Marketing and Promoting a Martial Arts School
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
Thinking about opening your own martial arts school? Do you wish more people knew about where you train? PANELISTS: Brandon Czerwinski Brandon.A.Czerwinski@gmail.com 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 Rob Guida: RGuida@msdkenpo.com Training since: 1993 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...
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Making martial arts social media posts
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
So you own a martial arts school and you've decided to become a GOAT. Well, be prepared as instead you are likely to become one of the "Billy Goats Gruff" trying to get your social media post to your target audience in that lush pasture known as social media. And waiting for you as you try to reach that audience are sometimes very nasty Internet trolls. Here is some advice from several martial arts instructors as well as media "experts" on considerations in making posts for social media. PANELISTS: Brandon Czerwinski Training since: 2009 2nd kyu in Krav Maga 3rd kyu...
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Kata Revolutions
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
Kata Revolutions This week's episode felt like only the third time examining the matrix that is kata. While this is our third episode of season three, the panel has addressed this topic five times before: Season 1 Episode 6 - Kata in training Season 1 Episode 9 - How does one get the most out of training with forms (kata)? Season 1 Episode 30 - How do your kata (forms) inform your kumite (self-defense/fighting)? Season 1 Episode 32 - Kata bunkai - facts, fiction, and fairy tails Season 2 Episode 48 - Kata - dance of death or simply a dance? Take a listen as our panelists get passionate as...
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Weapons Training and the Morality involved
Mizuchi Dojo Radio
Weapons have a coolness factor that through contemporary martial arts have taken them from lethal combat tools to sometimes little more than flashy, light-weight, under-sized batons. Thus the gravity of training with a tool that resembles a potentially lethal tool has for some disconnected from any of the morality considerations associated with lethal martial arts tools. Given that weapons are more inclined to disfigure or end a life, can they be trained with without any consideration for how the skills involved still have lethal implications? Is there any responsiblity for the teacher...
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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. ...
info_outlineKata Revolutions
This week's episode felt like only the third time examining the matrix that is kata. While this is our third episode of season three, the panel has addressed this topic five times before:
- Season 1 Episode 6 - Kata in training
- Season 1 Episode 9 - How does one get the most out of training with forms (kata)?
- Season 1 Episode 30 - How do your kata (forms) inform your kumite (self-defense/fighting)?
- Season 1 Episode 32 - Kata bunkai - facts, fiction, and fairy tails
- Season 2 Episode 48 - Kata - dance of death or simply a dance?
Take a listen as our panelists get passionate as they fight to end the war between martial artists and the appreciation of the utility of kata in training.
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
John Grandstaff
Training since: 2021
2nd kyu in Mizuchi-do
Studied but not ranked in Kali BJJ
Rob Guida:
Training since: [REDACTED - TOP SECRET - EYES ONLY]
Owner/operator of MSD Kenpo Karate since 2012 (https://msdkenpo.com/)
2nd degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate
1st degree Black Belt in Modern Arnis
Green belt in Nihon Gochin Aikido
White belt in Praying Mantis Kung fu
White belt in Hapkido
Lt Col US Army
Billy Nichols
Training since: 2014
1st gup in ITK Tae Kwon Do
2 Stripe Blue Belt in BJJ
Jake Rozler
Training since: 2005
3rd 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
HOST:
Bill Reynolds (shihan@mizuchi716.com)
Training since: January 21, 1983
Owner/instructor at the Mizuchi Dojo since 2021 (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
We would love to hear your thoughts on this topic and you can share them to our Threads, Mizuchi_dojo Or you can email us at mizuchi.dojo.honbu@gmail.com
Also, please consider supporting this podcast by subscribing via our Patreon: www.patreon.com/MizuchiDojoRadio For $1 a month, you will not only help keep this podcast on the air, but our $1 subscribers topic suggestions to our Twitter and email will be used as topics for the next recording session. For $3 a month, subscribers can also have their Twitter/email comments read on the air in a segment called, "Open Mat". For $5 per month, subscribers can get a shout out for the martial arts school of the their choice for two episodes in a segment called, "Mojo Dojo" and their dojo will be maintained on our Mojo Dojo list in the show notes.
Mojo Dojo List
Mizuchi Dojo: Williamsville, NY: Karate, Wing Chun, and Yoga
Pride Martial Arts Academy: Clarence, NY: MMA, TKD, and Jujutsu
Hybrid Defense: Grand Island, NY: Krav Maga, Kid's Karate
Hana Center: 791 Center St., Lewiston, NY: Muliwai martial arts and Vinyasa yoga