The American Martial Arts Institute recently held its annual adult seminar day on Saturday, January 17th.   This all-day event was held at the main training hall in New Hartford, New York, and offered its adult students a unique opportunity for personal growth and traditional martial arts training.  The seminar was taught by Grandmaster Crandall who was assisted by black belt instructors from across New York State.

The seminar participants were bowed in at 9:00 a.m. and began their day with a brief stretching session followed by punches.  The students performed a wide variety of punches from a horse stance such as high, low, middle, side, single, double, triple, and combinations.  This also included moving through the room with quarter-turns and half-turns. Following punches, the students training on a variety of kicks and basic forms.

After this physical workout, the group sat down with Grandmaster Crandall to discuss some aspects of the school's history and the testing requirements for 1st Dan, black belt, through 10th Dan, black belt. This included the significance and expecations for some of the high level ranks including 6th and 7th degrees. Grandmaster Crandall took the time to explain what is required to become a Master Instructor in American Eagle Style and the importance of these standards for the continuation of the school and style from one generation to another.

Following this informational segment of the seminar, students worked one-on-one with an instructor for the next hour either learning their newest kata or training on the highest kata they knew toward their next rank.

The students then had a break for lunch.  While the students finished eating some of the instructors trained in black belt katas.  Instructors do not train with students in regular classes; therefore, most students do not often see the instructors continue their own training.  It was a chance for the students to see that no matter what rank you hold, you are always a student of the martial arts and always learning.

After lunch all of the students trained under Grandmaster Crandall's direction in the American Eagle Style's kata, Eye-of-the-Eagle, required for all first degree black belts. Colored belts and brown belts present had a chance to learn part of this kata, a unique opportunity.

As this segment ended, the students had a chance to work on advanced knife techniques. A few of the instructors assisted Grandmaster Crandall in supervising the students, while the other instructors present had the opportunity to practice these advanced skills with one another, as well.

The adult seminar offers many opportunities that students do not regularly have in class. One of these is learning how to defend yourself while seated in a chair or on a park bench. Grandmaster Crandall explained some of these concepts, demonstrating on the instructors, and teaching many of them some advanced skills at the same time. Part of the teaching philosophy of the American Martial Arts Institute is that instructors do not physically touch students to teach them. In other words, instructors do not spar with students. They do not do self-defense with students. And, they do not correct techniques by laying they hands on a student. Instead, they teach through demonstration, verbal skills, and other methods. However, the Adult Seminar is not regular classes; it is a seminar, and therefore, under Grandmaster Crandall's guidence, instructors were partners for some of the students. This gave the students the chance to feel the techniques being done by some of Grandmaster Crandall's most advanced students, those who have chosen the path of teaching students and giving back to the art. For most, this was the first time they worked with an instructor in this way.

The final segment for the day was extension tool training. The students had the chance to train with the bo, naginata, tonfa, and escrima, just four of the many traditional extension tools taught by the school.

Although the seminar day end at 4:00 p.m. with a group picture of all the students and instructors, it was clear from the enthusiasm of the students and instructors that the seminar had made a positive difference in the training and life of everyone who attended.  The next adult seminar will be held in January of 2010.

Back Row (left to right): Chief Instructor Eric Stalloch, Clifford Soults, Peter Hotvedt, Grandmaster Clifford C. Crandall, Jr., David Faulkner, John Freleigh, Senior Instructor Cheryl Freleigh. Front Row (left to right): James Fryer, Loretta Collins, Eric Dratler, Robert Peterson, Jill Craw

Back Row (left to right): Mrs. G. Stalloch, Miss Peterson, Ms. Catera, Mrs. M. Stalloch, Mr. T. Stalloch, Chief Instructor Stalloch, Grandmaster Crandall, Senior Instructor Freleigh, Mr. Riley, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Fiore, Ms. Austin. Front Row (left to right): Peter Hotvedt, Clifford Soults, James Fryer, Loretta Collins, Eric Dratler, Robert Peterson, Jill Craw, David Faulkner, John Freleigh