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Shihan Ogle, Donjitsu Do and What to expect

10/5/2018

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Let me start by saying that Donjitsu Do is not my job nor a hobby, but a direct expression of who I am, what I believe, and how I live my life. Donjitsu Do is who I am. I teach from the heart and take great responsibility in everything I do and say in front of my students. As a sensei, (teacher) I believe I have an obligation to do what has been asked of me when a person comes to me for training. I consider myself old school when it comes to my beliefs and I am willing to do what is necessary to give my students the proper guidance and skills to defend themselves against the harsh realities of the world. I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination however, I strive to always lead by example and never ask anything of my students that I have not already done or willing to do right alongside of them. I teach my students that training and fitness never ends. They all know that I do an hour and a half workout each day just before my first class in preparation for the day’s training. My personal training is leading by example, not a "do as I say" attitude.

Some have called my brand of teaching harsh others have called me crazy and I have even heard the term barbaric. This doesn't faze me in the least. This is usually the opinion of someone who has never met me, has no idea what or how I teach, and wants to judge from a safe distance. Those who have taken the time to meet and get to know me eventually see what I teach and can at the least respect my views. Those who keep in contact or eventually become students realize my method is the only way to approach self-defense training.

In my opinion, the two most import contributing factors over looked in self defense training are fear and adrenaline. When learning a new technique and the basic idea of the movement is established, each moment after must feel real. The emotions associated with each encounter must also be present in ones training to know how they will actually respond, if at all. This important step is vital for one to learn to control their emotions during combat. In order to achieve this level of training you must be able to push someone's mental limits and still control the situation. This can only be achieved by a sensei that is trusted, has a healthy relationship with each student, knows his or her strengths and weaknesses, and can pull the most out of each student. The sensei must be aware of his or her students’ pasts and know exactly how far each student can be safely pushed on a given day. I tell my students that regardless if training slow or at combat-speed, each technique must have the proper mindset attached to it and it and again must feel real. Every moment is "the moment" when nothing else matters and everything is dependent on their next decision and move. Some students have difficulty understanding the concept of proper mindset. When I push my students to reflect their emotion when practicing techniques and they don’t, many students reply, “Well, if this were a real situation I’m sure I would respond differently.” By their statement, they imply that they would do the technique correctly and with more intent if they were really under attack. In my opinion, failing to implement emotion and the proper mindset in combination with practicing the physical technique is fundamentally flawed, based on theory, and not in reality. One does not really know how they will react until they are in that very situation. In the dojo, I focus a lot on scenarios as a way to disprove their theory. Understand, this is not a problem had only by beginner students. On many occasions I have had "seasoned" (more than a couple of years of training and even black belt) students from other systems train with me. Often these students would freeze up and do nothing when it started to feel like a real situation and not a relaxed training drill. This was not because they were being overwhelmed with punches and kicks but real emotion, causing them to be in the moment. The shock of it emotionally becoming real was more than they expected due to the way they have been training.

One translation of the term "sensei" refers to someone who was "born before". It implies that he or she teaches from a place of wisdom due to his or her age and life experiences. A more slang translation is someone who has "been there, done that". I often tell my students I am still forever a student and nothing more than a guide who has traveled the path they are on now. I often use my personal life experiences in my teachings as a guide and can confidently say I have actually applied what I teach in real world application on numerous occasions. To legitimize my training to others, I worked many years in security putting my system to the test in real world situations arresting thieves, assailants, sexual predators, drug dealers, etc. In that environment, it was a do or potentially die situation with no room for error. I never knew who I was dealing with, what they had done in the past, whether they were armed, their capabilities, or how far they were willing to go to avoid capture. I had to be alert, have my head on a swivel, and be ready for anything. I had to be in control of my emotions, be adaptable, and expect the unexpected. Even for me, adrenaline and a healthy dose of fear were ever present and had to be kept under control. My real world experiences provided me real training I had been searching for and gave validity to my beliefs. On several occasions, I had to engage more than one subject at a time. It was training with consequence that gave me great insight as to how actual combat flows and how important it was for me to pass this knowledge and experience on to my students. Many subjects complied upon initial contact due to what some would call verbal judo. Others either just didn’t care, were more committed, career criminals, under the influence, or simply did not “want to go back to jail.” These particular subjects fought back, whether empty hand or with a weapon. One wrong move could lead to injury or death for a partner, myself, or the person I was trying to take into custody. Mistakes in my approach and or techniques were not an option. Everyone I worked with knew exactly why I was there; it was to battle test my system. I have always wanted my students to know that if I say something will work they can believe it. It is not because my instructor said it would but because I have personally applied the techniques myself in actual combat and proven them effective.

I eventually I gained respect from the people I was working for and was asked to put together some training classes for officers. Before long, I was teaching my own proven arrest techniques and tactics to security and police personnel. From its very inception, Donjitsu Do has always been a return to the original ideas of warfare and self-preservation. This is where I feel my reputation for being hard-core stems. Over time, so much of this original mindset has been lost. Either forgotten and or purposefully discarded in order to fill training halls with new students. Again, in my opinion much of today's training has been watered down to make martial arts training enjoyable for the masses. This is not the case in my dojo and is the very reason why my dojo is small and private. The Samurai's battlefield life and death training and mentality are and have always been a large part of my curriculum. The techniques and ideas that I teach in this dojo are not to be practiced carelessly but taken very seriously, as they are designed for actual combat and have no business in any sport arena. Donjitsu Do is not a game and why I am picky with who I will teach.

I teach my students to avoid conflict and strive to live a happy full life. However, all the while understanding if given no choice but to defend themselves they must become something more and destroy if the situation deems it necessary. Having to take a life is something that I can say with confidence that my instructor never once addressed in our training on or off the mats. Moreover, I'm sure many instructors have and will continue to avoid it if possible. It may not be politically correct in today's sensitive world to discuss this topic however; this does not change the fact that it needs to be addressed and is a real possibility in any self-defense situation. Your desire to survive must be much greater than their desire to harm you if you want to survive. I have dedicated each day of my life to transmitting this very idea. My study of budo and myself will never end, as I must make sure I have the answers to any question my students might have. I often tell my students that if you find yourself applying one of the physical techniques of Donjitsu Do something bad has happened and there is no room for error. I also tell my students from day one that the study of budo this is something that you can start, you can quit, but you will never finish. It is a journey with no end. I do not want my students to ever settle but strive to make each day better than the last. "When you think I am being the hardest on you is actually when I love you the most". This is something they hear from me quite often especially in the kids class. There is no such thing as good enough in this dojo. Your life or that of another may be at stake.

To be proficient in any form of combat one must study and understand every aspect of a given movement or situation and how at any moment things can go sideways. You must be able to quickly adapt and work under stress otherwise; self-defense training is pointless and potentially dangerous for the student in my opinion. You not only need to know and understand your options but also that of your adversaries. Donjitsu Do is about training for the reality of life. In the real world, there are no winners just survivors. A common practice when someone wins at something, everyone pats you on the back and says good job. However, when someone survives, something they are asked if you are going to be ok. This would imply that it was a much more serious event someone just went through and there will be a recovery time. Survivors generally have to learn to cope with what they have gone through. For this reason, you will never hear me tell anyone that training with me will be fun. Just as important as the physical strike or throws is learning to understand and live with what you may have to do or have done when it comes to defending yourself. There are many classes in which we sit down and discuss the mind of different would be adversaries, options, consequences, the law, and inevitably life and death.

Don't get me wrong we all enjoy being around each other and cherish the time we spend studying and growing together. I consider my students family. However, I never let them that we are here exploring very serious materiel. The joke around the dojo is that I would not last in a customer service position because of my sometime brutal honesty to questions. They say it sounds like I'm trying to discourage prospective new students during interviews because I am so up front about what to expect if they become a student. However, this is not the case at all I just want serious students who are willing to do whatever it takes, work hard and put the time in. As harsh as it sounds I am not here to hand out belts, babysit, put up with senseless drama, entertain, or give my students a false sense of security. That is not why I teach. I let them know that I am always here for them but I make that clear right from the start that I am here to prepare my students for that one moment we all pray never comes. There is nothing fun about subject matter dealing with bullying, abuse, rape, assault, home invasions, school shootings, suicide, or abduction. These are many of the topics openly discussed and addressed in this dojo. Students drawn to this dojo come here for very specific personal reasons such as learning to stand up for themselves and what they believe in, a need to be able to protect themselves, their family, and home. No one comes here to be entertained. Leading a happy, healthy, safe life is all any of us want. At our dojo, the difference is that we understand that it doesn't come easy or overnight but takes time, effort, constant study, self reflection, and sometimes suffering.

