Going back hundreds of years, martial arts has been a universal tool for helping to provide control and focus in a variety of different situations. Often associated with its violent past, today's version of martial arts can be viewed in a variety of entertainment mediums that are enjoyed by millions across the world. However, are we missing the bigger point of why we may participate in these types of activities? More specifically, what if we went back to its roots and rethink the ways that it can directly benefit our focus and concentration, in the physical and mental sense, to become the best versions of ourselves? Today's guest, Robert Wolfe, is the founder and owner of Itten Dojo, and shares a wealth of information as to how senseis and students alike have found collaboration in becoming stronger in many different forms of martial arts, including Japanese swordsmanship. It is one thing to know how to master the weapon and learn its delicate balances, but it is a completely different concept to be able to grow in forming teamwork, building better personal and professional self-control, and making new friendships all while applying them to the daily aspects of our lives, and this episode truly shows that the best path to move forward is through discipline and focus in all applications of our lives!

Guest Bio

Robert Wolfe, the founder / chief instructor of Itten Dojo, began martial arts training in 1975 and has taught since 1985. He holds black-belt ranks in multiple martial arts, and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Japanese Studies from Bucknell University in 1978. The focus of Itten Dojo is personal transformation through challenging training in practical skills. Mr. Wolfe retired from federal civil service after a 40+ year career with the U.S. Navy as a logistician. As Director of Maritime Industrial Support, he managed a department responsible for supporting the four Naval shipyards with maintenance and modernization of nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers. A highlight of his career was receiving the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the third-highest decoration possible for civilian employees of the Navy. As an author, Mr. Wolfe has published numerous articles addressing the martial arts in a variety of periodicals, from popular magazines to academic journals.

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Intro/Outro By: Michael Dugan, Podcast Host: Voice4Chefs

Welcome to the podcast where relationships, confidence, and

2

determination all converge into

an amazing, heartfelt experience.

3

This is Speaking From The Heart.

4

Joshua: Welcome back to episode

number 104 of Speaking from the Heart.

5

Today, we have Robert Wolfe joining

us, and Robert is the founder and

6

chief instructor of Itten Dojo,

which began martial arts training

7

in 1975 and has taught since 1985.

8

He holds black belt ranks in multiple

martial arts and was awarded a bachelor

9

of arts degree in Japanese studies

from Bucknell University, which is

10

located in northern Pennsylvania

11

The focus of Itten Dojo is personal

transformation through challenging

12

training and practical skills.

13

Mr.

14

Wolfe retired from federal civil service

after a 40 plus year career with the U.

15

S.

16

Navy as a logistician.

17

As Director of Maritime Industrial

Support, he managed a department

18

responsible for supporting the four

naval shipyards with maintenance

19

and modernization of nuclear

submarines and aircraft carriers.

20

A highlight of his career was receiving

the Navy Meritus Civilian Service Award,

21

the third highest decoration possible

for civilian employees of the Navy.

22

As an author, Mr.

23

Wolfe has published numerous articles

addressing the martial arts in a

24

variety of periodicals, from popular

magazines to academic journals.

25

As a curiosity to myself, I've always

been interested in Japanese culture and

26

the way in which it has interacted with

the martial arts community as a whole.

27

Martial arts go back several centuries,

going back to even the empire that

28

Japan had, and even then, what really is

interesting about Robert and his overall

29

story is that he took a dojo, which

essentially is something that you normally

30

think about in movies like The Karate Kid

as being this vicious, mean atmosphere,

31

but really open my eyes to the possibility

that martial arts, particularly Japanese

32

swordsmanship, can definitely create not

just those best impacts in our different

33

areas by focusing and concentration, but

it helps us to grow and evolve in our

34

personal and professional development.

35

What I really love about our interview

today isn't just about the fact that

36

we have this structure that we can

build to create opportunities, but

37

that we can build upon the mental and

physical focuses of a repetitiveness

38

to be able to not only have better

swordsmanship, but to go through the

39

notions that we oftentimes usually

forget about with not only improving

40

ourselves, but becoming more self aware

of our surroundings and who we are.

41

But with that let's go to the episode.

42

We're here with Robert Wolfe.

43

Robert, thanks for sharing

your heart with us today.

44

Robert: Thank you, Joshua.

45

I really appreciate the

chance to speak with you.

46

Joshua: I appreciate it as well, and

I have to say, I have not had somebody

47

from a dojo on my show yet, so you

have that honor, so thank you so

48

much for being able to share a little

bit of your insights with us today.

49

Robert, I noticed that you went to school

at Bucknell University, which was very

50

close to where my grandmother grew up.

51

She grew up around the Sunbury,

Shamokin Dam area in Pennsylvania,

52

and I'm just curious, what led you,

just to start off, what led you into

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actually studying Japanese at Bucknell?

54

I'm really curious about the backstory.

55

Robert: The biggest influence is my father

was a Marine during World War II in Korea,

56

and he fought on Iwo Jima against the

Japanese forces, and he always had a huge

57

respect for the Japanese as warriors and

opponents, and he also had the experiences

58

of teaching Jujutsu while he was in

the Marine Corps, so, somewhere along

59

the line, just from knowing that, I had

always had as far back as I can remember,

60

an interest in Japanese martial arts.

