Third Dan Awarded to Sensei Ouellette and Sensei Prasso

Congratulations to Sensei Ashley Ouellette (pictured below) and Sensei A.J. Prasso who were awarded their Third Degree Black Belts by Shihan Mason. 

Picnic a Pleasure 

The annual Karate School Picnic, held on Sunday November14^th, was a big success. A steady stream of visitors appeared throughout the day as instructors, students, parents and their friends made the time to stop by and offer edible treats. The kids played games while the grown ups chatted and the picnickers imbibed food and beverages on a splendid, sunny South Florida day at the park.

A white soccer ball was left behind while a red/yellow soccer ball is missing. See the Front Desk  for info. 

Sensei Phillip Balzano Graduates University

 We recently heard from the family of Sensei Phillip Balzano.  He graduated from Villanova University this past May with a Bachelor of Science. He is currently working on his PhD in Biology. 

“We make a living

by what we get.

We make a life

by what we give.”    

 Winston Churchill

 Breathing and Centering in the Martial Arts

 Inhale, exhale, in and out, over and over again, every moment of every day of your life.  Breathing is one of the most natural function of our bodies, and one that we often take for granted. In spite of its importance,  many people develop shallow and uneven breathing habits that can effect their life and their health, often in ways they have never even considered. Effective breathing can make a measurable difference in the development of martial arts skills, and the breathing habits learned in the Dojo can be extremely useful, invigorating many aspects of our life outside of the training environment.

When you inhale, or breathe in, the air you take in goes through a multi-step filtering process before reaching your lungs. Specialized lung structures extract oxygen and transfer it into your bloodstream, where it travels to various oxygen-hungry tissues, including the brain and the large muscles. This cycle occurs tens of thousands of times each day, unnoticed, until you really push yourself in martial arts class and discover how much work breathing can be. With additional exertion, the process picks up speed trying to accommodate the body’s increased demand for oxygen. The heart pumps faster, attempting to meet the demands of muscles engaged in high activity for oxygenated blood and the removal of waste carbon dioxide.

In class you will be trained to exhale strongly with every punch, kick and block that you execute. The inhalation will happen naturally between these exhalations. When we breathe out strongly we stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. As a consequence your blood pressure will go down and your heartbeat will slow, despite the exertion of the exercise. As you exhale strongly with each move you should also tense your abdominal muscles to center yourself and strengthen your strikes and blocks. We are most vulnerable to a counter attack when we are executing our own technique, and tensing our abs as we exhale provides the strength we need to bounce off from a counter that might otherwise wind us. This training also helps to reverse the “startle reflex” that most people develop by breathing incorrectly. If you are startled and your reflex is to inhale and freeze, rather than exhale and center yourself, your self defense ability will be compromised.

Regular deep breathing can train the body to allow the development of improved oxygen uptake. When you exhale strongly you create space for fresh air to be drawn deeply into the lungs. This leads to greater stamina and strength as well as improved mental focus, all of which are hallmarks of excellence in the martial arts.  A full appreciation of the “life force” can be acquired by paying attention to the breath. Life is after all, just a breath away.

© 2010 Shihan Robert H. Mason

Be Still and Know

As much as the movements involved in karate training are difficult at first, being still and not moving is sometimes much harder. When students line up to bow in at the beginning and end of class the command in Japanese is kiyotsuke, which is the military equivalent in English of “ATTENTION”. What this command requires is that students should stand up straight with their heels touching and their hands by their sides. Blinking and breathing should be the only movements discernable. While this exercise is very difficult, it is important that students should do their best to practice. Sitting in seiza (kneeling) also affords a similar opportunity to practice stillness.  

In music there are  rests between notes and pauses between movements. In karate practice there are points of essential stillness within certain combinations and between techniques, that create the dynamic balance essential  to the rhythm and timing involved. This is especially evident in kata practice, where a good rule of thumb is to pause for one second at the end of each combination, and for two seconds at each kiai. The more absolute the stillness at these times, the more effectively it sets off both the movements that preceded it, and those which come afterwards. Effectively, the message is, that in order to understand and benefit fully from movement, you must understand and comprehend the benefit of stillness.

In our everyday lives it is not just what we do that defines something of who we are. It is also a matter of what we do not do. Our search for self knowledge may be assisted by an awareness of  how we do all of the activities that we are involved in on a day-to-day basis. The general rule we can observe is that “how we do one thing, is how we do everything”. This is the yoga of everyday life: a practice of being at one with ourselves in action. We can also  benefit from investigating how we are when we do nothing: when there is no activity. How well can we be still and conscious and awake at the same time.

This can often be a very challenging exercise. We are becoming so used to continuous stimulation, from phones, computers, TV and other distracting influences, that we have perhaps had little or no practice at the experience of stillness. It is hard to perceive value in a process we associate with boredom or an absence of “something to do”.

Certainly in terms of a student’s progress in the Martial Arts, I measure them not only by their competence in action, but also by their competence at attaining and maintaining a state of stillness. I’m reminded of the motto of the University of Sussex in England, where I read (studied) psychology. “Be still and know”. There is something in that if you can practice it.

© 2010 Shihan Robert H. Mason

Martial Arts:  A Course in Courtesy and Respect

Martial Arts is many things to many people however, throughout all cultures the development of courtesy and respect among members of the military and martial community has always been of high importance. Courtesy in every class at the Dojo is symbolized by the bow we perform on entering and leaving the Dojo, the bow at the beginning and end of class and the bow we make to our partner before we engage in prearranged sparring or free sparring. Showing respect in this way; however, only has meaning if we utilize the motion as a trigger to inspire what we could call the “courtesy mindset”. This is the mindset that balances our aggression with self-control and our intensity with our awareness. Without these appropriate restraints students would only be trained in  combat techniques, and these could just as easily be used for street fighting or bullying. I am not interested in training someone who enjoys finding potential conflicts and diving in with both feet so as to demonstrate their prowess as a thug.

I recently caught an episode of a show on MTV2 called “bully beatdown”. The concept is that men who are being bullied call up and complain to the MMA host who then  meets their bullies. Arrangements are  made for the bully to be matched in the ring with a professional Martial Artist who will fight them within a strict rules framework and give them a chance to experience some of their own medicine. The consequence of the matches I saw was that, following being submitted and knocked down in the ring, the bullies had more understanding of the experience of their victims, and seemed prepared to cease their bullying behavior and be respectful of them. Fighters in all Martial Sports often embrace at the end of a match as a sign of mutual respect that develops out of striving earnestly to win against a strong adversary.

