American Hapkido Federation Mixed Martial Arts Seminar

[ELBOHEMIO]

For more information:

http://www.ushapkido.com/seminar/

Email: ushapkido@verizon.net

[sidekick]

Thanks for the post, I'll forward the information to my students. Since were right across the bay, we will make it a point to attend.


Mike Dunn :bow:

[ELBOHEMIO]

YOUR WELCOME AND PLEASE ACCEPT MY INVITATION: IT'S NEW BUT I'M GOING TO WORK ON IT.

http://groups.msn.com/WORLDMARTIALARTSBROTHERHOOD

:bow:

[sidekick]

David, is the seminar still on for this weekend?



Mike Dunn :bow:

[Michael Tomlinson]

I've met Dan Pillar he's a nice guy..the rest of the guys are from Pelligrini's organization...have they left Pelligrini and started a new organization?
Michael Tomlinson

[sidekick]

Mike, It looks like that's what happened. If I'm not mistaken, Frank Ehnle was very high up in Mr. P's group. It would be interesting to know why they chose to leave.

Mike Dunn

[Mst Whalen]

I've met Dan Pillar he's a nice guy..the rest of the guys are from Pelligrini's organization...have they left Pelligrini and started a new organization?
Michael Tomlinson

Loyalty can they spell it ?

Or maybe as simple as "an apple does not fall to far from the tree"

either way my grandmother was correct when she told me "Birds of a feather flock together" .

Myself i would rather go see mike T or Fabian D they are the real deal .

[Michael Tomlinson]

Hal, thanks for the good word.. guys we work out on the last Saturday of every month from 9:30 till around 11:30, I know that you guys can't get here during the week nights, if you all are ever in Daytona Beach stop by and see us sometime...
Michael Tomlinson

[sidekick]

Mike T., Dan Pillar sends his regards.


Mike Dunn

[FrankE]

Greetings Gentlemen,

I realize this is an old thread however one of my students brought this to my attention since my name came up in this thread in a Google search. Since this discussion and the above comments were made. I would like to at least post my response since my name was brought up.

My name is Frank Ehnle, I am the former Executive Vice President of the ICHF. I rose to the number two position in that organization. I was also the Hapkido Pressure Point instructor for that organization. I did not earn either of my Black Belts under Pellegrini but joined his organization much later as a school owner. My existing organization had dissolved and several schools went their own way. I mistakingly chose the ICHF.

I am a traditional Martial Artist with traditional standards. My instructors were all traditional Masters in Karate, Taekwondo and Hapkido and they were all under traditional Grandmasters. Students were required to put in years between Dan ranks. Traditional heirarchy and protocols were taught and respected. This is the way I teach to this day.

For some reason those who get involved with the ICHF get branded unfairly. There are many diverse members of the ICHF. Many of them do not have their roots under Pellegrini but trained in other organizations and joined the ICHF not realizing what they were getting into. That was the case with me and my school.

In the ICHF traditional schools are welcomed to join however the further I got into the organization the more I realized the philosophy and approach of the organization was completely opposite to all of what I beleived in. I was made to be a standout in the organization for my ethics and professionalism. However in the end those same ethics, standards and my traditional approach caused me to leave my position and the organization. My original Hapkido instructor actually warned me not to get involved in the ICHF and I am sorry I did not listen to him.

I will not get into the fine details because its pointless. The ICHF is what it is and most experienced traditional Martial Artists know the pros and cons of that approach. I personally do not beleive in the Six year Master or the one year or two year Black Belt and/or instructor. These time frames are not allowed in my school or organization. Time in grade is mandatory. Instructor positions can only be earned, not purchased. This is not the case in the ICHF. These are only some of the issues I had with the ICHF.

There is a long list of traditional Martial Artists who have left Pellegrini and all have their reasons. Many of them share the same experience and reasons. Although Pellegrini welcomes traditional schools his overall approach is completely opposite, informal training, testings and rank standards.

The American Hapkido Federation was put together by a brotherhood of Masters and Instructors, some of whom have had shared experiences with the ICHF. We have also worked with the WHA and asked Grandmaster Jung and his staff (Master Piller) for their guidance. They have been more than gracious and are also a true honorable brotherhood of Martial Artists. They have been a complete breath of fresh air in comparison to dealing with the ICHF.

Regarding another comment about loyalty in this thread: It had nothing to do with loyalty to Master Pellegrini or the ICHF. Loyalty is a given in the Martial Arts until the leader gives you reason to break that loyalty and trust. As far as the apple, it has fallen about as far from the tree as it can possibly fall. Our organization is all about training and a traditional yet street-real perspective on the art of Hapkido. It has nothing to do with finances, selling videos, mandatory seminars, a fast track to black belt, the upper dan ranks or an instructor position. It has nothing to do with selling certificates and fancy training pants. The informal and retail approach to the Martial Arts works very well for some people and the ICHF is perfect evidence of that. However that doesn't work for me.

Our approach to Hapkido is all about hitting the mats, hitting and using pressure points, vital points, using correct lock hand, support hand and footwork. Most of all trying to share the beauty and power of this incredible art with our future who are our students. Master Piller attended our Six Master Seminar in 2005 and you can ask him what he felt about our approach and our training. We are planning our 2006 AHF seminar for this spring. Maybe some of you can join us as my guests if you like. We are all about sharing.

So the apple has fallen about 10,000 miles from the tree.....

I hope I answered your questions about why I left the ICHF and about how the American Hapkido Federation was formed.

Best Regards,
Frank Ehnle
American Hapkido Federation
www.usHapkido.com

[DragonMind]

Welcome Master Ehnle,

Please pull up a keyboard and stick around. You'll find a very traditionally minded group here who don't suffer fools or fakes very well.