Austin Shotokan Karate

Previous post was error on blogger.

2011-06-09T19:40:00.000-05:00

Previous post was error on blogger.

Thoughts and Afterthoughts: June 9, 2011

2011-06-09T19:11:00.006-05:00

SKIF OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

2011-06-08T16:49:00.001-05:00

SKIF OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Kancho Kanazawa’s Seminars
When: September 17, 2011
Where: Bakar Fitness & Recreation Center at UCSF Mission Bay
Address: 1675 Owens St., San Francisco, CA 94143

Seminar Times:
1st Session: 9:30 am
2nd Session: 12:30 pm

Please see attachment for all information on the Seminars and Championship

For more information please contact Sensei Wayne Shockness @: shotokan415@yahoo.com or (415) 400-5879

11th SHOBUKAN CUP Friendship Karate Tournament

2011-06-04T18:57:00.003-05:00

It is with great pleasure that I invite you to our 11th SHOBUKAN CUP Friendship Karate Tournament. This tournament will take place on 17th September 2011 in Temple, Texas. For this tournament we have many guest coming from India, Japan, Panama and other countries. We to conduct seminars prior the tournament and after the tournament.

Please mark your calendars for the 17th of September. Please if you need assistance or have any questions please contact me. For more information please visit our website, www.isska.com or www.karateshobukan.com. You can also contact me by phone 254-368-2311

Respectfuly,

M. DaCosta
Head Instructor

Upcoming Events!

2011-05-11T16:10:00.000-05:00

• 2011 SKIF-USA and USF -National Team Trials and Open Division: September 17th – 18th in San Francisco CA Hotel Kabuki San Francisco, 1625 Post Street San Francisco, CA 94115. For more info visit the SKIF-USA website or contact Linda Crimmens at skifusa@comcast.net.

• Colorado Summer Camp Sponsored by ISKF: in Greeley Colorado July 28-31. Contact Gary Swain pepcoach@comcast,net.

• 2011 Kanzcho Kanazawa Seminar and Goodwill Tournament in Hawaii Saturday July 23, 2011. Contact: Manfred Nagel PH: 808.441.4442; Fax: 808.599.1549 Cell: 808.306.3057: manfred@ephawaii.com

SHOTO NIJU KUN #14: In conflict you must discern the vulnerable from invulnerable points(Tattakai wa kyo-jitsu no)

2011-02-28T19:20:00.007-06:00

(Credit) By: Master Teriyuki Okazaki; Reprinted from the ISKF Spotlight ISKF Newletter

Here Master Funakoshi is saying that you have to recognize that opposites are two sides of the same thing. You cannot have one without the other. In every situation in karate, as well as in life, there are opposite forces around you all at once. The key is to be able to distinguish one from the other. And you can only do that with an open mind.

Kyo is open jitsu is closed. Although these terms connote opposites, one is impossible without the other. And often, one appears to be the other. For example,
shizentai looks like kyo, when in fact it is jitsu. Likewise, aggressiveness looks like jitsu but it can be kyo. You have to know what you're seeing, and be aware as the situation before you changes. The ability to do so comes from experience.

As I have already said many times: the key is balance. First, you have to have
inner balance; then you can have balance in the way you deal with the outside world. In terms of karate, this means that when you go in with an attack, always be ready to
defend. And when you defend, always have a mind to attack. Be ready for any necessity. Again, using kyo and jitsu requires good balance, both physically and mentally.

Master Funakoshi said, "Calm yourself so you can see in all situations. And when you
can see an opportunity take it immediately." If you see a target in an opponent, a
physically "open" place, that is finding kyo. But remember that it is possible that your opponent may not really be vulnerable. He may be giving you an opening. He may be saying, "Come on, attack." To be able to see what his true intentions are, be still, be ready. If you see an opponent's kyo and you cannot move, you're finished. Kyo and jitsu are two sides of the same coin. And if you see kyo, be aware of jitsu. It might be a trap.

That's why Master Funakoshi said you must understand what is kyo and what is jitsu. They are essentially the same thing, just front and back sides. So how do we learn to distinguish between the two? We learn from experience, from training. In training we can take a chance and not be worried about the consequences. Just take a chance. Why not? That way you get experience. Three hundred years ago I would not have said that, because back then, if you lost, you might have lost your life.

But now we can be more open. We have designed our training methods so that the student can have more opportunities to learn how to develop a sixth sense. If you're always worried about Three hundred years ago I would not have said that, because back then, if you lost, you might have lost your life. But now we can be more open. We have designed our training methods so that the student can have more opportunities to learn how to develop a sixth sense. If you're always worried about going in, you will never learn what can happen. You will not know what it is to see an opening, or to see the danger. You cannot tell what will happen. Only experience can help the body learn to react. And that is important, because in a self-defense situation, you probably won't have any time to think. The way to see what is really going on-to see the opposites for what they are you have to have a clear mind. It is through a clear mind that your "sixth sense" is able to discern kyo from jitsu, and to furthermore see the one in, as part of, the other.

