Saturday, July 6, 2013

Body hardening in Martial Arts - Kote Kitae



Photo of Soke Hausel taking full force kick at
half time (University of Wyoming photo).
One part of martial arts neglected by most martial arts groups, particularly sport karate, is kote kitae - or body hardening. In the traditional forms of karate, the body is trained to accept hard punches and kicks by training with a makiwara board. The board produces harden knuckle bone and callus over a period of time. Other types of training may include kicking and punching bags, and still other forms may require use weights or train on rock in bare feet.  But nothing is as extreme as combat ki - a martial art of Juko Kai International created by its grandmaster - Dai Soke Sacharnoski.  

The first time (and second, third, forth, and so on) martial arts students and instructors sees this, they are in denial as well as in complete awe. We all try to figure out how a person can take a full-force kick to the groin and not flinch, let alone not collapse in a heap singing soprano. But all of the ki masters I've communicated with, all sing in a normal voice.
 
There are suggestions these extreme individuals must some how suck up their testicles into their stomach, or some other ridiculous theory that is physically impossible. And of course, none of the combat ki people wear any protection what-so-ever. So how do they do it? It is done like any other martial art - they train hard and long and learn to use this art properly.
Another form of body hardening - weight training.
Soke Hausel squatting 400 pounds at a body
weight of 165 pounds. He use to squat as much as
600 lbs at this body weight and one of his students
witnessed him squatting 800 lbs while at UW.
One of the more incredible people to master this art is a jujitsu stylist from Louisiana by the name of Kirby Roy. After watching him get kicked in the groin, punched in the neck, knife hand in the neck, punched in the sternum, upper cut in the liver, etc, he just stands looking at the attacker as if he is thinking - "is that all you have?"  Talk about a humbling experience for the attacker.

Believe me, this art is many magnitudes beyond any other. And so how do you learn this?  The only way to learn it is to join Juko Kai International. However, a great majority of applicants are refused entrance because of lack of proof of lineage in martial arts. This organization includes the best traditional martial artists in North America. And in the case of body hardening, there is no second best.
 
In the summer of 2013, I took a group of my students - traditional Shorin-Ryu martial artists from the Phoenix Arizona and Gillette Wyoming to the Juko Kai National clinic in New Braunfels, Texas on June 15th to train in this incredible art known as Combat Ki – a martial art of extreme body hardening that allows JKI martial artists to accept full-force strikes to vital parts of the body with little effect. The art, created by Dai-Soke Sacharnoski in 1960, is so advanced it has been featured on several programs in recent years including Stan Lee’s Superhumans, Sports Science, Discovery Channel and others.
Dr. Jesse Bergkamp from the Arizona School of Karate trains with vases
 filled with sand while on vacation in Okinawa in 2013.
While at the clinic, we trained in Okinawan Kempo and Tode. At the close of the clinic, martial artists from around North America including those from Arizona and Wyoming tested for rank and some of our students were awarded Menkyo Okuden (a combat martial art rank essentially equivalent to 1st dan black belt). Those from Gillette Wyoming who attended the clinic included Kyle Gewecke (4th dan), Chase Cassidy (1st dan), Brandon Brown (3rd kyu) and Nick Jarvis (4th kyu). Those from Arizona included Dr. Neal Adam (6th dan), Victoria Davis (1st dan) and Ryan Nemec (4th kyu).  Menkyo Okuden ranks were awarded to Neal Adam, Kyle Gewecke, Brandon Brown and Nick Jarvis. Chase Cassidy was awarded the rank of Menkyo Kyoshi (essentially equalivaent to 3rd dan).

Awards were also presented to two martial artists from Arizona. Ryan Nemec was awarded “Outstanding male martial arts student of the year”, an award presented by the JKI Hombu for students who have shown exceptional dedication in the martial arts.

Soke Hausel was awarded Meijin Wa Jutsu’ for lifelong contributions to martial arts as an instructor. Only a few martial artists have been presented this award.

In 2012, Soke Hausel was also awarded junidan and became one of a handful of to be awarded this rank since the 18th century. Soke Hausel began training in martial arts five decades ago and taught at four major universities prior to opening the Arizona Hombu (world headquarters) in Mesa in 2006. Recently, he was also inducted into Who’s Who in America 2013 and 2014 and has been selected as a Who’s Who honoree more the past 25 years and inducted into 16 Halls of Fame since 1998. He was also inducted into Whos Who in the World, 2013 and 2014.


