[KF25] Member Interview: Wastelander

[Patrick]

For our 25th birthday celebration, we're publishing an interview series with members from our community. We did this back in 2013 and Wastelander was one of the members that participated. 

Member Profile

@Wastelander (View Profile)

KarateForums.com Sensei

Joined: October 18, 2010

Posts: 2,839

KarateForums.com Awards: Community Spirit Award (2023), Staff Member of the Year (2025, 2024, 2014), Karate Contributor of the Year (2020, 2019, 2016), Equipment Contributor of the Year (2014), and Instructors and School Owners Contributor of the Year (2025, 2022, 2021)

Interview

Where has your martial arts journey taken you since our first interview in November 2013?

A LOT has happened since then! I began formally training in KishimotoDi, I fought in MMA and won, was promoted to Shodan in Shorin-Ryu, started the Waza Wednesday YouTube series with my Sensei, was promoted to Nidan, had my Sensei pass away, traveled to Okinawa and trained there, broke away from my organization and joined the World Combat Association, moved back to Illinois, and helped co-found the International Neoclassical Karate Kobudo Society.

What martial arts do you currently take?

Shorin-Ryu (Kobayashi) and KishimotoDi.

What is your grade or level now?

Yondan (4th degree black belt).

When I asked you the highlight of your training back in 2013, you mentioned a young man that you used to teach and how he appreciated the time you had together. Do you have any new highlights to add?

I couple of things spring to mind. One was my MMA fight, where I fought a former state champion wrestler with a 3-0 MMA record, who was apparently making his professional debut even though I was fighting as an amateur for the first time. Tunnel vision in round 1 was serious, and he was able to take me down, but couldn't really do anything effective. The tunnel vision wore off by the time we got to round 2, so I was able to actually do what my Sensei and I planned, and kick him in the head when he tried the takedown again. I won by KO 11 seconds into round 2.

Another highlight was earning my black belt, despite the fact that I had started experiencing neurological issues that I now know are part of widespread dysautonomia caused by my joint hypermobility disorder. Finally, although it is a sad highlight, I was honored to be the one to read the eulogy for my late Sensei at his celebration of life. Public speaking is hard for me, and it was especially hard because he was like a brother to me, but I will never forget it.

Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years?

My hope is to travel to Okinawa, again, and be able to train at more than just one dojo, including the Bugeikan honbu dojo, where KishimotoDi is based. I also hope that I can set up a proper dojo in a commercial space, rather than teaching from my home, at some point.

How would you sum up the last 13 years of your life?

It has been a wild ride of ups and downs, but I can say that I have matured as a person and a martial artist, without losing my passion for the arts.

Why are you still visiting KarateForums.com?

The community feels tight-knit, even though we only engage with each other online, and I know that we can have meaningful conversations about martial arts without it devolving into arguments and personal attacks.

What's changed in the community over the last 13 years?

Honestly, it's largely stayed the same, in a good way! We've had some upgrades to the forums, themselves, which have been beneficial for everybody, and there are folks who leave and new folks who join, of course, but the sense of community stays the same.

What do you think it says about the community that we are doing this again, so many years later?

It is remarkable - keeping an online forum alive for 25 years is no small feat, particularly when you consider the fact that KF has stuck around through the massive social media boom, from Myspace to Facebook to Bluesky, and more.

When we spoke back in 2013, you were a Sempai and later you became a Sensei, which you still are today. Why have you remained committed to the community in this way?

I think it is largely because I enjoy helping others, and keeping the community safe and healthy is part of that. Plus, it makes me feel invested in answering questions and engaging in conversations.

I'd like to end by repeating the last three questions I asked you previously, as I think these answers can change over time - or not. But they are worth asking for the sake of identifying what makes this community so special.

How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training?

Sometimes, subjects will be brought up that I haven't touched on in a while, and it gives me a renewed interest in circling back to them. I have also come across subjects that have made me think about the way I train or teach in a different way, from a different perspective, which gives me new insights into what I'm doing.

Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you?

@sensei8 and @bushido_man96 have been consistent, helpful presences on KF for a very long time, and I always value their input, experience, and perspectives.

Can you share a memorable moment within the community where you received great advice or an experience that really affected you and your martial arts journey?

Like last time, I'm very bad at remembering specific moments and conversations, unfortunately. What I can say is that I have been able to learn from many different people from diverse backgrounds thanks to KF, whom I would otherwise never had the chance to engage with!

Edited 2 hours ago by Patrick

[Patrick]

Thank you for sharing with us, @Wastelander, and for all of the contributions that you have made to our community over the years. Being able to follow the growth of a martial artist over several years has been one of the most rewarding parts of being in this community for so long. You are a perfect example of that, and it's been a pleasure to follow your evolution through your posts here, as illustrated by these two interviews. I appreciate you.

Edited 2 hours ago by Patrick