In life, we tend to see things as "good" and "bad." We judge life, rather than see it
for what it is. When we do that, we miss opportunities, and we make ourselves vulnerable. Judging is a function of the ego, not pure consciousness. Judgement is like a cloud, concealing reality, because when we judge, we fail to see the other side of things-and there is always another side. Let me share a couple of examples, so you can see what I mean. Sometimes, what you think of as a "bad thing" is in fact an opportunity to learn, to test yourself, to grow as a person. Say you experience some kind of loss. Because of that loss, you will feel some kind of suffering.
But as virtually every religion and mythology reminds us, it is through suffering
that a person is often inspired to make positive changes within, to relieve that suffering.

What I mean by this is that, when you suffer, you are more likely to take steps
to free yourself from your egoistic mind. And in doing so, you make progress toward
experiencing mushin, or "no mind." You learn to accept things as they are, which is
what you need to do to experience inner peace. And there is nothing in life better,
more valuable, than inner peace. So a "bad thing" happens, you suffer-but then you grow! Thus you gain a benefit from what you judged to be a "bad thing."

That "bad thing" was in fact a "good thing" for you. Do you understand? Similarly, something "good" might happen to you. Say you win the lottery. You would consider
that a good thing. But say all that money, over time, made you lazy? What if
you began to desire material things more because now, you had access to them?
More and more your life would be focused on things outside of you, and thus your
inner growth would cease-in which case, I assure you would become unhappy. I use
this particular example because it has been documented that people who have won the
lottery, after getting over the initial euphoria of "not having money problems," in fact are more unhappy with their lives than they were before they won. What you considered a "good thing" turned out to be a very "bad thing."

This is what Master Funakoshi warns us about. Be able to tell opposites from one
another, and be able to see one as being part of the other. You need inner balance to recognize, and deal with, these constantly changing opposites. And you can only seereality for what it is with an open mind.

ISKF Master Camp 2011

2011-02-28T18:59:00.005-06:00

The 45th Anniversary ISKF Master Camp and International Goodwill Tournament will be June 10th - June 17th, 2011. Once again this special camp will be held at Camp Green Lane, Green Lane, Pennsylvania USA. Every year is special as it is the only week-long Shotokan training camp taught by the world's most famous Shotokan masters. This
year we will have instruction from Master's Teruyuki Okazaki - ISKF Chief Instructor, Yutaka Yaguchi - ISKF/USA, Hideo Ochi - JKA/Europe, Masaru Miura - SKI-I/Italy and Shunsuke Takahashi - TSKF/Australia. Assisting them will be members of the esteemed high-ranking ISKF Technical Committee.

The ISKF welcomes Shotokan organizations from all countries to join the International Shotokan Karate Federation. Please direct any inquiries for membership to iskf@iskf.com or call us directly at: 215.222.9382.

Congratulations New Black Belts

2011-02-28T18:22:00.002-06:00

Austin Shotokan Karate is pleased to congratulate Randy O'Brien, Simon DuMortier, and Valentin Panayatov for passing the examination for Shodan (first degree Black Belt) at this weekend's training seminar in Houston. Shodan means "first," so that passing this exam means that they have taken the first step of a life-long journey. Training continues tomorrow night at the dojo at Austin Recreation Center.

Oss!
Scott Monroe

SKIF-USA EVENTS

2010-12-25T15:11:00.002-06:00

Events

SKIF MASTER SEMINAR

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, January 14, 15, & 16, 2011

Featuring Hiroyasu Fujishima, Hanshi, 8th Dan SKIF

Children, Adults, Advanced Levels Dan Grading on Sunday

Sponsored by the Long Island Shotokan

Contact:
Mr. Charles Macolino, Sensei
130 Jericho turnpike
Floral Park, NY 11001
Tel: 516 488-7382
Email: LIshotokan@aol.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SKIF-USA Masters Seminar

February 25 - 28, 2011

Featuring Murakami Sensei
Hosted by
Shotokan Karate-do Center
Shadi Barazi Sensei

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SKIF-USA Masters Seminar

March 1 - 4, 2011

Featuring Murakami Sensei
Hosted by
SKIF-Miami
Jaime Wong Sensei

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SKIF-USA Masters Seminar

March 5 - 6, 2011

Featuring Murakami Sensei
Hosted by
Mt. Vernon Traditional Shotokan Karate
Theresa Nichiporuk Sensei

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SKIF-USA Summer Tour

June 2011

featuring
Kanazawa Kancho and Nobuaki Sensei

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SKIF-USA National Tournament

September 17, 2011

Hosted by
Shockness Shotokan Karate
Wayne Shockness Sensei

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional details for each event will be available soon

Murakami Sensei Seminar: Feb 15- 18, 2011

2010-12-25T15:06:00.001-06:00

I just saw on the SKIF-USA website that Sensei Murakami (one of Kancho Kanazawa's right-hand men) will be giving a seminar in Houston in February (25 through 28). I'll pass along more details when I get them. I highly recommend that you attend at least some of the seminar if you can. Also, Kancho himself will be conducting a training tour in June; places and dates aren't available yet.

