Have I ever lost a fight...yes :)

The other day I overheard one of my younger students proclaiming that I am the world's best because I have never lost a fight. Although I appreciated their sentiment I had to let them know that I have, in fact, lost a few in my lifetime. Now I am not counting the countless times I lost in tournaments but rather real life situations where I had to defend myself. When I told my young aspiring some day black belt that I had lost in a real fight before their jaw just sort of dropped and you could see they didn't like that.

I went on to explain that everyone can be defeated at anytime and the more you get into fights the more likely you will be defeated no matter how much training you have. I also said that if the only reason a student respects me is because I can fight then I don't actually need that student because fighting is easy...perfecting the martial arts and living a balanced life is not. To this I got the response "then why train for so long Sensei". Now that question is more one that I like. The easy answer is because I know the martial arts are about living a productive and successful lifestyle as much as they are about self defense. I train because I love the arts but there is a mentality that I have that if I do get beaten I train harder and get better to avoid it in the future.

Unfortunately I have had my share of fights in my life time. Only once have I ever started a fight with anyone...and for a good reason. Many of these occured because of decisions I made to work in security at local bars when I was younger or because some idiot wanted to test my Karate skills but I have walked away from 100x more fights than I have ever been in because I, in all honesty, have nothing to prove by beating some random bloke up. I never got into Karate to be some movie style super human idiot who defeats everyone that steps to them but I will defend myself if someone tries to harm me. As I sit and think about the fights I did lose almost every single time it was because I allowed my emotions to get the better of me and instead of using my head I stuck it out as a target LOL.

Regardless I am glad that I did lose those fights because I learned some valuable lessons...such as getting hit causes pain that lasts quite awhile LOL and more. Today I just randomly smile and walk away from people that want to "prove" how much greater they are at fighting than I am. Why? Because I have nothing to prove people that think fighting solves anything and I teach my students not to use their skills unless they absolutely have to. I don't think I would be to good of a Sensei if I was out getting in fights or spending my evenings in bars being drunk so I chose to live what I preach...if a student doesn't like that then they really don't have any need to train with me because I expect all my students to learn discipline, control, focus and respect for others as well as their own selves. 

So yes I have lost fights. Yes I have walked away from fighting. Yes I could care less how tough someone thinks I am...and yes I am totally content with that :)

How to Train Martial Arts...

For some reason people today join martial arts and feel that they only need to train when in the dojo or have a Sensei hand walk you through the requirements and skill sets. This type of attitude leads only to one pathway…failure. Let me explain further using both experiences in my past as well as experiences I have teaching for the last 20 years.

When I began training classes were twice a week and were two hours long. Training was tough and the Sensei was more strict than modern dojo as well as we were demanded only the absolute best on each punch, kick or Kata we did. Anything else led to a lot of push up practice. I can remember Sensei leading Kata class. We would be ran through a Kata two to three times and then told to go practice on our own. About the only thing that was actually led consistently was when we did the basics or when we would do Kumite. Even when it came to self-defense we would be guided through it two to three times and then split up to go work with a partner to get right. The Sensei would walk around the dojo correcting our movements or giving us suggestions on what we had to do to improve everything to black belt level quality. As we moved up in rank self-study times such as this increased and it was only the students who actually showed up to dojo early, or stayed after class to train that moved up in rank beyond brown belt. It was not uncommon to see students in full Gi and Obi (uniform and belt) in the dojo during open times on Saturdays working out on their own or with a class mate.

I remember when I got to brown belt all the other brown belts would get together to work out on Saturdays. It was a great feeling to be asked to show up which I always did. There were plenty of brown belts that never did though and not a single one of them ever made it black belt…not one.

Since I began teaching on my own in 1992 (running my own dojo) I have witnessed a steady decline in the self-discipline people put forth when they join a martial arts dojo. It seems everyone thinks if they simply “show up” to classes they “deserve” to move up in rank. I have a lot of students with great capabilities that could have become black belts but they were lazy in their training or tried to skate by with acting like they were training. Regardless one of the reasons I use belt exams is to actually TEST a student to see if they are truly training and understanding the materials being taught in the dojo. It is very clear when a student is not practicing or preparing for the belt exam because they do not do good enough to pass it.

