Just For Kicks- A new blog

Welcome to Martial Arts America's new blog. This collaborative effort written by our expert instructors, staff and valued students and parents is designed to inform, entertain and reflect. The opinions expressed herein are the author's personal thoughts and opinions. Check back often for sensei musings and updates on our school, our programs, and our lives.

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

The Back-to-School Rollercoaster
Disney Rides VS the beginning of school I just returned from a Disney vacation with my family. I’m not a huge super-thrill ride person; I can deal with things that spin AND stay on the ground (like the tea cups) but since I don’t like my kids to go on rides alone, I faced my fears and went for it. As I prepared for the rides, I thought about how this is also like the preparation for the school year and the first day of school, both for parents and their children. Each year we set out on a journey that includes some anxiety, some excitement, some moments of uncertainty, some fear, and finally, the relief as the bus leaves the foot of the driveway. So I decided to approach riding thrill rides at Disney from two points of view. First, remembering Sensei Matt’s theory in karate “You can always do more than you think you can (I can hear his voice)” and second, my mantra for my kickboxing classes “You can do anything for 60 seconds.” First, I went on the Rockin’ Roller Coaster. For those of you who have not been; it’s like choosing to put yourself in a blender in the dark with heavy metal brain strain. Later that day, I was coaxed (I mean chose) to go on Expedition Everest- a coaster that goes forward, stops as if it has failed, drags you backwards and then shoots you forward again - after a YETI scares you half to death - yeah, I said Yeti! Like getting ready for school, I prepared for the rides by convincing myself that it will be fun and that the other people do it and love it. I watched people loading themselves into the cars joking, crying, stoic, frantically trying to get themselves into their seats and strapping that seat belt on. Now, it’s my turn to go. I hop into my seat and pull the harness over my head, check that it is snug, and check my son’s too. I hear the “keep your hand and feet in the ride at all times….” Then, without warning - Wham- shot into the dark! Between the mantra in my head, the “Our Father’s” I said loading in my chair, and the blaring Aerosmith music – I reminded myself “I can do anything for 60 seconds”. When it was over, I got out of the car relieved, dizzy, not quite sure what just happened, and I checked to make sure all my body parts had settled back into their original position – yes, everything was there and functioning. So this week as you jump into the roller coaster of the first week of school…I remind you that “You can always do more than you think you can.” The buying of the supplies, the change in bedtime, and the new clothes are like waiting in line. The meeting of the teacher is like strapping yourself into the seat of the ride and the approach of the bus is like waiting in line before the ride. You might worry about the Yeti on the bus. But your kids get on, then Wham!- shot into the dark. It feels exciting, fun, scary, and anxious. When the bus comes home it’s like the ride returning to the starting point - relief! I hope everyone has a great start to the school year, enjoy your thrill ride!
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Friday, September 3, 2010

Back to School
In the many years I have been teaching the martial arts, I can always tell when it’s “back to school time”. It’s a time where students are so busy with their last minute preparations that when they come to class they need to release some anxiety. You might notice the classes in this particular time frame will be a little lighter and with more general material. I find that the students need and appreciate the classes more. It is really a good time to refresh on some past material and build on the skills they have been taught. We need to remember as teachers and parents that every child reacts differently to new situations. Some children need that extra time to adjust before getting brand new material thrown at them. Others just need a light fun class that moves along at an easy pace. Again, each kid is different and letting them take the time to get use to their busy schedule again is so important. I have some suggestions for parents who want to help their child release some of that anxiety. Make your practice sessions at home a little lighter as well. Ask your child to perform their kata with their eyes closed. (Make sure you do this in a safe place). Have you child run around the back yard stopping at a swing set, sandbox, or pool and kick 5 times as fast as they can. Let them make up their own karate routine and award them with a prize. It can really be anything just try to spice it up a little. Do this for a few weeks while your child gets adjusted to their new schedule and I know you will see a difference. Make the back to school time very special and rewarding for your child. Understand that your child make react differently this year than last but just go with the flow! -Sensei Kelly
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Past and Present Fortune
I was always in interested in the martial arts, specifically karate. When the original Karate Kid movie came out in 1984, I was more interested than ever. In the late 1980’s, a fellow nurse friend (Nancy Castelli Kowalski) was taking karate at Jennings Karate Academy in Loehmann’s Plaza. Her head instructor happened to be a nurse as well. I thought to myself… a karate instructor who was also a nurse, how neat was that?? So I looked into it and life was never the same after that. Sensei Jackie Dorsey, along with her assistant instructors (Senseis Eric, Terry, and Chuck) taught me what Isshin Ryu karate was all about. I always remembered Sensei Jackie’s classes were the hardest and toughest classes to this day. I also remembered how proud and excited I was whenever I earned a stripe on my belt. Somewhere around 1992 or so, Sensei Matt Dorsey’s school at the Suburban Plaza location (where Sensei Kelly came from) merged with Sensei Jackie’s school and moved to the Winton Place Plaza. It was more family oriented and after a couple of name changes, Martial Arts of America evolved. More excellent instructors came and went throughout the years but my main instructor was Sensei Matt Dorsey. Sensei Jackie started a family and went back to school to get her nurse practitioner degree but came back on occasion to train, compete, and instruct throughout the years. It is a privilege to train under Sensei Matt. I remember starting to teach with Sensei Jen Goldberg as soon as I got my brown belt. As an adult karate student, I could not believe how much I learned, and how much more confident I became in my professional work life outside the dojo. The importance of karate training and the impact it had on my overall health was incredible. I also knew I could protect myself in many situations and that was a plus for me. Sensei Matt is one of the only martial arts instructors in the area that has an extensive knowledge of the martial arts, as his training and background is not limited to only Isshin Ryu karate. He enjoys bringing in experts in other styles on a regular basis solely for our benefit to learn and expand our knowledge as well. We, as students at Martial Arts of America, are so fortunate. I could go on and on about my passion for karate at Martial Arts America and how lucky I am to be involved with the school. Another great thing about training with the Dorsey’s is that I met my husband, Tom and we were married in 2002. Tom trained with Sensei Matt at the Suburban Plaza school. In conclusion, I would like to say that I have met many wonderful people and have trained under some excellent instructors. I know I will keep learning and expanding my knowledge and that is what makes it worthwhile to continue to train after all these years. Thank you to Sensei Matt and Jackie Dorsey, and the rest of the instructors and students for making Martial Arts America and karate such an important part of my life. -Sensei Debbie DiNardo Guenther has been training in karate since 1988 and recently received her 5th degree black belt. She is a RN and works at the Strong Cardiac Rehabilitation Center. Besides being a karate student, she trains in TaeKwonDo and enjoys bike riding, watching anything on the Travel and Food Network Channels, and reading Stephen King novels.
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Friday, August 6, 2010

We Only Part To Meet Again- John Grey
I finished a wonderful book today and as I flipped the last page I had such a bittersweet feeling in my heart and mind. I felt that I knew more about the world and, simultaneously, less. I felt both accomplished and lost. I felt a greater sense of confidence in myself and my knowledge, yet felt more confused than ever before. It seems as if these twisted feelings of excitement and loss are at the last page of every book I read and also every part of my life that comes to an end. Sensei Matt P., my co-worker, long-time roommate, brother, confidante, and best friend, has always been an avid reader. We have a similar taste in books and tend to share opinions, and sometimes debate, about our readings. I can mark the pivotal moments in my life, which consequently are some of the pivotal moments in Matt’s life, with specific books that I remember reading at the time. When Matt moved in with me during high school, he gave me a series of books called The Chronicles of Amber. After reading the books, we stayed up nearly an entire night discussing why we loved the books. In order to achieve our black belts, we had to write a book report on Karate-Do, My Way of Life. The night before I left for China, and Matt for AmeriCorps., I remember having an in-depth conversation about how we would try to apply the lessons learned in that book to change the world. Upon moving back in with each other, Matt gave me a copy of the book The Alchemist, which actually has changed my world. The other day, as Matt began packing his clothes into crates and boxes, preparing for his trip down to Louisiana, he came into my room and dropped a few books on my bookshelf, telling me they were mine now. I have yet to read the books, for fear of marking yet another pivotal moment in my life: the absence of my best friend. However, when I finished my current book today, I started to flip through the pages of one that Matt had given me, a book entitled The Story of B. Matt leaves next Saturday, and I think I’ll start this book then. When I think of Matt leaving, much like when I end a good book, I feel both happy and sad; proud and nervous; excited and scared. However, I have decided that this is not the ending of a chapter, but rather the continuation of one. A sequel of some sort. I know that Matt will do great things and continue to change the world around him. While I am sad to see him go, I know that someday we will once again be sitting in our living room together talking about a good book one of us has recently read. Good luck, Sensei Matt P.! I have many pages lining my shelves that will remind me of you! "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." - Annie By Sensei Ashley Manchester
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Thursday, July 15, 2010

Summer Camp Nostalgia
Have you ever been to summer camp? I’ve never been but at the end of my senior year in high school, I was hired as a camp counselor at Ontario County 4-H camp. I was in charge of a cabin (it was sleep over camp) and I taught photography and FISHING (I knew nothing about fishing!) We had to sing and dance for our mail…we had to sing and dance to compete for which table went to get grub first…we had competitions all summer long! I have great memories of capture the flag, dumping cold water over the heads of other campers that were in the showers, and of singing “taps” at the end of the night before we turned in for a well deserved night of rest. I can remember the faces and stories of so many campers just, like it was yesterday (and it was not yesterday and no, I am not telling you what year either). I wish I could go back, and in some ways, I am able to step back in time while Karate Camp is going on. My 9 year old son Ben loves karate camp. And for those of you that know me and know Ben, he is at the karate school a lot and he lives for karate camp. In fact, he chooses karate camp over other camps that he could attend. Today he was asking what we are doing in the other 2 weeks of karate camp because he is so excited! This is super hero and super villain week and normally Ben doesn’t even like or pay attention to either of these camps. He is connecting with friends they are sharing ideas and giggling with these great belly laughs all day. Right now they are doing super hero themed obstacle courses and trying to get away from super villains. He wishes that everyone would come to summer camp. Summer Camp- Wahoo! Yesterday when I was speaking with Sensei Matt, I explained that the kids were cracking me up. I think Sensei Ralph has been in some of his most definable and hilarious roles as a super hero. Can you see him as the incredible Hulk? We are having our first week of camp at the Penfield Branch. It’s Super Hero and Super Villain themed week. The kids were making Banners for the their rooms with task of creating their own super hero…This lead to Super Hero noises and ideas that kids have about what super heroes are actually capable of accomplishing. They played “protect the civilians”, a variation of dodge ball and “villains in the grass” a version of “snakes in the grass. While I was distracted by the giggles, the chats, and the occasional acting out of a super hero, I was inspired by the kid’s energy. I wanted to work and play at the same time (a great feature of my job)! I can’t wait to see what today brings. I think I get to play with sidewalk chalk… can’t wait! Sensei Monika (Sheena the Warrior Queen)
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010

