Hui Yang (Travel Liaison, 2019-2020, and member since Fall 2018)
I experienced a feeling of deja vu when I first joined the JKA Karate Club of GWU. Every time I came to practice was like meeting a dear old friend. Sensei Haramoto teaches us not only the art of self defense, but also the true meaning of life. Senior members are always welcoming, inspiring, and always willing to offer their wisdom and assistance. It feels like a big family where students come from different countries with different backgrounds and cultures. The process of practice moves in an ascending spiral and is always accompanied by sweat and pain, but also laughter and joyfulness. I know every effort is worth it as I become better and better. I also find myself becoming more energetic, creative, and self-disciplined when I return to work after practice. I am very thankful to be a part of the JKA Karate Club of GWU and I hope practicing karate can become a permanent part of my life.
Arman Salmasi (Club Secretary 2018-2019 and member, Fall 2017 - Fall 2019)
I joined the Japanese Karate Association of The George Washington University towards the end of my autumn 2017 semester. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that joining this club was one of the best life decisions I ever made. From the first moment I entered the room, seeing everyone performing their respective katas (karate forms), I was simply drawn to the club right away. The idea of "seeking promotion of one's character" which we recite at the end of each practice is something that I personally have always tried to uphold throughout the course of my life. Aside from the good values that the instructors instill upon us, another great aspect of the club are the people. Our club has some of the kindest, most hardworking, and loyal group of individuals who I now proudly call my friends. Before doing karate, I did Tae Kwon Do for about ten years during my early childhood at an institution now called Choi's Martial Arts in Frederick, Maryland. The main difference between my past Tae Kwon Do experience and our Karate club is that our club feels like one giant family. Each practice, I put my karate outfit on with great pride knowing that both the instructors and my fellow karate friends are a joy to be around. I recommend to anyone who is looking for both a great workout and an excellent opportunity to meet new people to join this club. I will be graduating in May of 2019 with a Bachelor's of Art in Economics, and I know that joining this club will remain one of the wisest decisions I made at this university.
Shooka Saket (Treasurer, 2018-2019, member since Fall 2017)
SeIf-defense, exercise, mindfulness, friendship - it doesn't matter why you join the JKA Karate Club of GWU, you are almost guaranteed to get more than that out of it. Since I joined the club during the Fall semester of my sophomore year, Sensei Haramoto's practice sessions have been some of the highlights of my weeks. I find myself more energetic and focused after each practice which has tremendously helped me in my academic and personal life. The practice sessions are always serious and tough, but never without light-hearted and fun moments. Sensei Haramoto doesn't hesitate to push his students to their limit, but he does so with care and support. Every member works not only for her or his own success, but also for other members' - a unique unity that is harder to find elsewhere.
Karate teaches you that there is always room for growth, not only in physical strength, but also in kindness, discipline and modesty. I am sincerely thankful to have the honour of being a member of JKA Karate Club of GWU, and cannot recommend it enough for anyone looking to bring more balance to their life.
Tyler Samuels (President, 2017-2018, co-Secretary, 2016-2017, Member, 2015-2016)
During my freshman year at GW I wanted to be involved in a club that I could be proud of. But I just couldn't decide on a club and I ended up not joining any clubs freshman year. Sophomore year I was able to find the JKA Karate Club of GWU online. I decided to go to the next practice and I never regretted it. Karate has taught me more about what it means to disciplined, focused and confident. I have become much more focused towards my academic studies and much more determined when facing adversity. Being in this club also increased my leadership skills. I am currently the President of this club and I have learned how to rally groups together on an idea and learn how to communicate with others in a productive manner. I have been in the JKA Karate Club of GWU for 2 years now it is the best decision I have ever made here at GWU.
