David Arnebeck
Founder: Warrior's Cove Martial Arts & Fitness Gyms
Founder: Modern Shinbudo Program (Mixed Martial Arts)
Founder: Modern Shinbudo Program (Mixed Martial Arts)
Tang Soo Do Grandmaster
Hun Chul Hwang.
It was July 30th, 1993. After 25 years of cross-training [MMA] in various martial arts including Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung Kung Fu and Tang Soo Do, David Arnebeck received the official invitation for master level training and testing under, Hun Chul Hwang, at the Tang Soo Do USA Headquarters in New Jersey.
Although Mr. Arnebeck had learned valuable skills in the areas that Tang Soo Do specializes in (unequaled kicking, developing maximum force in striking, etc.) and although he had achieved significant success in Tang Soo Do, including winning the Tang Soo Do National Black Belt Sparring Championships, he decided to refocus on the essence of reality based martial art training (MMA) as defined by the legendary warriors such as Sun Tzu, the Shaolin, Miyamoto Musashi and more recently, Bruce Lee.
Ever since David Arnebeck started teaching martial arts in 1980, his highest priority as an instructor had always been to serve those students that looked to him for leadership. Giving his students the proper training (reality based training) was far more important than his future belt advancement or status in an organization, so Mr. Arnebeck submitted a respectful and detailed letter of resignation to Hun Chul Hwang.
Portions of the correspondence below…
Although Mr. Arnebeck had learned valuable skills in the areas that Tang Soo Do specializes in (unequaled kicking, developing maximum force in striking, etc.) and although he had achieved significant success in Tang Soo Do, including winning the Tang Soo Do National Black Belt Sparring Championships, he decided to refocus on the essence of reality based martial art training (MMA) as defined by the legendary warriors such as Sun Tzu, the Shaolin, Miyamoto Musashi and more recently, Bruce Lee.
Ever since David Arnebeck started teaching martial arts in 1980, his highest priority as an instructor had always been to serve those students that looked to him for leadership. Giving his students the proper training (reality based training) was far more important than his future belt advancement or status in an organization, so Mr. Arnebeck submitted a respectful and detailed letter of resignation to Hun Chul Hwang.
Portions of the correspondence below…
 Hun Chul Hwang performing Reverse Round Kick
“September 10, 1993
Dear Master Hwang… I am submitting a detailed explanation of my views for your consideration, not only on the issue of one member’s Ko Dan Ja testing, but more importantly, what I believe to be issues that will affect many Tang Soo Do members… I understand the need for standardization to maintain the quality and provide direction to the members of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. However, I believe there are methods of standardization which would not restrict the genuine artistic expression and scientific evolution in the art. It is my view that standardization should be centered around principles instead of techniques… If a member wishes to investigate a new or alternative method, it must stand the fire of testing, such as found in free [live] sparring or free-form [live] grappling sessions. Any qualified instructor can determine the skill level and effectiveness of a student even if that student is performing unfamiliar techniques… I stand ready to back up my general suggestions with specific ideas and procedures should they be of any interest to you. |
David Arnebeck 1987
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As for my Ko Dan Ja application, you can now see my apprehension in putting myself in the possible position of representing – as Ko Dan Ja – those policies that I myself question. I believe the honorable action would be to wait for these issues to be resolved.
Master Hwang… I would like to point out that the views I have expressed do, in no way, reduce my respect and appreciation of yourself and my instructor, Sa Bom Nim Seiberlich.
Sincerely,
David Arnebeck
Copy to: Sa Bom Nim L.J. Seiberlich”
See full correspondence here.
David Arnebeck submitted this letter two months prior to the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), held at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado, on November 12, 1993.
Master Hwang… I would like to point out that the views I have expressed do, in no way, reduce my respect and appreciation of yourself and my instructor, Sa Bom Nim Seiberlich.
Sincerely,
David Arnebeck
Copy to: Sa Bom Nim L.J. Seiberlich”
See full correspondence here.
David Arnebeck submitted this letter two months prior to the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), held at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado, on November 12, 1993.
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So the current MMA trend started with that first UFC in the early 1990′s. Nearly all MMA schools started sometime AFTER that first UFC and are now simply copying – as best they can – the trend that they see on TV. However, Mr. Arnebeck has proven to be a leader rather than simply following the latest trends. Starting in 1980, more than a decade before the first UFC, Arnebeck was teaching reality based MMA to his students! That was long before the term, “mixed martial arts” even existed. Arnebeck just referred to the training as “martial art cross-training’ or the traditional Japanese name, Shinbudo. In 1868 Japan, Shinbudo was a martial art revolution similar to modern mixed martial arts in that the best of various styles were integrated together with a focus on a more realistic approach to training. Arnebeck developed a safe & organized system to teach complete MMA directly to those with no prior martial art knowledge from day one! In contrast to this, some MMA schools still won’t allow their students to train MMA until they complete training in other martial arts! Arnebeck also created a revolutionary MMA Belt Rank System that awards rank based on actual MMA skill rather than giving rank based on time in training, or simply giving rank because members have superior size, strength or speed! He also created an MMA Instructor Program to help others become qualified teachers of MMA, along with a successful MMA Career Path for those who want to retire from their job to help others learn MMA full time! In fact. many of the MMA & BJJ instructors running the various schools in and around the Minneapolis / Saint Paul area learned under Mr. Arnebeck! Today, Arnebeck continues to lead the way by offering an intelligent and revolutionary approach to MMA that you won’t find anywhere else. In addition to optimizing the MMA training year after year, he has also integrated the highest quality Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from the family that started the UFC, the Gracie family |
David Arnebeck at the Warrior's Cove
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David Arnebeck
More info at http://warriorscove.com/david-arnebeck/