Dave McNeill's Blog (221)

The first Goju-Shorei Weapons class.
Date - 1991
Location - Dayton, Nevada

Sensei Marta Azzam was the first person to receive the Goju-Shorei challenge coin. All Goju-Shorei Black Belts, whether in Karate, Weapons or Jujitsu will receive one of these coins for each of their Goju-Shorei Black Belts.

Challenge rules: If we are at a bar or restaurant and a Goju-Shorei challenge coin is presented all Goju-Shorei black belts must also present theirs. If a black belt does not have theirs they buy. On the other hand if all black belts have their coin then the…

This year will be the 46^th year that I have been studying Goju-Shorei.  And I’m still learning.

I’ve learned that bones break (16) and one should take better care of their body.

I’ve learned that age is a limiting factor and I wish I were younger.

I’ve learned to respect the struggle of advancing students.

I’ve learned the importance of a healing modality in the martial arts.

I’ve learned to recognize my limitations and embrace…

I had a dear friend tell me he had never failed a ranking test, until he tested for 2nd brown in Goju-Shorei.

I had a person fly me out to Nashville so she could test in front of her students. She didn’t pass. She didn’t quit and now she is the Goju-Shorei Weapons Director. 

I had a person fly me to Kansas City to teach and test. He assumed he…

This portrait was commissioned by Master Kathy Wieczerza, by the artist and martial artist Master Tom Callos. All dear friends.

It is such an honor to receive this on my birthday.

A superior martial artist 

Uses superior judgement 

To avoid using their superior…

Left to Right:

Julie Carr, Janiel Chives, their instructor Peggy Sutter, Shawn McClure, Corena McLaughlin and Talitha Grimmett.

The individual stories of some of these people are the stuff of movies: overcoming adversity, not succumbing to disease or sexism, and never, ever giving up.

Congratulations to these wonderful…

Master Kathy Wieczerza (standing third from left) tested for 8th degree in Tae Kwon Do. She displayed skill, power, knowledge and creativity that was impressive. 

Last night in the Goju-Shorei Weapons class she, as the Goju-Shorei Weapons Director, showed changes she has incorporated in the curriculum. Again, a display of skill, power, knowledge…

THE JOURNEY THAT COUNTS…

Mutually Exclusive?????

I am often told that good businessmen and good martial artists are more often than not, mutually exclusive. I mean, how can you focus on creating good students and at the same time pay attention to the bottom line? Over…

Even if you don't understand the words.

This is such a powerful video promoting women's self-defense, even though it is for BJJ and in Portuguese, the message is unmistakeable.

Looking from the outside in.

How many times have you been watching your students and thought, "How are they not getting this?  It's so simple: step to the right and knock them out". Everything is so clear from across the room. Even if they are senior students, and the answer is literately staring them in the face, they keep missing it.

When I was kid, my parents would always say "you always have to learn things the hard way, don't you?"

Are you…

Allow me to introduce Master Stone who will, from time to time, be offering advise on owning and running a martial arts school.

Bobby Stone began competing in martial arts in 1986. Since then he has been awarded over 100 gold medals and earned the State, National, and Jr. Olympic Champion titles of the Amateur Athletic Union. As an instructor, he has…

Kona wood display knife (12.5 inches) with 6 inlaid crushed seashell circles representing the 6 main islands of Hawaii and blue stone chips inlay in the handle. The stand is lace wood from South America.

Cane is hickory with a large crushed seashell Hawaiian hook inlay and blue stone chip inlays above and below the hook. Two spiral grooves cross each other the length of the shaft.

$380 for the whole set.…

Koa wood (from Hawaii) training/display knife (13 inches). The six round seashell inays represents the 6 main islands of Hawaii. The blue stone chip inlays are for the currents and waves that feed these islands.…

Have GI, will travel. All dates are open in 2016.

Book now!