Hali Serrian Spotlight
JUSTIN: For those who may not yet know you, can you introduce yourself and provide a brief overview of who you are?
HALI: In general, I am a teacher. This varies between martial arts and language arts (English and German), but I teach others for much of my time.
I first started training in Yoshukai karate in January 2013 and in Kyuki-do (a Korean-American hybrid style) in September of the same year. In 2017, I took over instructorship from my Sensei when he moved away from the state.
In 2023, I had the privilege of traveling to Japan and Okinawa, to train a bit with some folks there.
Are there specific philosophies or principles that drive your journey as a martial artist?
My principles and philosophies have, of course, shifted over time. When I began, my philosophy was to be one of the best performers, ability-wise, in my school and area (I lived for the praise).
As I progressed, it became to know everything there was to know (I had all the terminology on lock).
Now, my philosophy is something like, "Talk to people. Collect what they know. Decide how you want to use it".
What do you feel is the key to balancing competition and maintaining a spirit of sportsmanship?
This will sound very karate-ey, but the key really is courtesy. Politeness, if you will. If you spar someone and are keeping courtesy in mind (even if you beat them handily), you won't come off as haughty, and they'll generally sense it. If you come with a spirit of play and joy, that's also palpable.
If, when you lose, you show genuine acceptance of (if not excitement for) the winner, you'll be in a better place and be more prepared for the next event, rather than getting bent out of shape.
It's easy to forget most of us are doing this as a fun side activity rather than our monetary careers. Remembering everyone has work on Monday and no one wants to get hurt or to hurt anyone else is a fine way to keep your priorities in check.
From your perspective, what trends do you see in the world of martial arts today, and what trends do you think will happen in the future?
In general, there seems to be a fluctuating trend of mixed martial arts as opposed to specific martial arts. What I mean by this is hybrid styles vs ones that have a "focus". Tae kwon do is generally known for its fast kicks and impressive athleticism. Kyokushin is known for its body conditioned fighting. Or even boxing, known for its handwork and evasion.
But then you get into MMA, where multiple styles are legal and potentially encouraged. You get hybrid styles like Kyuki-do, whose focus is incorporating aspects of various styles that it finds useful or interesting.
I think that the trend will be for martial arts to ebb and flow which of these types of styles is more or less popular. I do think that more styles will trend to multi-martial arts, but I also think there will be plenty of specialists who remain.
How has your perception of martial arts evolved since you first started practicing?
It doesn't sound very good, but it's lost a lot of its mystery, and, therefore, the idea that it's something particularly special or impressive. This is not to say that I don't love it and would stop practicing. But I don't look at a highly skilled martial arts practitioner any more highly than a passionate painter or a well-studied theologian.
We all pick our hobbies, pursue our interests, and hone our chosen skills. Once you're to the higher levels of any practice, they are all equally impressive, whether or not you can kick someone in the head or make jokes about registering your hands as deadly weapons.
Community appreciation and collaboration play a crucial role in the strength of Cup of Kick. Can you highlight individuals who have significantly contributed to your martial arts journey? In other words, who would you like to publicly acknowledge for their support and influence?
Erik Hofmeister, my first Sensei; Ken Blumreich, my first Sabumnim; Nicole Hamilton, my first student; Timothy Pierce-Tomlin, my most passionate student.
How can readers keep up with you or get in touch with you?
You're welcome to look for me at AKF Athens Martial Arts if you're in town. Otherwise, ask Justin and, if he gives you the OK, he can pass along my email. ;)
What's the name and address of your school? If you don't teach at a school, you can list your general location.
Athens, GA (most frequently teaching at AKF Athens Martial Arts)
