Shugyo 修行: The Way of Training

Longevity Is a Skill: Master Don on Martial Arts, Injury, and Training for Life

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Danladi Whitten, known to his students as Master Don, Head Instructor of JTR Jujutsu International and a Doctor of Physical Therapy with more than 25 years of clinical experience. Master Don shares his martial arts journey, from earning his first black belt to training across multiple disciplines including Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, and Japanese Jujutsu. We discuss his relationship with Grand Master Dong Jin Kim, the sudden loss of his teacher, and what it was like stepping into a leadership role to preserve and continue the school's legacy. We also explore the unique intersection between martial arts and physical therapy. Master Don discusses common injury patterns among martial artists, why overuse injuries often accumulate over years of training, the balance between flexibility and strength, and how martial artists can adapt their training as they age. One of the key lessons from this conversation is a simple but powerful idea: "Longevity is a skill." We also discuss his adaptive martial arts program for individuals with disabilities and how martial arts can build confidence, resilience, and community regardless of physical limitations. Whether you're a martial artist, instructor, coach, or simply someone interested in lifelong learning, this episode offers valuable insights on preserving both the art and the body. Topics Discussed: • Beginning a lifelong martial arts journey • Training with Grand Master Dong Jin Kim • Taking over JTR Jujutsu International • The East Dragon documentary project • Martial arts lineage and the Tiger Scroll • Common martial arts injuries • Strength, mobility, and recovery • Training for longevity • Adaptive martial arts and rehabilitation • Lessons that extend beyond the dojo Guest Links: * JTR Jujutsu International https://jtrjujutsu.com [https://jtrjujutsu.com/] * Progressive Physical Therapy Center https://progressiveptc.com [https://progressiveptc.com/] * JTR Jujutsu Blog https://jtrjujutsu.com/blogs/ [https://jtrjujutsu.com/blogs/] * The East Dragon Documentary https://vimeo.com/1098541270 [https://vimeo.com/1098541270] * Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JTRJujutsu [https://www.facebook.com/JTRJujutsu] * Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jtr_jujutsu/ [https://www.instagram.com/jtr_jujutsu/] * TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@jtr.jujutsu [https://www.tiktok.com/@jtr.jujutsu] * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtr-jujutsu/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtr-jujutsu/] * X / Twitter https://www.twitter.com/JTR_Jujutsu [https://www.twitter.com/JTR_Jujutsu] * YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/JTRJujutsuInternational [https://www.youtube.com/c/JTRJujutsuInternational]   Shugyō Podcast Links: * * Linktree https://linktr.ee/shugyopodcast [https://linktr.ee/shugyopodcast] * YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ShugyoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@ShugyoPodcast] * Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Shugyo.Thewayoftraining [https://www.facebook.com/Shugyo.Thewayoftraining]   * Buy Me A Coffee https://buymeacoffee.com/shugyopodcast [https://buymeacoffee.com/shugyopodcast]

The Stories Behind Karate: A Conversation with UK Karate Podcast’s Andy Patton

My guest for this episode is Andy Patton, co-host of the UK Karate Podcast. Andy started karate in 1999 after watching Walker, Texas Ranger and trying to copy Chuck Norris’ roundhouse kick in his grandmother’s living room. Years later, that early interest grew into a long-term karate journey and eventually led him to co-host the UK Karate Podcast. In this conversation, we talk about Andy’s karate journey, how the UK Karate Podcast started, and what he has learned from speaking with martial artists across different generations. We also get into old-school training, karate in the age of online information, politics in martial arts, cross-training, and why communication matters both on a podcast and in the dojo. One of the main themes in this episode is the responsibility of communication. As martial artists, instructors, and podcast guests, it is not enough to simply have knowledge. We also have to be able to explain it clearly, give examples, and help listeners understand why it matters. Andy brings the perspective of both a martial artist and a podcast host, which made this a fun and thoughtful conversation about karate, storytelling, teaching, and the way we pass knowledge forward. Episode Topics * Andy’s start in karate * How the UK Karate Podcast began * Old-school training vs modern training * Karate in the age of YouTube, social media, and online information * Politics, associations, and cross-training * What makes someone a good podcast guest * Why technical ideas need to be explained clearly * Communication as a martial arts skill * Why instructors need to read the room * Advice for future podcasters Connect with Andy Patton / UK Karate Podcast UK Karate Podcast describes itself as a platform sharing stories and experiences from karateka across different backgrounds and associations. Their public pages list Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube as places to follow/listen. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukkaratepodcast/ [https://www.facebook.com/ukkaratepodcast/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukkaratepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/ukkaratepodcast/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UKKaratePodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@UKKaratePodcast] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Nq7jr9fTKxDY0EFsanYHy [https://open.spotify.com/show/0Nq7jr9fTKxDY0EFsanYHy] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/uk-karate-podcast/id1861484516 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/uk-karate-podcast/id1861484516?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Connect with Shugyō Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/shuygopodcast [https://linktr.ee/shuygopodcast] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shugyo.Thewayoftraining [https://www.facebook.com/Shugyo.Thewayoftraining] Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/shugyo [https://buymeacoffee.com/shugyo]