The eye must see all sides....
Vererticalfist.net, verticalfist.com. Vertical is all about that which separates us from other styles. There must be something special about being vertical and my guess is the meaning goes deeper than just the fist. The more I learn about our dogma, the more layers seem to appear. I was browsing verticalfist.net and came across Master Shimabuku’s Code of Karate. There are eight simple principles that cover a great deal and latch and penetrate in all directions. Sensei Ashley and Sensei Matt quote a few every time they teach. Number seven says, “the eye must see all sides”. I think I want to hang this up in my office. I have been unable to put this aside. There is the obvious for sparring or self-defense; here “seeing” can be raw self-preservation. But one layer deeper is grasping that to block is to strike, to avoid is to block, to visualize your opponent and yourself. I can’t help but feel an existential crisis coming on with magical number seven. Shimabuku sees the internal struggles and asks us to turn our weaknesses outward. “All” sides implies at least both sides, and interpreting and assessing requires thought and consideration. Shimabuku asks of us to simultaneously recognize and grasp. But it doesn’t stop there. What purpose in seeing all sides unless we are to judge and decide? Simplistically closest weapon, closest target. But to see all sides compels us to understand why we choose to fight and strike, to be certain that we have lost all connection to our enemy that they deserve our wrath and our focused fury. I think Shimabuku is asking us to find dignity in every opponent and to “see all sides” begs the question of whether or not our opponent is fundamentally different than we are. Is there not a single shared thread between us that would promote a peaceful solution? In short, “seeing” all sides can never be just about technique or weapon; in “seeing all sides” Master Shimabuku is championing tolerance. One heart way and a truly “seeing eye” means connection and commonality. If you see all sides you have made a circle. The ultimate “all sides” is that we happily train every day not to fight. I expect Master Shimabuku approves. Pretty smart guy Shimabuku. I guess that is why we call him master. Eus! Thanks for writing this blog, Paul! Paul Bernstein has been studying Isshin Ryu for 6 years and it has been a lifelong ambition of his to be a black belt. Paul feels like our dojo is his 2nd family and having his daughter Elena study alongside him means he gets to work with both families simultaneously.
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

My Karate Philosophy
I was asked about my karate philosophy recently. I guess I had really never thought about it…but, I have decided it’s a good thing to have a karate philosophy…I started investigating karate philosophies and became overwhelmed and dismayed by the amount of “stuff” and the things that people had to say…too much…YIKES! How would I present what I think in comparison? So, here it is plain and simple: My karate philosophy is like almost everything else I philosophize about: I get out of it what I put into it. It is similar to my work philosophy in that it involves many of my own personal characteristics. I am present, passionate, intense, invested, and giving the most I have to give on that day and in that moment. When the planets line up, my workout is hard and my karate is good on. Other days it’s hard and requires more focus; it seems that I have trouble “getting it.” I am not a person who is discouraged easily so I suppose that is part of it, too. My basic belief is that we are here, learning karate, to better ourselves and our lives in some way and that takes time and dedication. Part of my karate philosophy involves teaching the different age groups and experience levels of the students at our dojo. I love the Tigers (4-5 year olds). They scare me a little, too. They were waiting for class last week…each one had a finger in his/her nose and some were on some other planet. I won’t comment on the intensity of their goals at that moment, but I thought, “This should be an interesting shift in focus.” Next thing I know they are running to find their X on the floor, looking with excited eyes and trying with every neuron to pay attention despite the fact that they are aren’t completely wired to have that happen. They are a work in progress. Focus and attention can be soooo difficult. But with all their passion and intensity, they manage to stay at attention and listen for minutes strung together to complete a task- remarkable. In contrast, I have this group of junior black belts and young black belts. With their school year just ending and summer right around the corner, their focus leaves something to be desired. Most of these young people are also facing big changes in school, expectations, and their bodies too. I’m looking at the 10-14 year olds who’s bodies don’t always cooperate with their minds (they are a different height every week not to mention shoe size.) They are between groups; not juniors and some not quite teens. The teens are at different levels of maturity. I am thrilled with this group. Talk about passion and intensity…they make these full power “blow it out of the box” mistakes and then pull it all together to look like a well performed music video or Olympic synchronized swim team. My karate philosophy is confirmed in these vignettes…they (the students) are all here to better themselves. They are passionate, intense, invested, and present; the best they can be on that day at that time. They get what they put into it… I wonder what your karate philosophy is? By: Sensei Monika Winkelman
posted at 07:19AM	comments

Friday, June 25, 2010

Date Night!
It has been quite some time since I have been to a live concert. On Saturday June 20, 2010, I was fortunate enough to get tickets to see Daughtry. And what a great night it turned out to be… A few months back my awesome husband surprised me with four concert tickets. He said, “These are for you honey. Take whoever you would like.” I think he was hinting that I needed a girls night out. So, I took the tickets , put them in the drawer and thanked him. I went to bed that evening thinking about how I was going to surprise three of my closest girlfriends and plan the ultimate girls night out. The next day, my husband DJ asked about the concert. I told him that instead of a girls night out, I would like a date night with my husband! (I figured not only would I get to go to a concert, I was pretty sure I could convince him to buy dinner for me too!) DJ and I have such crazy work schedules and our two wonderful daughters keep us very busy; getting a date night is nearly impossible but now I had the opportunity. And so, it was set: dinner and a concert. I decided to invite my sister, who is like a best friend anyway, and my bother in law to join us for the night’s party. June 19th was finally here and I was ready for the evening. We dropped off our children at my parent’s house and away we went! The weather was perfect and I was hungry. We went to this nice restaurant called Virtu. We had the choice to sit inside or outside by the water. All at once we said “Outside, please!” During dinner the four of us laughed and laughed. I don’t think I’ll remember this restaurant for its food (although it wasn’t bad)… I think it was more of the company. We walked down to The Blue Cross Arena to get inside and find our seats. The show began and wow!!!! What a great show! We sang, laughed, and danced. By the end of the night, I could see all of the stress of life disappeared for that short time. I still can’t thank my husband enough. Sometimes we forget that in order to maintain a healthy balance in life, we need to schedule some fun in. So go schedule some fun time! By: Sensei Kelly Williams
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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Meditation
Clear your mind, relax your body Have your ever tried meditation? Or have you been interested in it but didn’t know where to begin? Perhaps this short article will act as a guide to help you. Meditation is a great way to let go of the day’s stress, clear your mind and improve your energy and mental clarity. Despite the popular view of meditation as a religious or a “weird” activity, it’s actually very useful for getting the most out of yourself in your day-to-day challenges. And it’s easy to do and doesn’t take much time. You can sit in a comfortable chair in a quiet area, keep your back straight, feet flat on the floor, hands relaxed on your lap or legs, close your eyes and begin breathing deeply. Slowly inhale to fill your lungs and then slowly exhale. Some people like to count as they do this – inhale 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ….. slowly exhale 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ….. count to whatever number you’re comfortable with. Don’t stress yourself – just stay relaxed. When you’ve developed a smooth, regular pattern of deep breathing, bring your attention to your physical body and begin relaxing different areas. Start with your toes, feet, and legs and slowly move up the body, becoming aware of any tension you are hold and then consciously relaxing the muscles. Many people hold a lot of tension in their neck, their jaw and their face so pay particular attention to these areas. When your body feels relaxed, then use your mind to visualize a peaceful scene – maybe a pond of water in a park on a sunny day, or a clear, perfect blue sky. As you visualize this scene, continue your breathing, keep relaxed and let any thoughts that come into your mind just slowly disappear or float away. Don’t hold on to any thoughts – just focus on your mental image and your slow, relaxed breathing. Within just a few minutes, you’ll feel the effects and you can stay in meditation for as long as you’d like – usually 5 – 15 minutes is plenty. When you’re ready, bring your mind back to your conscious breathing and become aware again of your environment. Your body will feel relaxed and calm and your mind will be cleared from all the distractions and “noise” that it usually holds. A few minutes of meditation can lower your blood pressure, reduce your stress level and give you the energy equivalent to taking a nap. I meditate on a regular basis and can tell you that I’m more focused, more relaxed and less stressed after a short time. There a many books and other resource on meditation if you’re interested but starting with a simple method like I’ve outlined above is a great way to start. Good luck and let me know if you try it and how you felt after you did it.
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Saturday, June 19, 2010

I want to earn my black belt!
Every year Martial Arts America holds two black belt testings; one in the spring, another in the fall. The procedure is a long one, lasting nearly six months and involving multiple evaluations, training sessions, boot camps, tests and written exams. Each year I look forward to watching my students grow into mature, hard working, diligent black belts. While the testing process is very difficult, no matter how trying it is, students use the skills they have learned in class (both external and internal) to show their instructors and themselves that they deserve this most prestigious step in their training. Though I am always astounded at the hard work students often put into these procedures, I was particularly taken aback last spring, when one of my students went above and beyond to achieve her solid black belt. At the first evaluation, this student was discouraged because she had a very difficult time making through all of her material. She had forgotten a few katas, didn’t feel very confident with her self-defense material, and had had a hard time keeping consistent attendance. After the evaluation I sat down to talk to her about her options for postponing her test until the next time around. Though she was disappointed in herself for having a hard time during the evaluation, she looked me right in the eye and said: “Sensei, I want to earn my black belt.” Upon hearing her verbally note her dedication, I agreed to allow her go through with the testing process but told her I would be trying her physical dedication. Together we made a training plan that she stuck to diligently for the next four months. She came to every training session. She stayed after class for 20 minutes almost every day to get extra practice. She scheduled weekly private lessons to receive consistent instruction. When the first day of power weekend came, I was proud to see this student on the mat stretching and warming up with a smile on her face, ready to face the next hours of intense testing. Throughout the whole weekend she pushed herself harder than ever before, proving to me and the other instructors her utmost commitment to her black belt. At graduation, I got the honor of handing this student her shiny new black belt. As an instructor, this was one of my proudest moments. Seeing her go from a struggling junior black belt to a mature, conscientious and hard-working black belt was an incredible thing to witness. So, for all students who are currently in the middle of your black belt testing process, I encourage each and every one of you to put in the same amount of hard work and dedication that this student did last year. I am excited to see who will stand out this year and who will go above and beyond to join the ranks of the black belts at Martial Arts America! By Sensei Ashley Manchester
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Friday, June 18, 2010

