Sifu testimony from Carlos

The truth points to itself: there is no reason to try and convince you through descriptions of technique or prowess how extraordinary a martial artist Teacher Dyrø is. Those of you who have never taken a self-defence class will have no context to compare it to, while those who have will want to try it first hand before your doubts are erased and/or your hopes justified. In the end, it’s not what he’s given me, but what I will give those who I’ve yet to meet that I hope will persuade you to step onto his martial path.

The truth points to itself: a true martial path doesn’t teach you to defend your life, but the qualities needed to best live it. A fight, a true physical altercation, is the last link in a long chain of events that have to come together to occur. Time, place, internal and external influences, and particularly the person(s) involved all have to create the exact combination for a life threatening situation to occur. Proper training teaches you how to remove any one of those factors so the chain of events is either broken or lessened to the point where the potential harm can be minimized. Can danger present itself at any time? Absolutely, but the reality is that the greatest percentage of our lives is going to be spent in the average, everyday comings and goings of our lives--and not in combat.

Any worthwhile teacher will tell you what qualities you need to survive an attack: the ability to remain calm, focus and awareness of your surroundings, patience to analyze the situation, concentration, the discipline to have practiced the techniques you’ve been taught, the determination to know that you will survive, and the drive to see that through. These are just a few of the numerous skills that are brought to bear into a life-threatening situation, but this is not where you will need them most. If something that you invest so much of your time and effort into can only be applied in the extremes/smallest percentage of circumstances, then what real value does it have?

The truth points to itself: these are the same qualities we need everyday in all aspects of our lives. Patience in raising children, concentration at work, the determination to move ahead and advance in our careers, the focus to properly gauge and manage our finances, the drive and faith needed to overcome the bad times in marriages and relationships. Is there anyone who wouldn’t want to absorb and master as many of these qualities as possible? Whether you are learning basic self-defence or fully immersing yourself in a martial way of living, these are just some of the skills that training under Teacher Dyrø can offer. A true teacher of the martial path understands that what we are truly trying to defend is our ability to lead the best life possible, and the skills we are trying to acquire and hone are the ones we will put to the test in the biggest fight of all: daily life.

This is where the truth has pointed me to after twelve years of training under a true master. The fact that some people spend lifetimes training in the martial arts and are never lead to this fundamental truth is the strongest testament to the heart and depth of Teacher Dyrø’s skills I can offer. As martial tradition requires that a teacher make his students better than they are in as many areas of study as possible, this is what I’ve tried to pass on to my own students, by making a better life for ourselves, those around us, and those we have yet to meet.

--Carlos Alverio