Respect is having regard for the rights of others, refraining from interfering with others, and also adhering to the traditions of a particular environment so as to support the order necessary to have a civil society. While respect and courtesy are essential to the development of civilization, that does not mean that some people will not try to get by without them. Over time Martial Arts training develops a high level of competence to handle aggressive or violent situations; thus, the confidence of the Martial Artist develops very strongly. This confidence allows Martial Artists to experience an advanced and ordered state of development in which it becomes natural for them to be polite, considerate, courteous, and thoughtful of others.

© Shihan Robert H. Mason 2010

A British Chef  Visits America on a Quest

Jamie Oliver, British Chef well-known for introducing healthy food into the  school menu in the United Kingdom, is on a quest here in the U.S. Having read  government statistics that named Huntington, West Virginia as the most unhealthy city in  America Oliver decided to launch a “food revolution”. The TV show has been airing on ABC and is called “The Food Revolution”. Previously Oliver had persuaded former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to subsidize a healthier food menu for British schools; now he is in America to help change  our public school menus to better options, i.e. food cooked from scratch for each meal, rather than processed food substances, of questionable origin, reheated and passed off as food.

As you can imagine, all did not go smoothly for the enthusiastic Oliver, who opened Jamie’s Kitchen on the Huntington main street to teach free cooking classes as part of his effort to educate the community. Oliver was given the  go ahead to introduce his own brand of cooking to a local elementary school, where he discovered that the “milk” offered at lunch was of the pink (strawberry flavored) and brown (chocolate flavored) varieties, meaning that they contained more added sugar than a soda. When Oliver questioned the food supervisor he was told that  “It is more important that the children get their calcium than how much sugar is in the milk.” His response that...“We should give the kids what they should get, and what we think they should have; and if they don’t like it, they will get used to it” brings up an important issue for educators and parents. It is this: Once we have decided on a course of action, or a standard of behavior for our children, it is important that we follow through and “if they don’t like it they will get used to it”. This is not currently a common philosophy. Much of the time I hear stories from households where the children appear to be in charge rather than the parents. Now I’m not at all opposed to the idea of giving children the opportunity to accept age appropriate responsibility for their lives. In fact, I believe this should be encouraged; however, left to indulge themselves and do just what they like, and rarely be called upon to accept anything they dislike or are uncomfortable with, is an abdication of responsibility by an educator or a parent.

Many years ago, when my daughter was in pre-school, it was prohibited for parents to bring in any food that contained sugar as the teachers noticed its  negative effect on the kid’s behavior. One of the blogs at the ABC website from a teacher, across the river from Huntington, West Virginia in Eastern Kentucky noted that: “As for the students? Well, there is no denying the plethora of behavior issues. I feel this is because of the carb overload and lack of activity. We have 30 minutes total for arriving at lunch, acquiring it; sitting; eating; and whatever time is left we get to walk for about 5-10 minutes IF we are lucky”. Schools need to schedule time for what is important, and that includes time for a nutritious lunch. Here at the Dojo we offer an appropriate amount of time each evening for our Junior students to train. Given the current school convention of limited time for PE and sports, I encourage parents of children aged six and older to bring them to class here often. We can help them the most when they are here often. Ask at the Front Desk about the upgrades available to allow more training as part of our 30th Anniversary promotion .

© 2010 Shihan Robert H. Mason

To be a Master of  Yourself

“Everything that has been achieved is merely a preliminary exercise for the achievements to come, and no one, not even one who has reached perfection, can say he has reached the end.” This quote from Eugene Herrigel touches on an important theme for martial arts students. The experience of perfection, or completeness in martial arts, often only occurs after many years of practice and thousands of repetitious movements. Sometimes, however, it can be experienced by a complete beginner. Herrigel wrote “Zen in the Art of Archery,” and as a youngster I remember taking a girlfriend to practice archery with me. I showed her how to draw the bow and loose the arrow. Her first shot went straight to the center of the target, the gold. I was thrilled, as she was, at the experience of everything going “just right.” The moment was complete, perfect. Of course, this joy of the novice at a flash of perfection, while wonderful, does not mean that mastery has been achieved. Mastery requires consistent high level performance over time.

Repetition often leads students to feel bored. Getting just as excited about a punch or kick on the twentieth repetition, as you were on the first attempt is often difficult. Repeating the move for the five hundredth time can become a rote performance, containing little of the zest, intensity and quality necessary to achieve perfection. Yet, only after many thousands of such  excellent repetitions can the move become so smooth, relaxed, reflexive and energized that it feels perfect.

Within the Mu-do-kai curriculum, I have done my best to disguise the repetitions.  I have placed the fundamental exercises into different contexts at each belt level, in order that the students can see them with fresh eyes. I understand that new gold belts usually think that when they can roughly get through Pinan Nidan, that they “know” the Kata. These students find it incomprehensible that a Black Belt student, like top rated World Tour competitor Sensei Laraine Winston, may be performing the same Kata now as she was when she won her first Trophy at a Shiaii three years ago. What is more, she is getting the most out of the Kata now, and performing at the highest level. For Black Belts, this is the way to mastery, not just of karate, but of themselves.

Remember, knowledge is the result of combining the correct information, with correct practice, over time. Sometimes just a glimpse of perfection can be sufficient inspiration for us to pursue knowledge. It is through the acquisition of knowledge that we can learn to master ourselves.

© 2010 Shihan Robert H. Mason

New Junior Black Belt

 Congratulations to Miss Brianna Houser who was awarded her Junior Black Belt by Shihan Mason on April 14th. Miss Houser completed her technical grading on April 11th, demonstrating all of the basic and combination techniques from all of the ranks, a wide variety of self defense skills, including defense against knife attacks and attacks with a club. She also demonstrated eight form routines (Kata). For the sparring aspect of her grading Miss Houser sparred with ten successive opponents.

“Rise and Rise again

 until lambs become lions.”

Robin Hood

Rule #1

from the MuDoKai Curriculum  

The student should strive to concentrate only on the martial arts when in the Dojo and to leave behind any problems, animosities, etc which could be counterproductive. If any problem in doing this arises, a confidential consultation with the Sensei is urged.

Simple Dojo Rules: 

1. Do everything the Sensei tells you to do, the best that you can.

2. Don’t do anything the Sensei did not tell you to do.

A Time for Reflection

I often speak to the parents of our young students and realize that they actually are not aware of all of the benefits their children are receiving from the training that we offer. In many instances these parents have never trained themselves and have only enrolled their child in our program because the child showed an interest. Part of our job here at the Dojo is, therefore, to educate these clients. There are three main reasons why people train in the Martial Arts. The first is “Personal Growth”. By getting to know how we function, and learning how to function better, we become more accomplished as individuals. Physically our combination of Kickboxing, Karate, AikiJiuJitsu, Judo, and Kobudo training offers a vigorous but accessible training opportunity that develops balance, coordination, flexibility, strength, agility and fitness. Emotionally the training (including the breathing skills that are involved), leads to additional benefits that include emotional balance and self-control. Psychologically we work to improve awareness, perceptual skill, timing, distancing and, as a consequence, improved confidence and the acquisition of self-discipline. I have always insisted that students practice with correct alignment and a clear understanding of the lines of motion involved in the execution of each technique. This leads to correct posture and body use which allows for the development of physical talent. Talent cannot achieve its potential without correct posture and body use.