Andy Finley of Casper, Wyoming accepts kick from Kyle Gewecke from
Gillette, Wyoming.
So, if you would like to learn the traditional martial arts, please come join our martial arts family on Baseline and MacDonald on the border of Mesa and Gilbert. We have a wonderful group of individuals (about 25% women) who are learning martial arts the way it has been taught for centuries. Our students are from Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix and Tempe.

In traditional martial arts you only compete with one person - yourself.

In 1996, Shihan Hausel takes strikes to vital parts of the body at halftime at a University of Wyomnig basketball game.
Here, sensei Donnette Gillespie, 3rd dan, kicks Hausel in the ribs with all of her power. Incredible, but
nothing compared to what others in the JKI have done over the years.
Training on 1.4 billion year old granite - circa 1992.

A makiwara in Gilbert Arizona. This is used for striking
with the hand, elbows and feet.






 
 

 

 

Monday, May 13, 2013

Martial Arts Students from Arizona Learn to Use Farming Tools


Kobudo, the ancient Okinawan martial art of farming and fishing tools for self-defense has been so effective, that many law enforcement agencies around the globe adopted many of these tools for their line of work. One notable tool was the tonfa, a side handle baton that replaced the common ‘Billy club’ for a few decades until the expandable baton was introduced. But even the expandable baton, known as a kibo and referred to as ASP, has a Japanese martial arts association. For instance, the hanbo, a 3-foot baton, is used in many styles of traditional jujutsu and ninjutsu and is even used in some styles of Shorin-Ryu Karate. Other similar tools include nitanbo and kobuton.
 Other kobudo tools, or weapons, include an unusual fork-like weapon known as sai. The sai is a classical kobudo martial art weapon and one of the hardest to learn. Even so, members of Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai at the Arizona Hombu in Mesa tested for certification with this weapon. To certify, the group was required to demonstrate four separate advanced kata (forms), bunkai (self-defense applications) and ippon kumite (sparing). Six martial artists from the martial arts school successfully passed exams and were awarded certification in this complicated weapon. The six included Adam Bialek, Sensei Bill Borea, Amanda Nemec, Ryan Nemec, Alexis Pillow and Sempai Patrick Scofield.

Utah Black Belts train in Arizona

Shihan Kim Schroeder and Sensei Jeff Schroeder train with hanbo
Each year, the Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Hombu welcomes members of the Utah Shorin-Kai for advanced training in karate, kobudo, samurai arts, etc. When the hombu was located at the University of Wyoming, members from the Utah martial arts association would travel to Laramie to train at the university. Now that I'm no longer at the university, the Utah martial artists jump aboard a plane in Salt Lake City and travel to Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport, rent a van or two, and drive to Mesa to stay at Days Inn while training at the Arizona Hombu dojo.
Explaining a technique for locking an attackers wrist to two Utah brown belts
Sensei Paula from Gilbert and Shihan Neal from Phoenix work
on restraints at the Arizona-Utah Karate Clinic.
Ryan from Mesa works on advanced martial arts technique with Jesse from Tempe.
This year, we welcomed some of the Utah yudansha (black belt rank) and sempai (senior brown belts) from the Utah Shorin-Kai who came to train in advanced martial arts techniques and hanbo on May 3rd and May 4th, 2013. The group arrived at Sky Harbor on Friday morning and checked into their motel near the Arizona martial arts training center on the border of Gilbert and Mesa near Baseline and MacDonald. On Friday evening, the Utah group led by Kyoshi Rob Watson, 8th dan, arrived at the martial arts facility and exchanged hugs, handshakes and greetings with a few members of the Arizona School of Traditional Karate.

After exchanging greetings and renewing friendships, we bowed in, warmed up, and started our training with hanbo. The hanbo is a 3-foot bo (stick) often seen with ninja or jujutsuka. I was introduced to this very practical art by my instructor several years ago. Weapons similar to hanbo include tonfa, nitanbo and kioga. The kioga, also referred to as kibo, is a common tool of law enforcement that is referred to as ASP or expandable baton. The difference between the use of the hanbo and kioga is that the hanbo is always the same length, but many techniques are similar. The difference between law enforcement officials and martial artists is that law enforcement training is limited in use of this tool. True traditional martial artists never end training and use the hanbo to activate pressure points and use it for blocks, strikes, restraints and throws. Following two hours of training with the hanbo, the Arizona-Utah group retired until the next morning.

