My goal as a martial arts instructor is to see you make progress. While some measure progress in the martial arts with colored belts, it is really the space between the tests where you make real gains. This is where the hard work takes place.
Any decent martial arts system begins with the fundamentals and can take you to the level of mastery. Success as a martial artist however, depends on two things: commitment on your part and a skilled instructor who not only teaches you the art, but also challenges you.
It has long been my philosophy that you can learn thousands of techniques, but if you are not physically fit enough to execute them; they will be of little or no use. This is why it’s important for a martial arts curriculum to include challenging conditioning exercises in order to propel you to the next level.
Calasanz Physical Arts training begins with conditioning. I take you in any condition and help increase your physical fitness. I structure a workout tailored to your needs and push you to become strong and flexible. As my student, I will encourage you to take conditioning seriously because it is an important part of the whole package. You will be amazed at how only a few exercises produce fantastic results!
Some of you may get upset when I make changes to your training routines. You come to the dojo with your own agenda but it is my job to push you beyond your comfort zone. After three decades dedicated to teaching the martial arts, I know which direction to push you into in order to take you to the next level.
I’m going to intentionally mix up the routine you’ve become so comfortable with because I don’t want your training to get stale. I may ask you to train with someone other than the usual training partner so you will experience working with someone who is totally different than what you are used to. I may ask you to spend some time on your least favorite technique or require you to learn a difficult form for your next promotion test.
So don’t get upset if one day I walk up to you and turn it all upside down. My experience tells me that a stale routine stalls your progress. I want to help you build natural power and the only way I can do that is to force you push past whatever is in your way. Work diligently on what is asked of you. The belt is merely icing on the cake. All the work necessary to progress is done long before the date of your test!
Continued from: “Training Students from other Systems Part One: A Lifetime of Lessons – Calasanz Extended Biography”
In another case, a guy who was a third degree black belt visited me and enrolled in one of our Street Survivor classes. I paired him up with a 16 year old who had been training with us for only one month. I had them do some practical drills and the 16 year old got the best of him. He kicked him in the shin and dropped him to the ground. He got up from the floor and started crying when I told him that the kid who just knocked him down had only been training for one month!
Another problem with training students from other systems is that some lack the basics. There are many good martial art schools out there. The way I can tell if someone has had a good teacher is to look at their basics. Do they have a strong foundation? Can they throw a punch? Can they throw a kick without losing their balance? Are their stances strong and grounded? Some students from other systems know a lot of techniques, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they know their basics. It is just a house built on a very shaky foundation. I had one woman come to my school who failed to mention that she had a black belt from another school. She told another one of my students of her rank, who later told me. I thought training her would be easy. Wrong. I gave her three techniques and asked her to put them into a sequence. Start in a front stance, switch to a horse stance and then switch back into a front stance. It took me 10 minutes to get her to do this right. It should have taken a well-trained black belt 3 seconds to do this properly.
Some experienced students started training in a style that was not particularly suited for them. For example, I have had some students over 40 who started training in a style that emphasized a lot of high kicking and jumping. Other styles demand low stances or too much snapping when kicking. It is no wonder that they come to me frustrated and feeling that maybe martial arts is not for them, even though they really enjoyed it. Any style can be practiced by anyone. It is up to the instructor to tailor the system to fit the student. Unfortunately, many schools have a “one size fits all” approach. This means that you have to keep up with the class with little or no special attention. I like to tailor the techniques to the particular student.
One woman enrolled in my school after 10 years of training in another system. She lacked confidence, could not fight and wasn’t very street smart. I personally trained her for 3 months and saw her confidence and skills improve dramatically. After the 3-month period, she decided to take the group class. I paired her up with another woman who was fairly new and had not had any martial arts training. This bothered her. I was hoping that by putting her with someone new, it would remind her how far she had come in her training. When she first started, she could not block a shin kick without experiencing pain in her leg. I told her that this would soon change and it did. Experienced martial artists who come to train with me are very often asked to assist with lower ranked students once we have taught them the basics of the system. Because there are students with different ranks, everyone learns from someone else. I also expected someone who had trained in martial arts for over 10 years to understand the importance of learning how to teach and assisting lower ranks. She could not see this. All she saw was that we put her to train with someone who was not as good as she was and this upset her. She had a lot to offer and the higher ranks had much to offer her. This is one of the ways we help students improve their skills. Unfortunately, she couldn’t understand it not matter how much we explained it.
