my little introduction

[damen]

Hey all, I'm Damen.
I've been studying various different martial arts for the past 15 years or so, including...
Northern Shaolin Wushu
Yang-style Tai Chi
Shaolin Kempo Karate and Jiu Jitsu (Villaris)
Tae Kwan Do
Judo
Aikido
Fencing (western style)

and a host more that I dont count as I have not studied them enough yet.

I am the founder of an art I currently call Chi Fist, and hope to begin training others soon.

I work as a contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense

-Damen

[TNT]

welcome aboard, damen! Tell us more!

[damen]

Hrmm, well.. I live in northern VA. In addition to the martial arts and work, I live for cars and computers.

I've got a website setup for Chi Fist:

http://www.chifist.com

Not a lot there at the moment, but general information about the art for those interested.

In my free time, I'm trying to find a place to teach, and people who want to learn.

Anything else you want to know, just ask!

-Damen

[damen]

Currently, I am a video conferencing engineer for the Army Materiel Command HQ, though my talents lie more towards systems and network administration. The company I work for does pretty much everything tho

[IPON]

Chi Fist sounds like a 3rd rate super hero....or maybe a technique within the style by not the whole style......not offense but find a new name.

[damen]

If you care to do so, you're more than welcome to visit the chi fist webpage and read my explanation for why I chose the name.

-Damen

I should also point out that I've said that the name is what I've chosen for the moment. I've never said that it was permanent. It is the current working name. If you can think of better, feel free to offer it.

[IPON]

OOOOK, just as I suspected. Please correct me if I am wrong, you:

* studied "on and off" for 15 yrs old, (you are about 21-22yrs/old I assume)

*Never made ranking past orange belt or equivalent

*are not interested in any styles you have learned but want to combine all of them and teach "YOUR" brand. Take what is useful and discard what is useless hmmmm that a new concept

*have no formal training but are a master of "ALL" weapons and the development of chi

*state that Chi Fist is only for fighting not tournamments and teh chi you teach is not good for health.

My friend you should be embarressed to call yourself a martialartist much less create a fake style and take people's money. This is worse than theory and it is watered down welfare version JKD which is even more of insult (chi fist / intercepting fist). I'm being somewhat polite, feel bad for you when Thai Bri and Jubaji see this crap.

[IPON]

General Information about Chi Fist

Welcome, and thanks for your interest in Chi Fist.

I want to start out by giving you all a little background on myself and my Martial Arts experience.

My name is Damen Knight, and I have been studying martial arts on and off since I was about 6. In my lifetime, I've taken Yang style Tai Chi, Northern Shaolin Wushu, Shaolin Kempo Karate and Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Tae Kwan Do, Aikido, Judo, fencing, and a few others for good measure. I have also studied Wing Chun, Capoeira, and Muay Thai.

To be completely honest, I never progressed very far in any of those arts. I only ever stuck around in a single art long enough to get an Orange belt. I was simply never satisfied with the wholeness of any of the arts. Each had its own particular strengths and weaknesses. I decided that I would learn the ideals and principals behind as many different arts as I could and try to incorporate them into my own style.

Here I am, many years (and broken bones) later, and I've made a lot of progress. I've fought in a few tournaments, had many sparring partners, and generally learned a great deal. As such, my style has continued to evolve and improve. It is no longer recognizable as being derived from any one particular branch of arts. Therefore I decided that my style required a name.

Ok, so I needed a name.. But why "Chi Fist"?? Honestly, I thought a lot about a name, but I just couldnt come up with one that was absolutely American, but still sounded like a fighting style. To solve this problem, I decided to go look at my roots, to look at what had influenced my development as a martial artist the most. This influence had to come from learning about Chi, and its manipulation/use. The second part simply stems from 2 things. 1.) My desire to use English in the name and 2.) I'm more of a puncher than a kicker, always have been. It doesnt really reflect the style so much as my personal preference (besides "Chi Fist and Foot" doesnt have the same ring to it).

This art, like many modern ones, is an adaptive/learning/growing art. It evolves and changes. It takes bits and pieces from all the other arts and turns them into something fantastic.

The core of Chi Fist is energy. I want to make it clear right up front that energy is not the same as power. Power can come from energy, but is not necessarily the goal. The goal is to use your body's energy, and your body itself in the most effective ways. This means channeling chi, redirecting energy, and moving your body to best work with the laws of physics.