Oss!
Scott Monroe

Happy Holidays form USA-SKIF

2010-12-25T15:03:00.001-06:00

Happy Holidays!

From all of us to your and your family,
We are wishing a wonderful holiday season
and a safe, prosperous 2011.

SKIF-USA Board of Directors

Glenn Stoddard
Michael Cook
Chris Johnson
James Shea
Paul Walker
Shadi Barazi
Lynda Crimmins

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T15:00:00.001-06:00

Have a safe and happy holiday season and a great 2011!

Oss, ho ho ho!
Scott Monroe
Instructor, Austin Shotokan Karate

Kanazawa vs Oneida

2010-10-04T20:28:00.000-05:00

Kanazawa No Bo Dai I

2010-10-04T20:26:00.000-05:00

Kanazawa No Bo Dai II

2010-10-04T20:24:00.001-05:00

31st Annual International Martial Arts Symposium

2010-08-11T22:56:00.002-05:00

From Shuri te Bujutsu Kai

Columbia, South Carolina – USA

October 8-10, 2010

Karatedo - Kobudo - Karate-Jutsu - Ju-Jutsu - Tuite-Jutsu - Kyusho-Jutsu - Iaido/Kendo - Kali/Arnis - Chin-Na - Wing Chun - Baguazhang – Xingyiquan - Taijiquan
Self-Defense - Sport Kumite - Qigong - Healing Arts

Hosted By:
Kokusai Shurite Yudansha-Kai, Troy J. Price & Tommy Hood

This year’s Symposium is a Tribute and Remembrance of Hanshi Ridgely Abele

2010 Symposium Instructors:

Robert Bowles, 10th Dan

Jim Logue, 9th Dan

Dr. Steven Roensch, 9th Dan

Tom Muncy, 10th Dan

Rick Moneymaker, 9th Dan

Carl Wilcox, 9th Dan

Gat Puno Abon Garimot Baet

Devorah Dometrich, 8th Dan

Vitus Bilking, 8th Dan

Donna Judge, 8th Dan

Benny Meng, 7th Dan

Kimo Wall, 7th Dan

Ernesto Martinez, 7th Dan

George Sheridan, 7th Dan

Rey Perez, 7th Dan

Tony Bisanz, 7th Dan

Darren Myers, 7th Dan

Tom Ryan, 7th Dan
Troy J. Price, 7th Dan

Tommy Hood, 6th Dan

Maria Evans, 6th Dan

Mike Hernandez, 6th Dan

Paul Cote, 6th Dan

Dustin Baldis, 5th Dan

Dr. Clay Morton, 5th Dan (SKIF)

Mark Baker, 5th Dan

Jeff Rhodes, 5th Dan

Cole Ricks, 5th Dan

Alex Ormaza, 4th Dan

When:

October 8, 9 & 10, 2010

Friday; 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Saturday; 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Sunday; 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Where:

Marriott Hotel, Columbia
1200 Hampton Street (Corner of Main & Hampton St)
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Special Room Rate $99.00 (must reserve room by September 13, 2010)

Reservations 1-800-228-9290 ask for Symposium rate

Online Reservations Here

Contact Information:

Troy Price

Phone: (919) 360-7224

E-Mail: troysbudo@nc.rr.com
Websites:

www.carolinakarate.net/symposium
www.shuritebujutsu.com

29 Internationally Known Instructors
5 to 7 different classes taught every 90-minutes

Choose the arts/classes you wish to train

Fees:

$250.00 Pre-Registration “Symposium Grand Package” Symposium Fee, Instructional, Syllabus (PDF files on DVD Disc), Free T-shirt, Friday Night Meal, Saturday Lunch & Dinner Banquet

(Must pre-register by September 18, 2010)

$50.00 Deposit to hold the pre-registered price, balance due on arrival (nonrefundable)

$275.00 After September 18, 2010

Individual Day Cost: (Includes Meal for that day)

$100.00 Friday Only, $175.00 Saturday Only, $50.00 Sunday Only

Online Registration & Pay with Credit Card:

Register online @: www.carolinakarate.net/symposium
Or Please Call Troy Price @ 919-360-7224

Special Group Rates Available: For every five paid participants from the same group one person attends free

Special Youth Training:

8-12 yr. old, Saturday Only $50.00 for those not attending the symposium

Special Law Enforcement Training: Friday 12:30 - 3:00 PM

Police Survival and Defense Institute (PSDI)

Open to all adult symposium attendees and Law Enforcement personal

Special Shuri-Ryu Karatedo Training Session: (Friday 3:00 to 5:00 PM)

Open to all levels & styles; free to symposium attendees.

Weapons Training (Kobudo, Iaido & Arnis):

Attendees should supply their own weapons for all Kobudo, Iaido & Arnis classes. Bo, Jo, Kama, Sai, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Katana, sticks, & training knife. Weapons will be available for purchase.

