Current Newsletter Articles

How is my Child Progressing?

 Often parents ask me how their child is doing in class. It is natural to want an update from time to time. Apart from asking a Sensei, parents, legal guardians, grandparents and other relatives, can always ask the young student to show you their attendance card, which has an ongoing Progress Report on the back. Ask at the Front Desk if you need help understanding what it means.

Since many parents do not have any background in the martial arts they sometimes do not have any reliable way to judge their child's progress; hence, watching a class through the window does not always give them a sense of what is really going on inside. Also, appearances can sometimes be deceiving, since everyone learns in different ways. The Sensei will often present material to be learned by first demonstrating the technique (or asking a student to demonstrate), thus presenting the technique visually. They may then verbally describe the details pertaining to the technique. This would normally be followed with actual practice by the students in order to appreciate the movements involved, and allowing the Sensei to correct them.

Martial arts instruction involves quite a lot of repetition, something that most children are not that familiar with these days, given the high tech world that they have grown up in. “Short Attention Span Theater” and 30 second sound bites are the order of the day, but our MuDoKai students do develop their attention quite quickly with training, so that they can learn the curriculum material thoroughly as we present it to them, and work their way up through the ranks to Black Belt and beyond.

There are many schools that have come and gone in the South Florida area in the last thirty two years since I have been teaching here. What I notice most of all is how minimal the requirements are for Black Belt at many of these places. Often the belt is given after just one or two years of training, with no objective standard required. One school was even called the “Black Belt Factory”. Another one had the slogan “two years, $2,000- guaranteed Black Belt”. It sounded like a rip-off to me. I have met some of the products of these programs. When I visited one such facility years ago with one of my advanced Junior Brown Belts, who was ten years old at the time (having trained for six years in our Dojo), the "Grandmaster" of the other style remarked that, with my student's long training record, she would be “teaching classes” at his school as a Black Belt if she trained with him. Subsequently this particular MuDoKai student trained another four years, receiving her Junior Black Belt at age fourteen. It’s OK to set goals and strive to achieve them; and then to one day earn your Black Belt. You’ll appreciate it fully when you know that you worked for it diligently, and learned a thorough and complete skill-set along the way. We never want to hold anybody back; however, it does take time to achieve Black Belt, and so it should!

© 2012 Shihan Robert H. Mason 

The Junior Black Belt Team

Four new Junior Black Belts were promoted on May 16th with an average training time of seven years. In a world in which faster is often considered better, this accomplishment is laudable for several reasons. Of course, the young  men involved trained hard and often to achieve this level of expertise. After all, the standard of excellence at UKC is top of the line, as is evidenced by the surfeit of trophies on display, won by students over the years who competed in Open Tournaments where all styles were welcome. Additionally, there are schools in the local area which award Black Belts based on just one or two years of training. When a young student trains at our Dojo the parents are part of “the team” that helps them become  proficient enough in the program to be ready to eventually test for their Junior Black Belt. The Instructors play a very important role; however, it is the parents who must arrange for the student to be brought consistently to class over the years. This is a real commitment, and the parents who have fulfilled it are to be commended. In our busy world it is all too easy to just not make the effort; however, this karate program has been specifically created to develop physical, emotional, and psychological balance in the students, and as such is an essential tool for future success in  any area of life, encompassing as it does, the direct acquisition of life skills.

© 2012 Shihan Robert H. Mason 

Joseph (black shirt) Spars Alex (white gi) 4 students Rohit, Joseph, Alex and Jesse with their Junior Black Belts and Shihan Mason

The Value of Understanding the Curriculum

A Black Belt recently returned to class after taking a work-related sabbatical. Knowing that he had not trained for several months, he put himself in a Beginner class, asking the Instructor for recommendations on appropriate material to practice. The Instructor recommended Gold, Orange, and Blue Belt material which the student then worked on, demonstrating a deep understanding of MuDoKai training principles.

In the academic world, students follow a prescribed course of study for each subject - a curriculum. Likewise, in MuDoKai, specific material is studied at each belt level through the use of a written curriculum. This vital booklet, which organizes in sequence all material learned, is a “treasure house” for students of MuDoKai. Most martial arts schools do not have a written curriculum, this unique course outline is a priceless tool which can help the student look back on what has been learned, and look forward to what is to be learned next.

