A trip to JDK USA Schenectady, New York, for a martial arts seminar in January 2024 pushed me outside my comfort zone. It followed a successful seminar and book launch in Dallas the previous year.
New York felt daunting. It was uncharted territory, a stark contrast to the familiarity of Dallas. Yet, it presented an excellent opportunity to strengthen my working relationship with host Master Will Just
Will had connected with me five years prior, and was my demonstration partner in Dallas. He was captivated by training methodology, and the emphasis on extracting practical applications from traditional forms.
When my wife’s work led to a short stint in New York, I reached out and encouraged Will to organize a seminar. The timing wasn’t ideal: as the holidays and harsh winter would decrease attendance and ticket sales. Undeterred by the challenges, Will, fueled by his experience in Dallas, mobilized his network, visited schools he wasn’t connected with, and promoted the event feverishly.
Getting to my martial arts seminar
Traveling from Australia was an adventure itself, and after a week trampling around Manhattan with my wife, I took the three hour train ride up to Schenectady. It was good to see two familiar faces : Will Just, and long time JDK Associate Jeff Palm. Taekwondo Times Editor Jack Berry, whom I had connected with just the week earlier had also traveled up from Manhattan with me.
The seminar focused on unlocking the hidden potential of traditional forms and exploring their practical applications. We emphasized the importance of anticipation, sensitivity to the opponent, and circumventing the opposition. While the material took participants to the edge of their comfort zone, it was good seeing enthusiastic smiles, and the willingness to give things a go.
A highlight was witnessing a visiting Grandmaster seamlessly blend her long-time police experience with the seminar material, demonstrating the inter-relatedness of tactical skill.
Expanding my martial arts network
This journey to Schenectady was far from being just another martial arts seminar. It reaffirmed the value of venturing outside comfort zones, embracing the unexpected, and fostering meaningful connections. Directly inspired by the visit, Will Just moved to establish a new branch of JDK to develop his own martial arts training group.
This is a reminder that growth often lies beyond familiar territory, and that stepping outside our comfort zones can open doors to new possibilities and enrich our lives in profound ways.
Related: Soft-Style Power and Ryukyu’s Hidden Mechanics: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at My Dallas Seminar
Bio: Colin Wee is a Singaporean author, martial‑arts instructor, and cultural historian whose four‑decade practice spans Asia, Australia, and the United States. Known for his analytical approach and deep tactical insight, Colin blends historical research with lived experience to illuminate the human stories behind martial traditions. He is the founder of Joong Do Kwan in Perth, Western Australia, and serves as Secretary of the Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame (see About the Author).