Training Sessions:

Several styles of Karate, Ju-Jutsu, Kobudo and Kung-Fu will be taught as well as sessions in Elite Athletic Training, International Kata, Olympic style Kumite, Healing Arts and Classes for 3rd Dan & above and other Japanese, Chinese and Philippine martial arts.

Rank Examinations: (Friday 1:00 to 2:30 PM)

Dan & Kyu level testing for Shuri-ryu Karatedo, Shuri-Te Ju-Jutsu and Kobudo will be conducted.

Martial Arts Expo:

Martial arts equipment, weapons, books, T-shirts, DVDs, uniforms, Chinese herbs, and Asian art & gifts will be available for purchase.

Due to the economy we are keeping the Symposium price the same as the last 3-years

Austin Shotokan Karate: Stan Schmidt Drills

2010-08-10T22:14:00.001-05:00

New Kata: Heian Sandan, Kanku Dai and Empi

2010-08-07T22:06:00.005-05:00

Below are some links to videos of kata that are new to some of the members of Austin Shotokan Karate: Heian Sandan, Kanku Dai and Empi, performed by Kancho Kanazawa. If anyone has any particular requests for video or other posts, please email me at gmendozaop@yahoo.com.

Heian Sandan Kanku Dai Empi

Videos of the 26 kata of Shotokan performed by Kancho on one convenient page can be accessed here.

Shobukan Cup 2010

2010-08-07T17:20:00.003-05:00

Manny Acosta, will sponsor, once again, the 1oth Annual Shobukan Cup on September 11, 2010. The tournament will be sponsored by the Mayborn Convention Center in Temple, TX just one hour north of Austin. We hope many will support this endeavor, For more information contact Manny Acosta at 254.368.2311 or email him at dacostamanny@hotmail.com. His dojo website may be accessed here and specific trounament information here.

Dojo and other News: August 7th, 2010

2010-08-06T23:33:00.005-05:00

SKIF USA members represented well at the 30th Annual Ozawa Open Cup in Las Vegas. Jimmy Wong, Sensei of Miami and Clay Morton Sensei took gold medals and Texan (WACO) instructor, Manny DaCosta (who is just up the road from us) took a silver medal. For a full list of SKIF-USA competitors and their achivements, see, "SKIF Members win in Las Vegas" by Clay Morton, available at the SKIF USA Spring Newsletter.

Amanda, having given up retail for long haul trucking has now given up long haul trucking for heavy equipment operating. Did I mention she's about 5' tall and has a mean gyaku tsuki and a Judo game to boot?

Well wishes to Shodan, Ronny who is moving back to Israel where he will continue to pursue his shotokan practice at his home dojo just outside of Haifa. It was a pleasure to have him for as long as we did. Oss! and Shalom!

Mr. Riley, sensei (sandan) is back from summer vacation: Welcome back! It's slightly warmer than in Minnesota, n'est pas?

We have had the pleasure of having Sempai Kenney (shodan) back with us duribg a break from his studies at Baylor where he is studying creative writing and training in both shotokan and Aikido. We will soon see him again we we him well in his studies and training.

Scott Monroe , sensei tells us that we will soon be incorporating Kancho Kanazawa's new bo kata, kanazawa no bo.

A reminder that that the dojo will be closed for maintenance next week for a couple of days; check your email on the specific dates.

Sempai,

Kumite

2010-08-01T14:01:00.003-05:00

Most of the kumite that we have been doing in class has been video taped at the dojo and there are also video of Kancho demonstrating them. On the side of this blog, go to 2008 posts for many of those videos. You might also wand to look at 2009 posts with the tag, "video training."

Hope this helps.

Stan Schmidt Drills

2010-08-01T13:56:00.002-05:00

The Stan Schmidt drill that we have been doing in class is posted on this blog. It can be found here.

Kancho Kanazawa Videos

2010-07-13T22:00:00.002-05:00

The videos below show Kancho Kanazawa, demonstrating Ippon Kumite and Jiyu Ippon Kumite.

Hirokazu Kanazawa, 10th dan shotokan, kumite demonstration

2010-07-13T21:59:00.000-05:00

Karaete lesson Jiyu ippon kumite by Kanazawa Sensei ,MORE ABOUT KARATE A...

2010-07-13T21:44:00.000-05:00

Of Interest 6.29.2010

2010-06-29T20:58:00.006-05:00

Cartoon of the Month

(There's also a book making the rounds on the internet on how to know out a man without even touching him for $29.95!?!)

Kancho Kanazawa in Apple Valley.

The Shotokan Way Interview with Kancho

Article: Injecting Life Into Zenkutsu by Richard Amos

Videos of Shotokan Kata (Here too).