Lucy (Huixin) Rao (member, 2016-2018, co-Treasurer, Fall 2017)
I joined JKA Karate Club of GWU with no previous experience in Karate. Learning from Sensei Haramoto helps me grow a lot from the beginning. Not only in technique skills but also built up my body and spirit. Though you can imaging learning process fills up with repeatness, practice is not dull at all. Sensei explained application of each motion vividly, shared karate stories with different application and I can feel the progress of how my body learned bit by bit. In addition, observing the basic technique and kata finished by sensei and advanced members always remind me this is a study with no 'destination'. I always awe by the beauty from the kata finished by advanced members with speed, power and endurance. it really is a learning process with aesthetic combines with power and persistence. Learning new skills and practices hard are not the everything in the club, I met so many interesting students from different major that I won't come across in daily classes. Advanced member are all very friendly and willing to interact and teach me how to perform better in Karate. This is warm community that you will enjoy more than you expected.
Michael Tzeng, President (2014-2015, 2016-2017)
Joining the JKA Karate Club of GWU when I was a freshman was the best decision I made during my time at GWU. The training I experienced with the JKA Karate Club of GWU under Sensei Haramoto pushed me to my limits. I would do my utmost to go to every practice or else I found myself having trouble focusing on school work that night. In 2015, I had a chance to compete at the JKA-WF National and Collegiate Karate Championship Tournament in New Orleans where I took 1st place in Adult Brown Belt Men's Kumite, 2nd place in Adult Brown Belt Men's Kata, and 2nd place in Collegiate Brown Belt Men's Kumite. Competing in New Orleans inspired me to train even harder. Because of my performance at this tournament, during my senior year, I was chosen to compete in Boston, Massachusetts at the U.S. National Team selection competition. Karate has become a huge part of my life. Karate not only helped me do well in school (I received a Senior Design Award for research on a robotic sea lion flipper) but I also made some of the closest friends I had at GWU through the karate club. Michael Tzeng (Class of 2017)
Carl Mackensen, founding President (2002-2005)
In the Fall of 2002, the start of my sophomore year at GWU, I saw a flyer in the gym for those interested in starting a Karate club at the university. I went to the meeting and expressed my interest in Japan and learning Karate to the wonderful Cynthia Lee, a professor at the law school and the faculty advisor for the club, herself a black belt. We began the club that semester, with the great Kenichi Haramoto presiding over the club as our instructor, and I was asked to serve as the student President of the club despite having no previous Karate experience. I did this happily and passionately until my graduation in May of 2005.
I learned so much from Haramoto-sensei, it is difficult to articulate it all. This was not limited to Karate, but included discipline, respect, dedication, perseverance, and awareness, among other things. In large part based on this experience I chose to teach English in Japan as part of the JET program straight out of undergrad, and worked in a small, rural village in Saga, Japan for the next two years, where I continued my study of Karate, and began my study of Japanese and Pottery. Though I am a poor Karate-ka, potter, and Japanese linguist now, I cannot express deeply enough how much these experiences influenced my life. I was so deeply honored to help the club find its footing, and couldn't be happier to see how much the club has grown. I am sure that Haramoto-sensei will guide the club and its members with the same dedication to teaching he showed at the start, and know in my heart that, should I ever find myself in DC for an extended period of time again, I would gladly put on a Gi and tie a white belt if necessary, despite my age, physicality, and habits being so different from when I studied under him previously. Gambatte!
Victoria Chevee, Member 2012-2016, Vice President (2012-2013 and 2015-2016)
Training under Sensei Haramoto is a very precious opportunity for the GW student body. His classes are intense and rigorous as he knows exactly how much to push his students, but Sensei's teachings go beyond the dojo. Going to Karate practices three times a week has taught me to be focused and dedicated in my job, how to keep calm in stressful situations, and how to find balance in my life. I have kept practicing since graduating in 2016 and became an alternate member for the US National team at the World Championships in Ireland in August 2017 under the teaching and guidance of Sensei Haramoto. In addition, the community created through this club is a tight knit one. I have met there some of my closest friends and was also able to network and get a letter of recommendation from an assistant instructor that helped me land my current job as a research professional at Stanford University. Overall, Karate has positively affected every aspect of my life. Osu!
