Featured School

Interview with James Huss of Suenaka Zenzan Dojo

1. Who is the dojo’s founder and what prompted him/her to build the school? Is there any rich history behind its making?

Suenaka Zenzan Dojo was founded by James Huss in August, 2006. I opened the dojo for two main reasons: to spread the Aikido and Karatedo of Sensei Roy Suenaka and to improve my own martial skills through teaching and training. I couldn’t claim a rich history; however, in the short time we have been open, we have gained an excellent reputation around town and among Sensei Suenaka’s other dojo (about 20 in all). Our methods of training and the results we have achieved, to me, are quite impressive. I have white belts who can perform techniques that many Sandans, Yondans, and Godans can’t even perform. (It helps to have a 6’4, 330lb student to practice on!) I also have several students who have trained at all of the other Aikido dojo in town and chose mine because they saw its superiority. I owe much of that to my teacher and my own attitude toward
training. I train hard, spend a great deal of time in the dojo, and refuse to let ego stand in the way of my personal development.

2. What forms of Japanese martial arts do you teach in your school? Can you please share with us the history behind them?

The two arts that are taught at the dojo are Suenaka-ha Tetsugaku-ho Aikido and Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu Karatedo. Suenaka-ha Tetsugaku-ho Aikido means “Suenaka style, philosophical way Aikido”. Sensei Suenaka was a student of O’Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. After O’Sensei’s death several of his top students, namely Koichi Tohei of the Ki Society and Kisshomaru Ueshiba of Aikikai, split from each other. Originally a student of Tohei Sensei but still loyal to the Ueshiba family, Sensei Suenaka was caught in the middle. In addition, the Ki Society tended to focus primarily on ki development and philosophy, while Aikikai focused primarily on the techniques without the ki development. Suenaka Sensei saw this as a dilution of O’Sensei’s original teachings; therefore, he began teaching Aikido as he had been taught, with an emphasis on ki development through the techniques. Thus began Suenaka-ha Tetsugaku-ho Aikido.

Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu Karatedo means “Matsumura orthodox white crane Shaolin style Karatedo”. Sensei Suenaka learned this art in Okinawa from Hohan Soken, great-grandson of Bushi Matsumura, the legendary founder of Shorin-ryu karatedo and bodyguard to several Okinawan kings. This style is a family art, lacking the sport influence present in so many styles of karatedo that descended from Chojun Miyagi, Gichin Funakoshi, and other karatedo masters who changed their art in order to teach it in schools and spread it more rapidly. Matsumura Seito is a very soft art that includes grappling techniques, nerve attacks, and open hand striking—techniques absent from most modern karatedo styles. A true master, Hohan Soken taught all his students differently based on their particular skills. Already a Sandan in Aikido, Soken Sensei saw the softness and fluidity of Suenaka Sensei’s technique; therefore, in his teaching Soken Sensei focused more on the softer, Hakutsuru aspects of his karatedo, rather than the harder, Shorin-ryu techniques. This softness and lack of sport influence is what sets our Karatedo apart from most other styles.

3. What are the principles and concepts that you uphold and try to instill in your students?

The principles of our training are just that: principles. Many martial artists focus on techniques. Students will learn a catalog of several hundred techniques thinking that the more techniques they know, the greater their skill. This, in fact, tends to have the opposite effect. My students and I focus on repetitive training of basic techniques, focusing on basic principles. We train the principles through the techniques so that, eventually, there will be no technique, only principles. I would rather a student practice one punch 10,000 times than learn 10,000 different punches and only practice them a few times. Otherwise, perfection will never be attained. Perfection of technique is another goal of our training, and my standards for perfection and mastery are very high. Karatedo and Aikido are lifelong pursuits, not something that can be mastered in five, ten, or even 20 years. With perfection of technique comes perfection of mind, body, and spirit. Like O’Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, my own personal goal in training is to eventually reach a type of spiritual enlightenment based on the philosophies of Taoism and other mystical practices. I try to instill this higher goal in my students.

4. Why do you think it is important for people to learn martial arts?

Self-defense, of course, is the primary goal of a beginning student of martial arts. I worked as a bartender and bouncer for almost ten years, and I used my knowledge of martial arts to settle many disputes. However, I firmly believe that if as person is to study martial arts for 40, 50, or 60 years, like my own teachers, he or she needs a higher purpose. To me, the most important reason for studying martial arts is to perfect the body, mind, and spirit. The physical training coordinates the body. The scientific nature and specificity of learning challenges the mind, and the meditation and breathing help to elevate the spirit. The ultimate coordination of these three, in my opinion, leads to the enlightened human being. This is the greatest benefit of martial training.

5. What difficulties and obstacles have you encountered so far with regards to teaching martial arts and how did you overcome them?

I have been extremely lucky in my efforts to teach martial arts. I was lucky enough to find a facility with a great deal on rent and wonderful landlords. I also have a day job that pays my personal bills. I do not depend on a great deal of income to sustain the dojo, so I have not had to sacrifice my integrity to pay the rent. In other words, I don’t use contracts, I don’t emphasize tournaments, I don’t run “after-school” kids’ classes, and I don’t water down my training. The students that stick with me work hard—the ones that don’t want to train the way I train are naturally weeded out. We are like a family that trains hard and strives for perfection. Since the majority of my students are experienced in other martial arts, one minor obstacle I have encountered is changing previously acquired bad habits. Since my students have the right attitude toward training, this has not been that difficult.

6. What advice and/or insights can you share with our readers who want to pursue their interest in the Japanese form of martial arts?

My advice for the student of Japanese martial arts, or any martial art for that matter, is first, to find a skilled yet humble teacher who studied under a skilled yet humble teacher. Second, to train in a dojo that emphasizes perfection of technique rather than competitiveness and ego. Third, question everything: if the art is truly effective, your questions will be answered. Teachers who demonstrate but do not explain are typically trying to hide something: usually a lack of knowledge or deception. Fourth, rely on science, not mystery. Find a teacher who can explain the figurative language in real, literal terms. For example, ki means energy: physical, measurable, kinetic energy. If your teacher only talks of it as some metaphysical, mysterious force, he or she does not truly understand it.

7. Can you give a short biography of your instructor(s)?

I am the only instructor at my dojo, and I am currently ranked Sandan under Sensei Suenaka. I began training Shuri-ryu in 1988 under Sensei Jeff Linville, a student of Kyoshi Ridgely Abele. I continued my training under Kyoshi Abele, who was a student and chief instructor of Robert Trias, the first man to teach Karatedo in mainland U.S. and founder of the Shuri-ryu system. In 2001, I met Suenaka Sensei and began my training in Aikido and Matsumura Seito Karatedo. In 2006, I began training Yang style Tai Chi Chuan under Sifu Wei, Kuang-tao. Sifu Wei began his training in the 1920s at the legendary Shaolin temple in China and has been studying Tai Chi for over 50 years. Other than the physical aspect of martial arts, I am also a devout practitioner of my own personal syncretic form of mysticism based on Taoism, Buddhism, mystical philosophy, and modern science.

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