There is absolutely no relationship between martial arts and religion. At GHKA we do not teach martial arts in a religious context.

Many people have the idea that because martial arts is from the East, that it somehow contains mystical, magical or religious elements from Eastern cultures.  These ideas are the a result of misinformation and ignorance.  Martial arts were developed for field and jungle warfare during times in history when people fought with traditional weapons and hand-to-hand combat.  Martial arts are practical disciplines and art forms, not belief systems.

To read more detail about our particular training philosophy, please use the links below:

• History & Philosophy page from the Online Parent Manual
• Philosophy page from our San Do Kuen (The Three Way Fist) website

Sometimes the only way to learn a move is to have a partner who can help us figure things out.  This partnership can be as distracting as it can be helpful.

Because we do not strike our partners with the full force of our strength in class we tend to forget that our blocking and counter-striking are the most effective part of our defensive strategy and we get lost in the follow-up techniques that tend to be more difficult to perform.  In this process partners tend to provide resistance to one-another rather than helping each other learn.  If we were really hitting each other hard, the follow-up techniques would be either irrelevant or easier to execute because this resistance would be negated, minimized or re-directed.

Training partners should remain aware of the fact that their job is twofold:

1. Learn how to execute the technique.
2. Help our partner to do the same.

It is the second of these two responsibilities that gets forgotten and people try harder to “undo” the technique rather than working hard to “do” the work necessary to figure out the application.

There is no doubt that a real bad guy would not just give in when we began to defend ourselves, but then again, our training partner is not the bad guy and we are not hitting them for real.  There is no way to learn self defense at full speed and 100% intensity.  We have to realize that the training environment is always a controlled simulation or a series of successive approximations of a real fight.  Therefore, there is room for error and a vast number of learning experiences.

We should all understand that training is a long process and that we cannot accelerate our learning curve by trying to move faster than or outdo our partner’s technique.  In fact, if we do these things we will actually learn less than if we work within the framework we are presented (especially in the first few years of training).

The bottom line is, to be a good partner don’t resist your partner, don’t try to “one-up” them.  Instead give them constructive feedback like “that felt really effective” or “you could probably twist my wrist a little tighter.”

One final note on this subject, if you are training with your instructor, don’t try to surprise him/her – at some point you will get hurt.  Your instructor can be the best training partner you will ever have if you use the opportunity to learn something and not to size him/her up.

The character of our martial arts training comes down to our level of focus.  Training hours are training hours . . . but are they?  Our level of focus during training determines our ability to learn and retain the material presented to us.  A focused student can, in 10 minutes, learn enough material for a weeks worth of practice sessions.

Being focused is not the same as “paying attention.”  If we are merely “paying” attention, we are only “giving” our attention, and not using that attention for any other purpose.  Think about this . . . “paying” for an apple in the store is not the same as “using” it to make apple pie.  Anyone with enough money can buy apples, but not everyone can make a really good apple pie from scratch.  Learning to buy apples is a simple process, but learning to make the apple pie takes time, practice, trial and error and patience.

Focus requires us to let go of our own perception of the lesson and instead, try to work through the movements with the intention of learning something.  We may or may not learn what our instructor intended right away, but we can always learn when we are focused.  So often, students have trouble learning because they spend their energy trying to discern what (specifically) they are supposed to learn.  What really matters is that they remain focused on learning in general and free themselves from their own expectations.

Mastering any martial art is a great challenge.  One of the most important aspects of that challenge is learning to focus on the task at hand for the sake of learning and for no other reason.  Focus is not always related to a specific goal or achievement, it is a skill in and of itself.  Focus is what separates a professional from a hobbyist, a leader from a follower and a master from a novice.

Respect is such an important part of martial arts training.  First and foremost, respect is due to the students of martial arts because it is their desire to learn that keeps the arts alive.  Secondly, students must respect one another in order to train safely and effectively.  Lastly, the students must respect the teacher for his/her experience and effort as an instructor.

Sadly, this last kind of respect is often abused or over-emphasized in martial arts relationships.  Respect should always be mutual, no matter how skilled the teacher.   In the West, we tend to dramatize the teacher-student relationship.  Many instructors use this fact to ask too much of their students or take too much credit for their accomplishments.  Although it is true that a good student who has a highly skilled teacher will naturally excel beyond a good student with an average or mediocre instructor, it is always the student’s efforts over time that create skillful martial artists.  For example, in the years that Bruce Lee had schools and taught martial arts classes, there are probably less than 10 of his students who actually took their training seriously enough to become highly skilled themselves.  These individuals excelled not just because they had Bruce Lee as their example, but because they pushed themselves beyond where most people could go.

A great student will emulate his/her teacher to a point, but more due to coincidence than pure intention.  It is natural for a student to try to be like her teacher because that is how learning takes place in the beginning phases.  However, most renown martial artists in history (and in modern times) have become known for their creativity and originality, not for their teacher’s ability alone.  All teachers deserve our respect, but they are not the only reason we can succeed as students.