The second reason that most students train is for Self-Defense. I recently saw the movie “Taken” starring Liam Neeson. The basic plot is about a father struggling to save his daughter from kidnappers. The movie posed for me the question “how prepared are most adults to defend their family”? We all anticipate that our children will grow up and become parents themselves someday, so how ready will they be to defend their families? I know that in the USA guns are often considered to be the answer for adults for personal protection. My quick answer to questions on this issue is that “if you are not good at fighting without a gun, you’ll probably be no good with a gun”. A fight is still a fight, regardless of the weapons involved. One thing is certain, if you carry a gun then any altercation you have includes the gun, which may end up being used against you.

The third reason that students train is for sport. There are many sporting opportunities for Martial Artists now. As the World Commissioner for the International Sport Karate Association (since 1988) I’ve seen the Martial Sports develop tremendously. I now sanction events worldwide that often end up on one of the TV shows I own as one of four shareholders in United Sports International. Our series on Espn2 called “ISKA Karate” features ISKA World Championship Kickboxing from around the world, plus the World Championships in Forms, Weapons, Self Defense, Breaking and Demonstration competition. You can also catch these shows on “Fightsports” latenight on the Sunshine cable network. If you like the MMA format check out my newest show “Strikeforce on NBC” at 2:00 am Saturday late night (technically it’s Sunday morning) on NBC (Channel 6). While competition is not the main reason that my students train, the Dojo has produced many champions over the last 29 years.

With all of these benefits I hope that many more members of the community will choose to seek Self-Mastery through the Martial Arts at our American International Karate Institute here at UKC. In short, this is why people should take MuDoKai lessons, and we do appreciate your referrals.

© 2009 Shihan Robert H. Mason

Role Models and Mentors

Some of the worlds best known Martial Arts mentors: L-R Don “the Dragon” Wilson, Shihan Robert Mason, Ernie Reyes Sr., Ernie Reyes Jr. and Mike Sawyer.

“Sensei” means “one who has gone before”, more or less the definition of a mentor. Here Sensei Stamp receives his rank from Shihan Mason.

Who can be a role model or mentor for us? In life there are dozens of people to look up to including our parents and grandparent, siblings, uncles, aunts and cousins, school teachers and Martial Arts instructors. Among these folks we can find many positive influences to inspire our lives. As a Martial Artist, it is your responsibility to be aware of these people and to learn from the knowledge they impart to you. It’s also a good idea to pay attention to everyday heroes. These aren’t necessarily people in the news. They are people you see in your everyday life, living in a way that improves the lives of people around them. In your life this might be a bus driver who always greets you with a smile or a joke. Perhaps it’s an instructor at your Dojo who always lends an ear when you have a question. It could even be a stranger who took the time to return the wallet you dropped on the street. When you live your life with an awareness of the people and events all around you, you begin to notice the small kind deeds and heroic acts that happen everyday. You learn that a person doesn’t need to live a perfect life to have a positive effect on other people. In fact, you may find that the people who have dealt with difficult situations – even situations they created – can help you the most as a result of their experience.

The USA has a new President, Barack Obama, who has mentioned that throughout his life he has actively sought out mentors to help him learn new skills and develop new ideas, by drawing on their experience. Regardless of our political persuasion the President’s observation in this regard serves as an excellent model for building our own opportunities for success. Be open to the lessons being offered by people who have traveled before you. When they can say “I’ve been there” about a problem you are facing, maybe they can share an insight with you on how best to handle your situation. It’s easy to look at the news and say, “there are no role good role models or mentors available today.” If you do, you will be closing your mind to the gold mine all around you. Open your mind instead – be aware of the everyday heroes all around you, and strive to match every small kindness you see with one of your own. Soon you will discover that there are many mentors and role models right under your nose.

© 2009 Shihan Robert H. Mason

“You must learn to be still in the midst of activity

and to be vividly in repose.”

Indira Gandhi

Integrated Training for Mind, Body and Spirit

It is essential for Martial Artists to stay focused on whole self, the mind, body and spirit. People often take one or more of these elements for granted. Martial Artists practice, stretch and visualize their techniques, to fine tune their physical, emotional and mental ability to focus and to maintain their overall health and to set the tone for a positive lifestyle.

Developing this type of self-awareness requires, first and foremost, discipline. Whether you have five minutes or an hour, you must set aside some time each day to devote to improving the condition of your mind, body and spirit. The time you spend on the task is well worth the benefit. “Tuning in” to yourself will allow you to stay focused, to become more fit and flexible, and to reach higher levels in your Martial Arts training and in your daily life.

Morning is a good time to work on self-awareness. Before you get dressed, spend five or ten minutes doing breathing exercises and clearing your head. You might want to sit cross-legged on the floor or just sit on the edge of your bed. You can close your eyes, breathe in and out slowly, filling your belly with each breathe (this is called abdominal breathing), and focus on being still and quiet. Pay attention to your abdomen filling with air, your muscles relaxing, and your spine extending upwards to maintain a state of poise. As you do this, you will achieve a sense of wholeness and your mind will clear. Taking this time will help you prepare for your entire day; you will become more focused and you will be able to concentrate better on your work throughout the day. Your body will feel relaxed, calm, and any tendency you may have towards anxiety will be replaced by a sense of confident presence. All of these elements make for a great beginning to a new day!

Getting in tune with your body will not only help you feel better, but it will also help you recognize when something is not quite right. For instance, those who are more in tune with their bodies know right away when a cold is coming on. By being able to detect a slight discomfort early, one can take preventative measures, such as drinking more orange juice and taking vitamins before a cold is full-blown. Don’t underestimate the value of spending a little quiet time with yourself. You can also benefit from repeating your self-awareness exercise before you go to sleep at night.

Being a Master of the Martial Arts takes more than just technical skills. Keeping your mind and body in great condition and your emotions balanced, will help you become more creative and aware. As this happens, you will begin to express joy and confidence in every aspect of your life. This is truly a manifestation of the Martial Arts spirit.

© Shihan Robert H. Mason 2009

Respect

Respect is a word that is sometimes misunderstood in our culture today. Aretha Franklin, one of the most respected singers of popular music, sang it into the memory banks of most baby boomers, and there it stays, in our vocabulary, but not necessarily in our behavior. To quote the song, “R E S PE C T, find out what it means to me”.