Speed is another important aspect, but it too derives largely from energy. Speed is simply the rapid release/use of energy. Speed is also important for creating "power", which while not the end goal, is useful all the same.

The Idea: The whole idea here is to be flexible. Your opponent may be bigger than you are, or smaller. Maybe your opponent has a very high pain threshold, and a single power hit wont do you a lot of good. You must be able to adapt to the situation as it comes to you. This is why being able to control your energy is so important. If you have control over your mind and body, through control over your energy, you can shift and change your methods to help you win.

This is not a tournament art, nor is it a lifestyle-health art. This is purely designed as a fighting art. Now, that is not to say that tournaments for it could not be hold, nor that it could not be used to improve ones health, but that is not what was in mind during its development, so I would not reccomend trying it for any of those things just yet Give me a couple years to get things a bit more evolved for that.

Weapons of all types are to be learned. This means swords (eastern and western), knives, staves, sticks, whips, throwing weapons, and anything else you can think of. You never know what you will have available to you, so you should be able to fight with whatever is handy.

Chi Fist is different for every student. Most martial arts teach the same things to every student, ignoring the students individual strengths and weaknesses. That is not what we do. In Chi Fist, we teach the student how best to take advantage of their strengths, but at the same time, we also try to help imrpove their weak areas. In this way, we make a more complete fighter.

[damen]

Well, lets address the points you've raised one by one:

Yup, 21, dead on.

Yup, never got a blackbelt in any of them, though the TKD school I frequent up in Jersey keeps trying to give me one (they often have me help with their blackbelt testing by sparring with their students). I have not accepted it, as I did not feel it would be right.

I absolutely loved most of the styles I took. Northern Shaolin Wushu was my favorite, tied with Tai Chi (which I took at the same time, and felt complimented each other immensely).

I have had formal training in western swordsmanship, as well as with escrima and tai chi swords. I have also been trained in archery, and with the use of assorted firearms. I dont think I ever claimed to be a master.

I do not like arts to be based around tournament fighting (much as TKD has become), therefore I have focused chi fist on more practical self-defense techniques. I would say that any development of chi manipulation/awareness skills is good for you and your health. However, again, that is not the focus of your chi development in chi fist.

I would greatly appreciate it if, in the future, you would bring up your problems with me directly and calmly, rather than flaming me.

Thanks,
Damen

[IPON]

I would greatly appreciate it if, in the future, you would bring up your problems with me directly and calmly, rather than flaming me.

I think I stated that problems I have with you promoting your "style". There was no flame just the truth based on the information you have given. I don't apprectiate charlitans in MA, maybe you do not realize how people can get hurt with your half assed techniques. Since you don't understand what I am saying maybe some one else explain it to you.

Hey but don't worry you know the saying about a fool and his money, you make some dvd's and people will look past your lack of credentials and buy.

[damen]

Well, I dont particularly enjoy being called a charlitan... as a matter of fact, thats a first for me.

I also dont particularly enjoy hearing my fighting style referred to as half-assed.

Let me know if a way leaps to your mind that I can put your fears at rest, as I would very much like to do so.

It seems to me, however, that you are simply not open to the idea. I am sorry to hear that.

I posted here as I thought the site would be a valuable resource. If I was mistaken, please tell me, and I will leave without a fuss.

-Damen

P.S. as I've stated in another thread, I have no desire to turn this into a cash cow. I doubt I'll ever make or sell a DVD. I simply want to teach the thing I love.

[damen]

Oh, also, you misunderstood, when I said I wanted you to bring up your problems with me directly, I didnt meant your problems with ME, I meant I would like your problems in general to be brought up with me.. is that a bit clearer?

Sorry if my previous wording caused confusion.

-Damen

[damen]

Which would you prefer? To be an incredible success at something you like, or possible fail at something you love?

Personally, I'd take the thing I love any day. Though since thats not quite the most practical way to go, I certainly planned on keeping up the day job, at least for a while

-Damen

[damen]

Well that hardly seems like any fun

Besides, its best to do the insane things while you're young enough to get away it it, heh.

[damen]

I almost went in myself, actually. I was stuck between them and the marines. Then I figured out I could make a much better living (and not get disowned by my anti-military family) by doing the contractor thing So far so good.

Good luck with enlisting though. The guys I work with who are in seem to really enjoy it. If you find yourself stationed in Ft. Belvoir, VA, look me up.