Cheeseburger is Paradise
Ok- I don’t always eat healthy…I mean, is there anyone who doesn’t sneak a cookie or Baby Ruth (4 grams of protein!) now and then? NO! In my case it’s a cheeseburger. I am a cheeseburger connoisseur and actually, come to find out, so is Sensei Matt P. Cheeseburgers have a bad rap. Certainly, you can add some serious poundage if you eat cheeseburgers everyday. Especially if they are not home-made… Why are they so bad for you? They are not typically made with the healthiest cuts of meat and a roll can pack on up to 150 calories! Plus, who can resist a burger without fries or chips? Did you know that a typical restaurant cheeseburger is over 600 calories? I am here to tell you that you can have your cheeseburger and eat it too…. If you are making cheeseburgers at home, try using reduced calorie bread or rolls. There are a lot of tasty products out there; low calorie/ low fat breads are more moist and heartier than before. And now they have snuck fiber into bread! What an ingenious idea, especially for getting kids to eat better. Here’s why fiber is great: your body has to work a little harder to process the fiber, so you are burning calories. Genius! Choose lower fat beef or ground turkey and you’ll be looking at even less calories. Sure, these cuts are a little pricier, but they are worth it because you actually concentrate on your kata vs thinking about how many calories you have to burn off during warm up. Focus your mind, grasshopper…. And let’s focus on the topic that everyone is waiting to hear about: Bacon. If you are anything like Sensei Matt P. and I, you like bacon on your burger. For me, it is a must….if you choose center cut or turkey bacon (I’m telling you it DOES taste the same!) you can indulge and get your crispy bacon fix. So, maybe the entire cheeseburger is a little indulgent, but certainly better than a Baby Ruth for dinner. And if you make a few minor modifications, you can have your cheeseburger and eat it too! M. Nina Piccini is the Program Director at Martial Arts America, Rochester, NY. Nina also owns her own Personal Chef service and enjoys making cheeseburgers for her clients. ;)
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Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Disappointment VS Motivation
Did you ever have one of those experiences where the people in your life are walking the same path but in a different park? I have had several events or conversations with the same theme- achievement. Last night I was at an awards ceremony with my son. I was thrilled to see all the success of the high school students and thrilled to see the range of achievements and the range of students (not just the valedictorian was winning awards.) My son was disappointed by not getting the award that he wanted/ thought he earned. He got two great awards but not the one he wanted. It was a specific subject award for a class he has been very successful at and worked very hard at this year. He was struggling to see his achievements. He was disappointed and yet driven at the same time to get that award next year. His disappointment and his desire for achievement is leading him to goal set. It is fueling his fire. At breakfast yesterday; I was talking to a girlfriend about her weight loss. She is at her best weight ever but has still not met her goal. She is disappointed at being stuck or on a plateau as we say but has achieved a weight that she is proud of. She is struggling to see her success because she is struggling with the goal (award) she is looking to get/achieve. I was in a karate class yesterday where my part of the class was working on Bo three. We were all doing the kata together, messing up in different places and struggling to feel successful. It’s a long, detailed kata and it is not taught until second degree so the people learning it have had achievement and success in karate. We all seemed to be struggling with the feeling successful because we were having a good laugh at our mistakes and frustration with our movement and memory. It lead me to an interesting sense of community because we are all struggling with achievement. “I am not the only one with this issue.” It lead me also to think about the fact that the difference between healthy and unhealthy defenses is whether or not we are using the information to hurt ourselves or make ourselves better. We need to see and celebrate our achievements in order to have the strength set new goals or we will stagnate. We also need to use our disappointments, struggles, and failures too as a means to drive us rather than a means to beat ourselves up or as a reason to quit. Achievement and disappointment can be used as fire and motivation. Sensei Monika Winkelman is a 3rd degree black belt and the director of the Penfield branch of Martial Arts America.
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Monday, May 31, 2010

A Hard Class
I would like to relate a story about my early karate training with Sensei Joe Jennings, my Isshin ryu instructor. I met him in 1977 when I came to Rochester to go to R.I.T. I was already a brown belt in Tae Kwon do (I later earned my black belt) and Sensei Jennings was running karate classes for gym credit at the college. I started taking lessons at the college with him, but because of my previous experience and my serious interest in karate, I also took classes at his dojo, then on Lyell Ave. The dojo had a large training floor, a kickboxing ring, weight training equipment, about 8 hanging punching bags and a lot of other equipment. It was a busy place, with kids classes and adult classes going on constantly. Sensei Jennings was a strict taskmaster and expected you give 110% every class. I always came out of class dripping with sweat. One class I’ll never forget is when he had us bow in, then said, “Start jogging in place. You won’t stop till the end of class!” We jogged and did our karate basics, we jogged between our katas, we jogged while we waited for our turn to spar, we jogged between pushups and situps, we jogged between rounds on the heavy bags – we didn’t stop for the whole class (at that time, the adult classes were an hour and a half long!) We were drenched, achy and exhausted. In the locker room after class, everyone was talking excitedly about how hard the class was. I was just glad I survived. Little did I know, the next day….. When I woke up for my college classes the next day, I remember putting one leg out of bed, touched my foot to the floor and tried to stand up – couldn’t do it! My calf muscles were so tight and sore that I could barely move them. I put my leg back in the bed, missed my first class and massaged my muscles till at least I could stand. I shuffled around the room to get the muscles moving and eventually got to classes – slowly and with much pain. It took about 3 days for the pain to go away. I’m sure many karate students can relate to this story. We love the hard work in class and we have to be willing to pay the price. Just be warned, if your sensei starts the class by saying, “Start jogging”………..
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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Saga Dawa Duchen
Have you ever seen the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray? It’s a classic comedy about a man named Phil who relives the same day over and over again until he gets things “right” and learns his lesson. I think everyone has had a day they wish they could live over and over again, and most everyone has a day they wish they could forget forever. It’s a pretty funny movie, but totally fictional – right? Well I’m here to tell you that you may be living the same day over and over again! Did you wake up today and eat the same cereal you had yesterday, pack the same lunch, walk the same way to your office and speak to the same people on the way there? Did you murmur “please” and “thank you” the same you’ve always done and forget why you said them in the first place? Check the same websites for the same bad news and have one of a handful of dinners you know how to prepare (or worse yet, leftovers - heaven forbid!) and then set your alarm and wake up the next day ready to begin again? So now that you think about it, maybe you are living the same day again and again. How do you break this cycle? Tibetan Buddhists celebrate an interesting time of year on May 27– the Buddha’s birthday, also known as “Saga Dawa Duchen”. I am not Buddhist but I find this day intriguing. Saga Dawa Duchen roughly translates to “Time of a Million Moons”, and it represents a time of the year that our actions are multiplied by 1 million times! In short, if we do good works they come back to us a million fold…and if we do bad deeds they also come back to us a million times over. What if we used this philosophy everyday? If we behaved like our actions would benefit or detract from us that much, would we ever take anything for granted? I’m sure we would have a good (healthy) breakfast more often, be sincere in our interactions with others, introduce ourselves to new people, exercise a great deal more, have fantastic dinners and fill our days with positivity. We would take that idea with us into the dojo or the gym and practice harder, longer, and be more honest in our work. We would listen to Sensei and apply his or her critique because the end product would be a million times better. We would (hopefully) become people who are a million times happier and healthier. Treat everyday like your actions will come back to you a million times over and it won’t be long until you feel that that is true. With hard work, dedication, and determination it is possible to break your personal Groundhog Day and lead your life the way you want it, everyday. Matt P.
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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Who was the original Karate Kid? Sensei Kelly!
My Karate Story – I am so excited about the new Karate Kid movie coming out in a few weeks. At first, I thought to myself nothing could top the original Karate Kid but then I watched the trailer to the new movie and WOW! It looks great! Most people know that I have been in Karate for many years but a lot of you don’t know how or why I got started. When I was about seven years old I begged my parents to take karate. My mom would always reply that it was a boys sport and that I would get hurt. My dad used to rally for me but in the end my mom always won. Day and day, week after week, and year after year I begged and pleaded. Nothing!! Then the movie that would change my life came out…The Karate Kid. I remember going as a family, I was so excited and my two older sisters could care less. As soon as the movie ended, I asked my mom if I could take karate now and she said maybe. I couldn’t believe it I was actually making progress. At that point I was eight years old about to turn nine and I was on top of the world… About a week later my dad took me to my first karate class (I think my mother was scared). During the first class, Sensei Matt who we all know and love took me through some basic techniques. I felt like I wanted to learn more but he told me to go home and practice what I just learned. I said, “Yes Sensei”, and was on my way. The very next day I made my mother take me to the dojo. It was my first group class. I did a pretty good job and felt great about myself afterwards. I think my mother could see the pride in my eyes when I was done and she decided that maybe taking karate would not be a bad thing for her little girl. Over twenty five years later and a lot of sweat and hard work I am still in love with karate. My parents obviously saw the benefits and how the martial arts can change lives. They are my biggest fans. I have high hopes for the new Karate Kid movie. You never know maybe it can change someone’s life.
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Friday, May 21, 2010

Karate Mom VS Rock Star
A free month of karate- yup, that’s how I got started …My four year old son pleading with me and challenging to try karate. “Come on mom”, he said. I’m not like those people who always wished they could do karate. I never had any interest or intentions that were karate related…and then there was that free month of karate. I took that one class to stop my son from nagging me; and then I was hooked. I wish I could give the experience to everyone. I thought the hook would be the self defense or a different work out…maybe even sparring because it frightened me a little. Here I am ten years later. I changed my workout, my career, my focus. Karate brought me a life I could not have predicted or expected. It brings me challenge, camaraderie, fitness, flexibility, knowledge, safety, and the most important thing a sense of connectedness. I don’t mean friends; I have always had those. I mean it has brought me a sense of belonging and relatedness to people events and experiences and the coolest part- to my sons. How cool is it that my almost 15 year old son likes to tell his friends and his teachers that he takes karate with his mom. He shows phone videos of my board break at my last belt promotion. At a time in the world when it can be hard to be connected to your children and where rock stars are heroes, my son is talking about his mom doing karate- very cool. And by the way, he’s better than me now, at kata, and sparring, and self-defense but he is gentle and respectful. Who could guess that such a small decision made such a big impact on my life and the lives of my children? It’s time for me- it’s time for yourself- take the free month. Just imagine what it might do for you!
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Monday, May 17, 2010