So yes, training here with me will be at times very intense. By design it will be miserable hot in the summer; I will push you to explore your limits, I will not accept laziness or excuses, and will always tell you to do it again, no matter how good you thought you did. You may even leave a little mad at me at times until you realize the focus of the lesson. I often tell them we will start with the worst-case scenario and work from there. In order to help you find your true potential I will at times ask of you what you may think is the impossible. However, I will never set you up for failure and will always offer extra guidance, support and an explanation as to why it should be that way. I am a firm believer in tough love and I tell my students if it were easy, everyone would be doing it.

In conclusion, regardless of how hard, crazy or uniquely challenging you think, my methods are I am ok with that. I will probably take it as a compliment as well as confirmation that I am teaching how others cant or wont. Another thing you need to know about me is that if I say, I am going to be there or do something it's a done deal, I will keep my word. I tell everyone on the day he or she becomes a student that if you need me I am here for you. They all know that if anytime, day or night, they need me for any reason they can call and I will come, no questions or judgment. Not once have I ever gone back on this promise. I may be harsh and set in my ways but I truly care about each of my students and their training. I will always be here to listen to their problems, pick them up from the side of the road, or help them with a busted waterline at 2:30am in the morning. Teaching budo is much more than transmitting kicks or throws. It is about teaching students we must first defeat ourselves and conquer our own demons, and insecurities before we can defeat another. It is being there when a student needs you outside of class not just during scheduled lessons. Donjitsu Do is much more than a physical combat system it’s a way of life. As I mentioned in the beginning of this blog, teaching is a great responsibility and something I do not take lightly. I am who I am and this is what you can expect from Donjitsu Do and me as a sensei. I will never compromise my teaching or beliefs to satisfy others but I will give my all to help you find what it is you are looking for if you train with me.


                                                                                                                  -Shihan Ogle

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Teaching Students With A Past

2/6/2016

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In the information I provide on my website pertaining to who I will and will not accept as a student it states that if someone has been accused or convicted of a violent crime I will not accept them as a student. In 2015 I received an email from an individual who was very unhappy with this and wanted me to know about it. Out of respect for his privacy, we will refer to him as “Bob” and I will paraphrase what he had to say without using his exact words. However, I am providing my actual email response.  
 
Bob stated that he respected my right to operate my business as I see fit but he did not understand my, or others’, “fear” of training someone with a criminal background. He opined people with a criminal past or, more specifically, someone who would do another person harm, would not take the time to search out and pay someone to train them in a combat system. He felt like if that was their goal there were much easier and more cost effective ways to get the job done.
 
He stated that seeking to better oneself is the reason one begins training in martial arts and that schools should not discriminate, but let everyone with a criminal background into the school. He further stated that he believed that if other martial arts instructors, including myself, would do this then it would effectively diminish the crime rate, shrink the number of criminals that plague our culture, and reduce the number repeat offenders. Again, this was Bob’s opinion.
 
Bob went on to say that he has been training in several different martial systems and that he looked forward to opening his own dojo and being able to open his doors to anyone with any kind of background. He said that it was uncalled for, as well as detrimental to our society, that I excluded those with a violent past. He felt that I should be able to look beyond someone's past mistakes and offer them a chance to make a change. He said by not doing so was the actions of a moral coward instead of a leader.
 
He concluded with telling me again that he practiced in several martial art systems and that he was actually a convicted felon but that he wished me luck. However, he never mentioned what specific crime(s) he committed.
 
Below was my response which may help you to better understand my point of view if you happen to feel the same.
 
Hi Bob -
You are absolutely right that probably about 99% of people who begin training in martial arts seek to better themselves. And, yes, there is a stigma and some people do judge but I am not one of them. People make mistakes. Mistakes are a big part of life and learning. Understanding that is also a big part of my teaching. I too believe people should be given a chance to reform and not be judged for past mistakes if they are truly trying to make a positive difference in their life. However, keep in mind that you can only help those who want to be helped and willing to do the work. It is not as easy as just giving them a chance. Unfortunately, there are always going to be those who just want one more chance and will try to do better this time. It appears that you have tried to better yourself and do not want to be judged as a person for mistakes that you have made in the past. It also appears, you are still paying the price for mistakes you are trying to put behind you. Yet you are judging me, attacking my leadership, and calling my beliefs cowardice without ever meeting me and asking why I feel that way. Certain options in life that have been taken away from you because of your past choices are not something that you should be angry with me about. We all must understand that everything in life has a price. I'm not sure if you were interested in studying with me or you just wanted to have a go at someone over the internet because you disagreed with what you read on my site. However, since you took the time to write to me I will take the time from my day to respond and clarify a bit better for you about what you read.
The two statements on my site that I'm sure you are upset about are:" I will not teach anyone whom I feel has a poor attitude towards martial arts or whom I think wants to begin training for the wrong reason." This statement does make my dojo exclusive and says exactly what it means. I believe that studying our system is a privilege not a right. I give everyone the first two weeks free and during that time, I screen my students to try to get an idea of who they are and what they are looking for. I ask myself are they a good fit for the dojo and its philosophies and are they trying to better themselves or do they just want to learn how to fight for the sake of fighting. Many have no interest in budo and what it has to offer and will even admit to it. I view this as if I were giving someone a loaded gun and not teaching them safety and how it use it. You may not like this either but I also will not train anyone who wants to use what I teach to pursue competitions or MMA. In my opinion, that’s not what budo is about and I want no part of it. What I teach is in no way designed for that arena anyway. I teach philosophy, self-realization, self-defense, and how to kill if there is no other choice. This is not something that is to be considered fun or to be taken lightly. I have even had several over the years who didn’t want to learn anything from me, they just wanted to come in and challenge me or my students. What I teach is close quarter combat and in application can be very dangerous and I'm sorry, but I'm not going to teach that to anyone who just walks in off of the street. If you look back, the terrorists who took over the planes on September 11th were said to have trained in combat schools much like mine. I can only imagine how those instructors must have felt after finding out what one of their students had done. I have been teaching for over 25 years, feel comfortable in my ability to read people, and will always listen to what my gut feelings are saying.
During that two-week period I will also do background checks on anyone who I get an odd feeling about which leads to the other statement that I know you do not agree with. "Anyone suspected or found connected to any kind of illegal activity; drug use of any kind, or has been arrested for a violent crime will not be allowed into this dojo." What you assumed was that if I found that anyone has made a mistake in their distant past that they would not be allowed into my dojo. This is not the case; I have had students that have made mistakes. However, what it says is that if I find that they have a long history of illegal activity or just arrested for the 2nd or 3rd time, NO you will not be accepted as a student. Who lets an active criminal into their home and thinks nothing bad can happen? One of the last students that I found with a history of theft was caught by one of the other students on his last day of his two weeks going through other students’ bags. Should I have let him stay? If I find that someone has been convicted of a violent crime (armed robbery, pedophile, rape, or murder), again, NO they will not be accepted as a student.
You said people with violent tendencies do not seek out martial arts training, but I can assure you that unfortunately they do. There are the extreme cases as I mentioned earlier about 9-11 and there are ones that have attempted to study with me. If I had not trusted my intuition and ran the background check I would not have know how potentially dangerous they were. One had an attempted murder charge and when I confronted him with it there was no remorse and he justified it with "Yea, but it didn’t kill him". He even bragged about being thrown out of two other schools. I contacted both instructors and both told me he was asked to leave because of violence. Another filled out his paperwork with what I later found to be a false name probably because he read what you did on my website. He was found to have 2 pending violent assault charges and was looking at doing time. Should he have been accepted? I even know of a convicted child molester who did his time and is now out of jail back teaching children. Do you feel he should he be allowed around children at the risk of being tempted to repeat his crime?
Without speaking to you in person I have no way of knowing if you understand why I do what I do with respect to accepting new students. I also don't know how my rule would apply to you as you never said what you were convicted of. What I do know is that you judged what kind of person you think I am based on what you interpreted my website to say. Keep in mind that your email did the same for me painting a picture of what your intentions are and the kind of person I think you might be.
This is a small school and I view my students like family - not clients or a way to pay my bills. I do my very best to guide and protect them. If at this point, you still can't understand my reasoning and view point I am ok with it but would still be willing to meet with you and discuss it further. You say your plan is to open a dojo of your own someday. The first time you feel you have to turn away someone because something tells you, this person is just not ready for this or it could be dangerous to transmit your skills to this person I hope you think and remember how you felt about me. It’s not easy to turn people away because you want to help everyone. However, if you truly understand what the study of budo is about and have a dojo of your own and care about your students you will ask yourself every time "Is this someone that I want in my dojo?"
 Respectfully,
Don Ogle
Donjitsu Do Dojo
 
