Welcome to the Sport Karate Museum Quarterly Newsletter

Aloha, Sport Karate Museum Archives, Fans from around the world.

Our Quarterly Newsletter about the Martial Arts from the Past, Present, and Future will feature articles by Sensei Adam James, Hanshi Gregg "Shogun" Brown, Chief James Debrow III, Dr. John Terry III, and Professor Tom Spellman. There will also be a selected guest writer for each quarter's newsletter, sharing their wisdom and insight.

After reading the Quarterly Newsletter, please explore the other features on the Sport Karate Museum Archives website.

Please enjoy,

Professor Gary Lee

Sport Karate Museum Founder and CEO

713-483-0476 

professorgarylee@gmail.com

SKM Quarterly Article – Winter 2025 edition- Irene Collins/ Editor

Window Into the World of Martial Arts 

By Adam James

A Brief History of Martial Arts

Mysterious! Exciting! Dangerous!

Martial arts demonstrations have captured the attention and imagination of millions, and these moments have opened a window into the world of martial arts.

Early demonstrations were often part of military parades and performances. In addition, many martial artists throughout history have also been teachers and healers, and they have sometimes used demonstrations to attract attention and new clients, students and customers.

US President Ulysses S. Grant witnessed a Jiujitsu demonstration during his visit to Japan in 1879, and then President Teddy Roosevelt practiced Judo and organized a demonstration on the lawn of the White House around 1905.

One of the most significant demonstrations in history occurred in 1921 by Gichin Funakoshi in front of the Crown Prince (later Emperor) of Japan, and then in several more in Tokyo in 1921-1922. These early Karate performances led to Funakoshi's introduction to Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, and later the acceptance of Karate into the Japanese martial arts society and culture.

During the 1960s, martial arts in America was growing and the International Karate Championship hosted by Ed Parker in Long Beach, California became a major event in the sport. Another important demonstration occurred here in 1964 by Bruce Lee, and this helped launch Lee's dynamic career in the movies and in martial arts.

On the East Coast Arron Banks produced the Oriental World of Self Defense shows at Madison Square Garden for over 20 years and received worldwide attention via major sports media platforms, including ABC, CBS, NBC and HBO.

Other major tournaments developed across the country such as Allen Steen in Texas, Leo Fong & Ron Marchini in California, Jhoon Rhee in Washington DC and Joe Corley in Atlanta. All of these events included martial arts demonstrations that furthered the popularity of the sport, along with regional martial arts tournaments, schools and teachers.

Japanese Village and Deer Park was a small theme park located in Buena Park, California that was inspired by Nara Park in Japan, and operated from 1967-1974. Fumio Demura, the legendary Karate instructor who was the inspiration for Mr. Miyagi in the movie Karate Kid, hosted a demonstration that was very popular and motivated many martial artists.

Michele "The Mouse" Krasnoo and Billy Blanks were some of the first to incorporate music into their demonstrations and elevate the performance to new levels.

Professor Gary Lee and his demonstration team performed at Six Flags Texas for over 3 decades and they inspired and motivated thousands of martial artists.

Today, martial arts demonstrations still awe and inspire people all over the world. While videos and combative sports have pulled away some of the mystery, live performances of martial arts skills will always have an impact on those fortunate to see them

.Go All Out! - Martial Arts Outdoors Training for the Summertime

By Adam James

Martial artists can train anywhere at any time, and we relish new and unique training environments. During the summer months, this is the perfect time to take advantage of the warm weather to get outside for your martial arts training.

Here are fun and exciting ways to integrate outdoors training into your personal martial arts journey and if you are an instructor, these are great for elevating your summer camp programs.

Get on the grass: one of the best ideas is to simply get outside and train on a grass field. Taking off your shoes and training in bare feet on the grass gives a special feeling that will enhance balance and stability. Be careful to check for rocks, sticks and broken glass, as well as ticks, chiggers and other pests. This “real life”, “real world” training environment is great for grappling, sparring, practicing forms and training on the ground.

Go in the water: Martial arts training in the water is extremely fun and beneficial. Practice kicks in waist-deep water to develop balance and power in your legs, and you will also enhance your fighting skills for all environments. Also, the water is wonderful for a total body strengthening, stretching, and recovery - swimming will strengthen underused muscles, and you will also benefit from using hot tubs and cold plunge therapy to get back to training.

Climb up hills: for an extra challenge, practice kicks and combinations as you hike in the hills. You must be very aware of your surroundings and do not endanger yourself or your students, however, if you're at a high level in skills and awareness, it's incredibly cool to train while hiking by executing a kick or combination every few minutes. You can also carry a martial arts weapon and train with it as you hike, and this is especially easy to do with a staff - either short or long.

