Some students are so eager to learn, devoted, and talented that we want to “groom” them for the future. We see so much hope and promise in them that we pour a lot of time, effort, and energy into their training, with the expectation that they will carry our dojo or system into the next generation. It can be devastating when this person walks out. We’re human and we’re going to feel let down, betrayed, disappointed and maybe even a little pissed off. This is not very “Zen-like.” In these situations, it is important to have to have a good balance of feelings and logic. One cannot dominate your personality. If you’re too emotional, you’ll be out of control. If you are too logical, you’ll be too cold. You have to have the right balance. Maintain your composure and realize that students have their own motivations for doing what they do. Appreciate the time you’ve had with them, but know that most will move on and we have to let go.
I’m a mother who has been taking martial arts classes at Calasanz Physical Artssince January of 2010. During the cold winter, I noticed a young teenager named Leo, who trained with Calasanz on what seemed to be a daily basis. Leo was a quiet kid who didn’t speak much.
Having two grown sons of my own, it was very natural for me to be concerned for Leo. I tried to be friendly and say hello on occasion but I got no response. I tried to rationalize an explanation for his behavior. I thought, well, teenage boys are not very chatty or the days were so dark and cold that maybe Leo suffered from the “winter blues.”
Five months later, I found myself working out with Leo on the upper deck at Calasanz dojo. I expected the usual silent treatment, but on this day, he actually said “hello.” I was in shock! I was even more surprised when I saw this boy hit the bag with strong, precise, kicks and punches. I was so impressed that I asked him to demonstrate some kicks in slow motion. For the next 20 minutes, not only did Leo patiently show me how to execute these kicks, but he also took the time to explain the mechanics of each technique for my benefit. I saw a major change in Leo. He was now a secure, well-mannered, disciplined young man who was highly skilled in the martial arts.
I mentioned my experience to Calasanz and it was then that I learned more about Leo’s journey. Leo joined Calasanz about a year ago at the age of 14. Leo had some difficulty when he first joined but Calasanz was confident that he could help. He’s worked with kids like Leo before and knew exactly what to do. With a lot of patience and amazing coaching skills, Calasanz worked with Leo every day.
A year later, Leo now teaches an adult martial arts class at Calasanz. He is an inspiration for anyone who comes into contact with him. Who would have known that a year of martial arts training would have yielded such amazing results?
The martial arts are not just about developing the body; a good instructor and supportive environment can also bring out the spirit of the individual. What emerged was a strong, courageous, and confident young man. Martial art training is not about producing the “ultimate fighting machine”… but rather producing a person of great character. As a mother, I can only imagine how proud Leo’s parents are of his transformation.
I have been an instructor for 26 years, my family has a long history in the martial arts. My highest rank is in Goju and Kung fu. My katas have been getting high reviews. In our motto we believe the answers are on the floor. I done many katas and there are different variations. So you can see the idea of what they look like. Now I have heard that Calasanz beat the hell out of Morio Higaonna, that’s what someone is telling me.
Response:
Thanks for your comment. Calasanz respects the roots of Goju Ryu and credits it as well as other styles as the foundational arts for his System. References to Goju Ryu or any other style are historical in nature. Calasanz has created a name by giving constructive lessons to those who damage the martial arts. All of these lessons were done using non-violent diversionary techniques. Here you’re seeing a small piece of Calasanz training regime and martial art expertise. He has spent his entire lifetime striving to be a well balanced martial artist. In addition to the traditional martial arts, he has also incorporated aerobics and dance into his training. While some martial artists would shy away from this type of training, Calasanz sees the benefits of rounding out a rugged training regime with disciplines that focus on balance, grace and fluidity. There are a variety of videos on this site showing the different sides of his training so just viewing one or two of them doesn’t really give you a sense of the wide range of his training. His success lies in his ability to incorporate these various disciplines into a complex system that seems simple at first glance. Thanks again and best of luck to you
What is this, some kind of wannabe Bruce Lee training?
Response:
Like many martial artists who got their start in the 70’s, Bruce Lee inspired Calasanz. He was also inspired to create one of the largest martial arts dojos in the country and has been in business for almost 30 years. For anyone to have this sort of success, they must be doing something right.
Since when did dedication and hard training become “retarded?” One who identifies himself to the world as “toobakedtooplay” is hardly the most credible critic of a man who has spent a lifetime studying and training in the martial arts.
Expression is an essential component to getting your martial arts practice to “come to life.” I recognized this early on in my training and chose to study dance and gymnastics so that my martial arts would have an “expressive” and “energetic” quality. I wanted this to come across, not only to those watching my performances, but more importantly, to myself. I knew these forms of self-expression would take my forms to a whole new level. I also ventured into other martial art styles in search of this “energy” and was fortunate to have found it in Chang Chuan.
Chang Chuan is a style of kung fu that is characterized by smooth, extended and fluid movements. It is called a long range fighting system as opposed to styles like Wing Chun for example, that focus on close quarter or short range fighting. The system is rich in forms, weapons, and self-defense, as well as throwing and locking techniques known as Chin Na. Chang Chuan includes acrobatic, spinning, jumping kicks as well as fluid, circular arm movements. It is the expressive nature of Chang Chuan that drew me to this style. I devoted many hours to studying Chang Chuan and it eventually became a great influence on my own martial arts style known as The Calasanz System™.
Chang chuan was a perfect supplemental art to my traditional karate training. I liked its extension and its fluidity. This is the exact quality I wanted to bring to my kata practice. Martial arts students that have had no dance or performance experience tend to be stiff and dull in their kata practice until they learn how to make their katas come to “life.” So I encouraged my students to also adopt the essence of Chang Chuan in their forms. I’ve trained many dancers and they knew exactly what I was talking about.
