Welcome to the Sport Karate Museum Quarterly Newsletter

Aloha

Welcome Sport Karate Museum Archives Fans around the world                     

We are venturing into a new realm with our Newsletter.

We are excited to introduce you to our new Newsletter Information Platform 

about Martial Arts Past, Present, and Future.

Browse our unique written articles from some of the strongest, most innovative, and most influential martial artists in the World. Hear what our esteemed writers, Sensei Adam James, Chief James Debrow III, Dr. John Terry III, and Professor Tom Spellman will teach in our quarterly editions. In our Winter edition, we are honored to have three guest writers Shifu Karen Schlachter, Dr. Reginald Lee, and Professor Gregg "Shogun" Brown, who will also share their knowledge.

Our quarterly newsletter will bring you informed articles from our writers and a chance to learn more about the Sport Karate Museum Archives. 

Please enjoy,

Professor Gary Lee

Sport Karate Museum Founder and CEO

 Push Away for Amazing Results

By Adam James  

An old boxing trainer once told me - "Do you know the best exercise to lose weight, get in shape and look sharp, The Push Away."

"What's the Push Away?" I asked.

"You push yourself away from the table."

Boxers, wrestlers and martial artists will sometimes go to extremes to cut weight for a big fight, but it's best to maintain healthy eating habits for true overall health and fitness. However, there's a lot of truth to that trainer's joke and we should know why portion control is the cornerstone of a great nutritional strategy and healthy lifestyle.

There are many ways that we can start to create change with our diets. First, it's important to drink plenty of water and eat small meals throughout the day. Also, avoid processed foods, especially simple sugars and watch your fat intake, especially fried foods. The challenge for many people is portion control, and when they start to eat small meals, they overeat.

Today's society emphasizes large portions for meals, and in some ways, we are conditioned to eat very large amounts. With buffets, all-you-can-eat specials, and free refills, people see value in consuming more ("it's a better deal") so we start to eat as much as we can as a habit. Also, with subtle social pressure to "finish your plate" and not offend the cook, people will keep eating even when they feel full.

It's important to start with an understanding that this is common in the community and perhaps in our lives, but we don't have to join in the over-eating experience. Avoid all-you-can-eat meals and buffets or at least limit them to special occasions. Strive to have one plate at mealtime, and skip appetizers and desserts. The plates at some restaurants are enormous and they completely cover it with food and it's tempting to finish it all. One tip is to immediately ask for a to-go-box and put half away for later.

Another area to control portions is beverage selection. Choose water or tea with zero calories and you dramatically lower the total portion at mealtime. Sodas and fruit drinks both have high calories due to the sugar, one from processed sugar and the other from natural sugar, but both are sugar, nonetheless. It's better to eat the fruit because of the fiber, and ideally juicing should be done with the whole fruit for this reason as well.

Intermittent Fasting isn't true portion control, but rather it's meal avoidance for caloric depletion over a sustained period of time. Unfortunately, people lose valuable muscle tissue during fasts, and athletes (and everyone) are striving to build muscle and target fat loss Ideally, people will learn the habit of eating smaller meals and practice the portion control and the "Push Aways" to generate better long term health benefits and fat loss results. Fasting will sometimes lead to binge eating and to extreme eating behavior disorders. The best strategy is to eat healthy all-around meals but control the total amount.

Whether you're a boxer, wrestler, martial artist or anyone wanting to look and feel better, practice your "Push Aways" and strive to eat small meals for maximum results in sport and life.

The Martial Arts Mindset

 Awareness, Presence, and Preparedness

In the world of martial arts, mastery is not just about physical prowess—it’s about mindset. A true martial artist understands that the key to success, both in the ring and in life, lies in being situationally aware, fully present, and mentally alert. This mindset transcends combat sports, becoming a way of life that enhances decision-making, relationships, and personal growth.

It’s about seeing beyond the surface.   

One of the first lessons in martial arts training is learning to read about your environment, being aware of what is around you. Whether in the dojo, on the street, or in the boardroom, the ability to assess a situation quickly and accurately is crucial. In combat, a fighter must anticipate an opponent’s next move, recognize openings, and adjust strategies in real time. Similarly, in daily life, those who cultivate situational awareness can better navigate challenges, whether it's sensing tension in a conversation, reading the dynamics of a business deal, or avoiding a dangerous situation.

Situational awareness isn’t about paranoia; it’s about perception, what is often referred to as “being in the moment.”  It means staying attuned to the world around you, being observant without being distracted, and recognizing subtle shifts that could signal opportunities or threats. In today’s fast-paced world, where distractions abound, this skill is invaluable.

