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Interview: Master Jose Otero

Name: José Otero Style: Goshin Jutsu
Rank: Rokudan
School: Goshin Jutsu Karate Club

Q.. How long have you been practicing the Martial Arts?

A. Over twenty years. I started when I was about 11 years old.

Q. Why did you start studying the martial arts?

A. Like most young boys, I thought karate would be cool and make me tough and fearless. I had been bullied by other kids before, so when I heard that the man who had just moved in next door was a karate instructor, I worked up the courage to ask him to teach me.

Q. How has your karate changed over the years?

A. My first instructor emphasized conditioning and development of a martial spirit over the development of technique. Over the years, I began to learn the finer points of karate and started focusing on the technical aspects of the art. Today, I hope that my karate is strong in both technique and spirit.

Q. Who have you studied under?

A. Joaquin Morrow, Matt Durant, Larry Roiz, Steve Capela, and many others who were willing to share their knowledge with me.

Q. What are your personal beliefs about training?

A. I believe that karate training helps a person discover his or her strengths. The more energy, spirit, and emotion one puts into his or her training, then the more strength he or she will discover. Therefore, it is important that the karateka put forth 100% in training.

Q. What do you feel is the proper ratio of kata to kumite in training?

A. Although kata training is necessary before a student begins kumite, no aspect of training is more important than another. As long as the karateka is mentally focused on the training at hand, it will be beneficial.

Q. Do you have any funny or interesting karate stories you would like to share?

A. One of the reasons I wanted to train with Sensei Capela is because of an incident at Rick Johnson's dojo in Warren, PA. Sensei Capela was conducting a seminar on kumite techniques and he asked me to come out on the floor and spar with him. I had never sparred with Sensei Capela or seen him spar before. I was in my stance and ready when he somehow got a hold of me and took me down with a leg scissors. I had never seen anyone take a person down with a leg scissors in a kumite match before and I was shocked that he had done this to me. Later, he taught me how to do the leg scissors properly and for months all I did in kumite in the dojo was leg scissors. I had learned that any technique could be applied in kumite; it was just a matter of knowing how to do it.

Q. How do you feel about full contact kick boxing and the mixed martial arts?

A. I think kickboxing and mixed martial arts are exciting sports. Unfortunately, sports tend to shift the emphasis in activities away from enjoying the activity to winning and defeating another person. We should always remember that karate is an activity for everyone to enjoy and benefit from and not only for those who are athletically talented and competitively motivated.

Q. Could you tell us a little about your school?

A. I recently closed my school and reopened a new dojo with all of my black belts taking part in the operations.

Q. Do you have a new location/address for your new school?

A. We're now at 5647 Peach street above Amish Kitchens.

Q. Will it be called Goshin Jutsu Karate Club? (Mr. Otero’s previous school was called Otero Goshin Jutsu)

A. Yes. Although I'll remain the head instructor, it is no longer "my" dojo, but "our" dojo and we felt it was only right to remove my name.

Q. How many (the number) of your black belts will you have involved?

A. Currently, I have eight black belts are actively practicing at the dojo.

Q. In what capacity will they be involved?

A. The black belts as a whole help to make decisions about testing, class schedules, etc. Joe Johnson, Fred Beckman, Mike Zielinski, and Darren Italiani form the core of this group and teach classes at the dojo on a regular basis.

Q. What programs will you offer?

A. We have classes for 5-9 year olds, 10-15 year olds, and 16 and up. We also have a Saturday class for all ages

Q. Do you have any programs or events that you would like to promote or talk about?

A. Hopefully, we will have a grand-opening seminar at our new dojo in the near future.

Q. Is there any one you would like to thank or send a message to?

A. There would be too many people to thank for too many things, but anything that I've accomplished in the martial arts or life was due to the help of others and I am grateful.

Q. Do you have any advise for the karate students who will read this?

A. The most important thing in karate is to keep training. Every time you get out on the floor, it is a victory.

Thank you for your time