Lincoln Daily News 2025-26 Health & Wellness Magazine Pg.31 Weapons training is introduced in phases: nunchucks at green belt, bo staff at brown, and eventually advanced weapons like the katana at black belt. Safety and control are of utmost importance. "You don’t do gun defense until you’re a brown belt," Dugan said. "You have to show you have control." That measured approach extends into every corner of his philosophy. "Train hard, but train smart. Don’t tear your body up," he warned. Yoshukai classes don’t allow head contact until brown belt, teaching restraint and selfawareness. And while Dugan acknowledges the reality of self-defense, he stresses ethics and legality: "If you punch at me, I can only punch back. If I break your leg, I can be sued." Despite the physical toughness associated with karate, Dugan believes the most valuable traits developed in the dojo are patience, humility, and discipline both on and off the mat. "It’s like going to church and being a Christian. If it doesn’t apply outside the dojo, it means nothing." Dugan's own story is a testament to the power of traditional martial arts. Now in his seventies, he remains tattoo-free, caffeinefree, drug-free, and deeply grounded in faith. “Outside of my personal belief as a Christian, the doctors said it was my physical condition that got me through that fall,” he said. Dan Dugan’s wife, Nykol Dugan, is a fifthdegree black belt and longtime instructor who currently teaches Yoshukai Karate in Clinton, Illinois. Her connection to the art runs deep, shaped by personal transformation and resilience. “It just puts you on the right path,” she said. “Gives you something else to think about, focus on, and see things totally different.” She also credits karate with helping her stay grounded through difficult periods in life. “I was not the same person before I started,” she said. Nykol’s teaching is rooted in both strength and empathy, and her own family is living proof of the art’s power. “Our kata has been proven to get rid of asthma in people. Yes, my son was one of them... he totally got rid of his inhaler.” From injury recovery to emotional regulation, Yoshukai Karate offers far more than just physical training. Under the Dugan's guidance, it becomes a path to health, healing, and lifelong growth. [Sophia Larimore]
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