AmericanSanSoo.net

[Ish]

Hello San Soo people! My name is Ish Calleros. I am 33 years old, born 1-1-1977. I have just recently opened up a Kung-Fu San Soo Studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am currently a 2nd Degree Black Belt under Master Paul Schroder; where I have trained at his El Paso, Texas School since 2004. Circumstances saw fit to move me to Albuquerque, and since there are no Kung-Fu San Soo schools here, I decided to open my own as an outlet to train, and teach at the same time. I plan on traveling back and forth to continue my studies under Master Paul Schroder to fufill the dream of earning a "Master Degree" in Kung-Fu San Soo.

Master Paul Schroder earned his "Master Degree" from Master Dave Hopkins, who earned his studying under Master Al Rubin & then under Master Gordy Barrett; and in later years under Grand Master Jimmy H. Woo (rest in peace to both of these great warrior / teachers -- Master Al Rubin and Grand Master Jimmy H. Woo).

Before joining this forum I read every single post, in every single thread. This forum blows my mind. So much great Kung-Fu San Soo information in one centralized location (and free) is just a treasure. It cannot be ignored!

Of course, this forum is also like a cable box, man! You got your entertainment channels, your news channels, your great informative show channels. I think it is great! However, what sold me on joining this forum was the promise of new lessons being posted for every new contributing member to this Kung-Fu San Soo society. San Soo Sifu, I hope I have adequately followed procedure well enough for you to fufill that promise. I would love a completed Basic 72 in my classroom, available for my students.

I will start a thread in the Bouncer, Bodyguard, Security folder; since it is empty, and I have worked in that field for almost 10 years. I have had well over 200 "Sudden Violence" encounters (in the words of the great Master Greg Jones); and feel that I have some valuable insight about real life application of Kung-Fu San Soo on the street, that the San Soo community might enjoy. So it is my pleasure to join; and I hope that it becomes a mutual feeling!
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"It's a Street Fighter's art. I teach the art of walking away...one way or another."

[Ish]

By the way, I have been doing martial arts since I was a child. In my teens, I studied Kenpo Karate under my brother Fernando "Cool" Calleros (who is a five time world champion, in multiple weight classes, in Kickboxing and International Muay Thai competiton). Fernando "Cool" Calleros is currently a 4th Degree Black Belt in the American Kenpo Karate Association (AKKA). Fernando "Cool" Calleros still fights to this day. Fernando "Cool" Calleros was on the St. Louis Enforcers in the WCL (the Chuck Norris stand-up fighting league); and he has fought in K-1, and he is testing the waters in boxing right now. We studied under Grand Master Bill Packer before his death. Fernando "Cool" Calleros teaches Kickboxing and Muay Thai here in Albuquerque, New Mexico; as this is a big Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) town. Fernando "Cool" Calleros is much sought after for private lessons for his stand up game.

One time in El Paso, Texas during a family reunion, my brothers and I decided to go continue the festivities at a local bar called "Mulligans" (bad idea). We got into a brawl with some local gang members; and I was already a Kung-Fu San Soo Black Belt. Fernando "Cool" Calleros and myself had our younger brother with us; who was a Kenpo brown belt. Needless to say, those gangsters got pummeled pretty badly. There were some broken bones involved. The bartender happened to write down my brother's car license plate as we drove away. He was charged with aggravated assault; although they are the ones who started it. After the melee had pretty much ended, I looked up and noticed 6 unconscious guys on the ground, a lot of blood, and my brother Fernando with a guy that he had in a schoolyard headlock. The guy was limp, but Fernando "Cool" Calleros kept hitting him yelling at the top of his lungs, "Don't you know that I'm the greatest fighter in the world!" Yes, it was hilarious.

Moral of the story is this: All martial arts are great. They are like guns, however. Some are deadlier than others, stronger, faster, more precise, bigger, smaller, etc. And like guns, it is the user that decides whether or not it will be deadly. You can give an AK47 to someone, but if he will not pull the trigger, does it matter that he has an AK47? Nope. Give someone else who is a killer a .22; and if he is mean enough, he will kill someone with that .22. In my opinion, had I kept on the Kenpo Karate path, I still would have knocked most people on their butts with that Kenpo Karate because I AM A FIGHTER! I chose Kung-Fu San Soo simply because Master Paul Schroder showed me how to be a better fighter with his martial art: KUNG-FU SAN SOO. He made a believer out of me; and now it is MY martial art. I am madly in love with Kung-Fu San Soo because as a fighter, I see how it is the best gun on the market for me. My brother and I have never agreed on which is a better art, because he loves his Muay Thai and AKKA stuff; and that is great, but we both have our opinions. They differ. Extremely. BUT... we both know, especially after the "Mulligans" night, how effective each other's chosen arts are in the right hands. He used to tell me, "That Kung Fu stuff don't work!" After that night he tells me, "Dang, I don't know what you were doing; but you doing that Kung Fu stuff, and those guys were flying!" And, let me tell you guys; Fernando "Cool" Calleros was certainly doing some "Tong Po" stuff that worked VERY well on that night, when we were outnumbered 7 to 3. More true stories from the life and times of Ish Calleros will be posted in the Bouncer folder.
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"It's a Street Fighter's art. I teach the art of walking away...one way or another."

[unstpabl1]

Good luck with your school.

[Ish]

Thanks, man! Well, let's see what happens.

My biggest competition for the martial arts people out here is a big Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) gym that boasts as some of its clients: Georges St. Pierre, Rashad Evans, Diego Sanchez, among other champions. You never know when you will get the opportunity to train with one of those world-class athletes, there. Out here, everyone wants to be a cage fighter. So I need to find the people that are interested in self-defense, and what works on the street most effectively. When a guy has it in his mind that he wants to get in the ring, well then that's just what he wants to do. I say, "I prepare you for the fight that I hope you NEVER have; much less, train you to get into a ring, and have all your weapons taken away at the start to fight."

I have a few students right now, I am happy with my start. I think Kung-Fu San Soo will catch on here, once the word gets out. It takes time, and I am very patient.

Kung-Fu San Soo attracts a certain type of person, and sooner or later, Kung-Fu San Soo will find them! I also have a facebook page with some of my demonstrations on there, if you want to check it out.
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"It's a Street Fighter's art. I teach the art of walking away...one way or another."

[unstpabl1]

I'm not a true believer; and I am one of the resistance guys, but I like Kung-Fu San Soo in many ways. Anyway, I don't know why, but I have never watched your instructors school's videos. I like them, as they showe "INTENT." Reminded me of Dave Hopkins' classes.

[Ish]

Master Dave Hopkins is my instructor's instructor. So, yes the Dave Hopkins' slop is in our genes... and I am DARN proud of it! I remember one seminar he did at Master Paul Schroder's where he brought some of his black belts, and it was just AWESOME! Mutual respect, and two-way learning was flowing; it was great. I wish I knew how to post some of my demonstrations on here. They are on my facebook, however.

In my humble opinion (and before everyone goes haywire, it is just a personal opinion); I think resistance in a controlled environment can actually do more harm than good. You are not striking for real, so your workout partner is not reacting as he really would. Keep training like this and you will lose some vital insight. If you slap someone's groin, all apologies; but the guy is bending over. A resisting partner doesn't bend, if you don't slap as hard as you would in a real fight; and you end up Wrestling in the studio. In real life, when I have EVEN MADE THE MOTION as if to strike the groin; the opponent bends over. And my Kung-Fu San Soo training has taught me what to do if he bends over. And of course, I knew how to set him up for a bend. Because of slow, realistic response training in the studio. Resisting partners don't react realistically if you are not hitting realistically. And we all know, you cannot truly hit someone in the studio with our Kung-Fu San Soo strikes.

I do, however, very much respect and understand your opinion. Agree to disagree, my friend. Thank you for your input.
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"It's a Street Fighter's art. I teach the art of walking away...one way or another."

[unstpabl1]

It is too complicated of a discussion for a forum. Plus, it needs demonstration to be intelligently discussed. My main thing is if you lose the element of suprise, now you are in a "hands-up" situation.

Much more of a Boxing influence in even untrained fighters. Less step through type punching due to UFC. All TMA's seem to end up looking like Kickboxing. So I am not necessarily talking resistance from a technique; but as someone actively trying to hit, and not be hit. Training entries may be a drill to explore.

Truthfully, I know you get what I am saying. It is not new.

You know how American Kenpo Karate teaches self defense, fighting(sparring), and forms; and Krav Maga teaches self defense and fight. I think Kung-Fu San Soo is a superior method for learning the self defense techniques; and though I have no proof of it, my suspicion has always been that Jimmy H. Woo didn't teach the fight portion of it. Every other system I know of spars to some degree.

So, I think it is in the system; both stand up and dirty grappling, as to me it is like the original martial art, but because Jimmy H. Woo never taught it, it is not open for discussion with most people.

[Ish]

Our "freestyle," as some call it, just means we are working out; not knowing what is going to be thrown at us, and performing our lessons on a reacting partner. In my school, it went 2 and 2. One partner attacking, and the other doing a lesson. Twice each, then switch. Sometimes, the thumping gets pretty intense as you turn up the heat, and slowly escalate the percentage of power that you are using. I am a firm believer in opening up. Remember, that my brother is a world-class champion ring fighter. We grew up together. We lived in the same house. We sparred on many, many occasions; and we sparred everyday at the end of class at Grandmaster Bill Packers AKKA gym.

I believe I learned a lot more about real fighting in Kung-Fu San Soo than I ever learned in American Kenpo and Kickboxing sparring sessions. One big difference is that when you spar, you are taught to snap out a kick, and bring it back in. In Kung-Fu San Soo open workout we kick, then step down into an opponent. We go forward, not backward. We "run over our opponent," as opposed to strike and re-set back.

In a real fight I am kicking, then stepping in, taking his space and balance. No way, am I going backward; lest I want my butt kicked. Opinion based on my own personal experiences, and martial arts journey. I have done them both. I prefer to an open workout, as opposed to sparring.
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"It's a Street Fighter's art. I teach the art of walking away...one way or another."