Turning a Classroom into a Dojo: Martial Arts Beyond Fighting with Marat Iliyasov

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, Swire Ho speaks with Marat Iliyasov, a lifelong martial artist, jujutsu instructor, and professor of political science at the College of the Holy Cross. Marat grew up in the Soviet Union, where martial arts were once restricted and often practiced in informal or semi-underground settings. That early experience shaped how he sees training—not just as physical practice, but as a path of discipline, character, humility, and personal development. In this conversation, we explore how martial arts connect with international politics, education, conflict, authority, and human behavior. Marat also shares how he created a college course that brings martial arts principles into the classroom, using ideas like daily practice, journaling, meditation, calligraphy, and self-reflection to help students understand “the way” beyond fighting. This episode is about more than technique. It is about how training shapes the person—and why the path never really ends. In this episode, we discuss: * Growing up and training during the Soviet Union * Why martial arts were once restricted by the state * The connection between martial arts, politics, and conflict * Discipline in the dojo vs discipline in the classroom * Why martial arts is more than fighting or competition * The meaning of “the way” as a lifelong practice * How students responded to martial arts principles in an academic setting * What it means to develop a martial artist mindset Connect with Marat Iliyasov * LinkedIn: Marat Iliyasov on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marat-iliyasov-25837614b/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Email: Shugyō Podcast Linktree [https://linktr.ee/shuygopodcast] * Facebook: Shugyō Podcast Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/Shugyo.Thewayoftraining] * Support the show: Buy Me a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/shugyo]

Disrupting the Timing: Breaking Rhythm in the Fight | Jason Serrano

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, host Swire Ho sits down with Jason Serrano, a lifelong martial artist with over 40 years of training who grew up in the dojo under his father, Tom Serrano. Jason reflects on being raised in a traditional karate environment and how that early exposure shaped his mindset, discipline, and approach to training. The conversation moves beyond technique into the deeper aspects of martial arts—adaptability, resilience, and long-term development. A central theme of the episode is Jason’s approach to kumite and his philosophy of “disrupting the timing”—the ability to break rhythm, control exchanges, and remain unpredictable in a fight. He explains how this concept applies not only in sparring but also in approaching challenges, habits, and patterns in everyday life. The discussion also explores why work ethic often outlasts natural talent, how martial arts is largely a mental practice, and how training must evolve with age. Jason emphasizes the importance of humility, continuous learning, and finding one’s own purpose within the martial arts journey. This episode highlights the value of training for the long term—physically, mentally, and personally. Link Tree for Shugyō Podcast: https://linktr.ee/shuygopodcast [https://linktr.ee/shuygopodcast] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2XleA8dXYJBIRDXECRAYVD [https://open.spotify.com/show/2XleA8dXYJBIRDXECRAYVD] Follow the Shugyō Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shugyo.Thewayoftraining [https://www.facebook.com/Shugyo.Thewayoftraining] Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/shugyo [https://buymeacoffee.com/shugyo]

From Basics to Instinct: What Most Martial Artists Miss — with Sensei Eddie Garcia

Shugyō Podcast – Episode with Sensei Eddie Garcia In this episode, I sit down with Sensei Eddie Garcia to talk about training beyond technique — especially the role of cross-training, building a strong foundation, and what it really means to move instinctively. Sensei Eddie shares insights from decades of training across judo, karate, and traditional Chinese martial arts, along with his perspective on the gap between dojo practice and real-world application. We also get into: * When cross-training helps — and when it slows you down * Why do most practitioners stop at the basics and never go deeper * The difference between controlled practice and real self-defense * What it means to train until your response becomes instinctive About Sensei Eddie Garcia Sensei Eddie Garcia began his martial arts journey in judo at UC Santa Barbara under Sensei Ken Ota, where he also served as team president. He later trained for over 20 years under Tak Kubota Sensei in Gosoku-ryu Karate, and continued his path in traditional Southern Chinese martial arts under Sifu Buck Sam Kong. He is also a writer for Masters Magazine, with a focus on the history and development of martial arts, and is currently working on a book exploring the deeper origins of karate. Connect & Follow Shugyō Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shugyo.Thewayoftraining [https://www.facebook.com/Shugyo.Thewayoftraining] Support the show (Buy Me a Coffee): https://buymeacoffee.com/shugyo [https://buymeacoffee.com/shugyo] Support the Podcast If you found this episode helpful, feel free to like, comment, and share it with someone in your training circle. And if you have any feedback or thoughts, feel free to reach out — I’d love to hear from you.