Art Mason
From Master Art Mason
Contents |
Grand Master Art Mason
Born January 1st 1960 in Windsor Ontario Canada. He is a full time martial arts teacher having founded "Art Mason's Peaceful Warriors' Martial Arts Institute" in 2000. Being concerned with the direction of martial arts in Canada he and his son's Curtis and Scott founded the eclectic martial art they teach call "Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido".
Having started his formal martial arts training in Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido in the early 80's Mr Mason became very concerned that the 'sport' aspect of the arts were being confused with the street applications of the art. This prompted him to seek out other teachers and arts to add to his own. He has been very fortunate to have studied with some of the best martial artists in the world. These include men such as Dr. Steve Stewart.Modern Martial Arts. Here is a listing of the Masters who have both taught and influenced Master Mason.
Master Mason's martial art school, The Peaceful Warriors' specialized in teaching both children and adults this very effective system. They have been very successful in working with children with ADHD and autism. Their prime focus in on self improvement and self defense.
Master Mason started his teaching career back in 1988 after obtaining a Black Belt in his root art. Teaching was and remains a great love of his. He currently runs 3 schools located in Windsor, Puce and Tecumseh Ontario.
Master Art Mason also recently founded "Kids Safe Canada" [1], which is an organization dedicated to teaching street safety to children, Self Defense World,[2] and organization dedicated to teaching street smart self defense and also CMATA, The Canadian Martial Art Teachers Association [3], an organization mandated to raise the standards of teaching martial arts to the public and providing parents with a resource for choosing the best schools across Canada. He also recently published a parenting book called "Children Don't Come with an Owners Manual'[4]as well as a book entitle Novice Kyusho Certification Workbook [5] to help Kyusho Students with their studies
The picture to the left shows Master Art Mason at 3rd Dan Black Belt. This was taken at a tournament in Inkster Michigan. A knee injury in December 1993 ended Master Art's tournament career. Here he is in the role of coaching several members of Philip's School, including all 3 of his Black Belt children.
Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido
The translation of the term Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido loosely means "way of the ancient spiritual warrior". The art is a hybrid of Hapkido, Tae Kwon Do, Kosho Shorie Ryu and Kyusho Jitsu [6].
The basis of the art is to use the opponent energy against them, while remaining in constant contact. It has been taught with great success to various law enforcement personnel. The art is taught and practiced from a realistic standpoint, working with grabs, pushes and punches as well as defense against weapons. The art is taught based on the Natural Laws that govern the movement of the human body, controlling the skeletal system and using pressure points for optimum control.
Principles of the art
- Balance: The first principle is that of balance. This applies to both the attacker and defender. Your objective is to take the attacker off balance. The faster this happens, the faster the altercation can be ended.
- 2 way action: Once the attacker has moved in and exposed his arms your must take control. At this point 2 way action is a MUST in order to induce as much pain as possible to control the situation.
- Centering: Always bring the attacker into your centre for better power and control. As soon as controlling contact is made, the attack must be centred to avoid a power struggle.
- Intention: Without intention, control or throws are impossible. You need to see the desired result many times in your mind to achieve it! If you do not believe what you are doing will work, you are correct. If you believe it will work you are also correct.
- Pressure Point Contact: Make as much contact with the pressure points on the body as possible.
- Avoid energy conflict: Using the octagon to stay out of the line of attack. You when stand in front of your attacker, you reflect his energy giving him more power. MOVE ASAP.
- Mobility and stability: Moving into the proper foundations to achieve success. Knowing when to be stable and when to be mobile. Control comes from both.
- Increased Body Contact: Give position to get position. The more of your body in contact with the opponent, the more energy transfer takes place. Often people are told to try to remove the grip the attacker has on you. Give him the position he wants, just not the way he wants it!
- Attack at a 45: You must always attack the opponent’s body at a 45 degree angle. This will cause more pain and more damage. Attack upstream, across the energy flow for pain, downstream and across the flow for a throw.
- Sticking & Flow: You must learn to follow the opponent's movements. Be like water flowing across and around a rock. Move in the same direction as the attacker, until you can move otherwise to take control.
