The Shotokan Karate-Do Club will celebrate its 30th anniversary this fall, much in part to the strong leadership and devotion of founder and chief instructor, Sensei Deddy Mansyur. The UH alumnus began the program while still a student.
"I started the program through the Campus Activities, similar to the continuing education as a non-credit," Mansyur said. "All together I’ve been doing (karate) for about 45 years. It’s part of my life."
Mansyur believes there is more to karate than just physicality. He finds mental discipline essential to his teachings and provides students with a deep, universal understanding.
"I not only train people here in the physical aspect, but I also try to instill the mental philosophy behind that. The body can only go so far on its own," he said.
A typical club meeting features focus meditation, various skill exercises and sparring practices. The members, or "karateka," come from a wide range of ethnic groups. More than nine languages are spoken among them, and Mansyur loves the diversity.
"They come from around the world. It’s such a beautiful thing (to see) people come together around karate," he said.
The practitioners’ academic pursuits are equally diverse. Shotokan Karate-Do Club President Jennifer Oteri plans to attend medical school, and former President Mimi Hoang is in the process of obtaining a law degree.
The longevity of karateka attendance impresses Mansyur.
"We have people (who) started with me in undergrad, then graduate, and then they finished school and they’re still training as alumni," he said.
The club itself is the oldest of its kind in Houston, something Mansyur could never have foreseen.
"I didn’t really plan for it to be that far, 30 years. I got my undergrad degree… then started my post graduate work… and then this program’s still going on," he said.
A fifth-degree black belt, Mansyur still wears his original black belt, which he earned in December 1976. Although it’s a bit worse for wear, he continues to use it for sentimental value.
"I use the same belt from when I got my first-degree black belt. There’s something about this… I don’t know what… some voodoo or whatever," he said jokingly. "I never changed or tried to get a new one… but I have to be careful. When I pull on it I don’t want pull too hard or the black will come off."
When asked how long he planned to continue with the club, Mansyur said in jest.
"I’d like to see 30 more years," he said. "But no, I don’t want to go by a number because this is a part of your life. Take a look at the Rolling Stones for instance. That’s amazing right? They’re all 60-something. They love to do that, they love to do music, they love to sing, they love to entertain. So I want to do like that, with martial arts. As long as you love doing whatever you do," he said.
Finally, Mansyur’s overall philosophy on self defense is surprisingly unique, and elegantly simple.
"When people ask me, ‘What do you know about self defense?’ they have a hard time understanding my answer, which is usually, ‘Get along with people.’ They think there’s supposed to be guns and all this. No. I have my own thinking about self defense. Really enjoy life, and everybody’s your friend. That’s self defense."
The Shotokan Karate-Do Club meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays in the University Center, World Affairs Lounge. For more information, visit the Shotokan Karate-Do Club at UH Web site at www.uh.edu/shotokan.
