*New, First USA Karate magazine article about Ryan Rogers and Green's Karate

    (While we blogged yesterday, this article came out.  Coincidence?  We think not!) 

    This blog is a great introduction into the A-M-A-Z-I-N-G story about Ryan Rogers.  Ryan is an incredible athlete of karate but more so, he is a very humble man with great character.  If you read the last blog posted you might have heard an undertone of greatness.  We weren't fibbing or trying to sound boastful.  However, sometimes you have to claim that you are good at something before someone believes you. The stories you will read in this blog will give you the understanding the Green's Karate and it's instructors are truly some of the best in the business!

    Often times, when students train, we ask them a question once they have earned a few belts. If you wait to long to ask this question then, you could be creating a monster of sorts.  A teenager with a chip on the shoulder is the last type of student you want to raise in the dojo.  This chip is often found outside the dojo with teens that do not train in martial arts.  The idea is to curb the flawed character trait and to bring enlightenment to the mind and spirit of the student. You want the student to not only to be successful in martial arts but, much more so in life.  Children have often said in class "Karate is hard!"  Our response is normally, "You think karate is hard, life is much harder!"

    We have always prepared the mind of the student and to prepare them to "think" on a different level.  We wait for the special moment and ask this important question. "If you were a black belt and someone came up to you knowing you were a black belt and asked if you were good, what would you say?"   There are few correct answers and there are many more wrong answers.  This will give us an indication of where their attitude is at, their level of humbleness, and their character as a person.

     We have never been the martial arts school that produces black belts like a factory.  In fact, we are the exact opposite.  We do not want to have thousands of black belts with mediocre abilities that think they are great and cannot defend themselves out of a wet paper bag and even worse, have a false sense of confidence and false sense of accomplishment.  In order to earn a black belt, you have to perform your test in front of the 1968 World Champion and 9th degree black belt Sensei Katsutaka Tanaka and Sensei Green.  This is to make sure the student is up to the world standard.  Our reputation is on the line and by seeing the high level of standards we set you can see why we our students have went on to do incredible things and even make it into "the" Olympic karate magazine for ultimate success.

     It is very dangerous to go out into the world with a chip on your shoulder thinking you are better than others when you really only demonstrate that you are an overconfident jerk that shows off their martial arts skills to influence others and maybe even to pick up girls like Johnny off of the original karate kid did.  There was a reason for the Cobra Kai to exist in the film because it was highlighting the mentality of many martial arts schools back then and even today.  One day Sensei Green had a customer come in and ask "Are you guys a Cobra Kai dojo or a Miyagi dojo?"  Without hesitation, Sensei Green quipped "Miyagi dojo, hands down!" 

     So when someone asks if you are good the wrong answers are the following:  "Oh, yeah I'm good" (While you breathe into your hand and brush your shirt with the cupping of your hand) or "Yes" is one of the worst answers you can possibly give.  Another bad answer is "No, I am not good."  By boasting or not acknowledging that you have skills to protect yourself shows your over confidence or lack of confidence.

    The appropriate answer to the is question is one of these two answers.  First, you could say "I am okay, I am alright" or "I am confident with my abilities."  The reason to bring this up is to imply that Ryan Rogers would say exactly what is mentioned here.  Ryan is one of the most humblest people you could ever meet!  He will give his shirt off his back to you, he is very down to earth, he works hard, he is a super nice guy, and he doesn't give up.  These traits are the characteristics of a true champion!  Currently he has the eye of the tiger and the heart of a lion.  Nothing can stop Ryan from being a world champion!

    A person that has this caliber of character, can be anything they want to be in life!  In order to be successful in life you have to possess good manners, respect, self-discipline and have good character.  Ryan encapsulates those traits to a "T" and this is what makes him a great person!