61

I never had an opportunity to actually

train until I got to college, but

62

the original source would have

been my father and his experiences.

63

Joshua: Did your father mentor you and

actually teach you this growing up?

64

Robert: Very little.

65

A few things he had shown

me, but not too much at all.

66

He wasn't really interested

in letting me do any kind of

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martial arts when I was younger.

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I'm not really sure why, but it didn't

become an opportunity for me until later.

69

Joshua: I find that sometimes either

a father or mother shows you something

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and they want you to walk in your

footsteps, or they don't, and they

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want you to do something special in

your career, and I've had a variety of

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different people in the show that have

done that sort of thing that kind of

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create their own manifest destiny as I

like to call, it and speaking of that,

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you and I have something in common in

which we have both been civil servants.

75

I'm actually a state government employee

for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and

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I noticed that you have had a rich career

in federal employment, and I was wondering

77

if you could tell the audience a little

bit about what motivated you knowing that

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you worked over 40 years with the U.S.

79

Navy.

80

I was wondering if that gave you some

perspective and what you ultimately had

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started or had worked on at the dojo.

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Robert: There were some things that

I learned working for the government

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that I apply in managing my business,

but the main advantage to me in

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having worked for the government was

that it gave me more control over my

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personal life than a lot of careers do.

86

If I had not had that control,

I would not have been able

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to start the dojo when I did.

88

There's always some opportunity that

you have to do over time and you have

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to do this or have to travel for work,,

but that was really a minimal impact

90

overall, so, I was very grateful for

the opportunity to work where I did.

91

I had a successful career with

the Federal Civil Service.

92

I worked, as you mentioned,

for the Navy as a logistician.

93

I'm not especially into blowing

things up and hurting people.

94

Joshua: Thank goodness.

95

Robert: I kind of focused in my career

as to trying to help the people that

96

were in the offices that I managed.

97

I became a manager fairly early in

my career, and then always focused

98

on trying to provide opportunities

and help other people get ahead in

99

their lives more so than focusing

on the military aspects per se.

100

Joshua: Was that with the civilian

population that you served or was it with

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other individuals in the Navy itself, so

those that were actually actively serving.

102

Did you help both of those, and if

so, how did you actually do that?

103

Robert: It was a limited extent

of helping active duty military

104

in various positions that I had.

105

I would have a military officer as

a deputy to my director role, and

106

I did try to help them sometimes

with recommendations with higher up

107

authorities; consideration for various

promotions or awards or things like that.

108

Very limited opportunity to do that, but

when I had an opportunity I did act on it.

109

Most of the time, it involved helping

civilian employees with either job

110

progression, advancement, recommendations

for promotions to other positions.

111

Those kinds of things were much more

typical in what I was able to do.

112

Joshua: What would you say was the

most rewarding opportunity when you

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were doing that to help others that

you can think of, and you don't have

114

to mention their name, but I'm just

curious of somebody that you made a big,

115

strong impact on as a result of helping

them get to where they are, either

116

yesterday or even today for that matter.

117

Robert: Well, this is going to sound kind

of funny, but when the government created

118

its newer retirement system, the old

system was civil service retirement, and

119

then they brought in the federal employees

retirement system, and there was a huge PR

120

push to get people to switch from the old

system into the new system, and I was a

121

manager at that time, and everybody in my

office was asking me, "What should we do?

122

What should we do?", and I said, "Well,

let's watch what Congress does, because

123

those so and sos are not going to mess

with themselves", and Congress stayed

124

in the old system, and so we all stayed

in the old system, and for the rest

125

of my career, every time one of those

people was ready to retire, they found

126

me, and thanked me for making that

recommendation because there's a reason

127

they don't have the old system anymore

because it costs them too much money.

128

Joshua: Yeah, and that's what

happened even to me for that matter.

129

I thankfully did not get into a

newer system that they have nowadays.

130

I'm actually in an older system because of

the start date of when that took effect,

131

so I completely understand that, not only

from the federal aspect, from the state

132

aspect as well, because I've had plenty of

years working even out of the retirement

133

system for the state of Pennsylvania to

know better as well, so Robert, I noticed,

134

and I even mentioned to the audience

that you had this award bestowed upon you

135

at the highlight of your career, which

is the Navy Meritus Civilian Service

136

Award, the third highest decoration.

137

First off, congratulations on that

because that's a big deal for many

138

people that have been able to do a

lot of great service, especially for

139

government, but when you received that

award, tell me your thoughts and feelings

140

about receiving that, because you seem

to be this sort of person to me that

141

is very humble about it, and it's just

willing to do it for the common good.

142

That's the impression I get,

but maybe you can correct me if

143

I'm wrong about that assumption.

144

Robert: Well, obviously

it was a huge honor.

145

I only know a few people over my 40 year

career that received that award, and it

146

was awarded on the basis of the actions

of my office in the last few years that

147

I worked for the federal government, and

it's realistically more of a reflection

148

on what the office produced as a team

than any individual action I did.