It used to be that I would show a student a Kata three or four times and they would work it until they had the basics of it down. We would then work on it to help them get better at it. Today if you are not teaching the Kata by numbers and stepping the students through it they don’t even try to get it. This bothers me because, unlike them, I have had to use my skills in real life situations and I know that had I trained this way I would not be here today for certain. Part of Karate training is about disciplining yourself to train…even when you don’t want to. To go above and beyond the normalcy of life and step in the excellent. You have to push yourself hard and harder or you quite simply will fail. So here is my advice to all you aspiring students out there:

1. When a Sensei tells you something, corrects you or shows you something don’t just stand there and nod yes. Work it until you think you may have it and then show the Sensei so we can help you get better at it. This what a Sensei loves…seeing a student’s desire to excel and improve.
2. Whenever you can make it to the dojo to train…even when a class is not going on. The extra effort you put into your training will be the absolute difference between being able to use the skills you are learning and failing in a real self-defense situation and in life. We are very fortunate today that most schools have open mat time…take advantage of it…after all you pay tuition so get the most out of it you can.
3. When you feel like you want to quit training is when you MUST go to classes. This is an absolute in anything in life. The only way to get over the quitting bug is to not do it and to FORCE yourself to achieve. A Sensei is not there to hold your hand and most good Sensei will not. If you don’t show the self-discipline to train and improve you deserve to be ignored. We teach Karate…not do babysitting.
4. Set realistic goals each week. A lot of people just show up and go through the moves in classes. Each week you should start off with a new goal. For example “this week I am going to learn my new kata” or “this week I am going make my stances better” and then focus on that goal. Simple and realistic goal setting such as this improves the overall goal of not only earning a black belt but it will make you an excellent one to boot.
5. Quit making excuses or blaming your failures on others. If you show up unprepared for classes it is your own fault…no one else. Always be prepared is important if you want to be successful in life as well as in a real self-defense situation. When someone is trying to harm you making excuses means you get HARMED.
6. MAKE TIME TO TRAIN. Schedule your class days as Karate days and they are not bendable for anything except emergencies. Pick at least two class days a week that you WILL go to the dojo no matter what unless an emergency comes up. People who do this and do not just show up randomly are 10 times more successful than others at learning the martial arts.
7. Make time to work on your skills outside of the dojo. Since many people are very busy these days and cannot often make it to open mat time at the dojo you should pick a 30 minute interval twice a week where you will study what you are learning that week in the dojo. Do not use this if you miss classes though…you need to make up that class.
8. Push yourself and when your Sensei is pushing you harder give it all you got. All the best black belts have a saying of “leave it all on the mat” which means to give it everything you have each class. Sweat, strain, work hard, struggle and put it all into your training…no exceptions. This is the only way to improve in Karate. Giving half effort leads to ultimate failure and failure cannot be an option.
9. Remember that every single person who has earned a black belt including your Sensei has gone through the same emotions and feelings you are experiencing. We have all wanted to quit at some time. We have all felt like crap sometime. We have all felt like we couldn’t get it right at some time. The only difference is we followed the above advice and trained to get better realizing that only quitters fail and we would not allow ourselves to be quitters.
10. Face every single fear you have no matter what. A good Sensei will know your fears and eventually you will be required to face them. If you are afraid to Kumite a certain person in the dojo you can rest assured that your Sensei will keep paring you up with that person…not to get you to quit but to help you get better and overcome the fear. Overcoming fear is as big a part of earning a black belt as is learning how to throw a great front kick.

In closing keep these in mind and print them out. Go back to them over and over again to remind yourself how to train and then improve each class. It is tough but it is the tough that makes it great. Anyone can earn a black belt…but not everyone will make it to black belt…you can either be one of the greats who put in the work or just another space on the mat. I think the only answer is clear. Good luck and remember what you learn in the dojo will improve your life outside of the dojo :)

The Passion of a Sensei…

Let’s face it today there is just about some sort of martial art school in almost every town across the United States. You have big commercial operations all the way to small back yard schools to choose from. For many people the biggest thing they concern themselves with is price of lessons and even some think that free training may be good too but in all honesty it is not the cost of the lessons that matter. From free to over $100 a month doesn’t matter if the Sensei of the dojo has no passion for their art. Let me explain further.

