Yume Dojo Homepage

Glendale, Arizona

Welcome to Yume Dojo and Shizenryu Jutsu. Thank you for stopping bye and visiting the web site. Please take some time and check out all the information on the web site. We would like to apology for any problems that we may have caused in conjunction with the web site. We have been having some technical issues as well as server changes. The web site was down for a few days and we sincerely apologize for this. The Yume Dojo blog is back up again and is up to date with a bit of a new look.  Some minor additions have been made to other pages as well and new updates will be up shortly. One in particular is a series of Chin Na techniques will be done shortly.  We hope you enjoy your stay here at the Yume Dojo Web Site.

Look for even more updates in the coming weeks!!!!

New Page........As promised, there now is a page dedicated to Basics and Drills of Shizenryu. There have been many requests about our different Drills and now was the time to address this. The Basics and Drills page is now up and running. Photos of several more Drills have been added. Also we have remodeled a few pages and now have a page; About Yume Dojo, which combines the Shizenryu Page, the Sensei's page and the History of Yume Dojo page. Now the three pages are in one page called About Yume Dojo. See the new links at the top of the page.

One Smart Guy............Shihan Scotty Klaff has always been a great student, both in school, high school and in College. Shihan was always very smart and did exceptionally well in college. We were discussing Shizenryu and Shihan Scotty explained this in terms of Homogenous and Heterogeneous mixtures. A homogenous mixture is one where all the ingredients become one. An example of this is ice cream or a milk shake. Ingredients go in, milk, ice cream toppings and mix it up and you have a milk shake. You can not separate the milk from the ice cream once its mixed. A heterogeneous mixture keeps all the ingredients in tact and each ingredient can be pulled out. A great example of this is a salad, even when the salad is tossed, you can still pull the lettuce, tomatoes etc, out of the salad in its original form. Shizenryu is not a style of techniques, rather a system of Concepts and Principles. Shizenryu is a heterogeneous mixture, much like the salad. Shizenryu is a systematic approach to several arts, that focuses on Basics, Drills and Application of these Drills. One can pick out all the components (Arts like Kempo and Jujutsu and styles like Hawaiian Kempo and Goshin Budo Jujutsu) study them and put them back together. There are several different styles of Kempo and Jujutsu in the Shizenryu system. The Basics, Drills and Application of these Drills of each art can be seen and isolated or studied separately. Shihan Scotty's explanation of Shizenryu is really a very intelligent way of looking at various arts, and especially the system of Shizenryu.

We would like to introduce 2 new members of the Yume Dojo Ohana (Family). Meet "Judo Gene" and "Rufus". Judo Gene is the one wearing the Red Gi. Rufus doesn't wear a Gi, but prefers a tee shirt. Both have become favorite practice partners for the students. "Ground and Pound" techniques are done on both of these new partners. However, "Judo Gene" has been taking alot of throws and also, has been the recipient of a bunch of chokes. "Judo Gene' is 100 pounds of dead weight and provides a good partner for taking him to the ground and working both takedowns and techniques on the ground. Both "Judo Gene" and "Rufus" have provided some new training dimensions at Yume Dojo and the students love their new dojo mates!!

The Yume Dojo blog has been a big success and also the Basics and Drills page have been real popular. Visitors have almost doubled since last year, and we want to especially thank our loyal visitors who come on a regular basis to what's new at Yume Dojo.

    We have added an Archive Page for the Yume Dojo Blog. This Archive Page will feature the months of classes after they have been removed from the Yume Dojo Blog Page. The Blog will carry the current month's classes and the previous month to that. The Archive page will keep all those pages not on the Blog page for this year.

     Coming events for the year, will see the Klaff Ohana going back to Hawaii again this year. This time the visit will be back to Kauai and there will be some more photo's for the Gallery and also some new Kata Movements. This trip happens the end of August. In late September, the Sensei and some students of the dojo will be going to Sacramento for Hanshi Bruce Juchniks 'Gathering'. This event brings in some of the top Sensei in the country and even some from out of the Country. One of our favorite Sensei (beside Hanshi Juchnik) Professor Libert O'Sullivan will be attending this year, and we will be spending tons of time picking his brain for this weekend. Here is a link for information about the 'Gathering'  this year.

http://www.collectivesociety.com/gathering.html

Please take some time and take a look at this exciting event. There are plans in the making to have several Professors and Sensei's from Hawaii this year. We are really looking forward to this event.

