Samurai Qualification Battery
Thursday April 11, 2013 - 6 pm
Friday April 12, 2013 - 6 pm
For JMAC adult students only ... no adult classes on those evenings!
Kids Karate on Thursday, April 11 WILL be held!
When the young upstart Bob Santoni challenges his drinking ability, the old master, Russell Aldridge, agrees to a contest that will last for six months and end up completely changing both their lives. Filled with "fish stories," social commentary, and wry humor, THE DRINKING GAME is a character study of a man born in an age long past, when honor and dignity were valued and mastery was a way of life.
Destined to become a New York Times Bestseller?
Purchase on Amazon.com.
Visit the webpage.
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The Martial Arts Social Contract (Reprise)
By popular demand, we're re-posting this with a few tweaks. Thanks for asking!
Between the martial arts teachers at the Japanese Martial Arts Center in Ann Arbor and their students, there exists a social contract. The contract - mostly implied, sometimes written down - goes something like this:
As the teacher, I agree to give you, the student, the absolute best training opportunity I can give you, be it in judo, jujutsu, or iaido. I promise to offer you the complete martial art I know, including all its best aspects: physical techniques, theories of physical power, mental strategies, cultural aspects, and any spiritual benefits that are part of the art. I promise not to deceive you with martial arts mumbo-jumbo, and I promise not to try to falsely build up your self-esteem without providing any basis in real martial arts skill. I promise not to ask you to pay absurd dues rates, but will ask you to pay a fair rate in keeping with the expenses of the dojo and my need to earn a modest living. I won't give you a black belt unless you deserve it, but at the same time, I won't unnecessarily prolong your journey to black belt by making the standards impossible. I will try my best to help you develop yourself - mind, body, and spirit - so that you can excel in the dojo and in life.
As the student, you agree to attend classes as often as you can, putting forth all your effort, and practicing with energy and a positive attitude. You promise to consider the teachings I put forth, taking time outside of class to think about the relationship between my words and the techniques of your martial art. You promise to respectfully raise any issues you may have with your training, and give real consideration for my answers to your questions. You agree to practice safely to help prevent injury to yourself and other students. You agree to pay your dues on time, and agree not to take advantage of our policies to help you avoid paying a fair dues rate. You agree to work hard to learn your art, and to trust my decisions about when you are ready for promotions. You agree to commit yourself to the learning process, and to pass on the positive lessons you learn while at the Japanese Martial Arts Center.
Occasionally, a few students will come along who wish to learn what the teacher is teaching without honoring their side of the social contract. Such students may wish to learn to fight without taking part in the character development aspects of the martial art. They may train selfishly, failing to give due consideration to the needs of other students. They may try to trick the dues system by taking strategic leaves of absence, hoping to save a few dollars but still desiring all that the teacher has to offer.
We are happy to say that the vast majority of the students who have trained at the Japanese martial arts center are diligent, serious, generous, and sincere. They are quick to recognize that their teachers have given a huge portion of their time and treasure to try to master their martial arts, and are supportive in a variety of ways (offering to help with dojo events, helping newer students learn, paying their dues on time, and recommending the dojo to potential new students).
Generally, the closer students adhere to the social contract, the less formal their written contract needs to be. Those who find their dojo implementing strict written policies may consider blaming their dojo-mates who have failed to honor the implied contract.
As the teacher, I agree to give you, the student, the absolute best training opportunity I can give you, be it in judo, jujutsu, or iaido. I promise to offer you the complete martial art I know, including all its best aspects: physical techniques, theories of physical power, mental strategies, cultural aspects, and any spiritual benefits that are part of the art. I promise not to deceive you with martial arts mumbo-jumbo, and I promise not to try to falsely build up your self-esteem without providing any basis in real martial arts skill. I promise not to ask you to pay absurd dues rates, but will ask you to pay a fair rate in keeping with the expenses of the dojo and my need to earn a modest living. I won't give you a black belt unless you deserve it, but at the same time, I won't unnecessarily prolong your journey to black belt by making the standards impossible. I will try my best to help you develop yourself - mind, body, and spirit - so that you can excel in the dojo and in life.
