Sunday, November 21, 2010

WuJien is a great place - By Enrique

Hi, my name's LuisEnrique and I'm currently a student at Tamkang University.

I have been at the WuJien Taekwondo school for a bit over 5 years now and I must admit it has been great. finding this school has been a blessing in my life. The coach is great and genuinely worries about each one of his student.

To me, coach Albert is like my dad in Taiwan. here, you not only learn self defense, but you become a part of a wonderful family. this is one of the reasons why i keep coming. I would recommend WuJien TKD school to anyone who is interested in learning taekwondo or to come for the Monday and Saturday classes where one can learn self defense movements. even if you're not into learning TKD, it's a great way to shave off some pounds or stay in shape.

LuisEnrique Verde

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Best Wishes to Maegan



Our friend-Maegan is leaving for next stop in Southern Hemisphere-Australia this week. Maegan had had excellent performance in work in Taiwan for 4 years. In her last 1.5 years, she has joined Wujien dojo and had lots of fun here. Let's watch her feeling about Taiwan and 武健 dojo in this video. And let's make wishes of seeing each other again in the future! Safe Journey! My friend!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

30-year anniversary Reflections~by Coach Wang


Dear friends,

Wujien Dojo has been established since 1979. Today, Nov. 07 is the 30-year anniversary of Wujien Taekowndo & Martial Arts Centre. I sould share my joy with everyone; however, after thinking, not having a celebration is my my decision, but writing down my personal reflections is significant as a memory.

I am thankful to get acquainted with all students and thank you very much for your trust and passions to Wujien Dojo. The Dojo can stand firm and stable for 30 years only because of having your supports. “Thank you” is not enough to express my gratitude.

Besides, I also want to thank Bodhisattva for her bless and protection. All of these I will remember deeply in my heart forever.

Although there was no grand party to celebrate 30-year anniversary,
your support and love have been praise to me which is making me feel warm and happy.


I am expecting that Dojo can stand stronger and be with happiness in the future. I will do my best to study more practical and profound martial arts strategies with everybody together.

Herewith my sincere wish that everyone at Dojo have healthy body and vital life.


Yours Truly,

Albert Wang

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Golden days in Taiwan

A few years ago, that is to say between july 1991 and july 1994, I lived and worked at Taïpeï... and used to practise Taëkwondo with Albert Wang Actually the “story” had begun a few years earlier, when Patrick Parthonneau started practising with Albert at Wujien Taëkwondo and Martial Arts CenterFollowing Patrick, a lot of other foreign students came to Wujien Taëkwondo and Martial Arts Center in order, not only to study Taëkwondo in a very good school, but also to share some great moments of friendship with their teacher Albert Wang. One of these students was Pierre-Louis GrasAnother one, a few years later, was Bruno Gentil









Of course there were not only foreign students ! A lot of other students also enjoyed attending Albert’s lessons, and the dojo was often crowded with people sharing the same passion.
Every three months, the students had the opportunity of “testing” and showing their improvement under the attentive eyes of the examiner, who would tell them, at the end of the examination, if their performance was worth getting the next belt level (yellow – green – blue – red – red and black…).



This successful examination gave us the opportunity of enjoying a great moment in a good restaurant, accompanied by some other great friends, such as Nicole Young and, of course, our delighted teacher.A few months ago, while searching here and there for some information about the friends I met during these years, I discovered the Wu Jien Taëkwondo and Martial Arts Center web site... but, at that time, the whole site was displayed with chinese characters only… ! Then, a few days ago, I found out that somebody had the great idea of writing an english version of the site... which enabled me to write to Albert... "only" 14 years after the events I related hereabove !

This also gives me the opportunity of congratulating Albert for his 5th dan black belt. At the time when I practised in Taïpeï, it was 4th… which was already a very good and respectable level !

When I was about to leave Taïpeï in july 1994, I asked Albert to give me a piece of advice, about the other martial art(s) I may study, if I could not find the opportunity of keeping on studying Taëkwondo in France. Albert told me "Aïkido". So, when I came back to France, I searched for Aïkido as well as for Taëkwondo. I found "Aïkibudo", which comes from the same origins as Aïkido. Here is a link to the official Aïkibudo website (unfortunately, only in french for the time being...) : http://www.aikibudo.com/. Here is also a link to the website associated to the dojo where I use to practise nowadays : http://www.mitsurukai.free.fr/association.html

In 2006, I was glad to pass my 3rd dan "Aïkibudo" (techniques which are practised “with empty hands") as well as my 3rd dan "Kobudo" (techniques which are practised with a different weapons such as japanese sword - bo - naginata - two swords : katana and wakizashi...)Very often, whether I am practising martial arts or just trying to solve any kind of problem in everyday life, I remember the advice that Albert used to give to his students. I especially remember the famous “patient” word he told us every time we were tempted to give up an exercise, such as the fifty “push ups” on the fists and on the wooden floor, or the hundred(s) of “stomach muscles” exercise in front of the wall… This is to say that beyond the martial art lessons, Albert also taught us useful principle of life.