Kyusho Jitsu
Kyusho Jitsu, The Dillman System has been incorporated into the art of Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido. It is used to make the techniques more effective. Kyusho Jitsu is also taught by Master Mason as an art itself within the school. Certification / Black Belts in Kyusho are an optional part of his programs. He also has a support website for his Kyusho Jitsu Students [7]
Kyusho Jitsu uses the same meridians and pressure points as those used in acupuncture. The first level of kyusho training is devoted to healing and revival by striking pressure points that correlate to nerves and organs throughout the body. This knowledge has been regarded as one of the highest secrets in martial arts for many centuries.
Many instructors are integrating Kyusho Jitsu into their system – karate, Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido etc. – as a way to supplement their training and make the techniques they already know more effective.
Over the years many martial arts teaches have referred to the use of "nerve strikes". Now a pressure point in the body is a place where a nerve either end, crosses with another nerve of branches out. Nerve strike have always been considered to be very effect. The art of Kyusho Jitsu is the study of these points, and how to best attack these nerve ends or Pressure Points.
Art Mason's Martial Arts Credentials
- 7th Dan Black Belt Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido (Founder)
- 5th Dan Black Belt Tae Kwon Do (Master)
- 4th Dan Black Belt Kyusho Jitsu (Master)[8]
- 3rd Dan Black Belt Kosho Ryu
- 2001 United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame (Master)[9]
- Nominated Grand Master of the Year 2007 United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
- Certified Kids Safety Expert Level 1(2003)[10]
- Certified Woman's Self Defense Expert (WBA)
- Former President of The World Budo Alliance 2000[11]
- Internationally Certified Master Instructor W.B.A & World Head of Sokemanship Society
- Certified Kyusho Jitsu Instructor. (Level 1,2 & 3)
- Canadian Representative Korean Hapkido / Yudo Association[12]
- Member Independent Martial Arts Federation
- KIA - Kyusho International Alliance Canada Board of Directors
View the Art Mason Certificates page
Master Mason's History
Master Mason started his martial arts training formally in 1984. He developed a great interest in everything "combat" at about the age of 6 after seeing Bruce Lee on TV as Kato in the Green Hornet. At that time there was nothing in the area that resembled martial arts training. At the age of 14 he tried his hands at boxing becoming a member of the Windsor Amateur Boxing Club. He boxed for about a year, finding little enjoyment in it. At about the age of 15 he tried his hand at wresting in high school. He had at one time aspirations of becoming a professional wrestler.
After being hired at Chrysler in 1984 Master Art decided the time was right to give martial arts a try. He joined a local school that taught both Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido. He especially loved the self defense techniques of Hapkido. He competed on the Tae Kwon Do Tournament Circuits from the time he attained his Yellow Belt until a knee injury at 2nd Dan Black Belt.
His true love in the arts was and still is teaching. He started his training as an instructor at Green Belt, helping a Black Belt instructor to run a branch. He was given his first school to run in 1988 when he received his Black Belt.
In 2001 The World Head of Society made him an International Instructor and lifetime member of their organization. This helped him to fulfill his ambition of developing a martial arts system that would work for every students that came to his school.
Today Master Mason's passions are still teaching and developing himself and the art he and his son's created.
Pictured to the right is Master Art doing a brick breaking demonstration at Belle River's Sunsplash Festival. Currently The Peaceful Warriors' have a Demonstration Team made up of selected students of various ranks. The instructors and senior Black Belt do a demonstration every 2 years for the student body. Some of this has been video taped and is available in DVD format from the school.
The picture to the left was taken in 1997 at the Carousel of Nation's Korean Festival in Windsor. Curt Mason holding breaks for Master Art to break. After his years in tournament competition Master Art loved doing public demonstrations the most.
Master Art has done hundreds of demos at tournaments, festivals and other public events. The largest crowd was at a boxing match at Windsor Area. the event was a sell out with approximately 7000 in attendance.