According to Webster, respect means high or special regard, the quality or state of being esteemed (to set a high value on, the regard in which one is held, to regard highly and to value accordingly). Regard means to look at or appreciate from a particular point of view.

The foundation of the Martial Arts is respect. Karate Do, the way of the empty hand, originated in the East, where deferential behavior is an established part of the culture. In feudal Japan a lack of deference to a person in authority was taken to constitute a lack of respect. In the USA we are somewhat used to this perspective where Judges or Police Officers are involved, but not necessarily in social or work situations.

We live in the most influential Western country in modern times, whose traditions place a high priority on individual freedom and equality, rather than on a deferential respect for authority. These traditions form a significant aspect of our recent cultural history, which includes the turbulent civil rights and counter-culture movements of the 60’s and 70’s, as well as the cornerstone of its origins in the U.S. constitution. Yet here in the Dojo we are attempting to practice an art which paradoxically promotes a quality that we have generally abandoned culturally, at least since the colonists threw off the yoke of King George and established the USA as an independent republic.

It is almost like a Zen koan, e.g. “what is the sound of one hand clapping?” How can Americans assert themselves in the manner that their heritage and our personal histories encourage, and yet be open to the teachings of a “foreign” art that seems to emphasize an almost deferential level of respect? How can we learn what the martial arts has to offer while still retaining our individuality? How do we explore the advantages of deferential behavior in our karate training without becoming subservient? After all, Americans are sovereign citizens, the country was founded on the principle that… “all men, (and women as of 1921 Right to Vote Amendment) are created equal.”

It is understandable that many Americans do not feel comfortable with the traditions of courtesy and respect inherent in the Martial Arts, because they involve what appear to be external signs of subservience: the bowing when entering and leaving the Dojo (training hall), the method of addressing the Black Belts as “Sensei” (one who has gone before), taking off one’s shoes before entering the Dojo, the restriction of entry into the training facility to students only. All of these customs are unusual at a time when popular culture often promotes breaking the rules, and encourages a level of disrespect for authority. Of necessity, Martial Arts training requires etiquette, in order to maintain safety, structure and discipline in an art which gives its practitioners the power of life and death. The consequence of this training includes the development of respect and self-control, both qualities that will be appreciated and respected in our relationships with our families, friends, colleagues and those with whom we interact daily.

© Shihan Robert H. Mason 2009

“Without continuous effort there cannot be

continuous achievement”

Orison Swett Marden

“You cannot learn

how to do something

by reading about it.

You can only learn

something by doing it.”

David McCullough

Exercising as a Way of Life

When people do physical exercise endorphins are released into their system and a feeling of well being is experienced. Using this energy, and taking time out from the immediate demands of a stressful schedule on a regular basis, a person can build physical, emotional and inner strength with which to better deal with the demands of modern life. This all round fitness strengthens the immune system, decreasing the likelihood of illness and increasing our energy and motivation. Many people who have not trained in the Martial Arts do not realize what a thorough workout our training can provide. The benefits include improved flexibility, stamina, agility, balance, coordination, cardiovascular fitness and proprioceptive awareness.

During his two week visit to England in November Shihan Mason taught five seminars. Here he is pictured next to Sensei Chris Kent (Blue gi, back row) who arranged the sessions.

An Experience of Kata by Leslie Sokol

It is difficult to assert yourself appropriately if you cannot defend yourself physically. Having training in self-defense skills gives students confidence to be appropriately assertive. Where bullying is concerned we all need to consider the following:

*Parents and teachers must recognize when bullying is happening and confront it immediately

*Do not support bullying by passively watching it you must intervene or seek assistance

*Girls bully emotionally by threatening to withdraw attention or not be friends. Boys are more physical

*Always try to avoid violence (walk away or talk it out if possible). In a physical interaction emphasize blocking rather than hitting back if possible

*Bring the situation to the attention of a parent or other adult as soon as possible

Children who do not have strong family support tend to be less skilled in how to handle conflict.

A number of studies indicate that incidents of bullying and youth violence are increasing because many children do not have appropriate outlets for their emotions or people to help them work through issues. Training in Mudokai Martial Arts develops emotional balance.

Many studies indicate that children show more aggressive acting-out behavior after watching violent films and playing violent video games. Disciplined Martial Arts practice is an outlet activity for every students energy, while strict enforcement of Dojo etiquette does not permit violence at any time and constantly reinforces the development of self-control.

Because Martial Arts practice emphasizes self-control, and allows children to be systematically desensitized to the initial panic response that is common when an aggressive attack is launched at them, they are more prepared to deal with bullying. Reflexive training will bring blocking skill into play without having to think about it. This physical preparedness builds confidence in students and lessens the likelihood of an attack occurring. As young Martial Artists children can learn to be in control of themselves physically, emotionally and psychologically. This gives them the best opportunity to be in control of a situation where a bully might threaten them or actually attack them.

Bullying and teasing is unfortunately still too common. By helping youngsters prepare to deal with it, we can help to diminish one of the most upsetting childhood experiences.

“There are those who make things happens, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what’s happening.” You have no reason to be in the latter groups. Set your sights on your goal; focus your intention; maintain your discipline and you will earn stripes and achieve your belts.

© Shihan Robert H. Mason & Sensei Matt Bergstresser 2008

Learning Through Cooperation or Competition

July this year was tinged with sadness for our Dojo with the tragic death of Lillian Gallagher, following a fairly minor routine surgical procedure. Over the many years since she first signed up her son Brian for lessons, she was always a super supportive parent, assisting at tournaments, and always a happy and smiling ambassador for my Dojo. She would chat with new parents about all of the reasons why our Dojo was the right place to be. She had trained for a while herself in the Kickboxing classes, and was looking forward to continuing her training following her surgery. Sadly it was not to be. I appreciate all of the support that my staff, instructors and the parents of the Dojo have offered to Sensei Brian and his father Jimmy during this difficult time. Both Miss Jackie, Miss Suzie and Sensei Lauren Houser have been making every effort to be supportive in many practical ways, and I want to acknowledge their efforts on behalf of my Dojo.

I was able to attend the wake for Lillian in Hialeah to express my condolences to her family. I know that many of our Dojo members also attended. Having lost my own mother to cancer when she was about the same age as Lillian, I know the feelings associated with death coming too soon to someone still relatively young and very active. For my part, once the initial shock had passed, I was able to reflect on the many many positive memories I have of Lillian. Whether she was chatting excitedly to me, another student or another parent about the achievements of her son or other students at the Dojo, helping me load mats into the back of her SUV for transportation to my tournament, or complaining about the weather while huddled in her chair outside the Dojo during a cold spell watching Brian’s class, Lillian Gallagher was always good- humored and always smiling. Although many people enjoy a life of twice as many years, few seem to enjoy family life as much as Lillian did. Her family was the biggest part of her life and she was obviously dedicated as a mother and a wife. Even though she had a job, she always made provisions for Brian to be able to pursue all of his after school activities, including, of course, his martial arts classes.