149

I always try to focus on the individuals

in the office and making things as good

150

for them as I could, because I always

believed that you're going to be in

151

the office for eight or nine hours a

day trying to make it as pleasant and

152

experience as possible was going to

result in higher productivity, more

153

motivation, people going the extra

mile on stuff, so that's what I focused

154

on, and I was successful in building

offices that had different focuses at

155

different times, different aspects of

the overall operation, but I followed

156

the same kind of general approach in each

of those instances, and that's what I

157

was really recognized for in my career.

158

I was not a technical expert on the

things that my offices did, but I

159

was expert in creating an office of

experts that could get the job done.

160

Joshua: That is so key, especially even

nowadays is it isn't just about me.

161

It's about what everybody else is

going to contribute and provide to

162

continue that work that needs to be

done, especially in public service.

163

That is so important.

164

I've had guests on this show that have

been on a variety of different parts

165

of government, whether it's the patent

trademark office, even those that have

166

worked the beat as a reporter reporting on

what's happened in Capitol Hill, and they

167

have shared some of the same highlights

is that we all work together with not only

168

the responsibilities and duties, but we

have to be able to empower those people

169

to do that, which speaking of empowerment,

you started your dojo and I think that in

170

itself is a very unique experience, so,

first off, I think the obvious question

171

is, why start a dojo, and when did you

actually start it, because you have

172

this successful federal civilian career.

173

I'm wondering how that kind of interplayed

when do you actually start that, and

174

how you got that all together, so

for those that need a reminder, your

175

dojo is located in Mechanicsburg,

Pennsylvania, so literally right up

176

the road from where my office is.

177

I was wondering if you could

share a little bit about how

178

you got started with that.

179

Robert: Okay, so as I mentioned, I started

in karate when I was in college, and

180

when I was home for the summers, I found

a different style of karate was local

181

that I would train in when I was home for

the summers, and then I would train in

182

the other style when I was at college.

183

After graduating, I eventually started

to train more regularly at the local

184

dojo, and that was the Ishinryu Karate

Club that was one of the oldest dojo

185

in Pennsylvania that was founded by

Ralph Lindquist back in the early 60s.

186

Training in that, I then reached the stage

of my first black belt, and continued

187

to train in that style of karate,

which was a traditional Okinawan style.

188

, The group of people that were

training eventually got into

189

semi professional kickboxing and

we had a lot of fun doing that.

190

This was back during the PKA days when

those kinds of matches were covered

191

on ESPN and had a lot of attention.

192

We actually had a fighter

appear on ESPN fights.

193

My wife and I worked the corner for that

fight, so that was a lot of fun, too-

194

Joshua: Wow.

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Robert: But this group of guys

morphed more into this kickboxing.

196

They wanted to kind of re-engineer most

of the practices toward that, and I was

197

resistant of that because I wanted really

to maintain the more traditional aspects.

198

Kickboxing is a lot of fun, but it's not

a traditional martial art in that sense.

199

It's focused on competition and winning,

which is not necessarily the primary

200

emphasis in traditional training, so

as this developed, there were growing

201

conflicts between what I was trying

to maintain, because at that point,

202

the chief instructor was kind of semi

retired from instructing and had passed

203

on to me the responsibility for running

the classes, so there was a bit of

204

a tension in what was happening with

trying to hold things traditional and

205

other people wanting to go modern, and

it eventually just reached a point where

206

it wasn't viable to continue in that.

207

My senior student and I, and our wives,

were all training in karate at that time.

208

That's how I met my wife at that

dojo, which was meeting at the

209

Harrisburg Central Branch Y.

210

If things just kind of reached ahead

and we decided it wasn't worth the

211

stress of knowing that during class,

you're going to have to essentially

212

defend yourself for real at some point

because somebody's going to take a shot

213

just to try to prove a point, so then

214

and another factor in that was a couple

years prior to that, I had started

215

to train in Japanese swordsmanship

at a school in Washington, D.

216

C., and that made a huge impact on

me in a lot of ways, and ultimately,

217

I wanted to be able to do things the

way I thought they should be done.

218

That's the bottom line, but I thought

it was more valuable, to other people

219

as well to have the opportunity to train

in a traditional way, so that's what

220

kind of led to the founding of the dojo.

221

When we founded the dojo, my

senior student was part owner

222

of a building in Camp Hill.

223

Ironically, his boss had also trained

in that same karate dojo in the early

224

60s, and he was not happy that we left

that club, and at that time, the second

225

floor of the building was just empty.

226

It was nothing there, so it was

available and he said, "Okay.

227

You can use the second floor for

two weeks, and then you got to find

228

something.", so we were there for seven

and a half years, and he eventually

229

thought of the dojo as his dojo.

230

This was Mr.

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William Campbell, who was the president of

a food brokerage that had that building,

232

and he would always, eventually, have

any potential clients coming into the

233

office would be taken up to the second

floor to see the dojo, and it actually

234

resulted in someone signing a contract

with them because the guy was a karate

235

black belt, and he was, "Oh, yeah.

236

Anybody that has their own dojo,

that's who I'm doing business with.",

237

so that's how the dojo got started.

238

Joshua: Wow.

