Message in a Bottle/ Frank Dux

As part of the Legends and Legacies series, Frank Dux answered two unscripted questions from two fans (who he had never met). Here are his responses:

Message in a Bottle/Grandmaster Rick Kingi

During a recent event at the Anaheim Convention Center, in Orange County California, Kajukenbo Grandmaster Rick Kingi took a moment to comment on the "most important lesson" that he could send, if he only had a few seconds to deliver it. Here it is:

Grow Your Own--Red Korean Ginseng Plants

There are a number of claims to the benefits of drinking ginseng tea (made from the root, stems and leaves) or for other applications and uses--everything from stimulating the libido to enhancing longevity. In the following article I will show you how I am growing Red Korean Ginseng plants from the seeds that I harvested. My wife received a mature (ten year old) plant from a Shaolin Kung Fu Master (who wishes to remain nameless) and when it seeded, she asked me to harvest the tiny black seeds. These seeds are encased inside tiny pods that grow along the thin stems along with the flowers. It takes about two years (we were told) for a plant to start producing its own seeds.
Each tiny black seed (about the size of a grain of sand) has the potential for growing into a mature, seed producing Red Korean Ginseng Plant. Once established, these plants are hearty and yield thousands of seeds each year. If you don’t want to have them spread throughout your garden, it is recommended that you keep them in a pot with enough room for the prized roots to reach down into the soil (at least 10 inches). Your mature plant will be ready to harvest in about two years, which will include a 5 inch or longer root that looks like a (male) human, with arms, legs, and head and gender organ. The whole plant (pretty pink flowers, seeds, stems, leaves and root) are edible for tea, food seasoning etc. and the plant is fun to grow and beautiful to watch develop.
Here is a video of plants that were grown from seeds within the past two months.



Directions for germinating Korean Ginseng Seeds:

1. Take several seeds and place them “just below the surface” of some fine potting soil. If you use a larger pot, you can plant two or more “piles” of seed in one container. You can transplant each seedling into a smaller pot at a later time (see specifics below) or space them in a large pot. Depending on how many seeds you start with, it is possible you may have to thin the bunch to only one to three plants in a single pot, or transplant the plants to individual pots, later. You decide how many plants you want to grow/keep.

2. Make sure that you germinate the seeds in a protected area (a window box or greenhouse is ideal) so that you don’t accidentally grow other species of plants and get them confused with your ginseng seedlings. If there are seeds and pollens falling all around, then you will complicate the germination process.

3. The germinating pot should be at least one gallon, so that the seeds don’t “cook” in the sun. You can transplant the seeds safely after the tiny seedlings have two levels of leaves on them. They will be about one inch high at this time.

4. USE A SPRAY BOTTLE to keep the soil moist turning the germination process. This is the hardest part. You don’t want to wash away your seeds or bury them so deeply that they cannot sprout. In about two weeks you should see tiny broadleaf plants (all the same, in the exact places where you put your seeds).

5. When seedlings appear, you can thin out the patch, keeping only the healthiest looking plants and/or transplant each (or a few each) into larger pots with enough spacing that the roots can have room to spread.

You will know that you have ginseng plants growing because they are very sun-sensitive. They “track” the sun during the day and close up (as if sleeping) at night. If you see “different” behaviors from some of your seedlings, they are probably NOT ginseng.
Here is an update of the seedlings you saw above (six months later):


If you are interested in reading more about the benefits and claims pertaining to Red Korean Ginseng, CLICK HERE.

Mark Gerry Celebrity Roast and Syd Campbell Memorial Open

Thanks to the World Martial Arts Masters, The Golden State Karate Association and Tiger Claw, Barbara and I were granted VIP access to the Master Mark Gerry Celebrity Roast on June 17th, 2011. As you might suspect, it was as much a party as it was entertainment for the five hundred or so in attendance. Though, I have to say, the entertainment supplied by The USA International Team and Ernie Reyes’ Youth Performers (with a special performance by Ernie Reyes, Sr.) were definitely highlights of the evening, it was great to see the star-studded dais get together for this delightful tribute. Panel members included Cynthia Rothrock, Eric Lee, James Lew, Art Camacho, Ernie Reyes, Frank Dux, Harry Mok, Sonny Sison and Nicole Gerry (Mark’s daughter and Miss California Model of the Year). Comedian jeff Applebaum warmed up the crowd with an excellent set.
Most of the celebrities put some thought and effort into the roasting and the audience was treated to a video introduction for each of the dais members in attendance, as well. However, Team International and the Ernie Reyes performers were awe-inspiring. I wondered how the great stunt and competition champions who were on stage felt about the performances, which were as technically good as any martial arts demonstrations that I’ve ever seen. In the “olden days” when I participated in competitions (or when the on stage stars were performing) some of the things that were being routinely done by these kids were merely fantasy! “Great job,” to all the performers (especially Ernie Reyes, who is still participating with the kids at age 60).

I did not have a chance to speak with any of the celebrity roasters afterward, but the two standing ovations spoke volumes about the level of appreciation by all. The show lasted a little longer than expected, but I did get a chance to accept my Legends of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame Award from Cynthia Rothrock and Eric Kovaleski, for both the Journalism and Book of the Year categories after the event.

Cynthia Rothrock and Eric Kovaleski were kind enough to peel themselves away from the after show flash of cameras to hand me my award that Eric had taken the trouble to carry from Pennsylvania to California for the Gerry Roast and the Syd Campbell Memorial Martial Arts Open Tournament that took place the next day, June 18th. I was humbled that Master Kovaleski wanted to personally hand me this plaque during a weekend of festivities that was really meant to honor a living legend (Mark Gerry) and one who has just passed (Syd Campbell). Thanks again for allowing Barbara and I to attend the show.

The Role of a Good Teacher

In the near future, this subject will be considered within many of my projects. I was forwarded this today and decided to post it for the rest of you to stimulate comments. At this point, I am not taking sides on the efficacy of this technique, but I will point out that Carlos Castaneda's informant/character, Juan Matus was the epitome of this type of "master teacher."