A Footprint on the Sands of Life
by
Carl Smith, O'Sensei, Karakido Karate

It is with a great deal of pride that I find on my list of karate students the name of
Grand Master Roger Jones.
He is not only a gifted martial artist but also a man I am proud to call a dear friend.
Throughout time there have always been those individuals who "stand tall" in their chosen professions. They have the ability to recognize, innovate and implement change to established norms. Grand Master Jones' lifelong contribution to the martial arts, and more particularly to the creation and establishment of Karakido as a viable new American martial art style, has certainly earned him the honor and title of "Founder and Grand Master of Karakido."
Grand Master Jones has incorporated techniques from Karate, Akido, Jujitsu, and Judo into his own personal techniques, philosophy and forms, developed over the thirty years he has studied the arts, to achieve an outstanding and effective new martial arts style.
His outstanding ability to teach has created some of the finest students and competitors in the country today. His work with children and his development of a tournament platform that showcases their abilities was instrumental in setting and implementing a new national standard in children's competition.

To leave a footprint on the sands of life is the dream of most people --
Grand Master Jones' print is distinctive and deep.

Karakido Karate.

The purpose of this book is to provide Karakido students with a useful study guide as they progress through the program. It contains all the basics and other essential information required for this purpose. What it does not contain is the hours of physical and mental effort required to make it all come together in the creation of a martial artist.

It is up to the student to supply those missing ingredients. In that respect, the book contains no magic, no secrets of the universe. It will only help those who have the determination to master the physical elements and mental disciplines that combine in this unique program called Karakido.

The story of Karakido Karate is the story of Roger Jones, founder and Grand Master of Karakido. Roger was born in Asheville in 1946, and began his martial arts studies with a course in Judo in High School in 1963. He began to study karate in 1964, and reached the rank of
Shodan in JuJitsu in 1967 and in Shotokan in 1969. In 1969 he won the U.S.
Men's National Championship in Black Belt fighting and Forms.
By the late 1970's Roger had a successful dojo (karate school) in Asheville. As he had grown in reputation and knowledge he began to question some of the precepts of the traditional styles.
He knew that during the years he was competing nationwide in the major tournaments he had not fought in the manner he had been trained. Instead he used stances, blocks, punches and
kicks that seemed more natural; and were certainly more effective.
Roger codified these changes and gradually incorporated them into his teaching. He pointed out to his students that many traditional stances and kicks were set down by old Samurai's who had lost their horses. They clumped about on the ground as though the dead steed was still beneath them.
It really wasn't very useful or practical, and only a hidebound traditionalist
would make a case for continuing it.

In 1977 he changed from teaching traditional karate to a new style he called Karakido.
The word means to "open yourself to the way of inner power" and Grand Master Jones explains it thoroughly later on in this book. Suffice it to say the changes he put into place were revolutionary. The new style included stances, blocks, kicks and punches that were developed from a modern day appreciation of the kinetics of the human body, as well as a totally new philosophy
that largely dispensed with oriental mystique.
The short-term result was that two thirds of the school's students quit. They wanted traditional training so that eventually they could say they had a black belt in one of the popular styles.
The long term results, however, was the graduation of students with unequaled martial arts skills.
Unequaled? Look at the facts. How many national champions are produced by your typical martial arts school? One? Two in a lifetime? Maybe. By the end of 1992, Grand Master Jones's Karkido style has produced 20 national champions in a variety of belt classes and competitions.
That's incredible. Roger Jones only teaches a few hundred students each year,
and more than 500 have reached the rank of Shodan, First Degree Black Belt.
Continuing the break with tradition, Karakido is based on Judaic/Christian philosophy.
God is mentioned in every class. Students are instructed to thank Him for all that they have,
and to believe in Him to find the strength they will need to overcome evil as they go through life. Students are taught that God is the source of our inner power.
Anything we achieve we owe to His presence within us.
When you enroll in Karakido you have made a decision that may well change your life.
You've made a decision to better yourself, to improve your self respect, and to gain respect for others. You will find that Karakido is many things; it is a style of fighting, a series of exercises, and continuing flow of movements, a mental framework, a promise never to quit; never to allow someone or something else to control your life; and never again to live in fear.
Grand Master Roger Jones ~ Karakido Karate: