We’d like to get know you, your training history, and what some of your goals are before you join us.
ABOUT
Much More than a Black-Belt Test
In 2009 I opened Zen Martial Arts, an Isshinryu dojo, in Sacramento California. I had two goals when we started.
First, I wanted to explore what it means to practice the “OneHeart Method” of Isshinryu, but to do it in a way that takes our work “Out of the Dojo and Into the World”. My students and I set forth towards serving our community when in need.
Second, I wanted to raise the standards of what it means to be a black-belt in Isshinryu karate. My thoughts on rank in Isshinryu are no secret. I had felt that standards, in many ways, had fallen short and I knew that we could do better.
I struggled for some time on figuring how to do these things as I was breaking some new ground, or so I had thought. You see I was very lucky to find a powerful mentor in Tom Callos. Coach Tom gave us the guidance that our dojo needed to best service the community. On top of that, he had an amazing black-belt test that he called “The Ultimate Black-Belt Test”. Find anyone that worked with the UBBT and you will find exceptional martial artists both in body and in deed.
After working side-by-side with candidates in the UBBT for two years, it became clear to me what we could do in our own dojo to raise the standards of our own test. I implemented much of the UBBT curriculum into our own black-belt curriculum. Our rigorous black-belt requirements became almost a “protest” against mediocracy, showing what was possible for an individual Isshinryu practitioner to accomplish.
In time, other Isshinryu dojo found out about our work and were curious if they could do something similar in their own dojo.
Others, some prominent figures in Isshinryu, kindly advised me against this and thought that I would loose students in droves–that the average person would never partake in such a challenging test.
Yet, the most remarkable thing happened. Not only did our dojo continue to grow, but any time a student started taking on the 1-year challenge, the rest of the dojo started tallying behind them. It became a central theme to all of our training and it permeated the culture of the school.
The more It grew, the more other schools wanted to join in as well.
It’s for that reason that this year, for the 2024 OneHeart Challenge, we are officially opening up the Challenge to other Isshinryu Karate-Ka that are just a little insane enough to take on this one-year work with us.
After this year, we should all be able to point to these Challengers as being the examples of what it means to live a lifestyle that embodies the “One-Heart Method” that has been passed to us.
Should you wish to join us, please complete the Challenger Application below.
- Mike Oliver
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are the head Sensei in your dojo and want to make the OneHeart Challenge a part of your curriculum or Isshinryu black-belt test, please reach out to Mike Oliver to see if it is a good fit to bring your students on board. You can e-mail him at info@zenmartial.com .
Anyone is welcome to join us for the challenge! But if you are looking to make the challenge a part of your personal test in Ishsinryu karate, we recommend that you reach out to your Sensei at your dojo to make sure it is a good fit for you.
If you aren’t currently associated with a dojo or an organization and our work speaks to you, then we can explore working with you to see if it’s a good fit. All black-belt tests under Oliver Sensei are done under and certified with the Okinawa Isshinryu Karate and Kobudo Association.
This year, we are focusing on working with just Isshinryu Karate-Ka, but we might be willing to work with some schools/students outside of Isshinryu if it is a good fit. Please contact Mike Oliver via e-mail at info@zenmartial.com .
Pricing varies depending on your level of participation. You can view all of the OneHeart Challenge pricing here.
The OneHeart Challenge is open to all ranks in Isshinryu. While the Challenge is often associated with a student’s test for black-belt, it doesn’t have to be.
Yes! Anyone that has completed the Challenge will tell you that a support team is necessary. You are of course welcome to join us for training sessions in California (and we really hope you can attend our work at the Wakamatsu farm!) if you are able. But if you can’t, we will be having online coaching sessions for all Challengers. For those that are making this a part of their black-belt test under Sensei Oliver, you will work directly with him in person or online to meet the traditional Isshinryu Karate standards of rank.
Yes. We are united in our common goal of taking the One Heart Method of karate “Out of the Dojo and Into the World.” We really don’t care what your Issshinryu lineage or organization is. As long as you come into the challenge with an open heart, and open mind, and the refusal to quit, you will likely be a good fit.
Meet our Active OneHeart Challengers
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