Due to the complexity and challenge of our program, students sometimes forget earlier belt material when they move on to higher belts. Hence, the Sempai (assistant) program, for Purple Belts and above, exists to bridge the gap between beginner, intermediate, and advanced knowledge. By assisting regularly with lower belt classes, the Sempai may reconfigure his or her own understanding of previously learned material in the curriculum, developing knowledge on a higher level by approaching the material from this new direction.

Since learning is progressive and gradual,  all attempts to reinforce it are valuable. Repetition is an essential element in the process of turning information into knowledge. This is why  assisting in lower belt classes and following the recommendations of the Sensei are all ways to capitalize on this idea.

A little known fact is that the University Karate Center curriculum states that “at any Graduation, a student may be asked to perform any technique up to and including material for the current belt being tested for.” When a student is recommended for Black Belt, they must prepare for that test with the understanding that they will be expected to perform, without hesitation and without coaching, all material learned from White Belt through advanced level Brown Belt. One way to insure successfully reaching the goal of Black Belt is to persistently practice, not only what is needed for one’s current Kyu (belt), but also the material that went before. For all levels of practice , from beginner to Black Belt, DVDs are available for practice at home.

Shihan Robert H. Mason  © 2012

 Valentine’s Day

In fifth grade I went to a Jewish day school. Since Mr. Valentine, whose day we celebrate on the fourteenth of this month was a Christian saint, Valentine’s Day was not an observed holiday at my school. In an explanation as to why we weren’t allowed to exchange candy or cards, one of my teachers said, “It shouldn’t have to say February 14 on the calendar for my husband to bring me flowers.”

Even though this didn’t mean much to me at the time, she had a good point. Men should bring their wives flowers all the time. No, seriously, she was talking about needlessly reserving a human showing of affection. As members of a community, we should be able to tell our friends and families how we feel whenever the mood strikes us, and not have to wait for a special day. The special day is a great reminder, personally one of my favorite holidays, but if communities function as they should, we shouldn’t really need it.

Imagine if no one ever expressed gratitude except on Thanksgiving. How would we know we were appreciated? Love is one of the basic human emotional needs. It has been proven that infants who are untouched for their first few days of life either die or develop horrible social problems. A part of their brain is missing, and there’s no way to make up for that lack of affection.

Valentine’s Day is a time to show how much we appreciate each other. But this year, make it a resolution (yes, resolutions can be made on days other than January first) to show appreciation as a habit. Use Karate as a basic starting point. In Karate, we show appreciation for each other all the time. Think about it: We bow to our Sensei, to the class, and to the Dojo twice per lesson. We bow to our sparring and pairs partners. And we try to avoid hurting each other in most cases. In a grappling match, no one leaves a submission hold on once their partner has tapped out. It would be completely unacceptable and very dangerous, but it would have another result that’s rarely mentioned. It would be a blow to that person’s esteem. It would make them feel uncared for as a partner, as a companion, and as a person. It’s not just a matter of respect and consideration—it’s a matter of showing someone you care, even on a rather impersonal level.

So let’s cut the mushy stuff and get straight to the crux of it all:  Love in all its forms is one of the most important emotions that we as human beings can feel. We show our love by respecting others, and watching out for each other. We don’t reserve love for Valentine’s Day. If we did, the world would not function properly. Celebrate your love for your family and friends every day, even in a quiet way, and never keep your love bottled up for one occasion. Happy Valentine’s Day

Sensei Emily Snyder © 2012

The Benefits of the MuDoKai Lifestyle

Visit from Sensei Young

 We were pleased to have a surprise visit recently from one of our “early” Sensei, Mr. Chris Young, who trained in our previous dojo, which was located in Regency Park South, next to Toys R Us on West Broward Blvd.  Sensei Young is in town for a month working on one of his many projects, Back to Giving.

 When a student passes each belt test, their success is a real achievement, bringing with it a sense of accomplishment and pride; however, some find the prospect of learning new material an unwelcome challenge. Feeling intimidated, they may suddenly decide that they no longer want to come to class. To them it seems as if they are having to “start all over again”. To help students overcome this we offer DVDs for each belt level as a supplement to class training.

