MARTIAL ARTS and ME (p. 10) Professor Carlos Damasco
Interview with SBN Mario Da Silva In 2016 in Minas, Department of Lavalleja, I met Sabon Nin Mario Da Silva, fourth Dan of Hapkido. From 2017 I started practicing with him. And today I approach his person to walk his path through Martial Arts, and mainly through Hapkido. MARIO, TELL ME YOUR BEGINNINGS IN THE MARTIAL ART. Well Carlos, I'll tell you that my practice dates back to the 80's in Taekwondo at the hands of Master Lee, graduating with him as a green belt, later I continued practicing with Master Gadea also of Taekwondo. But my interest was always above all Self Defense, the discipline of Taekwondo not fulfilling my expectations. So I focused on the Art of Sipalkido, very focused on self-defense. Over the years I graduated as a Black Belt, I taught for a long time and by chance I met Master Daniel Rolla of Hapkido, and he caught me with his knowledge and techniques from the first moment. I became his student and from there my
History in Hapkido begins, something complete and effective for me. I spent years traveling to Argentina to practice with the Master, and to graduate with him. Today I have been teaching at the Lutheran Center for 20 years, I am the Director of the Uruguayan Hapkido Center, which has Legal Status. Currently, I supervise 7 Black Belts, and hundreds of students have passed through my teaching sites. I have been a Police Instructor since 2006, in the Metropolitan Guard, I am also a Teacher in the Police Education Division. For 2 years, I have been in charge of the Teaching and Instruction of the Security Guard of the Ministry of the Interior. Currently, I am still a Teacher and Instructor of the Republican Guard Hapkido adapts very well to the Police function, to control and transfer a detainee in a correct Legal Framework, despite the fact that Hapkido has all kinds of kicks and punches, especially in police work, for my point of view sight is the Art that is best suited to that function. I also teach the use of the Police Rod. Currently 60 years old, and more than 40 in Martial Arts, I can say that I feel great
satisfaction in my work as a Teacher, Instructor and trainer of better people. Since Hapkido is not just an art of fighting, it has its spiritual part for mental development, and improve our day to day. MARIO, I ask you, since I've known you, you've been a Fourth Dan, what is the reason for the delay in the graduation of more Danes?
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