On Saturday morning, training began in advanced empty hand (karate) techniques. These included blocks, strikes, chokes, throws and restraints. The group trained for five hours before the clinic ended. At the end of the clinic, Kyoshi Rob Watson, 8th dan and Renshi Todd Stoneking, 6th dan, and members of both Arizona and Utah said their goodbyes and it was the consensus that the time went by too fast. But many had bruises to remember. I will travel to Utah in the fall for the Utah gassuku (adverse training) at the East Canyon resort near Park City.

Professional photographs during the training were taken by Amanda and Ryan Nemec of NemecPhotos. We are very thankful and appreciated by the excellent quality of the photography at this year’s clinic.
The 2013 Arizona-Utah clinic ends with bows to one another.
Bunkai (application) from Meikyo kata

Monday, April 22, 2013

KARATE, FEET and ROCKS

Okinawa at sunrise - sketch by Soke Hausel
Ever wonder why Okinawan martial arts are practiced without shoes; while Chinese martial artists wear shoes? It’s because of geology!

Japan is a volcanic island with more than 200 volcanoes (20 are classified as active). In the southern reaches of Japan, 50 or so of the Ryukyu islands (Okinawa) are formed primarily of uplifted coral reefs (limestone) with lesser volcanics. The subtropical climate and tropical vegetation of Okinawa are favorable for chemical breakdown and disintegration of these rocks converting them into soil. This is the reason why Okinawa has so many caves. During World War II, this was a problem for the Allies during Operation Iceberg in an 82-day battle for Okinawa that began with an amphibious assault. During the operation, Allied forces had to search hundreds of caves in karst topography to drive out Japanese soldiers and snipers.

Because of weathering and erosion of limestone (as well as some volcanics), large parts of Okinawa today are blanketed by soil with some sandy beaches. Many rock exposures in Okinawa are formed of limestone (similar to concrete). The combination of limestone, tropical weather, and soil produced good surfaces for running around without shoes.

Soke Hausel practices side kicks (yoko geri kokomi) on the 1.4 billion year
old Sherman Granite between Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
In contrast, China is underlain by what geologists call “craton”, a very old continental core with many hard and protruding rocks: the weather in many places of China is also cold. For geologists, cratons are great places to find gold, diamond and other gemstones. Anyway, as a result of the hard rocks and variation in climate, much of the Chinese population wears shoes.

So it’s all about the feet, rocks, weather and climate. Those of us in Arizona, Utah and Wyoming should consider the periodic training in shoes, so we can match our local geology. But it doesn’t matter. If one day you end up having to defend yourself, you won’t even realize you are wearing shoes.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Arizona Martial Arts Information - The Torii



Recently, I was asked about decorative oriental gates known in Japanese as torii (pronounced 'tore' 'eeeeee'). These are often found in Japanese and Zen gardens around the Phoenix valley and it wasn't too long ago we saw a interesting torii at Home Depot made into a fountain with water that cascaded down from the cross bar.  I love fountains and thought about buying one, but it was a little costly. Hopefully, one day I will find a successful Japanese business man to donate a torii and dojo so I will be able to build an attractive oriental Arizona Hombu with a surrounding Japanese garden with large torii at its entrance. This would be my dream dojo.

Torii (鳥居) is a traditional Shinto gate, which in Japan, marks the approach of a Shinto shrine. Some are also found at Buddhist temples in Japan. The traditional torii has two upright supports with two crossbars on the top that are usually painted vermilion. Many have kanji (Japanese/Chinese characters) displays mounted on a plaque known as a gakuzuka between crossbars, while others have kanji displayed along vertical supports known as hashira.

Traditionally, torii are constructed from wood and gates are interpreted to mark the transition from the spiritual to the physical world. Shrines that are dedicated to a particular Shinto god known as Inari have many torii.
Torii are often donated by successful Japanese businessmen who give gratitude for their success. The origin of the word "torii" is unknown: one suggestion is the gate was designed for birds (tori) to rest upon, which is suggested in the kanji. For instance, part of the kanji used in torii contains a symbol for bird () (see the feet and wings of the bird in this symbol). The second kanji () in torii is possibly derived from 鶏居 meaning 'chicken perch'. This is because birds are considered messengers of gods in the Shinto religion.

