Robert Rowley, Yondan
Head Instructor: Medford, New York

Rolf Mahler, Shodan
Instructor

Robert Rowley has been a martial arts practitioner for over 18 years. Starting out as a child, he began studying Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate. Following his graduation of High School in Bellport, Long Island, he enlisted in the United States Navy which took him to Southern California. In California he began the study of Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu, Shorinkan under the instruction of Nabil Noujaim, Rokudan. It was under Renshi Noujaim that Sensei Rowley earned his Yondan (4th degree black belt) in Karate, and very recently, he earned his Nidan in Kobudo (Okinawan weaponry). Sensei Rowley had tested for his Nidan in Okinawa under the supervision of Hanshi Shuguro Nakazato.

A typical class with Sensei Rowley consists of basic warm-ups (ie: stretching, push-ups sit-ups, etc), and may also include kicking drills, kata training, yakazoku kumite (literally "promised sparring"), self-defense techniques, jujitsu techniques, and applications of kata (bunkai). Classes are structured by age, with under 10 years old in one class, 10 - 14 years old in another, 15 - 17 years old in yet a separate class, and adults over 18 years old training together in a fourth class. Aside from general karate and martial arts training, there are specific classes in kobudo (Okinawan weaponry) and kumite (sparring), where protective gear is worn and students or karateka are allowed to fight with light contact to one another.

A typical one hour class in our dojo would be as follows:

• 10 - 15 minutes: Stretching/warm-ups/strength training (push-ups and situps)
  
• 2 minute break
  
• 10 - 15 minutes: Kihons or basic karate techniques
  Includes punching and blocking exercises, kicking exercises, or defined kihons (kihon ippon, kihon nihon, kihon sanbon) which are part of the foundation of our karate training
  
• 2 minute break
  
• 15 - 20 minutes: Kata training
  Depending on the level of the students in the class, we start from our lowest kata and work our way up to our highest kata (Gojushiho). Those students who do not know as many kata go as high as possible, then will be taken aside and they will practice their highest forms. This is usually under the supervision of one of the highest ranking students in the class at that time period.
  
• 2 minute break
  
• 15 - 20 minutes: Self-defense instruction (ie: defense against different attacks or situations)
  
  

NOTE: It is very important to capture and maintain the interest of your students regardless of age. This is the key to being a successful martial arts instructor. If you can get your students interested in what you are doing, and are excited about training yourself, then your students will do the same. Your students are a reflection of yourself, and if you are lifeless or tired, it will be reflected by your students and their training will suffer. If you have something planned for the day, and it is not well received by your students, be sure to have a backup plan. Be able to change up the routine at a moments notice, and keep your students constantly on their toes. This will lead to more productive students, better classes, and less student turnover!


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