AKS Quarterly Newsletter

"The Punchline Editorial"
September 2015

The following article is submitted by Dave Thomas 8th Dan AKS in Mr. Sullenger's absence.

The Process Works

For almost a year, we have been discussing the merits of reducing the age for Black Belt testing.  Several good proposals have been put forward and have generated a good deal of discussion during and after Summer Camp.

Historically, we have held that the individual meeting all requirements had to be at least 17 years old at the time of testing.  Although, years ago, we have had several talented Brown Belts test at 16.  Presently, this has caused concern, if we are being fair and forward thinking in behalf of our students.  There have been several students who were 16 at the time of normal Summer Camp Black Belt testing, but not allowed to test due to age.  There is always concern if they are willing to wait until they reach the required age.  As well as what genuine difference a couple of months would make in their performance.

At Summer Camp, it was decided to poll our Black Belts and attempt to make a decision by October 1, 2015.  During the ensuing weeks a number of our instructors, past and present, have offered suggestions, counsel and guidelines as to how and/or whether this change should be made.  It has been gratifying to listen to the numerous and varied opinions from current and veteran Black Belts.  The unanimous conviction is to not comprise the standards we have established for our Black Belt ranks.  Each and everyone has worked hard to earn their rank and values the high standards we have maintained.

Whether we decide to modify the age requirement or not is of lesser importance to me than the fact that, when called upon, our Black Belts voiced their opinion and supported their contentions in the best interest of the AKS.

In the coming years there will be more difficult decisions to be made.  I believe this process will continue, and our membership will be heard in growing and building our organization.  Right at this time, I think the process trumps the subject.

Mr. Lieb valued his Black Belts'  ideas and opinions.  He wanted those who had worked so hard to have a voice in the AKS.  He would make the decision, but after he listened to other opinions, and even sometimes modified his direction based on the opinions of his students.  This was a real source of pride with him that his students had a voice in the direction of the AKS.

So as they say on the game shows, "Keep those cards and letters coming," along with emails, twitters, facebook posts and smoke signals.  This is your organization, and your voice does count.  It has to if we are to continue to move forward and grow.

Respectfully,
Dave Thomas
Asst Chief Instructor

PS: Check out the article below in "Life in the Dojo" section with regards to some of the opinions of our black belts on this issue.

"All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten"

Test-Age Opinions

To date, we have several opinions put forth regarding maintaining or lowering the Black Belt testing age.  John Folsom 8th Dan AKS (Chief Instructor Salem Karate Club), and Jude Gore 6th Dan AKS (Chief Instructor Mountaineer Karate Club), put forth the initial proposal which would create a Junior Black Belt rank which would be converted to adult Black Belt at a predetermined age.

Dave Thomas 8th Dan AKS (Chief Instructor American Karate Club) proposed simply lowering the age to 16 or even 14 with special conditions that kept them directly under the supervision of their head instructor. A letter of recommendation would have to be presented to the Senior Black Belts outlining the merits of the student to be considered for testing.

Aaron Bremer 1st Dan AKS (Tri-Cities Family YMCA - AKS Karate Club) put forth a proposal that isn't age specific but evaluates the individual student and how they comply with Black Belt requirements.

Heinrich Riemer 8th Dan AKS (Germany) wrote that in Germany they have a system for junior Black Belts, but at age 16 the student has to go through an adult test to confirm compliance.

I have also heard from several of our veteran Instructors who have serious doubts about lowering the age due to physical growth and maturity.  All of our AKS Black Belts are agreed that we must maintain the quality of our Black Belt rank, and it would have to be a very special individual that could earn their Black Belt at a younger age.

. . . and these thoughts submitted by Brian Wolffis 4th Dan AKS (Chief Instructor Agent Self-Defense for Realtors Las Vegas).

After reading the many views from all of you, I decided to give my own, but from a different aspect.   Many of you are aware that I was involved in the early years with Ernie, Fred, Dave and Mike.  I'm talking the early 70's so it shouldn't be a shock for you to understand that then, it was Ernie's wish not to have the Junior Black Belts associated within the AKS.  He always said that the level of accomplishment must be maintained and it cannot be realized with the juniors.  Ernie did argue, mostly with me, that he wanted a democratic decision process within the AKS.  That is why you can all express your opinions today.

While doing my research for the new self-defense program I have created, I have seen some horrible examples of adult black belts in "you tube" and other video sites.  BB's trying to break wood and failing, teaching techniques that have no chance of working in reality and the list goes on and on.  You see my point.  Those so called experts are giving a bad name to their respective associations and they are adults, not juniors.  This should never happen within the AKS.  Our level of training must remain exceptional in the eyes of others.

Some of you are aware that Mr. Lieb did promote two exceptional students to Black Belt rank at the age of 16 in Muskegon years ago.  Maybe this is the direction we should be looking into.   A compromise between 14 and 18.  Something to think about.

Stay tuned for more on this topic that will continue to be discussed and analyzed.

Do You Have Member News ?

Please send news (weddings, births, graduations, etc.) so that we may share with our members and friends.  Accompanying pictures are most welcome!

We look forward to hearing from you !

PROMOTIONS!!

Congratulations to all students who have been promoted this past quarter, and to those we've missed in prior newsletters.

Best wishes in your continued training!

