MARTIALFORCE.COM
PRESENTS
AN INTERVIEW WITH
MASTER RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN
JAN / 2011
“My training in the old days could certainly
be characterized as "hard core. "
My name is Eddie Morales and welcome to Martialforce.com Online Martial Arts Magazine. I would like to introduce Martialforce.com readers to Master Ramy Jerair Latchinan. Latchinan comes from a background of strong fighting. His technique and knowledge are high level and he has helped many to reach the same plateau. He maintains a strong mental posture when training and fighting but is a total gentlemen outside of the ring. His base is Tradition and he has views that he will share with you in regards to Kata, training, competition and fighting. When researching his background for this interview I was met with nothing but posititive thoughts and comments. He is a well respected teacher and Martial artist. We here at Martialforce.com are honored to bring you this interview and hope you enjoy reading it.
Interview by Eddie Morales
Martialforce.com
Online Magazine
Martialforce.com: Where were you born and what area did you grow up in?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: I was born in Germany. I lived there for 4 years before I moved to the Netherlands, then to Greece, then Egypt, then Miami Florida, then Switzerland for high school, then back to Maryland for college.
Martialforce.com: What is your current occupation?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: I am a director of an international real estate company as well as owning a Tae Kwon Do school.
Martialforce.com: When, where and with who did you begin your Martial Arts training?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: I started boxing at the age of 8. I took Judo briefly (2 years) when I was 14 and also started Kung Fu (full contact) at that age. When I was 17 I was asked to try out for the National Team of Egypt in Karate Do, which I did and won. So I did Shotokan for a while to prepare for the World Championships. Before I could attend we moved to the States where I converted to Tae Kwon Do.
Martialforce.com: What do you feel that the practice of Martial Arts has given you?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: The practice of Martial Arts has given me a lot in so many different aspects of my life. The most memorable things to me are taking people and being part of their upbringing and see them become successful adults or champions. Also the satisfaction of having trouble makers change and be better people in life. Additionally, having been a part of the National Team coaching staff for a while, the satisfaction of knowing that I contributed to the success of my country and having some of my players raise our flag on the podium at significant events such as the World Championships for Seniors as well as Juniors and on the University level.
Martialforce.com: Who has been your greatest influence in Martial Arts and throughout your life?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN:
This is a
hard question because I do not look at people for influence. I can easily
say that I fell in love with Martial Arts as a kid watching Bruce Lee. So I
guess without that influence and exposure I might not have started it in the
first place. Beyond that, I owe several people for sharing their experiences
and knowledge with me in my developmental stages and beyond, starting with
my first coach Master Khaled who gave me my whole basic training. Beyond
that, I think I developed my system myself. I have a very analytical and
scientific approach to everything I do. In Martial Arts as well as life in
general my one and only role model has and will always be my mother. No one
else has ever even come close.
Martialforce.com: Do you believe that the practice of Kata (Pre-arranged Movements) is useful and if so why?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN:
Every aspect
of Martial Arts is useful. This is a question that has been part of many
debates. I tell you honestly, as a fighter and a fight-oriented mentality,
it is hard to say yes to this question sometimes. But yes is the correct
answer. That is, provided the practitioner knows the actual meaning of the
movements and practices them properly. I am referring to the proper
application of the movements and not just blindly doing the moves like a
dance or a "pre-arranged routine". The Forms Poomsae or Kata or however you
wish to call them) have actual functional self defense applications
utilizing the pressure points and weaknesses of the human body. Throughout
time, and because people have not been learning it properly, the meanings
and application of these moves has been lost. So the Forms are not being
taught in their functional format. They are mostly being taught as blocks
and punches, when, in fact, they are not.
To simplify my answer, if you are taught the proper application of the
Forms, then yes.... if not, then no.
Martialforce.com: From your experience, what do you believe defines a good Martial Arts practitioner?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: There are 4 aspects to a martial artist and or athlete in my opinion:
1. Knowledge
2. Physical ability
3. Conditioning
4. Attitude and Character
It is the existence of all four at a high level that would define a good martial artist to me.