Surprisingly enough he responded and apologized for judging me prematurely. He claimed to now understand my process and that he realizes why I do it that way. He went on to tell me about his past struggle of drug addiction, being bipolar, as well as the crime / mistake that has caused him so much pain and societal seclusion. He stated that in the years since he has struggled as he comes to terms with the shame and stigma associated with now being a convicted felon.
 
At the time of our correspondence, approximately 7 years had passed since his convicted and he felt that hiding from his past is impossible. He also admitted that he had lied and does not have any formal training in martial arts other than techniques he learned from the internet through distant learning programs.  He told me that in a moment of weakness he lashed out at me, not expecting that I would actually respond to his email. He has realized that even though it has been so many years since he committed his mistakes, it has closed many doors for him. He now wants to surround himself with strong, centered positive people but he now knows in far too many cases that this is probably no longer an option because of his past.

                                                   
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The Unfortunate Realities of Teaching Women's Self Defense Classes

1/20/2016

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I wanted to share some of my personal experiences, difficulties and the realities I have faced teaching women's self-defense courses. I do this in hope of shedding some light on how difficult it can be to teach it correctly and help others to understand the importance of why I feel it has to be taught in the manner in which I do it.

In early 2015, I was contacted through my website and asked by a young lady to schedule a women's self-defense course for a group of her female friends / coworkers. I agreed and we began working out the details and scheduling. Once a tentative date for the course had been selected, I told her that I needed her to confirm the commitment of the group before we continued. Several days had passed and the start date they had originally selected was growing near. I had not yet heard from any of them so I canceled the class and that was that. This failure to commit is not uncommon when scheduling these type classes. Everyone is all gung ho up until the point it's time to do something about it and then fear sets in. In my opinion, these are some of the most important and needed classes that I offer. Residing in South Carolina, a State ranked at the top of the list for criminal domestic violence and violent assaults toward women, one would think the desire to do something about it might be greater. Sadly, it is not. Women self-defense courses are the absolute hardest to schedule for failure of ladies to commit. I do charge for my women’s self defense courses however in my experience, I couldn't give these classes away. It takes actual tactics to get ladies to show up for the class that they themselves requested. Therefore, I require students to prepay for the class, which means now most will feel more obligated to attend because they have already spent the money. Even then, I will still have some not show up. It is also very rare that we finish a class with the same number of students that we started with.

Around late Spring early Summer of 2015, I received several more emails from individual women requesting information about women's self-defense. At this time, I as well received a follow up email from the lady who initially attempted to coordinate the class earlier that year. She explained that everyone backed out at the last second, which again is not uncommon for these classes. This particular young lady was new to the area and had just moved here alone from out of State. Within her first couple of weeks, she had two attempted break-ins while she was alone in her home. This really motivated her to again try to set up the women’s self-defense class. She contacted friends / co-workers again and we were finally able to put one together with a decent turnout.

At the first class we have an orientation where I explain to the ladies what they can expect from the course over the next 4 to 6 weeks. We discussed the importance of what they were going to experience, how to dress for the classes, and how the training would progress. During the orientation class, I asked for each lady to share the reason(s) why they decided to take the course. Some ladies had never experienced an assault and felt they had been lucky and therefore just wanted to become more prepared. Others ladies expressed incidents where they felt they narrowly escaped a potential situation and therefore that was their source of motivation. In this group, one particular lady had been sexually assaulted on two separate occasions and another lady shared details of her recent rape. At the first class I also discuss the dropout rate of my classes due to fear. I explained that there was nothing fun about what we were about to undertake and expressed how seriously the training should be taken. As always, I challenged each of them to complete the class and not give into fear but to use it as a motivator. After the lecture was completed, we began the first part of the physical training and two hours later we had successfully completed the first class. Everyone did a good job and seemed positive.

This first class took place on a Saturday morning and on that following Monday afternoon I was approached by one of the women from the class. She arrived unannounced at the dojo before the start of one of my kid’s classed and asked to speak to me. I did allow her some time before my next class and she proceeded to request a refund for the women’s course. Initially her reasoning was just simply that she could not finish the class. When I asked why she then proceeded to tell me that she felt the teaching was “over the top” and “unnecessary” as it was "too real". She explained that she was under the assumption that the class would be taught by a female instructor and that she was uncomfortable being taught by a man. There actually was a female instructor there, my wife. My wife holds rank in my regular dojo classes and she assists me in all of the women’s self-defense classes. I had been here before and I knew it was actually fear of the unknown that was preventing this young lady from wanting to continue with the course. I tried to explain to her that she was just intimidated by the upcoming training and if she would just give it a chance she could do it and there was nothing to be afraid of. I explained that teaching it this way (in a realistic way) and working with a male was very important. I also asked her to think realistically about how and what kind of attack she would face and tried to explain that working with only female instructors would not be a realistic representation of what she might face in a real sexual assault. She claimed that she had already consulted with a female black belt instructor who agreed that I was taking it too far and that she would provide her with the training she needed. When I asked her if she had done any research, looked over my website, or read any of the information that I sent out explaining what the class was about and what to expect she acknowledged she had not. She expressed a desire to just “learn a couple of moves” and, in her opinion and with the advice of a female black belt instructor, she felt that was all that she needed. This young lady was in her mid-twenties and was actually one of the ladies who admitted that she spent a lot of time traveling abroad and that she has had several “close calls” while traveling. The personal accounts of the two other ladies who had been assaulted still did not waver this young lady’s opinion about her own personal safety. In her opinion, it was still pointless to take it any further than learning a couple of moves - she was done and I was wrong. I still encouraged that before she made her final decision to do some research and think about it until the next class, which was that following Saturday. I was hoping she would see things differently after a few day. I told her if she still felt the same by Saturday then I would gladly give her money back however, I never saw nor heard from her again. Unlike many other lessons in life where we have to learn from our mistakes, I prey she never proves herself wrong on this one.

When everyone returned to class that next Saturday I shared our conversation with the other women and I used it as a teaching tool about how as females, their mindset must change in order to find the strength to stand up. I explained how predictable it was and that she would not be the last to give up and quit before the end of the course. I didn’t say this to belittle anyone. I wanted them to realize how important it was to not to give up and to finish what they had started no matter what. When asked what they thought about what she had said some were confused by her way of thinking, some were offended / pissed that she would think it couldn’t happen to her, but for the most part her opinions motivated the two assault victims. As predicted before the end of the class I did lose a couple more students. When it got scary they gave up.

Facing yourself, your limits, and the realities of the world we live in can be terrifying. For some it's just too much so they avoid it and act as if it doesn't exist or it's not happening. They feel there is nothing they can do about it anyway and would rather not face the truth. They prefer to continue to live unaware of their true selves, their available options, and what their life could be like. I have had similar conversations with both males and females many times over the years. Living in fear is not much of a life.

