Martial Arts Articles by Michael Sullenger

Mike is a native Hoosier, having been born in Indianapolis and raised in Vincennes, Indiana.   Mike is an Assistant Chief Instructor of the American Karate System, a member of the AKS Board of Advisors and a member of the newly formed AKS World Council. He started his martial arts training at the age of 12 in 1960.   Over the years Mike has studied Judo, Jujitsu, Hapkido, Shotokan, Issinhryu, Chung Do Kwan Tae Soo Do, and Tang Soo Do Mu Da Kwan.   He joined Mr. Lieb's organization in 1972 and was one of the 13 orginial schools/instructors who assisted in founding the AKS.   Mike continues to be a steadfast supporter of the AKS and its goals to this day. (Biography)
(Michael Sullenger's Law Enforcement Articles)

Ernest H. Lieb was born in Berlin Germany in 1940 as Hitler’s armies were devastating the European country side.  He, along with his mother and father, immigrated to the United States in 1952.  He became an American citizen in 1959.

At the age of 12, Ernie was a small, malnourished 67 pound boy.  Life for him was difficult as he learned about the dangers of the Chicago streets the hard way.  He was involved in many fights and quite often lost.  He never gave up trying to win. (Read Article)

In March 1990 I submitted a paper to Mr. Lieb (our AKS founder and chief instructor) in partial fulfillment of my sixth degree black belt requirements. The points I made at that time are still relevant today. My friend and mentor suggested I update and share the paper with the American Karate System’s membership, as well as other true students of the arts. I hope the thoughts and reflections that follow will have a positive impact on your personal perspective regarding the martial arts, and your specific studies in karate. (Read Paper)

As a veteran of both the martial arts and the law enforcement communities for a number of decades, the topic of self-defense takes on different meanings depending on the audience. When I teach use of force tactics to my fellow cops the criteria applied is more restrictive than what the average citizen is held too. Police officers are allowed to use the amount of force necessary to apprehend someone or stop them in the commission of a crime. (Read Article)

During O’Sensei Funakoshi’s life and karate training, he developed a philosophy he believed every Karateka (Karate student) should follow in order to develop their character, skills, and personality to their fullest potential. He set this philosophy down in twenty precepts (rules/guide lines) every student should strive to follow.
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Not long after retiring from the Air Force I was helping officiate at a local Karate tournament in Edinburg, Texas.  I was the center referee of the male junior advance division.  The two competitors before me were clearly not an even match.  The brown belt was out classed by the more experienced black belt, save in one area.  He was a better sportsman with a more appropriate overall attitude.  After warning the young black belt about excessive contact and taking away a point after he ignored me, I was prepared to eject him from the competition when time ran out.  Just after the two bowed out to each other his older brother, also a black belt, commented in a rude and disrespectful way that I was making too much of the contact issue.  He felt the other competitor should have been a better fighter.  (Read Article)

A plethora of articles of been written on this subject over the past several decades; yet the debate continues.  I’ve been assisting with the instruction of karate classes at a friends (David) school, along with another gentleman (Ariel) who has been training in Shotokan for more than 26 years.  David has been running a commercial school for over twenty-five years. (Read Article)

Over the past several years I’ve written articles discussing various sides of martial arts training.  In my article entitled, “Commercialism vs. Traditionalism” I talked about a conversation a good friend of mine and I had.  My friend is a respected commercial karate school owner and has battled with whether to teach kata or not too, and at what point.  Jeff Cobb, my student in Anniston, Alabama, suggested I write an article and talk specifically about the importance of kata.
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When delving into the topic of self-defense, one must be able to articulate the goal desired.  What is it the instructor wishes to impart to his or her students?  More to the point, what is the knowledge base and understanding of the instructor regarding all of the techniques and issues surrounding the training and use of such tactics and force?  These are just a few questions martial artists must ask themselves when preparing to develop the ability to apply defensive tactics in a given situation, let alone teach them to others.
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Over my many years of teaching martial arts I’ve always made an effort to address more than just the physical aspects of the training.  I’ve coupled the development of good skills and mechanics in kicking and punching with a proper attitude and outlook towards the future.  On Friday, August 31, 2007, a former student I had not seen in some thirty years and I were reunited.  When we last saw each other David Aguilar had been selected to enter the United States Border Patrol.  He was somewhat anxious about leaving home as are most young people. (Read Article)