• In December, I surprised my sister by coming home for Christmas. While in Burlington, Ontario, Canada I had the privilege to train with Alica at the local TapouT MMA gym, Tapoutburlington.com. This is the second of four workouts we had together. On this day we did some strength and conditioning, then we worked on a lot of sparing techniques, and had some fun with Jiu Jitsu. We also did loads of strength & conditioning with a lot of emphasis on core strength. Check out the video below.
• I love my sister, and I’m very proud of her. She is an accomplished artist, and has her own company offering Landscape Design & Horticulture services, you can find her website DusilDesign.com, here. I love you, Ali 🙂
• Martial Arts
If you missed my Martial Arts posts, please click on them here:
• These workouts are straight from the training sessions of Karel Ferus, who runs his own fitness club in Prague. Details can be found at fffc.cz. If you live in Prague, or plan to visit sometime in the future, feel free to come and train with us. If you are interested in strength & conditioning, improving your core strength and cardio, or just want to learn some self defense, then come by for a lesson. For more details feel free to leave me a comment below.
• Last month I surprised my sister by coming home for Christmas. While in Burlington, Ontario, Canada I had the privilege to train with Alica at the local TapouT MMA gym, Tapoutburlington.com. This is the first of four workouts we had together. On this day we did some strength & conditioning, then we worked on kickboxing footwork, kicking techniques, and the hook punches. Check out the video below.
• I love my sister, and I’m very proud of her. She is an accomplished artist, and has her own company offering Landscape Design & Horticulture services, you can find her website DusilDesign.com here. I love you, Ali 🙂
• Martial Arts
If you missed my Martial Arts posts, please click on them here:
• These workouts are straight from the training sessions of Karel Ferus, who runs his own fitness club in Prague. Details can be found at fffc.cz or https://www.facebook.com/www.ferus.cz. If you live in Prague, or plan to visit sometime in the future, feel free to come and train with us. If you are interested in strength & conditioning, core strength, improving your cardio, or just want to learn some self defense, then come by. For more details then feel free to leave me a comment below.
In the video below you’ll find an advanced core strength drill called the “Dragon Flag”. This exercise was originally popularized by Bruce Lee. It uses muscles from the entire torso, but mainly the core muscles in the lower back and abdominals are working. At Ferus Fitness Fight Club we train a lot on core strength, although no muscles are left behind – we run circuit training drills covering most muscle groups – from the head down to your feet. There is also plenty of cardio training (so bring lots of water, so that you stay hydrated!). For those interested in sparing, there is plenty of that as well.
• 1 minute 45 seconds
Our training philosophy is to leave your ego at the door. Our main goal is to stay healthy, strong, and in-shape. There is no room for tough guys at this gym. We’re all about learning from each other, building confidence, and having a strong balance between the mind and body. The training team currently consists of men and women ranging in ages from 16 up to 46 years old. But all ages are welcome. If you’re interested,then training schedule can be found here. Private lessons outside of these hours are also available upon request. Our trainer, Karel Ferus and I have over 40 years of combined martial arts experience. So we bring a wealth of knowledge to the students. For those that want to learn Karate, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, or just self defense basics, there is something for everyone. It’s also about learning from each other, no matter what level you’re at – everyone has something to contribute.
Pricing for sessions at the Prague training facility are very reasonable. More details can be found at fffc.cz, or feel free to contact me by leaving a comment below. If you need martial arts equipment, then Karel Ferus has negotiated discounts at the leading martial arts stores in Prague, so we’ve got that covered.
For those interested in something more intense, there is also a full day training camp every three to four months in Žabonosy, Czech Republic – about a one hour drive outside of Prague. Training varies at the camp but normally there are 3 two hour sessions. Lunch and dinner is included in the camp fee.
