Those Nutty martial artists...

[Kungfoolss]

Martial arts in flight

A new extreme brand of student martial artists is taking to the air with 'eclectic new style'

Jacquelyn Lewis

Pulse Editor

March 17, 2003


http://www.dailyemerald.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/03/17/3e760ddb0da09

Extreme sports have become increasingly popular in recent years, and extreme martial arts are no exception. University students who study the discipline are adding a myriad of new elements to their techniques. From stunts they've seen on television to gymnastics to break dancing, anything goes. The eclectic new style allows extreme martial artists to hone their existing skills and take their moves to new heights -- literally.

Eight University students study extreme martial arts at Best Martial Arts Institute, located at 1235 Willamette St. The students also take Physical Activity and Recreation Services senior instructor Lani Loken's aerial maneuvers course, where they practice difficult skills with the safety and security of a trampoline. Best Martial Arts Institute owner and level five black belt Allen Best said extreme martial arts can be loosely defined as "taking martial arts moves to the extreme with an emphasis on dynamic body movement." The jumps and kicks are higher and the rotations have more revolutions.

Senior Rachel Bryan, who has studied martial arts for five years, added, "We combine a bunch of different things from wushu and tae kwon do, a little bit of break dancing and capoiera." Junior Jay Kufner, who teaches extreme martial arts at Best Martial Arts Institute, said the discipline is flashy and diverges from the strict rules imposed by customary martial arts. "This stuff wouldn't be considered traditional self-defense martial arts," he said. Senior Nick Wolfgang agreed. "It's a series of forms that are beyond the normal scope of what martial artists would study."

Extreme martial arts is taught at Best Martial Arts Institute and combines different forms of wushu and tae kwon do.

Best, who has taught in Eugene for 14 years, said non-traditional techniques are becoming more popular all over the country. He got the idea for an extreme martial arts class when a parent approached him about a year ago. Best said he wanted to find a way to keep younger students engaged in the martial arts discipline without the pressure of competition. "They go through that period ... where it's hard to get them excited about the repetition and the basics," he said. "(Traditional martial arts) just doesn't have the excitement that they kind of need for that age." However, Kufner said a wide demographic has expressed interest in the course. He teaches martial artists from eight to 45 years old.

Kufner said he and the other students joined Loken's trampoline classes to practice the moves they learn in class with the security of a trampoline. Loken said the University is the only college in the country offering a trampoline program. Her aerial maneuvers class is designed to help snowboarders, skateboarders and other extreme athletes perfect their aerial stunts and get more "air time" in a safe environment. Martial arts students first practice jumps, kicks and inverted movements attached to an overhead spotting belt on one of the 10 trampolines. At Loken's approval, students can begin practicing these skills without security belts. Kufner said the martial artists aim to perform the moves sans trampoline and overhead belt. "Safety is our major priority," Loken said.

Kufner said the class has helped his students and him learn elite-level tricks without getting injured. "It lets us do some really difficult falls," he said. "Lani does a really good job with safety. We're always looking for people's experiences and advice, and Lani does a great job of that." Bryan agreed.

"Trampoline is a way for me to start working on (more difficult moves) because I know I'm not going to get hurt." Loken will offer trampoline classes spring term, and Best plans to continue offering extreme classes. Bryan said she will keep studying extreme martial arts not only for the excitement, but also the sense of peace the discipline provides. "It gave me something I could focus on and a place I could escape to and know what was expected of me," she said.



Kungfoolss, Scourge of the theory-based stylists, Most Feared man at Mcdojo.com, creator of the Kungfoolss Darwinian Awards, and the Preeminent Force in the martial arts political arena

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[Kungfoolss]

Killer sentenced more than 20 years after woman murdered

3/19/2003 12:07 PM

By: Associated Press

(NEW BERN) -- More than 20 years after Alanda Yusko's battered body was found in the locked trunk of her car, her killer was sentenced to life in prison. Carlton Tyrone Smith entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder Tuesday in exchange for the life sentence. The plea helped avoid a trial and the possibility of a death sentence. Yusko, who worked at a convenience store in River Bend, was 19 at the time of her death.

Smith was an early suspect in the case who lived near the store where Yusko worked. He initially denied knowing the victim or being in the area. It wasn't until last June that he told a police informant that he and Yusko drove to a spot after she got off work
on September 26, 1982.

He says the two smoked marijuana, engaged in sex and had an argument, at which time he beat her to death with a martial arts weapon.

Authorities say there wasn't sufficient evidence to charge Smith at the time.



Kungfoolss, Scourge of the theory-based stylists, Most Feared man at Mcdojo.com, creator of the Kungfoolss Darwinian Awards, and the Preeminent Force in the martial arts political arena

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