To a casual observer her life may not seem to have been particularly special or important, Lillian Gallagher may have appeared merely ordinary to many people, but not to me, and I’m sure not to others who knew her well. I found her to be a person of principle and integrity, a realist who was also an optimist, who was staunch in her support of her son and her husband, wanting them to have every opportunity to achieve their potential for success in all of their endeavors, and the kind of parent who would not hesitate to let me know if she saw a problem at my Dojo that needed fixing. I often received e-mail from Lillian. Sometimes it was to say how well something was working and sometimes it was to let me know what needed to be fixed. Either way she was always assertive but respectful and obviously well intentioned, an easy combination of qualities for me to admire, and rare enough to make her particularly special in my eyes.

So, many of us will miss Mrs. Gallagher. Many of us will think of her often and remember her fondly. I know that she was proud of Sensei Brian's achievements as a martial artist. He is scheduled to receive his Adult Black Belt soon, and is close to earning his 2nd Degree Black Belt. For my part, I will honor her memory by doing my best to help her son, Sensei Brian Gallagher, achieve all of his goals in the martial arts as he continues to grow into the kind of young adult that Lillian, like any good mother, would be proud of.

Shihan Robert H. Mason © 2008

Zen saying

In last months newsletter we published an article by Sensei Emily Snyder (see below). This month we want to follow up with an article Ms. Snyder wrote for our newsletter in 2001:

Alex Wood (center in the pic to the left) began her training at the karate camp in 2002. This year Sensei Alex Wood (on right) helped to teach at the camp.

A View From the Real World  by Sensei Emily Snyder

Shihan Robert H. Mason © 2008

Shihan Robert H. Mason © 2008

As stated before, being a leader means that others have a desire to follow you in the things that you do. In the words of Confucius “there is a good leader when those who are near are made happy, and when those who are far are attracted.” As you develop your leadership skills, you may find that you are not the natural leader in all aspects of your life. Being a leader does not mean that you always have to lead, but that you have the ability to lead when necessary. In fact, one of the principle aspects of leadership and intelligence is a quality that lets you know when it is time to lead, and when it is time to follow.

When students first begin to practice MuDoKai, they learn strong physical techniques. By learning to control their own bodies they learn how to control the bodies of opponents. At the intermediate level, they learn to control their emotions, not by suppressing them, but by achieving balance. When you can control your own emotions, it becomes possible to control the emotions of an opponent. Moving to the Black Belt level, the students begin to understand how to control their minds. This leads to the possibility of controlling the mind of an opponent. When there is no opponent, this level of complete self-control has the effect of developing a confidence and inner strength that leads to a state called Wa-No-Michi or the Way of Harmony. This inner experience, which grows daily with practice, reflects the deeper purpose of Karate-do (the Way of the Empty Hand).

Remember, knowledge is the result of combining the correct information, with correct practice, over time. A while ago I read Chuck Norris’ book The Secret Power Within. I have met Chuck on several occasions and found him very likable. He did not seem particularly scholarly, although I have always been impressed with his achievements as a martial artist. The book is excellent and probably much easier reading than most of my newsletter articles. I recommend it to all students and parents as a work of quality from a contemporary American Karate Master. Sometimes just a glimpse of perfection can be sufficient inspiration for us to pursue knowledge. Chuck’s book provides “Zen solutions for real problems” in a very “reader- friendly” way.

Shihan Robert H. Mason © 2008

When you are striving for your next belt, or training for an advanced Black Belt exam, the preparation can be nerve-racking, but with some simple steps, you can prepare yourself for a successful graduation. Every class that you attend offers you an opportunity to improve. You will always need to work on your general ability in terms of fitness, agility, balance, flexibility and coordination. Additionally you will always be paying close attention to your skills in the particular areas addressed by the curriculum for your rank.

One of the challenges that we face as we grow older is the maintenance of our “growth mind-set”. Sometimes a major setback in any area of our life can lead us to become discouraged and depressed. It is not hard to notice when this has happened to a person because they will demonstrate the symptoms of the “fixed mind-set”. They will ruminate about failures and denigrate their skills with statements like “I’ve never had good balance” or “I can’t do this, I give up”. To meet this challenge the Sensei will address the mind-set by breaking down a technique into the steps that will lead to success, while reassuring the student that struggling with the challenges posed by learning a new skill are an important part of the fun we can have as we practice that skill. Learning stimulates neural connectivity in the brain at all ages.

© Shihan Robert H. Mason 2008

© Shihan Robert H. Mason 2007

Sensei Carmine Downey, 5th Dan in MuDoKai Martial Arts, trains field agents in self-defense for a major government agency. He began training with Shihan Mason as a teenager prior to serving as a Green Beret. In a recent e-mail to UKC, Sensei Downey outlined the limited training opportunities available to his family in Kentucky where he is now based. He noted that “the more I see the poor quality of programs, the more I appreciate the high quality of UKC. Either the instructors here are sub par to our standards, or the good ones have a very limited, or no children’s program, and are struggling, teaching in a gym, someone else’s school or just a poorly equipped facility. The irony is the locations that are booming here are of course the TKD which often have amazing facilities, or the two MMA/BJJ/Muay Thai gyms that have fight teams (with very qualified instructors I must say) but not what I want in a “family facility”. Ironically there is only one Judo school, which does have several top flight instructors, but is more a club with limited hours. “

I want to request that parents to cooperate with me in giving our students the space that they need to come to class and train. I know that parents are sometimes anxious about the progress of their children and believe that “being there for the kids” means physically accompanying the child as they enter the academy, helping them with their attendance cards, taking them to their Dojo and even putting away their shoes.

Nathanial Brandon, who is the author of several groundbreaking books on self-esteem, is very precise when he defines what contributes to building this attribute in children. He believes that the two most important components of self-esteem are self-respect and competence. When a child is shown respect by the adults in their environment, they learn to respect themselves. When children are allowed to learn how to take care of themselves, they learn competence. In order to learn competence a child needs to be able to make mistakes, to try something and fail, and to be permitted to struggle with difficult tasks on their own terms, without being rescued prematurely by a well-meaning parent, adult or older sibling. We can not learn for them. They must learn for themselves.

Seligman’s book “Learned Optimism” explores this topic in detail, with research and empirical data compiled through years of observing the American process of child rearing. As adults we need to make the proffering of “rewards” (praise is a reward) contingent upon the delivery of reasonable, correct behavior from the child. Self-esteem is best developed when the child actually learns how to do something correctly, and that happens only through the process of trial and error on the part of the child.

