Getting to Know James Richtsmeier at FMK Karate

Getting to Know James Richtsmeier at FMK Karate

How long have you been with our school?

Probably about as long as I have been living in the Binghamton area. I would have to say about roughly five years. I actually joined the school after my first visit to the dojo. I was totally blown away, the school has been a positive force in my life ever since.

Have you had any martial arts experience before joining us?

I started karate classes for a few weeks in Seattle before my family moved to the east coast but I can’t remember anything other than some rudimentary basics. I had a self defense course or two during college but everything I know about karate I have really learned at FMK.

What made you want to join our school?

Who wouldn’t want to study karate here? FMK is the best karate school on the planet. Our Sensei is a 10th degree grand master who has an honorary doctorate in karate and a phenomenal human being. No other karate school can top that. Every time I visit the dojo I feel better about myself and the world around me. I have always been so impressed with how our school represents itself and the conduct of our students is exemplary.

What do you think makes our school so special and unique?
FMK has all the essential elements of what the best karate school should have. Sensei empowers his students as he urges us to be the best we can be. Sensei teaches us to not only be good karate students but be kind gentle and good to others. Our school is truly the place of the way of karate. There is no other place like it I have ever known. I really wouldn’t want to study karate anywhere else.

What are your other interests and hobbies?
Comedy and humor keep me sane; I couldn’t live without laughing once or twice a day. It’s probably why I have so much fun learning from Sensei because he can absolutely crack me up. I adore Japanese cinema and culture, I always have. I am really into films particularly science fiction and classic monster movies, but that sort of goes hand in hand with all my computer geekness. I have been an active artist for years and draw and paint and love Photoshop and computer graphics. I love spending time with my wife and daughter with whatever free moments I have with them. Lately fatherhood has taken up most of my free time. I really love it though.

Do you have any messages or advice for people here?

Go to Sensei’s classes. I have not been able to make it to a great deal of them lately and believe me it just hurts you, badly. Make whatever time, how little it may be, so you can to study at the dojo. Help Sensei with the school in any way you can by helping out with cleaning or any activity that supports the dojo. Do not be afraid to ask questions or be afraid of doing something wrong FMK is here for you. No matter what life throws at you this school is a place where you can grow stronger. Just stick with it and don’t give up. Sensei is one of the greatest teachers I have ever known. As his students we should remember that it is our privilege to learn from him as he gives us more than one hundred percent of himself.

Roberson Museum’s Karate Day

FMK Karate participated in Roberson Museum’s Karate Day with a Demonstration on May 22nd 2010. Although we did not have much of an audience, the turnout on behalf of our school and our families was phenomenal. I feel that everyone who participated should be recognized for their involvement and dedication to our school.

I learned a very valuable lesson on this day, I am very lucky to attend a school that embodies the true ideals behind karate and what it stands for. Our Sensei values how people should be treated and teaches his students to be kind gentle and good to others. As his students we know what it means to be a student of karate and how important it is to respect others and the world around us. I have to admit when I left the museum that day I felt proud of our school and how we represent ourselves to the local community.
Funakoshi stated that, “He who would study Karate-Do must always strive to be inwardly humble and outwardly gentle. Karate begins and ends with courtesy.” Karate is not only a means of self-defense; it is also a sport and philosophy and a way of Life.
Although the public turnout at the demonstration was practically nonexistent, we received a huge amount of public exposure through this event. Photos from the demonstration were featured in the newspaper and we were on a television segment that rotated through the entire weekend. The museum staff was very impressed with us and we have been offered spots to return and demonstrate again throughout the coming year.
After speaking with the staff, I want to make sure that everyone who was there knows that we made a very positive impression and will ensure our involvement in future classes or demonstrations . I feel very fortunate that I had the opportunity to take part in an event that also was a great learning experience.

"Some people think a martial artist has to be tough against everybody - that's not true at all. A martial artist has to be strong against bad people. But we must also be able to know and understand the feelings, moods and mentalities of good and bad individuals before we can comprehend when to be strong and when to be gentle."
- Tsutomu Ohshima