In January I went to Thailand to train with a friend of mine named Barry.  Barry and I have been Thaiboxing training partners for about a year and half.  We have many similarities.....we are close in age, we have three daughters, and we are both devoted family men.

We also love the martial arts.  Barry had competed in Thaiboxing when he lived in the southwest about seventeen years ago.  Barry decided to immerse himself in the national sport of Thailand.  He literally moved his family of five to Phuket to train at Tiger Muay Thai.

Thaiboxing is the kickboxing art that is know for its devastating knees, elbows, kicks.  The training trip for me was equally intriguing as this was this first time I traveled to asia.  It was a trip of a lifetime that this son of a factory worker from Michigan only dreamed about when I was young.   I have to say that is was one of the most exciting trips I have ever been on.  Once I got to Thailand, Barry shared with me his interest in competing before he left to come back to Seattle.  This is a big deal, because the Professional Fights they use no headgear or body protection.  Full power knees, and elbows was in store for my friend Barry.  We had work to do.  While I was there we tried to do "daily doubles", that is we would train once in the morning and once in the evening.  The training in Muay Thai can be the most exhausting of all the martial arts I have studied.  You have to be in great shape just to be able to make it through the training rounds.  When you compete its a combination of adrenaline, fear, intense concentration all the while kicking, punch, kneeing, throwing and elbowing as hard as you can.  All the while your opponent is dealing with all the same on their end.

Barry and I joked that our training was like Rocky 4 meets Cacoon becuase of our age.  But we made it through......I trained 18 lessons with the trainers at Tiger Muay Thai over ten days.  Barry continued his training after I left and  had his competition last night.  First round knockout!!!!!

Here is a video of Barry's bout.

Just want to give everyone an update on what happened while I was down in San Diego.

First order of business was competing in a tournament.  This was my first tournament.....as a Brown Belt......in two years.....since joining the Ribeiro Jiu Jitsu Association.    I was happy with my performance but I am not satisfied.  Sound familiar :)

TC from the adult class also went down with me.  Had a great match with his first fight but lost on points.  Very proud of TC.  Here is a picture of TC with Saulo.

My first match was against a tough guy named John Orr from American Top Team.  I knew down to the second what I wanted to do.  Things did not work out quite the way that I planned, and that is ok.   I did get some great feedback from some coaches as to what I can do differently. This is one of the best parts of going to tournaments.  You will win, and you will lose...but the learning that goes on is priceless.  Here is the match.  This was a single elimination tournament.  There where only four people in my division so I tied for the Bronze Medal.

Later in the day I fought in the Open Weight Category.  Although my opponenet was two weight classes ahead of me I had a shut out with the score, and came to submitting him on two different occasions.  One time with a move we were just working on in the advanced class.

The last match was with a fellow Ribeiro Affiliate from PN named John Disimone.  John was super tough and he submitted me fair and square.  Do not have video of this match.  But here is a prize picture of John, Saulo, and me on the Podium.  It was Saulo's idea to be on the podium.  I felt a little intimidated just being on the podium with Saulo.

The best part of the tournament was watching Professor Saulo put on a clinic.  It was like watching Michael Jordan play basketball with Middleschooler.

I got a chance to be a part of RJJA meeting on Monday.  Got a chance to meet some great new friends many of them have connections to the Pacific Northwest.  You may be seeing some new friends around our school in the next few months.  

On Tuesday I got a chance to do some great lessons with Tom Oberhue and Cadu Francis.  Cadu and his Black Belt wife Gabriela just started their school in La Mesa, California.  Seeing their Passion for their school and their love for the martial arts and each other.  Reminded me so much of my wife Elise and I taking a chance 15 years ago to start Miller's Martial Arts Academy.  

I always try to be very aggressive with meeting new people when I travel to do tournaments.  There is a very well-known author, and great Black Belt of Jean Jaques Machado named Jay Zabellos.  It just so happens that I think the he is my twin.  In some pictures its hard to tell the difference between us.  Tell me what you think.

Lastly I want to thank everyone at the Ribeiro Jiu Jitsu Association.....especially Saulo, Chris Blanke and Tom Oberhue.  I feel like I am now home with a great camp, great teachers, great coaching......and a team that will support Miller's Martial Arts Academy so we can produce champions in Jiu Jitsu and in life.

Here is a video of him being awarded the title of Sibok, Senior Instructor. 

In 1992 I graduated from Siena Heights College with a B.A. degree.  I was invited by James DeMile, one of Bruce Lee's first students in America to come out to Seattle and help with training and instructor development in the Wing Chun Do system of martial arts.  

I thought I would spend a summer doing martial arts as a 23 year old and then join the workforce back in Michigan doing a "real job". 

I packed everything that I owned  it in the back of my Honda Civic and Mark Faulkner, Dennis Stom and me traveled cross country to Seattle.  Just the drive out here was full of memories that will last forever.  

This ceremony set in motion me traveling throughout the United States and Europe with Sijo James DeMile.  I was even featured in a couple of martial arts magazines as a result of my relationship with Sijo James.