A second thought is that torii is derived from the term tōri-iru (通り入る) meaning pass through and enter. It is unknown whether torii are indigenous to Japan or if they were imported from some other country. If you are interested in building a torii in your Japanese garden, there are building plans available on the Internet.

In some traditional martial arts schools (dojo), torii decorate walls or entrances to the dojo. These can be very attractive in a martial arts school.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

The Great Arizona Pumpkin Massacre

PUMPKINS WERE EVERYWHERE - But our Martial Arts Samurai bravely fought on!

You probably never read about the Great Arizona Pumpkin Massacre in your history books. It was a very hard-fought battle at the border of Mesa and Gilbert, but in the end our Samurai prevailed!

It’s sad that it had to come to this, but the invasion of Mesa, Arizona by the Satsuma Pumpkin Clan had to be stopped: the battle raged until all pumpkins fell to the blades of the Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai Clan at the Arizona School of Traditional Karate

Another pumpkin met its fate at the Arizona School of
Traditional Karate in Mesa and Gilbert, Arizona (photos by
Nemec Photography). 
Warning - If you are squeamish, you may want to look away from the following photos as no pumpkin was left unblemished!

The pumpkins battled honorably, but in the end, our samurai prevailed. 

Samurai Arts Class training with katana
(NemecPhotography)




















Our training on that fateful day near Halloween began as usual in our Samurai Arts Class Wednesday evening: basic cuts, blocks, stances, kata - and then the room filled with invaders! Pumpkins everywhere. It had to be stopped and our Samurai proved they were up to the task!

Ryan Nemec was first to defend against the attackers (Nemec Photography)
Ryan Harden tried his hand at pumpkin tameshigiri (Nemec Photography)

Charles Jean defends against pumpkins

Amanda Nemec takes on pumpkin (Nemec Photography)


In the end, our samurai prevailed with Ryan holding his victim by its Topknot
known as chomage. (Nemec Photography)

In the end, our martial arts samurai had a great time using their katana for training in the Mesa Martial Arts Classes, and the exercise provided them with another step in their education of samurai arts. We train our students to enjoy martial arts in the Gilbert Karate Classes. In addition to the Samurai Arts, we also focus on Shorin-Ryu Karate, Okinawan Kobudo and Self-Defense.

Katana used in training are all non-sharpened training swords.




Monday, November 12, 2012

TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS vs MMA


Why would I write about something that is not a martial art? Apparently, not everyone realizes that Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is not a martial art.


One of several problems I have with MMA is that it attracts some of the worse people in society - but it also attracts many good people. On almost any day, an Internet search for news on MMA will lead to examples of how street fighting without redeeming philosophy or moral guidance leads to violence and misuse of drugs. Don’t get me wrong, I use to enjoy watching Sugar Ray Leonard and George Foreman, But these were two classy sportsmen.  But even boxing attracts many bad apples.


Karate also attracts some bad apples, but traditional martial arts, I suspect attracts a much greater percentage of honest, law-abiding people.

Karate was never intended to be a sport. As developed by Okinawan martial artists centuries ago, karate was a method of self-defense, self-improvement and self-discipline. During its evolution, it was a necessary tool for Okinawan body guards of royalty because bladed weapons had been outlawed by King Shoshin in 1480 AD due to his non-violent Buddhist philosophy. However, we all know (except for self-serving royalty and politicians) that taking weapons away from people does nothing to stop criminals - it only gives criminals incentive to rape, murder and steal. After all, their law-abiding victims are not going to be armed. So watch out for any self-serving politician who looks to eliminate our second amendment and give control to other countries through the UN to monitor gun controls in the US.

So, after having no bladed weapons to defend their selves and having no standing army, Okinawa was an open invitation for invasion. And it happened. The Japanese Satsuma Samurai invaded Okinawa and conquered it with little to no problem
The Japanese invaders of Okinawa had no idea what karate was. It was practiced in complete secrecy for centuries until introduced to the Okinawan public school system and also to mainland Japan in the 20th century. It was the Japanese, not the native Okinawans who modified karate into a sport. And since that time, much of Japanese and American karate has suffered (there are exceptions). Sport karate opened a Panadora’s box.