239

That is actually pretty cool to hear

in terms of how it all came about,

240

because I think we all have these unique

stories of, "Well, this is how it got

241

started for me.", and I think that for

what you and your senior student were

242

doing, I think that helped to accentuate

not just what we traditionally hear

243

about karate, but also what you have

learned in Japanese swordsmanship, so

244

I actually want to distinguish this

right now because I'm sure my listeners

245

are thinking of these movies that have

all this different mixed martial arts

246

and different types of techniques;

samurais and things of that nature.

247

Tell us the real story, though, as to what

you provide at the dojo that relates to

248

these different skills that you teach your

students, because I find it to be that

249

we have a misconception of what that is,

and I feel that you can set the record

250

straight for us as to what you provide

and how that's different from the movies.

251

Robert: Okay.

252

Over time, we've had opportunity to

train with some of the top people in

253

the world in the older martial arts.

254

Japanese kind of distinguish between

Korryu, or old school, martial arts

255

that were up, until the time of

the samurai being disestablished,

256

which really wasn't up until 1876.

257

Prior to that, we would say,

okay, the schools were Korryu.

258

They were old traditions coming

out of the warring states period.

259

After that, it's more Gendai Budo,

which is the more modern things

260

like Judo, Karate, Kyudo, more arts

that have transitioned to focusing

261

on personal development, rather

than on the defense of the clan and

262

being able to kill other people,

so that's the distinguishing thing.

263

In swordsmanship, we had opportunity

to train with various people over

264

the course of the dojo history.

265

We've had like a number of black

swan events that forced us to

266

stop training with somebody and

try to find another way to go.

267

Through this all, one of the things I

always talk about the dojo is we have

268

found over time that the group training

together is the most important thing,

269

and the arts that we've trained in

have changed over the years, but having

270

the group, the group supporting each

other, having something worthwhile to

271

do and pursue in this developmental

context of what these arts provide,

272

is the most important thing, so

as for swordsmanship now, we're

273

training in Muso Jikiden Eishinryu.

274

That means peerless, direct

transmission, true faith style.

275

It was found about 450 years ago

by a gentleman named Hayashizaki.

276

Like a lot of people in that

time frame, we're talking

277

like mid 1500s to early 1600s.

278

It's more mythology at

this point than anything.

279

A lot of the details of these individuals

lives are not well documented and have

280

been embellished a lot over the years,

but it was a real person and he did,

281

having spent some time at a particular

shrine in Yamagata Prefecture, had some

282

inspiration to start a new school of

swordsmanship that focused on drawing

283

the sword, going into an immediate

action, so that is what the Aido is known

284

for; drawing the sword into an initial

cut or a block or something like that.

285

It would have been developed for guarding

against surprise attacks and things

286

like that, whereas Kenjutsu is more

of a style of swordsmanship that the

287

swords are out, you know you're going

to get in trouble, you might be going

288

into a battle, you might be going into

a duel, but the swords are out and the

289

engagement happens from that point, so

that's how the arts between Iaido and

290

Kenjutsu, how those are differently

structured, and the kind of the focus,

291

but it's fair to say that most traditional

schools have elements of both, but what

292

we're training in now is a Shinryu.

293

We train under Nicholas Sueno sensei,

who has a dojo in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

294

He is essentially a Budo Renaissance man.

295

I've known him for a long time, but

didn't get to meet him in person until

296

just a few years ago, and once we met,

we were still involved in a different

297

organization at that point, and I made

a joke at the end of a seminar weekend

298

that if our current organization ever

blows up, I would probably apply to

299

become his Japanese martial arts center

east, and that's exactly what happened.

300

The organization blew up and we eventually

started to train with Sueno sensei and

301

now we have moved into training with

him in a style of jujutsu that his

302

teachers have preserved as well, so the

dojo is now functioning at a level it

303

has never functioned in the past, and

I'm very grateful for the opportunities

304

that have been presented to us, and

at some point we can talk a little bit

305

about just what these are to do offer

for people that are trained in them.

306

Joshua: Yeah, I actually had that

thought as you were describing each

307

of those techniques, which thank you.

308

That actually made me learn a lot about

it because there's definitely a deep

309

respect of the arts and how they are

coveted and used even in today's modern

310

standard, but you said something that

was even unique in itself, too, that

311

even if it blows up, I know that there's

somebody I can count on, and I think

312

that's important too, that this sort

of framework, what we're trying to do,

313

whether it is becoming the best version

of ourselves, which is what I try to work

314

on with the emotional mental impacts.

315

You are physically training in

that, which has a effect in the

316

emotional aspects of it as well.

317

Robert: Absolutely.

318

Joshua: So that's actually what I

want to ask you is how do these arts

319

help others, and I would love to hear

your personal perspective because

320

I know that you've been training in

this obviously for over 30 years, so

321

I wondering if it's had some positive

effects for you too that you can share.

322

Robert: Yeah, I'm just shy of 50

years in these arts at this point.

323

Joshua: Good point.

324

I was thinking of only

the business, so yeah-

325

Robert: Yeah.

326

No, because I was decades

before that dojo was started.

327

To take the example of a Shinryu, this

style of Iaido that we're training in,

328

a lot of the training is solo forms

and you're using a weapon called an

329

Iaito, which is an alloy bladed Japanese

sword that cannot be sharpened, and

330

that was developed after World War II.

