First Newspaper Article in Chattanooga About Green's Karate

     When Green arrived to Chattanooga, the date was September 10, 2002.  He had already had a lot of experience teaching karate in Alaska (more on that story, at a later date) and had 7,000 classes under his belt, pun intended.  Green didn't immediately open his karate school but instead had spent time in the Army as a helicopter mechanic and crew chief.  After being honorably discharged from the Army, he started his life over.  The Army had shipped Green's 4,000 lbs of equipment to Chattanooga and when it arrived, Green put it all in storage.

     Green first stayed with his oldest brother who was married and just had a child.  It was a rough few months.  Then another brother of Green decided with Green to move in together to a house in Ooltewah.  Green then got a regular serving job and worked at the local Logan's restaurant at night and worked with his brother in the day (brother he moved into house with) as a laborer doing construction.

     Green had tried to get his school going on February 11, 2003 but hit a snag.  This story of what happened is shared in the blog "Sabotaged In The Beginning." This blog has not been released yet.
Once Green overcame that situation, he moved onto the downtown YMCA.

     Green had an appointment with the Downtown YMCA. He had a meeting with one of the administrators about the possibilities of having a class at the location.  Once Green mentioned that he had some experience with working with those with special needs, automatically the administrator wanted Green to start right away.  Green's Karate school started sometime in April 2003.

     The next question asked to Green by the administrator would have a big change of the outcome of Green's financial future. The question was "Do you want to put on payroll or do you want to do this on your own?" Green chose the latter and started moving in the equipment to the very bottom floor of the Y, into a room that is about 800 square feet.  This location was two levels below ground and there were no windows.  Right above the dojo is the women's locker room.  Green would later learn this because of a leaky roof, drainage from the showers and one of the maintenance workers told him of this.

Green came to the agreement that he would receive a huge discount on the rent as long as he taught the Y's summer camp students for free.  This would include teaching 80 children (In 2003), 5 days a week, 3 hours per day in classes of about 20 children in each class for the summer or three months.  Some of the participants were special needs and Green taught them in their own class with plenty of camp counselors assisting.  This class was called the "Sunshine Class."

Green was restricted to only be able to teach his own classes to 3 days per week, in the beginning, as a sort of probationary period.  After a couple of months getting going, Green was allowed to open up his schedule to whenever he wanted to teach classes.

The camp classes and the dojo was a huge success from the beginning.  Advertising for these classes was allowed on the main floor of the "Y."  A small table with flyers and a guest register made it possible for Green to be able to sign people up. There was not a phone for Green however although all of the "Y" had wired in a phone system to go throughout the "Y."  The concept of having a cell phone for business was not common at all.

Green went to the local Sam's Club where cell phones were being sold and he was able to get a cell phone set up with about 800 minutes.  When he came back to the Y with his new flip cell phone, people were shocked that he had a cell for business purposes. There was actual people that thought this was strange. Also, the business phone number was changed recently to 423-405-DOJO (3656) as the new business number while the old business number was in existence up until a few months ago.

Word spread of a karate teacher that could teach people with special needs, karate, to the point the local news paper (The Times Free Press) wanted to conduct an interview.  Green remembers this day very clearly as something that has never happened since it occurred was when an assistant to the writer was walking with Green in the "Y" to the room where he taught classes.  While Green and the assistant were walking, the assistant stopped Green from walking any further towards the dojo and stopped at the top of the last stairwell before descending to the location of the dojo.  She turned to Green and said "Can you REALLY teach people with special needs?"  Green then reassured the assistant that he could.  They continued to walk down to the empty dojo while waiting for the class to come in.

The special needs students filed into the room with the camp counselors in tow and Green started the class.  Green then did what he always has done and started teaching the children in the class as he normally would.  Here is the article of that inspiration day:

 Connecting with Karate: Children with Autism "Seem" To Thrive in Karate Classes

"Karate can be therapy for children with autism" said Green age 25

Green had stumbled upon his "Karate Wise Therapy" at the young age of 25.  Fast forward 15 years and what Green said 15 years ago is simply an understatement.  Green knows that his traditional karate program "is" a therapy for children with autism and other needs. Green now has it perfected down to a science, literally.  Maybe Green was one of the first in the world to discover the amazing benefits of martial arts to those with special needs?  In those 15 years, Green who is now 40, has students that have made U.S. Karate history 15 times in only a 10 year span. (More on this in a later blog!)  

Green found his calling at a very young age and often deflects his success back onto his students because without them, he wouldn't be able to do what he does for them.  There are so many therapeutic aspects to people with special needs.  Green is one of the foremost experts in the world on this topic.  Keep reading "this" blog and you will discover and understand "why" Green is one of the leading experts in teaching those with special needs, karate. 

Although Green specializes with those with special needs, this doesn't mean he does not teach those without special needs.  In fact, the ratio that Green prefers to teach in is a 70/30 ratio.  If 70% do not have special needs and 30% do then, the students with needs will have an appropriate model to view and copy from.  If the ratio is 50/50, then he has to teach one group faster than another and this makes teaching difficult.

Being pigeonholed is something that Green has tried to not allow happen. He has worked with hundreds (if not already in the thousands) with special needs, so therefore this is what has happened.  And you know what, this isn't a bad thing. This actually could be one of the best things for Green's Karate and for the rest of the world.  To have someone to truly understand the mind, body and spirit of those with special needs and how to unlock their potential is exactly what the world needs right now! 

Here is one way to look at this, If Sensei Green and his instructors can build people up with special needs to a point where many cannot tell they "do not" have noticeable signs of their special needs. Then, what can they (Green's Karate) do for those that do not have any special needs?

Another example is if people with special needs could win in major/highly skilled traditional karate competitions against those that have no disabilities then, what does this say about those that have no disabilities?  What is their excuse for not being at their very best, nearly all the time?  Exactly, there is no excuse.  It could just simply be laziness.  Always remember that laziness is the habit of resting before you get tired!

Today, you will find more children than not, that are lazy, uncoordinated, entitled, uncaring and spoiled. Why are we doing this to the children of the future?  What point are we trying to make?
If people with special needs are able to great and wonderful things, then anyone can do great and wonderful things. It all comes down to if you want to pay the price.

In closing, more people than not, that have a disability, are more willing to go further, work harder, and have more resilience than people with no disabilities.  All you have to do is give them a chance, give them direction, some encouragement, and watch what they can do.  People with disabilities are amazing people once you "get to know them."