Photo by KICKPICS
1985 -86
Martialforce.com: Can you give our readers your definition of a good instructor?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: A good instructor is someone who has the essential information to convey to the practitioner at whatever level he/she is responsible to develop. I would say even more important he/she needs to be able to convey this information to his/her students of various ages, intelligence and talent level. A good instructor needs to care about his/her students and have the drive and determination to make them better than himself/herself. Additionally, the instructor needs to have high morals and an attitude that makes him/her an example to the students of how to live and be a better person.
Martialforce.com: What would you say is your greatest achievement to date?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN:
I have been
very fortunate to have great students throughout my career, and still do.
Some are athletes and champions, while others are martial artists and
instructors now, who just train for themselves. I have worked very hard and
earned so many prestigious awards that we do not have the time to discuss
all of them. All these are achievements that I cherish. However, my greatest
achievement is having been able to teach my son. Parents teaching their kids
takes a whole different dynamic and requires a whole new level of
interaction and patience. So as insignificant to others as this may seem, to
me it is so.
Martialforce.com: Do you have long-term plans in regards to Martial Arts?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: All the plans that I have ever made for Martial Arts, I have already accomplished. I have even retired... several times.... My players keep bringing me back though. I have players in the USA that are requesting me to teach them again, which I will soon. I have no plans to restart a whole school or team in the States at this time. But when my players commute to Egypt just to train with me, and they need my help so I will not abandon them. It is, however, just a few players. In the meantime, I have started a Tae Kwon Do school in Egypt due to a lot of pressure from people for me to do so, which I wish to make successful and strong enough to continue in my absence. I am therefore training some people to take it over. Beyond that I have no plans short or long range.
Martialforce.com: Were you or your students tournament competitors?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: Yes, some were very much so; others were very far from it. I have had both kinds of students. And I have had even a few that were both at the same time.
Martialforce.com: While there are advantages to tournament competition do you think there is a downside and if so, what?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: There is a positive and a negative to everything. While having probably one of the most successful competition teams in the country and one of the top programs in the world, I have to honestly say that having a team has more downside than upside for a school owner. It consumes a lot of time and energy. It drains the finances of the school. Dealing with a team requires dealing with a lot of drama, especially if there are younger athletes or teens. Dealing with a lot of champions often involves dealing with some egos that constantly need to be put in check or have attitude adjustments. I think from almost every aspect, it is not advisable to have a competition team. The only upside of it is in small individual moments. When you take someone who is just a kid and does not have any physical accomplishment and you help them accomplish a seemingly monumental task. It is the moment of happiness that is not describable in words, when someone wins a world championships or such caliber event, and you are standing next to them, knowing you helped them be there.
Martialforce.com: In regards to tournaments, do you recall the names of any of your teamates?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: In Kung Fu, we had a very large team. My other teammates who were champions were: Sayed Abdel Aziz, Mohsen Saad, Tamer Maher, Ahmed Kosheiri, Mahmmoud Rashdan and Tarek Elnabolsy.
I am sure there were others, but these are the most high profile on our
team.Sayed Abdelaziz was our team captain.
I apologize to my teammates if I forgot any of them... this was in the 80s.
In Karate Do, our team captain was Ms. Hoda Hidayah and another senior team member was Atef Abaza. I do not recall the rest of them as I was there for a very short time and didn't really get close to any one. My main team and training was still in Kung Fu.
Martialforce.com: At what age do you believe a child should start Martial Arts training?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: Every child is different. The general rule is when they can follow instructions and learn without frustration. Also when they enjoy it themselves. If it is not fun.... none of the benefits will be acquired as they will certainly not continue.
Martialforce.com: How was your training back in the early days? was it hardcore?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN:
Certainly
martial arts has had a lot of development and advancement. this applies to
all sports and not just martial arts. in any sport, you can clearly see
development and a distinct difference in every aspect of that sport:
training, nutrition, supplemental training or cross training, the condition
of the athletes, the equipment used in training, even in attire, rules of
the game and almost every single aspect....