     We would like to encourage everyone to visit a new and exciting Web Site:

http://www.duarteryu.com

 'Brother' Jon Haupt has opened up a new Dojo in Jacksonville, Florida that teaches the art of Duarte Ryu. This art has its roots in the Dominican Republic and its signature is machete like chopping movements. Duarte Ryu, also know as Dominican Jujitsu, is a unique art form from the Dominican Republic that contains elements of Judo, Jujitsu, Kung Fu, Karate, and Dominican Boxing. The art has its own distinct and unique interpretation of techniques and transitions suited to today's world of modern combat. Sensei Jon trained with the Sensei's from Yume Dojo in a Jujutsu style a few years ago. We wish our 'sister dojo' all the best and are sure they will have great success in the future. Stop by and visit this unique art.

Announcements

• Just Added....June 2008. There are new Kempo Technique, that have just been added. This month the focus will be on Shorinji Kempo techniques and a few American Kenpo techniques. These offer an insight into the Kempo curriculum at Yume Dojo. Click on the Kempo Technique link at the top of the page.

• Just Added....June 2008. The Jujutsu Techniques Page is featuring Torite this time around and hope everyone will gain from these techniques. Click on the Jujutsu Technique link at the top of the page.

• Just Added....June 2008. There are some new Articles on our Articles of Interest page. Be sure and stop by and took a look at some of these new Articles. Click on the Articles of Interest link at the top of the page.

• New Page......The new Basics and Drills page is now available. This page offers photos of many of the Drills done in Shizenryu and also different approaches to Basics. We are very happy to offer this page which has been almost 5 months in the making. Click on the Basics and Drills link at the top of the page.

• Want a new way to learn chokes? Take a look at the Shime waza sets on the Shime Waza or Choke page. You may find a new idea on hot to study your Chokes Click on the Shime Waza/Chokes link at the top of the page.

• Be sure and check out our  Blog, a daily Journal of what goes on in the dojo on the training floor. We have had some requests for this and are now making this information available. We have now added a Blog Archive for the previous classes not on the Yume Dojo Blog any longer. The Yume Dojo Blog features the current month and the one previous.  Be sure and stop by and take a look at this new additions to the Yume Dojo Web Site. Click on the Yume Dojo Blog and the Blog Archive links at the top of the page.

•   We are excited to announce a new page on the Yume Dojo web site. We are introducing a Martial Movements page. This page will focus on Movement based in Forms/Kata and in isolating Movement in technique. The page will not be technique oriented but based on Movement, which is one common link to all arts, as they all incorporate some type of Movement. These Movements will be looked at, defined, interpreted and applied. We are very excited to add this dimension to the Yume Dojo web site. The first group of pictures were done in a lava field in Hawaii and also applied in the dojo. Aside form being unique, there is alot of information on this page. Click on the Martial Movement link at the top of the page.

• Please take a moment and visit this web site: http://www.karateconnection.com/index.html . Grandmaster Sullivan has written some interesting articles that we feel are of interest to the Martial Arts community. Those who have not been to his web site may have missed some of these articles. So we will be reproducing these articles in the full version that Grandmaster Sullivan has written them. We are very excited to be able to share some of Grandmaster Sullivan's work with the Martial Arts community. Yume Dojo has great respect for Grandmaster Sullivan and feel others will as well once they read his valuable articles. The first one, Then and Now, is now available. This has a couple of great photos as well. Another Article on how to build your own "Training Dummy" is now available as well. Check back soon to see more of these articles.

