Martial Arts Professional

[John Giacoletti]

Demonstrated perception of value by community through its support over 25 years.

School and karate program supervised daily by a Shihan Master Instructor.

Fit black-belt teachers provide consistent lessons for each scheduled session. Instructors maintain a personal training program.

Mainline, traditional Karate Style from Okinawa, birthplace of Karate.

Curriculum presents the complete Uechi-Ryu martial arts system of karate and self defense.

Carefully structured lessons foster self-improvement, leadership, physical fitness and self-confidence for students of all ages.

Teachers teach a skill-oriented craftfully designed, time-tested balanced program presented in easy to follow modular units.

Beneficial workouts by certified, trained insturctors with minimal karate-chop talk.

The above matters are my own perception of what a student should expect from a professional martial arts organization teaching Uechi-Ryu Karate. This differs considerably from the dedicated but ad-lib karate-show efforts of the part-time dojo owner.

[Bruise* Lee]

The business gurus out there today are simply taking the successful (money making) formulas that have been around for years and converting them to the martial arts.

In their view, there are no "systems", only generic drills designed to make teachers out of anyone and sign-up formulas designed to extract the most money possible out of everyone who walks in the door.
.

Many many years ago I had a book from the Tracy Brothers that was perhaps 2 or 3 inches thick - its around here somewhere. It was all about making the most money from students.

I have owned several chiropractic businesses. Owning your own business is not small feat. Half start ups go out of business in the first year and half of whats left are gone in another 4. A business that survives the 5 year mark has achienved a certain longevity. If it is thriving after 5 years that alone is truly impressive.

The businesses that do the best are franchises where you are simply copying what has worked as a machine without change - McDonalds is a premieir example - everything is standardized : uniforms, how french fries are made, how accidents are reported, how soap is put in dispensers, etc.

This certainly sounds like a franciseable idea

[Bill Glasheen]

The above matters are my own perception of what a student should expect from a professional martial arts organization teaching Uechi-Ryu Karate. This differs considerably from the dedicated but ad-lib karate-show efforts of the part-time dojo owner.

You don't need to include this part. This potentially disparages some of the very Okinawan Senseis whose traditional martial arts Ric practices and teaches today. More than a few well-known Okinawans also drove taxis or had other careers to support their families. One "part time" instructor of Uechi Ryu has now been designated a national treasure in Japan.

Everyone has a path. The only thing that matters here is that Ric represents himself and his walk the best he can.

- Bill

[Dana Sheets]

It could also disparage, by association, students who train Uechi at a dojo where the owner isn't a fulltime karate teacher who works in the model you describe. That is most of our Uechi family.

When writing on a forum I find that categorical statements about just about anything only tend to close down the dialogue -- therefore, I find they are best avoided.

[John Giacoletti]

This potentially disparages

...

It could also disparage...

I agree ... if that's your interpretation of the handwriting on the wall. You see the arrow coming and you feel your time has come.

But come ... come forward. There is still time. Snatch the arrow in full-flight. You can change and survive.

The Master - Student relationship that prevailed in China and Okinawa at the conclusion of the 19th Century was carried into the 20th century by Master Uechi Kanbun.

Master Uechi Kanei realized that the prevailing practices of his father's era were not appropriate for the mid-20th century and he changed them for the benefit and growth of the Uechi organization.

Now is our time; the process of change is an ongoing one. The heads-up schools that will thrive in North America in the 21st century are managed by full-time professionals who are charismatic leaders, gifted Uechi practitioners, and savy business managers who teach, administer and market on a full time basis.

The Master - Student relationship is supplanted by the Student/Family relationship with the ongoing Martial Arts business organization. There is not only a moral and ethical responsibility of the school to provide a quality, systematic Uechi program, there is a business, contractural obligation.

The business organization provides the facilities and methodologies in an environment that fosters successful martial arts programs in which a diverse student population can all find value and realize progress in their martial arts aspirations.

The school for our era is about the synergy and inter-personal relationships that grow and thrive in a dynamic, well-managed full-time program.

The Okinawan jars co-exist with the technology of the Focus Master. But exercise physiology and modular pedagogy now drive the Uechi curriculum. Those not up to date are out of date.

The mom and pop dojo and the part-time studio are curiosities and relics of a by-gone era. Wake up to the energy and enthusiasm of the growth process. It's exciting and a challenge.

[John Giacoletti]

Dana wrote:

who train Uechi at a dojo where the owner isn't a fulltime karate teacher who works in the model you describe. That is most of our Uechi family.

You understand the problem. You understand why Uechi is not growing.

Do you prefer Kleenex or will generic tissues suffice?

[Dana Sheets]

Hmmm...curious response John.

I guess you chose to ignore the second half of my post where I mentioned why the style of writing you are choosing shuts down dialogue instead of opening it up.

Do not put words into my mouth and do not think for a moment that via this medium you have any idea what I know and what I understand.

Do not include me in your indictment of training practices that are not identical to those of your teacher. On that you stand alone.

[Stryke]

Hey John , dont they work on character improvement at your school ?

[MikeK]

The mom and pop dojo and the part-time studio are curiosities and relics of a by-gone era.

Now that's dropping a bomb on a good part of the karate community.


Boy, I'd hate to think how antiquated those of us who practice in backyards are.

Wake up to the energy and enthusiasm of the growth process. It's exciting and a challenge.

[John Giacoletti]

Dana,

I think you are being more than a bit parental in your remarks. They are overbearing and controlling:

Do not put words into my mouth and do not think for a moment that via this medium you have any idea what I know and what I understand.

Do not include me in your indictment of training practices

You no doubt feel under attack and are retaliating because you don't agree with my personal assessment of the Uechi community. You're spitting and snarling like a cat cornered in an alley fight.

The way our society works is that you don't control my responses although you may like to do so. Your comfort level isn't my responsibility.

You maintain this preposterous charade of being the moderator of a women's forum which has no participation by women.

I know exactly what you think and say because you've said it in response to Mr. Young's questions as to why you don't have input from women. You say you don't know.

I suggest that when it comes to "dialogue" you're not the expert you preport to be. You should know, and you should have a list of steps to implement to resolve the problem.

The lack of involvement by women in your forum and their lack of participation is just another indication that not all is well in the Uechi community. The crucial step in solving a problem is acknowledging it, and rather than doing so you attack me, my style of presentation and the content of my posts.

I suppose that part of the problem with the forums is that they are not properly marketed and entered in the spider search engines for "karate" entries in Google and other search methodologies.

I have a friend who makes his living selling guitar strings off his "Strummin' Along" website. (Nets $35,00.00 per month). He employs his son-in law who is a computer engineer as a "maximizer". If you search "guitar strings, " "Strummin' Along," will pop up among the first four entries. The same thing could be done for your forum but isn't. It's an issue of knowledge, priorities, costs and advertising income on the part of ownership. Karate dojo face similar issues.

[fivedragons]

"Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought?… Has it ever occurred to you, Winston, that by the year 2050, at the very latest, not a single human being will be alive who could understand such a conversation as we are having now?…The whole climate of thought will be different. In fact, there will be no thought, as we understand it now. Orthodoxy means not thinking—not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness." - George Orwell

[fivedragons]

[Stryke]

so this is what it`s about huh .....

I havent seen anything remotely karate related in this thread .

Karate begins with courtesy

[Rick Wilson]

Edited: Actually never mind it is not worth it.

[AAAhmed46]

Karate begins with courtesy

Mas Oyama was a LIAR!!!!!!!!