Old Friends In The Martial Arts by Rob Jacob
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I started studying karate back in 1982. It was a one-credit class at Highline Community College in Midway, Washington. The teacher was Sensei Denny, and the style was Shito Ryu. I threw myself into karate, being in the karate club, and doing karate almost every day of the week. I continued studying for a couple years, but was forced by a job change to stop. I restarted again about five years later, but again was forced to stop. Eight years and a 2700-mile move later, I began studying Isshinryu karate, eventually receiving my black belt.
Twenty years after I originally started karate, I visited one of the people I had started with back in 1982. Sensei Craig Chandler is now a third dan, and teaches Shito Ryu karate at a YMCA in Auburn, Washington. As far as I know, we two are the only people from those Highline classes that still study karate. I am told that even our original teacher, Sensei Denny no longer practices karate. This is an example of the long term attrition of people in karate. In the book Teaching Martial Arts by Tony Gummerson, the author says that out of 100 people who start karate, less than 15 will still be there after one year. Even less of those will be there after the second year. There always seems to be a constant flow of new faces to fill the void left by the departures. Seeing a row of new white belts, I sometimes wonder if one of them will make it to black belt some day.
It was wonderful to see Sensei Chandler, and to work out at his dojo. The black belts and other students in his class were very kind and made me feel welcome. I would have liked to have had more time, and another chance to work out there during my visit to the area. I plan to return in a couple years, and have more opportunities to train with Sensei Chandler during my next visit. Two years is a short time when measured in terms of martial arts training.
This is the way things should be. Though we were studying different karate styles, there was mutual respect. We are both on the same martial path, just in different vehicles.
Craig Chandler circa 1983 Highline Community College
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Rob Jacob circa 1983 Highline Community College
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Sensei Craig Chandler & Sensei Rob Jacob
Auburn YMCA Dojo
Rob Jacob is the author of: Martial Arts Biographies - An Annotated Bibliography.
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