I would like to dedicate this blog post to my cousin, Richard Kende, who is a black belt in Judo and Jiu Jitsu. He was also a champion judoka in Czechoslovakia throughout the 1980’s. I love him like a brother, and I respect him as an athlete, friend, and entrepreneur. If you’re ever in Sydney, Australia, then take a trip up to The Entrance and stay at the Jetty Motel, which he owns with his wife Martina. The accommodations are awesome, and they consistently get great reviews on TripAdvisor.com. If you want to relax, then Richard is also a professional masseuse! Alternatively, if you’re looking for something more unique, you may be able to convince him to teach you a few martial arts secrets 🙂
• Postscript
For readers snickering at the Dragon Flag as a relatively easy stunt, keep in mind that Bruce Lee did this exercise when he was 135lbs (61kg), and in his early 30’s. Now try it when you’re 200lbs (91kg), and 46 years old 😉
You’re As Young As You Feel
• Martial Arts
If you missed my Martial Arts posts, please click on them here:
Here is my latest mini-project – A 2015 calendar with old family photos. I set out to test my Adobe InDesign skills, and this is the end result. The calendar has a selection of photos that will be released on my blog over the next twelve months. I hope you like it. You can download the calendar in a high resolution pdf here, or click on the image below. The file is 174MB, so expect a fairly long download time, depending on your internet bandwidth.
• Introduction by Eva Dusil • Editing by Gabriel Dusil • 2014 October
• Four years after we emigrated, we bought our own veterinary clinic. It was a big achievement considering we didn’t even know a word of English when we first arrived in Canada. Vašek loved veterinary medicine, and was an excellent surgeon. He was very much liked by our clients.
• Vašek was also a very good handyman – constantly busy building and improving things around the house. He enjoyed travelling, and seeing the world. Even with our tight finances it was important for Vašek to see the world. He would say,”They can take your ‘things’, but they can’t take what you have experienced”. The comment partly came from his deep seated resentment of the communist regime, which confiscated all private property in 1948.
• Vašek also found a lot of fulfillment from sports. He enjoyed competing and teaching judo. He played soccer regularly with his Czech and Slovak friends, and hockey throughout the 70’s with his fellow veterinarians. He was competitive and ambitious, but would never boast about his success. The happiest moment in his life was when you and your sister were born.
• Taci
If you missed the other Taci posts, you can link to them here:
• Pepo was one of my dad’s best friends. He was like an uncle to me, and his son Tommy is like my brother. To this day I will never forget the time that Pepo was over during one of our family parties. I was around eleven years old. Pepo was an awesome chef, starting Pepo’s Bistro in the 80’s with his wife, Vlasta. On one visit to our house he made the the most amazing lamb chops. I distinctly remember him pouring beer in the frying pan over and over again. I watched his passion for cooking, as he made our dinner. To this day nothing has come close to those lamb chops.
• 2 minutes 55 seconds
67 – Košice · Pepo Vosecky, Eva Kendeova, Vaclav Dusil
• 6 minutes 38 seconds
67.Feb – Košice · Vaclav Dusil (Graduation Ceremony from Veterinary Medicine)67.Feb – Košice · Vaclav Dusil (Graduation Certificate for Veterinary Medicine)
• Postscript from my Mom • 2014 October • Your father was the only one in his class to finish with honors, which meant that he received a red diploma. It was quite an achievement. By the time he graduated, his two brothers had also graduated with honors, so it was very important for him. There was a lot of competition between the brothers.
• 4 minutes 4 seconds
67.Feb – Košice · Vaclav Dusil (Graduation photo from Veterinary Medicine, sako)67.Feb – Košice · Vaclav Dusil (Graduation photo from Veterinary Medicine)
67.Apr.9 – Košice · Document, Vaclav Dusil (Veterinary Medicine, invitation)
• Postscript from my Mom • 2014 October • This is Taci’s announcement of his graduation as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (MVDr.). This was a good example of his modesty, because he doesn’t even mention in the invitation that he graduated with honors (i.e. designated by the red diploma shown below).