Achievement
You have all seen the person I am about to describe. They cruise around in their brand new sports car – not the base model, but the one with the 600 million horsepower that they need. They have the best looking hair, killer abs, the finest clothes, and a beautiful boyfriend or girlfriend who can’t help but turn heads. In short, you hate this person. Sorry, let me rephrase that; you don’t hate them, you hate that you are not them. It’s impossible to hate them really, because they are what you wish to be. You might wonder how they got there, on a rung of the social ladder so far above your own you’d think they were climbing their way to the moon. Maybe you would do anything to be like these people who seem to have achieved so much. But I am beginning to suspect something, and this suspicion is growing into certainty as I grow older (I’m almost 24 years old now, someone please call AARP and let them know we’ll be talking shortly). The grass really isn’t greener on the other side, but it sure looks that way through all that envy. We are a society addicted to the bigger and better, and the easiest way to measure our success is against our peers. But where does that leave us? Consider for a moment what it means to achieve. An achievement does not have to be earth shattering or life changing. Keeping up with the Joneses has clouded the truth about our own achievements. You have achieved something which you should be incredibly proud of, I guarantee it. Search your memories and you will find something which fills you with pride. Maybe you used to be 50 pounds overweight and now you are looking trim. Perhaps you mulled over the right words to say to that cute stranger you saw in class or at the coffee shop for two months straight before you mustered the courage to approach them. Maybe you tried something so different and difficult for you that you barely succeeded – or you failed – but the achievement was in the attempt all along. It could be that you simply chose to get out of bed and go for a walk when you could have slept in watching The Price is Right. Achievement is about pushing your limits so far that when you look behind you, you are astonished at the distance you’ve gone since your first obstacle. Then you realize the limit you thought you had wasn’t ever that at all, save for in your own misconception of your true power. Be proud of your accomplishments, of the achievements that only you could ever possibly know about. They are little secrets only meant for yourself, guard them fiercely and treasure them for all their worth. Small achievements become big ones, which become a life so interesting and rich that you can’t help but be proud. The next time you see that person with the sports car and perfect life, hold your head high. You have made your own achievements possible, and before your resolve any other achievement you set your heart to becomes possible. Be confident in your achievement, and soon enough sports car connoisseurs and “Average Joes” alike will be the ones seeing green. Sensei Matt Pangrazio, 2nd degree Black Belt, is the program director at the Martial Arts America Winton Place dojo, Rochester, NY.
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Sunday, May 16, 2010

Even The Sensei Can Forget Kata...
Growing up, karate was the single most important thing to me. I tried to live by the principles we spoke about in class, every spare moment was spent practicing, and my Sensei’s were more like parents to me. The dojo was a place where I could be myself and be respected for my individuality. It was a safe place with unwavering support, and still remains so today. As a young aspiring martial artist, I participated in many tournaments to test my skills (also because there were huge trophies to be won). My tournament results were varied: I won some, I lost some, but I always kept going and tried harder the next time. One tournament in particular is most memorable… It was a regional tournament and my head judge was Sensei Kelly. Now, there were a few black belts around the area who my best friend, Matt and I saw as heroes and Sensei Kelly was certainly one of them. We had seen her compete before and she represented who I wanted to be when I grew up. I mean, she has been competing for a long time and now she is a judge? As you can imagine, having her as a judge was particularly nerve-wracking! As I stepped up to the middle of the ring to perform a kata that I had practiced a thousand times before, my mind went blank. I stared for a second, unable to remember one move of my kata. My heart started beating and sweat dripped down my temples. As I began to seriously panic, I looked at my head judge (who, at the time, had no idea who I was). She nodded. I took a deep breath and stepped into my first stance, suddenly recalling the first few moves. I continued and more moves came to mind. I finished my kata was a loud kiai and waited for the score. That day, I went home with a first place medal, but more importantly, belief in myself to carry through and a better understanding of what perseverance really meant. Sensei Ashley Manchester a 3rd degree black belt and head instructor at Martial Arts America, Brighton dojo. www.rochesterkarate.com
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Friday, May 14, 2010

What does it mean to achieve a black belt?
Remember the first award you ever won, the feeling of the medal draped ceremoniously around your neck or the heft of the trophy placed in your shaky hands? You were so proud you could burst, but you held it in and accepted the honor with the grace and dignity you had seen modeled by the legendary heroes of your youth. It was the first time you really understood it - your pride was born from the fruits of your own efforts. Now you knew what it took to succeed. Wouldn't you want your child to experience that pivotal moment of their life? A special time when they too feel those life-changing feelings of pride without conceit and confidence without arrogance. That’s the feeling of having a black belt wrapped around you for the first time – a cacophony of feelings all blended together as the knot is cinched around your waist – all the struggles, all the sweat, the victories and the defeats, the frustration from the body not able to do what the spirit asks of it, the eventual epiphany of finally performing the “perfect” technique. And later, when the handshakes and high fives are over, and back home, alone in a bedroom filled with images of youthful fantasies, your child will run smooth hands across the coarse black cloth they have earned and they will say to themselves, perhaps for the first time, “I can do anything I set my mind to.” And they will understand it, not only in their mind, but deep within their entire being. This is what it means to earn a black belt. -Sensei Matt Dorsey is a 7th Degree black belt and has been teaching martial arts for over 30 years.
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Monday, May 10, 2010

A Special Student –
People ask me all the time why I decided to make the Martial Arts my career. I have a long list of answers to that but I wanted to tell just one for now. A number of years ago I had a brand new student walk through the doors of the Penfield dojo. When he entered I noticed that he had some sort of limp and some hand and arm restrictions. I thought to myself, how am I going to teach him karate when he doesn’t have full use of his body? I smiled at him and told him it was a pleasure to meet him. After his parents filled out the registration form and informed me of his condition, I said to myself ok how can I make this experience work? I had him follow me to the intro room and on the way I needed to use some quick thinking. I have always been pretty good at modifying the program to fit the student, but this one was tough! I started the class and noticed he had no problem remembering the moves but I noticed that it was just really hard for him to maintain his balance. He got through the punch and the block and he seemed really excited. I was too! It was time to teach the front kick. I knew he would have a tough time so I grabbed a chair and told him to hold on. He did and out his kick went with no falling over. Yeah! He made it through the class and I could see in his eyes that he was determined and at this point so was I. His parents were smiling from ear to ear. He couldn’t wait for his next class. Years later and a lot of hard work this particular student just received his Certified Black Belt. Through the years he has trained, trained and trained some more. He has fallen, tripped and slipped over and over again and yet never complained. Today no longer needs a chair for balance. He has strengthened his muscles and now he can twist, turn, spin, and jump. What an amazing story and student. He has been an inspiration to me. I have the greatest career in the world because of people like him. I know that in another year or two, I will be proudly promoting him to second degree black belt. Sensei Kelly Williams is a 5th degree black belt, the head instructor, co-owner and managing director of the Martial Arts America schools.
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Monday, March 29, 2010

What is Power Weekend?
We just completed our Power Weekend for the spring 2010 Black Belt candidates. We had about 40 candidates going through the final test on their way to their next rank. Since many students don't know the testing and training process for black belt, I thought I'd explain it to you. After multiple evaluation sessions, training classes and Boot Camps, candidates for black belt ranks are invited to Power Weekend. Power Weekend is 4+ hours of intense training and testing that each candidate must go through on their way to their black belt rank or next degrees. The first day is usually started off with a run outside - regardless of the weather. In the past, we've had snow, rain, scorching heat, mud and just about everything else you can think of - but the run goes on anyway. We break up the run with stops for kata, sparring, kicks and self defense. Everyone works to their highest level and gets motivated for the rest of the session. Candidates then come back inside the dojo, get their gis on, and prepare to perform katas and weapons. Candidates have to show their skill, power and intensity in these areas and stay focused the entire time. The Black Belt testing board watches each candidate, makes notes and evaluates them on their perfomance. Day one ends with challenging exercises to test a students indomnitable spirit. Day 2 starts with a run also, often on the hill behind the Penfield dojo. A few times up and down the hill followed by kata, self defense and sparring outside. Candidates then regroup inside for power kicking on the shields and bags, sparring (8 - 10 rounds minimum), self defense and, of course, more challenging spirit building exercises. Everyone participating in Power weekend says it is one of the most memorable events of their life - pushing themselves to the limit, encouraging their fellow candidates, looking to show their best. Black Belt graduation is usually a couple of weeks after power weekend and the the candidates prepare to put on an exciting, inspirational show for their classmates, families and friends. At the graduation, the students are awarded their new belt and certificate in recognition of their great accomplishment. The Spring 2010 Black Belt graduation and show is coming up on Sunday April 11th at Allendale Columbia school. Make sure you plan on attending - admission is free and you'll be amazed and inspired by this special event. Hope to see you there.
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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Spring 2010 Black Belt Graduation
Each year, our dojo holds 2 black belt graduations for all the students moving up to their next black belt rank. On April 11th, we will be holding our Spring 2010 Black Belt graduatino and show which will feature over 40 candidates moving up in their ranks, demonstrating their skills and sharing this great accomplishment with their families, friends and classmates. I hope you will join us. The graduation will take place at 5 pm at the Allendale-Columbia school gym, in Rochester. It's a great facility with plenty of seating. Bring your cameras and videocameras to record this exciting event. Candidates will perform katas, weapons katas, sparring, self defense and board breaking. As an added bonus, the demonstration teams from each dojo will also perform. And we will also feature some of the instructors from both dojos in a special exhibition! So don't miss it - it will be an amazing, exciting and inspiring show. And best of all - there's no fee to attend! Look for information coming soon but mark the date on your calendar now!
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Friday, February 5, 2010

Spar-a-thon for Haiti earthquake victims
On January 31st, our school ran a Spar-a-ton to raise money for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Over 45 students and black belts participated as well as a couple of out-of-town guests. Sensei Ashley and Sensei Matt P. planned, organized and ran the event. The session started with warmups and then broke into groups for sparring instruction and drills. Then the students paired up and sparred 2 minute rounds with different partners for the remainder of the time. Adults, teens and children all participated and the school raised over $1000 for AmeriCares, a relief organization. Thanks to all the parents, students and black belts who contributed their time, energy and money to make this event a very successful one. We are already planning another similar event for the future. I'm pleased and impressed with how our Martial Arts America dojo family pulls together to help those in need. You guys (and girls) are the best!
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Monday, January 25, 2010

