The Karate 5 Organization will periodically interview well-known 
Masters to get their views  on a number of topics. The words of the 
Masters are their views on the selected topics.  Grandmaster 
Maurice Msarsa interviewed Master Diane Ortenzio-Cooling and 
here it is, in her own words:
  
1-MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING.

  a--Where and why did you start your martial arts training?
 
In 1979, Harrisburg, PA. I was young and working in a not-so-great 
part of the city. When the security guards were afraid to walk outside, 
I knew I had better learn something to defend myself. Not knowing 
anything about martial arts, I contacted the closest school and they 
just happened to be teaching Isshin-Ryu.

   b--Are you a pure Isshinryu practitioner? What other martial arts 
       training have you received?
 
I guess I am. I've attended workouts and seminars by instructors of 
other styles and arts, but never anything for a period of time. Those 
classes were jujitsu, kenpo, kyusho-jitsu, and a number of others.
 
   c--What are your thoughts about cross training?
 
Cross training is appropriate when the student reaches a certain rank. 
Until they are at least a brown or black belt, I think they should spend 
their time learning the basics of Isshin-Ryu very well. That doesn't mean 
they can't/shouldn't be exposed to other arts, but not to the point that it 
becomes a diversion from their core art.

Once a student reaches black belt, cross training can be a great way to 
open the mind and learn more about Isshin-Ryu. By taking seminars and 
meeting other martial artists, they will be exposed to new ideas as well 
as other ways to explain what they already know. 

 
   d--In your opinion, is there a brotherhood/sisterhood in the disciplines 
     of the martial arts?

To a degree. Martial arts is still a competitive discipline at its core. 
Each of us likes to think that whatever art we do is the best, and that 
makes it tough to learn from each other.

2-TRAINING AT THE DOJO.

  In your opinion, and as you have observed training at other dojos:

  a--Has the extent, the level, and the type of training changed from 
      the early days to the present? What do you think of the kumite pads?

Since I started, yes. I believe instruction has matured and become 
better, because we have access to more information. Until the 80's 
there were few books, no internet, and traveling was too expensive. 
Now there is much more of a sharing of information and ideas. 

I began training when cloth pads were mainly used, and then progressed 
to the dipped-foam type. I know many people lament the good old days with 
no pads, but I would rather be without the contusions, pains, and sprains 
so I can face a street altercation in good shape.

  b--Are some dojos sacrificing good hand-to-hand/street techniques training 

     (karate-do) in favor of flashy and tournament skills (karate-show)?

I'm sure there are. It's easy to get into permanent "tournament mode" when 
you attend a lot of competitive events. In order to be a good competitor, 
you have to train for that. 

In my dojo, we tend to shift gears from competitive mode to street application 
mode quite a bit. In the organization that I belong to (the Order of Isshin-Ryu), 
I'm required to teach my students techniques that work in the street and make 
sure they can apply them. That's the basis for their promotion through the ranks, 
not how many wins they get at a tournament.

3-WOMEN IN THE MARTIAL ARTS.

  a--Do you think that women are at ease and are treated equally and fairly in the

     historically male dominated martial arts?

It's much better today than it was when I started, and I can't imagine what 
it was like in the 60's and early 70's. Women are much more accepted as 
students today. However, there are still instructors out there who take 
advantage of their naive female students. I wish I could say we are all 
beyond that, but it's out there. 

There are times today when I attend open tournaments where many of 
the male referees don't know me. They dismiss me as just some woman 
with a black belt on, as if I couldn't possibly fight for real. That is, until 
they see me work the ring or perform a demonstration.  It's never been 
that way at Isshin-Ryu events, but maybe our folks are just more 
enlightened than the rest.

  b--What needs to be done to get more women interested in the martial arts?

     Do you have a special program to recruit female students?

I don't have an answer for that one. I wish I did. I think women will always 
be the minority in most dojos because we are the primary caregivers of the 
family. When a kid is sick, or meals need to be cooked, or something at 
home has to get done, a woman will almost always make that a priority and 
the dojo will have to wait. It's the way we are wired. 

In my case, I was 19, unmarried, and had no children when I started training. 
Most of my dates thought it was terribly weird for a woman to be involved in 
martial arts, so I was single for a long time. That just cleared my social 
calendar for more training, so it worked for me in the long run.

  c—Do you believe that women are receiving the proper training and techniques

     to be able to defend themselves  when attacked on the street?

Absolutely, if they stay in the dojo and train. 

4-TOURNAMENTS AND SHIAIS.

  a--What is your opinion of tournaments and shiais? Are they worth the time,

     effort, and cost to participate and support?

Tournaments and shiais are great opportunities to learn and grow as a 
karate-ka. Whether you win or not, as a competitor you test your spirit 
and perseverance. 