Sensei Haramoto also supervises 4 dojos in the Bay Area in addition to the GW club. His visits are always met with a lot of anticipation and excitement. However great the regular practices are, training under Sensei Haramoto is just Something Else.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had to train with the JKA Karate Club of GWU and I strongly encourage everybody to give it a try. You'll love it!
Haruka Akashi, Member (2015-2016)
I started karate when I was around 10 years old, in Brussels, which is where I grew up. I moved to New York for college, then came to GW for graduate school. I was so happy to find out that GW had a JKA-affiliated club, as it was the association of which I had been a member since starting karate. I was even happier when I experienced the training under Haramoto Sensei: focused and intensive. The practices under him are of a rigor that are rare for a university club. In fact, "club" is just a technical category, as this is really a dojo, where you come to improve your technique but also mental stamina and discipline. Coming to practice regularly also helps me balance my life as a student, as grad school involves a lot of sitting, reading, and stressing. Beyond the practices, Sensei also gives us the opportunity to go compete in regional and national tournaments, which helps us broaden our perspective on karate and karate practitioners. I feel most fortunate to be part of Sensei's dojo, and hope that students of all levels will come try out and join our practices.
Hannah Hassani, Member (2016 - present), Vice President of Finance (2016 - 2017)
My initial purpose in studying karate was to learn self-defense. After the first few practices, it soon became clear that defending myself successfully could not be achieved through learning a few techniques. Instead, Sensei Haramoto would oversee my continuing journey to become constantly aware of my surroundings, attentive to the most minute details, and physically prepared to handle any challenge, all while remaining calm and composed. Working toward this ideal in karate and academically, professionally, and personally is not easy. That is why one of our principles, our dojo kun, is to seek perfection of character: we strive to become our best selves through hard work and fastidious attention to detail. I hope to never encounter a situation in which I must use my karate, but I train to be prepared for anything and to develop much-needed discipline.
All of these lessons, general awareness, detail-orientation, physical strength, and presence of mind have helped me overcome the main difficulties of the college lifestyle. College was difficult for me because I had much time and didn't know how to use it constructively. I tried many fruitless tactics to improve my productivity. What training karate under Sensei Haramoto has taught me is that I need to look at my problem holistically: all things find their inception in unity. Training my body will not suffice; I must also cultivate the mind. Being self-confident will not suffice; I must also be humble. Getting stronger is not enough; I must also be flexible. Maintaining composure will not suffice; I must also exhibit vitality. Working hard will not suffice; I must also persevere. In my quest to do all of these things and do them well, my life has become more balanced.
Students from all backgrounds come to study karate: our students are undergraduates and graduates, domestic and international, and from every possible major, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and disposition. The fact that all of us come together for an hour and a half three times a week shows the unifying power of karate. We don't just attend class; we are part of a community that is supportive and pushes us to be our best. Sending students to a tournament where we can put all of these lessons into practice is a natural extension to our training. Preparing for and participating in a competition solidifies even further principles of working diligently and toward a respectable character. In the past few years multiple students have placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at a national level and one was selected as an alternate for the U.S. national team to compete internationally. Come join and see what our club can do for you.
Marina Middleton (member 2013-2017; Vice President, 2014-2015)
The JKA Karate Club of GWU is where I learned how to conduct myself professionally, how to stay on top of email correspondence, and how to work with a team to solve logistical problems. I met students I would never have had a class with, and learned about DC from professionals I would never have otherwise met, experiences which I consider an invaluable part of my time at GW. To meet these amazing people while training under Sensei Haramoto, who is one of the foremost karate instructors in the country, was an incredible honor, and I am so glad I had this opportunity.
You (Christina) You, Club Treasurer (2015-2016)
I have always been interested in Japanese culture .The first time I found out about Karate was through the anime Detective Conan , in which there is a character named Lan who is good at karate. When wandering at the student organization fair during my first semester at GW, I met students staffing the JKA Karate Club of GWU's table and decided to join the JKA Karate Club of GWU.