My Sensei operates one of the largest and most successful traditional Okinawan/Japanese/US martial arts associations in the world, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and brought members together from around the world – all of whom have proper credentials and certifications in martial arts and none practice sport martial arts that I’m aware of.


Many sensei, martial arts associations and dojo have applied for membership in this organization, but most are turned down because of a lack of credentials and lineage. It is not easy to get into this association.

There are questionable styles that have recently surfaced with no basis or no lineage. One organization even advertised in a popular martial arts magazine and would send out any rank diploma for a fee (without any proof of rank).


So, new students are faced with a dilemma – finding a martial art that suits them, finding a martial art that is legitimate, and finding a martial art instructor with legitimate certification. You may ask, what is legitimate certification? Thank God, government has not stuck its ugly hand into certifying martial artists (yet), and I pray it never does. Government always makes things worse. There are organizations around the world that are considered legitimate based on history and/or lineage. But it does require checking and some knowledge.


I have nothing against MMA (I don’t watch it), but I do have a problem with their use of the descriptive phrase ‘…. martial arts’. They should describe their system for what it is “street fighting with a couple of rules”. But calling MMA an art?  This is very questionable.


I’m currently working on a book (actually a couple of books at the same time). This is a problem I’ve had all my life. I cannot do just one thing - I need to do a variety of things. One of the books I’m writing is Layman’s Guide to Traditional Martial Arts. In this book, I spend several pages trying to define martial arts: never thought it would be so difficult. But just think for a second. How would you describe art?  You can probable visualize people performing martial arts, but to define it. Now that's a challenge.


Dictionary.com gives 15 explanations for "ART". A few of the more useful are: The quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance. A branch of learning or university study, especially one of the fine arts or the humanities, as music, philosophy, or literature.  Skill in conducting any human activity: a master at the art of conversation. knack, facility, technical skill, skillfulness, know-how. The principles or methods governing any craft or branch of learning: the art of baking; the art of selling, craft, technique; procedure, method, way; fine points, subtleties.


A sketch by the author
Art is an esoteric expression and any attempt to define art is difficult, especially when art is different to different people. For example, when I look at a sketch, I look for something that excites my senses – something that brings out emotion or awe – it has to be beautiful and provide visual stimulus and the person who created that piece of art, must have put considerable time into its creation. When it comes to most abstract art – for me, any zoo animal can do abstract art (and many have) – but it is art to some people, and it is what they find interesting.


When accessing martial arts dictionaries, I couldn’t find one that provided any real definition of martial arts. For instance, the Overlook Dictionary of Martial Arts defines martial arts as “…an encompassing term usually reserved for the Asian fighting arts, although it can refer to any fighting discipline with or without weapons”. This definition is so general that it may suggest anything from target shooting to wresting can be a martial art, as long as it is done by someone of Asian descent. Even more enlightening is A Dictionary of the Martial Arts since this dictionary didn’t even make an effort to define martial arts.


In another, the Overlook Martial Arts Handbook, the author writes, “The term ‘martial arts’ means those arts concerned with the waging of war”. Many other definitions I found on the Internet appeared to be written by non-martial artists with little to no understanding of martial arts. For example, Dictionary.com defines martial art as - any of the traditional forms of Oriental self-defense or combat that utilizes physical skill and coordination without weapons, as karate, aikido, judo, or kung fu, often practiced as sport. This definition falls flat on its face, as martial arts, until recently, was never considered sport, most incorporate weapons and some arts are exclusively about weapons such as kobudo, iaido, kendo, and kenjutsu to name a few of the many dozens. 


By separating the two words – “Martial” and “Arts” we might gain some insight. Martial has several definitions. The one that stands out is characteristic of, or befitting a warrior. When discussing martial arts we refer to budo (martial way) or bushido (way of the warrior). This is a clue because way used in this sense means a path: the path of someone who has characteristics befitting a warrior. But then, what is path?

A path leading to a garden - sketch by the author.


One definition of patha course of action, conduct, or procedure: the path of righteousness”. This is a good definition as it implies a path should lead to righteousness. It should also lead to knowledge and understanding particularly when considering martial arts. Martial art must lead to righteousness; it must be beautiful and involve a segment of higher learning. It needs to be a lifelong path that leads to self-enlightenment. Does this sound like MMA?