• Also check out http://www.collectivesociety.com/gathering.html. This is the web site for the Martial Arts Collective Society and a flyer for the Gathering Event in September

• It was testing time at the Dojo and everyone is studying hard for their test. Congratulations to Chris Wilk and Mat Gipson on their promotions.

"The Winds of Change are Blowing Through Yume Dojo"

     Through the years Yume Dojo has been associated with many different styles and many different Sensei and several Organizations and Associations. It has reached a time where we no longer feel the need to belong to Associations/Organizations or being under the rule of another Sensei. We have made the decision to re-dedicate our efforts to Yume Dojo. This will include re-emphasizing our roots, and specialize in the training at Yume Dojo, rather than all the outside distractions and influences. The Yume Dojo Web Site has been remodeled and will focus on training and preserving the arts that have been passed down to the Sensei of Yume Dojo. We want to thank everyone who has supported us in the past, and hope they will continue to support us in the future. All the pages on the site will undergo some changes and some may be eliminated. Yume Dojo will continue to grow, and continue to evolve, but now will be under the guidance of the Sensei of Yume Dojo. There will be some new features as well and are hoping to have some guests write some articles but also share training ideas. Sensei will still be invited to come to the dojo and share their information and their art, however the days of belonging to organizations and associations are over for Yume Dojo. There are more items that have been added to this page, and the others as well, with more and more coming. Please stop back by as we are planning a web site dedicated to training, and explanation of the arts. We hope to keep everyone interested in Yume Dojo.

Back to the Roots

     As mentioned, Yume Dojo is returning to its roots. When telling someone this, their reply was "What are you going teach now?" I obviously didn't get my point across and realized that maybe there needs to be an explanation of what this means, 'returning to the roots'. Its not a question of what is being taught, rather how its being taught.. I felt now may be a good time to address this.

     In 'returning to the roots', its not a question of going back and teaching old material instead of new material. Rather the approach,  and the process of learning. Material is material, its how one teaches, spreads and applies this material that makes an art different, or special. Everyone thinks their particular arts are special, I do, but also understand its how to transmit this information that is important.. Physically speaking, there will be no difference in the material taught at Yume Dojo, rather the approach and the process of how its taught.. When we first start training, or teaching, training, being on the mat, is the top priority. Very little time is spent on politics, relationships, organizations etc, the focus (Kime) is training. Getting time on the mat to better ourselves, for whatever reason one chooses to do this. This is one aspect of 'returning to the roots', a focus on just training, understanding why we do something or how it works versus just copying something. Basically, to approach training as a beginner, wide eyed and open for all knowledge that can be received. Many times we learn something early on, and as we advance put this knowledge in the back of our minds or sometimes forget it. How many times during practice has there been the moment that you realize you haven't done a technique or movement in years. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to re-visit what I have done in the past, and apply the knowledge and approach of what I have learned in the past several years to this. I feel I have come almost full circle in my training and am ready for the second time around. This time I can apply recent knowledge of Concepts, Principles and Advanced Theories to my basic knowledge. This time I will be better prepared for the second journey down the path of knowledge.

     There is another side of 'returning to the roots'. Along the road there are many stumbling blocks and distractions that keep us from obtaining our goals and veer us off the path of self-improvement.. This has more to do with respect, integrity and doing the right thing. Many times things come along that can take us on a different path, sometime the path leads back others times not.. It seems integrity has been overlooked, and motives, and agendas have become more important.. There are many factors that can cause this. One in particular is the need to be important.. In the early days the Masters were few and the students were more plentiful. Everyone sought out the Master to help them along their chosen path. Today everyone is a Master or wants to be. Essentially, there are more Chiefs and not enough Indians. The fact that more and more people are training, and as time keeps going by, there are more Instructors. However its sometimes the agenda of these instructors, or the agenda of the student that takes precedent.. Another reason for this is rank, everyone wants it, the more you get, the more you want. Many unscrupulous things are done to get the rank, including paying for rank, or compromising your training for it.. This happens many times as a school will need to keep the students, and will use rank as a means to keep the student.. Instead of teaching integrity, respect, and spirit, the Instructor gives out techniques and rank.