2010 - MAA's 30th Anniversary Year
In 1980, I was a 21 year old college student (RIT) and had earned my black belt in Isshin ryu karate and in Taekwon do. I was taking Isshin ryu classes with Sensei Joseph Jennings at RIT (where I would also help teach) and at his Lyell Ave. dojo and later the Ridge Road dojo. In the spring of my Junior year of college (1980), Sensei Jennings stopped me after a class and asked me what I was planning on doing after I graduated from college next year. I told him I would probably get a job but continue to teach karate wherever I ended up. He told me he was planning on opening a dojo in the Henrietta area in the fall and would like me to teach there during my last year of college. I agreed and stayed in touch with him over the summer of 1980 (I was working a co-op job for an engineering firm in San Diego, CA) and he told me he had rented a space in a plaza not far from RIT. When I returned to RIT in September, I was taking classes during the day and painting and prepping the new dojo space in the evening. The dojo was located in Suburban Plaza on East Henrietta Rd. - the space was 17 feet wide and 135 feet long - long and narrow, but without obstructions or support poles. Classes at the new dojo started near the end of September with 1 kids class at 6:00 pm (all belt levels together) and 1 teen/adult class at 7:30 pm each day. Kids classes lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes and adult classes were 1 and 1/2 hours! We also had 2 classes on Saturday morning. Of course, at the beginning the classes were very small, sometimes 3 - 5 students in each. I would take my classes at RIT during the day, get to the dojo around 4 pm, clean it, prep for class and start teaching at 6 pm. I remember some eveings waiting for class to start and looking out the door into the parking lot, hoping someone would show up for class. Sometimes there was no none for class (and I would use that time for my own practice), sometimes only 1 student. Eventually the school started to grow and classes got busier. Some of the RIT students who had taken karate classes there, came to my dojo to help - Ron Rosenberg and Kevin Murray (both became highly skilled black belts). Also helping at that time was Bill Farrell, another RIT student and friend who became the first black belt I promoted. Bill's now a high level director at IBM in Poughkeepsie and has continued his martial arts training. Memories of the Henrietta dojo include: the "icebox" changing room (always freezing in the winter), the "dungeon style" metal door to come into the dojo (before we could afford a glass door), the hard floor - only carpet over concrete, the heater/fan hanging down from the ceiling which we would try to jump up and kick to test the height of our jumps. Of course, the best memories of the people - Veronica (Capellupo) Scribano (tough young lady and my first female black belt), Ed Dunn (still training), Rodger Hinds (still training), Kelly (Personte) Williams (now Sensei Kelly and our school's head instructor), Jackie (who I married), JC Anson (great student and good friend), Mike Cartelli, Mark Vedel, Mark Sanford and his brothers Mike and Jim, Marypat Lord (still training), and so many more. Our school has come a long way since those early days (obviously, I decided to make a career change and I stayed with the dojo after graduating from college) but the spirit, the comaraderie, the hard work and the sweat don't change - we've got a long and deep history and I'm looking forward to the amazing future ahead of us. Thanks for being part of the journey! Sensei Matt Dorsey p.s. Throughout 2010, we'll be havng some special events in celebration of our 30th anniversary - they'll be announced in class and watch for them on our website events page.
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Friday, January 15, 2010

Goal Accomplished!
Well, we did it! My wife and I completed the Walt Disney World marathon. We were quite sore for a few days and, even with taking advantage of most of the water stops, quite dehydrated. The race course was relatively flat (good), the weather was cold (30 degrees in Florida?) and we kept moving the whole time. We stayed together for most of the race - Jackie went ahead at about mile 23. I was very tired and moving slow and she still had some energy (amazing!) Definitely one of the hardest things I've ever done - especially the last mile! But it's great to have it behind us now and we're both thinking ahead for our next challenge. Thanks to everyone who helped us in our training (especially Sensei Corinne).
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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Twenty Six point two
26.2 - that's the number of miles in a full marathon and that's what I'll be doing this weekend with my wife, Jackie, when we go to Orlando for the Disney World Marathon. This will be Jackie's 5th marathon and my second. My first one was about 20 years ago - I trained for and ran the Marine Corp marathon in Washington, D.C. in 1991. It was a great experience and I planned to do more at the time. But, as with many plans, life happened and kids came along and my focus shifted to other things. But this summer, when doing a short fun run with my wife, I asked her if she'd be interested in doing a marathon together and she agreed. Now, I don't know if I fully realized or remembered what I was getting into - the training for the marathon is quite intense and Jackie is a very dedicated runner. But we set about our training with 3 - 5 weekday runs followed by a long run on the weekends. The long runs built up to 14, 16, 18 miles, then 2 20 mile runs within the last 6 weeks. We made the long runs more fun by running from our home in Fairport, through East Rochester, Pittsford, Brighton, East Ave, to downtown and would often meet up with Corinne (Jackie's sister and another dediicated runner and marathoner). She would meet us during our run, run the last 5 - 10 miles and we'd ride home with her. The marathon is nearly here and I'm starting to feel the jitters and excitement that I used to feel before karate competitions in the past. It's a great feeling - a feeling of going into the unknown but knowing that I've prepared myself and I'll do it to the best of my ability. My main goal is to finish the race and my secondary goal is to be able to walk the next day! We want to enjoy the run - the Disney characters and employees cheer the runners along the course - and cross the finish line together. I'll even take some photos along the way. So I'm starting out the new year with an ambitious challenge and goal. I've got other goals for 2010 - physical as well as work, karate and personal goals. I plan on making 2010 a great year. What about you?
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Sunday, November 22, 2009

To Everyone Who Has Earned a Black Belt (and those who will do it someday)
What does it mean to achieve a black belt? Remember the first award you ever won, the feeling of the medal draped ceremoniously around your neck or the heft of the trophy placed in your shaky hands? You were so proud you could burst, but you held it in and accepted the honor with the grace and dignity you had seen modeled by the legendary heroes of your youth. It was the first time you really understood it - your pride was born from the fruits of your own efforts. Now you knew what it took to succeed. Wouldn’t you want your child to experience that pivotal moment of their life? A special time when they too feel those life-changing feelings of pride without conceit and confidence without arrogance. That’s the feeling of having a black belt wrapped around you for the first time – a cacophony of feelings all blended together as the knot is cinched around your waist – all the struggles, all the sweat, the victories and the defeats, the frustration from the body not able to do what the spirit asks of it, the eventual epiphany of finally performing the “perfect” technique. And later, when the handshakes and high fives are over, and back home, alone in a bedroom filled with images of youthful fantasies, your child will run smooth hands across the coarse black cloth they have earned and they will say to themselves, perhaps for the first time, “I can do anything I set my mind to.” And they will understand it, not only in their mind, but deep within their entire being. This is what it means to earn a black belt!
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Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Summer Fun at Martial Arts America
August has been a great month at Martial Arts America. We’ve had exciting classes with special summer themes as well as karate summer camps at both dojos (with over 70 children in total participating). We also started something new this year – special days near the end of the summer for students who’ve been away on vacation or at camps, to make up their missed classes and get them back on track as quickly as possible. Many students took advantage of these “Success Camp” days and earned stripes during the ½ day camp. These special camps were offered free to our students who missed more than a certain number of their regular classes. Many parents commented on how much they liked having this special opportunity for their child. We also had 2 ice cream days in August. The first one was planned months ago but the second one came about in a strange way. In mid-August, 7 of our instructor staff participated in a CPR certification class at our dojo. It happens that the CPR instructor is also an ice cream truck driver for his part-time job over the summer. So after the CPR class, we made arrangements for the ice cream truck to make a stop at each dojo during a popular class time. About 50 students, parents, siblings and visitors at each dojo got treated to an ice cream – on us! If you missed the special day, don’t worry – we’ve got more special surprises in store for you coming up this fall. We also held our annual Summer Dojo Picnic. We were concerned about the weather forecast predicting rain all day but we went ahead with it anyway. Fortunately, we had about 1 hour of very light rain at the beginning of the picnic, so we held our outdoor karate classes for about 60 children and adults. After the classes, it started to pour, so we all relocated to the shelter and did what’s the most common thing at rained-out picnics – ate food and talked! It was great to meet and talk to students and parents from both dojos and we still managed to hold some indoor games for the kids. You can check out the photos in our photo gallery on this website. Another exciting event was a beach workout on the following day – specifically for Masters Club members and special guests. It was a small but hardy group that took to the beach at Lake Ontario and we did kicks and katas in the sand,, balance and stance drills in the water, self defense and more. I did some water-sparring with each participant and we concluded with meditation on the water’s edge, with the waves lapping up on our legs. It was a fun and enthusiastic workout for everyone. School’s starting soon, most of us getting back to a more regular schedule, so I hope to see the students who’ve been away, get back to classes soon. Look for more exciting events this fall – Bully Proof class for students and friends, in-school tournament, Alain Sailly seminars (Master instructor from France who visits every year) , and some special surprises for all of our students and their families. Let’s make it a great fall and move toward the end of the year with energy, enthusiasm and dedicated efforts to do our best in all our activities.
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Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Isshin ryu karate at it's best
Our students and instructors recently competed at the OIKKA (Okinawan Isshin ryu Karate and Kobudo Association) tournament held in Greece, NY. This tournament brings together all the Isshin ryu dojos in the area (and as far away as New Hampshire) for a competition under the banner of Master Angi Uezu's organization. With over 100 competitors, our students and instructors garnered more than their fair share of awards. Our head instructors, Sensei Ralph and Sensei Ashley, took awards in the black belt divisions, along with other instructors, Sensei Andrew and Sensei Matt P. Our Winton dojo assistant instructors - Sensei Scott, Sensei James and Sensei Rob - competed successfully in the teenage black belt divisons and Noel won 3 first place trophies in the brown belt teenage group. Other MAA staff were on hand to officiate - Sensei Kelly, Sensei Monika, Sensei Bryan and Sensei Matt Dorsey. Students from both dojos competed as well and took home beautiful trophies and medals. Our dojo definitely made a positive impression on the high ranking senseis at the event and represented our dojo and Isshin ryu karate well. Congratulations to all the MAA students who competed. I'm proud of you!
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Saturday, March 21, 2009

