Hello World! -- Introduction: My Martial Arts "Credentials"

Hello, my name is Sean P. Carrigan (Not the actor of the same name that shows up when you Google my name).

I've trained in the martial arts since I was three years old. I'm thirty six years old now, however my active training and practice in the martial arts probably comes to about twenty-five spread out in different styles.

My father started teaching me Goju-Ryu Karate at age three.

I trained in Tae Kwon Do, Judo, and Hapkido at Tennesse Taekwondo Judo Center (TTJC) from age 9 to 13.

I trained in Tae Kwon Do under a 7th Degree Black Belt Korean Minister who I only remember as "Mok Sa Nim" for 1 year at age 15.

I trained in Tae Kwon Do under Master Rick Hall of Rick Hall's TKD Plus from age 16 to 20 and was ranked a 2nd Degree Black Belt through the United States Tae Kwon Do Alliance (USTA).

I joined the Navy in 1995 and served 6 years, attaining the rank of E-5 and the rating of Fire Controlman 2nd Class. As part of my service I trained in Physical Security, Small Arms Marksmanship, CQC (Hand to Hand), and Small Arms CQC.

While serving in the Navy I trained in Jeet Kune Do and Kali with my roommate Duane Walden, an instructor certified through Paul Vunak's Progressive Fighting Systems. I also trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Roy Harris who was affiliated with PFS at that time.

I started training in Bak Mei "White Eyebrow" Kung Fu in 2002 under Dr. Y.Q. Wong. I am continuing my training in Bak Mei under Sifu Luke Kilburn.

I actively search for opportunities to participate in training with other martial artists in order to expand my understanding of their styles and my perspective on the martial arts in general. So far I have done Modern Fencing (Epee and Foil) at UTC's Fencing Club. I have visited and either observed or participated in classes at Green's Karate (Hixson, TN) and the Black Dragon Martial Arts Academy (Hixson, TN). I continue to seek opportunities locally, nationally, and abroad to visit other martial artists and to participate on some level in their style's training.

I am owner and sole proprietor of Integrated Self Defense Services of Chattanooga and provide self-defense education, training, products, and Martial Arts consultation services. Currently this sounds more impressive than it really is since I started this business with no starting capital or location. I currently have 1 full time student and my main office is located at my split-level home where I've modified the downstairs to be a training gym, office, and kung fu studio (still undergoing renovations and remodelling). While it may seem humble I have a larger vision and plan for my business.

I plan on teaching Bak Mei Kung Fu as soon as I am authorized to do so. I will only be accepting a limited number of students at a time and they will be hand selected based on their character, personality, and dedication to learning a Traditional Chinese Martial Art. Bak Mei is a closed system and I will not be a commercially available teacher of that kung fu style.

Once I graduate and am authorized to teach Bak Mei I plan on continuing my training and practice of Bak Mei Kung Fu for the rest of my life. I also plan to take some time to train at two local martial arts schools, one in BJJ and one Kali (Arnis/Escrima) to refresh the skills I learned in my past study of those styles. Once I am satisfied with my refresher in BJJ and Kali then I hope to study Tai Chi Chuan under Dr. Zibn Guo. It is my wish to focus my training on mastering Bak Mei and being skilled in Tai Chi Chuan.

At age 13 I started studying the history and origins of the Martial Arts and as many styles as I could find resources from which to research. Since there is no academic field focused exclusively on the Martial Arts then I use the research methods I learned from high school and in college while studying for my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. If I write any academic type literature on the Martial Arts I use the APA style, not the MLA.

Outside of study, training and practice under a qualified Martial Arts instructor I have competed in several tournaments. The majority of them were Tae Kwon Do tournaments hosted by the USTA. I placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in both Forms and Sparring competition in every TKD tournament I attended. Some time in my high-school years I was ranked as "National 1st place 1st Degree Black Belt Men's Division in Forms Competition" but I don't consider that anything special since the "National" competition was restricted to only those members of the USTA who participated that year. I have participated in 2 of the Wong's People Traditional Kung Fu tournaments in Washington, D.C. I did not place in either of those two tournaments though I got a nice little trophy like memento that says runner up (I placed 3rd in forms but there was only 3 of us competing in the Southern Short Style division so I don't claim that as a "win") and a shiny medallion of participation.

Outside of formal training in the Martial Arts I have accumulated various practical experiences during my journey. During my childhood through adolescence my parents moved many times and as a result I was forced to move with them to new and interesting locations. I was born into poverty and grew up as my parents worked their way up the economic scale to settle into middle class suburbia. As a result of this and some other key experiences I was a troubled youth and was involved in many fights that ranged from trivial to serious.

Once I joined the Navy my scope of experience broadened to international ranges. While I was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy I was not a shining example of military professionalism and good conduct. During my service in the military I participated in competitive fight training (though I did not compete), occasionally got into fights for stupid reasons, and survived three fights for my life where the threat of imminent death or grave bodily harm was present.

I never kept a record of the number of fights I was in and I don't think that part of my experience is anything in which to take pride. I roughly estimate I have been in 40 fights, 3 of which involved weapons and qualify as combat. Of those fights I have been severely beaten and suffered injuries 5 times. While I'm not proud of those aspects of my martial arts experience the insights and lessons I learned are extremely valuable to my progress as a Martial Artist and has shaped the way I teach students.

This is the sum of my "credentials" as directly related to the technical training in and general knowledge of the martial arts.

This Blog entry is the first document in which I've concisely summarized my Martial Arts experience and credentials. I generally prefer to not share details about my experience and training with a general audience. I do so here to summarize my experience and training so persons reading this Blog can assess for themselves whether I am qualified to an authoritative opinion on the topics I explore.

I do not possess any certificates, letters, or licences from any Martial Arts Organizations (other than my 2nd degree Black Belt ranking through the USTA). I do not believe such credentials are any indication of authority or quality of knowledge in the field of the Martial Arts and do not seek to fill the walls of my gym with such certificates. I believe the depth of knowledge a person has can only be demonstrated by the individual and authority in the Martial Arts can only be confirmed by the ability of those claiming certain special skills to perform to the levels they profess. In the field of the Martial Arts I believe Masters can only be recognized and appointed as such by others withing the Martial Arts community who can judge a master's skills and discern the difference between the ability to recite knowledge and the ability to perform at extremely high skill levels. With that said, I am no master in any style of martial art. There are areas in which I am very skilled, there are areas in which I am weak, and there are areas in which I have only knowledge with no practical experience. In my writing I will be honest about my practical experience and abilities related to any specific topics I discuss and will differentiate between opinion based on research and opinion based on training combined with practical experience.

If anyone challenges my findings and views, asking "Who made you an authority and expert on the Martial Arts." I can only respond honsestly by saying, "I did. There is no one else qualified to appoint me as such and I got tired of waiting for someone that could to come along and hand me a piece of paper stating they verified my knowledge and skills are valid." There is no governing body to accredit Martial Artists as subject matter experts. In the United States there are no academic Universities awarding degrees in the Martial Arts field of study other than one in Bridgeport, CT; and even they only have a Bachelor's level Degree.

Anyone who challenges my authority and qualifications in the Martial Arts is invited by me to come and conduct any knowledge, skill and/or practical tests they feel necessary to confirm I am well educated and experienced enough to have both knowledge and insight sufficient to provide more than a biased opinion with no validity. The only conditions to the invitation is the challenging individual must be equally willing to submit themselves to any tests of an equivalent nature to verify they are qualified to judge my performance and to consent for the results of their tests to be documented and made available to the public. Any such testing and verification will be conducted in a neutral location and witnessed by third parties.

At times I may be mistaken; in those cases I am a well qualified subject matter expert who made a mistake and not some ignorant fool who doesn't know anything about which he is talking. If I am either mistaken, proved wrong, or change my opinion I will retract my previous statement and issue a correction ASAP.

In the end, when it comes to the Martial Arts, each individual must decide for themselves whether or not they trust an author has the authority, reason, and evidence to back up their stated positions. As an author in this field I refuse to appeal to certificates from private organizations and letters of recommendations from other Martial Artists as proof I know what I'm talking about. I will allow my work to stand or fall on the merits of its quality, the soundess of its reason, and the verifiability of its content.

Enjoy! Thank you for reading.