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IFMA Newsletter - Summer 2026

IFMA Quarterly Newsletter

Summer • 2026

Independent Fellowship of Martial Arts 



Master Piller’s Moment


It is my pleasure to share the first edition of the IFMA Newsletter. The idea for this fellowship grew from my many experiences — both positive and challenging — across several martial arts organizations over the years, including USJF, USTU, WTF, USJJF, USTHJ, KHF, WHA, and others along the way.

The main thing that was missing from those groups was the camaraderie and fellowship that we now share in our martial arts family. This genuine sense of connection — supportive, respectful, and rooted in shared purpose — has become one of IFMA’s defining strengths.

What began as a dream is now approaching its 10th anniversary, and I am proud of how far our community has come. Over these short years, IFMA has continued to grow through the knowledge and dedication of our talented masters and teachers. We have expanded our curriculum to include Ground Survival Tactics, Kali, and the lifetime training expertise of Fits Sensei.

We are also honored that GM Bernard not only shares his knowledge with us, but has generously hosted the past three Summer Training Camps at his ranch in Sheridan, Wyoming — an experience that has strengthened our fellowship and provided invaluable training opportunities and ‘Firsts’.

I am equally pleased to announce the addition of a Healing Arts component, led by Mr. Cale Albert of Sacred Mountain Dynamic Karate, Minnesota. His extensive background in Whole-body health,  Qigong, movement, and breathwork brings a meaningful new dimension to our curriculum and supports the holistic development of our members.

I hope that this Newsletter becomes a place where information, insights, and success stories can be shared openly. I encourage all members to contribute training tips, articles, highlights, and experiences that reflect the spirit and growth of IFMA.

Thank you for being part of IFMA’s continued development and for helping us carry forward the fellowship we have built together.

A special shoutout to Master James for the idea and creation of this Newsletter, and to the IFMA Leadership for their contributions in bringing it to life.

 

IFMA News


  • Summer Camp Debrief:


  

  • A great time was had by all in attendance at the IFMA Summer Camp held from July 16-19 in Big Horn, Wyoming.

  • Beginning with Black Belt Collective on Thursday, and ending on Sunday, participants had sessions on Team Arrest and Control, Ground Survival, Kali, Multiple Opponent Defense, Jahng Bahng, HapkiGumSul, Breathing, and Throwing techniques.

  • 50 minutes sessions kept the days moving, with “Hapkido Love” being shared and felt all around.

  • Chodan Testing Prep Test:

    • Calli Romesburg and Abigail Shellnut from Michigan Martial Arts and Stu Wright from Ki Martial Arts successfully completed multiple sessions in preparation for their Black Belt, demonstrating techniques from throws to ground techniques to locks and body grabs. They will continue to work on their techniques as they get closer to their Chodan test.

Evenings were full of fellowship and camaraderie with dinners provided by Grandmaster Bernard’s hospitality and the beauty of OH Ranch.


Ground Survival Tactics  


Promotions:

Congratulations go out to Calli, Abigail, Gabrielle, and Peter for successfully passing the blue rash guard promotion test. These are the first four people to get promoted in the system since Master Kitch, who was the first to be promoted.


Tips: One of the central principles of Ground Survival Tactics, or GST, is that the best time to act is often during the transition. Whether you are escaping, advancing position, attacking a submission, or defending against one, movement creates opportunity. When both people are locked into a stable position, changing that position usually requires greater strength and energy. During a transition, however, the system is already moving, and a relatively small amount of additional energy can redirect it in your favor.


Imagine a heavy ball resting at the bottom of a U-shaped track. From a dead stop, pushing that ball up either side takes considerable effort. But when the ball is already rolling down one side, it requires much less energy to guide its momentum back up and over the other. Grappling works in much the same way. Instead of attempting to force an escape or submission from a settled position, the GST practitioner learns to recognize when the opponent shifts their weight, changes position, or creates space—and then acts immediately.


Every transition produces a moment in which something becomes lighter, looser, or temporarily exposed. Your opponent may create space that you can fill, or you may intentionally create space to draw out a predictable response. The goal is not simply to move faster or use more force, but to develop the awareness and timing needed to act while change is already taking place. In GST, we seek to make everything happen during the transitions, because that is where the greatest opportunities exist and where the least amount of energy is required.

~Master Shellnut

Kali Happenings


Tips:

In self-defense you do not have time to think about what you’re going to do next. You must act. That’s why Kali is taught in drills. It isn’t choreography. It’s creating the environment to create instincts in your martial art. The drill doesn’t allow me time to think. It makes me do, then see what comes out. What did I do well? What is an opportunity for my growth? I am learning what I really know and what I need to work on. The drill gives me live feedback. This is why it’s so important to do your drills every day. Rehearse your drills in your mind everyday, your instincts will develop. Do you see how the esteemed Master’s Council creates this pressure testing environment when you test in front of the group? Isn’t that why we get nervous? You can create the pressure testing environment in your training at any time. Train with intention.