I'm sure, like most, she expected our class to be just like any other one-hour, one-time, self-defense class that is held at the YMCA, a gym, or at a church social hall. Personally, I believe many of these classes are giving women a false sense of security and that they avoid the sensitive subject of reality. Just going through the motions and striking shields will not give you a real understanding of how to apply the technique properly to an actual person while under stress. At most, the class may allow their female students to smack around a person wearing an unrealistic giant helmet who gives little to no real resistance. In many of the videos I have seen on YouTube the students usually appear to be having a good time, laughing, smiling, cutting-up, etc. I rarely see the urgency of the material being covered.

I have been asked to teach these type classes involving little to no physical contact. Each time I was asked, I refused. I cannot teach real, self-defense, training while being censored and limited to the point the material is no longer realistic. Years ago a local church group requested I teach a seminar but they made it clear that they did not want me to make any mention concerning my training system having ties to the Japanese martial arts. I refused to teach that seminar as well. I will only teach that which I believe in and I refuse to do it any other way than what I believe to be the right way.

As I mention above, I am often approached by sexual assault victims seeking to regain some self-confidence and the abilities to cope with what they have gone through. None of them found my training to be fun. In many cases, it was a very emotional event and much like stepping back into their own personal hell and getting a do over. I vividly remember one woman screaming to her assailant all the things she wanted to say as she fought back the first time. You could tell she went back to that very moment. With tears in her eyes, she beat me with everything she had letting go of all of the emotion. There was nothing fun about any of that. The women watching were in tears as the entire room could feel it. I truly believe knowledge is power and I'm sure many of these classes may give a few good tips on how to avoid placing oneself in a bad situation, but what does that do for the women who did everything in their power to avoid and not place themselves in a bad situation, yet it still happened?

Going back to that moment and feeling the emotions you felt while being assaulted but then experiencing that feeling and knowledge that you do have the command within you to fight back is a very powerful thing to experience. This is the problem I have with many of these classes. No one is willing to take them there. No one is willing to go back and revisit those events and provide those women a “do over”. Or, for those who have never experienced it, to take these ladies to the point where in their minds it becomes real and allow them to feel the emotion, the fear, the rage, etc. is a powerful teaching tool.

Unfortunately, all the preventive safety tips in the world will not do you any good with no understanding of what to emotionally expect when you have been pushed to the ground and someone is on top of you ripping at your clothes. The reality is you will most likely be in shock, paralyzed, and disoriented from the fear due to the adrenaline dump. If you have ever heard the term "being paralyzed with fear" it means just what it says. Having not prepared and never experienced anything that would stir these emotions your body just shut down, freezes, and does nothing. In cases of ongoing domestic abuse where it is allowed to happen over and over the will or desire to fight back eventually destroys the person’s spirit. Self-worth is lost and it becomes all they know. Once someone's spirit and will to survive is broken, in many cases, it's all but over.

Not long ago I interviewed a potential student. She was approximately 60 years old. She had been in an abusive marriage for about 15 or 20 years. The abuse was both mental and physical. She said she was commonly told that she was worthless and she had come to believe it. She had left him on a couple of occasions yet she cried as she told me that he always found a way to make her come crawling back as she was nothing without him. At the time, I had met her she said she had left him for the last time. This time she had absolutely nothing that belonged to her and was now residing with her elderly parents. She told me her family isolated her from her grandchildren because she kept going back into the abusive relationship and the grandchildren were starting to act like their grandfather. I told her the truth and made it very clear that the only way that I could help her is that if she knew in her heart it was over and that she would never go back. She had to break the cycle of abuse before she could begin to heal. I also told her that without complete commitment to taking a stand and fighting back, not only mentally but physically, it could actually make things worse. She may try to fight back but without that mindset and determination, she may take a beating that she would never recover from. I never heard from her again.

My job is not to entertain my students but to tell, show, and prepare my students as best I can for the hard truths of self-defense. For those who have experienced abuse or rape, my job is to help them take back control of their lives and deal with the scares of the past. I take this as a great responsibility and in no way take it lightly. Many well-intentioned instructors tragically transmit the wrong information all together and leave women unprepared and vulnerable in the event they find themselves in a bad situation.

Many years ago I was contacted by a survivor of one of these minimalist self-defense classes. I say survivor because what she was taught nearly got her killed. She attended a women's self-defense class and was taught that in a rape situation to just “lay there” and “let it happen”. She, and who knows how many other women attending this class, were instructed to NOT fight back as they were led to believe when the assault ends, their attacker will let them go and not harm them. I'm sure to some this may seem to make some kind of weird sense. Moreover, even if there were some validity to this theory, how is a survivor supposed to cope with what has happened after that fact? Are they teaching women how to deal with the emotional scars after the fact during these classes? Doubtful. Horrifically, at some point in her life, this young lady found herself in a rape situation. She fell back on her training and did as she was taught. She laid there and took it for what probably felt like an eternity hoping he would do as her instructor said and let her go and just leave. Sadly, this was not the case. Once her assailant was finished, she told me he shot her five times and left her for dead.

This is exactly why I teach the way I teach. I tell each student that this class is not going to be fun because there is nothing funny about any of the subject matter covered in my class. I push each of them as far as I can in order to help them discover what they are willing and capable of doing in order for them to survive. I hold myself accountable for the material and theories that I teach in all of my classes. My students come into my dojo, put their lives in my hands, and trust what I say will protect help them. This is something I wish all instructors should understand before they decide to teach what they call “self-defense”.

Taking a single class, regardless if it is one hour, one day, or 6 weeks, it will never be enough when your life is potentially at stake. Many of the ladies who have taken my classes, who do not already attend my regular class, have returned time and time again to brush up on their skills and remind themselves of its importance. Through the years, I have met people who told me that they do not need to take a self-defense class because they had already taken one in the past. I remind them that my regular classes are all about self-defense and that I, and many of my students, have dedicated our entire lives to its study. The only way to learn it correctly is to make it real, yet so few are willing. For those few students who find my dojo I want you to know that I feel very passionately about what we do here and promise to do my best to prepare anyone who asks for my help, regardless of what others may think is over the top or too real.


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Dojo  Air Conditioning

6/21/2014

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I know what you may have been thinking; no, I am not turning on the air I just wanted to get your attention. If you are one of my students or know me you know that I do not believe in training in the air conditioning. If it 85 outside it probably close to 87 inside plus the humidity. When you push yourself in the heat you are much better conditioned. When you finish and have survived you have a feeling of accomplishment. The stresses of the day don't seem so bad anymore and it better prepares one for the realities of life. Those are just a couple of reasons for training in the heat however; this is not what this post is about.

Since it has gotten hot I have already had several students have to hit the bench because of the heat. This is simply because they haven’t yet gotten used to it. So I wanted to pass on a little tip that I use for preparing for the heat. Regardless if you are heading home to lift weights in the garage or heading to a dojo like ours this may help keep from falling out.

Most people work inside and spend all day in an air-conditioned building. I know several people who actually run heaters in their office because it is kept so cold in their office. This is usually due to sitting in one spot all day and not moving around very much. Working in this environment can make if feel even hotter when you have to step outside or you come and go from lunch. I'm sure most of you when heading home crank up the AC in the car first thing to cool off. These drastic changes in temperature can be very uncomfortable and can even cause headaches and feelings of nausea.

So, here is what I do. I make sure I come down to the dojo at least 1 hour before I begin my work out and just set in the heat (check email- make calls etc) so my body temperature gets acclimated before I begin. This is so I don't go from nice and cool to ridiculous hot to fast stressing my body. That and drinking plenty of water keeps the headache away and I don't get sick or need to sit down.

I realize many of you come straight from work and sitting in the dojo for an hour is not an option. However, that’s ok so here is my tip for you can do to prepare. Simply do not turn on the air on your way home or to class. Roll down the windows, and start getting your body use to the heat. It makes the transition from cold to hot much more bearable.

   -Don Ogle



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Martial Arts- Are they all the same?