Sensei Haramoto is very strict but also very nice. My experience in karate has proven to me that quantitative accumulation leads to qualitative transformation.You will build up not only your body but also build up your perseverance during the process of practice.
The bonus will be that you can make lots of friends .The unexpectedly and surprisingly wonderful thing is that most of the people who stick to karate have a kind personality .There might be some subtle interaction between practice and personality .Maybe karate brings out the better side of us. Karate is also a good for me to switch mind from school work,which is a great way to relax the body and mind.
I am an international student and karate has been a large aspect of my graduate life here at GW. I am at a little bit of a loss when I don't have practice for it is now my routine. I will keep karate in my life for as long as possible.
Hassan D.M. Sambo (member Fall 2016 to present)
I am a graduate student in computer science at GW and I practiced martial arts (Tae Kwondo) for few years during high school. Unfortunately, I could not continue training while in college. Although I had to quit Tae Kwondo, I remained very attracted to martial arts. I was not sure if I would ever get a chance to practice again. When I moved to the U.S. and started studying at GWU, I had only a few friends and I felt lonely. I heard about GWU student associations and wanted to join one of them to make some friends. I was looking for a good fit among these clubs when I came across a flyer about the JKA Karate Club of GWU, so I took that opportunity to get back to martial arts. At the beginning, it was a bit challenging for me to manage my time in between trainings and tons of assignments. However, after the first few weeks, I realized that karate classes actually helped me to keep up with school assignments. The trainings really help reduce stress. Each time we finish a training session, I feel refreshed and re-energized. Karate classes are very instructive and well structured. Each class is organized such that we can work through basics, kata, and kumite. Sensei Haramoto, our instructor, is detail-oriented, strict, and very friendly. He treats us as a family and provides each member with personalized instruction. New members are usually assigned to a special instructor (for several weeks at the beginning of each semester) who teaches them all the basics and makes sure they have grasped what they need before joining the regular classes. You definitely feel welcome once you join the club. Also, at the end of each semester, there is a test to raise members's ranks, which is great since it gives students the opportunity to move from white to black belt. I really like this club and I hope I can stay in the DC area for the next few years in order to keep practicing with the JKA Karate Club of GWU.
Wenjiang Ma (Law student at GW)
Joining the JKA Karate Club is one of the best decisions I ever made when I was studying law in GWU. I benefited so much for practicing karate in the club, not only physically but also mentally. The classes are never boring and always challenging. They are broken out in a way that makes one and a half hour fly by. Sensei Haramoto is a highly respectable instructor and top-level expert of Karate. He is amazing, very kind and supportive, a role model for everyone. All members are very nice and friendly. The club is like a big and warm family, which made my study life in GWU more colorful and memorable. I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude again to Sensei Haramoto, Professor Lee, Konstantin, Paul, Martha and all our great members.
Reem Al Shabeeb (member since Fall 2016; graduate, class of 2017; med student at GW)
I was always fascinated by karate and the Japanese culture. My favorite anime is Detective Conan where one of the characters, Ran Mouri, was portrayed as a talented young woman who won multiple karate championships. During my year in Malaysia, I admired a neighbor who I used to run into in the elevator while he was constantly in a gi, karate uniform. But I never really had the chance to practice karate until the summer prior to my senior year where I found out about the JKA Karate club at GW. I was worried about joining thinking I was too old for it considering I am a complete beginner. However, I was welcomed by Christina You, the outgoing club treasurer at the time, who told me in an email exchange that total beginners are welcomed and that she started as a beginner too (and now she has a black belt).
I enjoyed coming to practice as I felt that karate is increasing my strength, patience, attention and grace. As an aspiring physician who values human connections, it is much easier and more fun for me to workout with people rather than alone. I also loved the diversity of the club where you get to learn from students of different cultures and occupations, from college freshmen to university staff and faculty to government employees. Senior year was also the year I was applying to medical schools, and practicing karate was a great way to decrease the stress associated with that process, and I will never forget the "yay" everyone shouted out when I announced that I got into medical school.
