Most martial arts instructors in the area are unaware of what “Weapon Arts” means or what depth and breadth of such arts is possible.

Quality Traditional Weapon Arts are, as a rule, severely lacking in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) area, except for several Japanese Sword arts and a few others weapons that are taught as higher-level training in a number of traditional empty-hand styles. These higher-level arts are not usually even shown to those outside of the particular traditional art. This shortage in the Twin Cities is similar in most of the US. It is no wonder, then, that even most martial arts instructors in the area are unaware of what “Weapon Arts” means or what depth and breadth of such arts is possible.

...students in these competition-oriented schools are often unaware of the poor quality of their own and their instructors' skills. The blind are often judging the blind, as it were.

Most martial arts dojos in the Twin Cities area that offer weapon instruction fall into one of two categories: They are either traditional dojos whose style offers traditional weapons training as part of their style, or they are a competition (or business) -oriented school. This second type of school usually offers weapons as an additional means to make money and an additional opportunity to compete. The weapons skills taught at these schools are generally poor but flashy. Since students in these types of schools are often taught to think of “winning” competitions as defining “quality,” they are often unaware of the poor quality of their own and their instructors’ skills. The blind are often judging the blind, as it were.

While the weapon skills taught as part of traditional styles, on the other hand, are usually of good quality, they are often times limited in diversity of weapons and/or amount of content. They also often require the student to be at a high level of the associated empty-hand art to understand or be allowed to participate in the weapons instruction.

...how to use a staff, stick, sword, knife, spear, etc., to decisively stop an attacker.

The Weapon Arts program at East-West Karate consists of high quality, practical, self-defense-oriented training in a variety of separate, but often related, traditional Weapon Arts—That is, how to use a staff, stick, sword, knife, spear, etc., to decisively stop an attacker. They are designed to be taught separately and do not require any particular empty-hand knowledge, (though one's skills in both areas are enhanced when one studies both concurrently). The arts in the program originate from a variety of traditional styles and students can direct their own path, but the core foundation of the program is a formalized elite Okinawan weapons style known as Matayoshi Kobudo, which contains 14+ weapons itself.

In addition to training individuals who are interested in learning real quality Weapon Arts, part of the aim of the East-West Karate Weapon Arts Program is to raise the awareness of what quality Weapon Arts are and to propagate the teaching of these arts so that the quality of weapons training in general is increased.

Part of the aim of the East-West Karate Weapon Arts Program is to raise the awareness of what quality Weapon Arts are.

Therefore, those wishing to lean to teach are also encouraged to participate in the program. It should be noted, however, that the standards of quality for those ultimately authorized to teach are quite high. You actually have to be a proficient practitioner before being taught how to teach. It is also recognized that doing and teaching are different skills. Those interested in teaching should ask for details.