Martin Academy of Martial Arts

Coach Ted happily striped some belts tonight. Congratulations Jeff, Ben, Melvin, Jubilee and Nathan. Proud of you all!!

Some stripes earned last night - Mike and Jeff great job!!

some 📸 from Thai boxing and bjj this week!

grateful to have Shawn & Amy Chitwood in class as guest instructors for bjj 🙏🏼

Congratulations to Sifu Martin, who received her black belt in bjj this past weekend!! 🎉
Thank you to Sifu Paulson & Combatives Unlimited for an excellent seminar.

Last weekend a group of us traveled to Coach Juan Perez’s academy in Jacksonville for a 2 day seminar with with Sensei Erik Paulson. Of course the amount of techniques and knowledge shared was off the charts however one of the best highlights of the weekend was being present to witness Sifu Lavonne Martin be awarded her Black Belt by Erik. Outstanding achievement!!!! Congratulations Sifu!!!

This Spring Sifu Francis Fong will be teaching a Wing Chun seminar at Martin Academy. The seminar will be Saturday March 16th (12pm-3pm). To register for this event use the contact information on the flyer or fill out the “contact us” page on our website (linked in bio). We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Sifu Alan Baker will be at Martin Academy July 13th to teach Brazilian jiu-jitsu (10am-1pm) and ground fighting / counter grappling (1:30pm-4:30pm). To register for this event please contact us by phone (941-342-9944), by email ([email protected]), or fill out the “contact us” form on our website linked in bio. We look forward to seeing everybody there!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Because this is a holiday weekend with no classes on Monday night, Coach Mike will have an open mat on Monday morning from 10am to 12. Come play, then have an awesome time at cookouts with family and Friends. Have a safe and Happy Labor Day weekend. It can get crazy out there.

“Let it be clearly understood that no man need hesitate to challenge me because I am a woman, or think he will be called on to show me any consideration for that reason. I grant no favors and I certainly ask none… I hope someone who desires to sustain the reputation of his s*x will challenge me before I get to be an old woman and give the ‘new woman’ another chance to prove she is the superior of man.”

Ella Hattan (1859-190?), known as “Jaguarina,” was one of the greatest swordswomen of the nineteenth century, and perhaps of all time. As America’s champion fencer, and proficient in the use of the foil, broadsword, rapier, dagger, and Bowie knife, Hattan would defeat more than sixty men in high-profile combats on both horseback and on foot; more than half of whom were fencing masters. In 1903, she recalled:

"A woman always labors under a disadvantage in any athletic tournament. Being a woman, she has to do twice the work any ordinary man would have to do to prove ability. In my case the audiences always seemed to take it for granted that there was a certain amount of gallantry on the part of the man fencing against me, simply because he was not fencing with one of his own s*x. If any point was in doubt and was finally allowed to me, the spectators were sure to say; 'Oh, he’s gallant, and has allowed her that point.'
That was why I always put forward my utmost efforts to beat an opponent so hard, fast and decisively that there could be no possible doubt as to my superiority. Some of the scars I carry on my face, sword arm and body show conclusively how much chivalric consideration was shown me because I was a woman."

After retiring around 1907, Hattan completely disappeared from the public record. To this day, her ultimate fate remains a mystery.