Workout with weapons - archery, horseback riding, firearms, knife throwing, as well as traditional martial arts weapons. The summer is perfect for going to camps and seminars, and to experience and experiment with all of the different weapons of the world.

Take advantage of the summer months and the warm weather to get outdoors and go for it with your martial arts training!

Preparing Your Martial Arts School for 2026

By:  Dr. John L. Terry, III – The Black Belt Leader

As another year closes, martial artists everywhere perform a familiar ritual—reflection. In the dojo, reflection sharpens technique. In business, it determines survival, relevance, and growth. As we approach 2026, the most important question for school owners and instructors isn’t how hard did we work this year? It’s did our work move us in the right direction?

Many schools are busy. Fewer are intentional.

What’s working in today’s martial arts schools is clarity of purpose. Schools that thrive know who they serve, why they serve them, and how their training impacts lives beyond the mat. Strong culture, consistent systems, and values-based leadership continue to separate growing schools from those merely getting by.

What’s not working? Outdated thinking.

Relying solely on “good training” to sustain a business is no longer enough. Passion without process leads to burnout. Tradition without adaptation leads to stagnation. Many school owners are still trapped in a reactive mode—putting out fires, chasing enrollments, and hoping next month is better than the last. Hope is not a strategy.

What must change in 2026 is the mindset that says, “I’ll focus on the business side later.” Later rarely comes.

Martial arts schools are no longer competing only with the dojo down the street. They compete with time, attention, finances, and convenience. Parents and adult students are asking deeper questions: Is this worth my investment? Will this help me or my child grow? Does this align with our values?

The schools that will win in 2026 will lead with intention. They will treat leadership development, communication, and student experience with the same seriousness they give to curriculum and rank advancement. They will build systems that support instructors, not exhaust them. And they will measure success not just by enrollments—but by retention, impact, and consistency.

Before stepping into the new year, take time to inventory your school honestly. Ask yourself:

1. What systems in my school are producing consistent results—and which rely too heavily on me?

2. If I stepped away for 30 days, would my school operate smoothly or struggle?

3. Are my instructors trained only to teach techniques, or to lead people?

4. What behaviors do I tolerate today that limit growth tomorrow?

5. Am I running my school the way I want—or the way I’ve always done it?

The New Year isn’t about resolutions. It’s about refinement.

In martial arts, progress comes from small, disciplined adjustments made consistently over time. The same is true in business. 2026 doesn’t require a complete overhaul—it requires clarity, courage, and commitment to lead differently.

The question isn’t what’s next for the industry.
 

The real question is—what’s next for you?

Professor John L. Terry, III

President/CEO

IMACUSA

314 Quail Creek Rd

Hot Springs AR 71901

My thoughts, My reality!

Old Shuri Dojo Kata Training and Self-Defense Development In the historic city of Shuri, Okinawa—the cradle of karate—traditional dojos once served as secretive hubs for martial arts mastery. 

Rooted in the 19th-century Shuri-te lineage, these "old Shuri dojos" trained warriors like Matsumura Sōkon and Itosu Ankō, emphasizing kata as the core vehicle for self-defense skills.  Far from mere choreography, kata training in these ancient settings forged practical combatants capable of real-world protection. Kata, meaning "form," are predefined sequences of movements simulating combat against multiple opponents. In old Shuri dojos, students began with basic katas like Pinan (now Heian in Shotokan), progressing to advanced ones such as Passai or Kusanku. Training was rigorous and holistic, starting with solo repetition to build precision, power, and stamina. 

Instructors demanded flawless execution: stances low and stable for balance, strikes explosive yet controlled, and transitions fluid to mimic chaotic encounters. What set Shuri dojo kata apart was the integration of Bunkai—practical applications hidden within the forms. Unlike modern sport karate, which prioritizes aesthetics, old methods decoded each move as a defense against grabs, strikes, or weapons. For instance, a simple block in Naihanchi kata might reveal a joint lock or throw. Trainees practiced these in pairs (Oyo and Bunkai), escalating to live drills where techniques adapted to resistance. This Bunkai focus transformed kata from rote exercise into a blueprint for survival, teaching principles like Maai (distance), Kuzushi (unbalancing), and Atemi (blows or strikes to the body). Self-defense development through this system was multifaceted. Physically, repetitive kata honed muscle memory, enabling instinctive responses under stress. 

Tools like Makiwara (punching posts) and Chi-Ishi (stone levers) supplemented training, building iron-like conditioning. Mentally, it cultivated Zanshin (awareness) and Mushin (no-mind), essential for anticipating threats. Historically, Shuri-te’s self-defense ethos stemmed from Okinawa's turbulent past, where unarmed peasants defended against armed invaders. 

