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Master Joseph Nardi has spent the last 22 years studying, practicing and teaching others about martial arts, specifically the Korean styles of Taekwondo and Hapkido. At age 15, he earned his first-degree black belt in May 1987 at Sang’s Masters Martial Arts Alliance in Chicago under Grandmaster C.W. Park, a now retired 8th degree black belt. Originally his intention was to stay at first degree. Nardi attended Columbia College in Chicago and earned a bachelor’s degree in filmmaking in 1995. Nardi soon realized, however, he could make a living teaching others martial arts and decided to pursue Master rank in Taekwondo. Nardi joined the World Taekwondo Federation and tested for his second-degree black belt in 2002 at USA Martial Arts in Mokena where he was teaching full-time. Nardi decided to open his own academy in 2003. Why
did you begin Taekwondo lessons? Self-defense. I had no confidence. I did not feel strong, I did not feel athletic. I did not feel like I was coordinated, or like I could defend myself properly. I had no real sense of what the martial arts was, except for what I had seen in Pink Panther movies with Kato. I had not seen a Bruce Lee movie prior to 1984. At the advice of a sixth-grade classmate, I decided to check out the neighborhood martial arts school. My formal training began in 1984. What
was your first impression of Taekwondo? The thing that stuck with me the most the first day in class was a one-step sparing combination being taught to one of the white belts. Watching the timing of the interception and counter-attack, I said to myself, this is what I need. I need something like this, if somebody takes a swing at me, I’m able to block and counter. That’s what I would like to have. What
were your first classes like? Exercise and front stance. All I did was front stance for the first week. I was uncomfortable – the uniform was stiff, I was very uncoordinated so it was just like being led into water and being shown how to swim. It was very methodical, and then it became more firm and more disciplined as I progressed. I think I surprised myself with how well I did in the classes. I figured this was going to be the last resort for me, as far as being bullied. You can’t have your parents fight your battles, and I was tired of being bullied and manhandled. What
the biggest challenge you faced in taekwondo? I was just instructed so well and the master had such an affinity for teaching that I never really saw it as something difficult. It was like I was climbing this mountain and it got a little steeper as I went up. But I think I had learned enough to hold on at that point. The most challenging thing was my temper, it was not a physical thing. When I started to become proficient in martial arts, I started to have the tendency, like most students do, especially as a teenager, to feel as if you’re invincible. I was at a point where I felt ready to take bullies on if they tried to come after me, and that shouldn’t have been my mindset, wanting to deal out the payback. Have
you ever had to use your skills for self-defense? Scarcely few times. Scarcely in that I was attacked, there were a few scuffles, but never anything that would have been considered a fight. Describe
your teaching philosophy. My teaching philosophy is my master’s teaching philosophy. You’re supposed to pass it down, and his was a balance of compassion and discipline. I think those are the two key elements you have to use in order to help lead somebody into this journey. I would like students to get the same kind of quality and attention that I received. I understand what an effect that had on me and how much it changed me, so I hope it will have similar effects on students for whatever they’re looking to achieve. The art itself is all balance. For every exhale, the inhale. For every soft movement, the hard movement. It’s all based on the physical understanding of the human body and the systems. That is all governed by a natural order of balance. In classes I like to balance out our yin activities and our yang activities. Yin would be considered soft and passive and yang would be considered aggressive and more active. I’m just recognizing the integration of these components on every level. Although I teach Taekwondo, I think all martial art styles are good. It’s all beneficial. Why
choose Tao Martial Arts as the name of your academy? Tao means “way,” and I really admire the mystics and the ancients and the masters of the old world who were much more philosophical and enigmatic. I see martial art as a grand adventure that encompasses your life and to call it “the way” is kind of a universal statement about what the effect will be on your life. It is a way. What
has kept you in martial arts all this time? The rewards – its accomplishing physical and mental unity in order to overcome obstacles. Whether you’re jumping eight feet in the air or you’re balancing a checkbook or you’re dealing with an emotional situation, using those skills in a way that is rewarding. I don’t think you could ask for more than that. It gives you a very positive, healthy lifestyle. I’m more in tune with the art than the sport in martial arts. Being a filmmaker I think that art is infinitely more interesting than any sport or game or competition. However I do see the reality behind it as such and I think it would be wrong not to take my students to tournaments and allow them to experience that.
What
do you like about teaching? It’s never the same. Different bodies, different minds, different attitudes, different personalities. It never becomes routine. Even though there is a curriculum, it’s always different. I’m never bored, and I don’t think anyone would ask for a better hand to be dealt than that. There’s always something exciting or intriguing or challenging going on. Who
are your heroes? My master. Bruce Lee of course, but I would say my master more so. His intelligence and his devotion to teaching is what gave me the itch to continue and to go forward and never want to stop. I’m inspired by a lot of my students. You see them go out there and do things and they surprise you and they pull through for you and they show you respect. They go from somebody who has very little knowledge of martial arts and become fantastic students and athletes. |