Dear Members,

I hope everyone’s New Year is proceeding along well.  I’m sure each of you is busy with work and family schedules.  The same is true for the AKS.  We continue working on the basic standards that will be used in the student handbook.  The goal is to provide logical basics requirements at the appropriate level of study for our students.  One of our biggest challenges is to ensure we are all on the same page in this respect.  Since we all vary in our backgrounds, we don’t see things the same way all the time.  This necessitates the need for compromise.

When I first became acquainted with Mr. Lieb in 1972, I had only been out of the Air Force for a couple of years.  I’d earned my 1st Dan in Chung Do Kwan using the 5 Pinon hyungs, Basai, and Chogi Cho Dan.  When I was stationed in Spain, I found two Koreans in Madrid.  With them, I began studying Tang Soo Do Moo Da Kwan and Hapkido.  In this Korean system (Tang Soo Do Moo Da Kwan), I learned some 15 new forms and eventually earned my 2nd Dan; just before returning to the states and being discharged from the service.  I began studying again with my first instructor (Denis Callahan) whose teacher (Kim, Muong Kil) was now in the states from Korea.  As I began training with him and working towards 3rd Dan, I had to start learning a whole new set of forms as the katas had all changed yet again.  This was very frustrating.  I was wondering how many forms I would have to learn each time I began working towards my next rank.  With the AKS, our forms haven’t changed in four decades.

When I met Mr. Lieb, I was very interested in his system for two reasons.  He had a great way of teaching (as well as being a great martial artist), and the forms were the very ones I had learned for my 1st Dan; with some variations.

During my years in the AKS, things haven't stayed the same.  But one thing has never really changed.  Even though we all do the same forms and techniques, we do them slightly differently.  You may be wondering where I’m going with this.  Over the past several weeks, we’ve lost one of our members because he was frustrated.  He couldn’t understand why the folks in one area did some techniques one way, while those in another location did them yet another.  He felt that the AKS lacked a standardized way of doing things regardless of where you were located.  I can tell you I have never quite done things the way folks in Ohio have, or the way the people in Oklahoma or Michigan have.  Mr. Lieb never had a problem with that.  He was more concerned about the quality of our black belts and their students.  If we did things a little differently than other AKS schools, but still demonstrated power, focus, speed, and agility, he was more than pleased with our performance, training, and overall efforts at representing the AKS.

I think we all need to be aware that there will always be subtle differences in the way one instructor teaches as opposed to another.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with this.  This is part of the uniqueness each of us brings to the art.  I have trained with and watched many members of Shotokan perform their katas.  Even though they are all part of the same style, they still don’t do things exactly the same.  To expect that we are all going to perform in cookie-cutter fashion is both naďve and wrongheaded.  I’ve come to realize there will always be young black belts who will have difficulty understanding this.  When someone who has only been studying for fifteen to twenty years isn’t willing to work with those of us who’ve been at it nearly fifty, maybe their leaving was for the best.

The AKS can only get better if we are willing to work together.  When a person quits because they are dissatisfied and unwilling to help find the fixes, they're telling the rest of us that only their way is important.  Nothing worthwhile is easy.  All great efforts involving people require patience, perseverance, and the ability to compromise.  Instructors who are not willing to make the efforts for the good of the group condemn themselves and their students to stagnation.  We can only hope with time our brothers will return.  The door will always remain open.

A New Flexibility

This May, we will have our second regional training seminar.  This is very positive because it gives the leadership team the opportunity to train with members in different parts of the country who might not be able to join us for the summer camp in Muskegon.  Now that we are having these regional get togethers, we’ll be able to conduct testing for black belt ranks for those who are unable to make the trip to Michigan.  I know some of you don’t have the money or time to take away from work.  Please know it is not necessary to make any of these trips every year.  If attending the annual AKS Summer Camp is not possible, then joining us at one of the regional seminars will help remedy the problem.  It will also be how we slowly begin the process of getting everyone on the same page regarding the manner of execution of our basics, self-defense, katas, and overall general AKS dogma.

Each of you should know that we are aware of the difficulties some of you face.  We are here to help as best we can.  For this to happen though, each black belt must be willing to share with his or her head instructor their observations and concerns.  This is the way we will be able to come together and solidify our style, as well as unify our membership.  I know I speak for Mr. Reinecke and Mr. Thomas when I say we look forward to hearing from you with your ideas and suggestions.  Please don’t give up just because you don’t think things are going the way you feel they should be.  Quitters never succeed in life.

We plan on finalizing the handbook at the summer camp.  Therefore, everyone who wishes to participate has ample time to become involved.  Look over the handbook and work with your head instructor.  We’ve already had some great input from the folks in West Virginia.  With more people participating, we can’t help but end up with a final product (our AKS Student Handbook) that we will all be proud of.

Respectfully yours in solidity for the AKS,

Mike Sullenger 9th Dan
Chief Instructor

This article will begin a four-part series that covers a paper I first wrote for Ernie as part of my 6th Dan requirements.

In March 1990, I submitted a paper to Mr. Lieb (our AKS founder and chief instructor) in partial fulfillment of my sixth degree black belt requirements.  The points I made at that time are still relevant today.  My friend and mentor suggested I update and share the paper with the American Karate System’s membership, as well as other true students of the arts.  I hope the thoughts and reflections that follow will have a positive impact on your personal perspective regarding the martial arts, and your specific studies in karate.

1. March, 2008 - Introduction  /  In The Beginning
2. June, 2008 - Realization of Potential  /  Continuing to Learn
3. September 2008 - Tournaments  /  Commercialism vs Traditionalism
4. December, 2008 - Final Thoughts  /  Recommendations  /  In Memoriam

Below are some of the "real world " experiences and comments compiled over a number of years.   They are short in content but they speak volumes.