But all things change over time. Years ago, there were only a few tournaments 
each year and it was no big deal to travel to a few. Now there are tournaments 
all year all over the country. How can people possibly attend them all? With all 
of the modern conveniences, we have less free time than ever before.

And thanks to our legal system, no one can run a tournament without insurance. 
The cost to put on a tournament has skyrocketed, so entry fees are more 
expensive. How can most people afford to attend all of them?

I think instructors need to be reasonable in the expectations of their students.

  b--You have excelled in the tournament circuit. Do you have any special training

     routine that helps you train for these events? Do you have a favorite kata?

I don't have a favorite kata, but during my competitive years I would pick a kata 
for the year. That is the one I would work with most, breaking it down, performing 
it slowly in front of a mirror, trying to demonstrate the essence of it. 

The only issue I have is that in Isshin-Ryu at least 4 kata are almost never 
performed for competition (Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchin) and another two 
are seldom performed (Wansu, Sanchin). What a waste! Every black belt 
has sat as a referee and seen 12 people in a row perform either Chinto, 
Kusanku, or Sunsu. I would love to see someone get out there and show 
me Seisan like they're on fire!

  c-- Now we have men and women divisions. What is your opinion about combining

     both into one kata division…separating by kyu or dan ranks? Will it be fair to 

     the men? To the women? 

I would be in favor of combining kata divisions. Kata should be scored
 based on the efficiency of the competitor. 

We haven't had separate men's and women's divisions in the OI in over 
20 years, in kata or kumite. Women have won at times in both. For large 
tournaments, I think it would jazz things up a bit, as well as set a new 
standard for competition.

5-ISSHINRYU IN THE USA.

  a--At the present there are over a dozen Isshinryu associations in the USA. Most of

     them seem to get along at events such as the IHOF weekend. Other than that,

     they are independent in their promotions and how they conduct business.

     Do you believe that Isshinryu in the USA could, or should, be united under one

     banner? If united, would it be an advantage or disadvantage to do so?

I think the only person who could have held us all together under one roof 
was Tatsuo Shimabuku. Even if someone had enough charisma, hutzpah, and 
respect to pull us together, there would be many who would quit the 
organization because we have different ideas on rank and conduct. Americans 
have a "cowboy" nature - we are all very independent thinkers. That, 
combined with the sheer logisitics of trying to manage a group of that 
size, would make it impossible to accomplish.

On the other hand, people join an organization because it shares the 
same ideals. A group of like-minded individuals can accomplish great 
things. The sum becomes greater than the parts. That doesn't mean 
that everyone in the group must do things exactly the same, rather 
they can bring fresh ideas to accomplish the goals of the group.  With 
a smaller organization the members can communicate better.

  b--Do you see any rising stars in Isshinryu that can step up and accept the 

     leadership roles as more of the “old timers” fade away?

I can only comment on the organization to which I belong, and I can say that 
it is grooming senior belts to someday take leadership positions within our group.

  c-- What is your opinion of the rate and number of promotions to Master and 

     Grandmaster…Are we flooded with the number of people wearing Red and

     Red/white belts? Should there be a more unified and strict standards used

     by all the associations. Are women being treated fairly at that level of

     promotions? 

The number of people studying Isshin-Ryu has increased tremendously, 
and likewise we have many organizations these days. It only follows that 
the number of red & white belts and higher would increase. Because I believe 
there should be standards for all rank, I belong to an organization that is in 
line with my beliefs. I've always had a problem with any instructor who 
promotes individuals based only on their time in grade. There should be 
other measurable criteria where the candidate can demonstrate their 
growth in knowledge and skill, starting with being able to perform all the 
kata in the Isshin-Ryu system.


Having strict and unified standards will never happen, for the same 
reason we all will never belong to one organization.

In my experience, women are being treated fairly. There are fewer women 
red/white belts because there are fewer women still training after many years.

  d-- I watched a documentary on TV filmed at some of the dojos

     and at one tournament in Okinawa. All 6th – 10th dan senseis wore black belts…

     no red or red/white belts. Is this something that will be possible or probable here 

     in the USA? 

I don't think so. Rank is more important to Americans. A few years ago, 
I read an article that stated that red/white belts were used for formal 
occasions in Okinawa, such as gradings and promotion ceremonies. For 
working out in the dojo, a plain black belt was used. I like that concept, 
and have incorporated that into my dojo.

6-LEGACY

  How do you want to be remembered?

That I earned my place among my peers, that I always tried to do the 
right thing, and that I was loyal to a fault.

What would you like for your legacy to be?

That my dojo will continue to be strong mentally, physically, and sprititually, 
and have a strong sense of obligation to family, community, and country.