If you have a question for the staff or instructors or need to schedule an appointment or purchase an item, of course, you are welcome to come inside for those purposes. If you are concerned about knowing what your child is learning, you may choose to purchase a DVD of the belt material your child is studying for home viewing and practice, or you may decide to take class yourself as many parents do. Additionally, by bringing your child only a few minutes before the class time, and picking them up promptly after class, you can help us to maintain good order in the Dojo.

Shihan Robert H. Mason © November 2007

The karate school participated in a self-defense course for the Girl Scout Jamboree in Hollywood recently. The classes for the girls included verbal defensive response skills as well as physical training. The girls were allowed to ask questions and many eagerly participated in the give and take of the sessions. Real-life examples of successful escape scenarios were used to illustrate the thesis that it is always better to resist capture no matter what. Part of what makes a predator back off and give up is when the proposed victim does not cooperate; but instead fights hard by yelling, punching, kicking. In one true incident that we related to the scouts the child who was abducted was only ten years old. She and her younger brother were forced into a car by the assailant; but she did not give up. She kicked, punched, scratched and yelled so loudly that the kidnapper let her and her brother out of his car after driving only one block as she was attracting so much attention. She told the police his car license plate number and he was arrested and prosecuted.

It was interesting to observe the differences in how the girl scouts responded to the drills in which they were instructed to participate. In the martial arts it is very important to exhale forcefully when executing a technique and to kiai (yell) when instructed to do so. Some of the girls had no problem with this; yet others were shy, and when asked to kiai were actually unable to utter a single sound, in spite of repeated attempts to encourage them. Even being in a room full of other girls who were yelling loudly did not incite them to make a noise or to breathe out. Consequently, in a real-life situation they might prove to be under-rehearsed and less likely to succeed in their defense. In Martial arts training it is crucial to teach students how to breathe properly and also how to find their voice. We practice similar drills in the Dojo at all levels of training and it is essential that students comprehend the importance of this practice.

Martial Arts training gives students the idea that they can and should defend themselves, and provides a practical means for doing just that. They learn that they can feel safe as a result of the skills that they practice regularly in class and that they can be strong because of a training regimen that builds muscular, emotional and mental strength.

Shihan Robert H. Mason © October 2007

Dominance, and issues relating to it, are a feature of life for humans and animals alike. Wolves fight to establish or maintain a dominance hierarchy, siblings fight over who gets to hold the TV remote control and spouses fight over who gets to spend the money on a new motor cycle, or a new high fashion outfit. Who is dominant is an issue for life. The struggle for dominance can be seen at the beginning of most of the Junior classes, when, following the warm-ups, we see the competition over who should stand where in the line; in spite of the fact that the students’ belts and stripes largely define the order. Everyone gets to take class, no matter where they stand in line. It’s not an issue worth fighting over, and yet youngsters will contend for territorial dominance in this instance.

We ask that all students develop a proper respect for the traditions of the Dojo, and remember that respect for property is a part of this. Training equipment, magazines, displays of photographs and even the paint on the walls are all part of the dojo, the place where we train. It is important that everyone who enters this special space shows the proper regard for both the space and each other. Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference in this respect.

Shihan Robert H. Mason © 2007

A New Start, A New Schedule

We all know of times both for ourselves and for others where we have heard someone, maybe ourselves say, gee I would really like to ________(fill in the blank), but I don’t have the time, money, energy, will power, whatever; however, as the saying goes, “where there is a will, there is a way.” The key issue is how determined is the person to reach that particular goal. Obesity is one of the biggest issues in America today. Diets abound, usually at least one a week that promises the impossible: lose weight while eating whatever you want, whenever you want. It can seem the same with martial arts: get your Black Belt in one year the quick and easy way. The truth is that to achieve Black Belt excellence takes time and hard work. It means making the difficult training a priority. It means working hard on a regular schedule to achieve a goal over several years, step by step. Rather than just wishful thinking, those on the path to Black Belt, and beyond, to self-mastery, are on track with real achievement. Before you can really know anything you must know yourself. Regular weekly practice of Mudokai Martial Arts is a path to this self-knowledge.

© Shihan Robert H. Mason 2007

One of the books I finished reading recently is “Infidel” by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Without going into a review I just want to use an example of the difference she noticed between the Somali culture she was raised in, with the Dutch culture she adopted as an adult. In Somalia children are taught to strike out when they feel threatened, rather than only to strike in defense when they are attacked first. In Dutch culture however, Somali children living as refugees had to learn to “talk things through” rather than hit. Working as a translator for the Dutch authorities, Ali was involved with many situations where Somali parents had to have these rules explained to them. They were told that if their child persisted with their aggressive behavior they would not be able to attend normal schools, but would be placed in a psychiatric facility to address their mental disorder. Ali goes on to point out that Dutch civilization is peaceful and productive, as a consequence of this national policy of “talking things through, rather than hitting.” Somalia, on the other hand, has been torn by civil war and a succession of brutal dictatorships. Like Ali I would advocate for any civilized community adopting a philosophy of peaceful persuasion, rather than violent confrontation.

Shihan Robert H Mason © 2007

Studying Martial Arts is one of the most challenging and rewarding pursuits that you will ever encounter. Martial Arts proficiency requires many hours of hard work spent practicing form and technique. However, as you progress through the ranks, you will achieve a satisfaction that makes all of your hard work and dedication worth while.

At times as we undertake tasks associated with our many pursuits we might begin to feel discouraged. We need to step back and assess our situations so that we can find something that will help us remain motivated and better able to reach the great peaks of success.

Here are some mental steps that you can take:

1. Maintain a Positive Outlook

A positive outlook can greatly increase motivation and will help you to stick with your endeavors to their completion. Instead of focusing on setbacks try to consider the many benefits that you will gain with a "can do" attitude.

2. Keep your "Eye on the Prize"

Few things inspire as much as really great reward. Set a realistic goal for yourself (such as your next belt level) and work toward that goal. If your goals are realistic and attainable within a reasonable amount of time, they will better help to motivate you than unrealistic or distant goals.

3. Look at the big picture

While you are working each day to learn a new set of movements or forms, remember that the martial arts is a system that cannot work without each of its component parts. Each time you learn something new, try to see how it fits into the big picture.

4. Keep things in perspective

Maintaining perspective will greatly assist you in all of your endeavors. A small set back is not the end of the world. Remember that you are only limited by your own perceptions of reality. Inch by inch, it’s a cinch but yard by yard it’s hard.

5. Stay self-disciplined

One great way to stay motivated is to attend class regularly and participate fully in class activities. This will lead to an increased rate of learning and give you the tools that you will need for Martial Arts success.

