When you choose a martial arts school you are choosing your teacher.
Choose the most qualified instructor that you can find.
D. Branchaud I began karate training in 1978 when I was a U.S. Marine on the island of Okinawa, Japan. My main karate teacher was Master Seikichi Odo, but I am also infuenced by my first teacher, Master Eizo Shimabuku.
After leaving Okinawa I was reviewed many times as Master Odo frequently traveled to America to teach his students. He visited the Kodokai in 2001 and I last practiced with him on Okinawa in 2002. He passed away six weeks later. My Karate and Kobujutsu rank is Hachidan, 8th degree black belt.
I now practice Motobu Udundi. I was fortunate to be a student of the late Taira Sensei and I continue to train under Takamiyagi Sensei on Okinawa.
Finding a qualified teacher.... Don't assume that everyone wearing a black belt is an expert. Anyone can open a school- there are no regulations for martial arts. For the inexperienced, however, it may be hard to tell a good school from a lousy one without first loosing some serious money and enthusiasm. It all boils down to the teacher.
Few teachers offer evidence of their qualifications, and for one good reason- there is little to show. If the school web site mentions little more than "Our teachers are great! They undergo intense training", you'd better look elsewhere. Any legitimate teacher will have enjoyed a long relationship with a master instructor. They will have plenty of documentation of their experiences with their teacher and they will be proud to show you this documentation.
"Experience" is not a product of time. Some teachers have years experience; chaperoning birthday parties and cutting the cake with a make-believe samurai sword, breaking thin pine boards, rehearsing choreographed forms, etc... Show business. Fluff.
As both a U.S. marine and a civilian I have been in some difficult situations in some tough places; Asia, Micronesia, Africa and lets not forget a memorable visit to the Bronx and several interesting experiences in downtown Providence. While I don't like hostile situations, these experiences have been priceless.
Want to learn something that will work when you need it? Choose the right teacher. Remember, they can't teach you what they don't know.
Demonstrating Karate, Athi Plains, Kenya 1984
With Takamiyagi Sensei Okinawa, Dec. 2008
With Takamiyagi Sensei at Kodokai 2005
Odo Sensei visiting Kodokai 2001
Testing for Rank in front of Sensei's Odo, Gushiken, Maehara & Chibana. Okinawa 1978
With Takamiyagi Sensei, Okinawa 2006
Swordwork with Takamiyagi Sensei, August 2009
With Odo Sensei 1997
With Mrs. Toma & Master Toma, Okinawa 2002
With Taira Sensei 2006
With Odo Sensei 1983
With Toma Sensei 2007
With Odo Sensei, Okinawa 2002
With Sensei Odo 1981
Odo Sensei in my home.
In Sensei Odo's Dojo 1979
With Sensei Odo 1980
Bo Practice with Sensei Odo before Breakfast 1981
Rank Promotion 1999
Rank Promotion 1984
In Odo Sensei's Dojo 2002
In Odo Sensei's Dojo 1979
At the Kodokai
Lunchtime in the Dojo, Okinawa, July 2009
Taira Sensei at Kodokai, May 2009
With Taira Sensei, Okinawa, January 2009
Takamiyagi Sensei at Kodokai 2005
With Sensei Odo 1985
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