This brings me to the case of a student who came to me after he had been hired by the sheriff’s department. He was having a problem dealing at job in controlling the people he was either arresting or transporting. He had taken martial arts classes for a long time and even though he was a good kicker, he had no concept of the streets. He asked his instructor for help and his response was “you’re smart enough to put it together.” So he came to me. I worked with him for 2 weeks. He had a lot to offer, he just needed someone to help him translate it into something practical. His teacher was not willing, but I was. After the 2 weeks, he never had a problem again. This man went on to become a police officer and trains with us to this day and has referred countless numbers of law enforcement officers to this school.
I have been in the martial arts business for over thirty years. My school and student membership has grown every year since I started teaching. I have survived good and bad economic times and have watched my critics open and close their door front dojos. My school would have closed a long time ago if I didn’t offer valuable services to my students.
The secret to my success is The Calasanz System™.
I was originally trained in traditional martial arts, but at some point decided that I wanted to be well-rounded athlete. This was back in the 1970’s when straying away from your traditional style was frowned upon. Back then, there was no such thing as “eclectic” martial art styles. You picked a style of karate or kung-fu and stayed with it. It was considered a big insult to your instructor to even think of training in another dojo.
I decided however to venture out and defy tradition. The Calasanz System™ was created during my martial arts journey. I found the traditional hard style karate I studied in the Dominican Republic was too limiting. I studied Wing Chun Kung Fu to balance it out. I liked its softness and economy of motion. All too often, karate practitioners rely way too much on their feet, so I went to Gleason’s Gym to learn how to use my hands. I studied Cheng Chuan Kung Fu and Wu Style Kung Fu for its artistry and philosophy. The combination of styles improved my overall skill, so I integrated all of their best elements into my training.
I also developed an appreciation for physical training. I incorporated the use of weights and stretching exercises into my martial arts classes, as well as my own workouts. I trained men, women and children and had to create workouts and classes that catered to their needs. I trained boxers, streetfighters and corporate executives. Each of my students has taught me something about how the human body works and responds to training.
Thirty years later, I took all my knowledge and pulled it together into one system. The result was a martial arts training system that produces results. The Calasanz System™ teaches you how to defend yourself. Its physical arts component helps you create a strong, flexible and healthy body. Unlike so many martial arts schools, I am still in business. The reason is that the system works.
Goju Ryu Karate Kata Form Videos and Instruction Sets on InterDojo.com. The martial arts multimedia website InterDojo.com features all 12 empty-handed Goju Ryu Karate katas via the Formula Video Series. Each kata has its own video to allow easy selection and study.
“The kata videos currently on the site are designed for students to absorb the sequence of movements and techniques. These particular katas were not performed at 100% in the bunkai spirit. In other words they do not represent how students should perform the kata in advanced ranks or in competition. Rather, these are relaxed videos so newer students can learn the sequence.” Says Calasanz Martinez. “Future videos will be designed for advanced ranks. They will be performance based and will feature more bunkai or the analyses and applications of each movement or technique. They can be applied in many different ways, including the seasoned excellence of a hard performance.”
InterDojo.com also features weapons forms including the bo (long staff), jo (short staff), nunchucku, sai, and wanto. Additional weapons and advanced forms are now slated for filming. InterDojo.com is also planning on putting together sequenced pictures for each movement in both the empty-handed and weapon katas.
InterDojo.com also features unique exercises designed to enhance the karate practitioner. InterDojo.com plans to eventually have the entire Goju Ryu system on video as well as many unique educational materials.
Calasanz left home to continue his banking studies at the University of Bridgeport, but his real passion was to continue his Martial Arts career in the United States, and to make a Martial Arts movie based on his philosophy.
Calasanz opened his first dojo in Norwalk, the early 1980’s. By then he had created a unique system of training body, mind and spirit, so that extraordinary progress could be made by his students, in record time. His innovative approach to the Physical Arts combined his vast knowledge of Martial Arts, with dance and movement, strength training and self-defense techniques. He developed a method that allowed each and every student to work within his or her own limits, without injury or brutality, and without burn out, yet able to excel in every area of physical expertise. Calasanz students had such a unique fighting style that they won tournament after tournament, and the fame of the Calasanz system spread rapidly. Law enforcement officers come to him for training… professional athletes come to him to enhance their performance… young men who wanted to enter the professional fighting arena flocked to him.
Come and train with us because you want to train like a competitor without being a competitor- Calasanz Martial Arts and Fitness: 800.414.9544 – www.calasanz.com
There’s a magic to the study of Martial Arts. Legendary images emerge… stories of tapping into ancient secrets… of making seemingly superhuman feats possible… of harnessing chi, the lifeforce of the Universe. The good news is that the stories are true, and that Calasanz has created a way to use them to empower your life. He invites you to come with him on a grand journey of self discovery, a journey of perfecting the body in ways you never dreamed possible.
