Golden Martial Art Lessons

Mr. Karate

Richard Smith began training in Jiu-Jitsu in high school in the 1950s to be able to better defend himself. Since then, he’s been dedicated to martial arts, and was recently promoted to 10th degree black belt in Shorin Ryu Karate.

“My dad was in sales so I moved through different schools,” Smith, 76, said. “In those days, they’d beat you up. I thought I better do something.”

The black belt or “dan” system is distinctly Japanese, but it has been adopted by many other martial arts styles. Ranks are indicated by belt color or by stripes on the belt

A dan-ranked practitioner of a certain style of martial art is usually recognized as a martial artist who has surpassed the basic ranks. They may also become a licensed instructor in their art. The total number of dan ranks is style-specific. First through fifth and first through 10th are common in Japanese arts. The lower dan grades can normally be attained through an examination or sometimes through competition. The higher dan grades usually require years of experience and contribution to the relevant martial art.

“I have all the certifications and they’re all from Japan, written all in Japanese,” Smith said. “It’s something to be able to go up that high. It’s really something. I was very fortunate.”

Smith, who graduated from Henry Sibley High School in 1954 and has lived in Cottage Grove since 1958, earned his first black belt or dan in Okinawa, Japan in 1971, under the tutelage of Master Miiyahira K. Katsu Chika in Shorin Ryu Karate.

Since then, he has made his living instructing martial arts, training thousands of people.

He has been on the faculty of four different colleges and universities over the past 38 years, training self-defense. He taught at Concordia University and Golden Valley Lutheran College and more recently at Inver Hills Community College and Century Community College.

Smith said he has also trained individuals or departments at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Minnesota State Attorney’s General Office the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Internal Revenue Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration as well as numerous Sheriff departments and Police departments. He has also competed in and been a promoter of national tournaments.

“I’ve been very lucky,” Smith said. “I would run a number of courses at Century. You give people a new start in life — clean living, respect, good sportsmanship — that’s all part of the martial arts.

Self-Defense Clinic Preview

Jordan Anderson and Zac Marion will be the instructors for the Self Defense Clinic held Tuesday June 28, 2011 . They have had extensive training in various forms of martial arts and have designed this clinic to specifically help runners and athletes learn how to protect themselves if ever they needed to. The class will last about an hour. The first part of the class will feature tips on how to avoid situations where martial arts may be needed. Second, the instructors will teach defusing techniques which will help to alleviate the pressure of the situation, and prevent the situation from escalating. Finally, Jordan and Zac will demonstrate how to handle an attack by performing various moves to be used in self defense.  This class is sure to provide very valuable information and also help to teach people skills which could save their lives.There are two classes, one at noon and one at 7:00 p.m. at the 700 East location. Bring a friend or two!

Instructor Bios:

Jordan Anderson first learned martial arts when he was a young kid, taking his first karate classes when he was 7 years old.  He took a break from the sport and decided to revisit it when he was in middle school and was the subject of ridicule and bullying.  He took up wrestling to learn discipline and technique and to improve his confidence in protecting himself.  After middle school, he lived in Indiana, Oregon and Arizona and joined Mixed Martial Arts gyms everywhere he ended up.  It was at these various gyms where he fine-tuned his karate, Muay Thai, boxing and Brazillian Jiu Jitsu skills.  Jordan also trained with a golden gloves boxer in Cincinati and has coached alongside an olympic wrestler.

Zac Marion has a combined education of 10 yrs of training in multiple disciplines (Krav Maga, Brazilian Jui Jitsu, Kickboxing and Karate). He studied Krav Maga under Mitch Markowitz in Orange County California at the age 10 and Karate under Sensei Yamamoto during the same time. He Studied Brazilian Jui Jitsu and Kickboxing under Black Belt Aldo Oreggia in Layton, Utah beginning in 2002. Continued training with Jeremy Horn in West Jordan, Utah. He was an amateur Mixed Martial Arts Fighter (1,1) at the age of 18 and has taught self defense with Aldo during training for 2 yrs. Some of his achievements include an Orange Belt in Krav Maga (1998), Yellow Belt in Karate (1998) and Purple Belt in BJJ under Aldo Oreggia (2006).

Dubai, The Complete Residents' Guide

Black Belt

Black Belt

Black Belt

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