Ihor Rymaruk Interview

Guest Interview with Master Ihor Rymaruk

I really believe the Marital Arts today lack good role models. Your books and teaching are an excellent example on what true Marital Arts is all about. I hope the article influences Martial Artist in a positive way.

Philip Sensei, thank you for the opportunity for this interview.

I have a small dojo in numbers of students, but I do have some very good practitioners, and I pride myself in providing no-nonsense quality instruction. I have tried to bring back to my little community, what I did not have when I was growing up in it. I opened the first school in Amsterdam, NY back in May of 1974. Since then, we have had many studios come and go. Those looking for a quick fortune always moved on. It is all about advertising, marketing and selling the sizzle, to bring in new students. The fact is that very few students ever do any real research, as to the quality of a teacher or school. If they did, there would be many fewer schools still open. Today, I may have a small dojo, but I am able to reach students and teachers that are interested in furthering their knowledge base. The hope is to influence the martial arts community to look to the future through the past.

What is some of your personal information? For example: Are you married? How many children do you have? I know they train in Karate from your books. If you want to elaborate on anything in regard to that, it would be great. Do you do anything other than Marital Arts for a living?

I have been married to my wonderful wife, Linda, for over 25 years. She is an intermediate art teacher. We have a daughter, Jennifer, who earned a green belt in Uechi-Ryu. She does excellent creative photography. She designed the entire front cover and the back jacket for my DVD. Jennifer took the cover photo for the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, vol. 16 #4, and the photos on the inside that accompanied the article. Our son, Justin has a 2^nd degree black belt in UechiRyu Karate, and is beginning to take a more active roll in teaching at the school. He also appeared in my book and is my partner/demonstrator in the recent Journal article, “Defending to The Four Directions”.

A little background on Uechi-ryu. What do you think makes the style so effective? How long have you been training?

Well, the best place to learn about the art of Uechi-Ryu is to simply go to my web site at http://www.uechiryu-karate.com, or get the book “Karate A Master’s Secrets of Uechi-Ryu.” My martial arts career started back in 1963. That is why I joined the Marine Corps; I thought I could get stationed on Okinawa and train at a real dojo. Well, I did get to Okinawa, but my dojo stay was very short. The jungles of Viet Nam became my dojo. Since then, I have practiced and taught other martial arts. I enjoyed my martial arts experiences a great deal, and have done a lot of reading and researching. But, being the proverbial “Jack of All Trades” left me with the feeling that I was missing something. I realized that I needed to make a choice. That is, pick a style and really learn it. On Okinawa, there is a saying “A hunter who chases two rabbits gets none.” On a training visit to study at Master Kanel Uechi’s dojo, I discovered the key that would lead me to exclusively concentrate on studying Uechi-Ryu. One of the first things that is very obvious is the number of senior students still training. They were strong, smooth, and technically more effective than the younger karate-ka. I could see that my practice and training would only end if I choose to stop, not because the style is for the young only. Uechi-Ryu’s approach is very natural, and its foundation exercises are practical and very effective, and the style continues to work with maturing practitioners. Uechi-Ryu is my core style, the heart, soul, and root on which I base my research when doing comparisons or practicing drills or techniques from various disciplines. All the various martial arts have much in common, but that does not mean that there are no stark or subtle differences, there are.

Back to your experience in Okinawa - when was the first time, and last time, you went. What were the major changes if any? Who, and where, do you train when you are there? What are the dojo’s like, the people? What do you feel is the main difference between the US and Okinawa?

My first trip to Okinawa was courtesy of the United States Marine Corps in 1966. It was a great trip, and experience that can only be enjoyed by members of the armed services. In the war years, Okinawa was a US protectorate. The US dollar was in use, and you drove on the right side of the road. Night spots/strips were better than Las Vegas entertainment. Today, Okinawa is a Japanese state. Everything is different. From the use of the yen, to driving on the left, to all the night spots rolled up and the lights turned off, to signs in shops - NO AMERICANS OR NO SERVICE MEN. The hustle and bustle of the 1960-80’s is gone, and Okinawa has been turned into a modern tourist destination for the main land, and for martial arts enthusiast from around the world. Today, students can study their Okinawan style at a state sponsored martial arts pavilion and cultural center. Commercial dojos are not of the norm, so when students traveled to Okinawa, they may find that their teacher only taught once or twice a week. Now with the state sponsored martial arts pavilion offering a course curriculum of all the major styles of Okinawan karate, a student can train everyday, and also learn much about the rich history and culture, or the island and its people they are visiting. I made several trips to Okinawa as a civilian for karate training. I trained in three different styles over the years on Okinawa: Okinawan Kempo, Shorin-Ryu and Uechi-Ryu, with visits to Goju-Ryu dojo too. The people of Okinawa are very hard working and live a very health life style as proved by their longevity. My core style is Uechi-Ryu, which I have been focusing on since 1971. My last visit to Okinawa was in 1987. I trained at Master Uechi’s Dojo and also at other Uechi-Ryu dojo on Okinawa. When I trained on Okinawa, we were worked hard, no air conditioning, and the classes were two hours. There was great respect for the Master of the dojo, and insurance was not an issue. Karate is a contact activity at times, and accidents did happen; but the dojo would not be sued out of business and the teacher put into poverty. When not training and resting, there were great beaches to visit and snorkeling is fantastic. And if you really want to be awed, visit the castles on Okinawa. You will walk away very impressed. Unbelievable stone works and engineering that will have you asking, “How did they ever do that”.

You have been training and teaching for a long time. What still motivates you to train and teach? Do you have a personal workout routine that you follow? Do you do any supplement training, such as weights or jogging, in addition to your Karate?

