I'm 40 years old and work in IT Security as a Consultant, which means most of the time I'm sitting at a desk hunched over a computer, or on a plane, in an airport, at a customer site in conference rooms, etc. That's why it's so important I find ways to keep fit and active and maintain focus in my life. I'm also a long-time practitioner of martial arts. Not consistently, mind you, but I started down this path a very long time ago. 34 years ago. That's a pretty long time, and in my youth I was very serious about my martial arts.
I started taking Karate in Roanoke, VA from Carson Hurley of the Hurley Stretch Rack fame in the late 1970's and continued until 1983 or so. I would have been 10 years old. I barely got past green belt which in Carson's system went (white/yellow/green/blue/red/brown/black), and by today's standards for many belt factory schools is slow, but I think more appropriate in its pacing. Carson was very traditional but taught an American style of Karate that was focused on traditional techniques and I have never met a more demanding master. Carson was a phenomenal instructor but even at the earliest ranks had zero tolerance for improper technique. It was his early guidance that to this day, still has me checking my stances constantly.
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| The man on the chair is 6'4" tall. The chair is 18" high. Grandmaster Thomas is 5'10" |
I was at an age where I was very awkward, but I owned a Hurley Rack at home, or rather my mother did, and I would sit for hours stretching and playing video games when I wasn't practicing my karate. My kicks were absolutely amazing, when I could stay on my feet. (They called me "The noodle", remember, I was 10) I could kick for very long periods of time and did the 1,000 kicks workout several times a week. I was also playing 3 seasons of soccer every year, which I convinced myself helped my karate.
I still think I was somewhat of a 1-trick-pony with regards to my martial arts though, because even though I could do a pull-up and a split in mid-air, and could chase opponents around the floor with ease with my kicks, I had a fatal flaw. Actually two, although the second is rather embarrassing.
The first issue, was my absolute ineptitude with my hands. I could not box at all. I was so strong with my feet I got lazy with my hands and never really learned in those years. It's not Grandmaster Thomas' fault, as he was an excellent teacher, but I stubbornly stuck to what gave me instant gratification. Winning. That meant kicking, lots of kicking.
The second issue, is I was afraid to get hit. When you stay at leg's length, you never get hit, and it's kind of nice. The problem is you never learn how to get hit. It doesn't sound like much fun, but it's very important I assure you.
After about 4 years or so, I left AFK as my mother and I moved to another city. I was about 14 years old. I never went farther than Blue belt, (white/yellow/orange/green/blue/red/brown/black) although there wasn't a single non-black belt that could best me in a sparring match. Which in hindsight, they really shouldn't have been so intimidated. If you know the trick of stepping inside a kicker's kicks, if they are bad at close quarters fighting you can win easily.
I moved to Martinsville, VA and tried my hand at a Shotokan karate school in Danville, VA, though I can't for the life of me recall the name of the school or instructor. I stayed for about 6 months and got bored and eventually stopped karate. That was my first major break after almost 9 years of practicing karate. It would over a decade before I picked it up again.
While in the early 90's, I was a Combat Correspondent in the United States Marine Corps, I honestly can't say that I had any memorable experiences with martial arts instructors. I did well at self defense, and pugil sticks in Boot Camp, but the instruction is so fleeting I can't say that it amounted to much. When I returned home to Roanoke, VA in 1996, I returned to AFK and cannot even remember why I did not stay that time. I think it was financially motivated as karate was not cheap and I was unemployed. A year after that I started taking Tae Kwon Do.
In 1997 until 2003 I practiced Tae Kwon Do off and on at Taekwondo America in Salem, VA under Master Robby Lacy's instruction. Master Lacy has since moved to Texas and formed another school where he is currently an 8th degree. My years here probably had the greatest influence on my current techniques as this is where my kicks went from good to really great. Given the nature of TKD that should not be very surprising. The Lacy's were really fantastic and I learned a lot, but I started to feel I was not growing as a martial artist. I moved to FL in 2003 and left the school, still not having progressed past blue belt.
It took me a year to get enough money after moving to FL to be able to afford Tae Kwon Do again, and I signed up at a school in Palm Bay that escapes me now. I was there for only a few months, and once again did not proceed very far before moving to south FL. Which brings me to now, almost 10 years later.
A total of 15 years or so actively practicing martial arts over the past 34 years and I had never achieved a black belt. Now to me, the belt is mostly about something I've been chasing for a very long time. I don't think not having one makes me any less of a martial artist, nor do i think having one guarantees you are any good. I've seen quite a few belt factory schools out there and i really have no interest in joining one just to get the belt. So now I'm trying this again, with a new style and a completely new perspective on things.
I'm currently, and have been for the past few months, attending Leader Martial Arts, a Chun Kuk Do school under Mr. James Bannister's instruction. Mr Bannister is a 3rd degree black belt in the style that Chuck Norris founded, and my perception of the school has changed quite a bit since I started taking there. When I first attended classes there during the trial period, I initially thought he was too young, too friendly, too easy going.
You see, I've always had the experience that martial arts instructors are very firm and maintain strict discipline. What I've noticed, is that this is built upon tenets of mutual respect at Leader. Yelling and "grrrr" is not required! Mr Bannister takes the time to discuss martial arts philosophy, the mindset, the "why" that nobody ever seems to think is important. Some of the things I've learned over the years I'm not sure why I did them, it's just how I was taught. It's amazing to see his ability to help not just teach fighting combinations or self defense techniques, but to really help lay the foundation for martial arts skills in a building block sort of way that is very flexible.
In case you have not noticed, I'm very excited to be back doing martial arts again and am looking forward to learning more CKD. While I don't always agree with everything and sometimes the movements feel awkward to me, I've noticed huge gaps in my skills that are addressed handily by the curriculum. For instance, you have to start taking BJJ classes here by blue belt if you want to achieve a black belt. I for one have horrific grappling skills, and if I found myself in a ground fight might be in big trouble. CKD is pushing me to be better, not just attain a rank, and that's really what it's all about. But I still want that black belt.
In future posts I plan to document my journey and post videos or walkthroughs of forms and other techniques I don't want to forget. Consider this blog a digital notebook. I'm not looking to teach anyone, so please don't be too critical of my technique. I'm sure I will make mistakes along the way, but I'm having fun and growing as a martial artist and want to thank Mr Bannister and Leader Martial Arts for the opportunity.