When a student signs up for lessons at any martial arts school the first thing to notice would be the Sensei. It is this Sensei who will be the role model for the student and guide them on their journey into learning what possibly could be a life enhancing transformation through diligent martial arts study. In my time in martial arts (33 years) I have visited schools all over the United States and abroad. Some schools I simply walked out as soon as I walked into them because it was clear that making money was the focus or that the Sensei was on an ego trip and taught to increase their own ego. Other schools the Sensei had no focus and just basically wanted to make a little money on the side through teaching but they had no intention of truly living the martial arts way nor had they practiced very much since getting a black belt. Then you have a school where you walk in and you can tell the Sensei loves their art and truly trains, not just teaches, but actually trains their art all the time. This last type of school is the best to learn at in my opinion.

When a Sensei has a passion for their art it will show in every motion, every aspect of their life and shines through when they teach the art to others. They truly want to see their students excel at the art knowing it will improve their lives. They definitely love to learn as much as they love to teach and that means the Sensei will always be improving to offer their best to their students. When it comes to quality I sincerely do not think anyone could go wrong if they find a Sensei who is full of passion for their art and live the principles that they preach in their dojo.

One of the best aspects of watching a Sensei who loves their art is how graceful, powerful and stunning they perform their art. You can see their hard work and dedication through each motion and the depth of understanding they have, even about the simplest techniques, is outstanding. These are the best Sensei to learn from because they are right there next to the students doing the techniques and helping them by setting the example through their own level of expertise. This is what I always recommend potential students look for when choosing a dojo over the price, the location, the trophies in the window and all the other marketing ploys out there.

If a student signs up and pays $50 a month for lessons but has a Sensei who is not passionate then that other dojo down the road that charges $70 a month with a passionate Sensei is well worth the extra money and vice a versa. If a student is paying $129 per month and the Sensei is not passionate then the $65 one down the road with a passionate Sensei would be a much better investment. Why? The answer is in the quality. When a person loves what they do the quality of the end product is always better and of higher grade than the other. This is a fact of life.

I will state though that you must also consider the art being taught because there are a lot of made up systems out there today and even though the Sensei may be passionate about it they might not be teaching you a valid system which can result in other problems as you progress too. If the art is good and the Sensei truly loves that art, trains it daily and teaches it with their entire heart you are in a good place to truly learn the martial arts. If they simply put on a uniform, collect your tuition and stand in front of the class yelling commands I would have to say it may be time to move on and find a better dojo.

In the end all students are the product of the Sensei. Since your training should be invaluable, as I feel mine has been, then you deserve to find a dojo and Sensei that is full of purpose, passion and who is there to pass on those things…not just there to make a buck. Keep in mind though to be wary of a passionate black belt who may love their art but hides things from you because that is a sign they may not truly be qualified to teach. Good luck in your search for a dojo and always remember that the training inside the dojo is there to be used outside the dojo to improve your way of life so train hard.

The Black Belt Tournament Dilemma…

In the past 10 years I have been to at least one tournament a month many of which were hosted in the USA and some in other countries. Even today it amazes me that people who have earned a black belt or are a Sensei simply have no idea about the code of being a black belt, what that entails when you are at an event or simply they show no care for this time honored tradition. Today I decided to sit down and right out some outlines for black belts who are attending tournaments with the hopes that this will clear up what you, as a black belt or Sensei, should be doing and behaving as such.

Earning a black belt means much more than just wearing the cloth around your waist especially when it comes to tournaments. If you are a black belt and go to an event you have a higher calling than just showing up. A black belt has been given the honor to judge others and lead by example at tournaments yet many of them seem to think they are above this honor today. Recently at one tournament a person who is both a black belt and a Sensei was walking around while the event was taking place and arguing with officials in the rings their student was in. Now this is a common occurrence and does happen because it is permitted for a black belt to “discuss a call in a respectful manner” but I saw little respect with this situation for many reasons. First this black belt was in street clothes. Secondly this black belt had not helped out in one single ring the entire day. Third they walked right into the ring as if they were allowed to do so and interrupted the match in progress. All these things, to me, are something poorly trained black belts will do to say the least.