Perception is about utilizing the power of presence.

Martial arts demand absolute presence. A lapse in focus for even a second can result in a lost match or a missed defensive move. The same principle applies to life—how often do people miss key moments because they are lost in thought, consumed by past regrets, or anxious about the future?

Living with a martial arts mindset means embracing the here-and-now. Whether you're spending time with family, engaging in a business deal, or simply enjoying a workout, being fully present enhances the experience and improves results. It fosters deeper connections, clearer thinking, and heightened efficiency. When you train yourself to focus completely on the task at hand, distractions lose their grip, and true progress becomes possible.

This requires mental alertness, thinking two steps ahead.

A well-trained martial artist doesn’t just react; they anticipate. They stay ahead of their opponent by reading body language, analyzing patterns, and adjusting accordingly. This mental alertness is just as valuable outside of combat. Whether negotiating a contract, solving a problem, or making a life-changing decision, the ability to think proactively rather than reactively can mean the difference between success and failure.

Being alert also means maintaining self-control and emotional discipline. Martial arts teach practitioners to stay calm under pressure, a skill that serves us well in high-stakes meetings, difficult conversations, or personal conflicts. The more mentally prepared you are, the less likely you are to be caught off guard.

The martial arts mindset is how we live everyday life.

The true power of the martial arts mindset is its adaptability. The same principles that help a fighter win in the ring can help a professional succeed in business, a parent guide their children, and an individual achieve personal growth. Situational awareness, presence, and mental alertness are not just combat tools, - they are life tools.

Embrace this mindset, and you will move through life with confidence, resilience, and the ability to handle whatever comes your way. A martial artist is not just someone who fights; they are someone who sees, thinks, and acts with purpose. That is the true essence of mastery.

Professor John L. Terry, III

President/CEO

IMACUSA

314 Quail Creek Rd

Hot Springs AR 71901

479-970-2079

Spring 2025-

 How Traditional Kata "Okinawan Karate", in my humble opinion, influenced Sport Karate Forms…

I started my first traditional Okinawan Karate Kata in 1970, and was explained the choreographed sequences of martial arts Bunkai/Counter Attacks, which profoundly shaped sport karate by providing its foundational structure and aesthetic. Originating in Okinawan and Japanese martial arts, kata was designed to preserve techniques, teach discipline, and simulate combat against imaginary opponents. As karate transitioned into a competitive sport in the mid-20th century, particularly through organizations like the Japan Karate Association (JKA) and later the World Karate Federation (WKF), traditional kata became a cornerstone of tournaments.

In sport karate, kata competitions judge practitioners on precision, power, speed, balance, and expression—criteria rooted in traditional forms like Heian, Tekki, or Bassai Dai. These forms, passed down through generations, emphasize kihon (basic techniques) and bunkai (practical applications), which athletes adapt for performance. The influence is evident in scoring systems, where technical accuracy and adherence to traditional standards often outweigh flashy improvisation.

However, sport karate also evolved kata to suit competitive demands. Traditionalists focused on self-defense and spiritual growth, while sport karate introduced gymnastic elements—high kicks, spins, and acrobatics—to captivate audiences and judges. This shift, seen in modern "creative kata" divisions, diverges from rigid tradition but retains core movements. The WKF’s recognition of kata alongside kumite (sparring) in global events like the Olympics underscores its traditional roots, even as presentation modernizes.

Traditional kata’s influence persists in training, too. Competitors drill forms to hone muscle memory and stance, bridging martial arts and sport. While sport karate prioritizes spectacle, its essence-structured beauty and discipline-echoes kata’s ancient legacy.  Fast Forward to 2025, they both live in harmony and practiced with the same principles of the Art! Osu!

The Kata Animal

Hanshi Gregg "Shogun" Brown  

Diamond Zen and the Principles of the Way

By Adam James

 The martial arts journey has many paths and pitfalls, and it's important to focus on the journey and take positive steps every day.

In Japanese, the word "Kaizen" means "continuous improvement" and this concept fuels a constant path in the pursuit of excellence. However, the key to achieving true improvement is an understanding of Kongo Zen, which is also known as Diamond Zen.
 

Like a diamond, a martial artist is multifaceted. There are many different aspects of a great martial artist and it's critical to improve all of them and not just a select few. When you see a beautiful diamond, it's natural to want to look at it from all sides, and we polish all the facets of the diamond so that it's brilliant from all sides and angles.
 