I would really be glad to have some news from the friends I spoke about (Patrick Parthonneau, Pierre-Louis Gras, Bruno Gentil, Nicole Young) as well as from the other students (photos 2 and 4). Any piece of news would be great, after all these years.

I wish Wu Jien Taëkwondo and Martial Arts Center students many hours, weeks, months and years of great and useful learning with Albert.

Faithfully and sincerely yours.

Lionel PAYEBIEN
CROISSY SUR SEINE
FRANCE
lionel.payebien@wanadoo.fr

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Martial Arts and self-defense class 1



Coach conducts bilingual martial arts class. We're going to uploading some useful self-defense here! Keep viewing News Here!

Friday, August 15, 2008

The Martial Art vs. Martial Sports

by Neil Ohlenkamp


Many people think of Judo and Taekwondo as sports because they are included along with other major sports in Olympic competition. Boxing, wrestling, Judo, taekwondo, and kickboxing are examples of martial sports. I often hear martial artists who use the term "sport" as if referring to a game with no usefulness. The implication is that a sport is only for "play" and cannot be effective for self defense, fighting or combat. Many martial artists think that the distinction between sport and martial art is that martial artists train for real life.


Actually the distinction is more complex and rather surprising. In discussing this subject, I will make generalizations that may not apply to the way you train in your sport or martial art. However I hope to give you a new way to look at the potential value of sports principles for martial arts training.


One of the primary differences between martial sports and arts is in the value of the training methods. Because of their alleged danger or lethality, many martial arts engage in artificial and even counter-productive training which involves "pulling" techniques, modifying the point of contact, and adding in a precautionary element of movement that rather than training the body can inhibit its natural action and the ultimate conclusion of a technique. Slow, careful, non-contact training is not an effective approach to prepare for actual fighting situations that require the opposite reactions. Typifying this approach is a student who falsely equates the ability to break boards with the ability to punch a person in the face. As another example, I have never seen realistic training in throat strikes or eye gouges in any martial arts class, even though these are often recommended for self defense. The teaching generally done for these techniques help students to understand what to do, but does not provide effective results for fast, reflexive and accurate application of these techniques against an unwilling opponent in real life combat.


Sport, by removing some of the potential dangers, achieves the opposite. That is, sport more typically produces natural, fast, reflexive movement with full power application, achieving a result against a struggling opponent who is also utilizing full power while engaging in strategic and tactical resistance using all of his or her resources and training. Techniques that don't work are soon abandoned, and successful skills are honed against different attackers under a variety of conditions. Maintaining control in various combat situations, both in attack and defense, is difficult when faced with the unpredictable nature of an opponent's efforts, but facing these situations in contest prepares you for similar situations. Each opponent in competition is operating at the limit of physical and psychological skill. By pushing that limit contestants are continually realizing and expanding their potential.


Sometimes the "combat" arts substitute intellectual perception, a highly subjective and deceptive frame of reference, for genuine training of the body and mind. Some martial arts don't train effectively for self defense and combat because they can't train for combat without severing the risk to your training partners. Many martial arts have instead adopted highly stylized, ritualistic, and even dysfunctional training methods. Ironically, martial sports may provide the superior training in effective combat techniques because martial arts can't be practiced in a real life way without injury. In martial sports, one purpose of competition is to take the place of the older shinken shobu (life-and-death fights) in developing technique, knowledge, and character. You never see yourself so clearly as when you face your own death. Competition can provide a safe, controlled glimpse at this kind of defeat. Fighting spirit can be developed only through fighting. Surely it is not the same as the battlefield, but it serves a similar purpose, and it is closer to a combat situation than any other form of training.


However, the meaning of competition can go wrong. Winning and losing can become too important and start to pervert the training process. The ultimate goal should not be the winning of medals. Using sport competition as a metaphor for real fighting can be quite different from playing it as a game. Matches, along with free practice and sparring, are simply different methods for training the mind and body to deal with the adversity of fighting situations.