6/16/2014

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Many people believe that all systems of martial arts teach the same thing and that a student could move from one dojo to the next and pick up where he or she left off. It is understandable how this assumption could be made. Many schools do outwardly look alike and advertise a multitude of various other systems within their own. Whatever the reason one decides to join a dojo: for fun, to study living history, to get in shape, for competition, or for self-defense, most people assume that because they have taken martial arts they will actually be able to defend themselves if the need were to arise. This assumption is dangerous. Therefore, it is important for students to understand that there is a distinct difference between sport, classical, and self-defense schools. You just need to look closer at the system and how it is taught and determine what it the system is designed for. Does it have everything that you need? Unfortunately, things have changed and merely training in martial arts does not guarantee a means of self-defense.

Sport schools have taken a system, or in some instances several systems, of martial arts and adapted it to fit within a tournament setting. Sport schools are systems that are bound by predetermined rules and regulations and in many cases are highly publicized. Most of the training curriculum for these schools is devised with the tournament rules in mind. They train how they fight and they fight how they train – in a very controlled environment and pursuant to the rules set forth by the tournament officials. Most martial arts can share a sport aspect and there are many martial systems that have found themselves in the tournament limelight. However, it is not necessarily the martial system as a whole that is a sport but how the practitioners apply the techniques of that system as much of the core self-defense aspect must be cut away to become popular and no one gets seriously injured. Application of martial arts for sport purposes creates many misunderstandings, as the schools themselves are misleading and confusing to the general public.

For instance, most sport schools look the same. Most are located in a strip mall; there are mats, mirrors, flags, and trophies inside; and their front glass displays a “menu” of the different styles of martial arts taught at that location. I know this because I spent my first ten years in a strip mall and it physically had everything but the trophies and the menu. However, my teaching and philosophy is what made my school different from the ones down the street. I would often, and still do, have people come in and say they know what I teach because they trained in martial arts and many assume that whatever belt rank they hold in one system easily transfers into the next. While this is the case for some, this is not the case for my system.

I do not honor rank in any other system for one simple reason. My system is called Donjitsu Do not Hong's Tae Kwon Do, Karate-Mart, or any other name or style. It is a traditional based self-defense system and not a sport system and therefore the curriculum is not comparable and has nothing to do with any other school and what is taught there. What I teach will help save your life if need be but will get you quickly disqualified if you were to attempt to use Donjitsu Do techniques in a tournament setting. While I believe that each style of martial arts has something to offer, I find that most sport schools do not teach techniques applicable for self-defense. Despite the fact that the student enrolled in a sport style, showed up to class, paid their dues, obtained multiple belt ranks and/or certificates, and maybe even won several trophies, the reality is that the tournament rules create strict intentional habits that do not apply to actual combat. Competition, gaining points, and looking good is the focus of sport schools, not survival. Those that do claim to teach self-defense do not spend the time nor do they make clear the difference between the two worlds.

In tournaments, sport schools come together and test their skills against one another in a very controlled environment. All involved agree and train with a particular set of guidelines. There are strict rules and only certain techniques are allowed. During the match, there could be as many as eight people involved. Depending on the tournament, there could be four corner judges, a referee, and a panel of three seated judges keeping score. In most cases, the outcome will be determined by who has delivered more scored shots during a timed bout or who accumulated a certain number of points first. Other more aggressive systems could be determined by a knock out or submission. However, if someone is hurt, it is stopped, if someone is being too aggressive it is stopped, if someone is taking cheap shots it is stopped and there will be a loss of points or disqualification. A match is never allowed to get out of hand. The kata portion is understandably preformed alone as well as weapons. However, it has become more about the flash than any realistic form of martial art with lots of jumps, flips, and twirling of weapons. This completely lends itself to the old adage "fight like you train and train like you fight".

For many students who hold a high rank and have spent a considerable amount of time training in a sport system, it can be hard to break rules/habits' that have been so deeply ingrained in ones way of movement. It can also be confusing and very disheartening to find that what they have trained so hard in does not work outside of the ring. Most techniques that would win points in a tournament setting simply do not apply to the real world. For example, I had a college student passing through town contact me and ask if he could visit our dojo for a few days. I agreed and when we met he quickly let me know that he had multiple black belts in different styles including some MMA ring time. I explained to him that there was a big difference between what he had been doing compared to what he was about to do in our system. All of his experience had been in sport martial arts and he had never experienced combat self-defense up until this point. I was convinced he felt it was all the same as it was obvious that he did not pay what I had to say any attention. I could see in his eyes that he did not think I knew what I was talking about. I believe it was on the third day after being tapped out, thrown around like a rag doll, and mauled by my students that he stopped and said, "Could you please give me just one thing to work on, I know a lot of theory, but I can't do this". I gave him one technique to focus on and nothing more was said. There were no questions or request for an explanation. He just left after class that night never to return. He did leave with what I'm sure was a very rude awaking. As so many people visiting a dojo do, he only saw the color of each student’s belt. Most of the students he worked with were white and yellow belts. He was just one of many who have passed through our dojo doors completely convinced that he had the skills to protect himself if need be. Not once have I felt that it was the fault of the student for their lack of self-defense skills. If he and all of the others I have encountered understood that sport martial arts were not designed for actual combat use, I believe many students would not have put themselves in situations that caused them injury, or in this case embarrassment.

While the sport schools’ focus is on tournaments and competitions, a more modern style of training, classical dojos tend to focus on the historical, regimental, and formal way the arts were practiced. The majority of the focus is on the way the art would have been done during its height. A new term I have recently discovered that is used for this type of training is called "living history training". This term is used for those who preserve historical practices as an art form, an educational tool or hobby. The SCA or Society for Creative Anachronism is one such organization that does this with European medieval fairs and reenactments. This is a wonderful way to see and experience how life must have been like during that time. I absolutely love history and tradition however these schools usually teach the system based on interpretations as to how it was applied during a given time period. Their practitioners try to stay true to every detail such as terminology, etiquette, posture and mannerisms, and dress; striving for exact replication.

In Japanese settings, I have even seen it taken as far as students dressing and undressing their instructor as one might have done for a samurai, dropping to their knees and running around like servants doing everything for the high ranks. I teach respect for others and one's self and my students treat me with great respect as well. However, I tell them I am no better than they are, I am just a guide and further down the path. I believe etiquette is very important but in the end, it will not save your life against someone with none. I love the world's rich, fascinating history and believe it’s a wonderful way to relive history and to gain a better understanding as to how it must have been to live back then. However, the problem I see is not that different from the sport schools.  

In classical system, the training can also be too strict as more time is dedicated to getting all of the nuances down than time spent on the application of the techniques. Though it is believed that strict etiquette was originally practiced by the Samurai or other warrior classes several hundred years ago, in order for it to be effective equal time should be spent on how it can be applied in modern day. If you spend all of your time training as if you were a Samurai preparing to fight another Samurai, your training will fail you in a real world self-defense situation today. This is where I feel the weakness lies in many of these systems.

For example, I have a student who has been training in a classical system for many years. He has been to Japan and trained in temples and places I dream of seeing. Yet he came to my dojo to learn how to apply the art he has spent so much of his life studying. In our dojo I have my students perform what is called an “attack line”. This is when a student faces the entire class, all attacks are random, done with power, and they must respond reflexively without thinking. He does not recall his first attack line because he was so overwhelmed. He said that he had never experienced any resistance during a technique and has never been asked to actually do the technique and maintain control of the attacker. What I teach and what he had been studying is very similar as both originated from the same Samurai idea. However, the differences lie within each given movement; it's depth of study and application. If your training partner falls for you, never resists nor fights back, then you will never understand how to make adjustments to your movement to maintain control.

In a conversation with a visiting instructor from another classical system, I asked after he executed a throw, “What would you do now if your opponent still insisted on attacking you?” He said that they believed that once their technique was executed there was no need for any follow up movement as what he did should be enough. Another sensei believed that the techniques they taught actually belonged to his particular dojo. He said his Sensei was upset about people “stealing” their techniques; however these were techniques his school was teaching at open seminars. At the end of another visit his sensei told me, he had a “gift” for me. The student and the Sensei demonstrated a defensive technique very similar to what we do, as one of my students quickly pointed out. Once finished he said “that’s for you”, and gave me permission to teach it. I bowed and thanked him all the while asking myself “did that really happen?” However, this is a very samurai way of thinking. Please understand that I have great respect for all ancient warrior arts, their traditions, and what they have to offer. However, with the time and energy that I have devoted to the study of the Samurai, their culture, combat strategies, ideals, and philosophies, I understand the time of the Samurai has long passed. Nevertheless, the study of any ancient art, its history, and tradition, we can still keep its warrior spirit alive in our hearts. Yet, in order to do this and keep it relevant we must seek its practical use in the world we now live.