Latest SKIF-USA Newsletter: Including:

Richard Berger: Translating the Master; Paul Walker
Results of SKIF members at Ozawa Cup; Clay Morton
Report of the 4th East Coast Instructor Training,; Mike Cook
The Blocking Myth; Paul Walker
Performing SKIF Mawashi Uke; Lisa Turner
The Significance of the Shotokan Tiger; Alexis Schneiderat
NEW in SKIF Catalog: Kanazawa Bo Kata and Karate the Complete Kata

Kyu Exams at Austin Shotokan Karate

2010-06-20T20:34:00.002-05:00

Austin Shotokan Karate is pleased to congratulate the following members on the results of their kyu exams today: John Pollard, 8th Kyu; Amanda Anderson and Norm Glenn, 3rd kyu; Simon Dumortier and Valentin Panayatov, 1st kyu. We also want to thank Mr. Joe Formica for traveling here from Houston on Father's Day to administer the exams.

Oss!

Scott Monroe

Arkansas ISKF/Okazaki Seminar 4/17-18

2010-04-09T20:02:00.003-05:00

The University of Central Arkansas Shotokan Karate Club in Conway, AR (about 30 miles form Little Rock) extends an open invitation to Shotokan Karateka to participate in its ISKF Seminar featuring Teriyuki Okazaki, 10th dan , president, and 7th dan Leon Sill. It will be held April 17-18. Ther will be three trainings for all ranks. The cost is $25 for all seminars included plus $10 for instructor's training. For more information please contact Dr. J.D. Swanson at jswanson@uca.edu or call Dr. Swanson at 501.450.5472

Texas A&M Collegiate Tournament

2010-04-09T19:54:00.003-05:00

The Texas A&M Shotokan Karate Club is sponsoring the 1st Collegiate Shotokan Karate Tournament at Texas A&M on April 17th, 2010. Participants must be at least 18 years old and be currently enrolled in a college or university. For more information click here.

ISKF 2010 Colorado, Summer Shotokan Camp

2010-03-17T19:18:00.002-05:00

This year, the Annual ISKF Summer Camp will be held July 29- Aug. 1st, 2010. The camp is open to all shotokan karate students, regardless of affiliation. The only policy is no political talk during the camp. It is for fun and training.

The price is about the same as last year; $325-$350 for room, board and three training sessions per day. There will be discounts for early registration. For further information please contact the camp director, Sensei Gary Swain at 303.475.8664

ISKF: Southern Region Training Camp Feb 27, 2010

2010-03-17T18:57:00.003-05:00

ISKF Southern Regional Karate Training Camp 2.27.10: Baylor University, Waco, TX
Instructor: Leon Sill, Sensei, ISKF 7th Dan

Notes:

1. 8 direction shuto uke: Practice for pivoting, turning, pulling through center.
2. Shuto Uke with back and hip against wall alternating sides.
3. Heian Sandan and all power blocks e.g. mountain block, downward hammerfist in Jion: No pause on fumikomi geri and don't twist or bend body in chambering.
4. Jion: No pause on fumikomi geri
5. Importance of locking back leg in kokutsu dachi.
6. Bassai Dai: Pulling motion with hands on fumikomi geri but no bend of body.
7. First hand movement in Tekki Shodan bunkai=kake uke/hooking block.
8. Emhasis on coordinated movement: hands and feet finish at same time for focus/kime.
9. Kanku dai: First lower hips and the drop.
10. Jion: Last 2 movements bunkai = grabbing opponent wrist the side punch.
11. Jion: On jiyu uke, trapping feeing first before uraken uchi.
12. Jion: Manje uke" no chambering for punch.
13. Difference between haiwan, niwan and gaiwan.
14. Tekki Shodan: 2 man drills.

2010-02-23T20:12:00.001-06:00

Hirokazu Kanazawa 10º Dan Gojushiho Dai - The top video clips of the week are here

2010-02-23T20:11:00.001-06:00

Hirokazu Kanazawa 10º Dan Gojushiho Sho - Click here for more free videos

SKIF USA Events

2010-02-23T19:53:00.002-06:00

SKIF USA (click above) is announcing the following events on their pages:

KUMITE SHIA AND KATA SEMINAR FEATURING CLAY MORTON MAR. 6-7 TELFORD, PA

MURAKAMI SEMINAR SKIF-HAWAII, MAR 27, 2010

OZAWA CUP, APR. 1-10, LAS VEGAS, NV

KANCHO KANAZAWA US TOUR, JUNE 19-20 ROCHESTER, NH

KANCHO KANAZAWA US TOUR, JUNE 22, WISCONSIN SHOTOKAN, GLEN STODDARD

KANCHO KANAZAWA US TOUR, JUNE 24, SEISHIN SHOTOKAN, APPLE VALLEY, CA

PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHION, JULY 26-AUG. 2, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

SKIF Mexico Invites YOu to Their Events Page

2010-02-23T19:46:00.002-06:00

SKIF Mexico invites you to their events page for upcoming events incuding Hanshi Hiroshi Ishikawa's Caribbean Seminar Tour in St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. They also have information of past events and on the upcoming SKIF Pan American Championships in the Dominican Republic. There website is at: skifmexico.com.

