Dojo
In Salem IL, I had a 600 square foot dojo from late 2011 through 2015, equipped with a variety of training tools as well as open space for practice of exercises, kata (forms) and with partners. I also taught a childrens’ class at the Salem YMCA. While living in Mt. Vernon IL (2015 – 2019), I instruct at public venues and by invitation at neighboring dojos. I have a few private students. The Salem and Mt. Vernon Karate Dojo were official branch dojo of both the Sekai Goju-Ryu Ryusyokai Association and the International Shinjinbukan Karate-Do Association.
Both dojo were, first and foremost, my personal training space. It is my piece of Okinawa here in the U.S. They were also designated as both a Ryusyokai and a Shinjinbukan Shibu Dojo (see below). I adhere to a lot of the etiquette found at both the Ryusyokai and Shinjinbukan as a responsibility under these designations and as a means of staying sharp on what I have learned (it’s also kind of fun). The dojo is a place where you leave the problems of the outside world at the door when you bow in. I always try to make good use of my time there and those who come to work out with me are expected to do the same.
My current home dojo is an 8′ x 16′ room in the basement. It a machiwara and all the other tools I could need to train on my own. For kata, I do have to re-position regularly but that is alright. During warmer weather, I also train outside.
The curriculum that I generally teach is the Ryusyokai Goju-Ryu curriculum. This is the approach through which I believe I can best help people initiate study of Okinawan Karate-Do. I teach it in a way that, if one wants to delve deeper at a later time by exploring the Ti I study through the Shinjinbukai, they will not have to “unlearn” what I previously taught them. To be honest, it is my goal to re-introduce what Ti I know into my Goju-Ryu and pass it along. I fully recognize that this is an ambitious goal. However, Senaha sensei has done some of this already. With help, I know that I can be part of the effort to carry it on from where his teachings have taken me and some of my peers. A little more about Senaha sensei’s design of the standard Ryusyokai syllabus can be found here.
Students wishing to study Ti can practice with me for a month. They must then decide whether they wish to enroll as Shinjinbukai members through the International Shinjinbukan Karate-Do Association, pay their annual fee directly to the hombu dojo and abide by the rules as set forth in their bylaws. Here is an example that will give one a better understanding of the Shinjinbukan syllabus. Another example can be found here.
From this page, one can find information on;
The Teacher-Student Relationship
It has been said by Onaga sensei that a teacher does not choose his or her students. The student chooses the teacher. The term “sensei” literally means “one who came before.” To call someone “sensei” in their own dojo is an important observance and only right, unless perhaps they are your “deshi” (often referred to as, “student,” but literally meaning, “disciple”). In Japan, to address someone as “sensei” can be an indication of status (perhaps if they are a doctor) or career path. Senaha sensei would sometimes address me as Hallberg sensei for this reason. I was regularly referred to by my peers and even the school principal as “sensei” at the junior high school where I taught English in Tomigusuku. But when we were off-site having dinner together, we would not address each other in this manner. There was a designated time and place based upon the role we were performing.
I consider myself a student of Paul Babladelis sensei, 9th Dan Kyoshi in the Ryusyokai; Senaha Shigetoshi Kancho, 9th Dan Hanshi and founder of the Ryusyokai; and Onaga Yoshimitsu Kancho, 8th Dan Kyoshi and founder of the Shinjinbukan. This order is chronological and not hierarchical. Each relationship is quite important to me in its own right. I used to be a student of Ernest Estrada sensei, 8th Dan Kyoshi (rank and title might be dated) and I would be remiss not to mention that his teachings were vital and formative in contributing to my understanding of karate-do. However, I do not feel that I am being a very good “deshi” to him. I have not worked to preserve the Ryukyu Kobudo or many of the other things that he taught me and I have done a poor job of maintaining a relationship with him in general terms. This is a student’s responsibility and I am not fulfilling it.
Shibu Dojo Designation (?)
As a result of my teacher-student relationships, both my previous dojo were designated Ryusyokai Shibu Dojo (branch dojo) and Shinjinbukan Shibu Dojo as well. This is more a disclosure than a claim. For those within either of these organizations, I am obliged to acknowledge the ambiguity of the “Shibu Dojo” designation. My dojo designation within the Ryusyokai comes both as a result of my study as a hombu dojo student in Okinawa and the fact that I operated a designated Shibu Dojo in Michigan while Babladelis sensei was living in Costa Rica.
The Shinjinbukan Shibu Dojo designation was stated verbally by Onaga Kancho, but I have never been formally designated by him as a Shibu-Cho (branch dojo manager). According to the bylaws, a Shibu-Cho must be a 4th Dan in the Shinjinbukan (the 2009 Shibu Dojo list can be found here). As I am a Shinjinbukai member (which is the rankless branch of the Shinjinbukan), his declaration presents an anomaly within the designated structure.
In typical Japanese fashion, responses to my inquiries about the rationale for this designation have been vague and dismissive. This is only problematic if one chooses to be dissatisfied with the situation and I cannot be bothered to force the issue. The real message I take away from all this is, “share what I taught you, in the manner I expect you to, and try not to mess it up.” If either of these dojo designations change at a later date, it will serve an overall organizational purpose. My training structure was carefully created around these current designations. Please give these titles whatever importance you think they deserve.