MARTIALFORCE.COM
PRESENTS
AN INTERVIEW WITH
MASTER ALEX PRIETO
APRIL / 2010
“Ground fighting should be part of your training because you will never know if you get into a situation where you end up on the ground and you have to be able to control it.”
Interview By Eddie Morales
Martialforce.com
Online Magazine
My name is Eddie Morales and welcomed to Martialforce.com Online Martial Arts Magazine. The subject of this interview is Master Alex Prieto. A man that has dedicated his life to the art he loves. Someone who has within his lifetime helped many see the true spirit of Karate. His wholehearted devotion through its natural progression lead him into a Law Enforcement career and a life of self improvement in regards to his study of Karate. He has many thoughts on the old tradition and modern ways. We here at Martialforce.com hope you enjoy his interview.
Martialforce.com: At what age did you begin Martial Arts training and who was your Instructor?
ALEX PRIETO: I started in Martial Arts at the age of 10 in Shorin-ryu Karate and Combat Jujitsu under Grandmaster Yori Akihiro and Arturo Prieto.
Martialforce.com: Do you currently train and place emphasis on sport karate or street defense?
ALEX PRIETO: Street defense, I say this because sport karate is based on points with protective gear and in these days no real full contact. If you just get hit 3 time's then it's time to stop once you had encountered the points. Street defense in my opinion is more realistic and effective self-defense techniques. Tactics in streetwise strategies to stop the situation as soon as possible because it may not be in a safe and controlled environment you have to fight smarter not harder.
Martialforce.com: Can you tell our reader's what is the MMA Council and how you became involved in it?
ALEX PRIETO: It all started last summer in 2009 at a MMA event in Long Island New York that I attended in support of legalizing MMA in the State of New York which many supporter's, MMA Fighter's from UFC, vendors, New York Council man, New York State Senators were also in hand and other well known top Martial Artist as well. As I tour the area I seen a vendor by the name of Mr. Aaron Richman and on his table he had applications for MMA Fighter Council membership and when in question I ask what is MMA Fighter Council? He stated that MMA Fighters Council is a Community on information of fighter's, promoter's, vendor's and events which will give you update news and live talk calls that takes place on Fridays where you be able to talk live to who is schedule for that day and access to many member's and benefits.
When becoming a member to MMA Council the title you receive is called "MMA Fight Council" for your area and also help to support and promote MMA and even attend MMA events.
Martialforce.com: Do you think MMA training will phase out traditional training?
ALEX PRIETO: Yes, MMA is a multi-million dollar industry with remarkable commercial success with modern style attractions, they had practiced in some form of Martial Arts but then again big business can choke out the traditional Martial Arts. No matter how hard we try they will change as time passes by. As I visit some school's Dojo or Temple's they are also promoting MMA in their schools so I blame them too for advertising it. Is like this when Martial Arts first started with the weapon training with Samurai swords, staff, nunchaku, sai and etc. that was good for that era you can't walk around with dose type of weapons in the streets to defends your self it have to be open hand that's why many school don't teach weapons any more even that is phasing out too. You may still see it in a event or just one or two schools but that's it.
Martialforce.com: How do you feel about cross training regarding weights, running etc?
ALEX PRIETO: Cross training is very important it will improve your forms and reduce the risk of injuries and make you faster which enhance the breathing, strength and flexibility.
Martialforce.com: What are your thoughts on young practitioner having high ranks over 5th degree?
ALEX PRIETO: I see it all the time at Martial Arts events how they perform and I ask myself who promoted these people, was it just for the money, they look so young with high rank. For example I met this young 8th Degree black belt so I asked him what his age was and he reply “28 years old.” I replied “Wow, your young to have a great rank, how long have you been training.” He said about 16 years so I asked him what is the name of his system and who his instructor was. He gave me all the information, which I wont say but that's wrong. This is killing the ranking system and the traditional way of Martial Arts.
Martialforce.com: Do you believe that ground fighting is a addition to anyone's repertoire and do you practice it?
ALEX PRIETO: Ground fighting should be part of your training because you will never know if you get into a situation where you end up on the ground and you have to be able to control it. Yes, I practice it but not a much reason being I want to eliminate the situation as fast as possible on my two feet.
Martialforce.com: Do you believe that Martial Arts is a must practice for Law Enforcement Officers and if so why?