The last types of school I want to mention are the self-defense schools. You might wonder if my issue is about the lack of actual self-defense that is being taught then why would I have a problem with a school that claims to strictly teach self-defense. My issue is not as much the lack of self-defense as it is the assumption that one could actually use it for self-defense. The danger is when the student is led to believe a particular system can be utilized for self-protection when that is not the focus or true intent of that system. In the case of the "self-defense" schools, it is a matter of balance to me - balance between hard and soft, mental and physical, and the true reason and consequences of fighting. Many self-defense schools typically look more like a boxing gym and less like a dojo. They will most likely have plenty of punching bags, mats, and mirrors but no uniforms nor formal beginning or tradition at the commencement of class. Their focus is on personal self-defense from a tactical mindset, which is perfectly acceptable. I'm sure some feel traditions are not needed at all however that is a topic for another discussion. Personally, I really like many of the physical techniques that I have seen from some of these schools and have been told more than once that there are similarities in the physical movement between our system and these purely tactical systems. I can definitely see this resemblance, as both are straight forward and to the point, physically. However, the physical aspect is our only similarity and where I feel there is a problem. From what I have witnessed in those schools, there is plenty of testosterone and willingness to fight but a lack of moral philosophy, appreciation for life, and understanding of consequences. Fighting (or winning) is their main focus.

In my opinion, many of these schools tend to have a more police or military feel as to how they are instructed. There seems to be a sense of superiority opposed to the desire to avoid conflict, preserve life, and survive; not destroy someone. Fighting techniques taught absent moral reasoning can be just as dangerous as someone holding a loaded gun and having no respect for what it is and the kind of damage it can inflict. Some of the instructors that I have encountered have been the typical militant tough “man's man”. Many of these instructors teach their students to get in their opponent’s face and hit them hard, first and fast. If he's big, act bigger. Keep in mind that these people are usually ex-police or military, which in most cases have historically been the aggressor during a conflict, and have a very different mindset than the average person. They teach what they have been taught and that was not how to respond as a civilian. These are also the same types of instructors that teach many of the women's self-defense and CWP (Concealed Weapons Permit) classes. In many cases the techniques and stances being taught are dictated by their use of body armor and the speed is dictated by the use of numbers both of which you probably won't have. One of these instructors was overheard during a women's self-defense class that he would not be teaching any ground work because if a man took a female to the ground she was done anyway.

I was once told by a visiting instructor of a self-defense school that he did not waste his time on that "philosophy junk". He claimed he taught people “how to fight”. From what I have seen and experienced this seems to be the general theme in this type of school. These are some of the most important lessons to be taught. Without the proper mindset, combat techniques alone can create just as many problems when not used wisely. Knowing when, where and why one should fight is just as important as how. A student of mine experienced this teaching firsthand. He worked where these classes were taught and from time to time he would sit in on some of the classes. He said that it was confusing to him as the ideas that I teach were completely opposite from most everything that he had seen in those classes. I had actually warned him of that when he first started working there. I knew this could cause this confusion especially being new to the self-defense world. Its simple math, Guys + guns + testosterone teaching self-defense - any kind of moral philosophy = what? He told me that from day one he was seeing and learning techniques in our dojo that the other instructor claimed to not even be an option. Many of these schools fail to cover what happens after you have maimed or killed another person after an attack. I'm not saying one should never kill because unfortunately you may find yourself in a situation where someone may give you no other option. However, what I am saying is that after the fact you have to understand there will to be consequences. Can you handle and live with those consequences of what has happened spiritually, mentally, and physically? This is where those lessons of honor, philosophy, and morality lie.

There must be a balance between the mental and physical. Without moral reasoning and philosophy behind any combat technique, it is just another way to cause harm to another. And, as an instructor, I personally take great responsibility for everything I do and say in front of my students and everyone around me. I am not one person on the mat and another in my personal life. I make it very clear during my interview process as to what Donjitsu Do is and is not. I teach my student to understand the consequences of their actions if forced to use Donjitsu Do in a self-defense or any other setting. In other cases, they are looking for someone or something to help them get from one day to the next. We must never forget that these students come to us and expect us to guide and prepare them for the worst. Everything we do and say makes a difference. Even if you are teaching a sport system it is your responsibility as the instructor to make it clear what the system is designed for and not leave it to the student to figure out that it has no place in a survival arena. This is irresponsible and is gives the student a false since of security. I don’t believe many instructors realize and truly take into account the consequences of what they are teaching and the long term effect it has on a student. This is something that happens when it becomes about the money and not the student or art.

In conclusion, my advice to anyone truly interested in learning any martial art form is to do your homework, research the style you are interested in. Decide what it is you hope to gain from your training, what are your goals? Are you interested in competing? Are you interested in being part of living history research or do you want to be able to protect yourself and your family? Do you want it all or just some of what martial arts have to offer? Do not assume that just because what you have chosen is considered a martial art it will apply in a survival situation. Be careful of what and whom you chose to believe in. Fame, rank, and flash do not make a master instructor, just as the amount it costs to train with someone does not determine the quality of their teaching. This is something that can only come from within. I tell my students to always sprinkle some reality on everything that they are exposed to. Never be afraid to ask questions, be wary of any instructor who does not like to answer questions. A good instructor will admit if they don't have an answer at that moment and will do their best to get one for you. Pick a dojo that you feel comfortable. Ask yourself are there any egos or a sense of malice when training with others.

If you are reading this and you are already involved in martial arts training you may be unknowingly training in a system not designed or intended for what you were looking for. If learning to protect yourself is what you were looking for you may unknowing be putting your life in the hands of someone who does not have your best interest at heart. Try to look at your dojo and system from a different perspective. Look for its strengths and most importantly its weaknesses. Go to your instructor and respectfully ask their opinion on these questions and ask if the system that you are being taught will protect you if you ever feared for your life. Listen closely to their answer and think about how their answer made you feel. I feel it is the responsibility of each system and instructor to make it clear as to what it is they offer and the purpose of their particular system. If they can answer your questions and you feel assured you are in the right place then you can continue your training knowing you have found the dojo where you belong.



-Don Ogle


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The Dangers Of Belt Ranks

6/13/2014

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One of the most notable an iconic things in today's martial arts school has become a weakness. I'm talking about the black belt and the belt ranking system. Once known for hard work, blood, sweat, and tears has become something that can be bought or guaranteed. The ease of obtaining rank in most all systems today become more than easy. I feel this is even more of an issue than the lack of actual self-defense that I have spoken about in some of my other writing. In my strong opinion, this responsibility, or lack thereof, falls directly on the instructor - the one handing out the rank. For this reason someone holding the rank of black belt doesn't command the respect that it once had.

Teaching martial arts has become big business and in order to make money many instructors are willing to give students what they want. This has nothing to do with what they have earned or need. Belts are so easy to obtain, now anyone can have one in as little as a year depending on the contract or package they have chosen. The black belt package can guarantee you will have your black belt in a certain amount of time, depending on the contract terms. And if that is too much trouble you also have the option to do your training online at home without actually having to go and train in a dojo. You can just send in your video for testing and rank purposes and then wait and receive your certifications through the mail/ e-mail, it's that easy.

For me, someone walking into my dojo that is quick to tell me they hold a black belt level in another discipline means absolutely nothing to me in terms of assessing skill. I base my opinion on how they act, their humbleness, willingness to learn, knowledge of their art, and how they move - not the color of their belt. I will ask questions about the system they came from to see the depth of their study and what they were even taught. Most time the response is usually the same, "I don't know we never discussed that". Sadly, in most cases I cannot tell that they have even spent any time inside a dojo at all. This is something that I am seeing more and more and personally find disturbing and a dangerous practice.

