Finding Budo

Welcome to our podcast! Today we have on a Uechi-Ryu practitioner who was instrumental in my development as a martial artist and instructor, Sensei Marcus Traynor

Sensei Traynor began his Uechi-Ryu karate training in 1990 under Grandmaster Buzz Durkin. Since 1997 he has been the head instructor at Buzz Durkin's Karate School.

In this interview we talk about how the martial arts and Uechi-Ryu Karate has shaped his life, his growth as a teacher, and passing on the martial arts legacy

If you are someone who trains in the martial arts and desires to be a better teacher, then I think there is a lot to be gained from our conversation. Please enjoy, Sensei Marcus Traynor.

Neil Stone is a Uechi-Ryu Karate practitioner who I believe is one of the finest teachers I have worked with. Sensei Neil Stone began his Uechi-Ryu karate training in 1986 under Mike Rozumek. Today he trains under Uechi-Ryu Karate Grandmaster Buzz Durkin and runs a dojo in Hollis, NH. This fall he is testing for his 9th degree black belt.

In this interview we talk about his early days of training: From starting out practicing in the back of a grocery store, to being a part of one of the largest martial arts schools in the country. Mr. Stone also shares with us his insights in how martial arts training has evolved and we dive deep into his thoughts on how to be a successful teacher and school owner. 

If you are someone who loves karate and the martial arts, or desires to be a better teacher and sensei, then I think there is a lot to be gained from our conversation. Please enjoy, Sensei Neil Stone.

David Kelley is a Uechi-Ryu Karate Hanshi 9th Degree Black Belt under Grandmaster Buzz Durkin.

David Kelley began his Uechi-Ryu Karate practice at the age of 17 in 1974 under Buzz Durkin - who remains his sensei to this day. David Kelley was in law enforcement for twenty five years, and credits the martial arts for giving him the confidence to face many challenging situations and individuals.

Anyone who has worked with David Kelley knows that he has a profound love for the martial arts and Uechi-Ryu Karate and is always striving to increase his martial knowledge. They also know his deep passion for sharing this knowledge with others and watching each student grow.

I enjoyed sitting down with Mr. Kelley and learning more about how he approaches his training and teaching and I hope you do too. Please enjoy, Uechi-Ryu Sensei David Kelley.

Shihan Dunn is a lifelong martial arts practitioner, beginning his martial arts training in Shotokan Karate at the age of 11 and achieving the rank of Black Belt under Toyotaro Miyazaki. He is also a black belt in judo under Kyoshi Shiina and in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Renzo Gracie. He is the owner of Gene Dunn's Shotokan Karate Dojo and Brooklyn BJJ.

During our conversation, we discuss how in his youth he competed worldwide at the highest level of karate sparring; however now dedicates his life to the spread of traditional martial arts through safe, effective, and non-competitive methods. We also discuss the importance of martial legacy and instilling core life values in our students through our martial art instruction and practice - whether training in karate or BJJ.

Anyone who has ever trained with Shihan Gene Dunn knows first hand how effective his BJJ and Karate teaching methods are and how insightful a conversation with him can be. I personally gained a myriad of knowledge from our talk, and I hope you do too. Please enjoy, Shihan Gene Dunn.

Mr. Dunn is the host of The Gentle Art Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@UC-mcBwp2w6RNWsgUeGBjMkQ

Today on the podcast we have someone who has been incredibly instrumental to my martial arts and life in and out of the dojo - Sensei Bob Beal.

Mr. Beal began his Uechi-Ryu Karate practice in 1975 under Richard Pinkham. Since 1989 he has been a student of Buzz Durkin. He is an eighth degree black belt and has been teaching at Mr. Durkin's school since 1993.

I have always been profoundly impressed by the attention Sensei Beal gives to each student in class, his work effort, and his consistency of character. In our interview we discuss he journey in the martial arts, its relation to calligraphy, music, poetry, and philosophy - all of which is a student of, and how his karate training has guided him both in and out of the dojo.

I have known Mr. Beal for well over twenty years, but even I learned some knew things about him and the martial arts during our talk. I hope you do too. Please enjoy, Sensei Bob Beal.

Originally Released July 2024

Today we have a special treat as I sit down and talk with Uechi-Ryu Karate pioneer Judy Durkin.

Sensei Judy Durkin began her Uechi-Ryu karate training in 1971 under George Mattson and is a ninth degree black belt. In 1974 she founded Buzz Durkin's Uechi Karate School with her husband, Buzz Durkin. This fall she is testing for her tenth degree Uechi-Ryu black belt and grandmaster title.

During our interview we sit down and talk about the early days of her training and how her steadfast training methodology has helped her keep up with her practice after fifty plus years. We also dive into how her karate has helped her stay calm under pressure and while dealing with difficult people.

Anyone who has ever trained with Mrs. Durkin knows that there are few things that she enjoys more than heavy conditioning while having a joyful conversation. I learned a lot from our thoughtful and enlightening conversation and I hope you do too. Please enjoy, sensei, and soon to be grandmaster, Judy Durkin.

