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Pellman Sensei Takes the Road Less Traveled

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In the mid-1990's, Taekwondo dominated the martial arts community in the greater Denver area, with a dojang in nearly every strip mall and the recreation centers blanketed with Taekwondo programs. There were only a handful of traditional Japanese dojo, and few of them were financially successful -- most were operated as clubs, whose incomes barely met their operating expenses. So, the offer of a $22,000 loan and promotion to 8th dan was extremely tempting, particularly since Pellman Sensei was still more familiar with the Korean martial arts community than the Japanese. The move also seemed justifiable in some respects: it would be an opportunity for Pellman Sensei to introduce what he believed were the deeper principles of Japanese karate-do to the arts that had been derived from it . . . .

But, at the back of Pellman Sensei's mind was the sense that he would be selling out his first love for money, fame, and prestige. He would be living a pretense. "How could I stand before a class of eager students and talk about living with personal integrity," Pellman explains, "Knowing that I was teaching the principles of Shito-Ryu disguised as Taekwondo? How could I demand that my students exercise self-discipline when I had taken the easy way?" Not without some reluctance, Pellman Sensei declined the offer, choosing instead to teach iaijutsu and Shito-Ryu karate-do out of his home and in public parks to a select handful of students until moving back to the San Diego area in mid-1996.

With Rancho San Diego Karate still operating upon his return to San Diego, Pellman Sensei opened his new dojo as the Seishin-Kan, and finalized his transition to exclusively Japanese martial arts. His return to the San Diego area also allowed he and Shimabukuro Shihan to complete the two-volume set of instruction videos, Shindo Muso-Ryu Jodo for Panther Video later that year.

In August, 2000 Pellman Sensei received his MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree from Webster University. He was immediately hired as an adjunct professor of business and technology at Christian Heritage College in El Cajon, California -- a liberal arts college founded by Dr. Tim LaHaye, the author of the best-selling Left Behind books. Two months later, Pellman Sensei took the promotion examination for, and was awarded yondan (4th degree Black Belt) in Shito-Ryu karate-do.

"Sometimes I think about the fact that if I had started in Shito-Ryu to begin with, I would probably be rokudan (6th degree Black Belt) by now, and eligible to test for Renshi (master)," Pellman Sensei admits,."And I feel a momentary twinge of regret, because I'm human and I enjoy prestige and recognition as much as anyone. But that feeling passes quickly, because I know I would have been on a different path than I am now -- a path that might not have led me to Shima Sensei, that might not have given me the depth of knowledge I now have, might not have led me to iaijutsu, and so many other blessings in my life. Who knows? It may have even led me to a different wife . . . and that would mean a different family, different children, different friends, even a different career. And I would not trade the life I have now for any rank or title!"

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads onto way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference"

-- Robert Frost

As the 20th century came to a close, it seemed that all the pieces were falling into place for Pellman Sensei. The Seishin-Kan had developed a well-respected, growing program of karate instruction at the El Cajon Recreation Center, and he was establishing himself in the academic community in the San Diego area. But the dawn of a new millennium would offer yet another path . . . another opportunity . . . and another painfully difficult choice for Pellman Sensei, and after weeks of thought, discussion, and prayer he would yet again venture down the road less traveled.

To follow Pellman Sensei in his most recent journey, click here to go to the next page--

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