68 – Košice · Vaclav Dusil with the Chairman of Internal Medicine, University of Košice
• Tags
Andrej Collak, Anna Collakova, Attila Kende, Csaba Kende, Darina Poprenakova, Digital Restoration, Dusil Family, dusil.com, Edo Novak, Erika Dusil, Eva Dusil, Gabriel Dusil, Ivan Spisak, Iveta Kende, Juraj Bialko, Karol Dusil, Kende Family, Ladislav Kende, Maria Collakova-Korytkova, Maria Dusilova, Michal Jr, Michal Korytko, Nyarjas, Orendas, Pepo Vesecky, Robert Dusil, Robert Dusil sr., Slavo Sykorsky, Stefan Kende, Vaclav Dusil, Valeria Kendeova, Vera Kendeova
• In my last visit home, to Burlington, Ontario, Canada, I decided to digitally scan a selection of old family photos. My wish is that one day, my boys and their offspring will have a high quality digital library of their family heritage. This is part of an ongoing pursuit to establish an archive of our family history, and build on the depth of work that my Mom has done with our family genealogy. My wish is that generations that follow us, will enjoy the the efforts that we made in the preservation of their family history. I hope to scan more photos on my next visit. So this is just a start.
• Each month I plan to post a selection of new photos that have been restored. I also wanted to record the restoration process, so that you can see the tedious process needed to achieve a near perfect restoration. I suggest viewing the videos in high definition and in full screen (both options can be selected, using the bottom right icons in the YouTube player). Enjoy.
♥HappyBirthday ♥Mamička♥
I love you,
Mamička
If you missed the other posts on Mamička, you can link to them here:
• All photos in this blog can be downloaded by just clicking on them – the images will open in a new tab in your browser, where you can then right click on them and save the file to your computer. If you want an even higher quality version (to print, for example) then let me know, as I have the original uncompressed Tiffs.
• If you have anecdotal information related to any photos in this blog, then please send me the details, and I would be happy to add your postscript below the photos. Just send me an email or post your comments at the end of this blog.
• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • This photo was taken in Keszthely, Hungary in 1961, I was 16 years old. My Mom and I were at my grandmothers, where we visited every second year.
• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • On my right is my brother, Attila in military uniform, 23 years old, I’m 16 years old, and my other brother, Csaba (28 years old) is on my left, photographed at my parents apartment, Krmanova 3, Kosice, Slovakia.
• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • This photo was taken in Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia, where there was a horseback jumping competition. On this occasion I was attending as a spectator, although my club was taking part in it. • Since my mother was born there, I used the opportunity to visit the villa she grew up in, where I spent a happy childhood. Beside the villa was the Haltenberger Textile factory that her grandparents owned in the 1920’s. This textile factory eventually was abandoned and in bad shape, and the business was sold by mother’s uncle Rudolf Haltenberger Jr., to Budapest around 1921-1922. • In this photo I am 19 years old. I am wearing a top which was very fashionable at that time.
• Postscript from me • 2014 September • I love this photo so much. It’s currently my favorite photo of my Mom, from before we emigrated. She is so beautiful… and still is!
• 1964 March 8 • Košice, Slovakia • International Woman’s Day • Eva & Valeria Kendeova
• 4 minutes 45 seconds
64.Mar.8 – Kosice · Eva & Valeria Kendeova (Woman’s Day)
• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • Here I am about 18 years old. My mother and I were attending an International Women’s Day celebration at my Mom’s workplace.
• Postscript from me • 2014 September • It’s rare to find a photo of my grandmother where she is smiling. I think this is the best one I found so far. I really love the emotion in this photo. You can see the happiness in her eyes, and how my mom is also enjoying the moment.
65.July – Keszthely · Eva Kendeova (Jumping with Furioso horse)
• Postscript from Eva Dusil • September 2014 • In this photo I am 20 years young. My Mom and I were visiting my grandmother in Keszthely, Hungary, during the summer holidays. Every time we visited, I would ride at the local stud farm. Here I am jumping the trainer’s stud. He was a really powerful horse, and a beautiful animal, from the Furioso breed. They liked when I visited, and eventually I took part in a competition for them. Later on I represented them at a horse pageant, at a different location.