This is especially true in children. There are no belt ranks in my children’s class. Everyone gets a white belt with their gi “to help hold their pants up”. However, when I first opened my dojo I was no different than most dojos in that everyone young and old had the option to test for rank after they had trained consistently for a set period of time and met all of the requirements. Not only did I stop allowing children to hold rank, I quit teaching children all together for about 5 years. This was due to the desire for children to receive belts and the growing "day-care" attitude people had towards children and martial arts. People basically wanted someone to watch their kids and throw belts at them to keep them happy. When I finally allowed children back into the dojo it was made clear to all parents that this is a school not a day-care, I am not here to babysit or entertain their children. There are no belts or rank in the kids class - everyone is equal. I tell the realities of circumstances and I educate the children on life skills, respect, and consequences. It is explained how a child can defend themselves and their family as well as how to become a good person. Belts are never discussed as we have more important things to work on. Not until the adult class are belt introduced in Donjitsu Do. Receiving rank is taken very seriously and is not something mentioned very often as it takes years to obtain any rank in Donjitsu Do.

Not too long ago I was contacted by a gentleman asking for information about my system and dojo. He was very intense and direct about what he wanted from training and stressed the fact that he wanted something that was meant for self-defense and would actually work in the real world. He told me he was getting older and felt he needed something to help protect his home and family. He also told me that he had placed his daughter in a martial art school several years ago to prepare her for the world ahead of her. He goes on to tell me that his daughter diligently attended classes and did as she was taught, received her belts, and he felt she should be ready for the world. Unfortunately, this was far from the truth. He explained that she had been raped and that none of what she was taught had prepared her for that. At that point, her martial arts training ended as he found it to be useless. He told me he had realized that she had just been going through the motions and was taught nothing of any real value or relevance.

Over the years, many students have come through my dojo and for whatever reason some of them move on. This may be due to the fact they find it is just not for them. Some are not mature enough yet to grasp its depth, life has changed their path, or they simply had to move away. Some of these individuals trained long enough to obtain rank in my system. Over the years several students returned, after years being absent from my dojo, and admitted they are now a more mature adult or again ready to commit to the training. Since each of these students had received their rank directly from me they all could have pulled out their belt and taken their respective place in line. However, this has never once been the case. Each one of these individuals requested not to speak of their rank and humbly ask to start over from the beginning. This was their choice and each of them had learned that the study of budo has nothing to do with the color of one's belt. This always gives me great pride and a deeper respect for each of them. On the other side of the coin I am regularly asked how often do we test and how long does it take to get a black belt. I am also asked if I honor other systems’ ranks. What they are asking is will I allow someone to come into my dojo and retain the rank from an entirely different system. The last person who asked me this I respectfully told them that I would find it very suspicious if theirs or any other instructor allowed this to happen. What this says to me is that transmitting true martial arts is not the goal of that particular school. I also once had an individual offer to teach class as a “trade out” for dues since he was a black belt. Again I had never met him and he had no knowledge of my system but he was offering to teach for me. What was he going to teach? Another told me that because he was now a black belt he couldn’t be a student anymore. And, yet another visitor, when asked to start with the basics, let it be known that the basics were beneath him because he (at the age of around 20) was a black belt in multiple styles. Yet this individual had no fall training at all and he felt he didn't need it. I watched a visiting black belt student from another dojo pass out during our warm ups and we were just getting started! This was his first and last class as was the case for many other examples. Of these examples that actually came to class, none stayed more than a few days if they weren't asked to leave. The ones who I had spoken to on the phone appeared offended when I tried to explain my reasons. I have noticed that in most schools entirely too much emphasis has been placed on the color of one's belt instead of the effectiveness or understanding of the techniques, philosophy, and how it would be applied in actual combat. However, as naive, arrogant, and cocky many of these individuals have been I do not blame or hold them at fault. Their instructor is to blame; it was he who taught them to believe that way. Where else would it have come from? Humility is one of the most important lessons to be transmitted along with the punching and kicking.

Having student instructors is another reason the important lessons are not transmitted correctly. Each day students come into my dojo and put their lives and or the lives of their children in my hands trusting that I will prepare them for the worst. I am not afraid to tell them “no”, “get off your butt and get to class”, or “straighten up before I send you home”. If it's good, I will tell you to sprinkle some more reality on it and make it better and if it is bad I will tell you to get up, do it again and again until it begins to look like something. We prepare for that moment we pray never comes and there is no such thing as good enough. I tell my students that I would rather they hate me today and love me once they realize why I was so hard on them. This cannot be accomplished when the Soke or headmaster does not teach and only makes appearances. When there are kids teaching kids important life lessons will not be transmitted correctly, simply because of the lack of life, knowledge, and maturity. Important lessons will most likely be missed all together. Within every technique there is a life lesson to go with it and mechanics alone do not make a warrior.

It is very rare that I am not in the dojo as I understand and constantly think of what has been asked of me. In the school that I began my training it was common practice that when you had received your black belt you would take on a class and begin teaching. So, I have seen firsthand how this happens in so many dojos. However, I later came to realize that becoming a black belt is just the point at which you have proven your dedication and have actually only made it to the starting line, the actual true beginning of training. It is when one starts to seek the deeper understanding of the techniques and the art itself. This is something that must be taught and anyone with a black belt must understand. However, this was not the case at all where I began my training, it was actually treated as if you were finished and now it is time to go to work for the dojo. Other than personal time I set aside for myself, I received less and less of my instructor's attention. It was like my training had stopped. I was expected to collect dues and teach the classes I had been given, which were at times at more than one school, and I still had to pay my monthly dues. However, I did it without fail because that is what I was supposed to do. At least that was what I thought at the time. There was a time when his word was the gospel to me. Some called me grasshopper because I always made myself available whenever he needed me. I vividly remember being told that he wanted to get to the point where he only made appearances and we do all of the work. Luckily, because I have always been one to ask questions I eventually saw him for whom he really was and it was heartbreaking. To find a positive side to this story I eventually realized that what he taught me was what not to do, how to teach and who not to become. The most important lessons in martial arts cannot be transmitted without proper understanding of budo and having lived. Mechanics alone are not budo. I was lucky; I somehow found my own way to the truth. I could have easily become one of those arrogant black belts who have walked into my dojo. A true sensei (teacher, guide, leader, role model) will make sure these lessons are transmitted. I teach my students not to become sheep, to ask questions, and to think for themselves. My words are in no way the gospel, they are suggestions based on my study of the art and experiences and life. I will to prepare my students correctly, belt or no belt.



                                                                           Don Ogle

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Are there weaknesses in Donjitsu Do?

10/9/2013

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In the dojo we often talk about weaknesses that exist in many systems of martial art and how to overcome them. I always encourage my students to take notes and ask lots of questions. This is to help them better understand each lesson. They ask many excellent questions, many I have heard and answered before however, for the first time one of them ask if our system had any weaknesses. I thought this was a wonderful thought provoking question that deserved spending some time discussing. As I have dedicated my life and spent the last 30 something years trying to solve that very question and create a complete system; I ask my students to analyze and look for weaknesses in our system. The following paper was written by my wife as her opinion and answer to the question.

Donjitsu Do was designed as an adaptive art, based on “what if…?”, through the use of techniques once used centuries ago. The art’s intent is to encompass as many scenarios as can be thought, all-the-while eliminating weaknesses found in sport and some traditional martial art styles. Within sport styles, the competitors’ defensive techniques are limited to only those “legal” techniques allowed by the sport officials. In Donjitsu Do the only rule is that there are NO rules. Donjitsu Do is a survival art based on self-defense and self-preservation, not winning or scoring. Therefore, the rules that govern sport styles render those styles essentially useless in self-defense and survival situations. Unlike sport styles,  traditional styles are centuries old and the practitioners are typically taught the style as originally passed down, keeping true, as much as possible, to its historical style.  Some traditional systems even possess their techniques in written form and kept within in their system’s “bible”. These traditional systems are not adaptable as their techniques are intentionally written and strictly adhered to for the purpose of maintaining its originality and true, traditional form. While originally created and utilized for self-defense and self-preservation, some traditional systems, when adhered to too strictly, can render a portion of the style useless in modern day self-defense situations. Donjitsu Do although rich in tradition and ways of the old, focuses on utilizing the old ways and adapting them to fit with modern times.  However, Donjitsu is still considered a traditional system as, along with teaching the adaptability of ancient techniques to modern scenarios, the history and traditional style of the techniques are acknowledged, taught, and learned as well. Donjitsu Do strives to eliminate any weakness or limitation that would render its style and techniques useless.

