Interview with Sensei Kris Green

      How long have you been training?

I started in 1991, but had to take time off for knee problems for a few years, then got back into it and had to take time off after getting hit by an SUV while riding my bike in a perfectly legal and responsible fashion. But I’ve been back solidly for almost 5 years now.

What martial arts have you studied?

I’ve studied karate primarily, with Ken Jutsu (art of the boken) coming second. But I’ve also learned and taught some Tai Chi (Yang short form). I’ve been exposed to techniques from Aiki, Jujitsu, and other styles, but only at a very surface level.

What do you love most about the martial arts?

It’s a lot of fun, it’s challenging and it keeps me fit. I’m in better overall shape now than in my 20’s. In fact, martial arts was the first activity that I both liked and had to work hard to improve. I liked that challenge. And the breaks I took for injuries really helped me see how much I was missing. Another benefit is providing me an outlet emotionally and spiritually; the self-discipline and self-awareness have been VITAL to getting where I am today.

How did you first become involved in the martial arts?

My first college roommate wanted to check out the karate club at school. It was Isshinryu-based and a lot of his high school friends had done Isshinryu. I stuck with it; he didn’t.

What is your proudest moment in the dojo?

I think that would have to be seeing and hearing the reactions to what Sensei Lee and I prepared for our second degree test. We really worked hard on those interpretations of the kata, and having everyone react the way they did was extremely gratifying.

Where do you see your training going in the next five years?

I hope to still be on my seigan, first of all. Second, I hope to be more patient and aware; right now, I get very impatient in sparring. I don’t like to wait for my opponent, even though that is extremely important, and always backfires when I don’t wait. I also hope to have helped a few students progress to their next level of training. I’m thinking about some of the green belts, in particular.

What is your favorite technique, kata, or other activity in the dojo?

I love Kusanku. I think that kata is really complex and has a lot of layers to it, as evidenced by the “strange applications” Sensei Lee and I demonstrated a our second degree test. I also like sparring a lot.

How have the martial arts changed who you are?

Believe it or not, I’m a calmer person when I practice regularly. My mental focus is better. I’m happier. In high school, I had a lot of nicknames that were related to my dour personality. Now I’m much more pleasant to be around.

Photo by: Kathleen Vona