Only $39.99 for 9th (new White Belt) through 4th kyu (Purple Belt material) and $49.99 for 3rd (Brown) through Shodan (Black). 

Each tape features a detailed demonstration of all material taught in class. These DVDs can be a wonderful resource  for a student who wants to practice at home, as well as in class.

As the school year begins a new schedule will begin to take effect for many of our students. Much of this schedule will be dictated by the demands of homework, which has its place. We sincerely hope that  karate classes will continue to have a place as well.   As in so many other areas of life, it is always important to have balance.

As Judy Molland writes in her book ‘Get Out-150 Ways for Kids and Grown-ups to get into Nature’,  “The reality is that children need that oxygen in their brains to get thinking!  And there’s a growing body of research that finds that even a 15-minute break enhances a child’s ability to learn. Ironically, while the push for less recess is often driven by the need to drill kids for standardized tests, the truth is that those students will do better on their tests if they are allowed to take a break, and run around a little.”

Several years ago the Broward County School Board provided homework guidelines which included 10 minutes of homework per grade level beginning with First Grade. Hence, a student in Second Grade would have 20 minutes total of homework  per night, and so forth. This kind of work schedule allows the child to have time for other things that are also important, such as karate.

Many years ago one of our parents, who was an attorney and managing partner of a major law firm in Fort Lauderdale, began chatting with a staff member when he visited the karate school for his son’s belt graduations. Gradually over time the parent admitted that he had always wanted to take martial arts, but that he was just too busy. The staff member suggested that he take a Beginner Course and just write-in the karate classes in his appointment book at work. This parent became one of  the most dedicated students, attending class four times a week, sometimes taking private lessons, and achieved the rank of Purple Belt, only stopping when he moved out of the area. His job was so high pressured that he welcomed the opportunity, once he had committed to the training by scheduling the time in his daily reminder diary, to de-stress and refresh by taking  a karate class.

One of the many benefits of martial arts training is the endorphins that are produced through the exertion required in class. Endorphins are the “happy hormones” that give a feeling of well-being and calm; thus, an ideal reason to take a break from the hectic schedule that kids and adults are often on.

So, to be at your best, remember to schedule- in karate class at least twice a week.

Shihan Robert H. Mason  ©  2011

Through Goal Setting And The Resultant Acquisition Of Values

A recent report on the state of education in the U.S.A defined three major problems among contemporary high school students:

1) An absence of goals.

2) A lack of discipline

3) An overall impression of misplaced values among the young people represented in the study.

At the University Karate Center, we have the opportunity to address these issues in a direct manner that can lead to the internalization of new insights, habits, and perspectives, which in turn, can generalize into all aspects of a student’s life at any age.

For karate students at UKC goals are made very concrete through the use of the belt system. The attainment of Black Belt can be set as a long-term goal with the achievement of each colored belt set as an intermediate goal. The attainment of stripes between ranks offers concrete reinforcement on the way to achieving the proficiency required by the next belt test.

In order to succeed at meeting our goals, we must discipline ourselves. When we are enjoying what we do and are having fun, our activities reward us by the natural pleasure, joy, or comfort that they bring us. At these times, our endeavors do not require an external reward as the intrinsic reinforcement is quite sufficient. However, when we are struggling to learn a new skill, or trying very hard to cope with a disappointment or loss, our efforts are not being immediately rewarded. At these times, maintaining our perspective by reflecting on our goals, and the reward we will feel when we attain them, can provide the reinforcement that we need to keep our motivation up.

This process leads to the attainment of a disciplined attitude and the development of qualities like patience, endurance, perseverance and integrity. In many ways it is in making the effort to learn lessons that are difficult for us that we can experience the greatest growth. Through this process we can attain an understanding of the true value of achievement that comes as a consequence of hard work and improved competence. Over time we develop self-discipline because we have the power to suspend our need for an immediate reward now. We know that as we attain competence, as the result of correct practice for a period of time, we will achieve an even greater reward when our next goal is reached.

© 2011 Shihan Robert H. Mason

When the best Martial Arts students are training their hardest, they need flexibility, strength, and endurance, not only in the use of their bodies, but also their minds. They need mind fitness.