A very special Black Belt Graduation
We are currently getting ready for our 2009 Spring Black Belt Graduation coming up on Saturday April 4th. We have almost 50 students getting ready to move up to their next black belt degrees. Along with many young students earning their junior black belts, we also have students moving up to solid black belt, certified black belt, second, third and even fourth degree black belts. Achieving any of these ranks is a very special accomplishment and honor. Especially the higher degrees that take many years of serious, dedicated training. What I didn't mention before is that we have a very special Black Belt promotion this spring - one that only happens on rare occasions. Sensei Kelly Williams is going to be promoted to the rank of 5th degree black belt, only the third one I've ever promoted. You know her as the friendly, knowledgeable and helpful head instructor who teaches now at both dojos. What you might not know is the high level of skill and martial arts experience she brings to our organization. I first started teaching Kelly at my original dojo in Suburban plaza in Henrietta. This energetic and enthusiastic 8 year old would ride her bike to the dojo from her house in the neighborhood. She was attentive and hard-working at the time - little did I know she was starting a martial arts journey that would fill her life. As a youth and teenager, Kelly (who earned her black belt around 12 years old) started competing in karate tournaments and found a passion and intensity that would become her trademark. She quickly became a tournament champion, winning most of the tournaments in all 3 divisions - weaons, kata and sparring. She dominated the other competitors at a local, regional and National level, winning numerous gold medals at the AAU National Championships and the AAU Junior Olympic Games. When she moved into the adult division at 19 years old, she successfully faced the challenge of competing against karate athletes 10 or more years older and many with international experience. In 1998, Kelly was picked to help represent our country as a member of the US National Karate team for the World Karate Championships. Over 28 countries competed in that event in Orlando, Florida and Kelly helped our team win the overall championship. While in college, Kelly, along with her parents, partnered with me to open a dojo together, fullfilling another one of her lifelong dreams. Earning her Bachelor's degrees in Education and Special Education, Kelly helped run the newly opened Penfield dojo and was the prime force in building to over 220 students today. Her latest challenge is to help me grow our schools to even greater levels, and help open more Martial Arts America branches around the areas. I've been so lucky and blessed to have been given the gift of this wonderful woman in my karate career. She has always been loyal, hardworking, positive-minded, insightful and caring. Her contributions to our schools cannot be overstated and I'm confident that with her assistance, our organization will flourish for years to come. Come to the Black Belt Graduation on April 4th at Calkins Road Middle School at 5:00 pm and help me recognize this very special person.
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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Do you Facebook?
I've recently been experimenting with the online social networking groups - Facebook and LinkedIn. It's truly been an eye-opening experience and a lot of fun. I've connected with many old students, friends and classmates and enjoyed the fun quotes, stories, photos and videos that everyone shares. My kids (and millions of others) live in this world and are very comfortable in it. I'm just getting my feet wet (so to speak) and still find it sometimes awkward and strange - but I'm going to give it a shot. I set up a Facebook page and group for Martial Arts America and want to encourage students, family and friends to contribute to it. You can contribute photos, videos, notes and discussion ideas. Do a search on Facebook for Martial Arts America and you should find it. This new world of online networking will certainly be part of the future - so I'm asking you "Do you Facebook?" Sensei Matt Dorsey
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Friday, January 9, 2009

New Year - New Changes
Well, it's happened...I turned 50 last week. Aside from the usual "over the hill" jokes from my family and friends, its been a great experience. I think having my birthday near the beginning of the year is a good thing - I've already set my goals and have a plan of action to achieve them. So the birthday is just another time to review my goals and consider where my life is going. If you keep in shape, maintain a positive attitude and don't have any health issues, then 50 is the new 30 (or so I told one of my friends). I still run, lift weights, bike (spinning classes during the winter) and, of course, keep up my karate training. My energy level is very high and I've got more projects on my plate than I can keep up with. I love it! One of the gifts I recieved for my birthday was a memory book with letters (emails) from a number of my karate instructors, friends and students. I was touched by both the wonderful sentiments and messages from everyone who responded and by my staff who initiated the project. What a wonderful gift! I hope your New Year starts off as well as mine. Remember, you can make any dream come true with vision, belief and action. Make 2009 your best ever! Sensei Matt
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Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Life Challenges
At this time, you can't turn on the news without hearing about the negative state of the economy. All the "experts" predict doom and gloom for the forseeable future and give no hope for any turnaround. With all that negativity, I've personally decided to go on a "news blackout" and not let myself become convinced that I am a "victim" and that I can't do anything about it. I've always felt, and at this time more than ever, that the state of my life - my health, my happiness, my finances - are much more a result of my own actions and attitudes than from outside influences. "It's not the direction of the wind, but the set of the sails that determines your destination." Some people might say that ignoring the situation won't make it go away. I say that I'm not ignoring it - I'm just deciding that events I don't have control over won't determine what I do have control over - my attitude. When faced with any challenge, a warrior doesn't look at what won't work but instead looks for ways to turn the situation around and use it for their advantage. The key is to be aware of the opportunities every challenge presents. In Chinese, the word "crisis" is made up of two characters that translate to "dangerous opportunity" This new economy will need new thinking, new knowledge and new action. The old way of thinking won't work now. A warrior is constantly training and learning to be prepared to adapt to every situation. It may sound self-serving, but I suggest when faced with new challenges, we make an investment in ourselves, in our health and in our ability to be disciplined, focused and more confident and that we put our time and effort into educating ourselves to be able to succeed in this new economy rather than join the masses that are just sitting back and complaining. So, if you'd like, join me in removing yourself from the negative thinking and doom and gloom talking and get your attitude straight and positive and look for new ways to move ahead in creating a wonderful, exciting, fullfilling and charitable life. I'll leave you with a few of my favorite quotes about attitude. "If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right" - Henry Ford The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering the attitudes of his mind" - William James and finally "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort" - Herm Albright Make it a great month, Matt Dorsey
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Saturday, October 4, 2008

Training with the Masters
I recently attended a martial arts conference in Tampa, Florida which covered many aspects of the martial arts industry, from marketing and business practices to teaching skills and theory. I brought 3 of my key staffmembers with me for their ongoing training and education. Besides the information and motivation from the speakers, one of the best parts of the convention was the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the great masters of the martial arts. Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee was one of the special guests. He is a 76 year old Tae Kwon Do master who came to the US in the 1950's. Starting in Texas, then relocating to Washington, D.C., he taught martila arts to many congressmen, senators and others. He also trained with Muhammed Ali and Bruce Lee. He is a martila arts millionaire because of the success of his school in Washington and because he invented the foam safety equipment that is used in almost every martial arts school in the world today. Today in his seventies, he still lives by the martial arts lifestyle and philosophy and keeps in great shape. He demonstrated for the audience his conditioning by doing the splits, holding out his sidekick with perfect balance and doing pushups - 76 of them in a row. When one audience member asked him how many pushups he does every day, Jhoon Rhee said "300 - I'm sure that's more than you do!". Another special guest was Joe Lewis, former world heavyweight kickboxing champion. Mr. Lewis is considered the father of kickboxing. After coming back to the U.S. after being stationed in Okinawa in the military, he entered and won just about every karate tournament in the country (nobody could stop his backfist or sidekick). He then decided to make the transition to full contact karate and helped develop the sport around the world. Mr. Lewis still teaches martial arts seminars on sparring and self defense. He has a very scientific approach and practical method of teaching. He is considered a genius in the martial arts. More to come....
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Saturday, June 28, 2008

Another note from a past student
I received this email recently from one of my old students, Chris Sroka. He trained with me at the Henrietta dojo in the 1980's. He started off as a shy, small child but turned into a very skilled, strong and confident Black Belt. Hello Sensei Dorsey, It’s Chris Sroka, one of your former students and black belts. First I’d like to congratulate you on obtaining 7th Dan in Isshyn ryu, and for your continued success at both of your dojos! I think about my time at Jennings often, and when I found your blogs about the history of the dojo, and the message from Sam Hough, I felt compelled to contact you. I remember Sam’s name and must have trained alongside him. I definitely remember the training! Like Sam said, the lessons I learned in your dojo ring loud and clear even today, or I should say every day. The 1000-kick nights, endless drilling of kata and basics, and intense sparring, etc. developed not only body, but mind and spirit as well. However, as I’ve found out, it takes more than a drill instructor or someone who is merely good at karate or martial arts to be a true SENSEI, as the word means. I truly believe you have those qualities of a good sensei. I always remember you telling us in class ‘Practice does not make perfect, PERFECT practice makes perfect’. You never let us get away with anything less than 100%+ effort. I remember doing katas for ‘form’ as many as 5,6 times before we ever got to do them ‘full power’. It was always about searching for precision, not just doing the techniques but doing them properly EVERY TIME. Another training method I’ll never forget is angle kicking in front of a mirror. Hundreds and hundreds of kicks done with utmost effort and form. I also recall my brown belt test, in 1983 when I was about 11 years old. You tested me one on one, which was gruelling in itself. However, it was the sparring on that test that I remember most, as a defining moment in my life. You did not take it easy on me which you could’ve done. You definitely could’ve beat me to a pulp (you were probably in your prime physically then), which you didn’t do either. Instead it was a learning experience, and a true test of my ability under immense pressure. That is a SENSEI, one who has walked before, understanding what his student needed at the time. Thank you for that lesson. It hasn’t left me. I now live in England with my English wife and 3yr old son. I am currently studying for a Civil Engineering degree (only one year left!). Needless to say that karate has benefited me in the endeavour to get through university on a day release program whilst working full time. Eventually I hope to become a Chartered Structural Engineer. I have practiced numerous martial arts under numerous instructors in the UK and US since my time at Jennings, and only one has had the same skill and teaching ability as you. I really mean that, Sensei, I would not say that about just anybody. The early days in the Henrietta dojo were tough, but it was a proper dojo, a place for training in the way of karate, and you made it that way. I’m sure your dojos are the same now. Hopefully this has jogged your memory and will help future blogs about the history of your dojo! I would like to keep in touch Sensei, if you would like to chat about karate or whatever. I would be grateful for it. Thank you again Sensei, hope to speak to you again soon. OOSS!! Regards, Chris Sroka Thanks, Chris, for the kind words. I remember you very well and think often about the "old days" at the dojo. I hope you and your family are well and that you are keeping up your martial arts training. Please stay in touch and stop in to see us when you visit Rochester. All the best, Sensei Matt
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Friday, March 14, 2008

