Sensei Matt Fried
An educator by trade, Sensei Fried has been training in Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu since 2007 and currently holds the rank of Nidan in the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation (AJJF). He studies jujitsu under Professor Tom Hill (Shichidan) and has studied under Sensei Ben Delich (Godan). Matthew is also currently a Sandan in Meishin Muso Ryu Iaido, studying under Shuji Matsushita Sensei, an accomplished teacher and practitioner of Taijitsu, Kendo, and Iaido (and featured swordsman in the 1978 documentary, Budo). The blend of unique experiences gained through practicing a combination of martial and healing arts, intensive training in other physical disciplines as a professional stage performer (technical juggler), and his commitment to pedagogy (current school administrator and former secondary school teacher - English, math, science, social studies) has shaped his philosophy around a simple idea: betterment through reflection.
If you can learn to deconstruct a skill's fundamental components, then reflect on your own performance objectively to identify where to self-correct, you will be able to master any skill. It has been said that you must master yourself before you can master others; however, helping others as they seek to gain mastery allows you to hone this reflective process independent from your own long-held conceptions, dispositions, etc. about your own practice (objectivity). Being tasked with deconstructing these skills and troubleshooting barriers with others forces you to reconsider, or sometimes even abandon, your own notions of what you 'know.' Seishiro Okazaki, the founder of our style of jujitsu, established for us the Kodenkan tradition. Kodenkan translates to 'The School of Ancient Tradition' or 'The School in Which Senior Students Transmit the Tradition.' The beauty of good teaching is that the practice is mutually beneficial for both the student and teacher as both parties are continually reflecting on their learning and revising their knowledge.
An educator by trade, Sensei Fried has been training in Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu since 2007 and currently holds the rank of Nidan in the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation (AJJF). He studies jujitsu under Professor Tom Hill (Shichidan) and has studied under Sensei Ben Delich (Godan). Matthew is also currently a Sandan in Meishin Muso Ryu Iaido, studying under Shuji Matsushita Sensei, an accomplished teacher and practitioner of Taijitsu, Kendo, and Iaido (and featured swordsman in the 1978 documentary, Budo). The blend of unique experiences gained through practicing a combination of martial and healing arts, intensive training in other physical disciplines as a professional stage performer (technical juggler), and his commitment to pedagogy (current school administrator and former secondary school teacher - English, math, science, social studies) has shaped his philosophy around a simple idea: betterment through reflection.
If you can learn to deconstruct a skill's fundamental components, then reflect on your own performance objectively to identify where to self-correct, you will be able to master any skill. It has been said that you must master yourself before you can master others; however, helping others as they seek to gain mastery allows you to hone this reflective process independent from your own long-held conceptions, dispositions, etc. about your own practice (objectivity). Being tasked with deconstructing these skills and troubleshooting barriers with others forces you to reconsider, or sometimes even abandon, your own notions of what you 'know.' Seishiro Okazaki, the founder of our style of jujitsu, established for us the Kodenkan tradition. Kodenkan translates to 'The School of Ancient Tradition' or 'The School in Which Senior Students Transmit the Tradition.' The beauty of good teaching is that the practice is mutually beneficial for both the student and teacher as both parties are continually reflecting on their learning and revising their knowledge.
"Only by cultivating a receptive state of mind, without preconceived ideas or thoughts, can one master the secret art of reacting spontaneously and naturally without hesitation and without purposeless resistance.
These are the secrets of Kodenkan into which I have had the honor to initiate you."
These are the secrets of Kodenkan into which I have had the honor to initiate you."
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Sensei Elliot Lewis (Shodan)
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Chris Loretz (Shodan) - Black Belt Instructor
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