Youth Teaching Tips: Forms

Chon-Ji Form Demonstration

During the time I have been in Karate, I have always learned a form. Whenever I went to a school, they always had me learn a kata. It usually was something short, since I didn’t just start at black belt.

When I started to teach, I would teach students who had a better sense of how to do the form then me.

They could really snap well, and their stances were great. When I started to get better, I would teach newer students. They could pick up very fast. The only thing that worried me was their technique. I would sometimes get frustrated and I wouldn’t know what to tell them.

I forgot to keep in mind that, even though their technique might have been terrible, they were still brand new. I later learned that, and I became more patient. I made sure that I taught how to do the form slower. The students were able to do well, just as long as I made sure they practiced!

—Bilana (Gen-Ki Evanston Youth Leader)

Tribute to Sensei Zachary "Zach" Bradley

After volunteering his martial arts expertise to the north Evanston community for almost 20 years, Sensei Zachary Bradley passed away in fall of 2013. He taught many people over this span of time. He was a quiet man, never seeking the spotlight.

Out of all the self-defense techniques, forms and drills, the most important thing he taught was to be respectful and open-minded to all and any styles of martial arts. Sensei Zachary Bradley was a unique Karate teacher in that he was also a Hapkido and Taekwondo master. One would always hear him use Japanese terms for techniques, while teaching the traditional "old style" Taekwondo forms (hyung).

In the video above, one of Sensei Zach Bradley's long-time students, Michael, explain what it was like being a student. This interview was made in 2011.

Sensei Zach Bradley also desired to see women excel in martial arts. This video from 2011 demonstrates that desire in how he corrected one of his younger high-rank students. If you were a student, please let your voice be heard in the comments section below.

Taekwondo Instructor Jin Kang from Baek's Tiger Martial Arts (Skokie) as guest teacher on Sept. 17

Instructor Jin will be our special guest Sept. 17

Although he holds a 4th degree black belt in Karate under the Gen-Ki Karate schools, not many people know that our sensei, Zachary Bradley hold black belt degrees in Taekwondo and Hapkido. He studied under Master Bong Su Young of the Chicago Mudo Center in the early 1970's.

Suffice it to say, Sensei Zachary Bradly holds a special place in his heart for the Korean martial arts. So our upcoming guest teacher, Instructor Jin Kang of Baek's Tiger Martial Arts in Skokie will especially be at home.

Instructor Jin holds a 4th degree black belt in Taekwondo and Hapkido. He is a student under Master Baek and the manager of BTMA operations. He has honored us by accepting Sensei Zachary's invitation to teach our beginner and advanced classes. He is from a Skokie Taekwondo school that also serves students of all ages. So he'll have everyone fully engaged in the unique style of this very popular martial art.

He has honored us with teaching both the youth and adult classes on Saturday, Sept. 17. We really look forward to this event.

Guest Teacher Sensei Arthur Benjamin from Aikido of Evanston Aug. 6

Photo: Aikido of Evanston

Sensei Zachary Bradley is known to his students for never putting down any other martial arts forms or their teachers. In fact, as evident by the constant presence of guest teacher Sifu Leonard Woodson, we get plenty of training in various Chinese methods. He always encourages his students to take all they can learn and learn something new every day.

On August 6th, we'll get taste of the "Art of Harmony" known in Japanese as Aikido. Our guest teacher, Sensei Arthur Benjamin of from Aikido of Evanston is scheduled to lead a special class for our advanced/adult students (noon). Sensei Benjamin holds a 6th degree black belt in Aikido and has been studying the form since the 1970's.

We thank Sensei Benjamin for accepting to share Aikido with our humble Karate dojo.

Extend Those Kicks

Our sensei, Zachary Bradley is keen to remind the students about the need to relax your muscles until the point of impact. This video from the Norway National Taekwondo illustrates the effectiveness of such a concept.