Monthly Archives: June 2016

“Techniques will occur when a void is found.”  ~Gichin Funakoshi

Victory in a battle is not dictated solely by strength or speed.  The key to decided victory lies most in timing.  The strong man can be out-run by the speedy man and so never able to deliver his strong blow.  Likewise, the speedy man may be grasped by the strong man and unable to evade to return a blow.  The man skilled in timing, however, will wait for his opportunity to strike a devastating blow to both the stronger and speedier man.

In Karate, as a defensive martial art, we wait for the right time to attack.  This right time is when the attack is justified and when our opponent has made a mistake, showed his weakness, and left an opening for our attack.

“Apply the way of karate to all things.  Therein lies its beauty.”  ~Gichin Funakoshi

As in Karate, we must wait for the right timing for other aspects of life, especially to pursue particular goals and dreams.  Acting prematurely or yielding too long can hinder or even devastate our hopes.

As a Christian I can tell you that God’s ordained timing often is not the timing I would have chosen.  Nor are His plans usually in line with mine.  But His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways.  Aligning our desires with His must precede our pursuit of a goal.

My hope, dream, and goal for many years now has been to open my own Karate dojo.  Before now God has not left that opening for me, affording the opportunity.  It seems the timing is now right, with His blessing, to open that dojo.

I am pleased to announce the official opening of Fields’ Karate in West Reading and the first classes in our new location on Monday, June 6^th!  The owners of Acting Up Studio at 326 Penn Ave have graciously agreed to rent space to us for these classes.

I strongly encourage you to consider whether this is the right timing for you to begin Karate training.  Better yet, join us for a few classes at no charge to better know if this is something for you to pursue.

For details on schedules, fees, locations, and more visit www.FieldsKarate.com and register on our Pre-Registration page to let us know when to expect you for a visit.

June 3, 2016 SenseiSid Uncategorized No comments

Twenty-three years ago Sensei Bruce Coppen had a young boy join his Karate school.  That boy was no one to stand out from the crowd, no one of particular note, and certainly not the makings of a tournament champion.  But Sensei Bruce took note of him and began teaching him Shotokan Karate.  By this, Sensei Bruce invested in this boy as no one else had, including the boy’s own father.

As a Karate instructor, Sensei Bruce was not concerned with training tournament champions, though several have come through his ranks.  Sensei Bruce’s real concern was to train men, women, boys, and girls to be people of integrity, honesty, justice, faith, and strong moral character.  This is exactly what he accomplished with hundreds if not thousands of children and adults, and he did it well.

He did it so well that our Karate school became more like a family than an organization or institution.  And he became more than a Karate instructor.  For this boy, he became Dad.  To this day I still call him Dad and will so long as I can speak.

Dad raised me as his own son.  He didn’t have to, but he chose to.  And now he is ‘Papa’ to my own children and my first son was named after him.

I’m not the only one who calls him ‘Dad’ either.  There are several of us who have no blood relation to Sensei Bruce and yet he is Dad to us.  And that has made us brothers and sisters to each other.

Last week, we celebrated Sensei Bruce’s semi-retirement from teaching Karate as he is closing his dojo, Coppen’s Karate.  There were many pained hearts at that bitter-sweet celebration.  But Dad has left a legacy in us that does not end with this closing chapter.  The example he has set and character he has developed in so many of us while teaching Karate will continue in our generation and to the next, if we hold true to it.

This is Bruce Coppen’s greatest legacy, but not his only one.  His legacy in Shotokan Karate continues as well.  As Coppen’s Karate closed a few days ago, I find great irony and great pleasure in opening Fields’ Karate only a few days from now.  Perhaps a few of my ‘dojo-siblings’ will also consider opening a dojo where they are.  It is now our responsibility as the next generation to carry and continue Sensei Bruce’s legacy to a third generation.

Words cannot adequately express the love and thanks we have for you, Dad.  And so, we count it an honor to carry your legacy, passing it to a third generation of martial artists and to our own children.  We wish you well in your semi-retirement, knowing you have well earned it, and trusting it truly is only a ‘semi’-retirement.

June 2, 2016 SenseiSid Uncategorized 1 comment