Staying motivated is one of the keys to success in the Martial Arts and in your life. If you approach each of life’s endeavors with a high level of motivation and commitment, you are sure to succeed.

Martial Artists master their anger. Even though it may seem that things outside of us make us angry, in truth, anger comes from the inside. Our own views and fears are the source, when something happens that confirms our fears, or creates new ones, we feel strong emotions. Accept anger as a natural part of yourself, then, confront and master it. Anger doesn’t accomplish anything! Find a more productive way to resolve a problem.

Martial Artists respect others as themselves. Most of us have been taught to treat other people with respect, but we must also recognize our own need for respect and care. Spend time with people who treat you and others with kindness and remember to treat yourself with respect. Hold yourself to high standards and accept your own uniqueness!

Gerald Coffey, a former P.O.W. in Vietnam, has written about his experiences as a captured pilot at the hands of his enemy. One minute he was one of America’s military elite, flying a volunteer mission at high altitudes in a distant war, and the next he was injured and struggling to stay afloat while fighting for his life under enemy fire in the choppy seas of Indo-China, an instant transition of the most dramatic kind, a change of circumstances that was abrupt, life-threatening and permanent. Coffey wrote that he did not remember releasing his parachute, inflating his life raft or removing his helmet, all necessary survival procedures that he performed automatically, though unconsciously, after his plane was hit and he plunged into the ocean below. Years of military training had prepared him for just such an emergency and he was able to respond appropriately.

When civilians consider a situation like Coffey’s we can understand and appreciate the value of a military regimen because its benefits are so clearly demonstrated by his experience; however, when discipline and routine are applied in sports or in school it becomes another matter for most of us. We question it, and discuss it, we challenge it, yet we often ask for it when our children and our institutions get out of control. On the one hand, we identify with the challenges of the 1960’s which developed civil disobedience almost into an art form. On the other hand, we recall the orderliness and outward security that obedience seemed to offer throughout the 1950’s. Two very different concepts embodied in one generation, the “baby boomers”, who were born after World War II. This generation’s impact has registered culturally and politically and is shaping contemporary philosophical attitudes. So, how should our children be raised? How can we do the right thing? Can we be disciplined while living free lives?

Years ago children were seen and not heard; bedtimes were set and honored; snacks were an occasional treat; mealtimes were regular; the family ate dinner together every night. Not so nowadays with parents’ busy schedules; unfortunately kids often lack the benefits of a regular schedule, especially with regard to bedtime. Here at the karate school we often observe kids with little energy in class. From our conversation with some of the children it seems that many are not getting enough sleep. While children are growing they need to get plenty of sleep. Small babies often sleep 20 hours a day, while toddlers will happily take a nap every afternoon in addition to 12 hours or more of sleep a night. Even after kids no longer need a nap, 12 hours a night is a good sleep schedule. Once children begin school there is a tendency for some children to stay up too late at night.

As much as the movements involved in karate training are difficult at first, being still and not moving at all is sometimes even harder. When students line up to bow in at the beginning and end of class the command in Japanese is kiyotsuke, which is the military equivalent in English of “ATTENTION”. What this command requires is that students should stand up straight with their heels touching and their hands by their sides. Blinking and breathing should be the only movements discernable. While this exercise is very difficult, it is important that students should do their best to practice. Sitting in seiza (kneeling) also affords a similar opportunity to be still.

In our everyday lives it is not just what we do that defines something of who we are, it is also a matter of what we do not do. Our search for self knowledge may be assisted by an awareness of how we do all of the activities that we are involved in on a day-to-day basis. This is the art of everyday life; a practice of being at one with ourselves in action. We can also benefit from investigating how we are when we do nothing; when there is no activity. How well can we be still and conscious and awake at the same time. Certainly in terms of a student’s progress in the Martial Arts, this is measured not only by their competence in action, but also by their competence at attaining and maintaining a state of stillness. I’m reminded of the motto of my Alma Mata, the University of Sussex in England, where I read (studied) Developmental Psychology; “Be Still and Know”. If you can practice enough to become truly still, the knowledge that arises from that stillness can be absolutely profound. As the poet and artist Genece wrote “Come to the place of stillness, a place of calm knowing, that carries you into the sanctuary.”

Shihan Robert H. Mason © June 2007

Many sports have a special uniform that is worn by their participants. In the martial arts it is called a “gi” and consists of a karate top and karate pants, tied with a belt. The uniforms worn in the different styles of the martial arts each have their own traditions of “style” and color. In Goju a black uniform is worn, in Kung Fu a sash is worn with a looser fitting garment and in Tai Chi the exponents often wear shoes with a pajama-style “outfit”. Here at the karate school the uniform worn is a plain white jacket (sometimes a “logo” v-neck top) with karate pants (draw string or elastic waist) and a belt that indicates the student’s rank. Black Belts are permitted to wear uniforms with their own selection of approved color and style.

Shihan Robert H. Mason © June 2007

Live your life by the student code:

A “deskless School” was featured on CNN June 25th and detailed how students may learn better by being able to choose how to best position themselves to learn, such as standing up instead of sitting down at desks to do their work in school. In the future, according to Dr. James Levine at the Mayo Clinic, students will be able to choose their best position by picking their preference from alternate “furniture” located in a huge space. This model is currently under development in Minnesota. “Learning is supposed to be fun” says Levine, and “this flexible space can be turned into a community center at night. The setup takes only 15 minutes to put together and can transform any space into a learning corner.”

Top executives frequently have basketball nets and such in their office; it makes sense to combine the physical with the mental, as they are so closely connected. Our philosophy at the Dojo is to stimulate consciousness and awareness primarily through physical activity. Jean Piaget, famous for his contributions to Developmental Psychology, was the first to realize that all concept development begins physically on a sensory-motor level. Even the most sophisticated abstract concepts can only develop as a consequence of earlier appropriate sensory-motor practice.

Glenn Doman, the internationally famous pioneer of “The Institutes for the Development of Human Potential”, realized long ago that brain-damaged children could often be led to a full recovery if natural reflexes were appropriately stimulated to encourage the next necessary steps in development. One day, while listening to a severely brain damaged five year old boy reading to him on a high school level, he asked himself the question, “what is the matter with normal kids who cannot read”. He went on to modify his techniques, which were developed to teach brain-damaged children, to enable him to teach normal babies (aged 6 months -3 years) math and reading. I used his methods when teaching my daughter and have planned an Introductory Seminar for October 14th to introduce parents to Glenn Doman’s work.