Different martial arts styles emphasize various aspects of fighting including different techniques like kicking, punching and blocking, as well as throws, takedowns, and grappling techniques. Some people will practice forms/Kata, sparring, breaking, and weapons. To be a complete martial artist, it's wise to work on all the components of your martial arts style and its techniques and skill sets.
 

In addition, the martial artist must develop their physical fitness and conditioning - they must train with resistance training to build muscular strength and explosive power, perform cardiovascular exercise to develop endurance and heart health, and regularly stretch to increase and maintain flexibility.
 

Martial artists should also practice Mind Power techniques like meditation as well as modern sports psychology exercises such as affirmations, visualization and mental attitude anchoring. To develop physical fitness, we do exercises like running and lifting weights, and we can also do the mind training techniques of meditation, affirmations, visualization and anchoring to develop mind power and a more complete martial artist.
 

However, the true secret of Kongo Zen is knowing that deep within the diamond is a light and when you focus on this internal light, it will shine brighter and make all of the facets of the diamond gleam and shine more brightly. For the martial artist, the light within is the Spirit of God and when we focus on God, this light will shine throughout our lives.

Going further, a great martial artist will have a tangible training curriculum to create a deeper awareness and connection to the light within. To achieve this training goal, many martial arts systems have developed principles for the students to follow. In Japan and Okinawa, these are called Dojo Kun, which mean the Principles of the Way.

There are many schools with Dojo Kuns and Gichin Funakoshi created a set of Dojo Kun for the Shotokan Style.

The most important thing is for the martial artist to create their own Principles because these will have a deeper meaning and connection for each person.

As you continue on your journey as a martial artist, focus on the light within to develop all of the facets of your marital arts skills, and connect with the light within.

If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten. If you do what everyone else is doing, you’ll get what everyone else is getting. But if you do what no one else is doing (or do something better than anyone else), you’ll stand out, get noticed, and get ahead. 

For decades, school owners have remained, for the most part, in the shadows. Teaching martial arts to a small group of enthusiasts while holding down a full-time job. Many of them dream about having enough paying students enrolled to make this a full-time vocation but take no action to make that dream a reality. 

A recent Alma & Erma study found that 91% of consumers are more likely to buy from an organization that I cause-focused or is mission-driven. If you want to grow your school, make a bigger impact in your community, and take on a cause worth championing, pay attention to this statistic. 

If you’re teaching martial arts, regardless of style, there’s not a lot of difference between what you’re teaching and what your competitor down the street is also teaching. Punching, blocking, kicking, forms, self-defense, and maybe some weapons or a grappling program. 

To the eyes of the public, it’s all the same. 

So, what if you took the time to look into your community and identify the unique challenges it faces, and you made it your mission to take on this challenge? What if you educated yourself on a challenge, identified some practical ways to address it, and made that part of your Martial Arts Mission? 

You now become visible to an entire subset of your community that may not even know you or your martial arts school exists. As you’re in your community, bringing real-life solutions to a problem or challenge, you’re becoming more visible and being seen as a contributor to the betterment of the society in which you live. 

42 million Americans are disabled. 24.1 million children go home to a house with no dad. Every 9 minutes a child is sexually assaulted in the United States. There are 7 million “at risk” youth in America who need someone to let them know they are valued, and they have worth. 

Some of these individuals live in your community. Who’s paying attention to them? Who is coming to their aid, or offering resources (or perhaps a special class) to meet the unique needs of one of these subsets of society? 

These are a handful of the Causes you could champion through your martial arts program. Yes, it requires you to learn something new, but it also creates an opportunity for you to stand out and get noticed as you’re giving back to your local community and making a difference in the lives of individuals who want (and need) someone to say, “I care about you.” 

Be MORE than a Martial Artist! Want to know how to do that? Let’s

Dr. John Terry III

www.BlackBeltLeadership.com

I was instructed in 1969 that Okinawan Katas are a formalized sequence of movements. In Okinawa, they are primarily practiced specifically for the education of self-defense and physical exercise.

Kihon, Kumite, and Bunkai, as well as tradition, were only entrusted to the family Deshi to practice and preserve the true meaning of its roots. 

Historical Context: The origins of katas can be traced back to the time when Okinawa was under the control of the Satsuma Domain of Japan in the 17th century, leading to a ban on weapons. This historical context necessitated the development of unarmed combat techniques, which were often practiced in secret and encoded into kata for the preservation and transmission of knowledge. Katas were developed to mimic combat scenarios, including defenses against armed and unarmed attacks, thereby serving as a method to pass on fighting techniques through generations without the need for actual combat practice.

