The Vadha Federation Issue III 5/99
P.O. Box 190

Floral City, FL 34436

The Federation continues to receive a steady flow of inquiries.  Martial art enthusiasts from throughout the United States, Canada, and even South America, have contacted The Federation with questions about Vadha and to request a listing of authorized instructors.

FROM "THE VADHA CODE"

An excerpt from chapter four of THE VADHA CODE:

"From time to time, THE VADHA FEDERATION may send a representative to review a particular Vadha school.  A review should not be considered an investigation to find fault or prove incompetence.  Rather, a review may be called for a variety of reasons.  A representative may be sent by the Mayha Master simply because a school and it's instructor have gained a reputation of excellence amongst THE FEDERATION members.  Such a review might be a prelude to a special award bestowed by the Mayha Master.  And a review may be scheduled as well, if a school and/or it's instructor has gained a negative reputation amongst THE FEDERATION members.  This form of review will, no doubt, be rare."

THE FEDERATION BOARD

The three permanent members are Mayha Master Jack McCrave, Sixth Degree Master Jack McCrave (Jr), and Fifth Degree Master Michael Wyka.  The four temporary members are Second Degree Masters Vincent McCrave and Chris Fedele, and First Degree Masters Brian Wyka and Michael Manning.

The board is described in the Vadha Federation's Constitution (chapter 5, VADHA CODE): 

"The Mayha (Maha) Master, Jack McCrave, acting as final authority, and the two next highest ranked Masters in any given term, determined first by rank then seniority in that rank, shall constitute the first three members of the Board.  This number, three, symbolizes our goal of achieving Sumadhi - the unity of the body, the mind, and the spirit.

The Mayha (Maha) Master, Jack McCrave, shall appoint four additional Board members from The Vadha Federation ranks.  In any given term, a recognized practitioner may be recommended for appointment to the Board by a Vadha Master...."

If you have any newsworthy items you'd like to see included in the next newsletter, feel free to send them to the Federation.  If you'd like an item returned, please include a SASE.

"NEW VADHA" - AN OXYMORON

A new term has been heard here and there lately - "new Vadha."

If you, as a student, begin hearing "new Vadha" from your instructor or his assistants, Be Alert, Listen Carefully.  If you have any doubts check with The Federation to see if your instructor is accredited to teach.

If an instructor claims his art is the "new Vadha", the first question you should ask is, "Well what was wrong with the old Vadha?"

"New Vadha" is an oxymoron - a contradiction.  Vadha is Vadha, pure and simple.  There is no "new" or "old" or "improved".  Anything else, is simply not Vadha.

Those who have experienced Vadha in action know that, "Nothing is wrong with Vadha."  If you have been fortunate enough to see the Mayha Master or one of his top instructors sparring & demonstrating, you know just how potent Vadha is as a martial art.

The old adage applies here, "if it aint broke, don't fix it."

Instead, wht is usually the case when an instructor distances himself from pure Vadha is that he simply can not grasp it's system of arcs, he can not excel at it's system of parries and attack patterns, it's basic principles elude him, and Punap, especially Punap, is something he just can not grasp.

And since he can not teach you pure Vadha, he justifies the mishmosh he is teaching by calling it "new Vadha" or the "improved Vadha" or some other nonsense.

In short, if you want to excel at Vadha, go to the roots.  It is a paramount shame of our style that, unlike many arts with their paper grandmasters, Vadha has a TRUE grandmaster, alive and well, and yet few of his students seek him out.

In a very real sense, one could say that Vadha has two grandmasters because the Mayha Master has passed ALL of his knowledge and expertise on to his eldest son, who is always approachable to those with a true desire to learn.

Yet how many Vadha students have sought him out?  How many instructors have been receptive to his teaching?

These two men carry with them the teaching and legacy of the ancient Vadha masters.  The ancient Mayha Masters passed their knowledge of Vadha & Punap from master to student.  In this way, Omah Kellie learned the art.  In this way, he passed it on to Jack McCrave.  And in this way, Jack McCrave has taught his son.

If you have a chance to learn from the Mayha Master or his son, take advantage of it.  Keep your mind open.  Be receptive to his teaching.  Where your method differs from his, be strong enough to change.  Your Vadha will improve because it will come from the source.

THE VADHA CODE

For a copy of the Vadha Code - 2nd Edition, just write to The Vadha Federation's acting Secretary, Master Michael Wyka, at the above address & include $10 to cover the Code's cost and shipping.  Master Wyka is publishing the Code at his own expense, so please make any checks out to him personally.

REGISTRATION

Registration with The Vadha Federation is required of all Vadha Instructors and Assistant Instructors of Grade Seven or above.  Consult the Vadha Code for information regarding registration and other requirements.