As I started medical school, I was hesitant to practice karate my first semester as the rigor of the curriculum required longer hours of studying so I decided to come back to karate during the spring. When I came back, the benefits of karate were clear. My grades improved even though upperclassmen told me that the spring semester was supposed to be more challenging. As research shows that medical students engaged in physical activities are more likely to motivate their patients to exercise, I see that karate is making me a better future physician as well.
At the end of each practice the club recites the dojo kun, the philosophy and set of practices practiced in training and during everyday life: seek perfection of character, be faithful, endeavor, respect others, and refrain from violent behavior. Being reminded of these principles every week affects me positively and extends the benefits karate to my character to give me the mental fortitude in my daily life.
Given all of that, I think my favorite thing about the club is the family Sensei Haramoto and his wife Cynthia create. They invite us to many restaurants, end of the semester parties, and new year's breakfast at their home (where I tried my first ozoni cooked by Sensei!). The strong connections Sensei make with his students in addition the many benefits of karate are perhaps why many students continue training with him for years, which is what I look forward doing.
So if you think about joining the club, I encourage you to give it a try and chances are you will love it!
Isaac Chae, member (2013-2016), President (2013-2014)
If you expect to take life easy, flow down the path of least resistance, then karate is not for you. Karate will richly reward you with discipline, motivation, and stamina if you invest the proper attitude, time, and effort but show up with a weak will and you'll be better off binge watching shows off Netflix in bed.
Whether you're a fresh undergraduate or seasoned PhD candidate, there are standards to meet and expectations to be exceeded at GW. The mental and physical training karate will put you through can provide you with the tools to succeed in academia and later life but this is entirely requisite on your own hard work.
Prepare to sweat and curse, have your lungs burn and legs feel as heavy as iron. Karate isn't about punching people in the face but rather dominating your own limits. The collegiate experience is all about pushing boundaries and creating a new identity, why not join karate and see if you have what it takes to cast a better you?
Masanori Sen, member (2011-2013), Secretary (2012-2013)
I am lazy. I always go easy on myself. It is hard for me to focus on one thing. When I take classes, I easily lose my focus on the lecture. When I work on a paper, I always go to Facebook instead of writing. One day I realized, Oh man, I don't have any discipline in my life. How am I going to survive in real life? I have a very weak mind so I needed strong will power to overcome my weakness. I knew from my childhood experience that Karate helps in strengthening one's mentality so Idecided to join the GW JKA Karate Club.
GW JKA Karate Club has changed me a lot. I am still lazy but I can now control myself. During the Karate practice, students are expected to perform their best. Sensei Haramoto then pushes us further. This way, students learn how to push past their limitations and gain discipline in their lives. Thanks to these great practices with Sensei Haramoto, I can strictly push myself not only in practice, but also in real life. In addition, since I've joined the GW JKA Karate Club, I feel more energetic. Before joining the club, I felt tired all the time. However, now I feel the bursting power gushing out of my inside and can tackle school work and enjoy life at full power; I enjoy my life to the fullest now. Overall, GW JKA Karate has given me so much pleasure. I am very glad that I have decided to join the club.
If you are thinking of joining the GW JKA karate club, you should definitely do so. There is great diversity amongst the students in the GW JKA Karate Club. Some are already working in their careers and others are students at GWU just like you an me, so you can get to know all different kind of people and participate in a great networking environment. Plus, the team members are all awesome so you will like them for sure. If you are thinking of participating in Karate for health reasons, GW JKA is the right place for you. A Karate practice is great exercise and I lost almost 10 pounds after joining the club! You might be thinking Karate is only for tough guys, but that's totally wrong. I am not tough at all and again I am a lazy guy. I could join the club and continue doing Karate, meaning anyone in the world can do the same. You should just give it a try. JKA Karate can change the way you live. You can enjoy your life more than ever!