331

Originally, these arts were practiced

with live swords; real steel, sharp

332

three foot butcher knives, and we have

those in the dojo as well, but after the

333

occupation forces took over in Japan, and

people were not allowed to be using real

334

swords, in order to continue to train,

they had to develop something that the

335

occupation forces would accept, so they

developed these alloy bladed training

336

weapons that are non functional as a

weapon, but they're really delightful

337

to use for this style of training.

338

They've put a huge amount of effort

into the development of these swords.

339

They're perfectly balanced.

340

They're really, really pleasant to use,

so a lot of the training is in solo forms,

341

but there is also paired forms using

wooden swords that are more interactive

342

between two people so that you get an

idea of the distancing and timing and

343

things of how these would have actually

been used, but especially when you're

344

doing the solo forms that are the core

of the art, it really comes down to

345

structure in terms of physical structure.

346

It ultimately is about the generation

and application of power, but in

347

order to do that, you have to have

physical structure that's optimized

348

for a particular purpose, so it's very

defined in terms of what the ideal is.

349

Now the actual structure individual to

individual may change a little bit just

350

because of different body types and length

of limbs and things like that, but the

351

template does not change what you're

striving for is set, and that process of

352

trying to manifest an idealized structure

and movement pattern is very, very mental.

353

It's obviously tremendous physical

exercise, but it is very intense

354

mental exercise, because you have to

understand and visualize the pattern

355

that you're trying to achieve, and

that kind of repetitive over years

356

of time, of configuring yourself in

very specific ways, carries over into

357

a lot of other things that you do.

358

It makes you generally more organized,

more observant, more sensitive to

359

your own body and what you feel,

so there's all kinds of outcomes

360

directly just from what would appear

to be an overtly physical process.

361

Joshua: I think people oftentimes just

think of only the physical aspects, not

362

the actual ramifications of the good

things that come out of this, and to

363

reiterate this question, it sounds like

to me that you have been able to focus.

364

You've been able to be more sensitive.

365

You've been able to be more

organized as a result of doing this.

366

Is that true?

367

Robert: Yeah, absolutely, and you

can also very strongly emphasize the

368

fact that none of this stuff is easy.

369

When people join the

dojo, I tell them, "Look.

370

I don't know what your back story is.

371

I don't know what you've been through in

your life, but I'm willing to bet that

372

undertaking this training is probably

going to be one of the most difficult, if

373

not the most difficult, thing you've ever

attempted to do.", and, as a corollary

374

to that, I usually say, "So whatever you

think this is going to be, it isn't, and

375

it's going to be a shock to the system,

so promise yourself that you're going to

376

get through three months, at a minimum,

no matter what, and at the end of three

377

months, if you just don't like it, that's

fine, because it's not for everyone, but

378

by that time you have a fair assessment

of what it's about and what it can do for

379

you", and usually if people persist to

that point, they're good to go, and they

380

will train for an extended period of time.

381

One of the things that comes out of

the training, because of the element

382

of discomfort with it, whether it's

the Iaido or the Jujutsu or any of the

383

other traditional arts, you get used to

dealing with discomfort, which then is

384

hugely valuable, especially in an office

environment, because so much of any given

385

day, you're dealing with stuff that's

not fun, and doesn't make you feel great

386

necessarily, but if you have a greater

capacity for putting up with stuff in the

387

pursuit of a larger goal, that pays off.

388

Joshua: I can't stress that enough, and I

was literally thinking about the fact that

389

I could see how this has so many benefits,

whether you are an office worker,

390

whether you are on a factory production

floor, or even a distribution center.

391

It takes mental focus and clarity

sometimes, even with the mundane that you

392

might do, this is a lot more challenging

than just doing those sort of things.

393

It is something that it takes great

discipline in doing, which I want to

394

lead with this with the audience, Robert,

because you mentioned this on your

395

website, and I just want to read it to you

just in case you need to have a reminder

396

of what this says, but this is under

somebody that is interested in being a

397

member, which if you want to check out

the website, I'll have it in the episode

398

notes for the listeners, but you say

that, "The arts are about becoming more

399

than you were the day before, becoming

more in ways that have the potential

400

to affect, in a very positive manner,

virtually every aspect of your life.

401

The practical, effective self defense

skills you will gain are almost a side

402

benefit.", so I find that statement to be

so revolutionary because most people are

403

thinking, "Well, I'm going to go learn how

to defend myself", but you're saying, "No.

404

That isn't what this is about."

405

I'm wondering if you can clarify for

the audience what this truly is, if they

406

would to take on any of the different

styles of Japanese swordsmanship that

407

you have mentioned here throughout the

show today that would be helpful for

408

people to reflect on, especially if

they want to engage in such an activity.

409

Robert: I will preface it by saying

that the ability to defend yourself

410

is a aspect that you will gain

in these arts, depending on how

411

you train and what you train in.

412

That is an outcome, and even in

something as unlikely as swordsmanship,

413

I know individuals who, as first

responders, had to defend themselves

414

using sword techniques against

an armed attack, because they

415

had an implement in their hands.

416

In one case, one of the aluminum

flashlights that are about

417

two and a half feet long.

418

Objects that are about the same

size and shape as a sword, people

419

have used them in self defense.

420

It's more likely in unarmed cases and

whatnot but that is an obvious outcome.

