Developmental Diary: Part 3

Opening the dojo!

In March of 2009 we decided to open our dojo and begin offering classes in the martial arts. Although we offer other kinds of classes now (like English conversation classes), Black Belt English first began as a karate school. As any new business owner must feel, we were anxious on opening day. Would anyone come? How would people in Japan feel about an American teaching karate in their country? Would the students understand my directions in class since I will be speaking in English?

To let people know we were open, we placed some colorful flags out in front of the house near the driveway. We then hung a simple banner displaying our website address; but we soon found out Japanese people usually don’t search for anything by directly typing in an address like that. Following this revelation, we placed a larger banner on the long stretch of bushes indicating we were open and accepting applications and we also placed ads in the phone book and local paper!

I can’t tell you what it meant to us when our first family of three signed on as karate students. We were overjoyed and so thankful for their enthusiasm and desire to be a part of our new program. These people, and the others that followed in the early months of our opening, showed great courage in my opinion. They were willing to try something new … They were ready to try something different. It is because of these “starter students” that we were finally able to begin making our dreams of running a business and teaching martial arts in Japan come true.

At first, I taught the martial arts classes in much the same way I had in the United States. One immediate change was that I was only speaking English, so I had to work hard to refrain from directing students in Korean like I had in America (since my main teacher instructed that way). Many students were lost at first, not completely understanding my directions. This led to them being a bit shy and hesitant, so the classes seemed to have low spirit. They really did not look and sound like a good martial arts class – and this was my fault.

Listening carefully to my wife’s advice and continuing my research, I began to change my teaching style a bit. Less talking and more demonstrating. I also worked hard to keep my English simple and clear; and one of the best decisions I made was to start having the students repeat what I had just said so that they could retain the information.

In time, the Karate in English classes started to sound and look much better. Their confidence in their martial arts skills was increasing, and so was their confidence and ability in English. Our first ranks tests went quite well, and the students did a wonderful job of putting forth their best efforts during the examinations.

My school had started to grow…And I felt I was growing as a teacher…and as a martial artist!

Developmental Diary: Part 2

How was Black Belt English created?

After deciding to teach my martial arts classes in English, I went to a local activity center and applied for a job to teach karate-do. The business looked over my resume and the interview seemed to go well, so it wasn’t long before I was contacted and informed I would be allow to start teaching a class there in July of 2008. Excited about my first opportunity to teach martial arts in Japan, I began forming my lesson plans.

July 13, 2008 was a red letter day for me. This was the day I started teaching karate-do in Japan, taking my first big step in making my dream come true. To my surprise, I found that most of the students present for the class were interested in learning karate-do more than English. This was good news to me, as I wanted the lesson to be focused on martial arts more than English. I simply wanted English to be a tool for communication – and for karate-do to be the heart of the lesson.

In time, my wife finished her contract at the study abroad center and we moved back to her family’s house (which was a better environment for our young son). Taking our savings from the bank, we invested the money in remodeling the small old house that stood next door. After a few months, we finally had the dojo (training hall) completed!

But what was I going to teach? Was I only going to teach martial arts?

This caused me to take some time and look over things a bit more carefully. I was an accomplished martial artist…I also had experience as an English teacher…I had been a college teacher and administrator…and I even had some of my creative writing material published in the gaming industry. Well – what did I enjoy doing? I loved teaching martial arts with a passion…I deeply enjoy communicating with Japanese people…and in my free time I enjoy strategy games of all kinds. How could this all fit together?

At this point I looked at my wife and thought about her accomplishments. She is fluent in English to the point she sounds like a native speaker and she even earned her college degree in the USA. She had come to the United States as a teenager to study English; but she ended up learning English by going to Cosmetology (beauty) school rather than ESL class (English as a Second Language). By deeply immersing herself in an activity she was interested in learning – but that required English language communication – she basically learned two things at the same time! She learned valuable skills – while communicating in English!

This gave me the inspiration to form the business around the activities that I enjoyed and had experience with. I would offer classes focused on an activity – and I would use English as the method of communication!

I would teach karate-do in English…I would play interesting games in English…I would offer college-like lectures in English (with advice and assistance about studying abroad)…And I would communicate with Japanese people in English (conversation classes).

I then needed to come up with a name. This required some careful thought. Action English! …That was already taken. English in Action! … No…Karate in English!... Well, I am offering more than just karate lessons…Black Belt English! Yeah!! When you achieve a black belt, you become an expert at something! Let’s call the business Black Belt English because students may be striving for a black belt in karate class or they may be trying to become experts in communicating in the English language!

Black Belt English …….. With its multiple-meanings, it sounded good to me.

Developmental Diary: Part 1

How did the idea of moving to Japan and teaching karate in English begin?

