest power of a martial artists can be tapped into. P.S- I have a question also...does anyone know how to change you rank on here? I hold a 2nd degree black belt, but it shows that I am a white belt on here lol