As I have said, my karate training started in 1963. I was in charge of training US Marines in Quantico, VA hand to hand combat techniques in 1968. I opened my first dojo in 1974. I taught at local community colleges, local police, and special self-defense classes at public and private schools. Also, I have had my own TV show on our local cable network called “Uechi’s Karate Art Health and Self-Defense”. My motivation for teaching comes from students that have a desire to learn how to better themselves through the martial arts.

I do not have a personal workout routine. I do not keep anything from my students. My personal workout is right along with my class. What I need to work on, we all work on. I do weapons kata/forms that I continue to train, in which only a few students take advantage of after the main class is dismissed. No extra costs. Time is at a premium for everyone, so it’s understandable why most students chose not to practice the bo, or sal, etc., which is considered not very practical in today’s world. I do not go jogging, and I do not have a normal weight lifting schedule. When I finish my karate work out, there is not much left. If there was, then I did not work hard enough.

What do you consider Traditional Martial Arts?

Today there is not much value in the term “Traditional Martial Arts”, especially when it is posted on the advertising marquee. The term is supposed to imply that the art is very old, and has met the test of time. However, it does not take much research to discover that for the most part, there really has not been too many years, and in some cases, only days have passed since “this tradition” has been instituted, and will change tomorrow without notice. So, is traditional something with a history of 50+ years, or 100+ years etc. and, what was the foundation that this traditional art was based on? Yes, I believe there are “Traditional Martial Arts”, but for the most part, they are the exceptions, and do not need to boost of their longevity. It would be much more honest to call it what it is, a martial arts school.

What are your feelings on Mixed Marital Arts? Do you think it is good for Martial Arts or do you think it has a negative effect?

Mixed martial arts were practiced in the streets of every city around the world, since the beginning of time. Fighting without rules, and the last man alive was the winner. Over the years, specialties were developed to counter other specialties. This led to a host of styles that revolved around their strong points. Today, we are going full circle and throwing all these specialties into a pot and seeing who walks away. Today’s Mix Martial Arts’ are the Gladiators of Rome. They train to put on a show of skill and guts between individual competitors. As we have seen, the longer the games go on, the more the competitors look the same, that is, they beef up, they punch, kick, slam, twist and choke each other into submission or knock out. There is no question, that these modern day Gladiators are excellent human fighting machines, in their arena. So, we are like Romans going to the Coliseum, to let others bleed for our entertainment. This is nothing new, and it will not affect the local karate schools that are providing a service to their community in teaching practical self—defense skills.

What do you feel is the most important quality of a Marital Arts Student, and a Marital Arts Instructor?

Successful students and instructors are measured by their dedication and perseverance, with their primary goal being self perfection. To one day have the unselfish desire to share their accumulated knowledge for the good of the next generation.

Your book is one of the most comprehensive works on Martial Arts. How long did it take you to write it, and can you give an explanation on what you wanted to accomplish with your work?

Thank you for your flattering remarks. My book, “Karate A Master’s Secrets of Uechi-Ryu” is a book that I would have loved to have had twenty or thirty years ago, no matter what style I was practicing. If that was my starting point, I certainly would have been a more knowledgeable karate-ka much sooner. When I am asked “how long did it take you to write this book” the answer is simple - four years. But it would never have happened without the thirty years that led up to it. The primary goal was to give students information that they were probably not getting from their teacher, for whatever reason. Also, to be comprehensive enough to be able to stand on its own, for the individual that is doing independent self-training. And as the style grows in the number of teachers and schools, it is important to put thought, practice and theory into print. That is, a text book that would set minimum standards for understanding the teachings of the style of Uechi-Ryu. This book can be used as a standard by which instructors teach their students. A text book is necessary for maintaining a consistent and uniform base of knowledge that would be passed onto future generations.

There may always be something that could be improved on or tweaked, but it will be a tall order for the next author to make this whole book better. I only hope that it will be done in my life time, so that I could see the effects of my influences.

How has Martial Arts effected your life outside the Dojo?

It has been a way of life for me. I enjoy learning, the more I teach, the more I learn. I meet people that I would never have met. And I have had the opportunity to help many students of all walks of life to discover that they can make a difference for themselves. “Home land security starts at home”, so ultimately you are responsible for your own safety and well being. Now these students can come to the aid of others. And the best part is so many students have become friendly faces that I see regularly in the community.

Could you tell us a little about your Dojo? What are your goals, as far as being the instructor? Do you teach both children and adults? Do you have woman in your Dojo? Who is your senior grade student? How long has he or she been with you?

I have been told that I have a very interesting old-time dojo that you would expect to see on Okinawa. It is not covered with mats and all the other bells and whistles found in most of your commercial schools around the country. Today, I teach with the same passion that I taught with when I first started teaching. However, I am much more compassionate and knowledgeable. My goal today is the same as it always has been, to produce students that will be much more capable and knowledgeable, than I was at their stage. The more they know, the more they will realize that there is more to learn. My most senior students have been with me for over 30 years. I teach in a group class environment, family style. I will not take a student that is younger than 6 years old, and my preference is to start them at 7 years old; that is were the parent will get the best value for their dollar. And yes, I do have some very capable women karate-ka at my dojo that would make any sensei proud.

What is your favorite book, Martial Arts or other?

My all time favorite book that I recommend to my students is “ AKIDO and The Dynamic Sphere” by A. Westbrook and 0. Ratti. “The Bible of KARATE BUBISHI” by Patrick McMarthy and “REMAINS Stories of Vietnam” by William Crapser.

Do you have any hobbies outside of Karate?

I am an artistic photographer and have won several awards in local art shows. I also enjoy going to the shooting range firing long and short arms. I also enjoy doing home improvement projects.

Philip Sensei, It is my pleasure to be a part of your quest in helping to inform the martial community.

I Thank You,
Ihor Rymaruk, Kyoshi, Uechi-Ryu