The picture to the bottom left was taken in 1997 at the Carousel of Nation's Korean Festival in Windsor. This was while being a member of Philip's School of Tae Kwon Do. He is shown here doing a pattern called Ul-Gi Hyung.
In the picture to the above Master Art is demonstrating knife defense. 2nd Dan Black Belt Chris Durand, who would later become a Peaceful Warrior is suited up for this full contact demonstration. These demonstrations varied in type depending on the circumstance of the event. Many of these demonstrations were video taped and will be available for viewing someday. They are all on VHS format and need to be converted for the internet.
Master Art had many favorite breaking techniques from aerial wood breaks, brick breaks, to patio stone breaks. He also did dozens of different self defense techniques. He also did many, mnay different Black Belt patterns. Today Master Art is famous for his Kyusho Knockouts. The link provided with take you to some videos of these knockouts.
Pictured at below right Master Art was a 3rd Degree Black Belt in 1997. Here he is in Tecumseh Ontario waiting for the start of class. Over the years he ran many different branch schools for Master Philip Hollohan. Teaching martial arts has been his greatest passion since he was first asked to help out in class at Green Belt in LaSalle Ontario. His dream was to run a full time martial arts school. A dream he realized in June 2003 when he left Chrysler.
Master With a Cane
Pictured to the left, Master Mason and Grand Master Mark Shuey[13]. Master Mason and GM Shuey first met in Toronto in winter 2001. GM Shuey was putting on a Cane Seminar hosted by Grand Master Dano Meadows and Hanshi Richard Buchan[14]. Master's Mason and Shuey had by this time had several discussion about bringing cane into The Peaceful Warriors' and Curt Mason was already honing his cane skills. Today cane is a major part of our Black Belt program.
One of the things that makes cane such a powerful self defense tools is it can be taken anywhere and requires no special license of permits. Master Mason has taken his cane with him to airports and may other high security places.
Pictured below doing a breaking demonstration in Belle River 2001.
Rank Promotions
Root Art Hapkido / Tae Kwon Do
- Promoted to Assistant Black Belt in June 1988
- Promoted to 1st Dan Black Belt in June 1st 1989
- Promoted to 2nd Dan Black Belt in December 14th 1991
- Promoted to 3rd Dan Black Belt on December 11th 1994
- Promoted to 4th Dan Black Belt on June 15th 1999 (Master)
- Promoted to 5th Dan Black Belt in September 1st 2000
- Promoted to 6th Dan Black Belt in October 2002 (Hapkido Only)
- Promoted to 7th Dan Black Belt in May 2005 (Hapkido Only)
Kyusho Jitsu
- Promoted to 2nd Dan Black Belt October October 29th2004
- Promoted to 3rd Dan Black Belt November 10th 2006
- Promoted to 4th Dan Black Belt November 1st 2007 (Master)
Master Art is still actively pursuing rank in Kyusho Jitsu and has studied with Steve Stewart[15] 2001 to present.
Other arts and information
- Founded "Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido" Fall 2002
- Promoted to 3rd Dan Black Belt Kosho Ryu June 1st 2002
Master Mason's Project Links
Websites and Organizations
- Art Mason's Peaceful Warriors' Martial Arts Institute
- Kyusho Jitsu Canada
- Martial Arts Marketing Canada
- Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido Information
Blog Site (Related to above)
- GrandMaster Art Mason's Buddha Nature
- GrandMaster Art Mason's Martial Musings
- How to Choose the Right Martial Art School
- Dealing with ADD / ADHD
- The Kid's Safe Canada Blog
- Dealing with Bullies
- Kyusho Jitsu Canada Blog
- Martial Art Marketing Canada Blog
- Self Defense World Blog
Master Art's Rants
Books and Articles
- Novice Kyusho Jitsu Certification Workbook
- Children' Don't Come with an Owners Manual
- In True Self Defense
- Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido - A Black Belt Guide
Kyusho Jitsu Courses
Return to Main_Page
![[8]](http://www.thepeacefulwarriors.org/Certificates/Certificates%20001.jpg){kind=link}
![[9]](http://www.thepeacefulwarriors.org/Certificates/Certificates%20002.jpg){kind=link}