inventor

In our ryu we adhere to ten basic tenents of a kuhn. The tenth one states "I can not be hit and I can not hit." We do not train to be hit, we train to not be hit. We do train on the makiwara to develop proper positioning and technique.

I don't hide it, I don't display it. I am a martial artist. I practice where and when I want. I am honest in my desire to practice and give no thought to what others may think.

Learning technique is the easy part. In my time I've seen many masters of technique. The real mark of a martial artist; is genuine discipline and humility which seems to prove evasive for the majority of practitioners.

I know you don't want how long from rank to rank but I think time is important. I train seven days a week, study all aspects of the martial arts, teach several classes a week, and live my life as a martial artist adhering to all aspects of the DO. My time in grade from Nanadan to Hachidan was twenty-three years.

Our dojo has been operating continuously for 33 years. We have never conducted formal testing. Our students are observed every moment they are in the dojo. They are promoted when a consensus of black belts recommend them. The appropriate belt is awarded at no cost. Most schools, that have formal testing, do so to charge for the service and charge for the promotion. In our dojo rank is awarded, because it is earned, at no cost to the student.

To search for something, means you haven't found it.

To be a martial artist you must dedicate yourself to your art. I don't push any of my students. I teach the art and instill in them the desire to excel. Karate is not a group activity, it is a very personal pursuit of wisdom. If you must push a student; what will they do in your absence?

Displayed in my dojo are all of my certificates including Green belt, Brown belt, Black 1 through black 8, shibucho, soshibucho, karate master, karate teacher, shihan, and chief karate teacher. They are displayed to honor my teacher, an Okinawan Grandmaster who signed each of them. They are not displayed in my home; as I choose not to bring attention to myself.

I attended my first karate class at age 36. The style was Shorin-Ryu. I am now 74 and still with the same Shorin-Ryu group. I train 7 days a week. I have had students join my dojo at age 72 and 68. Had a new student join the dojo 6 months ago at age 50. GO FOR IT!

In the 1920's an Okinawan arrived in Japan and modified Shorin-Ryu to make it more modern. This action was taken to satisfy the needs of the Japanese. This watering down of a true style is considered a sell out on Okinawa.

How many practitioners of a traditional martial art, understand the art well enough to contemplate modifying it?

If any individual speaks during one of our 90 minute classes, the entire class does push ups. Every student is aware of this rule and avoids being the reason their class mates do extra exercises.

When you join our dojo, you start as a white belt, period. I have had many black belts walk away once they knew our rules. But the good ones stayed. I had a legitimate sixth dan start over as a white belt. If you don't know our system, how can you teach our system?

One of my students, now deceased, joined the dojo at age 72. He was a member of the Presidents council on physical fitness, and a popular TV show did a segment on his life. He remained my student for the rest of his life. He once told me why he stayed with me. "Sensei, you always treated just like any other student." I am now 74 years old. I have practiced karate, continuously, for 38 years. I train seven days a week. I honestly do not recognize any diminishing of my martial arts capability. My teacher is 88, he visited the USA three years ago and during training sessions he lead the exercises, including knuckle push ups. YOU IS WHAT YOU IS!

ifferent Shorin-Ryu organizations do the belt ranks differently and then some dojos will add belt ranks in between either to keep younger students engaged (as is the case with my dojo--the adults only have the standard Shorinkan ranks) or to make more money. I don't agree with your assessment of Shorin-Ryu being "heavyweight karate" simply because it does not strike me as being a style that is reliant on power, weight or reach. Shorin-Ryu is all about speed and movement, at least how my instructor teaches it, which is something that can be developed by just about any body type. I happen to be tall and have a long reach, but my instructor is quite a bit shorter than me and we have quite a few "average-sized" people in the dojo who are quite good. In addition, Chibana Sensei (founder of Shorin-Ryu) was quite small, as I've been made to understand it. I do agree, however, that it is a well rounded, practical art that teaches good self defense. If you want your classes to be more intense or include more sparring then you should talk to your instructor--my dojo has a separate sparring class, but the regular classes are plenty intense. Chibana sensei was the founder of Shorin-Ryu. I have practiced and studied Shorin-Ryu, continuously, for 38 years. I have never heard or read of this claim before. This must be something propagated by your organization.

I have owned and operated a karate dojo for over thirty years. I have never had a discipline problem. I have never raised my voice or punished any student in any manner. When a new student joins a class the existing students are very disciplined, they stand at attention without moving or talking. The new person senses that this conduct is the norm and immediately adapts. I have taught students whose dues were paid by various state agencies and in each case was told that the person was very unruly. In every case they immediately adapted to the protocol of our dojo. If I ever had a student, that did not adapt, I would ask them to not return.

I do 26 kata and 3 sets of ippon kumite everyday.

In our dojo you never lose your rank. Anyone returning after a prolonged absence is required to wear no belt. They may don their belt when they have been judged to have regained the skills commensurate with their rank. They are afforded all the privilege of their rank but during class formations they are positioned behind the lowest ranking white belt. They are not utilized to teach any students. We have had numerous instances of this, several involved 20 year absences.

The white of the white belt represents innocence, it is the highest level a martial artist can obtain. When training begins you are innocent, you have no real knowledge of the martial arts, and you don the white belt. After many years of diligent training you may wear a belt colored black, red and white, or red, etc. After many more years that belt will return to white from continuous use. As you train you search for knowledge in your art. After a life of dedication you return to innocence because all that you searched for is now within you; you are innocent; you are a white belt.

Why study more than one style? The style doesn't make the man; the man makes the style.

I train seven days a week 52 weeks per year. You should follow your heart and train accordingly.

Heart makes the martial artist; not rank!

I do not concern myself regarding the vastness of a person's martial arts experience, In a world of seven year old nidans, ten year MA careers that result in blackbelts in five different systems, and fifty year old people who trained for two months when they were five years old and now claim forty-five years in the martial arts; why should I? I read their eyes to determine the depth of their understanding.

I am a direct student of an Okinawan Grandmaster. I have owned and operated a dojo, continuously, for over thirty years. Sensei taught me that running a dojo should not be anyone's main source of income; as this would influence the quality of their teaching.

Thank you for your response. "You should try another system. It might really add a great dynamic part to your teaching!" How many techniques, from how many systems, would be adequate in a physical confrontation; normally lasting a few seconds? Its not the array of techniques that matter; but superior execution.