421

The thing is, though, the

process of gaining those skills.

422

is what transforms people because of the

kinds of things you have to put yourself

423

through in order to become proficient

in those practical, defensive skills.

424

One of the most important

things people learn is what's

425

called ukemi, or receiving body.

426

That's the skills needed to get down

in one piece when somebody throws you,

427

because realistically, thank heavens,

most people are not going to face a

428

critical physical assault in their

lives, but 100%, they're going to

429

trip and fall and being able to land

in one piece is incredibly useful.

430

I know that I've slipped on ice and

fallen, but just get up and dust off

431

because I fell, happily, correctly.

432

I know people that have fallen from

a height or been thrown from a horse

433

that were able to execute ukemi and

get up and dust off, so that is one

434

of the most important things that you

can learn how to do, but we've spoken

435

about some of the not so obvious

outcomes mentally and emotionally.

436

I would also say that in terms of jujitsu,

when you are training in contact with

437

another person, there's a high degree

of sensitivity that has to be developed

438

and there also has to be considerable

consideration for the other person.

439

In most punching and kicking arts,

you're not actually striking into

440

somebody's body, if you're wearing

protective equipment and things like that.

441

People can spar with contact, but a

lot of times, you're not really putting

442

serious power into somebody else.

443

In practicing jujutsu, though, you're

practicing the actual technique that is,

444

in some cases, designed to dislocate a

joint or break something serious, and

445

the way that you practice safely is to

be sensitive to what you're doing and

446

considerate of the other person and

clearly aware of what you're doing and

447

what the potential outcomes would be if

you mess it up, so it's a form of intimacy

448

in a sense that you are dependent on the

other person, to a large degree, for your

449

own safety, because you're doing things

in establishing the scenario, if you

450

will, of where that technique would occur.

451

You are, as the quote unquote attacker,

you're putting yourself in a vulnerable

452

position, and purely for the sake of

your partner being able to train, and

453

that builds a camaraderie, and a close

relationship that is different than

454

what's developed in a lot of other

kind of physical activities and sports.

455

Joshua: That's what makes your dojo,

that makes what your career has been,

456

completely different from what other

people have had even on the show.

457

I can think of the mental, the medical

benefits of people on the show, even

458

small business centers around where

you are, Robert, that promote that

459

and help that, and I think you're

doing all those awesome things.

460

I'm going to give you the

last few minutes here, Robert.

461

I would love for you to talk about where

people can reach out if they're interested

462

in checking out the dojo, especially

if they live in the south central PA

463

area, or maybe they just want to connect

with you, get some more of this awesome

464

insight that you provided today and they

have some questions about some of the

465

techniques that you have discussed today.

466

Can you give us some information

of how we would be able to reach

467

out to you, and I'll give you

the last few minutes to do that.

468

Robert: Okay.

469

Well, the easiest way is

through the dojo website.

470

It's ittendojo.org, and there is a

contact form right on the homepage.

471

That's the easiest way

to get in touch with me.

472

My email addresses are listed

on the website as well.

473

There is a Facebook page, there's

Instagram accounts, there's Twitter.

474

We try to reach out across

multiple avenues of social media.

475

Just googling Itten Dojo is going

to find all kinds of references

476

to us right off the bat.

477

Joshua: I think that that is so

important to be able to find that

478

connection, that team, that group

of people that are disciplined.

479

They want to work on that discipline, and

I have to comment on the fact, Robert,

480

that you're doing something that I've had

many different types of fitness people.

481

We talked about Noah before the show

and Noah's been on episode number

482

six for those that are interested in

checking out another fitness owner,

483

but yours is not just about fitness.

484

It's about growing educationally, mentally

with discipline along with the physical

485

benefits that go with it, and I feel

like for that reason, you definitely

486

are the wise sage, if I were to give you

a nickname as it comes to that, I feel

487

like I've learned so much today just from

hearing this and imparting some of it, and

488

you dispelled a lot of different things

that I've had about some misconceptions,

489

overall, about how this all works and

how we can become better in those sort

490

of things, and for all those reasons

alone, Robert, I want to thank you so

491

much for being on Speaking From The Heart.

492

Thank you for sharing

your heart with us today.

493

It was really a privilege to have this

great conversation and congratulations

494

on all the stuff that you've done

throughout your life and continue to do.

495

It's incredible work.

496

Robert: Well, thank you very much, and

if I have just one last word, I would

497

dispel another fear that people have.

498

The membership of the dojo

is incredibly diverse.

499

It's everywhere from mid

teens to mid seventies.

500

Many people that have never done

anything athletic in their lives,

501

including women that have never done

sports or anything else, the dojo

502

is a very welcoming environment.

503

It's surprisingly so to many people.

504

I've heard multiple people after

they started to train say, "I can't

505

believe how friendly everybody is

and how much fun this is and how

506

welcoming.", but I mentioned earlier

that martial arts are not for everyone

507

in the sense that some people just

don't care for it, but they are for

508

everyone, anybody can take advantage

of martial arts training, and the only

509

real qualification you need to get to

be a black belt is pure stubbornness

510

Joshua: There.

