Guro Dan was the man who got me interested in the FMA back in 83, I was so impressed with him I talked my girlfriend (former student of mine in college, wife now) and another dojo friend to go see him in 85, and I've seen him several more times over the years.
Guro Dan is one of the best seminars that you can go to and in a few ways one of the worst as well. It depends upon what you are looking for and what you want to get out of the seminar.
Pros
1) He was a school teacher so he is an excellent teacher and communicator.
2) He has an almost unlimited knowledge on the martial arts, history, Bruce Lee and other MA instructors, etc. etc.
3) He covers a lot of different material at his seminars (at least the ones I've been to).
4) He chooses techniques/drills that build or flow together.
Cons (these are complaints I've heard from people who have seen him so in fairness I'll put these forward as well)
1) He covers to much material. As other posters have posted here they have had pretty much the same view (I think a "firehose" was used once), but for some people that is alright and that is what they want. For some others it's to much and they don't get anything out of it.
2) He covers such a variety of arts/topics it's hard to get very deep into any one thing. Guys I'll take my shots here but I tend to agree with this point, however (this is my opinon and mine only) heres why. At least in the later seminars that I've been to 99/2000 we covered single stick, knife, Jan Fan empty hand techniques, Thai Boxing, Double Stick, disarming etc. etc. and that was in a 2 day seminar. In 99 I only went one day and we covered Single stick, double stick, stick grappling, and some ground work (I'd have to check my notes). However if you are wanting to do the JKD Jan Fan or Thai Boxing then you might get shorted, where I wanted to learn the Kali and didn't really want to spend the time with Thai Boxing or the Jan Fan.
3) He teaches to fast, again this is a common complaint that I've heard from people.
However even with those cons knowing about them before going to a seminar will help you not to be disapointed or over whelmed by them. For me the only con I have with going to see Guro Dan is that I'm more selective in what I want to see (the FMA) and I not that interested in the Thai Boxing or Jan Fan, Silat etc. etc. and I rather just learn and spend the time with the FMA.
But if you've never seen Guro Dan or any of these different systems than you should try and make a couple, cause he is one of the best instructors out there on the seminar circut.
Mark
Oh and if you are use to taking notes, than I would, but that could be very hard for your first seminar with him (it took me three before I could keep up)
