Weapons Training - Practicality vs Reality
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
Weapons. Considered to be one of the four pillars of martial arts along with striking, grappling, and healing. It is arguable that if your martial arts system does not include weapons arts training, you are training in an incomplete system. Besides, martial arts is one of the few places outside of the military that a person can train with weapons. And, for many, training with weapons simply feels cool. Where striking and grappling arts can be readily applied to discourage or disable an attacker, it requires significant training, skill and effort to use these arts to disfigure or end...
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What are the best instructors made of?
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
Sugar and spice and everything nice. Is that what the best instructors are made of? Or is it something else? Are they a coach? A competitor? A trained educator? A mentor? A friend? An inspiration? Suggested reading: "The martial arts instructor's toolbox" by Dave Kovar PANELISTS: Rob Guida: Training since: [REDACTED - TOP SECRET - EYES ONLY] Owner/operator of MSD Kenpo Karate since 2012 () 2nd degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate 1st degree Black Belt in Modern Arnis Green belt in Nihon Gochin Aikido White belt in...
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Peacocking in the Martial Arts - Necessary "evil" or Simply Bad Form
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
Peacocking - conducting oneself in a showy manner, designed to get the attention of others. The behaviors are at the least unnecessary to the effectiveness of a martial arts action, but at worst it could make oneself vulnerable to injury if one were to do the exact same thing but in a moment of self-defense. But, what if you do not purport to train for self-defense? What if your aim is strictly for competition and being showy can make the difference between getting a medal or going home a loser? Is it wrong to peacock in the performance of martial arts? Hear what...
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Are martial arts in the US Cultural Appropriation?
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
Cultural appropriation can be defined as the adoption of practices of a minority by members of a dominant culture often without understanding nor providing benefit to the source minority community. It differs from cultural appreciation, which involves learning and honoring a culture with permission and respect, while appropriation takes without context, often reinforcing stereotypes. Does your school learn about the culture from which the practice of their martial art originated? Does your school teach behaviors that serve to reinforce stereotypes without appreciation for what culturally...
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Kata: Dance of death or simply a dance?
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
Kata - is it a non-stop recreation of a single skirmish or is it a physical mnemonic packed with self-defense routines, body conditioning, footwork and breath training? Or is it a dance? Can it be a martial dance? Something else? Our panel once again approaches this topic. Listen if you dare. PANELISTS: Bill Lolo: Green Belt in Muliwai Dillon Pinkham: Training since: 15yrs old School owner at Hana Center Martial Arts (https://hanacenter716.com) 5th degree Black Belt in Karate 2nd degree Black Belt in Jujutsu 2nd degree Black Belt...
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Kakushi Waza - Hidden Techniques
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
Kakushi waza - hidden techniques. Within the action of executing any technique, there can be the possibility of additional techniques within the action of execution of the primary technique. These “secondary” techniques are hidden, meaning hard to see or obscured. Not to be confused with “mykkyo” or secret techniques, which refer to techniques only trained to a select few, hidden techniques can be taught to any student but usually it takes an advanced student to be able to incorporate effective hidden techniques when executing an observable technique. ...
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Expectations for promotion
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
How do you know when you are ready to be promoted? How does your instructor know? Can you attain a promotion when you aren’t “as good” as other students also determined as eligible for promotion? PANELISTS: Brandon Czerwinski Training since: 2009 2nd kyu in Krav Maga 3rd kyu in Mizuchi-do 7th kyu in Isshin-Ryu Studied but not ranked in Arnis, Muay Thai, and Wing Chun Kris Davison Training since: January 2014 Instructor at Pride Martial Arts 3rd degree Black Belt in ITF Tae Kwon Do Engages in tournament competition in forms (empty-hand and...
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What is the meaning of a bow in martial arts?
