College students and the Fullerton neighborhood witness a really distinctive second in Goju Shin Ryu Karate historical past
Shihan Brad Wenneberg with Shihan Bob Grey and Senseis
It’s not typically {that a} pupil of the martial arts will get to expertise the occasions that occurred this previous weekend throughout our formal promotion ceremony. Even for these which are extra skilled with the method that goes into such an occasion really felt that this weekend was distinctive.
I say it’s distinctive as a result of this occasion not solely acknowledged college students making the transition to the rank of Black Belt, nevertheless it additionally bridged collectively a private historical past spanning 45 years of which I’ve been lucky and privileged to expertise.
Households and college students at our dojo have all the time acknowledged their instructors because the mentors and guides via their journey at American Martial Arts Academy – and past them, they’ve acknowledged Shihan Brad Wenneberg because the “trainer to the academics”. This weekend, those that attended our ceremonies received an opportunity to be launched to a trainer of his personal….Shihan Bob Grey.
As a pupil of Shihan Wenneberg’s instruction from earlier than he began American Martial Arts academy, I bear in mind being in awe of the few senior Black Belts who’ve laid the muse from which Shihan Wenneberg based mostly the coaching that all of us observe to at the present time. This week Shihan Wenneberg, the Senseis and all of the Black Belts of our Academy had the superior alternative to bodily prepare with him and obtain perception of our historical past and legacy that only a few practitioners are aware about know.
By means of coaching with him, we had the uncommon alternative to ask questions concerning the historical past of karate; why sure strikes have been tailored or modified over time, in addition to hear Shihan Grey’s expertise of working with legendary martial arts academics and having him share gentle hearted, candid tales of his earlier coaching days with Shihan Wenneberg.
His go to to our dojo was an expertise that’s seldom heard of on this planet of martial arts at present, as there are only a few excessive rating martial arts masters who possess the humility and need to brazenly prepare with such a big group and make themselves accessible as he now has.
In the course of the formal ceremony on Could 18th, he made a particular as soon as in a lifetime presentation that isn’t historically witnessed by a dojo’s pupil physique or most people. Along with formally recognizing Sensei Jason Wenneberg, Sensei Nikhil Joshi and Sensei Caleb Beller as “Joukyu Sensei” (senior Sensei), Sensei Jeremy Schilling, Sensei Tom Barbarick and Sensei Megan Joshi as “Shidouin Sensei” (the official title of Sensei Teacher) – he bestowed the title of “Shihan” to Shihan Wenneberg’s very long time coaching associate, collaborator and pal, Dr. Jeffrey Bodwin, and formally awarded and acknowledged Shihan Wenneberg’s seventh diploma Black Belt and title of “Kyoshi Shihan” (trainer of academics).
These official titles transcend the partitions of our studios in Fullerton and Placentia, CA and are actually identified within the system of Goju-Ryu Kenkyu, which offers a broader recognition to our names within the martial arts trade. For Shihan Grey to brazenly acknowledge AMAA’s instructors and founder is a monumental privilege and honor for our college and the legacy we’ve carried since its creation, and additional connects American Martial Arts Academy to its roots in a system that has impacted 1000’s of lives in a profound and constructive means.
To all who attended to witness the event, we thanks for being there. And to all of our households at American Martial Arts Academy, we thanks to your continued help in making this a neighborhood, a household – and greater than only a place the place one can prepare within the martial arts.
From Sensei Jeremy Schilling
