Nineteen years, eleven months and twenty days ago, Sensei Green went to the bank to see about getting a loan for his new business. He was told that he could not receive a loan because he didn’t have a business. Sensei Green then asked what would he have to do to receive a loan and the bank said they he would need to try to qualify for a signature loan. Sensei Green then responded “What’s that?” The banker official then said “It is like if you were going on vacation.” Sensei Green then replied “Well, I am on vacation then!” The bank official then said “Here you go!” Sensei Green took the $1,500.00 and purchased a sign for the road for $300, paid for the rental space ($718.00 to have class out of a gym 5 days a week, paid for an office space in the same building to sign people up ($200.00) and paid for insurance for the dojo which was a little over $200.00. In two weeks, he made $3,000.00.
Sensei Green then realized what being a entrepreneur was all about. It wasn't ever about money for Sensei Green however what he felt for the first time was freedom. Sensei Green went back to the bank, paid them off and the rest is history literally. Below is more of the story and the pictures to show the very beginning of the journey of Green's Karate (GK).
Without taking the financial risk, GK wouldn’t be known for whom we are today!
GK is a prominent martial arts school not only in the heart of Chattanooga, more so a more well known and recognized martial arts school "outside" of Chattanooga. Olympic Karate schools from New York to California to Florida and Chicago know of Sensei Green’s passion for teaching those with special needs and everyone else that is willing to learn.
Sensei Green then realized what being a entrepreneur was all about. It wasn't ever about money for Sensei Green however what he felt for the first time was freedom. Sensei Green went back to the bank, paid them off and the rest is history literally. Below is more of the story and the pictures to show the very beginning of the journey of Green's Karate (GK).
GK is a prominent martial arts school not only in the heart of Chattanooga, more so a more well known and recognized martial arts school "outside" of Chattanooga. Olympic Karate schools from New York to California to Florida and Chicago know of Sensei Green’s passion for teaching those with special needs and everyone else that is willing to learn.
One of the main ideas of GK was to teach those with special needs alongside those without needs. He has been teaching those with special needs for 20 years (as a footnote: Sensei Green taught before he opened GK) and has the first American with autism to ever win a medal in International Competition. This man, Ryan Rogers is also the first American with autism on the U.S. Karate Team. Rogers is on the U.S. Para Karate Team and is the first person from Chattanooga on the U.S. Karate Team!
People along the way inspired Green to do what he does and his unique upbringing was key to his ultimate success in the Olympic Karate world. You won’t find Sensei Green discussing this information with anyone in casual conversation. In only one month from today, the world is really going to know who Sensei Green is. On the 20th anniversary of GK, Sensei Green’s second book (Finding Karate, Amazon, 2013) Karate Wise will change the world and will teach people how to teach others with specials needs how to defend themselves. The reference manual, Karate Wise, has over one thousand pictures, fifty thousand words and is over three hundred pages. You will find "Karate Wise" on Amazon.com.
About the pictures: The patch was the original design of the Green’s Karate logo that Sensei Green designed on a students computer in 10 minutes. Since then, the logo has only had one change and was designed by Sensei Green’s multi-talented wife, Michelle Young. The empty gym room is the exact room that was leased for the amount mentioned above. The students picture were the original students to partake in GK's classes. You see a young Sensei Green teaching outdoor classes to a small group of students.
GK will not have classes on Wednesday, January 17th, 2018 and will instead have a celebration of success that has encapsulated many great memories, great performances in competition, the lives that have been saved through the self-defense techniques taught and in remembrance of the students that once trained and have moved onto the next life.
This celebration is dedicated to the passing of Darby Rouswell (29), Henry Babcock (22), Danny Cunningham (52), David Leach (15), Joesph Kershaw (39), Greg Kohn (44), Robbie Saxton (11), Warren Statts (17) and Josh Girves (17). Without these students in Sensei Green’s life, they wouldn’t have made the impact they did on him. May they all rest in peace.
Please come to the dojo from 4p.m. to 8p.m on Wednesday January 17, 2018 for our celebration. We will have a slideshow showing many pictures over the years! You are welcome to bring your own non-alcoholic drink. There will be some refreshments and horderves. Thank you for coming to this excellent time in history for Green’s Karate! See you there!
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