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
Most if not all martial arts use bowing as part of their schools ettiquette. But what does the bow mean? Some are simple and may not convey anything more than respect. But some are quite elaborate. Tune into to hear the meaning behind the bow for the martial arts of this episode's panel. PANELISTS: Brandon Czerwinski Training since: 2009 2nd kyu in Krav Maga 3rd kyu in Mizuchi-do 7th kyu in Isshin-Ryu Studied but not ranked in Arnis, Muay Thai, and Wing Chun Kris Davison Training since: January 2014 Instructor at Pride Martial Arts 3rd degree Black...
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What do you do when a student cannot do a technique?
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
Promotion material can be thought to be geared to the minimal acceptable standards of performance of that material. But what are those standards set to? Are those standards objective with quantified measurements with quantified references? Clearly, not. Those standards are subjective with estimations with an imagined reference. Thus the important question becomes what is the martial art teacher imagining? Do they imagine the techniques as they can perform them? And if the student cannot perform them as the teacher, does that mean they cannot do the technique effectively or even sufficiently to...
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Martial Arts: What is it good for?
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
Should you train in martial arts? What is your goal? Your reason? And how can your instructors help you reach it? Our panelists share their thoughts on this intriguing and important concept. PANELISTS: Kris Davison Training since: January 2014 Instructor at Pride Martial Arts 3rd degree Black Belt in ITF Tae Kwon Do Engages in tournament competition in forms (empty-hand and weapons) and sport sparring; WNY Grand Champion in weapons 2022 Owner/operator of Kaiju Customs Rob Guida: Training since: [REDACTED - TOP SECRET - EYES ONLY] Owner/operator...
info_outlineTo train in martial arts is to "travel" a path to greater and greater confidence and competence in the practice of one's martial arts style. Teachers will mark progress along that path with promotions to ever increasing ranks. There are promotions to be held as one crosses the bridge from being naive to martial arts to being prepared for one's first step as a black belt. And there are more promotions possible as one ascends the "mountain" heads toward the top of one's martial arts system.
But, when should those promotions come? And, more importantly, who decides whether a student continues upward and when? Is there a time when a teacher could arrive at a time and place for promotion and not promote the student? Listen to what our panelists have to say and then please feel to comment with your own thoughts and experience with this matter.
PANELISTS:
Brandon Czerwinski
Training since: 2009
2nd kyu in Krav Maga
3rd kyu in Mizuchi-do
7th kyu in Isshin-Ryu
Studied but not ranked in Arnis, Muay Thai, and Wing Chun
Kris Davison
Training since: January 2014
Instructor at Pride Martial Arts
3rd degree Black Belt in ITF Tae Kwon Do
Engages in tournament competition in forms (empty-hand and weapons) and sport sparring; WNY Grand Champion in weapons 2022
John Grandstaff
Training since: 2021
2nd kyu in Mizuchi-do
Studied but not ranked in Kali BJJ
Jake Rozler
Training since: 2005
4th Degree Black Belt in ITF Taekwondo
Certified Kickboxing Instructor: 2014
Head instructor at Pride Martial Arts: 2013 - 2018
Studied but not ranked in BJJ, Isshin-Ryu, Krav Maga
Michael Stratton
Training since: 2013
1st kyu in Mizuchi-do
3rd kyu in Isshin-Ryu
Studied (but not ranked in) Aikido, Judo, Jujutsu, American Kenpo
HOST:
Bill Reynolds
Training since: 1983
Owner/instructor at the Mizuchi Dojo (https://mizuchi716.com/)
6th degree Black Belt in Isshin-ryu
2nd degree Black Belt in American Kenpo
4th kyu in Shotokan
Studied (but not ranked in) Aikido, BJJ, Filipino Martial Arts, Wing Chun
Author of “Mizuchi-do: The Way of the Dragon” (https://a.co/d/05qtsBN2)
THEME COMPOSER: Derrick Strebig (www.wearewarmmusic.com)
PODCAST LOGO: Instagram: @glass_third_eye
Mike’s Gis by Summo Sports (https://summosports.com/)
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