What does the mind have to do with it?  Webster’s dictionary defines the mind as “the part of a person that feels, perceives, thinks, wills and reasons.”  In other words, the mind has a lot of important work to do.  Some people describe it as the “steering wheel” of the body.  Because it has such a vital job, you must prepare your mind as energetically as you prepare your body.

What is mind fitness? The words flexibility, strength, and endurance can also describe the way we use our minds. These qualities can mean the difference between feeling tense and nervous and feeling confident and relaxed. Martial Artists need to be calm and sure of themselves to be successful in their sport.

How do you gain mind fitness? Once again, the steps are similar to those that help with physical Martial Arts training: you need lots of practice. Here is a guide to some of the basics:

Visualize. Understanding yourself and the way you think is a big part of mind fitness. Every few days, find a quiet time to be alone with your thoughts. Meditation coach Jon Kabat-Zinn suggests that you try “seeing your own life...as a journey and an adventure.  Where are you going? What are you seeking? Where are you now?”  He emphasizes that the “journey” belongs to you alone; you are in charge of the direction it takes, so think about what makes you happy. Visualize your successes. Exercising or practicing your kata are excellent ways to get ready to meditate.

Challenge yourself with new experiences. Make a point of finding someone or something new to learn about or experience.  It can be as simple as an unfamiliar food or as exciting as a new language. Pay attention to the feelings you have as you do new things.  How do you feel?  How do you behave?   What do you learn about yourself?

After achieving her Black Belt in 2008 Sensei Laraine Winston challenged herself to become a competitor. By the end of 2010 she had accumulated enough wins, including 1st Place at the ISKA World Championships, to become the  NASKA World Champion.

Read! The great Martial Artist Bruce Lee had an extensive library and a deep desire to know things, and he used what he learned in his readings to help him grow into a better man and a better Martial Artist. Find out more about the things your Sensei shares in your Martial Arts classes; use the library, the bookstore, the Internet; ask questions. 

Often we feel powerless. By showing us how to dramatically increase physical power through conditioning and proper body mechanics, Martial Arts makes us feel empowered.

Often we feel out of balance. By learning proper stances, efficient movement and kicking and striking skills, Martial Arts helps us to know what it feels like to be balanced. Physical balance is directly related to emotional control. “Concentrate on your balance, lose your upset.  Concentrate on your upset, lose your balance.” We can learn and practice emotional and psychological balance by understanding their relationship to physical balance.

 Adapted from Sensei Dave Kovar

Stripe Suggestions

How to get a stripe by  Sensei Matt Bergstresser

1. Walk into the Karate School in a civilized manner and get your card. Put your card in the box and your shoes neatly in the rack. Sit quietly on the bench .

2. Enter the Dojo respectfully and follow the directions given to you by Sensei or the Sempai.

3. Try your absolute best the entire class, from warm-ups to bow-out.

4. Learn the material you need to know and practice hard to do it well.

Remember, you never need to ask for a stripe. The Sensei are always looking to reward your progress when you are ready.

Learning to breathe correctly is an important part of Martial Arts practice. The breathing method that is taught in Mudokai Karate is based upon principles passed down by my instructors and upon my own research and experience. Correct breathing in class is essential to gaining the full benefit every session. We use the breath in Karate to focus our mind, balance our feelings, time our technique, reinforce our center, focus our intent and empower our strikes. Under certain circumstances we use it to control our mind so that we can be temporarily invulnerable to pain, and able to achieve complete coordination of our bodies with our consciousness.

When we begin to stretch at the start of each class we must focus on breathing away from the pain that we feel as the muscles stretch. This pain should be in the muscles and the tendons, and is perhaps better described as a “stretching feeling”, as the word pain has some negative connotations. The idea is to stretch further than is normally comfortable. If any pain is felt in the joints, like the hip, knee or shoulder for example, we should stop and change our position so as to isolate the stretch correctly. We don’t want to injure ourselves trying to get fit. Provided that we are feeling the stretch in the correct place, it is essential to correctly extend into the stretch so that our flexibility will increase. By using the breath as a point of focus we can stretch a little further every time that we exhale, and relax into the stretch a little more every time that we inhale. If all of our mind is on the breath there will be no mind left for the pain. During the warm-ups the breathing should be long, smooth and steady. We emphasize abdominal breathing so the abdomen must fill with air as we inhale. Chest breathing is always to be avoided.