     There are people who now use the term Original in front of the their style. There are usually referring to the spirit of the art, not the techniques of the art.. A great example of this is Grandmaster Chuck Sullivan and Grand Master Dave Hebler, both from American Kenpo and students of Ed Parker. They typify the spirit of Ed parker and American Kenpo. Grandmaster Eugene Sedeno from Kajukembo and Shaolin Kenpo is another great example of the spirit of early Hawaiian Kempo. All these men represent the great things about the art, not the techniques, but the spirit of the art, the integrity and the respect that has been implanted in them. For, me it was my Okinawan Karate Sensie, Soke John Simmons. Soke had no agenda, he taught each student as an individual giving them the opportunity to self improve, and become better people and hopefully  better Martial Artists. Soke Simmons never wavered, he had to overcome the loss of students, the loss of 2 dojos by fire, and health issues, but never changed, never changed his approach and his faith in his students, even when they left. He never had a bad word to say to anyone. This is the true spirit of an art, a style and a teacher.

     So it is here also that Yume Dojo is 'returning to the roots', to focus on training students to be good Martial Artists, but better people. To devote time to training without ego, agenda, and attention to things like rank, title or becoming the next Bruce Lee. I would love to see this happen throughout the martial arts world, to regain the spirit of what we do, the integrity of what we do, for the right reasons and to pass this along to the next generation. This is what Yume Dojo has done by 're-dedicating itself to its roots'.

     The Jujutsu curriculum is a varied and very strong part of Yume Dojo. There are 5 styles of Jujutsu studied and all are practically applied, yet done in a manner that utilizes Natural Body movements to make the Jujutsu techniques extremely efficient. Goshin Budo Jujutsu makes up the base of the Jujutsu curriculum, however Torite Jutsu, Sanuces Ryu Jujutsu, Hawaiian Jujutsu and even Eagle Claw Chin Na is in the curriculum. Yume Dojo was made aware of the old Hookers and Shooters of the early days of wrestling and have added several 'Hooks' to the curriculum, both with the legs and arms. Ne Waza or Groundwork is a very important part of the Jujutsu curriculum. Sambo, a Russian version of Ground Work is also done at the Dojo. The Sensei's are currently working on adding some old Judo techniques to incorporate with the existing curriculum. This is an overview of Shizenryu Jutsu, techniques, Concepts and Principles will also be looked at on the web site.

     Some new changes will include 'going back to the roots' of training and focusing on training and not outside influences. Having said that, there are two types of student programs at Yume Dojo. Below supplies a description of these types of students and their curriculum.

Level  I and Level II Students

      Yume Dojo employs a two tier system in training their students. Level 1 students learn the entire curriculum, but are only interested in the art itself. Mainly a person interested in casual training and not delving into the deeper aspects of the art. There are ranks in both Level 1 and Level 2, and the student can reach Black Belt in either level. However, a Level 1 Black belt will not receive a Teaching License. The Level 1 students learn all basics, and learn how to use their basics, with proficiency being the top goal. Once having mastered the basics, learned all the techniques within the art and an understanding of how the art works, they will receive their Black Belts.

      Level 2 students will learn the inner workings of the art. This is known as the Inner Circle of Yume Dojo. These students will learn what drives the art, the concepts, theories, strategies, principles and tenants of the art. This student will be responsible for passing along the art, and sharing the transmission of information to other students. Those in Level 2 will also be the teachers of the future, though they need not own their own school, but must be able to verbally pass on the knowledge shared with them. Okuden, or the hidden, or non-verbal transmission of the art will also be taught to those at this level.

     Students will be invited into the Inner Circle of Yume Dojo only after they have shown their willingness to live the "Way of a Martial Artist". Students who want just casual training, or show no interest in the inner workings or the art, can still train and learn the arts of Shizenryu, however will not be expected to teach and pass along the arts. This way, expectations of the student is defined and the student is given what he wants from the training. Not all students are meant to be Sensei, nor do all want to, this 2 tier systems takes this into account. Level 2 is not for everyone, but that is the point.