I had learned from Mr. Miyagi not to be disappointed because students quit and some do so quickly. He was absolutely right when he said some are not meant to practice karate, because of the strict discipline and its demands. Learning is more than mere repetition of movements. There is a joining and maturing of the body, mind and spirit, and it takes the combined elements of all three to be a true practitioner of the art. The skills and discipline are much more than physical exercise. One can exercise by weight lifting or running. Yet even to do those things correctly and regularly requires discipline and spirit. Learning karate, or any martial art, requires a commitment of complete focus to master even the basics, because the basics are the building blocks for what must be accomplished on the road ahead.

- Jim Lilley, Mr. Miyagi and Me

Lilley Sensei is a 9th dan in Shorin Ryu, and an old friend of Ju-Jitsu Dojo of Columbia. The book is a tribute to his teacher of many decades.

JJDC on 01.26.13 @ 05:41 PM ET   [ link ] [ 0 comments ]

As hard as it may be to believe, this story is 100% true. It teaches that sometimes improbable coincidences do happen, the power of ju-jitsu as a martial art - and the excellence of the training we get at Ju-Jitsu Dojo of Columbia.

I've been training at the dojo since it opened in 1990; this happened about two years after that. I'm also visually impaired - totally blind.

I'd just come home from a vacation visiting my mom, and decided to order a pizza. I called Domino's, ordered a pizza, and waited for it to arrive.    >>> read more 

JJDC on 01.17.13 @ 10:05 PM ET    [ 0 comments ]

Former dojo member (nikkyu in 1999) Shawn Belton becomes Fire Marshal for Baltimore City on 14 January 2013. He's been with the Baltimore City Fire Department for 19 years, and his current duties include overall responsibility for the enforcement of the Fire, Building, and Life Safety Codes; fire investigations; and reviewing overall building plans for compliance with the Fire, Building, and Life Safety Codes.

In addition to being a doting father and grandfather, Shawn has also been busy with plenty of other things. He earned his MS in 2011, and is starting the final year of the U.S. Fire Administration's four-year Executive Fire Officer Program. (The USFA is under FEMA.)

Congrats, Shawn!

JJDC on 01.12.13 @ 04:20 PM ET   [ link ] [ 0 comments ]

Found out yesterday that one of our long-time members passed away a few months ago. He got his nikkyu with us in June 2000, then life got in the way. We last saw him a few years later, at the dojo's 15th anniversary potluck in 2005, but pretty much fell out of touch after that.

Steve was a great guy, and we'll miss him. More after the jump.    >>> read more 

JJDC on 01.05.13 @ 03:09 PM ET    [ 0 comments ]

Happy new year!

We'd like to announce something that's been in the works for a little while - the "group of martial arts friends". Aikido dojo Red Fern Budokai and we have been "friends" - both the schools and our students - for almost five years. Establishing Budo Tomo No Kai allows us to form a closer association between our two established, traditional schools, and we look forward to many more years of working with each other.

We're hoping to bring others into our association as well - if you are an established martial arts instructor looking for a home, or know of someone who is, please get in touch!

JJDC on 01.01.13 @ 05:24 PM ET   [ link ] [ 0 comments ]