SYSTEM 5 COMBAT MARTIAL
ARTS
Steve Fossum's International
Karate & Kickboxing
WHO'S WHO
In
SYSTEM
5 RANK
LAST UPDATE
March, 2018
Honor - Respect - Integrity - Discipline
"My instructor once told me that the first five dan ranks come for what you've gotten out of the system, the next ranks come for what you've given back." - Anonymous -
STEVE FOSSUM - WHO'S WHO IN SYSTEM 5 - TRAINING PHOTOS - CLUB PHOTOS
"What we accomplished in
our past has created who we are. But in no way should our past accomplishments
solely define who we have become today. We are not what we were... We are not
our accomplishments... However, we are who we have become from them and
hopefully we have become something greater than our past accomplishments ever
were..."
Steve Fossum, Master Sensei System 5 Combat Karate
"A good teacher can never
be fixed in a routine. Each moment requires a sensitive mind that is constantly
changing and constantly adapting. A teacher must never impose his students to
fit his favorite pattern. A good teacher protects his students from his own
influence. A teacher is never a giver of truth; he is a guide, a pointer to the
truth that each student must find for himself. I am not teaching you anything. I
just help you to explore yourself."
Bruce Lee (1940-1973)
"If you can't wear your belt with respect and honor, DON'T WEAR IT AT ALL!"
Although many modern Karate / Martial Art Schools, (or
as many are referred to today, "McDojos") do not have belt rules
of respect, in System 5 these rules are Honored with Integrity, Discipline and
as Always, RESPECT!
"A goal creates a direction in one's life with a purpose. As individuals, we all inspire to hope for a better and more meaningful life. Without a purpose, a reason to move forward, a goal is just a wish. A belt in Martial Arts represents a purposeful goal. Striving for any goal builds Honor, Respect, Integrity and Discipline. The challenge the Martial Arts gives a student inspires motivation and diligence within. Each student sets their sights on each goal and in the end, the attainment of these goals builds confidence in each individual."
Although many modern day martial artists say that respect
for ones belt is simply a tale or myth, in System 5, we have honored traditions
that are still upheld today.
- System 5 Martial Arts Belt
- Never let your belt touch the ground/floor unless you are wearing it.
- Your belt represents the respect that you have earned. The Martial Arts
belt use to be "ONE BELT". One belt that transformed over time
from white, to brown to black and eventually, as it frayed and ravelled, back to
it's beginning, White. This represented a full circle of ones training, the path
to master. As one trained, the belt became darker and darker from ones sweat,
dirt and even blood. Attaining this darker color in any way other than from your
training is considered a weak and cowardly way to insinuate that your training
path has been true. Instead, it express that instead of working hard, you would
rather just throw your belt on the floor and hope it gets more and more dirty
from the floor instead of your own sweat, dirt and blood. If you are not wearing
your belt, do not drag it on the ground. Hold it in your hand or drape it around
your neck until you are done with it. When so, fold it neatly into your training
bag or hang it up somewhere, so that no dirt, other than your own sweat, dirt or
blood touches it until you are ready to train again. If your belt comes off
during training such as during grappling, stop and take the time to either put
your belt back on or hang it up. NEVER leave it laying on the floor!
- The bottom line here is, you can, if you choose to, believe these belt
rules in System 5 are just falsely followed myths. Doing so proves System 5 is
not for you.
However, if you truly want to learn the "Martial Arts" side of System 5, which is an honored part of the Combat side, you will respect these traditions.
The reality here is, without respect for honored traditions, there is no Honor.
- The bottom line here is, you can, if you choose to, believe these belt
rules in System 5 are just falsely followed myths. Doing so proves System 5 is
not for you.
- Your belt represents the respect that you have earned. The Martial Arts
belt use to be "ONE BELT". One belt that transformed over time
from white, to brown to black and eventually, as it frayed and ravelled, back to
it's beginning, White. This represented a full circle of ones training, the path
to master. As one trained, the belt became darker and darker from ones sweat,
dirt and even blood. Attaining this darker color in any way other than from your
training is considered a weak and cowardly way to insinuate that your training
path has been true. Instead, it express that instead of working hard, you would
rather just throw your belt on the floor and hope it gets more and more dirty
from the floor instead of your own sweat, dirt and blood. If you are not wearing
your belt, do not drag it on the ground. Hold it in your hand or drape it around
your neck until you are done with it. When so, fold it neatly into your training
bag or hang it up somewhere, so that no dirt, other than your own sweat, dirt or
blood touches it until you are ready to train again. If your belt comes off
during training such as during grappling, stop and take the time to either put
your belt back on or hang it up. NEVER leave it laying on the floor!
- Never wash your belt!
- Doing so washes away all that you have earned.
- Doing so washes away all that you have earned.
- Never face others when tieing your belt or fixing your Gi. Always turn
to do so.
- It is disrespectful to "Dress" openly in front of others.
- It is disrespectful to "Dress" openly in front of others.
- Never touch another students belt, unless given permission.
- Once tied, both ends of your belt should hang evenly.
- Only wear your belt and uniform at the martial arts school, or away
from your school if participating in school or other martial arts activities.
- NEVER eat while wearing your belt.
- Failure to follow these rules could result in the loss of your rank.
- Never let your belt touch the ground/floor unless you are wearing it.
System 5 Sensei
System 5 Sensei
Tahoe City, Lake
Tahoe, CA, USA was the 4th student under Master Sensei Steve Fossum's
Instruction to reach Black Belt in System 5 at the age of 35. 
System 5 Sensei
5th student to reach Black Belt in
System 5 under Master Sensei Steve Fossum's Instruction. His 40 hour test
started at 8:PM, Friday, October 11th and ended at 12: Noon Sunday, October
13th, 2002. 
System
5 Sensei
Despite local authorities ruling
Zane's death an accident, conspiracy theories bloomed overnight and persisted.
This was partly because when Zane was killed, there was only one witness…another
climber who was a stranger to the Kime family and friends…and some felt his
story was suspect. But also fueling these suspicions was the terrible timing of
his death. When he died, Zane R. Kime MD, had been practicing Environmental
Medicine and had become the target of a governmental prosecution against this
specialty. This lawsuit threatened the vested interests of the chemical industry
and the outcome looked hopeful for a decision in his favor. However, with his
death, the case was dismissed and some say, the threat eliminated. When Zane's
wife hired a private investigator to explore the matter further, the other
climber threatened to sue…and then disappeared. The conspiracy theories
drove Zane's daughter Faun (Also a Syatem 5 Student) to start exploring
her father's death. However, she is soon unraveling his controversial life as a
physician practicing Environmental Medicine. Environmental Medicine, like much
of alternative medicine has considerable opposition. This is partly because it's
a newer more progressive medicine. Throughout history, the old paradigm in
science has been slow to accept the new. But in this era of unchecked
capitalism, Faun discovers that advancement in alternative medicine has nearly
ground to a halt…if it doesn't profit the pharmaceutical or chemical
industry. From all of this, Faun Produced and Directed a Documentary on her
fathers death entitled
The Tomato Effect.
Kim Otley,
F, DECEMBER 4th, 1991.