Why do people who take karate love it so much?
Someone asked me recently to explain what karate is all about. Of course they knew about the kicking and punching part but they were curious about why so many people seemed to really love taking karate lessons. I didn’t have to give it any thought since I knew exactly what he meant. I got swept up in the excitement and energy of karate over 30 years ago—and it hasn’t stopped! I guess I would have to attribute the passion that many people feel for karate to a few things: The people—karate attracts people who are motivated to improve themselves, physically, mentally and emotionally. These people tend to be positive minded, friendly, happy, health-conscious and fun. Many friendships (and even marriages!) have come from relationships formed in karate classes The atmosphere of the dojo—I’ve often had students and parents tell me they know they were in the right place the second they came into the dojo. The atmosphere tends to one of structure, discipline and respect as well as welcoming and friendliness. The classroom training—whether it is working on katas, sparring, self defense, punching bags or stretching, the instructors in a caring, respectful manner, challenge each student to work to their highest potential These are some of my reasons for enjoying karate so much. What are yours? I’d love to hear from you. Please email me at mattdorsey@rochsterkarate.com. Thanks and make it a great month—Sensei Matt Dorsey
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Thursday, November 15, 2007

More about the roots of our dojo
In a previous blog, I wrote about my instructor, Sensei Joseph Jennings, who started teaching Isshin Ryu karate in 1972 in Rochester, NY. This is a continuation of those experiences. Sensei Jennings was a excellent martial arts practitioner and teacher. His early students became great tournament competitors and his team was well known for being tough and skilled competitors. He owned a conversion van that was painted with the Jennings Karate school logo and karate graphics. He drove to it tournaments, packed full of his team members (often more members than seats in the van). The "OOS Van" as it was called always came back from tournaments even more crowded with the trophies that were won. Sensei Jennings ran his dojo first in the city of Rochester, then eventually on Lyell Avenue and then later on Ridge Road. He was the karate instructor for R.I.T. as well. That is where I first met him in 1977. I had previous experience in Tae Kwon do and I took his karate class at college to round out my experience. I quickly found out what a great style Isshin ryu karate was and what a fantastic teacher Sensei Jennings was as well. When he saw my determination and desire to learn, he would ask me to come early to the class and he would work with me before the other students arrived. I learned all my katas directly from him. He also gave me my first opportunity to teach. One day in the middle of taking one of his karate classes at R.I.T., he came over to me and told me he had to leave early. "Matt, you finish the class" he said. "I'll see you next week." And then he left. Here I was, a college student myself, now faced with teaching a class full of other college students, without a class plan, without an assistant and with no teaching experience. Needless to say, I was in shock! Somehow I got through it - I have no idea what I taught - and I must have done well enough that no one complained. So over the next few month, Sensei Jennings would occasionally leave class early and put me in charge. I got to the point that I enjoyed it and looked forward to the opportunity to teach. Soon the students were asking me to teach them at other times besides the classes. Sensei Jennings must have recognized something in me and during the summer of 1980 asked me if I would like to run the dojo he was opening in Henrietta (Suburban Plaza) when I got back to school in the fall. I said yes and that event opened a new direction for my life that continues to this day. In a future blog, I will write about the early days of the Henrietta dojo 1980 - 1990 (this was where Sensei Kelly started training as a child). Sensei Matt Dorsey
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Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Black Belt Graduation
This month we will graduate over 30 students to new Black Belt ranks. It will be our largest Black Belt graduating class ever (we usually run 2 per year with 15 - 25 students at each one). Achieving a black belt is a very special accomplishment. It is the culmination of years of effort and consistent practice. It is the result of countless hours of class, aching muscles, frustration, successes, victories and defeats. Becoming a black belt is like gaining entrance into an exclusive, elite club that only those who have been through the same experiences really understand. When young people earn black belts, even at the ages of 9 and 10 years old, I marvel at their skill and dedication to the martial arts. But more, I am filled with excitement of the the future accomplishments they can achieve. Think about it - if someone gets a black belt before they are even a teenager, think about what they can accomplish in their lives with the discipline, focus, respect, work ethic and self confidence that they have already achieved. They have an unlimited potential! Of course, not all of our students are kids. When adults earn their black belts (we have had students start karate at 50 years and older who earn their black belts 4 - 5 years later), their lives are forever changed as well. Knowing that we can achieve great things, at an age when most people start to ease up, gives new energy and enthusiasm for life in general. Especially as I get older myself (I'll be 49 in January), I am more and more impressed by the adult students who train in karate and enjoy the learning, sweating, challenging classes. Earning a black belt is a goal anyone can reach. Don't think you are too old, out of shape, don't have time, couldn't learn it, have a bad back/knee/shoulder/whatever - all these "reason" don't count for anything if set your mind and spirit to achieve a goal. Just think - in 4 years from now, you could just be 4 years older - or you could be a black belt! I hope to see you in a class soon, Sensei Matt Dorsey P.S. Want to get inspired? Come and watch the Fall 2007 Black Belt Graduation show at Calkins Road Middle School in Pittsford on Saturday October 27, 2007 from 6 - 7 pm. It will be an exciting, emotional evening with great karate skills being presented by our black belt candidates and instructors. It may be just the inspiratation you need to get started yourself!
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Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Letter from an old student
I recently recieved a letter from an old student that I thought I'd share with you: Greetings Sensei Matt Dorsey, My name is Sam Hough. I was a student of yours for years when I was younger. Many of your lessons are still embedded in my mind and in my heart. Life has taken me down all sorts of roads since the days of long endless horse stances and splits on the yellow rugs of the Henrietta dojo. But, I have continued to take those lessons with me. My time at Jennings faded as I prepared for bible college in my last year at High School.... I believe I was getting ready to take my test for my brown belt at the time..... Although, I did continue to practice my lessons, katas, and stretching in my folks basement I fealt I needed to step away from karate in order to "clean up my act a bit." ...... There were changes I had to make before I could some day return with the right heart, mind, and attitude. I went to Missouri to Ozark Christian College.... But, I still practiced what I knew, some of the new things i learned and I worked on it. As time went on I found myself living in a small village in Mali West Africa. As the only American in the village I had lots of time on my hands. Practicing what I knew became somewhat of a routine to pass time. I had lots of time to spend writing, praying, reading, stretching, and practicing karate. I returned to the US and finished college, got maried, and started a new job all in two weeks. As happens with lots of college grads, my ministry, new wife, and new baby kept me so busy.... Today, at 31, I am the a happily married father of 2 beautiful girls. I am the preaching minister at a small church in the Pacific North West. I live in the coastal mountains near an old logging town called Vernonia. We live in a farm house where we have an apple orchard, a sheep farm and a llamma. I have turned our car port into my own personal makeshift dojo with bags and an area for practicing and stretching. For the last few years I have been working to get back into shape and back to my lessons. I would love to find a dojo and actually crave it. But, So far, the closest dojo I can find is an hour and a half away. So, I have been getting back to the basics I can remember, streatching, practicing blocks, punching, kicks and working out on my bags. My daughter loves to come out and work with me. She copies my every move. I think about you often lately, and frequently imagine you walking around me with a bamboo rod fixing my stances, straightening my punches, and correcting my blocks and kicks as I practice. I even picture you smacking my stomache and leggs as I stand in horse stance for as long as I possibly can. After todays workout, you came to my mind and I thought I should let you know that you were an important part of my life. I know you have hundreds of students and I am probably a blury memory for you if any at all. I understand how that goes. Students come and go, people come and go, and the next class comes in and it's name learning time all over. It's Ok. But for me. . . you are the only one I have ever called Sensei, and I remember you vividly. ....So, I looked you up on the web. I found your blog and was encouraged by your writing... I guess I just wanted to let you know how much I still appreciate what you have ment to me. Sorry for such a long E-mail. . . I know that it's email taboo. But how could I say thank you, without telling you the story. After all these years, I am still using what I learned with you as my sensei so long ago. I don't claim to still be a martial artist or to do your teaching justice by any means. I guess today, I consider myself to be just a guy trying to remember what I learned years ago who probably gets it all wrong anyways...lol. Your new yellow striped white belts would probably put me to shame. But, I still go out, and go through it all just about every day, and enjoy it. I guess I wanted to say a long over due "thank you." Thank you Sensei Matt Dorsey. Sinceerly, Sam Hough Here is part of my reply to him: Hi Sam, Wow! I have to tell you first off that recieving a letter like yours makes my day (and my week and month!). I am always so honored and humbled to be contacted by old students who still remember and embody the lessons I have tried to teach. Of course I remember you - your trained very hard and took your lessons seriously. It's been a long time and many years for both of us. It sounds like you've experienced a lot of life and have found a lifestyle and vocation that fullfils you - congratulations! I am proud of you that you kept up your karate training through all your life's adventures. It doesn't matter how sharp your moves are or if you remember all the katas, the most important thing is to continue training to have a good heart (spirit) and to help others. It certainly seems like you understand and live these lessons. All the best to your wife and children and continued success with all your endeavors. I am honored to still be considered your sensei. Sincerely, Matt Dorsey
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Thursday, September 13, 2007

Challenges
I believe that one of the things that helps me in my life is to always set new challenges and find ways to get out of my "comfort zone". I try to do this in simple things like take the opportunity to try new foods, read a different magazine or book or go out of my way to talk to a stranger. A couple of months ago, I set a challenge to complete a triathlon (swim, bike and run). I've been training hard for this event for a few months now - swimming at the YMCA, biking and running around Penfield and Fairport). The evnet is coming up in about 10 days (in Canandaigua) and although I'm a bit nervous about it, I'm excited too. It's this combination of emotions that makes us feel alive and gives us a chance to experience things we've never experienced before. Training in martial arts is a challenge too. For a white belt, to just step onto the mat and put themselves on the line as a brand new beginner takes a lot of guts. An intermediate level student faces the challenge of reaching even higher goals and someday acheiveing their black belt. Black Belts also face a challenge - how to improve their skills and knowledge and keep up thier motivation in the face of even longer time periods between degrees of black belt. I've got a challenge for you - students and parenets of Martial Arts America (and anyone else who reads this blog). I'd like to be your "challenge coach" and be a part of any challenge you set for yourself. You can email me about the challenge you are setting for yourself, give me updates on your progress and I will encourage you, cajole you, push you and celebrate with you as you travel along the journey of your challenge. Now, don't be too easy on yourself - set a challenge that will stretch you and brind you to new ways of thinking, feeling and acting. For kids, your challenges might be to get all "A's" for this marking period, quit drinking sodas and eating candy bars, cut your TV time down to 3 hours per week, or whatever. For adults You could set the challenge of quitting smoking, losing weight, doing 25 (or 30 or 50) pushups in a row, search for a new job, or anything else that will make a positive difference in your life. High performers always do better with a coach - their success rate is higher and the process is less lonely and stressful. Our coaching relationship will remain confidential (unless you want the world to know about your great acheivement when you are done!). So I'm waiting to hear from you. Just email me at senseimatt@mail.rochesterkarate.com and write "challenge" in the headline. What will your challenge be? Sensei Matt Dorsey
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Monday, September 10, 2007