As the student, you agree to attend classes as often as you can, putting forth all your effort, and practicing with energy and a positive attitude. You promise to consider the teachings I put forth, taking time outside of class to think about the relationship between my words and the techniques of your martial art. You promise to respectfully raise any issues you may have with your training, and give real consideration for my answers to your questions. You agree to practice safely to help prevent injury to yourself and other students. You agree to pay your dues on time, and agree not to take advantage of our policies to help you avoid paying a fair dues rate. You agree to work hard to learn your art, and to trust my decisions about when you are ready for promotions. You agree to commit yourself to the learning process, and to pass on the positive lessons you learn while at the Japanese Martial Arts Center.
Occasionally, a few students will come along who wish to learn what the teacher is teaching without honoring their side of the social contract. Such students may wish to learn to fight without taking part in the character development aspects of the martial art. They may train selfishly, failing to give due consideration to the needs of other students. They may try to trick the dues system by taking strategic leaves of absence, hoping to save a few dollars but still desiring all that the teacher has to offer.
We are happy to say that the vast majority of the students who have trained at the Japanese martial arts center are diligent, serious, generous, and sincere. They are quick to recognize that their teachers have given a huge portion of their time and treasure to try to master their martial arts, and are supportive in a variety of ways (offering to help with dojo events, helping newer students learn, paying their dues on time, and recommending the dojo to potential new students).
Generally, the closer students adhere to the social contract, the less formal their written contract needs to be. Those who find their dojo implementing strict written policies may consider blaming their dojo-mates who have failed to honor the implied contract.
SATO TADAYUKI & JOHN B. GAGE U.S. SEMINAR
(Reprinted from the Journal of the Shudokan Martial
Arts Association, Volume 17 #2)
On August 17, 18, and 19 Nicklaus Suino Sensei, SMAA
Judo Division Director, will be offering a special seminar at his Michigan dojo
featuring budo experts Sato Tadayuki Sensei and John B. Gage Sensei. Both
teachers are coming direct from Tokyo to the U.S., and they’ll be offering
instruction in three important Japanese martial arts:
•The Kodokan judo of Kano Jigoro Sensei
•The Shodokan aikido of Tomiki Kenji Sensei
•The Nihon jujutsu of Sato Shizuya Sensei
Sato Tadayuki Sensei - Direct Student of Tomiki Kenji
Sato Tadayuki Sensei is one of the world’s leading
Shodokan aikido experts. He was taught by Tomiki Kenji Sensei, founder of
Shodokan aikido, in the living room of his house every Sunday before tea, and
so he has an in-depth knowledge of Tomiki Sensei’s aikido system. He is also an
accomplished judoka. Sato Sensei, sixth dan, was granted the position of Shihan
of Waseda University Aikido club in 2007. This position has been vacant since
Professor Tomiki’s death in 1979. He is an expert in his field, and in
particular, the link between Kodokan judo and Tomiki-style aikido. He also
teaches aikido at the Japan Police University, and he lives in Tokyo.
John Gage Sensei - Direct Student of Sato Shizuya
Sensei
John Gage Sensei has been studying and teaching
Japanese martial arts in Tokyo since 1986 when he joined the American Embassy
Judo Club, which was lead by the late Sato Shizuya Sensei. Following the death
of Sato Sensei, he became the leader of this well-established dojo, and he has
been a member of the Kodokan Judo Institute since 1991. He has earned a seventh
dan in Sato Sensei’s system of modern jujutsu, and he has a fifth dan in judo.
He has taught seminars in judo and jujutsu in Belgium, Denmark, France,
Germany, Hungary, Romania, the U.K., and the USA.
Outstanding Opportunity
Contact Suino Sensei soon to get more details about
this world-class training in world-class judo, aikido, and jujutsu. He can be
reached at info@japanesemartialartscenter.com
or (734) 645-6441.
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