Although I am not longer affiliated with this organization, I owe so much of my teaching skills and how to create a strong mat culture to my teacher Sijo James DeMile.

Jiu Jitsu Royalty

Our school prides itself on learning great martial arts skills from the best trainers and teachers in the world.  Our goal is to make these principles and training methods accessable for everyone, in an age appropriate manner.

I have been so fortunate to train with martial arts legends and masters.  I have also had the pleasure of training students who have become lifelong friends and in many way surpassed me in their skills and training.  Chris Blanke is one of those students.  I met Chris in 1984 at the school I was training at in Michigan.   Chris was so animated and excited about martial arts when I first met him, and he is still that way to this day.  We trained together whenever we could, at health clubs, in my parent's basement, we always trained hard.   Chris was there when I made my first trip to the Pacific Northwest in 1987, to train with James DeMile, one of Bruce Lee's first students.   We have taught Police Officers, Women's Self Defense program, we where even role play dummies at a police academy in Ohio. That was a fun day where new police academy graduates tried to arrest us and we where charged with trying to disarm the police officers.  So two or three officers would wrestle us to the ground and we had to try and disarm their weapons.   I received two broken ribs that day as payment!

Chris has also been there for some of the most important days of my life.  From me becoming and instructor in Wing Chun Do to being a groomsman in my wedding 15 years ago.  Chris and I have a long history.

Chris is a World Champion Sport Jujitsu Champion as well as a Pan American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Champion.  When I left for Seattle in 1993 Chris immersed himself in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  Eventually helping bring legendary Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Champion Saulo Ribeiro to America.  Saulo could be equated to the Michael Jordan of Jiu Jitsu.  Amongst grapplers he is a legendary competitor and coach.  Saulo coaches athletes at the highest level of Jiu Jitsu and MMA.  Diego Sanchez, former UFC Champion,  is a student of Saulo's as well as many other top athletes.  Saulo and his now World Champion brother Xande literally lived with Chris for years back in Ohio.

Here is a video of Saulo discussing the "zen" of Jiu Jitsu.

Chris Blanke will be coming out to do a seminar in the near future.  You will be hearing much more about Ribeiro Jiu Jitsu in the near future.  

I think so.  Our school has been in operation for last fourteen years in Kirkland.  Our programs have taught 1000's of young people martial arts.  Over the holiday break I came across this picture and wanted to share this with you.

This is a picture from the Tiger Balm invitational tournament.  This is where we competed in the Sport Jiu Jitsu World Championships which was held in Vancouver.  Our crosstraining philosophy fits very well with this type of competition.  Students are allowed to kick, punch, do takedowns and grapple. 

Although only being open for a couple years we had several students win under-black belt world championships.  I was so proud of everyone's efforts. 

What makes me even more proud is to look at these pictures and think about where these students are twelve years later.  In the back row we have an Iraq war veteran, a sailor in the navy, two college graduates, and a police officer.  Even the littlest kids that were in the first row are now collegiate athletes, a firefighter in training even a semi-pro rally car racer WOW!  It is my sincere hope that the students pictured think that martial arts had a small role in helping them to achieve these goals and work toward worthwhile and meaningful careers.

The lifeskills you son or daughter are being trained in will help them to lead interesting and purposeful lives.  How do I know this..... because a picture is worth a 1000 words.

By the way, many of you may recognize Sherri's daughter Alauna in the picture, first row at the end.

Drop 10 Pounds in 4 Weeks......its not impossible with our martial arts program.

In January I offered a special bootcamp to all of our parents at the school.  Free...no cost.  I even threw in gloves.  I had about 15 people take me up on my offer.  I did this for a couple of reasons.  One, I wanted to show how effective martial arts is as away of getting in great physical shape quickly.  Two, I want to show appreciation for all of our parents who support our school.  Finally, I wanted a non-threatening way to introduce our families to our adult program.  We have a strong core group of adults who train that are black belts.  Most of them never considered martial arts as a fitness activity before trying our classes.

I have always been known as a trainer who believed in conditioning and physical training.  Bruce Lee, who was one of my insructors teachers, was legendary in his physical appearance and training regimen.  I try to stay up to date on modern training technologies couple with "old school" bodyweight conditioning methods.  Just look at these results!

Self-Discipline, Goal-Setting, Respect, and  Anger Management are but a few of the qualities of good martial artist.  I  get really excited when I think of our school playing a role in motivating students to live their lives by these prinicples.

It makes me feel extra special when students take time out of thier lives and participate in special events like out Kickathon.  We had over 20 students, with grandparents and other family members looking on, complete thier goals of 500, 1000 or 2000 kicks to raise money for the Worldvision Charity.  Although these numbers do not seem that large, kicking this many times is certainly a good workout and it teaches students about setting goals, the value of contributing, and the power of "hard work".   

We will be collecting pledges up until Friday, Feb 5th.   Please get your pledges in as soon as possible.

Here are some pictures.  I will be updating the website with video and more pics as well from the event this week.