Masters taught selectively, ensuring techniques remained effective secrets. Today, echoes of old Shuri dojo methods persist in styles like Shorin-Ryu and Shuri-Ryu, which blend traditional kata with modern self-protection drills. Yet, the essence remains: kata isn't performance art but a timeless path to empowerment. By mastering these forms, practitioners develop not just fighting skills but resilience, discipline, and confidence—true self-defense in an unpredictable world.

Hanshi Gregg "Shogun" Brown

Speed and Power Training for the Martial Arts

By Adam James

Speed Kills.

The phrase has been used by Law Enforcement Officials to emphasize traffic safety, but it also heightens the fact that high speed generates force that is extraordinary.

For the martial artist, speed is one of the most important aspects of combat and combat sports, and speed training drills and techniques can help improve your power and explosiveness.

First, we must understand the difference between strength and power. Many people will think they are the same thing, but they’re actually very different and you must do the correct training to develop speed and thus power.

According to the National College of Exercise Professionals, strength is relative to the environment and a person’s strength in one place might not translate to another.

Most people do strength training exercises for power development in a fixed and stable environment, but this strength doesn’t transfer to dynamic and unstable conditions well.

Power, on the other hand, is defined by the NCEP as work divided by time so speed is the key to generating more power. Furthermore, traditional strength training will not really increase power because it lacks the speed training component.

To properly train for speed, we must first start with stability training. Performing actions fast can lead to injury, so it’s important to start with core strength training and isometric exercises to develop internal strength, stability and balance. The stability training is critical to a foundation that will allow the athlete to train at a high level without injury.

Next, the athlete should perform the exercise with proper form and technique repetitively to develop muscle memory and endurance.  Also, slow precise movements will help the athlete’s overall balance as well as agility and coordination.

When the athlete has demonstrated the ability to hold the peak positions for at least 30 seconds, and execute the complete technique repetitively with proper form, then you can practice going as fast as possible.

Plyometrics and speed training exercises should be done with a certified coach and a proper understanding of the science of biomechanics and kinesiology.

The key to becoming faster is in the reactive phase and eccentric contraction of the muscle. Meaning that the negative action of absorbing force allows for greater force output. As the body becomes better at controlling force, it will be able to produce more force for speed and power.

High intensity speed training should be done in very short bursts with ample rest time between the drills/sets. It’s critical to be super sharp, fresh and twitchy when performing the exercises. The athletes should feel light on their feet, strong in their hands and ready to snap like a spring trap.

However, while it’s great to go fast, timing and accuracy can be affected if the athlete is rushing. It’s important to move quickly but don’t rush past the level of control. Occasionally for training purposes or as competition dictates, go to the extreme, but for most circumstances, be quick but don’t rush or hurry.

For martial artists to develop fight speed, you must perform drills that accentuate aliveness and movement. Start slowly and focus on clean technique and proper positioning. Then step on the gas a little and increase the intensity and tempo. Keep it under control and stay focused in the mind and body while emphasizing the whipping action of multi-planner transverse movements.

The science of speed training can be applied to any sport and martial arts is one of the most prolific ways of incorporating and developing speed techniques and training drills. Take your skills to the next level with speed training for martial artists!

For more information on speed training for martial artists and athletes, contact the National College of Exercise Professionals and Rainbow Warrior Martial Arts.

Author:

Adam James is an actor, writer, filmmaker and martial arts and fitness instructor.

Rainbow Warrior Martial Arts

National College of Exercise Professionals

911MEDIA

Mastering the Fundamentals

By: Dr. John L. Terry, III – The Black Belt Leader

One of the simple, but profound truths I’ve shared with martial arts students for decades is this: "Master the fundamentals, and you master the Art." This wisdom transcends the training mat, revealing a universal truth that applies equally to business, relationships, and every pursuit worth undertaking. 

Excellence isn't built on flashy techniques. It is forged through the relentless refinement of basics. Fundamentals are foundational for success. 

Watch any master demonstrate their art. Their movements appear effortless, flowing with a simplicity that belies decades of practice. What you're witnessing is the perfection of fundamental principles executed with precision. The effectiveness of a perfectly timed basic technique far exceeds the impact of an elaborate combination performed poorly.

The same principle governs business success. While competitors chase the latest marketing trends or cutting-edge technologies, successful entrepreneurs understand that mastering customer service, exceeding expectations, and emphasizing quality over quantity creates an unshakeable foundation. 

Viral social media campaigns may garner attention for the moment, but reputations are built by consistently exceeding expectations and creating exceptional outcomes. 

