I guess I have been fascinated by karate since watching my first Bruce Lee movie, and the way he would walk into situations where his life was in danger and not be afraid. He would tangle with the baddest of the bad, and, though he always got pretty banged up, he always came out on top. While karate in the movies is a lot of trick photography and stunt doubles, it introduces us to the mystery of the arts, and as you get to mix with the people involved, you can appreciate what they have gone through to get where they are today.
Some tell me that it was all tricks, and none of these "actors" are to be feared. Steven Segal holds a 7th degree Black Belt in Aikido. And Chuck Norris retired "undefeated" from full contact karate, has many schools, and he stays in good shape today as you can see by his commercials and his weekly show, Walker, Texas Ranger. Many other's have only learned the moves it takes to make the film they are in at the time, Kung Fu comes to mind :-) but there are many in the industry that can do what you see on the screen. Master Yamashita is one.
My grandsons were enrolled in a school close by, and I was impressed by what they were learning, so I stopped to watch awhile. I soon learned that not all "Dojo's" are alike. You can probably learn from all of them, but I found there are some that are more interested in making a buck, then teaching you karate. Sure, I know they need to pay bills too, but it should be important for you to learn while paying the money.
I soon learned the Mystic Yamashita Karate school is one of many under the direction of Master Tadashi Yamashita (Hanshi). Nothing is taught in his schools, unless he personally oversees it. And only Hanshi can tie a Black Belt on one of his followers. He tied mine May 18th, 2002. Last year, April 30th 2005, he awarded me Nidan. Next will be Shodan (1st degree), in kobodo (weapons), which I need for my Sandan (3rd degree) test in a few years.
Hanshi's style is based on Shorin-Ryu, but after the basics, all begins to change. He's added to Shorin-Ryu, ( show-rin-rue ) his own style called Sui-Kendo, ( see-can-doe ). So, the style I study is called, Shorin-Ryu/ Sui-Kendo. Sui-Kendo means "way of the water fist". Picture yourself standing under a waterfall, trying to stop the water, you cannot, it does not hit you once, but continuously.
Master Yamashita is a 9th Dan Black Belt, Okinawan Karate and Weapons Master, and Examiner of Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Association, as well as Director of U.S. Shorin-Ryu Karate Association.
Hanshi keeps close tabs on what his instructor's are teaching, so the style doesn't get "watered down". He believes there are too many karate "mills" putting out a generic form of karate, where everyone learns the same thing, and no one really understands that what they are learning has a history going back before Christ was born.
As the story goes, History of Okinawan Karate Kungfu came to Okinawa, it was changed to what we know today as Karate. Master Yamashita comes from Okinawa, it is my belief that by learning from him, we are getting it from the source. Many believe him to be one of the fastest humans on the face of the earth. He holds records for throwing punches, 13 in two seconds. He did this on an old TV show called "Thrillseekers" hosted by Chuck, "The Rifleman", Connors.
I've participated in several of his karate seminars, as well as weapons seminars, and I can tell you that after I healed, I was impressed with what I had learned. Sensei's movie credits include, staring with Chuck Norris in "The Octagon", and with Sean Connery, and Wesley Snipes in "Rising Sun". He plays the "Black Star Ninja" in American Ninja, one of his bigger parts, and plays himself in American Ninja 5. My personal favorite is, "Sword of Heaven" where he is the main character. We don't get to see him enough as the main actor in a movie, but this is a good one. He also stars in "Shinobi Ninja", and "Bronson Lee, Champion". The first part of Bronson has Sensei doing kata, that is a treat, but it is cluttered up with text. In the first part of "Sword of Heaven", my personal favorite, he is riding a dirt bike in the dunes of Calif. this is what he came to the US for, to be able to ride in competition, but he found teaching karate more to his liking.
Seems I can't say enough about Master Yamashita, but the most important thing I can tell you, if you want to learn karate, and learn it from one of the best, check out one of his schools. I go to a school in Mystic, CT, there are two in this area, but there are others in Calif., Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and one in Greece.
And, don't think you're too old, I started in 1996 at the age of 51, got my Black Belt May 18th 2002, and Nidan on my 60th birthday :-) Any questions? just ask.