• An AKS Blacks Belt was walking toward the gym for his 4th Dan Testing when a member of the board asked him if he knew an obscure Chinese term?
  
  He answered “No, that’s why I took American Karate.”



• A Black belt from another style would often visit class to chat and would continually regale us with stories of his intrepid fighting skills, stars he had trained with and all the opponents he had defeated.
  
  One of the AKS Black Belts told him “If you’d put on a uniform, you wouldn’t have to talk about it.”



• Upon hearing of how one of our Brown Belts subdued three armed assailants with a Bo; an Instructor said,  “See what happens when you bring a knife to a stick fight!”



• One evening an AKS Instructor was teaching his class self-defense; both empty hand and against weapons.   A father, two daughters, and his 18-year-old son watched in the gallery.   The son, a self-proclaimed gang-banger, warned the 5th Dan Black Belt Instructor, that if he had the knife “none of the karate junk” would work on him.   The Black Belt handed him the knife and then front snapped kicked him in the groin.
  
  The father stood up and said to the Instructor, “I’m sorry for his behavior.”   He then looked at his son moaning on the floor and said “You are an idiot!”



• A Black Belt and his wife were attending a hockey game when the four people sitting behind them started to shout profane comments and insults at the opposing team’s players.  The wife said to the husband,  “You would think they could be a little more civilized.”   One of the four heard the comment and then started threatening and swearing at his wife.  This went on for about 10 minutes when she looked at him and said, “How long are you going to let this go on?”
  
  The Black turned sideways in his seat facing his wife, but making sure those behind him could see and hear, and in a very quiet voice said,  “I have to be very careful, being a Black Belt and getting into a fight I could lose my school and get thrown out of the American Karate System.”  He saw one of the people mouthing silently to the rest of the group,  “He’s a Black Belt.”   Five minutes later they were gone.



• A young lady walked out of her business to get the company mail.  There was a group of construction men working on the street nearby.  A big burly guy walks up to her and says,  “Hi, you work around here?”  She said yes she did, she had a business.  He continued, “You’re cute and you have a great figure.”
  
  She told him thanks, she took karate and that was how she stayed in shape.  Slightly shocked, he excused himself and said he had better get back to work.



• Trying to get his yellow belts to kiai, an Instructor told his students that they could practice at the library, they wouldn’t disturb anyone.



• A student was going through his Black Belt test in front of Mr. Lieb and a board of Black Belts.  He had completed his forms, basics and self defense and he was sitting on the gym floor answering questions about history and philosophy.   At this particular moment, a spider walked across the floor and meandered to his left. The student tried to smack him, missed, but nailed him the second time.
  
  “Did you have to hit him twice?” Mr. Lieb asked.
  
  “Yes, Sir.”  the student replied.
  
  “Twenty-five push-ups!  My Black Belts don’t miss.”



• The Black Belts were lined up for sparring at a tournament when the competitor next to the AKS Black Belt introduced himself and said, “I have seen you fight, and you are really good.”  The AKS Black Belt graciously thanked him for the compliment.  The competitor continued, “I am really good too, this should be an excellent match."   They bowed in and thirty seconds later the match was over, 3 to 0.   As they walked out of the square, the fellow looked at the winning AKS Black Belt, “Whew, that was close, it could have gone either way.”   The AKS guy smiled and nodded.



• An AKS student had flown to Pasadena to attend the Rose Bowl and to meet a former college roommate.   At the game, he found out that, in the years since college, his friend had joined a martial arts class and had earned his Black Belt.   As they were standing in the concession line, a guy bumped into his friend; he asked, “Are you okay?”   The stranger said, “You better be careful.  I hold a Black Belt in karate.”  The friend said, “No you don’t or you wouldn’t act the way you did.”   The stranger lowered his head and walked away.

Fitness/Fun Related Interests?

One reason for training could be that people want to have fun and get in better physical condition.  Maybe lose a few pounds.   Become stronger, or just get more active.   Martial arts will improve endurance, strength, flexibility, speed, coordination, balance, and can help with overall stress levels.

Self defense?

In today's world, effective self defense is a nice tool to have.  Just ask Mr. Baessler, 3rd Dan about his vacation trip to Colorado when he was a brown belt.

"Because my kids are in it?"

Which is how it happened for me.  There are many parents who bring their children to karate, maybe with the idea that it's "healthy" for them, gives them confidence, they may find new friends, or to help them feel more secure when confronted with agressive behavior.  Guess what parents.  All of the above is good for you too!

Love for, and the respect of, Martial Arts?  Curiosity?  A personal challenge?

Whatever the reason, we would enjoy hearing about it.  Please email me (ljwerner@mail.com) and let me know how you got into karate, what your main goals are for yourself, what you discovered about yourself, and what surprised you the most about your accomplishments.

I will then share these stories in future issues of our newsletter.   (Your name will be withheld if requested).  We hope to inspire more people to take a look at our system and see that there are real people who joined the A.K.S. for various reasons and discovered its many rewards.

On Saturday, May 3, 2008, please join us at the Toledo YMCA for an afternoon of training.  Areas to be covered are:

1. AKS Basics
2. AKS kata
3. Self-defense
4. Weapons
5. Various types of choke holds and their applications.

>> You find yourself casually standing in a cat stance.

>> You trip, go into a roll and come up in a fighting stance.  In church.

>> You answer your boss with "Ussss!"

>> You put your hands together in a martial arts bow position (one hand open the other closed) after grace at the dinner table.

>> You tie your bath robe belt in a square knot.  Then check to make sure the ends are exactly even.

>> You accept change from the cashier using a perfect knife hand with the thumb carefully tucked in.

>> When you're outside doing landscaping/gardening you "practice" with all the neat "weapons."