In martial arts, we practice the same basic stances, strikes, and blocks thousands of times. Each repetition isn't mere routine, it's an opportunity to discover subtle improvements and to understand the WHY behind the technique. This process of continuous refinement develops what martial artists call Mushin (muscle memory), where proper execution becomes instinctive. 

In the same fashion, business fundamentals like clear communication, financial discipline, and systematic problem-solving must be practiced until they become second nature.

The challenge lies in maintaining focus on fundamentals when they're no longer exciting. Beginners eagerly absorb basic techniques, but intermediate practitioners often grow restless, seeking advanced moves that promise faster progress. 

This is where many fail.

By abandoning the basics for flashy alternatives that lack substance, they look good on stage but can’t perform when it counts – on the street. The wise practitioner recognizes that returning to fundamentals with a deeper understanding reveals layers of complexity and applications yet to be considered.

Consider the simple act of maintaining proper stance. A novice focuses on foot position, while an advanced student understands how stance affects breathing, power generation, and reaction time. The fundamentals remain unchanged, but the depth of understanding evolves. A deeper understanding of the basics leads to a deeper understanding of the Art. 

This progression mirrors business development—basic customer relationship management becomes sophisticated when you understand the psychology behind client needs and market dynamics.

Excellence demands patience with the process. True mastery requires time, repetition, and unwavering commitment to doing simple things exceptionally well. Every black belt was once a white belt who never quit practicing basics.

The pursuit of excellence isn't about reaching a destination—it's about embracing a mindset that finds profound meaning in perfecting the ordinary. When fundamentals become extraordinary through dedicated practice, everything else becomes possible. Whether you're perfecting your front kick or refining your business model, remember that the path to mastery runs directly through the basics.

Fall 2025-  

For over 50 years, Okinawan Kata has been the cornerstone of my journey as a martial artist. At 62, I’ve found that the daily practice of Kata and its Bunkai—prearranged movements designed for combat—has prepared me for countless physical and mental challenges. The mental clarity and calm that Kata provides are unparalleled, transforming not only my life but also the lives of my students. Far more than a sequence of movements, Kata is a living repository of martial arts wisdom, embodying centuries of combat knowledge, physical discipline, and cultural legacy. Here’s why I carve out time each day to practice Okinawan Kata and why it remains vital to me.

A Comprehensive Training Tool

Kata serves as a complete system for mastering karate techniques and their practical applications (Bunkai) in both competition and real-world self-defense. Each Kata is a series of blocks, strikes, stances, and kicks that refine timing, power, speed, and distance—essential elements for survival in combat. Through daily practice, I hone my technique, precision, and fluidity, building muscle memory that makes movements instinctive. This is critical in high-stakes self-defense scenarios where hesitation can be costly. Okinawan Katas like Pinan and Naihanchi emphasize practical Bunkai, teaching practitioners to adapt techniques to various situations. Advanced Katas, such as Kusanku, Gojushiho, and Niseishi, challenge even seasoned martial artists, fostering longevity in physical strength and technical mastery.

Mental Discipline and Focus

Beyond physical technique, daily Kata practice cultivates mental discipline and focus. Performing Kata with intensity, as in real-time kumite (sparring), demands mental concentration to execute each movement with intention and control. This practice fosters "Mushin" (a clear, focused mind), enhancing self-defense effectiveness while minimizing injury during training. Over time, this mental training builds unparalleled discipline, improving stress management in everyday life. The gradual mastery of Kata nurtures patience and perseverance, revealing the beauty of Okinawan karate’s cultural and historical roots. Through Kata, I connect to the legacy of the masters who came before me, bridging tradition with personal growth.

Physical Fitness and Longevity

Daily Kata practice is a dynamic workout that engages the entire body. At 62, I feel stronger, more flexible, and balanced, with improved cardiovascular endurance. Katas like Seisan and Chinto enhance stability through low stances, building leg strength and endurance. These dynamic movements promote overall fitness, ensuring I remain agile and resilient as I age.

Preserving Tradition and Legacy

Daily Okinawan Kata practice is a magnificent discipline that sharpens my martial arts skills, hones mental focus, and preserves a rich cultural heritage. By committing to this tradition, I ensure that the legacy of Okinawan karate is passed on, one person at a time. Kata is not just a practice—it’s a way of life that embodies the heart of traditional karate.

In Conclusion

Through Kata, Kihon (fundamentals), Bunkai (application), and Kumite (sparring), I continue to grow as a martial artist and as a person. Daily practice is my commitment to excellence, discipline, and the timeless wisdom of Okinawan karate. It’s a journey I share with my students, ensuring that this legacy endures.

Hanshi Gregg "Shogun" Brown

From Bullied to Crowned: My Journey Through Martial Arts