At some point, the romantic notion of the master-student relationship boils down to a progression of development which leads to the student becoming autonomous.  The point of training is not to glorify the teacher, it is to refine the student and lead him/her to their own path.  All students who have the desire should be encouraged to become masters (or teachers) of their own style, not merely shining examples of their teacher’s methods.

My goal as an instructor is to give my students a strong foundation (a beginning) and to help guide them as their skills develop.  I want my students to develop beyond where I can take them.  I do not have all the answers, and my method is not the only one that works.  I respect my students as much as I respect my teachers, we all work hard to develop our skills.

After over ten years as a black belt I have made a decision.  I have decided to retire my black belt and my traditional uniforms.

As of today (June 15th, 2010) I will no longer wear a black belt during classes, belt tests or any other event.  I will also cease to wear traditional martial arts uniforms.  There are four main reasons that I have made this choice:

1.  The practical application of a traditional karate belt or kung fu sash is absent.  The belt serves as a symbolic decoration rather than a functional necessity.  In some instances belts can interfere with movement training.  Belts can get in the way of arm movements and get caught up during weapons practice.  Another practical reason for me to hang up my belt is that my job requires me to be a personal trainer, one-on-one martial arts coach and a fitness class leader.  If I had to wear a uniform every time I taught a martial arts lesson and then wear workout apparel for private coaching and fitness training, I would changing clothes 3-5 times a day!  Workout apparel is a more functional type of attire for my daily activities.

2.  The politics of martial arts relates almost entirely to ranking systems and the requirements for black belt competency.  Many people in the martial arts take issue with each other over the method and manner of black belt certification.  I have been involved in these kinds of politics for long enough to know that my black belt is as much a source of political criticism as it is a symbol of achievement.  As a professional instructor I want to focus my energy on my students and refine my art in ways that will benefit them, not develop it according to the political will of other instructors who are not affiliated with my school or my programs.

3.  Bruce Lee did not believe in belts or belt systems, nor did he wear traditional uniforms.  He thought that belt systems were a distraction from training and created barriers to training.  I have to agree with him to a point.  I do think belt systems are effective for youth students.

4.   As a martial artist my goal is life-long mental and physical health through habitual martial arts training and safe, effective exercise.  My long term goals also include personal development, professional development and financial success.  I have never trained in martial arts to achieve rank.

Having said all of this, I must now explain how it will affect my students.

• For my youth students (ages 4-12 years) the belt system and uniform requirements will be unchanged.  Any youth student who joins the adult program at age 13+ will be able to continue wearing their uniform and belt or to put them aside.
• For all adult students, you will have the option to wear a belt or not.  You may also wear workout apparel that is consistent with the school dress code (which can be found in the parent manual on this website).  All rank certificates will still be awarded according to the existing curriculum structure.  I will award belts to all adult students at their promotions, and each student can choose to either wear their belt or display it at home.

I have trained in martial arts for 25 years now and I have noticed a few things in that amount of time.  One thing I continue to see is that students will develop their skills (or not) due to their own level of effort and commitment, not their instructor’s.  Whether the instructor is a new black belt or a seasoned master, there are always students who excel and those who struggle. 

The instructor’s level of skill can always be surpassed, so the question is not how skilled the teacher is, it is really how much effort the student expends.

Unfortunately, in America, we often see teachers in the same way we see service providers, rather than honoring them as experts.  For example, when I studied kung fu in Chinatown Seattle, people would sometimes complain that the master did not show them enough during class.  I always found that hard to hear because, in my mind, I wondered how the student thought they knew how much they should be learning?  After all, the master had done martial arts all his life, and he was incredibly skilled, so I trusted him to lead me in the right direction.  Obviously, the other students had a different point of view.

Recently I have come to realize that, as Americans, we see everything we pay for from the customer perspective.  Our nation is full of customers who want excellent service, great prices and instant gratification.  When we order products online we can choose to receive the product in a week or overnight depending on how much we are willing to spend.  When we pay a gardener or an accountant, we want them to get things done as quickly as possible.  When we are the customer, we expect to be served well.  Because of this point of view, we transfer certain expectations to our teachers.

We enroll in martial arts classes with the idea that the teacher is our “service provider” and that their job is to serve us as the customer.   Teachers with real skill help their students grow by pushing them to train harder and training them to dig deeper on their own, not by just showing more technique.  We also must remember that when we hire a gardener to landscape our yard, we don’t have to do anything but pay the bill.  In martial arts, the teacher can show us the way, but we have to do the work.

No matter what techniques I have been show throughout the years, it has always taken a lot of effort to understand their function.  Martial arts is an acquired skill for every person – from gifted athletes to de-conditioned couch potatoes.  Regardless of what techniques any individual learns or how skilled the teacher is, a person can excel in martial arts if he or she puts forth the effort.

All students, at some point, get so tired of doing the same move over and over again.  I understand their frustration (I get bored too).  I also think that anyone who wants to truly excel will get through the frustration and reach the realization that learning martial arts is not about learning a new form, a new kick or a new drill.  It is about how we understand ourselves through the training process.