Ecological Dynamics is a framework for learning that structures learning around the active connection between the individual and their environment. It's the concept my father used when he taught me how to swim by throwing me in the pool. While at camp, the martial artists had the opportunity to experience this on Sunday, during a kali warm up. As well as some of the other hapkido sessions. The idea is creating an environment so that you have to find the technique. Be it swinging the stick or doing a throw. You learn to stop thinking about what to do. Whatever comes out at that moment can be coached or trained. An example of this is during testing. My challenge is to do this in your everyday training. Create scenarios that put you into the middle of your training. Change the constraints as you get better. This is how we develop the skills and the martial mindset. 

~Guru Will


Dojang Highlights


House of Perseverance:  


Master James held a testing on August 1 for HOP’s two newest White Belts. On the

testing panel with Master James were Master Piller and Master Kitch. Congratulations to IFMA’ and MuSa Kwan’s newest 9th Gueps, Mr. Herman Muhammad and Mr. David Muhammad.



Ki Martial Arts Centers:  


Generations:  New KiMAC Hapkido student Mr. Jack Kitch, Master Kitch’s son, attended his first Hapkido session at Summer Camp.  Master Kitch first started martial arts with Master James when he was a 17-year-old high school student.  Master James had the opportunity to teach the 2nd generation of the Kitch family.  Hapki!





Big Horn Hapkido: 

  • Big Horn Hapkido has partnered with At Ease Horsemanship to help those dealing with PTSD to find growth.  Equine Therapy has been one modality for growth, along with others including martial arts.  I have trained several Veterans but Rob Erckenbrack has been my most consistent student and has found Post Traumatic Growth through Hapkido and BJJ.  One of the values of training in martial arts includes the focus necessary to learn when you hit the mat.  That focus means you are not thinking about the complexities that make up our lives.  This is a form of therapy in itself, and one of the reasons we all love to train.  When you walk through the door, you learn to leave your “stuff” outside if you want to learn.  That hour or more of training focused on something besides the “stuff” is therapeutic regardless of what you learn that day. 

  • Rob, a retired Navy “Seabee” has embraced his martial art journey and finds training

    is helping him heal.  The breathing, body control and mind/body connection have been most beneficial to him.  His experience at IFMA Summer Camp in the year of the Fire Horse was potentially life-changing for him.  He found a sense of community and felt the fellowship that Master Piller has created.  I feel he will be a part of the fellowship in the years ahead and that the connections he makes will be a blessing to him.  I look forward to him contributing to a future newsletter in his own words.



  • Our martial arts are so much more than self-defense.  The personal growth that accumulates over years of training is a benefit you can only appreciate over time.  I, along with Rob and the Johnson Family, appreciate what the IFMA brings to our martial art journey.  The level of instruction along with the sense of family, make this organization a privilege to be a part of.  Thank you Master Piller, Master James, Master Kitch et al for your high-level teaching and your kindness.

~GM Bernard


Red Eagle Kali

Red Eagle Kali is in a growth season. As I continue my Hapkido training, I’m reminded of the white belt mentality. I’m always looking for growth and development of Red Eagle. A new market will be opening up soon as we expand training and training opportunities.  Students in the Regional Training are expanding exponentially. Especially in Colorado and Minnesota. I see huge potential in these martial artists and warriors. Lakan Guru Borja Perez has been in touch with me regarding his return to training. He misses everyone. I know we will all be excited to see him back in training.

~Guru Will


Promotions and Awards



1st Poom Black Belt:  Michigan Martial Arts students Gabrielle and Peter Shellnut received their plaques that finalized their promotion to 1st Poom Black Belt in MuSa Kwan Hapkido. They are the first Poom belts in the IFMA and their test is still talked about for its discipline and outstanding technique. Congratulations Gabrielle and Peter! Hapki


Gratitude:  Master Piller presented GM Bernard with a one-of-a-kind, personally made,

beautiful, inlaid, table top that can also be a plaque.  This was in recognition of his continued friendship and support for the IFMA.  GM Bernard is the President of the Korea Hapkido Federation-USA, and has been an important part of MuSa Kwan gaining official recognition by the KHF Korea

  


Appreciation:  GM Bernard presented Master Piller with a beautiful rack of antler horns that were found on his ranch.  









IFMA Lifetime Membership:  Michigan Martial Arts student Ms. Calli Romesburg was presented with the last purchased IFMA Lifetime Membership.  Going forward, this will be awarded presented by the Master’s Council to a deserving IFMA member. 







No Barriers Award:  Presented to Ms. Emily Hoang for her effort to make martial arts as inclusive as possible.  Her work with neuro-divergent students reflects the principal that martial arts can benefit, and be enjoyed, by all.





Ki Spirit Award:  Presented to Mr. Easton Hoang for his martial arts spirit and enthusiasm exhibited during his attendance at his first IFMA camp.  