“The best bodies do not come from throwing yourself into grueling training sessions that cause burnout,” Calasanz will tell you. “The process must be exciting and enjoyable for you, if you want to reap the greatest rewards. The best bodies are developed as you learn discipline, focus, strength and flexibility… reaching deep inside yourself to reach your goals. In a surprisingly short time, instead of seeing a kick or a punch, you’ll see a way of life. You’ll become more effective in your work and your relationships… more self-confident… you’ll learn how to achieve your highest goals in life. This is true transformation.”
Calasanz’s philosophy is a simple one: “Karate and Kung Fu have as much to do with strength of heart and mind, as they do with strength of body,” he says, when he teaches. “My students quickly learn both kinds of strength. My system is great for the young hot-shots who come here wanting to learn combat, but it’s equally great for women who want to know self-defense… or for children, who need to develop focus and discipline… or for men and women of any age who are seeking an intelligent, practical, enjoyable way to stay young and fit for a lifetime.
“The key is an understanding that each body is different and each student, young or old, must learn at his or her own special pace. It is very important to avoid injury and to strengthen the muscles, week by week, until you achieve your goals.”
Within one year of coming to this country, I established a successful martial art business. I created a system of exercises primarily for women called Calasanz Physical Arts. This system includes exercises from various martial art and fitness disciplines including dancing, and gymnastics. My reason for creating Calasanz Physical Arts was to help women create a strong foundation upon which to build their martial art skills. When I was young I weighed and realized that I had to develop my martial art skills and improve my fitness level in order to compensate for being a lightweight fighter. I was able to defeat my teacher, Rafael Martinez, a heavyweight boxer and black belt using the same principles that are now part of Calasanz Physical Arts curriculum. I learned that being strong was a prerequisite for being a good fighter and out of this experience, created a successful for women and men as well.
It’s easy for martial artists to talk about balancing “hard” and “soft” techniques, but not so easy to apply. At Calasanz, we do this by training you in the areas of mind, body, and spirit. Getting a black belt that is solely based on the physical aspects of the martial arts is useless unless you have also addressed the mental and spiritual aspects of your training.
In addition to learning how to defend yourself and becoming physically fit, martial arts training help you become successful in other areas of your life because you learn discipline. You also learn how to avoid verbal and physical confrontations by resolving disputes using other forms of conflict resolution. Choosing the right school is the most important step in beginning your martial arts training. Whether you are looking for a traditional dojo or a mixed martial arts center, do your research!
I created my name in the martial arts by defeating dirty street fighters who came to my school for a challenge. I will teach you the same principles for survival at my school and there is no requirement for you to compete at tournaments for trophies. Here you learn practical self-defense skills.
The Calasanz Karate, Kung Fu, Kickboxing, Boxing & Physical Arts Fitness Center, is a place where you can train in the dojo and then take what you’ve learned home for the rest of your life.
Calasanz is a Master Martial Artist who has spent a lifetime studying and teaching Karate, Kung Fu, and Kickboxing. To create his unique Physical Arts Training Program, Calasanz has combined not only his Martial Arts mastery, but his extensive training in dance, gymnastics, weight and fitness counseling. His unique system is based on ancient wisdom and modern sports medicine’s understanding of the body’s needs and capabilities. The Calasanz System has the capacity to help you create the body you’ve always dreamed of possessing, as it trains your mind and spirit to excel.
Calasanz has, for twenty-eight years, trained young and old, professional athletes and dancers, law enforcement officers, and a host of individuals from all walks of life, in a way that leads to fitness, focus, health, strength, confidence and longevity. He calls his System Calasanz Physical Arts.
Renowned as a hero in his native Dominican Republic, and star of the movie Crossing the Line, Calasanz firmly believes we all have the power to transform our lives, if we’re willing to commit ourselves to the process.
“My system,” Calasanz explains, “has the unique ability to allow anyone, of any age, who has the determination and the desire, to become a martial artist and to transform his or her life.”
Imagine a complete circle represents all there is to know and master in the martial arts. The circle pictured represents all that Calasanz knows and has studied in the martial arts. Notice the space at the top; this space represents what he does not know. There is always room for improvement and new things to learn. Therefore, the circle will get closer and closer, but never become complete. The quest to become such a well-balanced martial artist for Calasanz is multi-faceted and has been a result of environmental factors and natural innate abilities.
The act of doing martial arts requires a high degree of athleticism and a knack for performing in front of people. Calasanz was blessed with both from day 1. Whether he was up first thing in the morning at a young age doing grueling farm work, honing his god-given strength, endurance, and athletic prowess; or singing and dancing for all the people in town by night; it was all the foundation for his life’s work.
