Welcome to Modern Farang Mu Sul

June, 2005
Wow, it looks like June has been another stellar month for Modern Farang Mu Sul® all over the globe. I have received news ranging everything from testing, seminars, tournaments to graduations and more. Here are some updates:

FMS - WHQ: As the old saying goes, time sure flies when your having fun. Well that sure holds true for me. Two of my sons are moving on in school. My youngest son Brandon has graduated from elementary school, and starts middle school in the fall, and my middle son Thomas graduated from middle school and will begin high school. Wow, that is just mind boggling for me. But for sure, we are all so proud of them. It really does seem like just yesterday these two were crawling around my dojang, still in diapers.

FMS Germany: Master Klaus Wachsmann is very busy doing special Modern Farang Mu Sul® training sessions around Europe. He recently returned from an awesome series of seminars and training sessions in Poland. Next one the agenda is a visit to Portugal. Inst. Pinto and the Portugal students are very happy and anxious to see Master Wachsmann and have some great training planned. I only wish I could be there, but rest assured that I'll be there in spirit.

FMS - Hollister: Master Schleeter recently hosted our latest Modern Farang Mu Sul® black belt workshop in Hollister, Ca. It was so good to see everyone's faces and spend such quality time together, not to mention all the fun we had working on the FMS sword seminar - Pt 2. That really was soo much fun. We did a quick review from the first sword seminar, and then jumped right into covering new material. We managed to squeeze in all the main sword vs. sword sets, as well as more basics and LOTS of forms. Just awesome.

We were very happy to see a bunch of the Huntington Beach students make the trip for the seminar as well as literally work every free moment on preparation for the upcoming black belt testing in August. Inst. Larry Saindon, Inst. Nicole Miller, Inst. John Merwin, Asst. Inst. Shana Merwin, Asst. Inst. Matt Wagner and Asst. Inst. Dylan Hamilton made it up from Huntington Beach, Ca., Inst. John Pantoja from Modesto, CA., and Inst. John Stenson from WHQ in San Francisco, were all there. Inst. Earl Boyd joined us on Sunday for regular class and black belt training class. We reviewed all the color belt techniques, forms and most weapon sets that they will be needing for the black belt test.

And as I said, on any given free moment, while chillin' out at Master Schleeter's house, Master Schleeter would take a group into his backyard, while Inst. Stenson was working with another on the mats in the garage, and I worked with whoever was around in the living room. Too much fun. What a great weekend. We need to do this more often.

FMS Portugal: As most of you may know by now, Inst. Nelson Pinto is an avid archer, well it turns out his girlfriend Vera is also not only a fan, but she is a nationally rated archer. She recently entered a very large competition and took 2nd place in her division. Her father as it turns out is also an archer of world class. He was recently selected to the World Championships in Madrid this year to represent Portugal in Compound. How cool is that?

(Pics: -1- Inst. Pinto takes aim at an 80 yds target - 2 - Inst. Pinto and Vera hit their marks- 3 - The field of competition Vera faced in recurved bow- 4 - Vera holds steady and releases her arrow)

Inst. Nelson Pinto and the FMS Portugal students recently did another amazing demonstration in Cadaval. They presented a glimpse of the spectrum that is Modern Farang Mu Sul®, and the crowd just ate it up. Good work Sir, way to represent! Farang!!!

FMS - Michigan: Head Inst. Robert Hudson informed me that he recently conducted color belt testing and also had a special breaking seminar. Congratulations to all the new color belts. Job well done. Inst. Hudson reported approximately 15 students showed up for the breaking seminar and EVERYONE successfully broke boards by the end of the day. WOW!!! Good job. It was such a success that there are plans for another breaking seminar later on in the fall.

FMS - Poland : Chief Inst. Katarzyna Klepczyk and the Polish students are still reeling from the great time they had with Master Wachsmann's recent visit from Germany. They had such a wonderful time training at the seminar, black belt training sessions and just plain having fun.

They also recently performed a demonstration at a local fair. There were several styles on the schedule and the Polish group did an awesome job representing Modern Farang Mu Sul®. Way to go, we are very proud of you all. Congratulations to all the students on a job well done.

FMS Huntington Beach: Inst. Larry Saindon and the Huntington Beach crew recently returned from Warrior Quest 6 here in San Francisco, and turned around and entered another tournament. It is one of the biggest ones in So. Cal. called "The Red Scorpion Classic". All the students have just been hauling away trophies and medals competing in forms, weapons and sparring. That is so great. Congratulations to all. Keep up the good work. Farang!!!

FMS - New York: Inst. Marlon Sims recently made a quick trip out to the East Coast. Since the next FMS-TVT fights have been moved to September, he wanted to keep busy so he took a Muay Thai fight in New York City. This tune up fight turned into being the main event at Lou Neglia and Ray Longo's recent event: Combat At The Capitale. He ended up fighting the current welter weight champion, James Onnikian in a kickboxing match. Even though the match was changed from Muay Thai to kickboxing (Muay Thai allows more weapons such as leg kicks, elbow and knee strikes, which are Inst. Sims specialty), Inst. Sims gave the champ more than he could handle. After the most brutal and action packed fight seen at the Capitale in ages, he lost the decision. It appeared that he really lost to the referee who not only showed blatant biased to the local fighter, but seemed to be helping him by breaking the action and giving him a rest every time Inst. Sims rocked him. Very unusual, but whatever. The crowd said it all, as they changed from booing him as he entered the ring (favoring the local fighter) and then turning around and cheering Inst. Sims by the end of the match.

As if that were not enough action, Inst. Sims did a full day seminar focusing on Muay Thai / NHB fighting skills (FMS-TVT) on the next day. All the East Coast students got a real treat, as they worked on tons of drills, exercises, ground and pound as well as escaping techniques. Too much fun!

(Pics - 1 - Inst. Sims scoring his combos - 2 - FMS-TVT Seminar - 3- Farang Mu Sul® Team Vale Tudo teammates)

Other News: I would like to take a moment to welcome our latest IDSC members doing our long distance training program. They are: John Sayre from Modesto, CA, and Inst. Adolfo Buregemeister from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Welcome aboard gentlemen, ...welcome.

Mr. Sayre comes with advanced training in the Korean art of Hwarang Do. He has been very eager to expand his knowledge for many years now and has been waiting for the opportunity to study this art for quite some time now. He is looking forward to recieve his black belt in Modern Farang Mu Sul® and really appreciates the diversity and comprehensiveness of this art. Well we are just as eager to help him.

Inst. Bergemeister comes with an extensive Hapkido, Taekwondo and Kick Boxing background. That is perfect! He is coordinating with Inst. Pinto in Portugal as his main language is not English, but rather Portuguese. He too will be representing Modern Farang Mu Sul® in his country. This is very exciting. Thank you soo much Sir.

It is a distinct pleasure to work with you all and it is inspiring to see the dedication and experience you bring to the table. I pledge equal commitment and all of the support we can muster, to help you achieve all of your goals. Remember, your success is our success, and vice-versa. Looking forward to working with you all more this upcoming year.

Birthday News: We are happy to announce the birthdays of our FMS Black Belts from all over the world, so all of you students will know exactly when you can show your gratitude and celebrate with your teachers. FMS Black Belt Birthdays for this month:
Master Patrick Schleeter June -08th, Master David Dehnert June -14th and Master James De Alba June -21st. Wishing you all the best. Remember, you are an inspiration to so many, and this is your special day!