Hello everybody. My name is Rick Davies…started training in 1973 in Shorei Ryu, studied some full contact and boxing (ouch), moved to Taekwondo and in 1986 formed our own system (T’ung Jou karatedo) based on a no trophy combination of traditional (hard style kata and formal training) but also hands on reality based self defense ala Wally Jay jujitsu and some hard style kempo jutsu. Under the theory that competitive karate teaches the wrong muscle memory, we avoid tournaments and that culture.
There’s always so much to learn in this continuing circle of student to teacher and back to student again. Presently reading Yokota Kausaku’s great books on Shotokan and training the guy in the mirror ;-) Working on requirements for Rokudan through IKSA. Another informative book that has, in its scope lead me here is Sgt Corey Miller’s Meditations On Violence.
I’m mainly here because this system of thought closely mirrors philosophically what we’ve been approaching through the decades philosophically regarding reality based self defense, and the avoidance of delusion in that pursuit.
Good stuff, this.
Grateful to be a student, RD
