“ HOW DO I TEACH KYOKUSHIN KARATE AND WHAT DO I EMPHASIZE ”
The way we say Dojo, it means a place to find out about yourself, a place to find enlightenment and your way, your sincere way. It's not a gym, club, a place of socializing or getting a date, but somewhere to study one’s own self, to learn techniques but also gain spiritual and mental knowledge. I hope all students keep on studying karate
because for them the dojo is also like a second home, each time they come they feel at ease, but also appreciate and feel more serious too. It's also very important, the way as a Sensei (teacher) to make a good program, what we call curriculum - it means the way you study. Each level has a certain amount of material a person has to learn, step by step, instead of everything right away. In some systems right after you learn a little bit and understand the basics you begin fighting. The dojo is not just a factory to produce strong fighters. This way so often people get injured, they get discouraged or uncomfortable then discontinue training. That's why it is very important; the way you set up the system, the proper way, so people continue to learn then everyone can benefit. Karate is not just fighting but also how you control your mind, your temper, your discipline and your morals. Every day I am learning from my existence, after a long period of my teaching profession I realize that as a teacher I have to observe individually because each student is physically and mentally different. The conditions are not exactly the same for everybody but karate should be for everybody, so especially in Kyokushin we are open to all kinds of students, even mentally disabled people, homeless children, deaf and blind people and others like them - there is room for everybody. Therefore everyone can study karate to develop their inner strength to take care of themselves and take control of their lives. I believe to study Kyokushin is the way of life, but as a karate-ka each person has a responsibility to be more open, to use whatever they learn from kyokushin and apply it in their everyday life - the way to control emotions, temper, morals, and discipline. The extent to which Kyokushin is applied to a person’s life the more true a karate-ka they become. That means a strong, true karate-ka is not just how many tournaments they compete and how many times they become champions, first place or in the top 4. Sometimes people think, “I am a great karate-ka because I became champion so many times" but how strong they are inside means how they dedicate their lives, how they carry on their discipline, that is important. That's why it is so important to maintain and show discipline in the dojo. Especially in Kyokushin, we have so many different types of people, handicapped people, disabled people but still those people seriously learn karate. Then we all realize more and appreciate what we have and how lucky we are to be practicing Kyokushin Karate.