ISKF Souther Region Training Camp

2010-02-23T19:34:00.002-06:00

The ISKF is presenting a Southern Region Training Camp with special guest instructor Gary Sill 7th Dan ISKF. It will be hosted by the Baylor University ISKF Karate Club Feb. 26-27th. Cost is $20 for Friday self-defense clinic 5-7pm, $40 for Sat. training camp & Friday clinic 10am-4pm. For mor information contact Brandon Mattingly, Club President at Brandon_mattingly@baylor.edu or contact John Carter, Instructor at 254.752.1730. RSVPs are appreciated.

7th SKIF Pan American Championships

2010-02-12T22:04:00.004-06:00

The 7th Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF) under the direction of Kancho Kanazawa, Founder, 10th Dan, will be held in the Dominican Republic from July 26-Aug. 2, 2010.

For more information on venue hotel accommodations and other information please contact Ms. Linda Crimmons, Sensei at skifusa@comcast.net or visit SKIF-USA.

Annual ITKA Toornament and Seminar in Chicago

2010-01-30T21:24:00.003-06:00

ITKA Tournament in Memory of Sima and Zahra Bambouyani in on March 27 & 28th. We need your support. Please check for tournament info and updates on the web at ITKA-Karate.com. During this event we are offering the WKF Referee Course with Kata, Kobudo and Kumite seminars. Hope you will be able to join us and please send us your input.

Sincerely,

Sensei Bambouyani

Congratulations Mr. Young Kwon!

2010-01-28T22:12:00.003-06:00

Austin Shotokan Karate is pleased to congratulate Mr. Young Kwon on the attainment of his Nidan (second degree black belt) in Houston this past weekend.

Oss!

Scott Monroe, Instructor

Austin Shotokan Karate

Seminar Reminder

2010-01-09T05:10:00.002-06:00

We are happy to invite you to join us in this great event providing the highest levels of traditional karate training, friendship, and a wonderful learning experience. This event is open to all karatekas (13 yeard old or older) from any traditional style with 9 months training experience or more, or youth karatekas (under 13) who are 5th kyu or higher. We hope to see you there.

Camp Instructors:

Sensei Manabu Murakami, Chief Instructor (SKIF). Sensei Murakami is a world renowned instructor known for his great demonstration skills and for his abundant energy. He reigned as SKIF All Japan kumite champion for the years of 1990, 91, 92, 93, 94, 98, & 99 and as SKIF kata champion for 1989, 90, 92, 93, 94 & 99. He is also SKIF World Kumite Champion 1994 and 2nd place in Kata in both 1988 & 94.

Sensei Fumitoshi Kanazawa, (Godan SKIF Japan) Sensei F. Kanazawa is the youngest son of Kancho Kanazawa. He is SKI World Champion 2006 and SKI Japan Champion
7 times (2003-2009)

Training Schedule

Saturday January 23

7:30-8:20 AM. Check in & registration
8:30 AM-10:30 AM. Training

3:00-3:30 PM. Check in & registration
3:45-5:45 PM. Training

Sunday January 24

9:00-11:00 AM.

3:45-5:45 PM.

PLEASE BE AT LEAST 15 MINUTES EARLY TO EACH TRAINING SESSION TO WARM UP & IN RESPECT OF THE INSTRUCTOR

General Information:

Location: Trotter Family YMCA, 1331 Augusta Drive, Houston, Texas 77057 (713) 781-1061

Accommodation: Comfort Suites 3-STAR, 6221 Richmond Avenue, Houston, Texas 77057.
(713) 787-0004. (866) 482-8611. $79.00 per room for two queen size beds up to 4 people (Breakfast included).
For 4-STAR accommodation consult the internet for any hotels near the Galleria using PRICELINE.COM. Typically you can room around $100+.

Fees: Youth (12 and under all ranks) $80.00. Students 4th kyu or lower $80.00. Brown belts and Black belts $120.00.
One day fee: $70.00

Black belt Test: Will be announced on during the Saturday morning session (tentatively set for Sunday 2:00 PM). Please make sure all paper work is completed before test time and that you have 3 pictures.

Upcoming Seminars

2009-12-30T13:34:00.004-06:00

UPCOMING SEMINARS

We are fast approaching 2010! Here are a few of the upcoming seminars in January and February. There are seminars covering the Easteran, Central, and Westeran states so everyone should be covered. For more details contact the Sensei's listed or watch the website for registration forms. We hope you enjoy the seminar you may decide to attend!

January:

Fujishima Seminar
January 15th - 17th
Long Island Shotokan
Charles Macolino Sensei
Floral Park NY
Email: lishotokan@aol.com

Murakami Sensei and Fumatoshi Sensei Seminars

SKIF Miami
January 20th - 21st
Jaime Wong Sensei
Miami FL
Email: skifmiami@hotmail.com

Shotokan Karate-Do Center
January 23rd - 24th
Shadi Barazi Sensei
Houston TX
email: senseibarzai@gmail.com

February:

Nobuaki Sensei
February 5th
Paul Walker Sensei
Apple Valley CA
Email: pwalker@seishinshotokan.com

2009-12-26T12:26:00.003-06:00

Piecing Together the Karate Jigsaw Puzzle
by Paul Walker

As a young kid I used to enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles. Like any other person who has put together a jigsaw puzzle, I soon figured out that I had to create a system to understand the mass of jumbled and disconnected pieces.