Katas in Okinawan martial arts embody principles of "budo," or martial way, which emphasize not only physical mastery but also moral and spiritual development. Each movement in a kata is designed to teach lessons in balance, timing, power, and strategy, reflecting the Okinawan philosophy of harmony with nature and oneself. They also embody concepts like "Kime" (focus or concentration), "Maai" (engagement distance), and "Zanshin" (awareness), which are crucial not just in combat but in daily life.

Technical Aspects: Structurally, a kata consists of a series of movements, including blocks, strikes, kicks, and transitions, performed in a specific order. Each kata has a name often derived from nature, mythology, or historical figures, providing clues to its intended application or origin. For example, "Sanchin" (three battles) 

in Naha Okinawan Gōjū-ryū focuses on mastering the body, mind, and spirit, while the Okinawan "Kūsankū" which I was taught in 1997 (viewing the sky) in Okinawan Shuri-te is known for its high kicks and complex movements, symbolizing an expansive view or foresight in battle. "

Educational and Training Tool: Katas serve as an educational tool where students learn the fundamental movements of the art, which can be applied in various combat scenarios. They are practiced to improve muscle memory, balance, coordination, and to understand the flow of energy or "ki" through the body. Through kata, practitioners explore different levels of interpretation - from the basic form to advanced applications, where each move can have multiple Bunkai.

Cultural Preservation: Beyond martial application, katas are a living cultural artifact. They preserve ancient Okinawan fighting techniques, movements, and philosophy, which might otherwise be lost. Practicing kata is a way to connect with the past, honoring the lineage of teachers and the cultural heritage of Okinawa. 

Modern Relevance: Today, while many practice katas for competitive reasons, their original intent remains a core aspect of traditional training. They continue to be a means of personal development, teaching discipline, respect, and perseverance. In a broader cultural context, katas help in the preservation of Okinawan identity.

In summary, I believe that Okinawa Katas and their tradition are not merely sequences of movements but are rich with layers of meaning and historical tradition.

Okinawan Katas are a bridge between the past and present, martial arts and life, embodying the essence of Okinawan spirit and wisdom.

"Always Always Practice your Katas"

Professor Gregg "Shogun" Brown

 I have been studying various Martial Arts for 64 years. 

I started in Judo and added Okinawan Shorin Ryu to my training in my teens. Later, I added Chinese Boxing, aka Kung fu, to my studies, and my entire method of training expanded into the world of external and internal strength development. 

It was a whole new level of thinking and moving. The most extraordinary discovery was the part of the Chinese Martial Arts training known as Qigong. When I began to focus on the internal art of Tai Chi Chuan I learned about Qigong. I call this ancient system the sleeping giant that changed everything for me. Now I am a devoted student of the many aspects of this art. 

I teach 4 zoom classes a week and also teach a certification program.

Qigong is the “secret teachings” that makes the Shaolin Monks so strong and almost impervious to pain. Their skills are all based on the methods of meditation, energy work, and hours of standing in complete stillness. The medical sets teach them how to heal and enhance their internal organs, develop strong bones and tendons while they remain relaxed yet focused on moving the energies through their bodies. These training methods are the oldest known in modern history. 

What we know now as Qigong has had several names throughout the years but it has always been known as the grandfather of all martial arts. Some of the levels of training has been kept a secret and taught only in the temples but some of it has been shared with the world. 

Qigong is one of the three branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The other branches are Acupuncture and Herbology. I had trained in Reiki for several years, so I was thrilled to find that there was a healing and very gentle side to the studies. Qigong healing was important to the teachers and the students to be able to use this energy to heal their students and their families as well as to become super warriors. Skilled teachers can heal with herbs, massage, and energy transmission as well as defend themselves against any attack. These techniques are what came to be known as hidden secrets or forbidden knowledge. 

Now most of these secrets are available to anyone who is willing to do the work. I love teaching and sharing my art with students. I see them go from stress to strength, skeptical beginners to strong healthy teachers and they all develop what is called a happy heart.

Qigong training healed my body after 4 major surgeries, helped me walk again 3 times, and made my martial expression faster and stronger. So, I’m all in for the practice.

If you are looking for the secret sauce for your training look for a good Qigong teacher. It is meant to go with your chosen art so enjoy the journey. You might just get the glow!

Sifu Karen Schlachter

The An De Institute of Peaceful Virtues

Text: (609) 560-8300 AnDeqigong.com Sifukaren2@gmail.com