ALEX PRIETO: A Law Enforcement Officer needs to understand physical force guideline you must adhere to and understand the proper use of force as tactical handcuffing, knife defense and even gun disarm to control an Inmate or a suspect. In basic training the instructor teaches an officer just the basic according to the law of how much force you can apply, like hand to hand or hand to knife (contraband) that can be lethal or non-lethal. Law enforcement should take martial arts as part of there daily lives knowing that at any movement in their tour of duty or even off duty they may encounter a situation with a person they had arrested before or from a jail setting. I strongly believe in use your hands before using deadly force with your weapon but not every situation is never the same. If every officer knew martial arts they will be less law sues reason being the equipment on the belt is use for what it stands for.
Martialforce.com: What are your thoughts on Kata training?
ALEX PRIETO: Kata are forms of discipline of body flows movement in which it has fundamental strikes, blocks, punches kicks footwork changing directions and breathings. Kata is needed techniques which you can use against your attacker or in even in a kumite. With out Kata you have no offensive and or defensive forms.
Martialforce.com: Who was your greatest influence in the martial arts?
ALEX PRIETO: There are only two, Grandmaster's, Yori Akihiro and Arturo Prieto.
Martialforce.com: Where do you see yourself in ten years regarding your Martial arts practice?
ALEX PRIETO:I can't really say, reason being I don't know what’s ahead for me.
Martialforce.com: What do you think of this online Martial Arts Magazine format?
ALEX PRIETO: I find MartialForce.com Magazine as a great way to share online information on other Martial Artist from around the world. It is great as a professional advertising with this unique multimedia format.
Martialforce.com: Do you feel that the study of Martial Arts changed your life and if so, how?
ALEX PRIETO:Yes, since I started Martial Arts in a very young age I have more confidence in myself in awareness and focus more on my skills and my surroundings with a positive attitude.
Martialforce.com: What would you say to someone that is interested in studying Martial Arts?
ALEX PRIETO: I believe this question falls under many answers but I'm only going to give a few in which some Martial Artist may get offended by it, Oh well life goes on. But first let me answer the question. What do you really want out of Martial Arts beside learning self defense because their are many people that have a variety of reasons, like wanting to loose weight, get in shape, exercise, the gi or other type of gear and meet new people have more friends or even want to be the best fighter in the world.
What styles or systems would you like to study and to name a few like Karate, Kung fu, Aikido, Tae Kwon Do, Jujutsu, Kickboxing and so on which falls under a lot of other systems reason being that they are all deferent like Tae Kwon Do emphasizes mostly kicks and Kung fu like Wing Chun is all close combat. In most Martial Arts many instructors teach in a traditional way or different way depending on who the instructor is. You really need to do your home work on what may interests you in learning Martial Arts to put in to your life style and to add like how far is the school, the schedule, the cost if it has a contract how many students are attending the class. Call the schools so you can attend a class. Remember that Martial Arts is a long journey wish will benefit you in the long run.
Now getting to the instructors, you may see hundreds of adds on schools that claim they are teaching the most deadly art in the world and have a full house of students during training. While one or two instructor are teaching or maybe a yellow or blue belt teaching the class for you until you take care of your business or even answer a call. They tell you they can promote you every 4 months and add more rank to the system to keep you their longer. Is all about marketing! If you find a school with the least amount of students during training then I could say go their so they can focus on you. Look, it is not all about the rank. it is about who you are and what you can do with Martial Arts. If you worry about rank and cant prove yourself in a tournament or even in a real situation then you need to open your eyes and move on to another school.
I have visited many schools in my life time and sat down just to view the training and I was deeply disappointed with what I saw. It is the not the same any more like the old days but you may find one or two schools that are still teaching that way here in New York City. Many instructors are adding to much exercise and by the time they teach the techniques, the students are all tried and unable to focus . If exercise is what you want then join a gym so you can meet your goals. Martial Arts is all about self defense and techniques. In my oppinion the drills should be techniques ONLY!
I think I went out of my way with this question but it has been eating me up for many years now. I talk to many Martial Artist and they all agreed with me.
Martialforce.com: Thank you for allowing us to interview you
and we here at Martialforce.com wish you all the best.
ALEX PRIETO: Thank you for this opportunity to express my thoughts.
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