Just as non-competitive martial arts training may not provide the benefits of competition, training for sport competition may not provide the full scope of self defense training. Martial sports often include non-competitive components. For example, competition is only a part of the Judo curriculum, and Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, was very concerned about preserving those self defense techniques that could notbe used with full force in competition. However, Judo remains a remarkably effective self defense training, even after the development of other modern "combat" methods, and even when Judo is practiced today largely as a sport. Jigoro Kano applied modern sport training methodology to the traditional koryu jujutsu and found that it produced a better combat art, which has proven itself again and again over the last 120 years.


Although martial arts and sports both have loftier goals, it is still a fact that many people train in martial arts primarily for self-defense. For those who have never used sport training methods, or those who have never explored traditional jujutsu training, it is easy to discount the effectiveness of the other. As martial artists we should continually seek opportunities to challenge ourselves by examining the weaknesses in our training and keeping our minds open to other methods. I encourage you to discover for yourself how "playing" with a partner in sparring or free practice, or competing against an opponent in contest, can be an effective method of training for self defense.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Some feeling of Daphne





I can honestly say that Wu Jien is the best taekwondo dojo you can find. Why? They don’t only teach taekwondo, but also something more important, self-defense which includes a number of other marital arts. Wu Jien is also a great place for foreigners to come. The instructor can speak English, and there are many other foreigners training there.


My name is Daphne, and I started going to Wu Jien since I was in third grade, which is eight years ago. I love the place. I have lots of friends there that have come and gone with time, and I also have many friends that have stayed there for more than twenty years. I have many good memories of growing up there with the many teachers that have taught me things more than just how to kick and punch. I don’t go there are much as I use to any more due to the fact that I no longer live in Taiwan. I now live and study in New York, but during the summer, I always find time to go back.


The instructor is a very friendly person. He welcomes everybody to his dojo. That goes from kids in preschool to elders, and it doesn’t even matter if you are a foreigner. He treats everyone with respect. He teaches you what is needed to get to the next belt, what is important in self-defense, and what you want to learn.


Wu Jien is the very best place where you want to train, have fun, and make friends. Give it a try, and you won’t regret it. I know I haven’t.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Cheers



Christine is having radiation treatment in U.S. now.
We miss her so much and look forward to her coming back!

Cheer up!dear friend! We're here blessing you everyday.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Wedding



My students Kevin and miss 秋萍got married.
Kevin comes from Irelnd and his better half is a pretty Taiwanese girl.
I'm so happy to see them being together.
Let's give them our best wish and share the joyful news to each other.
由衷的祝福 百年好合

Coach Albert Wang

Thursday, May 8, 2008

One night at the dojo


Late one night, a night just like any other, we all gathered in our little dojo to practice our art of Taekwando and to train our bodies. Come the end of class Coach asked a request of us. We sat together on the dojo floor in a large circle of friends, countrymen, brothers, sisters, teachers, students, and comrades. There, he brought out a cake and announced the 25th anniversary of the dojo. It’s not hard to imagine the scene that followed as one by one each of us spoke a few simple words about what our dojo and coach mean to us. Language was no barrier. Sentiments were expressed in both Chinese and English, while those who could offered translation. With or without translation the sentiment was transparent to all as a similar utterance was echoed throughout the room; “This is my home in Taipei, and my second Family.” Truer words were never spoken.

I had begun my training in Taekwondo back in America and wanted to continue here in Taiwan. In finding WuJien dojo I intended to do just that. Shortly after entering this dojo it became apparent that what I was gaining here reached far beyond the boundaries of what martial arts training has to offer. Some seek out martial arts as a way to train the body and attain a heightened level of physical fitness. Others are attracted to the mental discipline that is developed through this type of training. I came for both reasons. I certainly found what I was looking for, and so much more.

My Feelings and Experience
Having trained in everything from dance, to music, to martial arts, I’ve had the honor of studying with coaches and teachers from around the world and performing with some of the most talented people one is likely to meet. The organizations I’ve been involved in have been extraordinary experiences, but never in all my years, disciplines, and experiences, have I found what exists here. The training we receive reaches far beyond physical parameters. The intensity of coach Albert Wang can be intimidating at times as he engages to train both your body and mind. His Taekwondo expertise is superb, and yet, indistinguishable from the compassion he has for every one of his students. This compassion is engendered into every member. Laughter is never in short supply, nor is a friendly word of encouragement or advice. Leading by example, this issuance of respect and commitment to each other are qualities that are well developed and embedded in each member of this dojo.

