Grandmaster Shuey names Senior Canemaster, 8th Degree Black Belt

On Sunday, March 20, 2016, Grandmaster Mark R. Shuey, Sr., the founder of the American Cane System, promoted Mrs. Lynn Jessee to the rank of 8th Degree Black Belt and the title of Senior Canemaster for the American Cane System / Cane-Fu. Canemaster Jessee is also a 6th Degree Black Belt instructor in American Eagle Style under Grandmaster Clifford C. Crandall, Jr. Senior Canemaster Jessee has assisted in the production of the American Cane System Ranking Series, eight instructional DVDs which document the American Cane System. She also assisted with the production of Practical Cane Self Defense Volume 1 and Cane-Fu: Moving Beyond Disabilities. She has appeared in several internationally release martial arts magazines representing Cane-Fu.

Senior Canemaster Jessee is a licensed physical therapy assistant in the State of New Hampshire, and her professional expertise allowed her to make a major contribution to the documentation of the exercise system segment of the American Cane System which includes warm-ups / stretching, isometric, and dynamic resistance exercises using a walking cane and resistance bands. The exercise system has been used by physical therapists, hospitals, and other medical professionals to assist with rehabilitation of stroke survivors and others. It is also used to strengthen the entire body for proper body mechanics when executing cane techniques. Senior Canemaster Jessee developed the kata Autumn Wind and after many years of training previously earned the rank of seventh degree black belt. Senior Canemaster Jessee is also on the board of directors for SecureLivingOnline.Com (co-founded by Grandmaster Crandall and Master Stalloch) and has taught semiars for Active Seniors, individuals who are blind or visually impaired, and many others. Senior Canemaster Jessee assists with judging test candidates at the Northeast Headquarters for Cane Masters and with the teaching of American Cane System classes when she travels to the American Martial Arts Institutes main office.

The American Martial Arts Institute is the Northeast Headquarters for the Cane Masters International Association, and Master Stalloch teaches classes for the American Cane System three times each week. It also serves as the testing center for the American Cane System for the East Coast, with students in Canada, Spain, and several surrounding States, and holds testings for all ranks, including black belt. American Cane System students who earn the rank of black belt are not automatically sanctioned to teach the style. The teaching of a traditional style is an educational responsibility that requires training in different ways than the execution of the style itself. Understanding how to present the style to other men and women of different ages, body types, and cultural backgrounds requires a variety of instructional skills. In keeping with this thought, the East Coast Headquarters has been authorized to deal specifically with students and Canemasters who choose to teach and pass on this valuable style through an annual certification process. Grandmaster Shuey oversees the International Headquarters in Lake Tahoe, Nevada and the West Coast.

Grandmaster Shuey has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fox News, CBS, the Today Show, the Colbert Report, Black Belt Magazine, AARP Magazine, and numerous other publications. Grandmaster Shuey has taught across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. He earned 12 world champion titles, and was inducted into Black Belt Magazine's Hall of Fame as Weapon's Instructor of the year. He is the founder of Cane Masters International Association, the American Cane System, Cane-Fu, and Yoga Play. He holds advanced black degrees in Tang Soo Do (sixth dan), Hapkido (seventh dan), and Tae Kwon Do (eighth dan). He has produced numerous instructional videos, and his quality, handmade canes are known around the world and available at CaneMasters.Com. Learn more about Grandmaster Shuey at Canemasters.com.

Grandmaster Clifford C. Crandall, Jr. is the head and founder of the American Martial Arts Institute and American Eagle Style. He is an eighth degree Senior Canemaster in the American Cane System and the Headmaster of Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido. He has authored eight books and produced fourteen instructional martial arts DVDs. He is the co-founder and lead instructor for SecureLivingOnline.Com, and has led international performance teams representing the United States in China, Russia, Japan, Italy, Australia, and the Caribbean. Learn more about Grandmaster Crandall at AMAI-EagleStyle.com/AES/ccc.html

The American Cane System is a traditional martial art style founded by Grandmaster Shuey for men and women of all ages which uses a walking cane for self defense and exercise. The style's philosophy is that the cane is not a crutch. It is a powerful, portable, adaptable tool for self-defense, exercise, health, rehabilitation, and personal empowerment. Self-defense training with a cane will increase your chances of surviving an aggressive attack. The American Cane System is designed to increase focus, balance, and flexibility, reduce stress and raise self-confidence. It helps our students become masters of their own well-being. The style has eight colored belt levels (gyups) and ten degrees of black belt. Student training in this style learn eight traditional kata, 100 cane self-defense techniques, 28 blocks, numerous strikes, drills, exercises, kicks, empty hand skills, and more. Black belt levels include additional kata, techniques (such as from a wheel chair, with the use of one-arm, ground fighting, and for individuals who are blind or visually impaired), written examinations, and more.

Congratulations to Senior Canemaster Jessee.