Marian Bushey

Massachusetts, USA

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Biography

Marian grew up on a farm in Swedesboro, New Jersey, in the middle of 13 siblings. In her very traditional Italian family, the expectation was that girls would grow up to marry and raise many children, but Marian had different plans. At age 22, she moved to Boston, with no money or job, but lots of determination to make it on her own.  She started taking karate in Quincy, Massachusetts, with her sister-in-law Judy, for mutual encouragement and support. Two years later at the rank of Gokkyu (green belt), Marian and her husband brought a house in Halifax, MA.  She was not aware of any dojos in the area so she joined the local health club.  One day at the health club she saw a picture of Jack Summers on the bulletin board.  Jack was her sensei from Quincy.  She found out that his students John Thurston and Bob Gremo were teaching karate classes. This led to her signing up for self-defense course and then a return to karate.  Initially her goal was to regain her green belt rank, then brown belt looked enticing, and then what seemed unreachable was within her reach- the coveted black belt. Today, Marian has achieved the rank of Sandan (3^rd degree black belt) and she’s still setting goals.

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Questions:

I was 28 years old when I started taking karate.  I studied for two years and was promoted to Gokkyu (green belt).  I left the system because my husband and I brought a home in another town.   Seven years later I took a Uechi self-defense course at the Kingston , MA . dojo and started my studies in the Uechi system again.

I was living in Quincy, MA, when my sister-in-law Judy talked me into taking a karate class with her.  Since I was not into the aerobics classes that were offered at the YMCA it was a great way to get into shape and learn self-defense. 

Honestly, it was because the dojo was convenient to where I lived.  At the time I did not distinguish between the different types of karate.  However I am glad I chose Uechi Ryu because it is a practical self-defense system and is not flashy.

It would be as close as a religious experience for me to see where it all started and to meet the people who helped bring the system to America .  Since most people associate karate as a man’s sport, it is wonderful to see a tour that is only for women.  Also I will be able to meet other women who have similar stories like my own of learning karate.  Plus it is a cultural experience of going to a different country.

How has your martial arts study affected or changed you life?

People don’t expect to see a women taking karate and they certainly don’t expect an older women to take karate.  I was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis when I was 22.   One of the side effects of this disorder is balance and learning disorders.  I was never the most graceful person but I never knew why until I got more information on this disability.   When I first started as a white belt I was very frustrated that I could not do the exercises that the other white belts could do.  With persistence, and lots of practice I have been able to do things I would never have been able to do if I did not take karate.  I still struggle with my balance and I have good days and bad ones but it has given me a focus in my life and something to look forward to.