Back in 2007, my wife and I had good paying jobs in the United States; but we also had to deal with a great deal of stress. Inside, I felt unsatisfied in my work and this caused me to feel a bit depressed at times. It was nothing major, just a feeling that my life was on the wrong track. I had known for a long time what I wanted to do for a living (teach karate) but I had never found the right opportunity to make my dream come true.

Following the birth of our son, we knew it was a good time for a change. We wanted him to grow up in a safer environment with a stronger education system, and we also wanted to be able to spend more time with him during his formative years. I also wanted to take a chance on living my dream (to teach karate in Japan) and my wife was excited to help me as she had always wanted to run her own business. After my wife applied for a job in Japan working with American college students, we decided to wait and hope for the best.

After landing a new job at an international study abroad center in her home town, my wife and I quickly wrapped up our affairs in the USA and packed up all of our essentials. We made the big move and soon settled into an apartment on the first floor of the center. Disappointingly, the job required her to be on-call every single night of the year (just like my job in the USA--- insane I know) so her time with me and the newborn baby was minimal.

As she spent her hours in the office, I was either taking care of the little one or practicing karate outside in the Japanese garden that overlooked the lake. Practicing every day outside in the fresh air was wonderful, and my time with my son was priceless. I was also able to pull on my past experiences working in higher education administration and assist my wife with some of her more difficult and stressful situations.

Each morning I awoke, I imagined myself as a full-time martial arts instructor. I envisioned myself in my uniform, teaching a classroom full of Japanese students in the ways of karate-do. But one important thought kept invading my thoughts…I would have to teach things differently in Japan. I could not do things exactly the way I had done them in the USA. I would need to adapt and change. I would need to evolve and grow, both as a teacher and as a martial artist.

The first thing I decided to do was to teach all of my classes in English! No more using Korean like I had in the United States. And I would not replace the terms with Japanese. I would teach in English. I would teach an international martial arts system (combining karate-do, chuanfa, taekwondo, and hapkido/aikido) in an international language!!

Karate in English - July 2010

Another successful rank test over the weekend for Black Belt English. For many students, this was their first time testing at our school. They gave their best efforts during the exam, and (like before) any errors that were made were small and corrected immediately by the students themselves.

Although many of the students had never studied any additional English outside the content shared in regular school, they followed my directions perfectly and without hesitation. My wife assisted me with some of the more complex explanations, but it is still quite impressive how much English the students have learned just by practicing the martial arts in our dojo. Such regular exposure to natural English has even caused a couple of students to enroll in our English conversation classes as well.

20 things that describe Black Belt English

1. Results driven
2. At home atmosphere
3. Team teaching (for American and Japanese points of view)
4. Lessons designed for your life (lifestyle)
5. Speaking and doing in order to remember
6. No textbooks
7. No changing or turnover of the instructors
8. Teaching style meant to fill in the gaps left by Japanese education system
9. Teaching methods based on research and experience
10. Teachers are living examples of school’s philosophy (see below)
11. Teachers are accomplished martial artists
12. Teachers are fluent in English
13. Teachers are college educated in the USA
14. Teacher has had work published in the game industry
15. Classes taught by president
16. Teachers passionate about mission
17. Learn and use now – not later
18. Lessons created for students (not premade or from book)
19. No katakana English – learn foreign sounds and pronunciation
20. Learn authentic martial arts (with a long history and deep philosophy)

April 2010 Belt Test for Karate in English Students!

On Sunday April 18, 2010 we held rank tests for our Karate in English students. We had ten students take the test, ranging from white to orange belt. Following and examination of the basics, I evaluated students on their progress in forms (kata), self-defense, and sparring.

All the students testing that day had worked very hard on their requirements so there were no surprises. Any mistakes made were very minor, and corrected immediately by the student (usually without me needing to say a word).

The high point of the rank test was the sparring, as students from different class times had the opportunity to spar with each other. The energy level was high and students displayed good control and strong fighting spirit.

To my students, I wish to say: Well done! We are very proud of you all!

Open for one year!!

Black Belt English has been open for one year!!

I remember when our school was just an idea in our heads...But now it actually exists!!

We have learned a lot over the past year and we are so grateful for each and every one of our students.

Thank you for believing in us.

Thank you for your courage to try something new and different.

To our Karate in English students: Keep practicing! Keep working hard to make yourself stronger and more confident. Come to class early and study hard! Sweat, train, and develop your fighting spirit! Deepen your knowledge of the martial arts and find the ways to apply this wisdom to your life!

To our Play and Talk students: Keep up the good work! Work as a team! Use you character's skills and special abilities to help each other overcome the challenges! Try to use as much English as you can remember - it will only make your character stronger!!!!

To our English 4 You students: It is a fact that most Japanese people who study English cannot properly speak and understand English! Have the courage to be different! Come to class and be ready to talk! Be an active learner! Remember --- we do not use textbooks! WE create the class together! It's time to express yourself!!