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

Chris Walsh on UK Karate Podcast, Dojo Culture, and Training Beyond the Belt

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, Swire Ho speaks with Chris Walsh, co-host of the UK Karate Podcast and a lifelong karateka who began training as a child under his father. The conversation explores Chris’s early years in karate, what old-school training looked like, and how the role of mentorship shaped his development. Chris shares his thoughts on why mentorship matters in martial arts, how younger instructors can be supported, and why karate should build more than technical skill. Swire and Chris also discuss the difference between teaching and mentoring, the importance of keeping high standards without training through injury, and how the dojo can give students confidence, structure, routine, and purpose beyond the physical training. This episode is about karate, mentorship, fatherhood, dojo culture, and the responsibility of helping the next generation grow — not just into black belts, but into better people and future leaders. Guest: Chris Walsh Co-host, UK Karate Podcast Website: https://www.ukkaratepodcast.co.uk [https://www.ukkaratepodcast.co.uk] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukkaratepodcast/ [https://www.facebook.com/ukkaratepodcast/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukkaratepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/ukkaratepodcast/]   Support Shugyō Podcast: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/shugyopodcast [https://linktr.ee/shugyopodcast] Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/shugyo [https://buymeacoffee.com/shugyo] Listen, share, and continue the training.

Strength Without Stiffness with Sifu Oscar Agramonte

In this episode of Shugyō: The Way of Training, we sit down with Sifu Oscar Agramonte, senior instructor of Wah Lum Kung Fu, strength coach, and StrongFirst instructor. Oscar shares his martial arts journey from Taekwondo to Wah Lum Kung Fu and how his pursuit of better movement, strength, and performance led him into the world of kettlebells and StrongFirst training. We explore the role of Tam Tui, deep stance training, mobility, and flexibility in traditional Kung Fu, and discuss how modern strength training can complement martial arts without sacrificing speed, coordination, or technique. We also dive into one of the most important concepts in both martial arts and strength training: learning when to relax and when to create tension. Whether you're a martial artist, strength athlete, coach, or lifelong student of training, this conversation offers valuable insights into developing power, movement, and longevity. Topics Covered: • Oscar's martial arts journey and introduction to Wah Lum Kung Fu • Tam Tui, stance training, and leg strength • Why flexibility alone is not enough • Strength training for martial artists • How kettlebells develop explosive power • The StrongFirst approach to training • Breathing, tension, and relaxation • Learning through practice and repetition • Longevity and lifelong development through training Learn More About Oscar: Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple https://www.wahlum.com/ [https://www.wahlum.com/] Control Your Health https://www.controlyourhealth.net/ [https://www.controlyourhealth.net/] Connect with Shugyō: Linktree https://linktr.ee/shugyopodcast [https://linktr.ee/shugyopodcast] Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Shugyo.Thewayoftraining [https://www.facebook.com/Shugyo.Thewayoftraining] Support the Podcast https://buymeacoffee.com/shugyo [https://buymeacoffee.com/shugyo]

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]