The movements of martial arts are simply movements, they are not exceptional in and of themselves.  They don’t come alive unless we use them in creative and dynamic ways.  A sword is simply a piece of sharp, forged metal and has very few interesting qualities until it is wielded by someone who can manipulate it.  Then we start to notice the craftsmanship and artistic aspects of its design.  In other words, the movements never change, no matter how many we can learn, they only become more meaningful because of the way we learn to utilize them.

Basic movements and body positions are the foundation of every sport and yet they can seem amazing when someone uses them in an exceptional way.  For example – as a child I was always in awe of Hall of Fame basketball star Michael Jordan.  His leaping ability and athleticism were incredible.  Yet if we examine his basic skill sets they match almost every other professional basketball player: jumping, sprinting, shooting, dribbling, passing, defensive footwork, dunking, etc.  It was the particular timing and style that Jordan used which made him a cut above.

Almost all martial arts share a common set of basic skills, but it is the dedicated, patient and aware students that make the movements meaningful through their own interpretations.

How long does it take to earn a black belt?  To answer this question we have to consider three variables:

1. Age
2. Class Attendance
3. Practice Time

Age: In our school a person below 18 years old will not earn a full black belt.  We award junior black belts to exceptional youth student’s between 13 and 17 years of age.  In the 7 years I have been at GHKA we have awarded only one of those.

The adult martial arts program is set up for a true beginner ages 13 and up to earn a black belt in 3-4 years provided their attendance and practice time are consistent.

Attendance: It is hard to learn and progress without attending martial arts classes regularly.  Just getting in the door every week helps students get closer to their black belt.  Inconsistent attendance will not only slow progress, it will almost always lead to failure.  I recommend that all students attend (at the absolute minimum) attend 2 hours/week of class.

Practice Time: They 3 secrets to mastering martial arts are practice, practice, practice.  All students need to train on their own at least 1 time/week in addition to their regular class attendance.  More practice is great, but practice time cannot replace class hours.  Students who attend classes but do not practice on their own will only go so far.  Students who practice on their own but don’t attend class will progress slowly.

There is nothing mystical about achieving skill in the martial arts, it takes work.  Students must attend classes and practice on their own.  That is what it takes.  Anyone who thinks they can become skilled in any other way is simply wrong.

In over 2 decades of practicing martial arts I have learned a wide range of skills.  I keep thinking that at some point there must be a certain skill or set of experiences that will take me to the next level in my training and teaching.  The truth is that there are simply two things that are available to me in every training situation – what is being taught and what I am learning.  Interestingly, these two things are not always the same.

My interpretation of what is presented in a seminar, class or test is not necessarily the point of the lesson.  Everyone has had moments in training when they ask themselves “why are we doing this again?”  Sometimes the reason for a lesson may not become clear until days, weeks, months or years later.  The moment of clarity is accompanied by some slight regret “If I had only figured this out years ago, where would I be?”

Martial arts is an incredibly deep pool of knowledge, wisdom and technique.  It takes years just to explore the surface of the pool with no time to dive down deeper and see what is below.  Whether exploring the surface or diving into its depths, the pool is still made of water.

The study of martial arts will never be anything but a journey.  Sometimes it will make sense, and at other times the journey will seem absurd.  Either way, there is only what is taught and what is learned.

I now understand that my greatest limitation is not what lessons I did not receive or what lessons I misunderstood.  My greatest limitation is me – when my mind is open and clear I can find value in almost any martial arts lesson.  When I am being stubborn and distracted I have trouble getting value from my own practice sessions.

Martial arts training is so much more than just self-defense, exercise and cool weapons moves.  The benefits of habitual martial arts practice go far beyond physical fitness and technical skill.  All the things we learn at the dojo are important for self-development and enhance our concept of self.

Fighting skills are inherently dangerous and therefore must be practiced and demonstrated with an acute sense of personal responsibility.  This responsibility is to three distinct people or groups of people:

1. Ourselves: We must recognize what we have done, or failed to do, as we progress through the ranks.  We cannot blame anyone but the person in the mirror for lost training time or a lack of discipline.  We must be accountable to ourselves for our own decisions and actions.
2. Our Sensei/Sifu/Guro: Our instructor is a guide, a leader, a role model, and has sacrificed many things to achieve a high level of skill.  Our teacher is also our helper.  He or she pushes us to succeed and expects us to work hard.  Once we have learned the skills that the teacher asks us to practice, we are obligated to follow through.  It is our responsibility to respect the knowledge that is given to us and honor our teacher with our hard work.
3. Our Classmates: We owe it to our training partners and fellow classmates to train safely and to be competent in all areas of skill.  Our own lack of skill can limit our training partner’s ability to progress as well.

Responsibility cannot be learned from a textbook or a video, it is something we must practice by making good choices and respecting those around us.  In martial arts training, there are no excuses.  What defines our success or failure is our own level of personal responsibility.