In understanding Donjitsu we often discuss what other arts have influenced the style of Donjitsu Do. Donjitsu Do is not a system in which its techniques are new but a system that utilizes old techniques from other styles. It is a compilation of techniques the founder of Donjitsu Do thought were best suited for self-defense and self-preservation. The style, however, continues to change.  The Donjitsu Do of today is much different than the Donjitsu Do ten years ago. The system continues to evolve with each “what if…?” situational concept. Additionally, the ever continuing societal changes also influence the system of Donjitsu Do. As crimes are committed in new ways, Donjitsu continues to evolve to combat those crimes. Much like computer programs require constant updates, the art of Donjitsu requires updates to adapt to modern day self-defense demands and requirements.

Many martial art systems do not adapt in such a manner. As discussed, sport systems and traditional systems are bound by what their respective systems allow. Donjitsu, however, is only bound by what has not yet been thought. A question was recently posed, “what would be a weakness of Donjitsu Do?” This is a very difficult question to answer. We can compare Donjitsu Do with the generic sport style concept or with the traditional strict style concept; however we cannot render a final verdict of superiority. To compare Donjitsu Do with another style is extremely difficult as the answer is subjective and dependent upon the situation. In a sport arena Donjitsu Do’s weakness would be its rule that there are no rules. Donjitsu Do practitioners are not trained in the sport environment. Donjitsu Do practitioners lack the mindset of fighting to win as they are trained to survive – two totally different concepts with two totally different means in which to achieve. Therefore, in a sports arena, a Donjitsu Do practitioner would almost always be disqualified when utilizing techniques designed and practiced within the system of Donjitsu Do. In a traditional setting, again, the rulebook sets the stage. For instance, when comparing Donjitsu Do with Akido, the techniques are very similar, if not the same. However, the application of those techniques is vastly different. A Donjitsu Do practitioner is taught to apply the technique when and where applicable. However, an Akido practitioner is taught to only apply the technique when receiving an attack. These are two completely different systems and mindsets that utilize the same techniques. Is one weaker than another?  Does waiting to apply a technique create a weakness? Or, does stealing the opportunity to apply a technique create a weakness? The answers are subjective as the situation, as well as the skill of the practitioner, determines the best application for the technique.

It is nearly impossible to provide an objective response to the question “what would be a weakness of Donjitsu Do?” Not that the system is flawless or that Donjitsu Do is the ultimate martial art, but Donjitsu Do was created with the sole purpose of identifying weaknesses and strengthening the system based on practicality and applicability. Therefore, a true weakness of Donjitsu Do would be what situation or scenario the system has not yet identified as a “what if…?” However, just because a particular “what if…? has not yet been posed does not mean the answer does not already lie within the teachings and techniques of the art of Donjitsu Do. 



-Jennifer Ogle
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Zanshin

8/22/2013

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    I was recently contacted by email by someone asking for a basic explanation of the concept of Zanshin (so alert you dominate). So I thought I would share it with the rest of you as well. However if you know me you know there is no simple definition of budo concepts but I will do my best… lol. 

    Zanshin is the 2nd of two very important states of budo found in Donjitsu Do and other Japanese martial systems. Zanshin is something that will come in time with confidence, strength in character and knowledge of oneself, martial strategies and how our surrounding play a part in combat. It is a calm that will come over you and it is something that anyone can achieve and could be applied to many different situations. However, in this context we are taking about one on one combat. For your opponent, don't think of it as a look or stare you give but a feeling that you project to another that gives them a feeling of dread or a sense that they will undoubtedly lose an altercation with you. The literal translation of Zanshin is "remaining mind" For you it should be a balance of mind body, spirit and will. It is a state of total mental alertness of yourself, your surroundings and your opponent. It is a complete unwavering commitment and readiness to meet the situation at hand. This is the concept of defeating your opponent without action. Again please keep in mind that this is only a fraction of the meaning of Zanshin.


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Violence Against Women Update

2/22/2013

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It has as been exactly one week since I posted the blog about violence against women and here is a little update on that post. I have been told of two incidents, just since I initially made the post, involving women who are friends of mine. The first happened at a local hair salon. A male customer came into the salon and at first he seemed normal. However, he eventually became fixated on one of the stylists and he began displaying odd behavior. He asked her about personal photos at her station, he displayed an aggressive tone when she identified her husband in one of the photos, after his haircut he lingered around the salon. After his hair was cut he wouldn't leave and when ask to pay he had no money. Eventually he stated he would go get his wallet in his vehicle, but he never returned. Since that day, he has been calling the salon asking for that stylist and offering to pay her for his cut. His behavior was so disturbing that the salon told him not to worry about the bill. However, he continues to call. The salon then notified the local police where they were advised that this man is a registered sex offender and was arrested just up the street from them for accosting a woman on that same day he came into their salon. Unfortunately, he is back on the street.

The second story took place in an upper middle class neighborhood in Taylors. The female was home alone during the day and heard a noise. When she went to investigate she noticed a man trying to enter through her back door. He then moved around to a set of glass patio doors and attempted to enter there. Scared and not knowing what to do she called her husband; he asked “did you call 911?” no “call them now, I am on my way”.  While she waited for a Sheriff’s Deputy, the man pulled out a hammer and started beating on the outside AC unit but quickly left. A Deputy picked the man up down the street where he claimed to work for Duke Power. He showed the Deputy a Duke Power ID so they let him go because they found he had not damaged her property. By the time her husband arrived home the man and the Deputy had left the area. The man was not charged with anything. Apparently the Deputy did not find it suspect for a Duke Power employee to attempt to enter a home or tamper with an AC unit in that manner.

Now, in regards to taking precautions and learning how to deal with this type of situation, this is what I learned: Concerning the first incident, I was told by my friend “You know, we probably need to take some kind of class”.  Concerning the second incident, the husband suggested his wife take a self-defense class. She declined and said she really didn't feel she needed any kind of training. So tell me, what does it take? What kind of sign does someone need to see before they realize, “it could happen to me”, especially after it almost did?



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Perfection

2/19/2013

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  Each day I study my art, pushing myself to strive to be better than the day before.  Each day I’m in search of a better understanding of myself and my art, always striving for perfection. And, each day I know there is no such thing as perfection - it simply does not exist.  You may ask, “Then why would you spend so much time seeking something that does not exist?”

   For me, the answer is simple. It gives me focus, a purpose, and a reason for waking each day. It gives me a reason to try to do better and helps me to realize that no matter how much I do our how hard I try there is always room for improvement, regardless of how many times I have performed a technique or task. Knowing that no one is perfect allows me to accept the person that I am because I know each day I have done and will do my best. The Samurai called concept this “Learning to die well”. I feel that if I died tomorrow then I have been truly doing my best to be a good person, husband, friend, and teacher to all that I know and have met.  I know that I have done my best to leave a positive impact and have tried to give more than I have taken. I will also know that although my life was far from perfect, I did my best and this brings me peace and allows me to see the beauty in imperfection.

   So, today at the end of my workout, I sat silently in this imperfect world surrounded by all of my imperfect things contemplating this thought and the love I have for the imperfect life I have been given. While I sat there knowing that in a few moments my Dojo will be filled with imperfect people just like me looking for answers to questions that I dedicated my life to helping them with.  I vow to do my best and pray as I do every day for guidance to transmit to them what I have taken from my life-long study of Budo.  Life itself is not perfect however we must always strive to do our best each day. That is truly all we can ever hope for and how we might someday find perfection.

                                                                       -Shihan Ogle



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