When you go to a tournament and are a black belt you should understand these rules if you want respect from the elders, your seniors and generally all around at the event. Here they are and I sincerely hope that everyone reading this post takes them to heart and that tournament promoter’s get one the bandwagon and begin enforcing these traditions.

1. Black Belts show up in uniform. A tournament is no different than a formal event held in a dojo. No self-respecting black belt would ever show up to an event at their dojo in street clothes. We come prepared to train, learn and do our part as black belts so you MUST show up in uniform. If you choose not to be in your Gi then do not be surprised when black belts like me simply ignore you or could care less what you want. In all honesty you actually should not even be on the competition floor period.
2. Be ready to help out the promoter by being a judge. Earning a black belt means you have also been given the right to grade other students. We do this in our dojo everyday through discussing what a student needs to do to become a black belt themselves. When we go to a tournament it is important that we take this honor seriously. A black belt is there to judge (if they are not competing and when they are done competing) period. This is part of the responsibility of wearing that cloth around your waist and calling yourself a black belt. When you get to the event get change into your Gi, find the promoter and ask to judge. They will be delighted that you did so and this is part of earning respect for yourself, your Sensei and your dojo.
3. Understand that your students are there to compete…not to win but to have a chance at winning. Every single student that goes to a tournament wants to win. No one likes to lose but there is method of competing with honor and integrity where the students takes the training you have given them and now can put it to use. If you COACH or ARGUE to attempt to get your student a better score or win then what are you truly teaching them? Let them do their thing and compete. Like all Sensei I want my students to win but I let them compete on their own. I watch, take notes (as time permits) and then we work on their performance when get back to the dojo where training takes place. At a tournament they must be given the freedom to attempt to use their own skills…not have you standing there coaching them. By permitting your students to experience success, failures, being robbed, bad calls and good calls you are truly letting them learn to become their best…by coaching them to win you are simply teaching them that winning is the most important thing which we all know it is not in Martial Arts. In real life when they will have to use their skills you taught them you will not be around to help them...let them use the tournaments to learn this so they truly can be prepared to survive in the streets.
4. Understand that everyone gets robbed in their career as a martial artist. While I do not condone this type of political behavior it does take place at every event. I have had a career in tournaments spanning from 1980 until recently and have been robbed many times…even at the world / international level. Each time I was upset but I chose the higher path and just walked away with whatever place I ended up with. My Sensei always taught me “If you want to complain about losing a match because you were robbed then train harder, get better and that way there is no way they can rob you”. Mistakes happen, judges may show favorites but in the end it is what we teach our students that matter. If more people taught what my Sensei taught me then I believe there would be LESS occurances of people being robbed today as well as a much better quality of competitor.
5. Remember that as a black belt you have two choices when at tournaments. You can be part of the problem or be the solution. I love listening to black belts complain. It seems that we have some of the biggest whiners and children wearing the esteemed rank of black belt these days. If you want to complain then you need to have a SOLUTION. Everyone can complain about something but a true black belt figures out a solution to make it better. Complaining without a solution is redundant and does nothing to solve a problem you have seen. If you see something that was wrong have a solution or recommendation to help make it better in the future...think before you speak. We would not instruct our students in the dojo blindly would we? I sincerely hope not.
6. As a black belt you must also remember that parents and non martial artists are in the stands. They see your actions which reflect on EVERYONE who wears a black belt, owns a dojo or simply trains in martial arts. If you walk around in no Gi, make problems, don’t help out with the event and other things then you are helping to destroy the chances for people to become interested in training…not just with you but with every single Sensei in the world. Simply stated we must remember that we represent all black belts…not just our own dojo but everyone who has ever worn that rank so be a leader, be honorable, have integrity and DO YOUR PART to make the event great!
7. Tournaments can go very fast or take all day. The length of the tournament is not up to the promoter it is up to us as black belts. I have witnessed many times a panel of black belts get done with their divisions in their ring and they up and leave the ring. Then you hear the promoter frantically trying to find black belts for that empty ring which can take 10 to 20 minutes. When you are in a ring stay in the ring. When you are done with the divisions check with the head official to see if they can bring you more to help make the day go fast. If there are no more then it is perfectly fine to leave but not UNTIL you have made sure there is nothing more you can do as a black belt and judge. No one wants to go to a tournament that takes an entire day so we must all do our part to make it great. If we, as black belts, help make the day go fast and effectively then more people will want to come to a tournament which is something we ARE ALL responsible for.
8. IF you are a black belt and assigned as a center for a ring you must RUN YOUR RING. This means you need to be professional, disciplined, in charge of and manage it. I have been running rings for many years now and I simply love it. The first thing you should do is lay out CLEAR expectations for the competitors, spectators and even the Sensei who stands by watching. When the expectations are clear the ring runs smoothly when you are wishy washy then problems WILL happen. If you are in the center of a ring it is YOUR RING. You are responsible to know your job, enforce the rules of the events and run it effectively. You are there to help the other judges if you see they need it so they improve also. No one else is and this lies on your shoulders. Do not be too shy to say you are not up to running a ring and ask another who is more qualified than you to do so but if the promoter put you in a ring they must trust you to do so effectively.
9. Last but never least BE A BLACK BELT. We all market that what we teach is much more than simple punching and kicking. We state things like honor, respect, integrity, discipline, control and more in our marketing campaigns to entice people into to learn the arts. If we, as black belts or Sensei, do not honor what we market then we are hypocrites. This ruins it for EVERYONE so think before you act. You would not go into a real fight situation without thinking and making a game plan would you? If you did you would get thrashed or worse. Being a black belt means that we all must stand for these principles. If you are wrong or did something wrong ADMIT it, fix it and move on. It always amazes me the number of black belts who make a mistake and don’t want to look foolish by admitting to it. Think back for a second…you did not earn a black belt without making A LOT of mistakes. We are all human and will screw up but it was what we do when we do this that represents those character traits we claim to teach others.