Once we begin to train on our punches, blocks and kicks we must exhale strongly and quickly with each of these techniques. By breathing out very hard as we strike we stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system which will tend to lower the heart rate and decrease our blood pressure. This allows us to feel relaxed and poised even while working out with a high level of intensity. We also use our exhalation to add focus to every strike by exhaling right at the moment of impact or full extension of each strike. Ideally we will experience a moment of complete simultaneity with every strike. This will involve the strike landing at the same time as our foot lands or our hip twists, and at the same time as we tense our stomach. This simultaneous, coordinated effort allows us to achieve the highest level of focus, permitting all of our available power to be brought to bear on our target at the moment we strike. 

In order to learn to breathe from the abdomen, rather than merely from the chest, students can practice breathing at home. It can be a kind of meditation. Begin by sitting comfortably on a cushion or a chair with a nice straight back. Place one hand upon the stomach. Imagine that you are being held up by a string attached to the back of your head. As you breathe in through your nose you should feel your stomach fill with air. As you breathe completely out you should feel the stomach deflate. Wherever possible all breathing should be through the nose. This will prevent the loss of water vapor which occurs when you exhale through the mouth. A loss of water vapor upsets the salt balance in the body and leads to early fatigue. Inhaling through the mouth tends to dry up the throat. It also makes the jaw vulnerable to a strike if you are sparring or defending yourself. Keep the lips lightly touching and the breath smooth and connected. To be sure that your breath is smooth listen to the sound it makes as it goes in and out. If you hum quietly on the exhalation the note should stay the same. If you were able to hum on the inhalation that note would also be the same. To be sure that your breath is connected make sure that at the top of the inhalation there is no holding of the breath. Similarly the breath must not be held at the bottom of the exhalation. Allow the transition from inhalation to exhalation to be smooth and connected.

If you want to improve your basic breathing place a timepiece in front of you where you can easily see the second hand. Exhale for five seconds and smoothly transition into the inhale for five seconds. If you are comfortable you can work up to ten seconds in and ten seconds out. If you feel dizzy or suffer other discomfort relax and breath normally for a while. It means that you are overdoing the exercise and trying too hard. Keep your practice smooth, full, even and connected. It’s not a competition. Eventually you may be able to work up to taking thirty seconds on the inhalation and thirty seconds on the exhalation for thirty minutes. That is just thirty complete breaths in half an hour.

If you are working on Seishan Kata the breathing emphasizes a very slow strong exhalation, accompanied by tensing the stomach muscles strongly as you extend the tail bone downward.  This is followed by a very quick inhalation as you suck as much air as possible into the abdomen in about one second. You can practice the breathing sitting down as you visualize the Kata. Again, be sure to pay attention to any warning signals like dizziness, headache or other signs of discomfort that would indicate that you are practicing incorrectly.

Breathing accompanied by positive visualization can be very productive as a practice format for Martial Arts, or any other skill development. Over time you must establish abdominal breathing as your default breathing style, and train your reflexes to respond to any stressor, surprise or shock with a strong and immediate exhalation. In a crisis this will bring you to an immediate state of focused concentrated readiness. You will be centered in your belly, your body will be poised but relaxed and emotionally balanced. You will be in the optimum condition to deal with whatever is happening, having used your breath to bring you to a state of “oneness”: a condition where you are physically, emotionally and mentally focused in the present right here and now. This inherently spiritual condition is a collected state that will allow you to optimize all of your potential to handle whatever challenges life happens to bring your way. 

Shihan Robert H. Mason ©2011

Training for Competition and Combat

What is the relationship between self-defense and sparring in the Dojo or in competition? Some have argued that tournament competition (specifically sparring) has little if any value in preparing one for survival in the street. Others counter that, while sparring is not the same as actual combat, it is the best way you can test your skills, without actually looking for fights (something less than desirable). What is often missed by both sides is that there is a measure of truth in both of their respective positions.