    Several years ago, in 2012, when Ryan was starting to make U.S. Karate history on his first attempt at the U.S. Karate Nationals, we didn't officially know he was making history (we did have a clue though) and did so three times at his first U.S. Karate Nationals.  You see, Ryan wasn't diagnosed with autism until late 2013 and at that point, he had made U.S. Karate history five times. When Ryan became diagnosed with high functioning autism, all of his historical moments became recognized posthumously.

    Ryan's journey of becoming an international superstar in the karate world is only beginning.  He has his sights currently set on the U.S. Open and hopefully and lord willing, to be able to compete with the U.S. Team again in Spain at the Karate World Championships in late October, early November 2018.  His focus is doing his best and to win it all!

     We will write a four or five part blog series on Ryan as well as make several You Tube videos separate and also coordinated in regarding his successes and breaking through barriers, as he has for those on the spectrum.  We salute Ryan on a job well done and look forward to his future successes in this wonderful sport of Olympic karate!  The world will see Olympic Karate for their first time in Tokyo in 2020! 

      Without further ado, here is the article that features our very own Ryan Rogers!  Cheers to you Ryan!  We are so proud of you and what you have done and what you are doing.  You will inspire millions like Sensei Green told you back in 2012.  This is now only the beginning of this process!

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."   

Press Release from Green's Karate

Press Release

Karate instructor and owner, Sensei Corey Green of Greens Karate in Chattanooga, TN, has unlocked many secrets in teaching special needs students this art form, especially autistic children. He is the founder of Green's Karate and has become the leading pioneer for teaching people with autism and other sensitive needs. Green has instructed over 30,000 classes, and more significantly, most sessions tend to integrate special needs children with his regular students. According to CNN News in 2006, Mr. Green instructed and qualified "The first person in history, with autism, to compete in the non-handicap division in the US Karate Nationals". In 2010, Green sent yet another, the first girl in history, with autism, to qualify and compete at the same event, in the same division. In doing this, his hard work has paid off. He has accomplished this feat 5 times in 5 years with 3 different students. Two of his 3 students, have been built up to a National level, and more surprisingly, in less than 12 months. He currently teaches over 45 special needs students, most of which, with autism.

Recently Mr. Green has worked with Lee University's L.U.D.I.C. program in partner, and their research team is in the process of analyzing his work exhaustibly. Over the summer, the documentation of his techniques will be analyzed and deciphered, both behaviorally, and scientifically within their published journals. This study will undoubtedly help validate his effective teaching strategy, thereby greatly improving the overall abilities and functionality with those that are diagnosed autistic and or have other special needs. Dr. Tammy Johnson, LUDIC director said on December 25th, 2010, "The students we had in [Green's] karate class had more challenges than those he's worked with in the past, but we just let him come and do his thing. He's handled the children beautifully and they responded well to him."

His program excels by instilling Manners, Respect and Self-Discipline. Parent testimonials about Green's methods and techniques continually repeat what most parents already know. His school has had proven results in specifically improving special needs students with; balance, hand/eye/feet coordination, fine/gross motor skills, reflexes, flexibility and confidence and concentration. Currently, Green is the only karate instructor in the world that can build up a child with autism to the National level in the U.S. Karate Nationals. Naturally, the next progression is teaching others how.

Green is in the process of writing several works which will first explain and introduce to the readers his initial findings. Instructors, though, will be sold a more specific textbook version pin-pointing exactly how to perform the techniques as well as proven methods for successfully teaching special needs students. Only after signing agreements with Corey Green in lieu of teaching the the owner/instructors will they then be certified by Mr. Green and be the only authorized schools and associations to use Green's methods to teach. Schools will be listed on Green's Karate website (greenskarate.com), for verification and authenticity. Green's formula will help the child, the parent, the community, and will eventually revolutionize teaching martial arts to people with special needs. Several schools nationwide have taken notice and are interested in Green's instruction at their respected schools. Any inquires can be directed to Sensei Green at greenskarate@gmail.com or call 423-432-5280

Comments