Whole Armor Martial Arts Valpo

09/03/2026

08/21/2026

I'm planning in participating in the 100 kata challenge next month. Anyone else?

This year the 100 Kata for Karate Day Challenge event in Okinawa invites you to join us, any style, all levels of ability, for our celebration of Karate Day!
This year the ONLY participatory event on Okinawa on Karate Day!
If you can't get to Okinawa fear not! Join the event from where you are, register and share your 100 Kata experience with us via videos and pics.
NEW 2026 T-shirts are available to order now! Please follow the links to the BudoVibe store :)
https://dojo-okinawa.com/the-100-kata-challenges/

08/15/2026

Improvise, Adapt, Overcome

As an instructor of a very small Karate school, it’s always challenging coming up with a weekly lesson plan that works/flows for students ranging from ages 10 to 70. I follow our parent school’s curriculum in terms of subject matter but the outline is set up for a much larger school. This requires modifications as to how and what I teach, especially when often times some of the students cancel day of due to a variety of circumstances. Life happens.

This past week we had some major storms in NW Indiana. Lots of trees down and no power for a lot of folks, including some of my students. Luckily nobody’s homes were damaged and nobody got hurt. Lack of power, though, did affect everyone from a few hours to currently at day 5 post storm.

As part of my plan for yesterday’s class was to do sparring. We try to do it every other week while incorporating kata, Ippon Kumite and basic stance work. In Shiho Karano we emphasize basics to a fault. We are not fancy. We are effective and efficient.

During the day yesterday I find out that only two students would be coming to class that evening. So much for sparring. Father and son. Father has a broken toe to boot so I’m limited to what I can teach. Two hours before class. Improvise, adapt and overcome.

I decided to think outside the box and come up with something different and fun. Definitely not part of the curriculum. I decided to go over some Filipino martial arts. Kali to be exact.

I’m no expert by any means. I’ve taken som seminars for my own edification as I love to learn new things. Showed the seven basic strikes (similar to the basic Iaido cuts) and a couple of disarming techniques. It was fun, it was different. A small break from what we do every week.

Of course I had to finish class with one steps and kata just to get them back to reality.

08/14/2026

Wise man.

08/08/2026

It’s always good to go down to Anderson, IN and spend time with Soke Dai and his BB students like I did today. Lots of fine tuning techniques, Ippon Kumite practice and working on my two new katas.

Very happy that Soke Dai is feeling better and is able to set aside some time on Saturdays to help his BBs as they prepare for their 2nd Dan testing.

06/15/2026

It happens to all instructors. You get that text/email/phone call from a student saying that they are quitting. It's hard. You feel bad for them and you start questioning how you could have done better as an instructor.

In my case it was last night. A family of four. Parents are stretched out with work and kid's activities. Missed classes, kids don't want to practice, etc. It happens. I was concerned when they started and told the dad about it. Dad was very interested but family didn't have the same enthusiasm. Kids are young.

This is a reminder that martial arts is not for everyone. It's not an "activity", a seasonal sport or for that matter, easy. It takes a special kind of person to make the commitment that it takes to pursue a lifelong learning and love for the arts. As an instructor I give 100% and hope that students meet me half way. You always get out what you put into it.

06/13/2026

Individual kata practice tonight.