Page 30 - Martial Science Magazine Oct/2014 #5

WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO BE YOUR
STUDENT?
It is my hope that a new student gives me a
chance to truly be their instructor in a long-
term professional relationship that ultimately
grows into a lifelong friendship. I thrive on
clear and frequent communication, students
are encouraged to feel comfortable asking lots
of questions and clarifying their training, and I
have adapted the philosophy that the stupidest
question is the one that was not asked. I expect
my school's instructors to be nurturing while
simultaneously pushing my students to excel,
always in a positive way. This is possible to do,
and most students welcome the push when they
realize that everyone, including themselves,
believes in their success. In my dojo, no stu-
dent ever gets left behind. We will take as long
as we need to help the student grow. We are
not in a hurry, and this is not a McDojo. While
we don't hand out belts like Chiclets, we won't
hesitate to bring anyone to that level when they
have earned it. We will never hold anyone back
or impose arbitrary time requirements. Ever-
yone learns at their own speed and that must
be respected.
WHAT IS YOUR VISION AND DREAM
FOR YOUR STUDENTS?
I would like my students to pass on the legacy
they receive from my school, growing the arts
and developing good students of their own. I
would like their experiences in my dojo to have
a positive impact on their personal lives, throu-
gh improved health, attitude, mental abilities,
and whatever spiritual growth they desire. I
greatly desire that through the martial arts,
each student who comes through my school de-
rives a positive benefit that is experienced by
others in their lives, with a ripple effect throu-
gh society that is purely for the good. I would
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hope and expect that each student who enters
my school make a lifelong commitment to the
art and to their development derived from their
experiences in the school. This is not about ge-
tting a rank and then saying, “Okay, mission
accomplished, goodbye.” This is about conti-
nuous growth and development through a life-
time of discipline, training, and Ohana.
WHY HAVE YOU DEDICATED YOUR
LIFE TO MARTIAL ARTS?
After seeing “Enter the Dragon” in 1973, I
wanted to do martial arts as a kid, but as the
years passed it became a way of life. I rea-
lized I needed to learn discipline, dedication,
and what Ohana was about. I needed to feel
as though I belonged to something bigger than
myself. It just kept growing, and the more time
has passed, the more I have felt sustained and
inspired by the martial arts, and most impor-
tantly, through the rich interpersonal experien-
ces with those who have spent their lives simi-
larly. At this point I simply want to give back.
I have learned to take what I have learned in
the dojo and apply it to everyday life inside and
outside the dojo. Now I fully understand the
phrase “Martial arts is not something to do;
martial arts is something to be.”