For our 25th birthday celebration, we're publishing an interview series with members from our community.

Member Profile

@Spartacus Maximus (View Profile)

Joined: June 1, 2014

Posts: 2,055

KarateForums.com Awards: Member of the Year (2019, 2017, 2016), Karate Contributor of the Year (2025), New Member of the Year (2014), and Instructor Central Contributor of the Year (2020)

Interview

Why did you get started in the martial arts?

Martial arts has been a point of interest since primary school. I often had to defend myself or younger siblings and other kids because of an ethnic rivalry between two major groups (mine being the minority). 

Why have you continued to practice them?

Later on, the cultural aspect of martial arts got more interesting than the practical side. Defense and fighting skills were historically part of a gentleman’s education in my background. To be considered a man, one had to be able to protect himself, his household, and his lord/king.

What is your grade or level?

I have two 3rd dans officially, each in Shorin ryu, but different lineages of the same ryuha in Okinawa and mainland Japan where I lived and trained for years. I also trained informally in Savate (as taught to pre-WW1 French police), English quarterstaff, French and English rapier, and combatives from WW2 commando fighting techniques (taught by veterans and recreated from training footage archives).

Do you teach?

I am interested in teaching and have been asked to represent my lineage, but for lack of resources to open a dojo, it isn’t possible at this time. 

Why have you continued to visit KarateForums.com for these many years?

I appreciated and stayed in this forum because it is the only outlet where it is possible to have constructive discussions with serious people who share my interests. In everyday life, I never mention martial arts and will deny any knowledge or experience. Only family and a few close friends are somewhat aware that I am involved at all in martial arts.

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

In the forum, I appreciate many regular users but the two main ones are @sensei8 with his decades of dedication and experience and @Wastelander because of our shared background and very similar views/experience in Okinawan karate.

Edited June 14Jun 14 by Patrick

Thank you for sharing with us, @Spartacus Maximus. You have made a big mark here and helped so many people over the years by sharing your knowledge, yes, buy also by creating a space for others o share theirs. I appreciate all of the contributions that you have made to this community.

Thank you for your interview @Spartacus Maximus.

I appreciate your MA knowledge and experience a lot. You give us a lot to think about with your OP’s. I’d love to share the floor with you!!

On 6/13/2026 at 5:08 PM, Patrick said:

I also trained informally in Savate (as taught to pre-WW1 French police), English quarterstaff, French and English rapier, and combatives from WW2 commando fighting techniques (taught by veterans and recreated from training footage archives

Very intriguing!! Adding those to your Shorin-ryu arsenal puts you above the status quo’s of  most attackers; they’d have their hands busy with you.

On 6/13/2026 at 7:08 PM, Patrick said:

I also trained informally in Savate (as taught to pre-WW1 French police), English quarterstaff, French and English rapier, and combatives from WW2 commando fighting techniques (taught by veterans and recreated from training footage archives).

Like Bob, I also find this very cool!  I'd love to learn English quarterstaff, and have read up on it some (but not practiced it).  The Savate is intriguing to me, too.  Would love to see that!

Thanks for all of the contributions you've made in your time here.  I hope someday you are able to open your school and teach others.