The head of our style, Master
Yamashita, grew up, trained, and lived in Asia, becoming a 7th degree
black belt in Okinawa before he moved to the US in the early 1970’s
where he has trained students for the past 30+ years. Budo therefore
has a living direct link back to the traditional higher-level black
belt training in Asia. Sensei Dombeck’s instructor, O’Sensei
Dan Schroeder, is Master Yamashita’s senior-most student and
is presently an 8th Dan. Students of East-West Kara-Te are given
the opportunity to augment their training through special seminars
with both O'Sensei Schroeder and Master Yamashita several times
a year. The depth of long-term knowledge and advanced training
available through Budo, therefore, has few (if any) equals in the
Twin Cities area. This is why many of our students came
to Budo after years of training in other schools. You can experience
the difference too. Check out ...The Budo Difference
In
the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) area, there are also a number
of “traditional” dojos. Most of these dojos have head
instructors who hold high black belt ranks in various Asian martial
arts styles. Unfortunately, many of these instructors received much
of their training while stationed abroad for a short number of years,
oftentimes becoming a “black belt” while in Asia, then
returning to the USA where they started teaching. Most of their
subsequent training was done with infrequent visits either back
to their teacher or when their teacher came to the US. This is unfortunate
because “black belt” is when one only first becomes
a true student of the art.
In Asia, significant training occurs as one
moves up through the various black belt ranks. Most of the heads of
these “traditional” styles did not experience these higher
levels of training in the traditional way. Instead,
being the most skilled in an unskilled country, these individuals
started teaching as if they were masters. And although many of these
individuals became very skilled martial artists, their higher level
training did not receive all of the benefits of the methods and knowledge
passed down for generations.
Being the
most skilled in an unskilled country, some individuals started
teaching as if they were masters.
Budo has
a direct living link back to the traditional higher-level black
belt training in Asia.
Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do at
Budo 