Dojo Dues Statement

While I wish otherwise, karate training is not free. Every year we have dojo expenses, such as our annual dojo fee to Chuck Merriman Sensei. Other expenses exist as well.

 

In past years we were required to bring Merriman Sensei here for an annual seminar, including covering all of his travel expenses. With Merriman Sensei approaching 80 years old, he now wants dojo heads to travel to him, in Phoenix, for the annual seminar. Putative dojo expenses exist as well. For example, Merriman Sensei will make himself available to give a seminar to a dojo, collectively, in Phoenix, for a fee. Additionally, I may want to bring individuals to our dojo to give seminars or assist those students attending seminars elsewhere.

 

To fund the dojo we need dues from members, as follows:

• Introductory Students: Free for first weeks, or a month or two -- until the student makes a decision on whether to train regularly.
• Beginning Students: $5 per month, for first six months; $10 per month thereafter. 
• Intermediate Students: $15 per month at the level of green, blue or purple belt.
• Advanced Students: $18 per month at brown belt; $20 per month at black belt.
• Black Belts from Other Styles: $5 for first six months; $10 for next six months; $15 per month for next six months; $20 per month thereafter.

 

I don't run the dojo as a business. You should know that I spend thousands of dollars every year on my own training, such as travel and fees associated with seminars I attend (such as Alaska and New Jersey this year, for example), plus books, videos, subscriptions, gi and hojo undo equipment. I pay all of these expenses myself, and don't ask for any recompense from those I teach or otherwise help in their training. I also contribute $20 per month in dojo dues.

 

Please endeavor to keep caught up in dojo dues. I hate to ask folks. Rather, I expect each student to take personal responsibility, and make monthly contributions as expected. Please let me know if you have questions or desire additional information.

Getting Started with Karate Training

Thanks for your expression in the Goju Ryu karate class. You're very welcome to come and train with us, or if you prefer, to watch a class or two before beginning. We have class most days in the GSA Fitness Center, from 12:40 PM to 1:20 PM. I generally send out a notice to the regular students early in the week, to let folks know the class schedule for the week (when work or family conflicts with karate, I don't have class).


Students are welcome to come to class as often as they like. It's best for each students to set a schedule (i.e., come to a specific number of sessions per week). Some students come as infrequently as once every other week, and others come four days per week. Generally, it's best to come two or three times a week, but often work doesn't allow for that frequency. You'll have to decide the schedule that works best for you.

When students first begin, we go through a general introductory program, including exercises to prepare for the training ahead, body positions ("stances"), a few basic hand techniques, and movement. As students progress, we provide more training materials. There is no set schedule for the quantity of training information: students get as much as they can handle and progress at their own pace.

We train in traditional Okinawa attire, meaning wearing a karate gi and in bare feet. A "starter" gi costs about $25-$30 dollars, and I recommend purchasing one after a month or two, once you know whether you will continue with your training. When first beginning, I recommend wearing just loose, comfortable clothing, like sweat pants or athletic pants, and a tee shirt. If you feel uncomfortable training barefooted, then you're welcome to wear socks and/or sneakers. We're flexible and will work with you!

I should let you know that my karate program is promoted at OPM, DOI and GSA by WellnessWorks. This means, in part, that you either have to sign up with WellnessWorks on-line, or when you come to your first class you'll fill out a very short paper form as a sign up. Either method is free. You'll also have to sign the WellnessWorks waiver when you come to your first karate class.

You're welcome to train with us.  So, what are you waiting for -- let's get started!

Dealing with Day-to-Day Pressures

It's not unusual for karate-ka to experience difficulties, and (surprisingly for some) karate training can sometimes help. For example, students can have relationship difficulties, which can feel as stressful as losing a loved one. A nice aspect of karate training is that once the student steps onto the dojo floor, the student should clear his or her mind of everything outside of karate, including all personal difficulties and troubles, and focus exclusively on training while in the dojo. In my experience, I've found that using this blocking device can give a welcome reprieve from the pressures of day-to-day life, and in the long run, I believe it makes us better to handle life's pressures outside of the dojo. I hope you'll practice this technique regularly as part of your karate training!