Hideki Rose, Club President (2005-2006), Vice President/Treasurer (2004-2005)
Since my mother is Japanese, I have always been interested in Japanese culture, especially martial arts. Having previously done judo and karate, I wanted to continue my study of Japanese martial arts when I became a grad student at GW. In particular, I hoped to study under a Japanese instructor who emphasized discipline and other traditional Japanese values that I learned as a kid. Haramoto Sensei and the JKA Karate Club of GWU were exactly what I was looking for.
Haramoto Sensei's strict, no nonsense style felt natural to me. He always pushed me to the limit, and I was a better karate-ka as a result. Having lived and visited Japan at various times during my life, I knew what an authentic Japanese experience was like, and a karate practice under Haramoto Sensei was as authentic as you could get.
I am grateful for Haramoto Sensei's instruction, since it helped give me confidence and a determination to never give up. After leaving his dojo, I was able to achieve goals like finishing a marathon and becoming a firefighter thanks to these traits. I think back to those tough practices under Haramoto Sensei, who often shouted at me in Japanese "don't back up, attack!" Those words have helped guide my approach to any challenge I meet in life.
Sheila Kwong, Club President (2011-2012), Vice President (Spring 2011)
Before even graduating from high school, I anticipated an overwhelming transition from high school to college life. I worried about keeping up in academics and studying and getting good grades. At the same time, I knew I didn't want to spend my college life nerding away, so during Colonial Inauguration (CI), I walked around looking for one student organization, and one only, which I promised myself I would join and commit to during my first year. I figured that if I chose one student organization to commit to, I would be able to concentrate on my studies while retaining the social aspect of college life through a student organization. This student organization ended up being the JKA Karate Club of GWU.
I was interested in karate because I was told that it is the only club with the most consistent Instructor, and this is true. Sensei Haramoto is a very experienced instructor and conveys his message of the spirit of karate in his unique style of teaching. I admit there have been times when I ended my long day of classes and felt like I lacked sufficient energy to attend karate practice. After donning my karate gi and joining the rest of the group, I feel the energy in the dojo and this has helped me get through practice. At the end of practice, I am prepared to tackle the large pile of homework waiting for me.
Not only does karate practice with Sensei Haramoto provide a great workout, but it has helped me remain focused while studying. I have developed very useful time management skills that have allowed me to efficiently complete tasks. Making time for karate has greatly benefited other aspects of my life. Developing the necessary focus and concentration for my courses has largely been due to the intensive scheduling I do for my day aside from karate practice.
Fortunately, I have had the honor of serving as an officer. Not only can I continue to come to karate practice, but I am also able to give something back to the club. I have learned many of the Administrative tasks required to maintain successful club operations and I am grateful that I am able to contribute to the club. Additionally, I have been able to practice alongside my fellow officers and we have been able to remain a close knit dojo. Everyone retains a spirit which I try to match. This has made karate practice so much more enjoyable.
I am currently a second semester sophomore and karate has been a large aspect of my college life here at GW. It is very difficult to imagine a semester without karate because it is an integral component of my college life. Every semester, I look forward to karate practice every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights. I intend to keep karate in my life for as long as possible.
Amber N. Wiley, member (2009-2011)
I joined JKA GWU in the midst of writing my dissertation - a long, laborious, and lonely process. I decided to take a break from all day sojourns in front of my computer to be more active, get reinvigorated, learn some new skills, and be a part of a group activity. I chose karate because I had a little bit of prior experience and I knew that it was something I wanted to pick back up and continue. I trained with the JKA Karate club for about 2.5 years, during which I received excellent instruction from Sensei Haramoto. I appreciated his strict teaching style, clear commitment to the club and to ensuring that we were learning the proper skill set to be great practitioners of shotokan karate. I understood that I was learning from a giant in the karate field, and Sensei Haramoto commands respect. It is an honor to have the opportunity to train with him. I enjoyed my fellow dojo members as well, our pizza outings and semester parties at Sensei's house. I have made lifelong connections through JKA GWU, and although I have graduated and moved away I am still in touch with a number of the dojo members. Being a part of JKA GWU was a rewarding experience that gave me focus and energy during the extremely challenging phase of writing a dissertation, and it was a nice way to meet people from different parts of the GWU community.
