Neat rows and columns of crisp uniform tops filled the gymnasium at the Mohawk YMCA in Central New York. It was April 10th, 2006, and instructors and students of the American Martial Arts Institute had traveled from across New York State and as far away as Michigan and New Hampshire for the opportunity to train with a martial arts legend, Grand Master Fumio Demura.

Grand Master Demura is a traditional martial artist who has traveled around the world promoting the martial arts and inspiring generations. He is known for his many books, videos, and DVDs that document katas, martial arts extension tools including the tonfa, bo, sai, kama, and nunchaku, and traditional training. He was the late Pat Morita’s stunt double for Mr. Miyagi in all of the Karate Kid Movies, and he appeared in several other films. With over 60 years of martial arts training and teaching, listing Grand Master Demura’s martial arts experiences would easily fill several pages.

Grand Master Crandall, the head and founder of the American Martial Arts Institute has known Grand Master Demura for over 25 years. Grand Master Demura appeared several times on the Martial Arts Today Show and has taught seminars for Grand Master Crandall during the last two decades. Grand Master Demura was assisted in teaching the seminars by Sensai Charles Hobbib, who heads up schools in Oneonta and Syracuse for Grand Master Demura.

Self-defense was the focus of the first seminar, and 60 students and instructors of all ranks and ages participated. Grand Master Demura emphasized that there are a vast number of ways to escape from the same grab or attack. What makes any one of those techniques effective is a solid foundation (stance) and practice by repetition. The five techniques that Grand Master Demura had decided to teach at the seminar were all based on a double-handed grab against a spear hand to the lower abdomen. Grand Master Demura explained that a spear hand is a very power and effective strike, but it could also be used to set up another self-defense scenario. By executing a spear-hand and allowing the opponent to grab the technique, you alter the situation from one where the opponent is trying to strike you, to one where you are grabbed. From this position, Grand Master Demura taught the five techniques.

The students learned and practiced these techniques with a partner. Grand Master Demura, Grand Master Crandall, and Sensai Hobbib moved freely among the groups, corrected techniques, and talked with the students. Grand Master Demura’s energy and enthusiasm made the seminar both fun and educational. His report with the younger students was excellent, and everyone had a good time.

The second seminar was a unique moment in the school’s history. Grand Master Demura taught the black belts a traditional Japanese empty-handed kata named Aoyagi. Aoyagi was created by the founder of Grand Master Demura’s style and was passed on to him through his instructor. This kata is unique to Grand Master Demura’s lineage and has now strengthened the American Martial Arts Institute and American Eagle Style by becoming a requirement in the black belt ranks. The kata has two versions, a male kata and a female kata. The two katas are identical except for the first few moves.

“Kata are the dictionary of the martial arts,” Master Demura explained. When you don’t understand a word, you refer back to the dictionary to understand its meaning. Self-defense techniques are derived from katas. When you need to understand a self-defense technique or you are looking to practice a new self-defense technique, you only need to look at your katas. Katas are the foundation of a traditional style and pass knowledge from one generation to the next.

It is unusual for Grand Master Demura to teach an empty-handed kata at a seminar. Grand Master Demura explained that within a school, a kata is done a particular way, but between different schools, it may be done with slight differences. To teach a school a kata in a slightly different way could do more harm than good. The American Eagle Style is unique because it has American, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese katas as part of its heritage and foundation. Therefore, the addition of a new Japanese kata does not conflict with its style, but it strengthens it.

Grand Master Demura took the time to briefly explain some of the differences between the ways katas are done in different systems of Japanese martial arts based on their geographic formulation in Japan. He also demonstrated the application of the techniques performed within the kata.

Aoyagi is a powerful and beautiful kata with some subtle movements and excellent techniques. The black belt instructors and students enjoyed learning the new form and are already training with it regularly. They look forward to training with it for years to come and passing it on as it was originally taught to future generations.

Another hour passed quickly, and the seminar ended. A group portrait was taken to help remember the historic moment in the school’s history. Grand Master Demura has retired from the film industry, but he is no less busy.

He will participate on a martial arts cruise this summer, a black belt hall of fame event at the end of July, and is visiting six more countries in the next three months. The American Martial Arts Institute is truly fortunate to be able to learn from leaders in the martial arts like Grand Master Demura.

It was a fun and exciting event that brought students and instructors together from all across the state. It was memorable experience for everyone involved, and the students and instructors are already sharing that experience with family and friends.

Self-Defense Seminar Participants:

Empty-hand Kata Seminar Participants: