Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Nolan
Hi Dan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
“The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants” – Gichin Funakoshi, founder of modern day Karate.
I began training in traditional martial arts at the age of 18 when I started college in 1987. Learning and mastering the arts became a passion of mine and I trained, and still train, every day. I eventually obtained my first black belt in Karate in 1999, and my black belt in Jujitsu in 2002. Eventually my master enlisted me into an instructor training program, where I obtained black belt ranking in other arts, such as samurai sword, and obtained first my Sensei (instructor), and then eventually my Shihan (master instructor) gradings. Since 2005 I have run a dojo, Dallas Juko-kai, serving as the dojo headmaster. In this time I have learned more about the martial arts, about myself, and about life than ever before. “When one teaches, two learn.”
I could say a lot about the ways in which the martial arts has shaped my life, but in the interest of time I will just say I don’t know what I would have done without the arts. One of my first instructors inspired me to develop my own unique motto which I think may sum it up: “Honor, Discipline, Respect, Humility, Patients, Forgiveness, Faith, Determination, Compassion Strength, Knowledge, Wisdom, and Truth”. I added words to my motto as I learned through my training and in life, until I decided this list said it all, and remained easy to remember.
Today, I am the head instructor at Juko-Kai Dallas Karate & Jujitsu Academy, where my passion for the martial arts is helping students of all levels from beginner to advanced achieve their goals through physical conditioning and proper technique.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
“Iron is full of impurities that weaken it; through forging it becomes steel and can be transformed into a razor-sharp sword. Human beings develop in the same fashion.” – O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido
Life is indeed a rocky road, and mine has been no different. I grew up in a middle class family with loving parents, a father who worked for the government, a stay home mother, and one brother. Because of my father’s work, we moved every 3 -5 years, so it felt like we really never settled into any one place, or community, for that matter. It was different being the new kid in school, but we always found friends in every place. What made this life possible was how our small family trusted, loved and supported each other. What perhaps was to become the hard part was leaving the family for the “out-there” world, which I eventually came to learn was not like the trusting environment of my small family unit. I guess you could say that setting out on my own for college and into the work force was where I really “grew up”.
Probably the most pivotal period of my life came in a period from my late 20s into my early 30s. I was eight years into a high-tech corporate career, going to night school for my MBA, training for my first black belt when my son was born. This equated to very little sleep, I’ll just leave it at that. In 2001, due to corporate layoffs during the “Dot-com Bubble”, I lost that job, and went through the most difficult period of my life. Sparing the details, I eventually pulled through it, and I can say with conviction that the “crutch” that got me through it was my martial arts training. It gave me the resolve and determination to regain my confidence and build a new path to success.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
While I do have a day job in Commercial Banking, my passion is teaching martial arts. I am the founder of Juko-Kai Dallas Karate & Jujitsu Academy (www.dallasjujitsu.com) which is associated with my master’s organization, Juko-Kai International (www.jukokai.com).
Since we’ve opened, we’ve been dedicated to changing the lives of people one person at a time, through martial arts, education and coaching. We strive to provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for all students and family members. We take pride in creating an environment for individuals to achieve, develop and succeed in their personal goals.
We strongly believe that martial arts can be for everyone, regardless of age, gender or experience levels. Throughout all of our programs, students will not only learn the necessary skill sets to protect themselves, we stand behind our realistic and practical approach, confident it will enable every member to achieve greatness and live their best life..
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I have left Dallas to live elsewhere three times, and each time ended up back in Dallas, I call it the boomerang effect. So, I call Dallas my home, and I really do love this city. I like the climate, including strangely enough the hot summers, the food, the entertainment, access to travel, the career opportunities, the culture and the people. I could summarize it by saying that every time I leave for a trip, whether for business or personal, it always feels great to be home. If I must say one thing I like least about the city it is that I just wish the city could do a better job of maintaining our roads, I really don’t like fixing a tire or the suspension because of pot holes. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dallasjujitsu.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jukokai_dallas?igsh=ODk5dTFlY3A1cGNk&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/YWnNvNwMcjRYKuAR/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
All phots are the property of Juko-Kai Dallas Karate & Jujitsu Academy.
