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Today we feature Sensei Tony Benevides. Sensei Benevides is coach of the UMass Dartmouth Shotokan Karate Club.

Why and how did you get started in Karate?

As a child I was involved in Judo, and although I left and always wanted to return. When I arrived at UMass Dartmouth (then SMU) I started looking for a Martial Arts School. It was brought to my attention that a guy I worked with in the Campus Center was an Amazing Karate fighter and trained in the school club. I learned he was only the 2 best fighter there and I stopped my search, and joined the SMU Karate club.

What is your current rank and or position?

I am currently a 5th dan black belt in Shotokan Karate and hold an honorary bridged black belt in Judo. I am the Chief instructor of the UMass Dartmouth Shotokan Karate Club and owner of Otaku Karate. I sit on the school owners and promotion board of AIKA (Almeida’s International Karate Association) where I also train.

What gets you to the dojo every week?

To me, this is a 2 part question: What gets me to go train? and what gets me to go teach?

Training: They say the difference between a white belt and a black belt is that a black belt doesn’t know how to quit. I don’t know how to quit.

Teaching: For a while I wasn’t sure, but now I am; it is a calling in life to be there for my students.

For the most part college students are leaving the comforts of home and family and then thrust into a new life that can be challenging and demanding. Most have learned that I not only teach them to defend themselves, but that a I’m a crutch they can lean on in time of need and someone who can give them advice. If I can’t quit on me, I can’t quit on them.

Who have been your biggest influences in karate?

Wow, there have been a lot. Obviously Hanshi John Almeida, Sensei Tabata, Shihan Wayne Mello, Sensei Mike Savage, Shihan Mike Sonia, Renshi Sue Sonia, Sensei Bernie Duggan, Sensei John Almeida Jr, Renshi Wade Martin, Sensei Wayne Carter, Kancho Larry Giordano and his students, Brian Gonsalves, “Super” Dave Goncalves, Sensei Bobby Arruda, Sensei Peter Perry, Sensei Mike Luce, Chris Campeau, Mike Foley, Kyle Spear, Senseis Kathleen and Bill Mello, Carol Almeida, Sensei Kevin Carey, Shane Pitts, John Simmons, Bernie Wood, Al Thompson, of course all my Students esp. the long haulers (Sensei Teresa, Mike, James, Amber, Shawna, Ashley, Joe…). My High School Track Coaches Jim Barnaby and Bob Bradbury who taught me 3 I’s (Intensity, Integrity and Intelligence). Many other martial artist friends have also been influences, and last but not least my Son Noah. It’s great having a kid that loves martial arts as much as you do.

What direction would you like to see karate take in the future?

Direction? Turn right and then right again— J/K While I am a fan of Tournaments, they seem to be losing practicality. There are more rules on pulled punches, tournaments removing the back as a target, limiting contact, outlawing foot sweeps. You can’t always score a solid ridge hand, but a flick to the top of the head you can??? Many schools are becoming tournament oriented and lose the essence of Karate. Kata is becoming more performance oriented with less flow and more time spent on showmanship. On the other side of the coin, Karate schools are dropping Kata in favor of more contact drills and to fit in grappling. Old school karate had it all, kata was oriented toward combat, bone crushing makiwara drills, grappling, throws and more than likely ground work. This started to change after Japan started regulating all martial arts and Karate was pushed into not focusing on throws and grappling but left it to be supplemental training for self-defense. The push was to get the Karate guys to go next door and practice Judo, and vice versa. (Judo could not focus on strikes, but strikes could be incorporated into defensive training.)

This said, the direction I would like to see Karate go in the future, is back to the past. More full system, hard-core training without sacrificing kata all the while keeping the tournaments more reality based. Like Funakoshi said, “Never take away from Karate; if something is found to be better, then add it.”

What advice can you give the next generation for being successful in Life and/or Karate?

Shoot for the Stars, land on the Moon.

Thank you for your time, Sensei Tony!

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