I also found Chang Chuan to be a great form of physical exercise. Its forms practice improves coordination and cardiovascular health. When done under the watchful eye of a competent instructor, Chang Chaun also helps strengthen the joints and tendons. This type of training develops flexibility and overall support around the bones and muscles, which is especially important in avoiding injuries.
Traditionalists once frowned upon exploring and experimenting with the essence of other styles or forms of physical expression. This is now the exception and not the rule as more martial artists seek to expand their skills. Incorporating something new into your martial arts routine can transform a routine kata into an inspirational, uplifting form of movement.
Interested in MMA???? Short on cash and time but want to get in a good workout? Drop-in on our Monday Night Fight School! Learn the basics of mixed martial arts fighting at Calasanz Physical Arts, Monday nights, from 6-8PM. Different instructors who will guide you in building a well-rounded martial arts background present new topics each week. Start with a great conditioning workout and then go on to learn striking fundamentals like punching, kicking, blocking, footwork, and the use of elbows and knees. Classes progress to submission techniques from judo, wrestling, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu under a qualified instructor’s supervision. No pre-registration, no contracts, and no traditional training. Just mixed martial arts at the drop-in rate of $15.00 per class! You pick the nights you want to train! No previous experience is necessary! If you have experience, this is a great way to keep your skills sharp!
Developing self-control for a martial artist is essential for many reasons. First, Calasanz trained many fighters who competed in point and semi-contact tournaments. If you have no self-control, you will get disqualified and the fight goes to your opponent. Secondly, a martial artist who lacks self-control in a fight will be judged harshly in a court of law for using “excessive force.” You have to know when to stop and when enough is enough. Lastly, over the years, Calasanz has had a number of people stop by the school to “challenge” either Calasanz or one of his students. His philosophy is to teach the intruder a lesson without beating the daylights out of him…just enough to get his point across. Calasanz demonstrates amazing self-control and is not just doing it for the purpose of “showing off.” All Calasanz students have faith in his technique and the fact that he’s never hit anyone by accident when demonstrating. An experienced martial artist without self-control however is a scary thing.
I was 40 years old when I found Calasanz. I’d been riding and jumping horses for exercise until an Indian Vision Quest experience showed me that there would be a serious riding accident in my future, if I didn’t stop.
I needed a new sport – but as one who historically was bored silly by most of the sports I’d tried, I was stymied as to how to replace my equestrian workouts.
I’d seen The Karate Kid and traveled extensively in Asia. Intrigued by what seemed like an exercise program that was also an intellectual and spiritual challenge, I set out to find a dojo. The ones I visited were a big turn-off. Mr. Miyagi was nowhere in sight, and the instructors, most of whom seemed to have learned their skills in the Military, were not at all what I was looking for.
Then I found Calasanz and my life changed forever.
“Can I do this at 40?” I asked him.
“That depends on how much you want to do this,” he responded. Just the right answer.
I began to train. Calasanz has a gift for motivation, not just Martial Arts. He somehow made me believe I could do the feats he expected of me. And little by little, I found he was right.
A profound knowledge of anatomy, a brilliant grasp on what motivates someone to succeed, and a great showman’s ability to display undreamed of feats and make them seem possible – all these gifts combined to make Calasanz the perfect teacher. Never in my life, have I found a teacher of anything who was more extraordinary, or more inspiring.
So for 6 or 7 years, 6 days a week, at 5 a.m. I showed up to train. It wasn’t that Calasanz demanded this schedule, it was that I had fallen in love with Martial Arts.
I built a dojo in my home so I could train there, too… I read every word I could find… I practiced with the great step-by-step videos Calasanz offered me. And I learned Karate and Wing Chun Kung Fu, the katas and the fighting forms, the history, discipline, focus and magic that set Martial Arts apart from other sports. My body changed to the greatest shape of my life… but far more than that changed.
Calasanz taught me to believe that I could exceed my own limits. His conditioning program was so knowledgeable and so gradual that I could train hard in the morning and still write books all day – my concentration on work sharpened by the skills I had learned at the dojo.
Strength… agility… focus… determination. These are a few of the gifts I gratefully received, and then honed, while working out with Calasanz. Black Belt rank was my goal and the thrill of achieving it was phenomenal – but I’ve since realized that the real gifts from Calasanz were far greater. A divorce and a move to New York ended my daily workouts at Calasanz dojo, but all that he taught me will always be with me.
I wish everyone had the privilege and pleasure of being taught by Calasanz – the world would be a better, safer, healthier and happier place.
Cathy Cash Spellman is a bestselling author of five books that have appeared on The New York Times and International Bestseller List.She also has written for Self, Harper’s Bazaar, Mademoiselle and a wide variety of other magazines.
Calasanz First Hand Circle Club is for those of you who see the martial arts as a path to perfecting yourself both physically and mentally. Thisis a special training option offered at Calasanz where he is personally in control of your progress, challenging you to go beyond your greatest expectations with his personal support and guidance. If you are new to martial arts or a current Calasanz member that wants to take your training to the next level, the Calasanz First Circle Club is the best way to reach your goals. By training with Calasanz from the start, you avoid corrections and adjustments and progress at a more sophisticated level.
Members of Calasanz First Circle Club enjoy a variety of benefits including two to seven hours of one-on-one training with Calasanz, lessons scheduled at your convenience, access to the new addition at our Norwalk headquarters for open workouts or quiet meditation, exclusive downloads of techniques, exercises and training tips for working out away from home, a free one-time pass to our special website section for a friend, relative or business associate interested in the Calasanz System, and invitations to participate in Calasanz performances, commercials, talk shows, website articles and videos. Calasanz First Circle Club is also perfect for those who don’t live near the dojo and want to take advantage of our distance-learning program.
Calasanz Martial Arts & Fitness images and videos!