511

That's a line to end with: be stubborn and

you'll be able to grow in many different

512

ways, and even with people that are

like minded and in the environment that

513

is open and friendly, so I love that.

514

Thanks again, Robert, really

appreciate you having on the show.

515

Robert: Thank you, Joshua.

516

Joshua: I want to thank Robert again

for the opportunity to interview him,

517

and I encourage anybody that's in

the Mechanicsburg area to check out

518

Itten Dojo, because it is certainly an

experience unlike any other, and I had

519

told Robert even afterwards that I would

be interested in interacting in one of his

520

classes that would allow visitors to be

able to participate and see what this is

521

all about, but I really am left with this

big overarching question to start out.

522

Who motivates you and

what you have become?

523

Robert and I have certainly some

interesting interplays between our federal

524

and state civil service careers, whether

it's really related or not is a whole

525

other discussion in itself, but really

what I find interesting about what he's

526

been able to do is that he's taken his

40 plus years, while doing the dojo,

527

and has been helping others through a

variety of different instructors, let

528

alone senseis for that matter, to be

able to provide a different array of best

529

recommendations and best practices to the

students that go through that program.

530

All kinds of different types of

swordsmanship, in itself, is something

531

that you normally don't think about

in South Central Pennsylvania, let

532

alone maybe even in the cultural

sense of what we've been able to

533

fantasize about, even in movies,

television, and other sort of mediums.

534

Yes, I mentioned earlier, in the beginning

of this episode, about The Karate Kid.

535

Mr.

536

Miyagi, and even Daniel san for that

matter, have been always inspirations for

537

me, and even into the recent adaptation

of Cobra Kai, that was featured originally

538

on YouTube, and then was premiered

onto Netflix, but, it isn't what we

539

are talking about here today, and by

all means, I don't think I want to give

540

any disrespect to the fact that Mr.

541

Wolfe, let alone his team, have provided

a team oriented atmosphere that creates

542

self discipline, self acknowledgement,

but focus, because when we produce that

543

focus, whether we connect it with all

the pieces of our separate lives into one

544

atmosphere where we discipline ourselves

to stay on track, especially with handling

545

a weapon that can cause severe injuries,

it can create such a big difference in

546

life or death, and I certainly don't

want to be on the receiving end of

547

somebody that was not paying attention

and was carelessly swinging their

548

sword around, but I think that we have

that happen to us every single day.

549

No, we're not carrying swords, and we're

not usually carrying weapons for that

550

matter, which unfortunately has become

such an epidemic in America and parts of

551

the overall world, but I think that we

need to start to take a big step back and

552

start thinking about what are the things

that actually make us swing our swords.

553

Usually we're swinging words around,

whether we are on social media, whether

554

we're face to face with someone that

has aggravated us, or we're just

555

overly frustrated and we just want

to get something out of our minds,

556

but is that really being focused?

557

Is that really being disciplined,

and as a matter of fact, is that

558

really a good technique to be using,

especially when you're trying to work

559

through all kinds of different issues?

560

The art of personal development, which

I specialize in, is essentially the

561

growth that we can have through our

self worth by not only identifying what

562

we have inside of ourselves, but also

around us, and I think that Robert's dojo

563

essentially creates that opportunity in

group settings to do exactly what I do on

564

an individual, and sometimes team basis.

565

Having that peerless direct translation of

faith allows us to create techniques that

566

we're trying to create and grow in, which

is essentially who we're trying to look

567

at, which thus, goes back to my original

question, who are we looking up to,

568

but when we practice and we create that

interaction with others, especially with

569

what Robert provides in this atmosphere

that is seriously of vast interest, can

570

allow us to focus, grow, and gain strength

in ways in which we might not otherwise

571

gain strength in Western culture.

572

The Eastern culture, especially with

the Chinese, the Hindus, and all kinds

573

of other sects and religions, have

really focused on the fact that if we

574

have meditation and focus in our lives,

and we pray carefully about these

575

sort of instances, we can certainly

make a big difference in our lives.

576

Now, I'm not advocating for you today to

pick up Japanese swordsmanship and start

577

swinging a sword around, because that's

not what this is all about, and if you're

578

a first time visitor to the show, you will

always hear me say that it isn't about

579

stuffing religion down someone's throat,

or even advocating or forcing somebody

580

to do something that they don't want to

do or they feel quite uncomfortable with.

581

I've had that happen to me time and time

again in my life, and I certainly would

582

not want that to happen to somebody else,

but if we think about the application

583

of power, the power in which we might

focus through a sword or some other

584

blunt instrument, and we start swinging

it around, obviously, the reaction,

585

especially if we're around human beings,

or even friends or family members for that

586

matter, will certainly be quite concerned

about why we're swinging something around,

587

but isn't that what we're doing if we

use poor word choice, or if we don't

588

even consider the fact that other people

that are going through some of these

589

situations that we are struggling with,

might not feel quite comfortable being

590

able to discuss or even relate to us.

591

As a matter of fact, not only are we

hurting them, we're repelling them.

592

Mental and physical focus with

repetitiveness, by configuring not

593

only the organization, the sensitivity,

but also the focus that we provide,

594

can help us create those aspects of

our lives to be much better in the

595

overall grand scheme, but we have

to be aware of what we're doing.