Now let’s examine the philosophy of Gichin Funakoshi and Shoshin Nagamine two well-known Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate masters from the past. Nagamine, Soke wrote, “If there is no kata, there is no karate, just kicking and punching”. He continues that kata is karate, and one must embrace ‘do mu gen’ proverb – which asserts: There can be no end to learning”. He concludes karate begins and ends with the study of kata”.


So if we are to believe Nagamine (as well as other Okinawan masters), karate must contain kata and kata must be the primary curriculum, otherwise it is not karate. Kata is one of the primary exercises that places karate in the realm of art. Gichin Funakoshi, the great Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate master wrote many similar arguments including one of my favorite, “the ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in perfection of its participants”.


So, is MMA a martial art? It certainly does not fit the definition of martial art. In the immortal words of Nagamine Sensei, “it is just kicking and punching”. A martial art must have social and esoteric benefits to lead a person down a path of righteousness. It is almost like a religion - it is very Zen like, in that it should help a person to be a more productive member of society. So is there much in the way of social benefits in MMA. Not that I’ve seen! So, let’s just call it what it is – it’s street fighting with a couple of rules.


A very important legend about the creation of martial arts describes a monk named Bodhidarma, who taught philosophy and Zen in the Shaolin Temple in China 1500 years ago. During meditation, Buddhist monks were in such poor physical and mental condition they fell asleep. Bodhidarma instituted the practice of ‘shi po lohan sho’ known as the ‘18 hands of Lohan’ in what is reputed to be an archaic form of Kung Fu that likely originated in India. This blending of Zen with empty hand and weapon’s fighting resulted in Shaolin monks becoming formidable fighters and philosophers throughout China. So if we declare this as the original form of martial art, it is apparent that Zen, self-defense training, and forms (kata) were necessary ingredients in martial art. Some authors have even described kata as moving Zen. So is martial art a sport – I don’t believe so. Karate and martial arts have never been sports until they were Japanized in the 20th century. Whereas, for several hundred years, they were not considered as a sport.


 If we examine Traditional “Japanese” Karate as opposed to TraditionalOkinawanKarate, karate was created by Okinawans and kept secret for centuries from all outsiders (especially the Japanese). There were rules required to learn the art and individuals had to swear an oath to keep the art secret. It is not a Japanese art and was not introduced to Japan until the 20th century, and it was the Japanese who later created karate sport at the objection of Okinawan masters in the mid-20th century. Even the indigenous Japanese arts like jujutsu and judo, were never taught as sport until recently. These were originally samurai combat arts designed to defend against a heavily armored samurai.


In contrast ‘do’ there are systems of martial art that attach the suffix ‘jutsu’ – such as karate-jutsu, or jujutsu. These have been classified as martial arts for years but few of these have many kata although they do observe traditions.


Peter Urban (1967) suggests that martial arts means fighting arts but goes into more detail and indicates that a more valid interpretation comes from the word Budo which translates as ‘the way of the fighter’. The suffix do or way which is often used in Oriental spiritual thoughts provides profound direction in our search for an answer.  Urban further writes the use of techniques and integration of these techniques with the spirit are all important. The way or path is intended to lead the individual to the attainment of perfection or what is often known as self-realization, enlightenment, or simply maturity.


The way of the warrior should lead to ethical conduct and self-awareness govern by tradition. Martial art must include a balance of the spiritual, moral, and technical. It must include kata.


Be it karate, kendo, judo, jujutsu, iado, kobudo, aikido, kyudo, etc, Urban writes that based on the idea of virtue, the followers of martial arts are in effect the descendants of the samurai of old. It is the aim of all martial arts masters to work toward promulgating this spirit of the ancient Zen warriors, a spirit which is more than mere knowledge of fighting techniques- it is the attainment of a virtuous way of life.
So, if you are new to martial arts and ready to find a school to learn martial arts - its up to you. You can train in traditional martial arts, or you can find sport karate, MMA, kickboxing, etc. Its all up to you to decide. As you are searching for a place to train in martial arts, boxing or MMA, remember, one of the most important factors will be the instructor. Is your instructor, or future instructor, the type of person you can get along with. How about the students in the school. This is always a very good indicator of what the instructor is like. Are the students pleasant, respectful, intelligent. Or do they look like a bunch of ... Well, hopefully you get the idea.