Another Successful Bruneian Martial Art Seminar.
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This seminar was hosted and organized by Cristian Velici in Abensberg, Germany on the 28th and 29th June 2008.
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Total hours trained - 10 hrs in 2 days.
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The seminar covered aspects of blade mechanics and blade mentality.
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MY APPRECIATION
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I would like to express foremost my appreciation to Florian Velici, Cristian Velici and his mom for preparing the well equipt gym which was more than enough for the event, and letting those who came from far away to sleep over there. I met old friends and made new ones. All that attended (whom all are incredible martial artists in their own rights) for participating and their openness to accept and invite me to instruct a workshop for them. Those instructors from various other arts, my thank you. To all those who tried thier best to attend the seminar, expecially from Holland, Czech Republic etc. Grant, Sixt, Roland, Badr, Evi, Tony, Cris and everyone who help me in my demos. My sincere apologies if I miss anyone.
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This seminar like my other events aims primarily to raise the curiosity and awareness among people from different nationalities about the martial heritage and culture of Brunei Darussalam in general.
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DAY 1 - Empty Hands Vs Knife Mentality
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On the morning of the first day, we covered empty hands against the knife. Basic body mechanics, movements and knife grips was instructed to understand intentions of the attacker and the correct body positioning was addressed. Later learning how to counter defences and recountering was also instructed.
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Later in the afternoon, after the basic body mechanics was understood, follow ups to strikes, disarms, breaks and basic take-downs was instructed.
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Later in the afternoon, after the basic body mechanics was understood, follow ups to strikes, disarms, breaks and basic take-downs was instructed.
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DAY 2 - Knife Vs Empty Hands Mentality
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On the morning of this day we covered knife against knife. We started off with basic drills from 3 lines of attacks, and everyting we do on forth would start from this. The participants was instructed the understanding of multiple attacker, awareness and recognizing between friend and enemy - all this at once.
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Later in the afternoon, after the basic understanding of the drills and excecise was understood, follow ups like strikes disarms, counter disarms, breaks and counter breaks was instructed.
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Feedbacks from the participants were very encouraging, more wanted to know about the Bruneian Martial Arts and the best thing is that the feedbacks are not from someone who doesnt know anything, but from experienced weapons oriented instructors and martial artists that trains with weapons in major aspects of thier martial art.
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Later in the afternoon, after the basic understanding of the drills and excecise was understood, follow ups like strikes disarms, counter disarms, breaks and counter breaks was instructed.
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Feedbacks from the participants were very encouraging, more wanted to know about the Bruneian Martial Arts and the best thing is that the feedbacks are not from someone who doesnt know anything, but from experienced weapons oriented instructors and martial artists that trains with weapons in major aspects of thier martial art.
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MY PRIVATE LESSON
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I have always been facinated with Judo and Aiki Jujutsu. In my travels I have met many quality masters and instructors from different arts, but like everything in life the best things happen when you least expect it.
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I met Florian Velici (7th Dan Blackbelt Judo; 1st Dan Balckbelt Jujitsu) on my first visit to Germany in March 2008. At the time this article was written he is 59 years old, father to Cristian Velici and trainer to champions.
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When I first met him I could not stop telling Cristian how big his father's neck was.. and when I say big, it wasnt BIG big, it was "muscular" big; if you take a striking art, you grow calluses around your knuckles, if you are a grappler, Florian Velici's kind of neck is what you want. A soft spoken man with a smile that never leaves his face, but honestly, in a long line of people who could beat me up, he is in the top list :) His presence just shines the spirit of REAL JUDO - The Gentle Art. Just being around him, you feel it.
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One the last day, after the seminar he honored me and Tony Nowak with a private lesson. For a 59 year old, he puts my physical condition and stamina to shame.
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At the beginning of the session Tony and me wasnt really comfortable throwing an old man with powerful throws, but thats just an excuse - between you guys and us, we were just very nervous, then he told us not to treat him like an "egg". To learn the true Judo, we have to have committment, don't think - just do. It got us a while to get use to throwing an "old" man. His breakfall (ukemi) was just amazing, he fell like everything was in slow motion. You have to be there to see it.
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He taught us the fundamentals from 4 groups of throws and breakfalls. He makes me hungry to learn more Judo.
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It was truely an honor to be taught directly by him. I can only wish to be in his physical and stamina condition when Im in his age. His dedication to the spirit of Judo is something that you can only feel when you meet this man. My utmost admiration and respects to Florian Velici.
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For more information visit;
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FLORIAN VELICI - Trainer to Champions
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He is a professor of sports, he studied sports at the University of Bucharest. He, himself, was also a competitive boxer and gymnast during his childhood, youth and University years.
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Early after he left University in 1971, he had to decide not to compete any more, but to teach, because competing and full time teaching at the same time in high performance sports was not possible.
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His results as a trainer:
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1. Olympic participants:
- 1984 Montreal: Istvan Nagy (71 kg)
- 1992 Barcelona: Daniel Lascau (78 kg)
- 2004 Athens: Michael Jurak (100 kg)
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Bronze medal Athens, 100 kg, Jurak Michael, the only German medal (men) at the Olympic Games 2004.
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2. World Championships participants:
- 1985 Istvan Nagy
- 1985 Gheorghe Dani (World Masters of Students)
- 1988 Daniel Lascau (U21)
- 1991 Daniel Lascau
- 1999 Michael Jurak (U21)
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- Goldmedal: 1991, Daniel Lascau (78 kg) and Bronzemedal: 1985, Gheorghe Dani (60 kg) and 1999, Michael Jurak (95 kg)
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- European Championships:10 participants, 8 Medals (2 silver and 6 bronze)
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- International tournaments: over 200 medals
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- National tournaments: over 100 gold medals
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Team championships:
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1st Place Champions league with TSV Abensberg 1997 and 2000
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German Master with TSV Abensberg 1997 and 2000
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2 times Silver medalist with TSV Abensberg
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Silver medalist with T.C.I. Oradea (Romania) 1985
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Bronze medal with T.C.I. Oradea (Romania) 1984 and 1986
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Multiple times national champion kids and juniors (Romania and Germany)
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Multiple times national champion of schools (Romania and Germany)