A dojo is a place established for the training and practice of martial arts. Come to classes and you will learn just that, but what WuJien dojo is, reaches far beyond the hand and foot movements you learn in Taekwondo. Come early and you will see members helping with the children class or doing muscle training on equipment in the back room. Stay late and you’ll see us sitting together on the dojo floor doing some post workout stretches while engaging in conversation, language exchanges, laughter, comfort and encouragement. Others will be practicing some new skills or honing old ones. In the office a hand full of students will be talking with coach, while in another room a couple of girls talk about cross cultural experiences from Japan, America, Taiwan, and Europe. But, wherever you look, there is a friendly face and someone who is happy to include you in conversation, answer a question, or help you with your training.

The impact of experiences here speaks for themselves as you see the adversities members overcome to be here. Sometimes you see a student overcoming a physical limitation due to injury (often acquired outside the dojo) and achieving things doctors told them they would never be able to do. Others travel from towns and cities across Taiwan just to make it in for a Saturday class from time to time. And, as is typical with life in Taiwan, the burden of work and school is a heavy one that often leaves little free time in ones schedule. But still, our members work hard to make it into the dojo as often as possible, even if that means running to the catch the bus just to get across town for the last fifteen minutes of class.

At the end of a long day, and weeks without a break from work, most people would choose the option of going home and enjoying a warm meal and a comfortable bed. I guess that’s what makes us different. Sometimes, even on the nights when you know you’ve come to late for class you come anyway. Perhaps you’ve come to work out some frustrations on the mats, or to seek comfort and a friendly word. But at the end of the long Taipei days, this is the safe place we come to and the home we’ve found in this city and on this island.

Personally, WuJien dojo has been the greatest part of my experience here in Taiwan. This organization, coach Wang, and the friends I’ve made here have been my corner stone and the pillars to which give me strength every day. I came to learn Taekwondo, and I’ve been progressing successfully in that endeavor, but what I gained in coming to WuJien Dojo is a second family and home half way around the world.
Christine

Monday, May 5, 2008

Bless Christine


Our study mate,Christine is now healing in NTU Hospital for a couple of days.
Evey time when friends visiting her, she always says: I wannna do more Taekwondo.

(Krissy and her father at dojo before surgery.)
After a sugery of pumping out water in brain,we now await good news of the chemical examination. All the friends at dojo support Krissy in any ways.

Living abroad is hardly ever easy for anyone.
Especially for her with the tumor in head.
Anyway, we would pass all our best to keep her get well.
Please pray with us and keep concern to your family or friends-
that is a notice we need to care people and live a better life at this lesson.

Feedback from Nisean


Hello there,

My name is Nisean Castillo, a Belizean student that has been pursuing undergraduate studies here in Taiwan for the past year and a half. As all foreigners living in Taiwan may have come to realize, life in Taiwan is quite different from our side of the world; the food, the culture, not to mention the complex Chinese language. However, this transition has been made far easier for me and many of my foreign friends who have decided to study Taekwondo with coach Wang.

I could clearly remember that from my early childhood, I had a great interest in martial arts. Therefore, upon my arrival in Taiwan, immediately started my studies. I must admit that studying martial arts studies with coach Wang is a decision that has been very beneficial to me. Coach Wang is a very kind and patient individual. He takes time to explain all movements, making sure everyone clearly understands. I believe this attitude gives one the motivation to learn more, and therefore, I have seen a great improvement in my fighting skills. This motivation has allowed quickly advance to a red belt within a year. I also see Coach Wang as a father figure, looking after my well-being on a rather regular basis.

After my first couple practices, it was evident to me that I have been learning much more than Taekwondo itself. It has also been a learning experiencing of the rich and rigid structure of the Taiwanese culture. By associating with my Taiwanese study mates, I began to build friendships which allowed me to quickly adapt to living here in Taiwan.

In conclusion, I must state that studying Taekwondo with coach Wang has assisted me in many ways. I hereby welcome you to come share this wonderful experience.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Cathy

Our member Cathy left this before she went back to America. "Cathy" sounds like "kaishi"(開始-means: start) in Chinese. So she felt coach Albert called her many times in every class. American humor~ Cathy and we are really into it~:D