Originally Released June 2024

Soon to be promoted Uechi-Ryu 10th Degree Black Belt and Grandmaster Leyn Burrows shares the story of how he started his Uechi-Ryu training. From his time growing up in Bermuda, training with Al Wharton and George Mattson, to becoming the senior student of Buzz Durkin's Uechi-Ryu Karate School. Leyn Burrows also shares his deep insight in how Uechi-Ryu karate training taught him how to have compassion for his fellow man and helped him navigate the cooperate world.

This fall, Leyn Burrows is expected to be promoted Uechi-Ryu 10th Degree Black Belt and Grandmaster title. Leyn Burrows is a student of Sensei Buzz Durkin and is the Sempai of the Uechiryu Butokukai. He began his training in 1971 under the tutelage of Sensei Al Wharton. Listed among his many karate achievements, Mr. Burrows is a former NAUKA Sparring Champion (Black Belt). He has a broad knowledge of Uechi hard/soft methods and bunkai and loves sharing his teaching and philosophy.

Failure is often seen as something negative, something to be avoided at all costs. But I want to convince you to embrace failure and more importantly the fear of failure. That’s because I believe that failure is a valuable teacher that can lead us to growth and success.

Some failures are big and some are so small that you may not realize how much they are affecting you until they start adding up. For example, with your karate training you will fail numerous times. You'll miss a kick, lose a match, or struggle to improve a complex technique. But here's the thing: every time you fail, you have an opportunity to learn and improve. It's through those failures that you gain valuable insights into your weaknesses and areas that need work.

We all fear failing. One of my biggest fears I had to overcome was my fear of public speaking. This was something that had truly held me back in my younger days. However, when I made a decision to teach karate I knew I would have to improve my ability to be seen and heard.

So, I slowly took steps to put myself in front of others. Every time I was in front of a group of students wasn’t perfect, but I learned methods of dealing with my anxieties and took every mistake and failure I made and used what I learned from them to improve. With time, practice, and the help of my mentors I not only improved as an instructor and public speaker, but also learned to embrace my fear and to accept failure as a tool for improvement – not something to hold me back.

Remember, karate is a journey of self-improvement. It's not only about building physical skills but also about mental and emotional development. Part of this journey is embracing failure and shifting your perspective. Instead of seeing failure and fear as a setback or a reason to give up, see them as the next step on your path to success. Remember, some of the greatest martial artists and fighters in history faced countless failures before reaching the pinnacle of their achievements.

So, the next time you find yourself facing failure in martial arts or in any aspect of life, remember that it's not the end of the road. It's an opportunity to grow, learn, and become better. Embrace failure as a valuable teacher, and let it guide you on your journey towards karate excellence.

When it comes to karate training, it's common to feel pressure to perform at a high level and to constantly compare ourselves to others. However, this mindset can lead to feelings of inadequacy and discouragement. That's why it's important to keep in mind these words from John Wooden, "Do the best you can. No one can do more than that."

It’s a simple line, but it serves as a powerful reminder that the only thing we can do is give it our all and do our best – because at the end of the day we are all on our own unique martial arts journey.

With your karate training, focus on our own personal growth and progress, rather than constantly comparing yourself to others. To see improvement in karate takes time and the training includes movements that require consistent effort, focus, and dedication to get right. It's easy to become discouraged when we don't see immediate results, but the reality is that progress takes time and repetition.

So, in karate training, as in life, the only thing we can control is our own effort and dedication. Rather than getting caught up in comparing ourselves to others, focus on doing the best you can each day, and trust that with consistent effort and dedication, you will continue to improve and grow as a martial artist.

I wanted to talk about a quote I read today that I believe captures the essence of cooperative training in a karate class. The quote is by Paulo Coelho and it reads, “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”

I think this quote is really relatable to how a karate class should be run and how all students should feel in class. In the martial arts, cooperative training is essential for the growth and proficiency of all students – because by working together and pushing each other to become better, every student can and will improve their skills and techniques.

I’ve also observed that when students strive to become better than they are, they inspire others to do the same. This creates a culture of growth and self-improvement that permeates the entire class and school. As these students improve, they become more confident and motivated, which often encourages others to follow their lead. This positive cycle of growth and improvement benefits everyone in the class.

Along with that, I have found that cooperative training helps students develop important life skills such as teamwork, respect, and empathy. By working together towards a common goal, people tend to learn how to appreciate and value the contributions, points of view, and opinions of others. I’ve also found that junior students especially learn to communicate more effectively with others through their interactions at the dojo.

Personally, I find great joy when I get to watch my advanced students share what they have learned with new students. It’s always amazing to see the cycle of sharing and growth be passed on from student to student, and to see new students realize that they are being welcomed with open arms to the school.

I hope this inspires you to strive to be the best version of yourself on the dojo floor and in life. If you find this topic relatable please let me know by giving the video a like and sharing a positive martial arts moment you have experienced below.