Street fighting also prepared him, before he even took a martial arts lesson. Growing up in a 3rd world country like the Dominican Republic, he had no choice but to defend himself, friends, and family against bullies and thugs. After he started martial arts at 15 the fighting didn’t end. He would go to different dojo’s to challenge the best students and would attempt to take on hordes of people with just his nunchucks!
Even when he started martial arts it came very easy to him, he had everything in him he needed athletically, intellectually, and experientially to become one of the world’s most well balanced martial artists. But there are many people, who, in there particular athletic or intellectual line of work who have this potential, but most fail due to lack of drive and poor work ethic to develop their gifts beyond anyone else, but not Calasanz, for the next 30 years of his life, and even up to today he would spend hours training, studying, and teaching martial arts. This is how he has come so close to completing the circle, natural talent and a relentless drive.
Part 2 – The Calasanz System
One can only imagine the information, opinions, and theory’s one man has after hours and hours of study day after day, for years. From his experience and ability, Calasanz was able to take the most useful techniques and attributes from all the martial arts he studied, and combine them together into a unified system, he called this The Calasanz System. This is much like what Bruce Lee did in the 60’s and 70’s, and what MMA does today. The main difference though between Bruce Lee, today’s MMA, and Calasanz, is that Calasanz did not completely discard all the material he thought “useless” as the others have. He understands that he would not have completely understood their “uselessness” had he not tried them, and future students would not be as wholesome as him if they did not get a chance to experiment with the “uselessness”. So in his eyes, these particular techniques and attributes actually do have a use; they have the ability to make the student a more wholesome, well-rounded martial artist.
So there is, in a sense 2 parts of The Calasanz system 1) The combined, blended, unified system of karate, wing chun, boxing, kickboxing, ground fighting, and physical arts consisting of only the techniques and attributes that work. 2) The complete versions of all the arts that make up The Calasanz System, other martial arts, and supplementary exercise systems. Part 2 focuses on The Calasanz System.
The Calasanz System is a system of martial arts techniques and exercises that prepare the body and the person to defend themselves against violence, whether controlled (combat sports) or uncontrolled (abusive attack, self defense, street fight). The system has a track record of teaching beginners a number of techniques that they can use immediately to protect themselves and help them understand the dynamics of a violent acts (controlled or uncontrolled) faster then most martial art in the world.
The system also includes a set of holistic exercises called physical arts that build strength, endurance, flexibility, coordination, balance, body unity, and proper alignment. Many of the physical art exercises are also functional; meaning that a technique is being learned at the same time the person is conditioning his/her body.
Simplicity, power, centerline, interplay of hard and soft, simple blocks, counterstrikes, reactions, bone conditioning, head movement, and physical arts.
Part 3 – Complete Art Systems and other Martial Arts within The Calasanz System
Imagine a circle inside a bigger circle. The inner circle represents the Calasanz System the outer circle is one we’ve spoke of before representing all techniques and knowledge in the martial arts and all exercises systems.
There are parts of the outer circle that exist within the inner circle. And the outer circle contains the arts that Calasanz has mastered: Goju-Ryu Karate and Wing Chun Kung Fu; the arts that he has studied to at least brown belt: aikido, judo, jujitsu, chen chuan long fist; arts that he has studied such as dance, ballet, jazz, and ballroom; combat sports he has competed in and/or trained others in: boxing, kickboxing, MMA, full contact karate, and point fighting; exercise systems he has trained in and taught: aerobics, isometrics, weight lifting, and calisthenics; and all other martial arts and exercise systems he has not trained in and taught, but can see inside of (more on this in Part 4) such as: ninjitsu, yoga, Pilates, tae kwon do, krav maga, northern and southern kung fu’s.
American boxing, American kickboxing, MMA, full Goju, Wing Chun, and Kung Fu forms. Combine the Calasanz System with anything you want, while Calasanz may not agree with your choices he is not the type of teacher to abolish your actions or step in the way of your path, rather he walks on the side and just makes suggestions but lets you chose your own path.
Part 4 – Calasanz
In part 3 it was mentioned that Calasanz could look “inside” martial arts that he has not even studied. This is not as far fetched or egotistical as it might seem with some proper explanation.
Einstein’s Unified equation, thirst for knowledge and natural ability (vertical leap), broken down to the most basic, general rhythms and movements of the body, allows him to see inside technique and body attributes so like a doctor prescribes medicine, Calasanz can prescribe certain techniques to develop, exercises to do, and critiques on performance to enhance any type of martial arts or exercise techniques.