The system first involved turning over all of the pieces so they were face up. Then I found the corners and the edges and started piecing those together to make the framework of the puzzle. Next I found like-colored pieces and put those together and gradually other pieces started finding each other with the help of my system and my frequent scanning of the whole jigsaw puzzle and resorting and regrouping.

Finally the jigsaw was solved and I could see the full picture that it revealed, despite already knowing what it looked like previously, thanks to the picture on the box!

I use the jigsaw analogy from time to time in my weekly Karate classes to try to show that the process of learning Karate also uses a systemized method of arranging techniques, organizing content, piecing together combinations and sets, building a framework of skills and gradually understanding the different shades of technical nuances of the general curriculum as you go through the ranks on the way to the Black Belt and beyond.

The main difference between a standard jigsaw puzzle and the puzzle of learning Karate is that there isn’t a clear picture of the Karate outcome when you first start the process of organizing the pieces of the overall puzzle. It is the job of the instructor to gradually introduce the pieces one by one, and to give hints as to where the pieces fit in to the overall picture. It is the job of the Karate student to capture those pieces from each Karate lesson and to place them in his or her personal puzzle.

The reason for this is that the ultimate picture of every individual’s Karate puzzle is different and will also change over time as details are modified and improved upon. This can be very confusing and frustrating and this is why it is important to focus on the journey rather than the destination. The journey of course is the process of solving the puzzle and the destination is the end picture that the puzzle reveals.

So what does the Karate puzzle look like? Well, like I have said already everybody’s puzzle is different and it would be foolish of me to try to explain what your personal Karate puzzle looks like. Instead, I should try to explain what the puzzle is made up of and what my own picture is beginning to show me. In very simple terms the framework of the Karate puzzle is made up of the three Ks, Kihon, Kata and Kumite. Kihon, of course, represents the punches, kicks, blocks, strikes and stances of our style. Kata are the forms within our style that show us how the basic techniques fit together in natural combinations, and kumite represents the partner work drills that show how our style can be applied in one-on-one situations and also in multiple opponent situations.

So let’s get to the picture part of the puzzle. I often thought that solving jigsaw puzzles was a little fruitless when you already know what the picture looks like, so sometimes I would ask my parents to give me just the pieces without the box so I could figure it out for myself. Maybe that’s one reason Karate is so satisfying for me because I still don’t know what the final picture of my puzzle that represents my Karate journey will look like! Yet, I have had many satisfying glimpses into the beauty of the images and checkpoints along the way.

This is the way it is supposed to be! But I still have to ask myself what does my current picture show and how does this help me improve. I believe that my current Karate picture shows a fully integrated matrix of information that represents the Shotokan syllabus as a whole, and that it shows vital cross links between individual techniques, the different kata and bunkai combinations, as well as a whole host of kumite techniques, options and arrangements that now come naturally during teaching and demonstration. However, despite the matrix that is shown to me in my mind of everything gradually coming together, I also see several weak intersections within the overall matrix. I see some unanswered questions and some dark areas that maybe I shouldn’t venture along yet. Certainly not as an instructor, maybe only as the innocent student in search of information! These gaps represent the many questions that I haven’t answered yet. They represent the missing pieces of my own Karate jigsaw puzzle that my sensei gives me every time I train with him. What I have also learned is that filling the gaps in my knowledge is not only dependent on my sensei but is also dependent on my students. The questions asked by my own students often force me to learn and improve just like a seminar with Master Kanazawa does. Which brings me to the next question, “Do you ever stop learning?” I think Master Kanazawa said it best in his book Karate, My Life, when he described his ascent up the mountain of Karate learning, “The more I know, the more I climb, yet the mountain just gets higher. The more I try, the more I focus, the depth is limitless. There is no end in sight. That is karate, my life.”

The Karate jigsaw is not meant to be solved so that there is a final outcome or final picture that we look at for a few seconds, grunt disconsolately as if to say “Is that all there is?”, and then move on. The Karate jigsaw puzzle is a living and a creative endeavor. The picture it depicts changes over time as we progress and mature and as we gain knowledge of our art and ultimately of ourselves.

Our Karate jigsaw puzzle and the problem-solving strategies that we gain from it can act as a template for our lives. It can show us how to find confidence when we need it, inner and outer strength, perseverance and endurance, compassion and tolerance, and self-belief based on honest values. If we ever see the true and beautiful picture of our Karate puzzle, then we will have mastered not only our art but also ourselves. For me, that’s enough to keep putting the pieces together and to keep training hard! How about you?

Paul Walker

A Message from the ITKA & Bambouyani, Sensei

2009-12-26T12:17:00.001-06:00

Dear Friend and sensei: Happy Holiday from all of us in ITKA.
We wish you and your loved ones the very best for 2010 and beyond.