Sparring in the Dojo can be a very useful training tool. From it one can learn several lessons, including distancing and timing. Without these skill you cannot control the moment of engagement with an opponent. These skills can only develop in a sparring  format when an attack can be launched spontaneously, rather than in a prearranged format like a partner practice routine. Typical self-defense techniques won't give you everything you need here. For example, most self-defense techniques are taught something like... "You're standing here and someone does this" or "You're in this situation, when suddenly..."  Normally, you avoid those things which may inflame the situation i.e. you aren't in a fighting stance with your guard up. But what do you do when you've been blindsided? Certainly there's little doubt that this is a fight. No need to worry about escalating a tense cold war into a hot one, it's already past that stage. Self-defense techniques are, for the most part, reactive in nature. That is, they are designed to allow you to react to someone else's action. That is fine, as far as it goes; but what if you face more than one opponent? How then, are you going to have the skills to counter your attackers? How are you going to react or respond to their further attacks? Not everything can be handled from a stationary position with a simple block and counter. How you close and control distance in attack and defense becomes critical here, and it is in precisely this area that sparring benefits the martial artist the most.

Sparring can be a great confidence builder as it can provide the student with some means of self-defense in a relatively short amount of time. Normally, competency in any system of self-defense requires years of training. Sparring techniques, however, being relatively simple and fewer in number, require much less time to achieve a minimal level of competence. This sort of superficial level of mastery could serve as a stop-gap or temporary method of defense until the student becomes more firmly grounded in their training.

Beyond sparring in the Dojo, tournament competition offers the opportunity to face opponents whose techniques and tactics may be unfamiliar and different from those that you have experienced at the Dojo. This places you in a situation which will reveal what spontaneous responses and reactions you have developed. It tests your reflexive skills in a way that is analogous to an actual combat situation. A real fight.

For all its benefits, however, sparring (especially competitive fighting) is not without its problems. For one thing, many competitors and spectators alike see tournament fighting as the end, the ultimate demonstration of an individual's martial skill. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth. I am not addressing the "spiritual' benefits of martial arts study and training here, but from the standpoint of martial arts study for self-defense, viewing fighting competition as anything other than a means to an end, is at best myopic.

Competitors sometimes look down upon non-competitors because they feel the non-competitor lacks either the skill or the courage to compete. Their argument is that the intensity and stress of fighting competition brings one closer to that of actual combat than any other form of training. Granted, competitive fighting does raise the intensity and stress factors for the fighter, but what in competition does that? First of all, the intensity for many comes from the glory, the desire to win a prize (trophy, money, whatever). Second, and this may be the one that produces the most stress, is the fact that one is also performing in front of his friends, juniors, peers and even betters. Without a doubt this certainly takes courage, but there is a great difference between fighting in a “controlled” environment, or in front of others for glory, and fighting for one's life. Sparring in the Dojo or the tournament ring, for all its benefits and glory, is still only a game of tag. At least that is what it is supposed to be. As such, one's participation and subsequent performance in competition should not be considered the only measure of an individual's skill or courage in a fight. Even competition in Full Contact matches or MMA require that rules be followed. Real fights have no rules. When it comes to competition, there are those who simply are not motivated to risk a bloody nose, sore ribs or jammed toes for a mere contest, but would willingly risk all, fighting like one possessed, when the safety of their loved ones or themselves is at stake.

Sparring, and specifically competition, is neither good nor bad in and of itself. It is only useful when seen and used as one tool among many. You cannot build a house thinking a hammer is the only tool you will need. Neither can you build a house without one. In this respect it becomes clear that learning to spar in the Dojo, followed by venturing out to competition, offers a path of personal development that will hone a students fighting skills. Short of actual combat there really is no better way to develop real combat  experience and courage. Here, sparring, including competitive fighting, can benefit the martial artist for it comes the closest in a relatively safe and controlled environment to simulating actual combat. You are facing a moving target that is trying to score on you, as you try to score on them. For the competitor, what must be avoided is the tendency to view non-competitors as inferior, unskilled or lacking courage. The non-competitor, on the other hand, must come to see sparring, in the Dojo or at a tournament, for what it was intended to be, namely a tool, a means to an end. It offers a way to test your martial arts skills in a controlled format, against skilled opponents who are trying to beat you. Along with your other training, sparring and competition fighting will contribute to your development as a well-rounded complete martial artist.