• Postscript from me • September 2014 • We often hear our parents say that they did ‘this and that’, when they were young. As kids we don’t know the true extent of their accomplishments until we are old enough to appreciate them. Memories may fade with time, but these photos will (hopefully) last forever. My mom was an accomplished horseback rider. This is a great photograph of her in action.
• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • This photo is from a ski expedition we had in the Tatra mountains, organized by my university. I was in my first year of veterinary college.
• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • Here I am 21 years old, at an equestrian competition in Poprad, Slovakia. I was representing my university’s equestrian club with my Arabian stud horse named Shagya. This was my last competition I took part in, because Taci did not like me pursuing a sport that was mostly in the company of men. Because of my love for him, I gave up the sport • Times have changed… Today the sport is mostly pursued by women. In a way, you can say that I was ahead of my time. By studying veterinary medicine, this was also considered a male’s profession, at that time.
• 1967 December 25 • Košice, Slovakia • Engagement Party • Dusil Brothers & Spouses
• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • This photo was taken at Taci’s and my engagement in my parents apartment in Kosice.
• Postscript from me • 2014 September • What my dad was about to do with his cup… I think I inherited some of that blood. • Standing, along the top row (left to right): Robert, Vaclav & Karol Dusil, sitting down are Zuzana Dusil, Eva Kendeova (not yet married), and Erika Dusil
67.Dec.25 – Kosice · Dusil & Kende family (Engagement party)67.Dec.25 – Kosice · Dusil & Kende family (Engagement)
• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • Interesting, that on the left hangs the painting of “The Old Man” that burned in the fire years later. I have since painted it myself. It hangs now in the hallway near the kitchen. My mother loved this painting and once when I visited, my Mom wanted to give it to me. I refused to take it, because said told me on a previous visit that as long as she lived she is not giving it away. I told my Mom to live for a long time, and enjoy the painting.
• Postscript from me • 2014 September • A rare photo with so many Kende and Dusil family members in one photo. It was great to restore this one. I love the odd composition of the photo, by capturing “The Old Man” painting so perfectly. • Standing, along the top row (left to right): Robert Dusil, Csaba Kende, Erika Dusil, Karol Dusil, Eva Dusil, Vaclav Dusil, Anka Kendeova, Ladislav Kende, Attila Kende • Along the bottom row (left to right): Zuzana Dusil, Vera Kendeova, Stefan Kende, Valeria Kendeova, Robert Dusil sr.
• Tags
Andrej Collak, Anna Collakova, Attila Kende, Csaba Kende, Darina Poprenakova, Digital Restoration, Dusil Family, dusil.com, Edo Novak, Erika Dusil, Eva Dusil, Gabriel Dusil, Ivan Spisak, Iveta Kende, Juraj Bialko, Karol Dusil, Kende Family, Ladislav Kende, Maria Collakova-Korytkova, Maria Dusilova, Michal Jr, Michal Korytko, Nyarjas, Orendas, Pepo Vesecky, Robert Dusil, Robert Dusil sr., Slavo Sykorsky, Stefan Kende, Vaclav Dusil, Valeria Kendeova, Vera Kendeova
• It was awesome to train beside my sister, and teach her a few things that I have learned over the years. Here is a video diary from our training sessions across five days. I can’t wait until we train together again! Love you, Ali 🙂
• I’d like to give a shout–out to my trainer in Prague,Karel Ferus. If you live here, or are visiting Prague sometime in the future, feel free to come by and train with us. If you are interested in strength and conditioning, cardio training, or want to learn how to fight, then come by. If you want to train with us, then feel free to leave me a comment below, or visit these sites for more information:
Gabriel Dusil • Time Is Relentless 