Kent Baker is a Black belt under Walt Bushey and has been a long time student at ArtFit. He recently graduated high school and has moved to go to college. He has written his thoughts on his experiences in martial arts here at ArtFit and other martial arts and schools that he has explored.
What Makes ArtFit Different
Sensei Walt Bushey is head instructor of the martial arts programs at ArtFit Lubbock where he offers an incredibly diverse and practical world of schooling. As a veteran of the US Air Force and an active Peace Officer of the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Walt maintains a unique perspective as a martial artist by readily exercising ancient methods in pertinent, real-world situations.
My name is Kent Baker and I have been a student of Walt’s for over 10 years, my focus almost exclusively in Shotokan Karate. However, my exposure to martial arts is not limited solely to Walt’s dojo. This past semester while I was away at college(Gig’ em, Aggies!), I explored and participated in several other martial arts programs, including competitive Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, and a separate Shotokan dojo. During this time it became clear to me just how wide and varied the world of martial arts is. Each dojo I visited was specialized, centering on specific goals or purposes. For instance, the Shotokan class I participated in this past semester had a sparring system based on Olympic rules and regulations. Because of this, much of the material and many of the techniques taught in traditional Shotokan were overlooked because they served no purpose in a competitive environment. The class itself was focused more around professional-style competition and physical exercise. While this is in no way a bad thing, I believe it pales in comparison to the much more rounded education ArtFit offers because the purpose Sensei Bushey has for his students is not so specific.
While it is true that the ultimate goal of Karate classes at ArtFit is practical self-defense, this goal is not rigid, and the objective of each teaching changes depending on the student. For example, a certain technique taught to an 8 or 9-year old is most likely for the promotion of physical and mental growth. However, the same technique can be taught in an entirely different manner to a 20-year as a self-defense movement. The importance that can be drawn from any one technique or style is not limited. This same idea not only applies to the methods of Shotokan itself, but also to the class as a whole. This unique approach to martial arts combined with the unique perspective of Sensei Bushey provides what I believe to be the most complete and beneficial martial arts experience one could ask for.