In closing it is important to remember that we are ALL in this TOGETHER. Regardless of your rank, your achieved status or whatever you may think you are entitled to we have a job to do at tournaments. Next time you go to an event please remember these things and let’s all work together to make whatever circuit you are on a better one…not just for the competitors but also for the parents and others who are watching. We must live what we preach…anything else is NOT BEING A BLACK BELT period. Thank you for taking time out to read my ramblings and I sincerely hope this makes you think before you act. As always train hard and remember to apply the lessons inside the dojo outside of the dojo everyday :)

I have tagged some people and would enjoy everyone's feedback on my articles so please feel free to leave commentary. As with everything these are my thoughts based on my experiences...just opinions and therefor I always welcome commentary.

Fighting? A Martial Arts Purpose? Don't think so...

Everyone can remember the great stories about the Blood n Guts era of martial arts in the USA. We heard about how tough training was and how hard the black belts hit and fought. All these stories make from some great and interesting conversations but even these incredible fighters that came out of that era did much more than fighting when they trained their martial arts.

With advent and popularity of MMA and the UFC, or we can just say cage fighting, people today seem to think that every martial art is about getting out there on the mat and proving your self worth. A popular trend we are seeing is where people feel the need to "prove" how great they are through disrespecting and running their mouths about how "tough" they are or how "tough" they train. To me, in all honesty, it is a bit discerning to see this view of the martial arts as the main stream acceptance of a standard.

MMA, know as Mixed Martial Arts, is a sport that involved the pitting of two people against each other in steel cage where they will compete in a rule based environment to defeat their opponent. It is the pure essence of sport, or should I say combative sports, much like boxing but quite different. Like many others I enjoy watching my favorite MMA fighter step in the ring but I have a much different view on why I watch it. I do not get all these feelings of ego and superiority building up where I want to run out and prove my toughness to others which I see a lot of from the fan base of MMA. Instead I get to enjoy watching the principles of traditional martial arts and sports like boxing, kickboxing and wrestling being applied in a controlled environment. It is really neat to watch some of the application methods of the fighters but in all essence it is still just a sport.

MMA is a great and cool sport and for those who are interested in it go for it but to the general public please remember that MMA does not define true martial arts nor what you will learn in a good martial arts school. The real martial arts, including during the Blood n Gut years, was about seeking the balancing of the mind, body and spirit. This was done through many hours of arduous training of techniques, breathing exercises and study of application. Sure as the student progresses the contact levels increase but each person can chose the path that interested the most.