Everything I Ever Needed to Know . . .

Everything that I ever need to know about life I learned in . . . not Kindergarten (although it does seem so)... Karate.  One recent class found us laughing and joking before class began, and Sensi Palmer making a fleeting comment; "everything you need to know you learn in karate."  He was speaking to some of the younger students and while he was joking when he made the statement, it stuck with me.

Upon returning home that evening, I looked up the poem entitled "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten."  And I was slightly taken back by the similarity between the author's belief, true life, and karate.  The author lists eighteen different life habits that should be learned in kindergarten to make one's life whole.  And most of them I've learned in Karate; although, disappointingly, I did not learn to take a nap every afternoon and that warm cookies and cold milk are good for me in Karate (I learned those myself).

Share Everything.  The Martial Arts community is always ready to share their collective knowledge with each other to make us all better people.  This past April, we had three guest instructors at the Toledo seminar.  All three came, taught and shared their knowledge with no hesitation and without thought of compensation.  One of the instructors runs a commercial school and is always looking for new students.  He knows going in that his time spent with us would have no impact on attendance at his school, but none-the-less, he spent a Saturday afternoon sharing his beliefs with strangers for nothing more than a thank you and handshake.

Don't Hit People. Wait, Karate is all about defending one's self which means being able to hit people.  True, but as an adult in Karate, I&339;ve never had to use force to defend myself.  I've always been able to see the situation develop and either diffuse or vacate the situation.  In general, martial arts and more specifically successful martial artists, normally never need to resort to violence to solve problems.  Through our craft,training, and dedication, we have moved beyond.  And unless we are left no alternate avenue, we don't hit people.

Don't Take Things That Are Not Yours.  In my thirty-five years of service to the AKS Toledo Karate Club, I can think of no incidents of our students being so disrespectful that they would take something that was not theirs.  Of course we are a small club based in a YMCA and often times parents and spectators are in the gym so the opportunity does not present itself.

Good fortune has also affiliated me with a different school over the years, and I found the same to be true.  We had a "locker room" with no lockers, just cubbies for our bags.  It was not uncommon to see phones or wallets sitting out in plain view; however, once again, I felt not fear or worry over my property.  I've known the lead instructor of the club for many years and I knew that students of suspect character would never last.  He would weed out those of dubious intentions; only ones of strong character would last.

Say You're Sorry When You Hurt Somebody.  We have all done it; and had it done to us.  Shall we call it a temporary lack of control?  It happens.  When you train hard, sometimes one gets hit.  We apologize, try to do better in the future and move on.  But there is more.

We have all committed transgressions that we are not proud of; actions or words in our life that left us feeling less than satisfied with our actions and choices.  It takes inner courage to admit to one's self that what we did was wrong and then to own the mistake and make amends.  That inner strength lies buried deep within most people, buried so deep that most people don't even know it exists.  Martial arts is an inward looking process.  We are looking to make ourselves better through training and reflection.  This inner focus, I believe, allows us to realize our mistakes, no matter how severe they are, and to attempt to make amends.

Hold Hands And Stick Together.  Karate is difficult, it's physically demanding, it's mentally exacting, and I know that I would find it very difficult to work, train and excel in an environment with minimal support.  And the same goes for life.  I believe that practitioners of martial arts understand the importance of supporting friends and family; sticking with them when times are difficult.  We understand that people are going to fall down, including one's self, and will need help regaining their footing.  I know from experience that I can (and have) call upon the members of our class for help anytime and they will be there as would I for them.  Individually, we are all weak, but are incredibly strong when we stand as one.

Live A Balanced Life.  Power, focus, control, concentration; all aspects that are necessary to help one prepare and practice for martial arts.  Each in its own right is necessary to deliver proper Karate techniques.  Without power our blocks or strikes are moot. Without focus the punch or kick misses its intended target.  A lack of control will lead to unnecessary injury to our self or our training partner.  Lack of concentration generates poor and sloppy techniques.  Conversely too, much of any of the above mentioned aspects of training will also lead to poor techniques.  Power, focus, control and concentration, like all aspects of life, must be all within the proper balance.

Being balanced goes much beyond the walls of the dojo.  All too often people live lives out of balance and they wonder why they never feel satisfied or happy with their situation.  They wonder why they can never find peace; they lack balance.  We all know people who live to work; and I used to be one of them.  Many people are driven and defined by what they do and not who they are.  In order to enjoy anything in life all things must be counterbalanced.

Recently I was speaking with a colleague who was preparing to retire after serving Defiance City Schools for thirty-five years.  We were discussing his plans and what he would be doing with his free time.  During our conversation, he made a very good point that I had never thought of previously.  He said that in order to enjoy his weekends, or his vacations, he needed to be at work during the week.  That without this balance his free time, his enjoyment time would lack both meaning and satisfaction.  This was an idea that I had never considered.  And it made me think.

Why do we all look forward to our family trips, our lazy Sundays or our hobbies?  Because they are activities that we do not engage in on a regular basis.  If we did, they would cease to be special or noteworthy.

Karate teaches the same idea of balance.  As mentioned above, power, focus, control and concentration are all aspects necessary to deliver successful karate techniques.  Yet too much of any one lessens the total output of the technique; each technique must be delivered with balance.  Much like life must be lived, loved and cherished with same balance.