The result is much stronger, faster, smarter, more prepared athletes and
martial artist. This fact applies to all sports... that is why records keep
getting broken.
My training in the old days could certainly be characterized as "hard core". We had 6 hour training sessions, we were beaten up out of principle to weed out the ones that can't make it as fighter. I was actually knocked out twice on my very first day. On my second day, I was asked why I am back as soon as I arrived. I was encouraged to "just go home" by several "friendly" students. We kicked trees with our feet and shins. We had no protective equipment. Not even a groin cup. We used to train outdoors (for the 6 hour segments) in 110 degree weather starting at noon! There was no regard for dehydration or anything else. Asking for water was considered "being soft".
Thinking back... I think I was crazy... I would never put my son in such conditions. However... the saying of what doesn't kill you makes you stronger", did apply! It certainly made me stronger. The technical aspect seems so primitive to me thinking back.
Martialforce.com: Have you won any championships contact or point system and was it rough and tumble?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: I have won many championships in full contact Kung Fu, in Karate Do, in Tae Kwon Do and in point fighting. I have always been a very competitive person. So yes, all the competitions were, in my mind rough and tumble, regardless of the level of my opponent or the importance and caliber of the event. My intensity was always the same.
Martialforce.com: You mentioned full contact kung fu, can you tell our readers what it is and more importantly describe the rules?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: kung fu is a very broad as hundreds of styles exist in it. each style being more or less an independent martial art. in Egypt, in the 80s, it existed only in the fighting forms. the idea of jeet kune do was the basis of it. competitions were held where all kung fu styles fought. kung fu has no belts or ranking system. the rules were very loosely applied, pretty much no groin, no eyes, no knee strikes or elbows. in my last year of competition, a couple of people died in the ring, so the government banned it altogether. a few years later a new federation was formed conforming to the rules of the current governing bodies that hold world championships.
Martialforce.com: Can you elaborate more in detail about your full contact kung fu training... describe a typical training sessions, techniques, sparring, conditioning?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: We practiced outdoors. Training depended on the day. Most of the time we started with warm ups , stretches and conditioning. This was followed by kicking drills (technical or just continuous kicking) or fighting drills. Then we fought. The fighting was hard core and was every day practice.
Martialforce.com: Who was your teacher in full contact Kung fu?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: My Kung Fu teacher was Khaled Saleh El Sherif.
Martialforce.com: What are you thoughts on MMA and its popularity as a result of the UFC?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: I believe MMA are one of the most effective forms of fighting. The Mixed Martial Arts athletes are in great shape and are all great fighters. Obviously to last in such atmosphere you have to be. As much as I love martial arts and have dedicated a large portion of my life to it, I can honestly say that I truly respect their skill and strength. however, I am not a fan of it at all. it is one of the few things that I do not enjoy to watch in martial arts.
I do not believe that martial arts are about violence. I am not a stranger to fighting nor full contact. I do believe, however, that there is a place for sportsmanship in our arts. I do not like to speak ill of anything, so I will just say that I would not want my kids to look at any of them as examples in life. there is too much unnecessary aggression and primitive (for lack of a better word) behavior.
keeping an open mind, I watched a few fights in the past... in some of them,
a person on the floor was getting their face bashed in and was completely
covered in blood. he then reverses the position later in the match and still
dripping blood on his opponent, starts to bash him. it was just all too
"bloody" for me. I do not comprehend how people can view this as
"entertainment". it is not a movie or make believe... this is an actual
human being getting broken, pretty much in front of our eyes. as a personal
taste for me, I do not like it.
Martialforce.com: What rank/s do you currently hold?
RAMY JERAIR LATCHINIAN: In Tae kwon do, I am a 5th dan. In karate do I hold a 1st dan (sho dan). I have to add that this rank was an honorary rank given to me when I earned a spot on the national team and I was not tested for it. I did, however train in that style.
In kung fu, there are no belts. I was the national champion of Egypt for 3
years.
Martialforce.com: Thank you for this interview Master Latchinian.
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