The people that enjoy studying the martial arts for personal reason truly gain a deep respect and adoration of Kata. Kata is you against you. It is about learning and perfecting the techniques of an art, studying the application of these techniques hidden with in the Kata and training it to a state of mind called Mushin where the body, spirit and mind act as one cohesive unit. Kata is the essence of a martial art and something that you learn which can go with you, be practiced anywhere and improve your abilities as a martial artist. It is the text book, if you will, of your martial art and includes the needed curriculum to perfect your abilities. It is not a mere dance or form but rather a living, breathing portrait of martial arts in motion.

Then there is Kumite. Many people today associate Kumite with fighting but it much more than that. Kumite is the study of martial art techniques in both a controlled and live environment. By controlled what is meant is we study without the desire, need or wanting to harm our opponent. If you get injured because you wanted to fight then you cannot train. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. Some people think that by using control and not striking with full power at an opponent you are training to do the same thing in a live self defense situation but that is why we have hand targets, heavy bags and other equipment to hit full force. Striking another human being with full force, especially in training, is only reserved for when it is absolutely needed...not for training with another. Some people say that Kumite is sparring, which it can be associated with, but the emphasis is on mastering the principles of movement along with the ability to strike an opponent. Control is needed because one accident can and will result in serious as well as life threatening injuries. Kumite is something many people enjoy but it is only one small aspect of the overall picture which makes martial arts such a positive thing at enhancing people's lives.

Self Defense is not about fighting either. This is a huge misconception when it comes to understanding the reasons we study martial arts for self defense. Any idiot can throw a punch or fight but that leads to consequences such as jail time, being sued and worse. Self Defense is the study of the applications taught in Kata and Kumite to escape and stay safe against an attack in the real world. A modern trend in the Self Defense movement developed with Krav Maga where people train full contact against live attacks. At certain levels of training this quite fine but for beginners it always results in damages and injuries...which result in the inability to train. I have visited a lot of martial arts schools that are very traditional. Only when a students shows three things are they permitted to train at that level. Those three things are 1) proper technical understanding 2) respect for their partner and 3) ability to control their emotions. If you lose control of your temper because you got hit hard someone will get hurt and 99% of the time it is the one who lost that control.

The final aspect, and one that is quickly being forgotten, is the study of the history of the martial art along with the philosophical parts of it. Studying the mere physical parts of a martial art leaves the art empty and without purpose. Some people call these traditions or traditional and others like to attune them with religious beliefs. In fact they are neither. Knowing the history of the martial art you study adds depth and respect for where it came from. Martial Arts were not developed to fight in a cage or ring...they were developed out of a need to both defend one's self as well as improve their life and health. When one fails to pass on the reasons and meaning behind the art then they only pass on the mere techniques thus making the art watered down...even if it is effective in self defense...it is has lost its purpose and meaning.

Fighting is not the goal nor the purpose of martial arts study. It is the perfection of the entire art. When people hear about all the benefits one can gain from training in the martial arts such as confidence, respect, discipline, fitness and others they often tend to forget that those will fade away if one does not continue a constant pursuit in their training. We, as Sensei, see this all the time. Parents enroll their child because they need discipline and focus along with self esteem. Eight months later their son has improved his grades, feels good about himself and seems to be on the right track. When it comes to renew his membership they pull him out. A year later he is right back where he was before he began training. The ONLY way to get the TRUE and LONG TERM benefits of studying martial arts is to train them LONG TERM. No matter what any ad tells you or any instructor sells you it will never be an OVERNIGHT process.

What makes studying the martial arts proper and correct is not fighting. It is staying safe, showing up to classes on a regular basis, listening to your Sensei and working on the material presented in the classes. Over time you, as the millions before you have, will gain a renewed sense of vigor in life and the positive lifestyle changes will come...but if you are just wanting to fight you do not need to learn martial arts. All you need to do is go out, shoot off your mouth and you will get a good dose of why we do not study fighting....it only leads to a negative lifestyle where someone bigger and badder than you will eventually beat you up.