Promotions

November 2010

Cristine Warring-Black Belt
Jordan Julian-Brown Belt

New Black Belt Cristine & New Brown Belt Jordan

Dojo Etiquette

The way of the empty hand begins and ends with courtesy and respect. This is, and should be evident throughout the Dojo for any student that takes notice. A student must first and always remember that they are being given the gift of knowledge of the martial arts. A student must also understand that there is no amount of money that can repay their instructor for this knowledge that will be passed to them. The fees are for your private personal membership to belong to the Dojo. Fees are also for the space used, maintenance and utilities of the facility in which to train. In other words, what an instructor has to offer is for free!!! In the classical schools each student must be accepted by the instructor as a candidate for membership to receive this gift of Martial Arts, and may be asked to leave at any time if they show disrespect or misuse the knowledge they have been given. The student candidate is expected to come to class ready and eager to learn, with the proper equipment and attire.

Upon entering the dojo (training hall) all students will give courtesy by coming to attention by placing their arms by their side and bring both feet together and bow from the waist. Students will then proceed to the dressing room and change into their gi (uniform). Male students normally do not wear a t-shirt under ther gi top. They may wear a black under garment. The female students must always wear an under garment. They may wear a black t-shirt or one that matches the color of their obi (belt). Once the student changes into their gi, they should proceed to the training area and warm up by doing light cardio, dynamic stretches. Once you have entered the Dojo there is to be absolutely no horseplay, or joking around. If class has not yet begun, you may begin stretching or do some warm up on your own by practicing your Kata or bag work. Kumite or sparring is not permitted without the permission of the instructor.

Any activity prior to class starting that may be considered disturbing to the atmospheric conditions of the Dojo is not permitted. When the Instructor comes into the dojo courtesy should be given, and the student should then continue to warm up. When class is called to order the Instructor will say, "Line up!" Students will line up according to belt rank with the senior belt on the right. All students will then come to attention and give courtesy as instructed.

You come to the dojo to work not to socialize or to become socially involved with other students. Maintain your respect for each other, in and out of the Dojo and your instructor at all times and get the most out of the time you spend there. Students are to come to class and be ready to learn, not to talk and disturb others.

Thomas L. Williams, Chief Instructor

American Karate & Martial Science 

Student Transfers

How we handle students from other systems

We live in an age of upward mobility. With that comes the opportunity for transfer. Not just to a new department or division but facility as well. We often find ourselves moving from town to town, city to city, or state to state. For the martial arts practitioner this means uprooting yourself or being uprooted. If you love the martial arts this means that you will have to find another dojo to train in.

This could cause some minor set backs or major decision making, especially if you can not relocate to a school that provides instruction in the same or similar style or system! Traditionally if you found yourself facing this type of change you would also be facing the fact that you may have to start all over as a white belt in this new style. It is not uncommon for a “classical” practitioner of a Korean style to have to begin all over in a Japanese or Chinese style or vice-versa. Sometimes even within a particular style you may have to begin at the novice level. This is to be expected. In my opinion, to humble one’s self to this builds character. The instructor would see this in you and you would find yourself advancing up the ladder in this new style or system in no time!

There is also another option for those that find themselves in this predicament. American style martial arts schools often called “Freestyle”. Most American style martial artists come from several classical martial arts backgrounds. These instructors have a well rounded knowledge and/or experience in classical art forms. With this understanding they will be able to decide whether or not you need to start at the beginning, drop down one belt in rank or maintain what you currently have.

But what if I’m already at black belt rank?

There are also instructor options here as well. Regardless if you come from a classical or eclectic background you may still have to start all over from the beginning. If you have been out of it for 5 years or so you can pretty much bet that you will start over. If you have maintained your studies and are merely a black belt, the instructor may chose to allow you to maintain your belt and learn his system from the beginning. 

What if I have Dan (degree) rank on my black belt?

The same applies. Be prepared to at least start over with a clean black belt. It is not about taking away from you what you have already earned. It is about humbling yourself to the learning of something new or different. 

Thomas L. Williams, Chief Instructor

American Karate & Martial Science 

Rank and Instructor Certification

In many systems that have a rank system that uses colored belts, nidan or 2nd degree black belt indicates instructor level. In the American Karate and Martial Science system we separate the black belt rank from the instructor rank. Therefore a Master Instructor may not necessarily mean a master level black belt in martial skill. Although it is the responsibility of junior ranking black belts to assist in teaching classes, not everyone aspires to be a martial arts instructor.

It is not our mission to produce instructors. Our mission is to teach quality martial education. We want our students to know and be confident that they can defend themselves if the need ever arose. We want to develop a students confidence, character, mind, and body. It is our position that teaching is an “old mans” game. That is to say that it’s for one who has spent many years honing their craft in the dojo and or by testing their skills in tournament competition and after having tested their metal, he/she desires to give something back by way of teaching what they know really works. For those that have the desire to teach we offer the following certifications.

Certified Instructor: 1000 hours of supervised instruction.

Assistant Instructor: Completion of a Certified Instructor’s Certification and may teach unsupervised under a Chief instructor.

Instructor: Has your own club, school or 5 years at black belt rank, instructs under a Senior, Chief or Master instructor.

Senior Instructor: Has your own club, school or 10 years at black belt rank instructs under a Chief or Master instructor.

Chief Instructor: Owner of a club or school. 15 years at black belt rank.

Master Instructor: Owner of a club or school. 20 years at black belt rank. 5th degree black belt or higher.

World Martial Arts Day Kick-A-Thon

Our students participated in the "Kicking in the USA" World Record Kick-A-Thon as part of World Martial Arts Day on Saturday, October 16, 2010. Mayor Cindy Proett and Governor Mark Parkinson proclaimed October 16th as World Martial Arts Day in Hutchinson and the State of Kansas. This fundraiser was sponsored by Hopeful Tomorrow, a national children’s charity. Although we fell short of our goal everyone had a great time. We totaled 25,486 kicks. Taty Huhn raised the most in pledges and had the highest number of kicks at 2,454. Woodly Yoder kicked non-stop for an hour. Great job Woodly!

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