596

If we're doing it carelessly and we're

not paying attention, we certainly

597

are going to hurt somebody, but I

think what makes this really important

598

is that we have to be practical.

599

We have to give ourselves that ability

to receive in the body and get it all

600

together by being able to understand

that every time that we make a

601

choice, it's either for or against.

602

I don't know if I have ever shared with

you the importance of why this is really

603

harsh in nature to not pay attention

to what is happening around you, but

604

I think back of the times in which I

was really struggling with my autism,

605

and no, I didn't have that idea of what

was going on in my life from a young

606

age, because as I mentioned in previous

episodes, my autism diagnosis came quite

607

late in life, but as I think about the

fact that when I ran out of classrooms,

608

acting out, and not appreciating what

teachers, and even the principal for

609

that matter, had to endure, I was using

a negative force that was not focused.

610

It was unbalanced.

611

It was creating disruptions not only

for myself, but for others around me.

612

It was later told to me that when

I ran out of classrooms sometimes,

613

I was actually smacking people, and

I don't even remember doing that.

614

Apparently I hurt a girl so badly

when I had one of my episodes,

615

that it really scared her, and

she never wanted to talk to me.

616

Now, later on in life, I was able to

make amends, and we actually had a good

617

friendship, and sometimes we have to

go through some of those trials and

618

those tribulations to really learn that

we need to be careful about what we're

619

saying, or even doing for that matter.

620

As a child, that's why discipline becomes

so important, and I'm not advocating that

621

you smack your child because that's not

something that I would really recommend.

622

Other people in the old days

would certainly say that, "Yes!

623

Corporal punishment is the

way to go.", but I'm not even

624

advocating for or against.

625

As a matter of fact, here at Speaking

From the Heart, I really want to

626

condone any sort of violence, because

violence in itself is not the answer,

627

and even Robert's discipline, at

his dojo, is not about violence.

628

It's really providing a different

alternative to the overall world

629

that we live in, and how we start to

address that, just like how we start

630

to address a goal that we have in

mind, means actually being focused.

631

If you are unfocused, and you're

not quite sure how to best move

632

forward, maybe doing a different

type of activity, such as Japanese

633

swordsmanship, might be the way to go.

634

Now, maybe that dojo is not close to you,

and you might not have the resources or

635

the opportunity to participate in quite

an experience just like what Robert's dojo

636

does provide, but I think that it's not

just about what we are able to provide to

637

ourselves, and it's not just about what

other people provide to us, which I've

638

always advocated in previous episodes.

639

If we want to have that inward peace and

that focus to be able to become something

640

that we never thought possible, it does

take a lot of discipline, but it doesn't

641

mean that you have a license to hurt other

people like James Bond does in many of

642

the movies that have also been televised.

643

It doesn't mean that you have

to be the Cobra Kai and beat the

644

crap out of every single type of

person that stands in your way.

645

When you think about the fact that

when you are disciplined, you're

646

learning so much more about who you

are and what you want to become.

647

It also means that you have that

direct translation of faith into the

648

techniques that you want to create,

not just for yourself, but what you

649

will embody for the rest of your life.

650

One big thing about Robert's story

that we haven't even covered yet is

651

the fact that he served 40 years in

the military; more specifically, the U.

652

S.

653

Navy.

654

I think that experience certainly

translates into the bigger opportunities

655

that we could all have, because if

we live a disciplined life, even if

656

it's not with the United States Navy,

or maybe it's with some other type

657

of organization in which it helps us

to build our character and build the

658

relationships and all the opportunities

that we have for who we are as a person,

659

individually, I think that can make

such a big difference, not just in the

660

ways in which we swing our swords, let

alone swing our experience and our words

661

around, but helps us to stay organized,

makes us sensitive to what other people

662

have to say, and remain focused on

the overall goal or mission that we're

663

setting out to do, so don't go through

the same notions as everybody else.

664

Don't swing your swords around thinking

that you're going to make a big difference

665

by threatening others with force.

666

You have to be aware of what you're doing.

667

Not only does it help you create that

opportunity for yourself, not only

668

does it help you with getting best

recommendations or best practices,

669

but I think that leading that sort of

life where you can meditate and focus

670

on what the bigger picture is can

help motivate you on not just what you

671

should become, but also help you create

that impact that you always wanted to

672

make, and even with that sword that you

might be utilizing, just put it away.

673

Knowing the skill is more important

than actually using it, because even

674

as what Daniel san was taught by Mr.

675

Miyagi in The Karate Kid, it's not just

about what you are utilizing, but it's

676

about what you're learning that you

can pass along to others, and I think

677

learning is such a lifelong gift to give.

678

instead of just hurting others.

679

Pain is not the ultimate reward.

680

Pain does not exist in your

dojo, and neither should it

681

exist anywhere in this world.

682

Thanks for listening to episode

number 104 of Speaking from the

683

Heart, and I look forward to

hearing from your heart very soon.

684

Outro: Thanks for listening.

685

For more information about our podcast

and future shows, search for Speaking From

686

The Heart to subscribe and be notified

wherever you listen to your podcasts.

687

Visit us at www.yourspeakingvoice.biz

for more information about potential

688

services that can help you create

the best version of yourself.

689

See you next time.