Goals for an Orange Belt

I've set the following goals as reasonable for my orange belts (7th kyu) to attain:

1) move fluently through kata saifa, and
2)learn all five of the saifa kihon bunkai.

Higher ranks should help the orange belts reach these goals.

Introductory Syllabus

In the past, many new students have asked for a reference book they could get to help with their Goju introduction, such as a book that discusses Goju techniques. To provide (what I hope to be) helpful information, I've briefly listed our first week introductory training syllabus:

We began with junbiundo (preparatory), the exercises that warm up or loosen up students, and are designed to "prepare" students for certain techniques. We start with the toes and work up our legs toward the heart. Then, we move to the fingers, and work inwards, through our arms and shoulders, again to our heart. We loosened the neck and practiced some strikes involving the wrist. Finally, we worked a few breathing exercises, which have ki (spirit or internal energy training).

Then, we practiced dachi (stances), as follows: sanchin dachi ("three battles/conflicts" stance -- looks like the shape of an hour-glass), shiko dachi (low stance), zenkutsu dachi (front/forward stance), and last, neko ashi dachi (cat foot stance).

After covering these four basic stances, we moved to kihon (basics, or basic techniques), and practiced chudan yoko uke ("side" block -- middle block) from the stance of sanchin dachi. Then, we practiced age uke (rising high block), from the stance shiko dachi.

Next, we practiced kihon ido (basics with movement). While these drills usually include hand techniques, because we're just beginning, we practiced only stepping. The four rules of movement are: hip moves first; head and shoulders remain centered over the hips, feet stay attached to the ground, and tanden (the center of the body) stays down. There's a fifth rule, that I demonstrated but didn't mention, because applies only sometimes: feet move in a semicircle under the body.

Last, we concluded with some of the movements of a kata (form or pattern), called Sanchin. While I could write for days about this aspect of training, for now I'll provide only the saying, "Kata holds the essence of karate, and Sanchin kata contains the essence of Goju Ryu."

Please understand that the Japanese words above are written in romanji, which is not Japanese, but a Western system for writing the Japanese language.

Frustration as a Beginning Student

Soon after beginning to study Goju Ryu karate, it's typical for new students to become frustrated trying to learn a new technique. Maybe it's a hand movement they can't get down pat, or a particular stance causes difficulty. Or, maybe they can do the stance and the hand technique, but when they combine them, everything falls apart. And, to make matters worse, often another brand new student appears to have no difficulty whatsoever with the same technique.

This experience is normal -- absolutely everyone goes through it. Perhaps it occurs on the first day, or after a week or so. Once in awhile, it may take several weeks for a seemingly gifted new student to have difficulty learning a new technique. No matter, it happens to all new students, and frequently, too. The question becomes, how do new students deal with this feeling?

In response to this frustration, many new students leave the dojo. It's too difficult; it's not for me; it doesn't make sense; I don't like it. No matter the rationalization, the result is the same -- obstacle resolved by quitting. but, I don't view this as a beneficial resolution.

When faced with frustration learning a technique, students should persist. Try breaking the technique down into small parts. Spend a little extra time before or after class working on it. Ask a more experienced student for help. Research the technique, by watching others or by searching the Internet.

There is no time limit on how long it should take a student to learn any technique. There is, however, an absolute necessity to continue training -- otherwise, you learn nothing. And, there's no benefit to that!

Thoughts about Changes in Karate

Someone recently remarked that karate-do never changes. I don't know whether this is entirely accurate. I believe that each of us needs to change our practice of karate, as we change (grow older, suffer injuries, change focus, work with different individuals, etc.). As we learn more about karate, we bring that understanding to our kata. Or, vice verse. Our karate should continue to grow and develop -- part of "personalizing." Conversely, if we don't seek development in karate, then our training becomes stagnant.