F.M. Alexander created his technique for the attainment of poise following research on his own voice. The “Alexander Method” has since been expanded to utilize reflexive movement to retrain the body to accomplish all manner of physical skills, while maintaining a state of relaxed poise. The tendency, Alexander noticed, was for students to “muscle up” prior to moving, often in a way that made smooth natural movement impossible. His training method allowed his students to learn to extend into what they were doing, regardless of what the action entailed, rather than contracting into their movements. All movements in the MuDoKai curriculum are to be taught and practiced using the “Alexander Principle”.

Glenn Doman teaches brachiating and other physical activities to encourage development                                   

Each MuDoKai Class begins with a brief Yoga style stretch

Centuries ago Yoga systems were developed in India to assist in the achievement of personal growth and the development of human potential. While great Gurus (Yoga teachers) sought to lead their students to spiritual enlightenment, they realized that a physical foundation was essential. Hatha Yoga systems, like the Kripalu Flow Yoga that is offered for adults on Tuesday nights at the Dojo (children 10-13 years old may attend with a parent), are examples of this essential physical training.

In our rush to conform with the traditions of the state mandated “educational” program, offered in our public schools, like homework and FCAT coaching, it is easy to lose sight of the importance of developing our children's thinking skills. Stimulating a youngster’s neurology, through participation in programs like MuDoKai, that involve sensory-motor training in reflexive movement, with increasing skill sets developed over time that lead to the development of new conceptual thinking skills, are a practical way to promote the essential growth of their thinking abilities. Our program is excellent for adults as well. After all, we are never too old to learn.

Studying Martial Arts is one of the most challenging and rewarding pursuits that you will ever encounter. Martial Arts proficiency requires many hours of hard work spent practicing form and technique; however, as you progress through the ranks, you will achieve a satisfaction that makes all of your hard work and dedication worth while.

At times, as we undertake tasks associated with our many pursuits, we might begin to feel discouraged. We need to step back and assess our situations so that we can find something that will help us remain motivated and better able to reach the great peaks of success.

Staying motivated is one of the keys to success in the Martial Arts and in your life. If you approach each of life’s endeavors with a high level of motivation and commitment, you are sure to succeed.

Eleven year old Liron recently became our youngest ever Black Belt

Most other Martial arts schools have a rather abstract and ineffective program of practice. While they may require correctness in forms or self-defense moves, their lack of curriculum leads to one of the two big problems that I have noticed over the years.

Problem #1 is the Sensei who teaches all of his students everything at every rank and then requires them too get better at the same material for their next promotion. Most green belts you meet from this kind of Dojo have been training between 5-7 years, and although they often can exhibit a high level of skill, they do not have a way to define what they know, or to help others to learn it. They are in a sense victims of the unstructured curriculum. If they eventually achieve Black Belt recognition, they will tend to go on as teachers in the same unstructured way that they were taught.

Problem #2 is the Sensei who teaches a few simple moves and a form for each rank and sets his student on a two year schedule to Black Belt. Everyone knows when they will be promoted because the schedule is quite simple. Thirty classes are required to learn the material for the rank, dues must be paid up to date and you must refer one new student to the Dojo to meet the criteria for belt promotion. This method allows everyone to learn “about” all of the moves required for each rank, though of course, this kind of scheduling would not require them to meet any particular standard of performance.

The curriculum at our Dojo is based on the idea that there is an easy way to learn things. That method involves starting out with the practice of movement, using karate techniques, that we learn to copy from an instructor. As students follow along with the class they automatically learn correct posture, poise, balance and skeletal alignment. They also learn to develop muscle memory, balance coordination and self control, as those principles relate to specific movements they are practicing for their rank. With promotion to a new rank the process begins over again, only on a higher level each time, because of the progress made at the previous rank. Because we teach our basics, partner moves and forms (Kata) as specific skill techniques, and require the students to practice them the same way every time, students come to the point where they can demonstrate their moves almost without thinking about it. That is usually the signal that they are ready for promotion to the next rank and a new set of challenges.

My solution to these two problems involves teaching a structured, written curriculum, taking students through more and more advanced techniques at each rank using red stripes to show improvement, thus preparing each student to progress at their own speed. They have to learn all their techniques to a standard, but everything is able to be individualized to make progress achievable. The result is that most of my students are able to reach Black Belt in four to six years, and demonstrate a degree of proficiency worthy of the Black Belt rank. Occasionally I have the opportunity to train students who had the benefit of many years of training at another school. I have had a lot of success training students of this kind. Skyler Gould transferred to our Dojo as a brown belt and is doing exceptionally well in her progress towards Black Belt. Sensei Alex Ramos and his two older brothers were all Black Belts in Shotokan when they started their training with me. Mr. Ramos is now about to grade for his 3rd Dan having trained for about 14 years all together.

One of the great advantages to a written curriculum is that when you look back over what you have learned you can see what you know. This is often a tremendous boost once you achieve Black Belt because you have a structured perspective, making it much easier for you to pass on your skills and insights to others through becoming a teacher yourself. The curriculum gives you a ready-made lesson plan for students of every rank in every class, each according to his ability and experience.

Until last year my Black Belt curriculum fell into the category of the previously mentioned “Problem #1”. It was too vague, too advanced at every stage and required too much memorization to allow students to progress. Speaking to a colleague of mine whose own “underbelt” curriculum suffers from problem #2, led me to rethink my own situation. The new curriculum for Black Belts now allows me to teach appropriately advanced materials in a structured way to challenge my students at each Dan (Black Belt) rank. It requires them to demonstrate a high level of skill, without swamping them with too many techniques. Better, I decided, that they be twice as good at half as much.

My current project is to commit all of this knowledge to DVD so that students of all ranks may have a home study guide that will allow them to learn and practice the entire curriculum, with a full explanation from me in regard to all of the moves, pairs and forms. Students who choose to take advantage of the DVDs will find themselves more able than ever to make the most of their time in class to work out on moves that they already understand in theory. It has always been my opinion that students need to have every opportunity to practice. That is why, from the very beginning of the Dojo, I have always arranged for senior students, usually Black Belts, to lead classes even at times that I cannot be present to teach myself. Of course, the benefit of this is not only the main body of students who get these extra opportunities to work out, and be corrected where necessary by a Sensei (one who has gone before), but also gives these Sensei a chance to approach the curriculum from a different angle themselves; that of the teacher. While it is inevitable that sometimes mistakes will be made or other upsets occur, overall it has worked to everyone's advantage for many years. Presently we are fortunate that most of the Sensei teaching are ranked from 2nd Degree Black Belt and up. When I first opened the Dojo two of my main instructors were just Brown Belt students. Even now, from time to time I have excellent Brown Belt students who help with classes as Sempai.

Currently DVDs are available for ranks White Belt through 1st Kyu Brown Belt. More to follow soon. Ask at the Front Desk for prices.

Shihan Robert H. Mason © 2006