For me personally this year I have had some major breakthroughs in the martial arts.  I will use these events in my life to help you and your families to squeeze as much joy, fun, and growth out of our school in the coming year as possible.  Some new things that I am looking forward to in the New Year are the following.

1. Being much more involved in the community through a Non-Profit Organization called the Personal Achievement Academy.  http://www.personalachievementacademy.com/  If you think your school may want to get involved with this let me know.

2. I have became involved with a new group of excellent martial arts instructors that have given me some new ideas about how to manage the mat in a fun and exciting way.  You will see a difference in the level of energy and fun the students will be having in class, all while learning cutting edge martial arts skills.

3.  Our school is starting a new Six Month Leadership Team Training program.  I have access to some of the most exciting material to help students learn strategies for becoming a Leader.  I will be hand picking 20 Black Belt Club Members for this program in January. 

4.  We will also be starting a Demonstration Team to help us out at testing and promotion in the New Year.  As well as to do demonstrations in the community.  Look for tryouts in January

5.  MMA FITNESS  MMA, mixed martial arts,  has become an extremely popular sport.  I do not like a lot of the "baggage" that comes with this term though.  I think there is a lack of respect and discipline with many of the fighters.  Although I have been doing MMA since I was 12 years old, cross-trainng in disciplines.  Delving head first into studying Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing.  We are going to be doing a MMA fitness program in the new year.  A six week program that will use the techniques of MMA to get you in the best shape of your life.

6.  Our Adult and Teen Black Belt Class will also be starting a Capoeria Class in January.  Get ready to sweat and have fun on Fridays.

I hope you have a great Holiday and I look forward to seeing you on the mat it 2010.

In your service,

Sibok Korbett Miller, Owner/Founder of MMAA

Miller's Martial Arts Academy

I recently had a parent ask me why I require thier son to do 250 Acts of Kindnes as requirement of thier Black Belt Test.    My response was I feel that an Act of Kindness is one of the most simple ways of demonstrating respect and self-discipline to the people around us.  I also said that you never know when an act of kindness can change someone's life.

For example....  I grew up in Michigan and I was constantly surrounded by negative influences.  When I started martial arts it was an experience of having this great peer group that was encouraging, helpful, respectful and disciplined.  All the things that I needed in my life at that time.  In fact i knew that martial arts was what I wanted to do as a profession all the way back to being a white belt twenty eight years ago. I became a Black Sash, a black belt in Gung Fu, with Sifu James Clark.  My first greatest influence in my martial arts training. 

I had so many great friends growing doing martial arts.  Roger Waldecker, Joe Rathke, Dave Sweat, Kamal Shamoun all these people brought different experiences and influences as a young man.  My friend Bill Buckley was a friend who acted like Dirty Harry, but took an interest in me as a young man and would always give me sage advice sometimes disguised in a folksy saying.  I could go on and on about "Wild Bill" his personality is amazing. After I became a Black Sash I wanted to become an instructor with Sijo James DeMile.  One of Bruce Lee's Students.  James DeMile had created the martial arts style Wing Chun Do that I was a Black Sash in.  He was doing an instructor's program in Seattle, and I was interested in learning how to instruct martial arts and becoming a Sifu.  My parents had different intentions for my future.  I was one of the first people in my family to have a chance to go to college.  My family was adamant that nothing de-rail my focus of purseuing a college degree.  Most of the people who where getting involved in the instructors program was substantially older than me.  Most where looking at martial arts instruction as a career path. 

There was a substantial fee for this instructors program, there was lots of training, trips to Seattle etc...  It was something that was going to require a great deal of committment, especially for a 16 year old "kid". I remember describing my situation to my friends after our practice on night.  My friends seemed to support me beucase they knew how passionate I was as a martial artist, and how hard I worked.  My friend "Wild Bill" seemed pretty quiet about the whole sitaution.  Bill would often give me a ride home to my families 800sf home nestled between stamping plants for suppliers for the car companies.  As I was getting ready to get out of the car Bill said "can you meet me at the first national bank on Tuesday, I need some help with something." I said "sure" thinking that he needed help moving something.   I showed up that Tuesday at the bank and Bill said come in.  We sat down at a desk and Bill explained to the loan officer that I needed a loan for this instructors program.  Bill got the loan for me, looked at me in the eyes and said, "if you do not pay this back, I will kick your butt". 

If you think MMAA is making a difference in you or your child's life in ways you owe my friend Bill's act of kindness a huge thanks.  With that one singular act, it set in motion what eventually would become our school.  Although Bill's act of kindness was substantial, never foget what small acts throughout your life may do.  Thats why I picked 250 acts of kindess as a benchmark for our Black Belt Test.

As an aside I paid the loan back in less than six months.  I also went to college and graduated Cum Laude from Sienna Heights College in Adrian Michigan.  I became a Sifu in the later 80's and awarded my current tittle of Sibok, Senior Instructor, in 1993.

MMAA.COM is back.  With blogging, web based video, and lots of neat and innovative ideas we are committed to making our website a vital link to our families and students.

If you have any ideas about how we can utilize the website please let us know.

I am excited to share some interesting stories from friends, instructors and students as I use this blog.