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The Power to Destroy

The Three Types of Destructive Energy used in Martial Arts

 
The Hidden Meanings Behind The Flash
 
Talking Book Radio interviews Stefan about his book Blind Zen
(right click to save as or wait for entire file to download)
 
No nonsense advice on what works in real life.

The King, the Fool, and the Fox Reading and controlling non-verbal communication in the sparring ring

 
Do you know what you're really learning?
 
Stefan's pics from the hall of fame ceremony
 
Balance and the Martial Arts
 
Learn the deadly combination of strategy and attitude
 
 
 
Strategy for the Streets What would Sun Tzu do in a Street fight?
 
Two Man Staff Drills from China
 
Spinning Staff Techniques
 
How to Do a Pole Vaulting Side Kick
 
Stefan Traces The Origins of Kung Fu to Thailand's Mountain Tribes
 
Books
 
 
A Case Study of Sensory Enhancement for the Blind and Vision Impaired
 
 
Workshops & Seminars
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Stefan's Ventura Bike Trail Pics

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LATV episode on Stefan training at the abandoned Foster Bowl located just off the main trail. Click on picture to go to video page.
 
 
 
Kung Fu has traditionally been  practiced outdoors under varying climatic conditions, in wild places, on mountains, under trees, during rain or snow, hot and cold. I have always taught my students that it is important to make this connection to nature when training in martial arts. Another useful technique for keeping training fun is to cross train. On Sundays I have a chance to do both by biking up into the mountains to train

Here's some pics from one of the bike trails I ride.

In these photos I also show my favorite secret Kung Fu training spot - Foster Bowl.

Map: The trails starts off along the beach but then turns inland and follows the Ventura river valley up to the Ojai Valley. (33) Great mountain views.

 

Its about 3 minutes through town to get to the starting point, Ventura Pier

Ventura Pier

Ventura Boardwalk

Surfer's Point

Here the trails turns inland and roughly follows the Ventura river.

Trail enters the Ojai valley.

Trail crosses over Ventura river to go to Foster Bowl. Ojai's Topa Topa  mountains seen in the distance were immortalized as the mythical Shangri-La in the 1937 film "Lost Horizon."

This is the side entrance into Foster Bowl.

From the front Foster Bowl looks pretty spooky. Keeps most people away and more privacy for Moi.

Foster Bowl was built in the 1920's when the locals still got around on horses. By the 50's the bowl was abandoned because of inadequate parking. Some of the old hitching posts still stand.

Inside the bowl is like a small Greek Amphitheatre, great acoustics and  nice private location to practice Kung Fu.

Nearby the bowl are campgrounds.

Never anyone around up here.

There is another clearing with several large boulders. Gives it a Stonehenge-like feel.

I like to time the trip so that I get back to the ocean in time for yet another spectacular sunset.

And how was your Sunday?

 

For more cool pics of the Ventura Bike Trail visit Dan Slater's site here:

 

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All text, photos, and illustrations by S.H.Verstappen.
All Rights Reserved
E-mail: sverstappen@yahoo.com