Student Reflections


Easton Hoang

Over the course of Summer Camp 2026, I was able to grow, share, learn, expand, so much thanks to the beautiful spirit of the IFMA, and all who came.  From the moment I stepped on the mat, to once I said farewell, I knew that the IFMA family is what lifelong martial arts means to me.  To be cliché but honest, fellowship is the key to my martial arts journey, it’s what I crave, it’s what I seek.In my heart fellowship is exactly what I found, and it's exactly what I'll continue to seek and share in my journey.


Emily Moore

I want to thank everyone whom I had the privilege of trained with during Summer Camp 2026, the Masters and fellow students. It was an incredible experience for me that marks a milestone in my martial arts journey. During Summer Camp I came to feel in my heart that I do belong in the martial arts world, something I have really struggled with. I also left with a renewed conviction that my mission to support others in that belonging is important. The environment at Summer Camp is built to support not just learning (which there is so much learning!) but to also support each individual as a whole person through fellowship. My martial arts journey is my life journey, and here that is understood. Thank you to the fellowship for supporting my learning, my heart, and my mission.


Calli Romesburg

The 2026 IFMA Summer Camp in Big Horn, Wyoming was a great experience all around. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed. Everyone was supportive, respectful, and genuinely wanted to see each other succeed. The instructors and fellow martial artists provided individualized constructive criticism that motivated me to improve my technique while building confidence. No matter the experience level, everyone was challenged in a way that pushed them to become better without feeling discouraged. At this camp, we had the opportunity to learn from instructors with a wide variety of martial arts backgrounds. Their different perspectives and styles added depth to the training. Last but not least, the location itself was breathtaking. We were constantly surrounded by mountain views and incredible wildlife. It was the perfect setting to disconnect from everyday life and fully immerse in training.


Abigail Shellnut

My experience at camp was amazing! I loved the fact that we not only got to train in the mountains, but had a beautiful view as well. Grand Master Bernard always out does himself on hosting camp. It’s always nice to see my extended Hapkido family. I enjoyed having other Masters or instructor’s there, so you can learn new things and not the same thing, or if you already know something they change it into something else, for an example Master James did a fireman’s throw but changed the way the legs go, I found it really cool the way he showed it! It just so happens to be one of my favorite throws to do and now, I know a different version of it.


Breathwork Moment 


Fitts Sensei and Master Kitch led camp sessions in breathwork, based on the works of Wim Hof.  

Master Kitch:  


Breathing is medicine and a path to embodiment and focus.  Our practice includes long-term skill building (for example, increasing lung capacity or nasal breathing) and skills that lead to quick state adjustments (for example, creating an increase in focus and calming the nervous system).   


We created and shared a resource to help students engage in breathing practices after introducing it to the camp.  Includes categories, explanations, and basic instructions. 


Two buckets of breathing practices


Fitts Sensei:  

Dear IFMA Members:  We will share insights into the vast field of breathwork, ranging from its necessity in athletics and combatives to improving health and spirituality.


Reflecting on why it became an integral part of my daily routine, the exploration took different phases.  The first immediate benefit was reduced inflammation in the joints. Nine years ago, before I started my shoulders and knees would ache constantly. Routinely I would take either Tylenol or Ibuprofen before class to keep up with students more than half my age.


The Wim Hof combination of breathing, cold therapy and mindset eliminated the pain within a few weeks of practice.  It was as if I had a new body, allowing me to return to 100 pushups a day and bouncing around like a kid.   Woo hoo - this was real.


In time it became more meditative creating a hormonal change (increased serotonin) which led to deeper daily calm and equanimity.


The third pillar - mindset is best described as the creation of a "practice".  Next time we will explore the difference between discipline and practice and why the latter is intrinsic to the "Way".


Looking Ahead

  • Upcoming Events:

    • Charter Camp 2027 will be held in Phoenix, AZ, February 5-7, 2027

    • Kali at Charter Camp:  This will be the third Winter Camp that we will hold the Kali regional training opportunity. The student list will be expanded and will be sent out prior to camp. I will be expecting to see a good turn out. I’m excited to say that testing and promotions will be coming around at camp.  

  • Summer Camp 2027:  Summer camp 2027 in Saginaw, Michigan 

Lodging will be provided by Montague Inn, a historic Mansion turned bed and breakfast. This beautiful location has 17 rooms, all with air conditioning, private bathroom and is located right on the riverfront. The whole mansion as well as the carriage House will only be for the IFMA for the weekend. There are several acres to enjoy outside as well.  Please see the location photos at their website. 


Within walking distance is the Japanese cultural center and Japanese garden as well as the Saginaw Children's Zoo.



More exciting details to come!


Thank you for enjoying the IFMA’s first Quarterly Newsletter.  It is my hope that it is informative and fun to read.  I would like to challenge all members to suggest things they would like to see, or offer items for inclusion.  Please reach out to me with your thoughts.

Hapki!


Master James


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