ESCAPE
June 2009: ESTEC Martial Arts Club
9 June 2009
Martial Arts Crane Kick
The ESTEC Martial Arts Club (EMAC) is an enthusiastic and very active group of more than 50 people practising various styles of martial arts in ESCAPE. Students and trainers visit regularly also international schools and associations they are affiliated to, learning directly from their Masters, passing graduation exams or participating to seminars and sportive competitions.
In the month of June special attention is paid to the introduction of newcomers that wish to try out any or all of the styles represented in the EMAC.
Martial arts styles within the EMAC
Currently four martial arts are represented in the EMAC:
• Võ-Đạo-Việt-Nam – Vietnamese Kung Fu
• Taekwondo Taekwonkido
• Seido Karate
• T’ai Chi Chuan
Successful common training & upcoming demonstration
The intriguing interaction between these various groups resulted in a very successful common training in ESCAPE Main hall on the 8th of April. Three trainers gave an introduction into the specific characteristics of their own style, while students mingled and combined various partner techniques. Everybody was positively surprised to find out about the commonalities and at the same time there was much curiosity to learn each other’s characteristic techniques. Therefore it was excitedly decided to further elaborate the synergy between the groups resulting in a common demonstration on the 18th of June! Don’t miss that event!
Martial Arts Common Demonstration
Introduction for newcomers
Especially for all the newcomers to ESTEC, as well as for all interested in martial arts, a number of activities have been scheduled in June to give the chance to find out more about the different EMAC styles:
18 June, 18:00 hrs Common Demonstration: Seido Karate, Taekwondo and Võ-Đạo-Việt-Nam.
15-19 June, Lunch time Meet-and-greet at the entrance of the restaurant with the students and trainers of the various styles.
All summer Training hours
Newcomers are invited to participate to introduction trainings and try out the various martial arts styles. The summer period is typically a quieter period at ESTEC and therefore best suitable to give extra attention to newcomers.
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Karate, Kung Fu and Taekwondo students performing
Common attitude within the EMAC
Each group has a strong affiliation with national organisations run by the founders of their schools. The trainers of the groups maintain their advanced level through this interaction and often the Masters are involved in the group’s teachings. Students happilly reserve once in a while their weekend to participate to seminars and train with other groups from their school, for instance in Germany, France or even as far as the country of origin of their school. Another important similarity of the various groups within the EMAC is that they all consider their martial arts not only limited to sport, a gymnastic means to exercise and to learn about self-defence. More importantly, it is seen as a way of life, an awareness that allows to adequately cope with daily issues and self-development. Besides all these resemblances each group certainly has their own character, which is best understood by participation in training.
Taekwondo Master Rémi Mollet visiting ESTEC
Taekwondo Taekwonkido
Taekwondo Taekwonkido is a Korean martial art of self-defence. The tenets of Taekwondo are: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, indomitable spirit. The ESTEC group belongs to the Cénacle Rémi Mollet, school founded by Master Rémi Mollet in Paris, France. The school is affiliated to the Chung Do Kwan and the World Taekwondo Federation. The group teaches Taekwondo as well as Taekwonkido, original method developed by Master Rémi Mollet and Master Jean-Laurent Taddeï. The purpose of Taekwonkido is real fight and self-defence: it combines Taekwondo, Hapkido, Gumdo and other Korean martial arts. The group regularly attends seminars with Korean masters and is involved in both technical and sparring competitions. Some students will participate in a special intensive training course in Korea in July.
Practising the deep Kung Fu stands on the football pitch during summer
Võ-Đạo-Việt-Nam
Võ-Đạo-Việt-Nam is a traditional Vietnamese Kung Fu school founded in 1923 in Saigon, Vietnam, and taught within ESTEC since 2001. Grandmaster Nguyen is living and teaching in Germany and visits our group in Noordwijk almost every month. Besides gymnastics, self-defence techniques, free fighting and pre-defined Kung Fu forms, the group also emphasizes the ‘traditional’ aspects of martial arts. Training starts with a short meditation followed by Khi Công or Tai Chi. We regularly practise with a selection of 18 traditional and more modern weapons, such as sword, sabre, short and long stick. Last but not least Asian theory and philosophy are an important part of the school’s teachings. With all this we aim to establish balance to the office day and create harmony between body, mind and nature.
Shinzen image marking the symbolic centre of a Seido Karate dojo
Seido Karate
Seido Karate is a traditional Japanese style of karate, into which its founder, Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura has distilled the essence of what he has learned about martial arts in over 50 years of study, practice, and teaching. The World Seido Karate Organization officially opened its headquarters in 1976, in New York City. The physical training in Seido can be strenuous, emphasizing progressive development of strength, flexibility and aerobic capacity. In addition to developing students with the highest level of physical skill, Seido aims to develop individuals of the highest moral character.
Tai Chi practise at sunrise
T’ai Chi Chuan
T’ai Chi Chuan is an ancient exercise which embodies China's most profound principles of health and movement. Based on softness and awareness (rather than force and resistance) Tai Chi has been recognized for thousands of years as both a method of self-cultivation and an unexcelled form of self-defence. In addition to improving all of our bodily functions and helping to prevent ageing and disease, Tai Chi movements calm the emotions and focus the mind, thus making an outstanding contribution to one's health and well-being.
Training Information
We invite you to learn more about our martial arts groups through the flyers and websites referenced at the bottomof this article and we welcome newcomers to experience our martial arts by visiting us during training hours and at the demonstration on the 18th!
Seido Karate Monday 19h30-20h40 Dance Room
Thursday 19h30-20h40 Dance Room
Contact: Carolina Vigano (mcvigano [at] googlemail.com)
Võ-Đạo-Việt-Nam Tuesday 18h00-20h00 Dance Room
Thursday 18h00-20h00 Main Hall
Contact: Torsten Bieler (Torsten.Bieler [at]esa.int)
Taekwondo Taekwonkido Monday 12h00-13h00 Main Hall
Wednesday 18h00- Main Hall
Friday 12h00-13h00 Main Hall
Contact: Olivier Le Rille (Olivier.Le.Rille [at]esa.int)
T’ai Chi Chuan Wednesday 12h15-13h15 Main Hall
Contact: Richard Marsden (Richard.Marsden [at] esa.int)