The Passing of a Martial Arts Master and Friend
I have had a number of martial arts teachers over the years, from my main instructors such as Grandmaster Angi Uezu and Sensei Joe Jennings, to other masters I have been priveledged to train with, such as Mr. Stan Hart from Ohio. Mr. Hart passed away recently (just a few weeks before he was going to run another karate seminar at my dojo). He was 59 years old and suffered a heart attack while doing what he loved to do - teaching karate. I am deeply saddened by his passing and wanted to share my memories of him. I met Mr. Hart over 10 years ago at a karate seminar hosted by another dojo. I immediately knew that he was something special. His physical skills were beyond compare and his understanding of the principles and mechanics of his movements was amazing. I then brought him in to teach seminars at my dojos over the next 10 years and continued to personally train wth him whenever he was in the area. Many teachers can teach you how to move your body but he was the type of instructor who challenged you to think in ways you hadn't thought before. After each of his classes, I always thought to myself how much more I have to learn. Besides his great skill, he was an example of humility and kindness. When I asked him how he would like to be addressed by the students in the class (Sensei or Master or Shihan), he always said "Just call me Stan". He always had time for students, answered questions thoughtfully and patiently and encouraged students to work to their highest potential. He was never featured in the karate magazines or gained any great fame. But he was an important influence on me and many other martial artists. I was very fortunate to know him as an instructor and as a friend. Stan, I will miss you. Thank you for all you have taught me. Matt Dorsey - September 10, 2007
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Wednesday, July 11, 2007

The roots of our dojo
During my recent trip to southern California, I had the pleasure of having dinner with my original karate sensei, Joe Jennings. For those of you who don't know the name, you should - since he is an important figure in the history of our dojo. Sensei Joseph Jennings started his karate training in the late 1960's in Buffalo, NY. In 1972, at the age of nineteen, he travelled to Okinawa to train with the founder of Isshin Ryu karate, Tatsuo Shimabuku. He stayed in Okinawa for about a year and, while training with Shimabuku, also developed a connection to Angi Uezu, who was Shimabuku's number one student and son-in-law. Upon returning to the US, Sensei Jennings founded the Jennings karate academy in Rochester, first in a small dojo downtown, later moving to a larger location on Lyell avenue. His disciplined but caring teaching style attracted many students and created a core of highly-skilled black belts, tournament champions and instructors. I was one of these students, taking lessons from him at RIT starting in 1977. With the help of some of his top black belts, the Jennings Karate schools eventually grew to more than 6 locations. I was one of his first dojo instructors (1980), teaching out of a small dojo in Suburban Plaza in Henrietta. Sensei Jennings also sponsored Master Angi Uezu on his numerous trips to Rochester and other US cities. Eventually, Sensei Jennings decided to move to southern California and pursue another dream - to own the largest martial arts video company in the world. He achieved that goal with his company, Panther Productions, by producing more than 1000 videotapes and DVD titles featuring some of the worlds best martial arts instructors, masters and world champions. After selling Panther Productons a few years ago, he is semi-retired but keeping busy selling nutritional products and producing videos for his new company, Shogun Media. I will write in a future blog about some of my experiences while being a student of Sensei Jennings and how I started teaching for him as a college student and eventually bought the dojo. But I wanted to acknowledge him as being the "father of Isshin Ryu karate in Rochester". All the Isshin Ryu schools in Rochester, even today, (I came up with more than 12 with a quick count), came from his original school. He was truly a visionary and great teacher (and still is today). He wanted me to make sure to pass along his greetings and best regards to all his former students in Rochester (many hundreds).
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Thursday, May 17, 2007

It's worth it
I just got back from a 6 mile run this morning (my longest since that 70 degree day in January - remember that unusually warm week?). During the run I was thinking about my karate students and our dojo's recent black belt graduations. Between both schools we had over 25 students move up to new black belt levels! It was awesome! I was thinking about one of the questions on the survey that the parents of the younger black belt graduates fill out- "Was there a time during your child's training that they wanted to stop taking karate lessons? And if so, what happened to get them back on track? The responses on the forms were very revealing. Almost half of the surveys were marked "yes" and the answers to how they got back on track ranged from re-setting goals with parents, changing to a different class and having a motivational talk and training session with one of the senseis. Here's why this is important to you Most students will go through a time when they want to quit karate. It is one of challenges many students will face in their karate journey. How will you face that challenge? The answer is up to you. But if the times come in your training that you think about the hard work, the aching muscles, , the bruises and the time invested in training for your black belt and you ask yourself "Is it worth it? - I can tell you this. It is. Until next time - make it a great day! Sensei Matt
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Thursday, March 29, 2007

Discipline
One of the words that is thrown around a lot in the martial arts is discipline. This word sometimes brings up the image of a strict teacher or parent who is sternly reprimanding a young person. Other people see the word as a powerful character trait that gives an individual a strong drive and focus as they work hard to achieve a specific goal. Both of these explanations get close to the meaning that I like to think of when I define discipline but one of the best explanations I have heard is: Discipline is doing what you need to do, when you need to do it, whether you want to or not. This explanation takes into account a number of things. First, that you have decided on a goal. Second, that you have set a time frame for it's achievement, and third, that you understand that there will be things you don't want to do but you will do it anyway. What it comes down to is choice. We all have a choice, a decision to make when faced with any challenge. We can take the easy way or we can take the harder, disciplined way. Whether it is losing weight, improving grades in school or nasterubg a new skill, the only way to make it happen is to choose to exert your personal discipline. There is no shortcut. And remember, discipline isn't easier for certain people than others. It is difficult for everyone. Don't assume that discipline comes easy to some people. It doesn't. But they may have exerted their "discipline muscles" more often and now it has become a habit. In martial arts, discipline is a major iingredient in becoming a skilled practitioner. And developing that discipline in karate will give you the choice of using more discipline in other parts of your life. Don't settle for average - be exceptional! Flex those "discipline muscles" at every chance and make your life a masterpiece. Until next time, Sensei Matt Dorsey
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Wednesday, January 24, 2007

The Benefits of Competition
With the karate tournament season upon us, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss the benefits that karate students receive from participating in competitions. As a former competitor myself (I competed in dozens of tournaments as a teenager and young adult) and as a coach and sensei to many karate competitors, I have seen a tremendous amount of improvement in skill, confidence and attitude with regular tournament competitors. With proper training and coaching, the karate athlete comes to realize that with the time and effort put into improving katas, sparring and other tournament skills, the results become apparent in regular classes. Since tournament training sessions are conducted at a high level of intensity and expectation, the student learns to work at that level in their regular classes too. Students end up being more prepared for their belt and stripe tests, more serious in their home practices and more excited about their karate training overall. Another important result of tournament training and performance is the ability to perform under pressure. Imagine what is like for anyone (let alone a 7 or 8 year old child) to stand in front of gym full of parents, officials and other competitors and display their kata without any apparent fear or anxiety. This kind of confidence carries over into school as well as other sports and activities and is a trait that they can carry with them for their entire lives. Another important result of tournament participation is learning how to deal with defeat. Of course, not everyone wins on any given day and athletes have to learn how to take their loss in a constructive and empowering way. I teach our karate athletes that a loss is an opportunity to improve and it is through a loss that we learn our weaknesses. If we then improve our weak areas through continued effort, we will make ourselves stronger and better for future competitions. A winner is someone who takes the gold medal but a Champion is the person who learns from each experience and uses the knowledge gained to improve themselves as a karate student, karate athlete and as a person. Competition is not for everyone. But there are those who want to face the challenges, who will dedicate themselves to improvement through their victories and defeats and who understand that competition with others is a sure path to reach your highest potential. For them, karate competitions and training is a great endeavor. If you would like to try your hand at tournament training and competition, join our training sessions on Sundays from 1:00 - 2:30 pm at the Penfield dojo. The sessions are open to students from both MAA locations and the fee is only $5 per class. Bring your gi, sparring gear and weapons (if you know a weapons kata).
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Saturday, November 4, 2006

Thank You
In this time leading up to Thanksgiving, I have been thinking about all the things I am blessed with - probably many of the same things most people think about - my family, my health, my friends. One more thing I am thankful for is the opportunity to do what I love to do for my profession. When I first started taking martial arts lessons as a teenager (over 30 years ago), it filled a gap in my life and gave me confidence and strength in my mind and body. I knew immediately it would be something I would continue to do for my entire life. Little did I realize at that time that it would also become my profession. When deciding what to do with my life after graduating from R.I.T with a degrees in Electrical Engineering and Packaging Science, I had the opportunity to work at a dojo owned by my sensei, Joe Jennings. After about a year of teaching and managing the dojo, I knew I had found my passion. I loved teaching, especially children, and I saw how much they gained from karate training in terms of their self-confidence, self-esteem and respect. I purchased the dojo from my sensei and eventually opened up another branch. I am thankful for finding my calling in life and for being given the opportunity to follow my dream. And I am especially thankful to my staff, who share my vision and passion and to you, the students and parents of students at Martial Arts America, who believe in the values and goals of karate training. I wish you all the best in this Thanksgiving Season.
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Sunday, October 1, 2006

New Programs, Class Schedules and Curriculum
Our latest changes to our programs, class sdhedules and curriculum will be some of the best improvements we've made to our programs ever. The new age group classes will help us provide even better, more age-appropriate instruction to our students and make the classes more fun, exciting, challenging and motivational. The new class schedule, with "A" and "B" weeks for weapons ans sparring training in the classes, gives you even more flexiblity in planning your class schedule around your busy life. And our updated "Mind/Body/Spirit" curriculum will insure that we continue to give our students the best available training in all aspects fo the martial arts. But, I understand that with any change, comes some challenges. Human nature generally opposes and resists change but it is only through a growth process that improvements can be made. I hope you see the benefit of these changes, give them time to be implemented and worked out, and embrace them as path toward gaining even more benefits from your martial arts experience at our schools. Ask your instructor for clarification on any of our new programs and thank you for supporting our school's mission of developing self-confidence, self-esteem, respect and martial arts skill in our students. Sensei Matt Dorsey
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