Blaise Najafi, co-Secretary (Spring 2012)
I had always been interested in studying martial arts from a young age. I tried multiple disciplines while growing up but never really felt a strong connection with any of them. My father had practiced Shotokan karate when he was younger and had always recommended it to me. Upon learning about the JKA Karate Club of GWU, I was extremely curious in learning more about the opportunity of practicing. I was instantly hooked after taking part in my first practice and was soon convinced that karate was for me. Sensei Haramoto's instruction is exceptional and unmatched compared to my experiences with other instructors in the past. His meticulous approach to teaching is so genuine that even the most advanced of students benefit from training under him. I would definitely recommend JKA Karate Club of GWU to anyone who has ever had an interest in learning a martial art.
Hendy Handoko, Club President (2010-2011)
I first found out about the JKA Karate Club of GWU when I was starting law school here at GW. At that time, I was looking for a shotokan karate club near campus and was elated to find the JKA Karate Club of GWU which practices shotokan karate under the auspices of the Japan Karate Association (JKA). Initially, I was trying to decide between two clubs on campus that practice shotokan karate but after I watched the JKA Karate Club's demonstration, observed its first practice session, and talked to some of the more advanced members of the club, I was sold.
Based on my previous experience practicing Karate, I noticed two factors that set this club apart from most other Karate clubs. First is the instructor. The JKA Karate Club of GWU is very fortunate to have Sensei Haramoto as the instructor. I feel privileged to be able to learn directly from a traditional, senior Japanese instructor. There are many Karate clubs, but nowadays it is a rare opportunity to be able to learn directly from an instructor who did his training in Japan. I feel I now have a better sense of the philosophy, the spirit of Karate and its training, as well as marital arts etiquette after training under Sensei Haramoto. In my opinion, many younger instructors nowadays do not emphasize these important aspects of Karate.
After teaching Karate for decades, Sensei Haramoto has tremendous experience in, well, being a great Sensei. Sensei Haramoto has a very great sense of observation. He readily notices when students make mistakes (sometimes minor ones; ones that a less experienced instructor might miss) in executing techniques. Instead of fixing all of our mistakes at once, he focuses on one particular move and keeps correcting us on that move until we stop making the mistake. His feedback greatly helps me improve. Sensei also cares very much about our progress. He knows our limits and will keep pushing us to our limits so we can constantly improve. Once, before I took my test to become a brown belt, Sensei made me perform a full kata while carrying another person (of the same or heavier weight) on my shoulders. I did not think that I could do this, but when put to the task, I was able to perform.
Another factor that sets this club apart is the members. Most Karate clubs have a very high proportion of lower belts and very few black belts. However, most of our club members are advanced black belts. Some beginners may be intimidated by this, but they should not be! Actually this is a great and a rare opportunity for beginners. They will be able to learn so much faster in such environment. I find that the more advanced members of the club are very, very helpful. They are always eager to help less advanced members in improving their progress.
Sarah Lee, Member 2005, VP and Treasurer (2005-2006), President and Treasurer (2006-2008)
Seeing the flyer for JKA Karate Club of GWU in my freshman dorm was probably one of the best things to happen to me at GW. Having studied muay thai kickboxing during high school, I was looking to get back into martial arts, but was open to trying something new. I was and will always be so glad that I picked up Shotokan karate. Not only did I learn self-defense, but also discipline, perseverance, and leadership. Even during the most stressful exam periods, karate helped me, as the UK government circa 1939 put it, to "keep calm and carry on." This club has the privilege of having Haramoto Sensei as its instructor, and I was deeply honored to be his student. I also met some of the most wonderful people I have ever known through this club. To this day, I remember fondly my JKA days and always try to practice what I learned from karate in everything I do.
Jessica Yi (Club President, 2012-2013)
video clip of Jessica talking about karate training
Andrea Ruiz (Vice President 2011-2012)
video clip of Andrea talking about karate training
Ryan Peck (member since 2011)
