Greenville Magazine - April 2008 - (Page 24) in the lead I Charlie Stanley Fights the Good Fight ly d i A di s h m A n p h o t o b y pAt rAW l i n s ph o t o g r A p h y by n business, as in life, and certainly in martial arts, “Little things make big things happen,” says Charlie Stanley, owner and master instructor at Elite Hapkido. To demonstrate, he takes a lightning quick step and delivers a low kick in the knees to Bob, who placidly stands before him. Bob doesn’t flinch; but the blow does knock him back momentarily.You’ll be relieved to know that Bob is a mannequin, specifically the kind used for self defense training. If he had been a real person, though, that small movement would have caused a major injury. A dislocated knee cap would have brought him down. Stanley’s move didn’t incorporate any hand chops or a high pitched “Hie-yah!” It was simple, economical and effective. Ideals are a recipe for success whether in the board room, playing field or in a dark alley. Because in any competitive situation, we humans have two natural reactions – fight or flight. Stanley doesn’t sanction violence. Instead he emphasizes the idea of preparedness, and the ability to take another’s power and channel it. “Everyone has fear.You just need to control and channel it,” he says. The writing on the wall of Elite Hapkido spells out the principles of “Honesty, Integrity, Respect, Self-Discipline, Endeavor to Persevere.” Stanley not only lives these ideals, he works to instill them in his students. One student in particular, Jennifer Clapsaddle, a 45-year-old insurance agent who has studied other martial arts, finds that the discipline she’s learned has translated to her work life, especially in the way she relates to colleagues and clients. “I am always calm, respectful and aware of others,” she says. The petite Clapsaddle says beyond that, Hapkido taught her something other martial arts did not. “I now know how to fight on the ground,” she says confidently. Stanley explains this is a side benefit of Hapkido for women who unfortunately are more vulnerable to attack. He turns his thumb down and pushes against the air a bit. “You have to get close,” he explains, “but all you need is a pound and a half of pressure.” That is the equivalent of squashing a grape. A bit of that well-placed pressure on a carotid artery allows a woman to get the better of a 200-pound man. 24 Greenville MaGazine | april 2008
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