This article was adapted by Shihan Mason from an original essay by R.A. Orlando

A while ago I was sitting at the Front desk at my Dojo when a gentleman came through the door with his son. He told me the boy was six years old and had just been given his Black Belt in Taekwondo and now the Dad was thinking about having him join my Dojo to learn Karate. The next question was “can he keep his belt”. I told the father “of course he can keep his belt, but he must keep it at home”. Some schools believe that they should award a Black Belt after two years of study, regardless of the students level of skill or achievement. I am not of this mind. I see no reason to award a rank until a required degree of proficiency can be demonstrated. Consequently, the students in my Dojo have to train long and hard to achieve promotion through the ranks to Black Belt and beyond.

A parent recently told me that she had watched a karate class at another school and was impressed that the thrust punches they were doing seemed more powerful than the punches she saw her son performing in our classes. One of the challenges I face as the Chief Instructor is educating the parents and students on how our system works. The biggest problem with the classical Karate thrust punch is that it is easy to hyperextend the elbow and hurt the joint. This is especially true of children and beginners who may tend to execute the strike incorrectly, even following instruction and correction on the technique. My style of MuDoKai is based in a contemporary scientific approach to training, rather than a classical tradition. I pointed out to the parent in question that the power in any punch originates in the legs and is aligned through the torso. The arm is just the method of delivery and because of the risk of hyperextension in a punch or a kick, I insist that the students learn to execute their techniques with correct body use, appropriate head-neck alignment and correct breathing. My method is based upon my forty-eight years of martial arts training. During that time I’ve also drawn on my studies in the Alexander Technique for the attainment of poise. If you Google F.M. Alexander you can read about his revolutionary work in the field of correct body use. Our Karate Tigers and Little Dragons programs for preschool and kindergarten aged children draw on some of the work of Glen Doman, particularly his book on “How to Make your Baby Physically Superb”. If you Google Glenn Doman or The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential you will be able to see the massive contribution he has made to our understanding of how to teach both healthy children and those unfortunately afflicted with neurological damage.

MuDoKai is a scientifically based method of training so our practice does not always look like other schools. Unfortunately, many of the key principles and skills that we teach our students are not necessarily visible, and the results may not be immediately obvious. I was reminded recently of a story I was told by a parent regarding her son who fell off a swing in the park and broke his arm. I believe he was about eight years old at the time and had been training for about three years. He walked home from the park and informed his mom that they would need to go to the hospital because his arm was broken. Sure enough, after an X-Ray his arm was put in a cast by the doctor who asked him how come he didn't cry during the procedure, when he must have been in quite a bit of pain. He told the Doctor and his mom that he had just been “doing what Sensei said in class and breathing away from the pain. Scott went on to become a State Champion in both Forms and Sparring competition and a Gold Medalist at the Junior Olympics. As a twelve year old Brown Belt he beat all of the Black Belts in his age group to win the “Advanced Division” on the Florida  Martial Arts Events tour (FAME) which at that time combined Brown and Black Belt ranks. What Scott learned in class that allowed him to excel in competitions and deal with a real world injury was based in lessons that were mostly invisible to his parents, or anyone watching him train. They were inner growth processes that taught him self control and perseverance, focus and confidence over time.  This is very practical knowledge, but it cannot be acquired quickly and easily, and the process of acquisition may often not be obvious.

Last week I spoke to a young man who was visiting our Dojo while his friends trained in class. I heard the office manager ask him if he was interested in training himself. He said that he had trained before, for three years and achieved a Brown Belt in another school. He added that he had quit training because the Master Instructor was mean. When I asked him what he meant by that he said that the Master would yell at the students all the time and on one occasion had thrown him against a wall. I asked why he had stayed so long with an abusive teacher and he said that the school had an aftercare program that picked him up from school, so it was convenient for his parents. The truth is that Karate training, like life, is not always convenient, but it need not be mean and destructive. Not all Martial Arts schools are the same, so I hope that parents and students alike will strive to learn what makes our MuDoKai Martial Arts system here at the University Karate Center the best way to train for fitness, self-defense and competition.

Showing Appreciation as a Martial Artist, Holiday Eating Made Healthy and Fun, A Word from the Wise & Visualization and Thinking