Please join us for the 2010 ITKA World Friendship Karate Tournament in Chicago
One week before the Easter. March 26-28. We will update the web site in January.
Thank you.

Bambouyani
ITKA Karate
http://www.itka-karate.com/
our new e-mail is below
http://us.mc330.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sensei@itka-karate.com

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T21:58:00.000-06:00

Have a safe and happy holiday season and a wonderful 2010!

Oss,

ho, ho, ho!

Scott Monroe
Austin Shotokan Karate.

Shotokan Terminology

2009-12-20T21:21:00.003-06:00

General Karate Terminology(Counting, Ceremony, Terminology)

GISHISKI CEREMONY

Rei -Bow
Seiza- kneel down
Mokuso- Meditation
Mokuso Yame -Stop meditation
Sensei, Onegaishimasu, Rei - Teacher, please train us, bow
Sensei, Arigato Gozaimashita, Rei -Teacher, thank you very much, bow
Tatte- Stand

KAZU -Counting
Ichi -One
Ni -Two
San -Three
Shi -(Yon) Four
Go -Five
Roku-- Six
Shichi-- Seven
Hachi Eight
Kyu -Nine
Jyu -Ten
Jyu Ichi -Eleven
Ni Jyu-Twenty
Ni Jyu Ichi -Twenty-one
Shodan- First degree
Nidan -Second degree
Sandan -Third degree
Yondan -Fourth Degree
Godan -Fifth Degree
Yogo -Terminology
Karate -Empty hands
Dojo -Training place
Shihan -Master
Sensei -Teacher
Sempai -Senior (Higher belt)
Dohai -Equal (Same belt)
Kohai -Junior (Lower belt)
Obi -Belt
Keiotsuke -Attention
Hajime- Begin
Yame Stop
Karate-Ka Karate student
Karate-Gi Karate uniform
Otagi Ni -Bow to each other
Rei --Bow
Oss A word showing respect
Mawatte -Turn around
Kata -Form (an arranged pattern of attack and defense techniques against multiple imaginary opponents)

2010 Karate Training Camp

2009-12-18T00:49:00.003-06:00

2010 Karate Training Camp
January 23 and 24 (Houston, Texas)
An SKIF-USA Sanctioned Event

We are happy to invite you to join us in this great event providing the highest levels of traditional karate training, friendship, and a wonderful learning experience. This event is open to all karatekas (13 yeard old or older) from any traditional style with 9 months training experience or more, or youth karatekas (under 13) who are 5th kyu or higher. We hope to see you there.

Camp Instructors:

Sensei Manabu Murakami, Chief Instructor (SKIF)
Sensei Murakami is a world renowned instructor known for his great demonstration skills and for his abundant energy. He reigned as SKIF All Japan kumite champion for the years of 1990, 91, 92, 93, 94, 98, & 99 and as SKIF kata champion for 1989, 90, 92, 93, 94 & 99.
He is also SKIF World Kumite Champion 1994 and 2nd place in Kata in both 1988 & 94.

Sensei Fumitoshi Kanazawa, (Godan SKIF Japan) Sensei F. Kanazawa is the youngest son of Kancho Kanazawa. He is SKI World Champion 2006 and SKI Japan Champion
7 times (2003-2009)/

Training Schedule

Saturday January 23

7:30-8:20 AM. Check in & registration
8:30 AM-10:30 AM. Training

3:00-3:30 PM. Check in & registration
3:45-5:45 PM. Training

Sunday January 24

9:00-11:00 AM.

3:45-5:45 PM.

PLEASE BE AT LEAST 15 MINUTES EARLY TO EACH TRAINING SESSION TO WARM UP & IN RESPECT OF THE INSTRUCTOR

General Information:

Location: Trotter Family YMCA, 1331 Augusta Drive, Houston, Texas 77057 (713) 781-1061

Accommodation: Comfort Suites 3-STAR, 6221 Richmond Avenue, Houston, Texas 77057.
(713) 787-0004. (866) 482-8611. $79.00 per room for two queen size beds up to 4 people (Breakfast included). For 4-STAR accommodation consult the internet for any hotels near the Galleria using PRICELINE.COM. Typically you can room around $100+.

Fees: Youth (12 and under all ranks) $80.00. Students 4th kyu or lower $80.00. Brown belts and Black belts $120.00. One day fee: $70.00

Black belt Test: Will be announced on during the Saturday morning session (tentatively set for Sunday 2:00 PM). Please make sure all paper work is completed before test time and that you have 3 pictures.

Contact Mr. Shadi Barazi 832-766-6564

2009-12-13T20:30:00.001-06:00

Hidetaka Nishiyama - Karate Do - Shotokan - Click here for funny video clips

Lester Ingber's Shotokan Website

2009-12-13T20:11:00.003-06:00

Lester Ingber's (8th Dan JKA) Shotokan Website

Lester Ingber's website (click here) is a goldmine of shotokan information. Many of the drill and exercizes that we have been practicing over the past 2 weeks are here...and much more.

2009-12-13T20:00:00.004-06:00

From: Paul Walker's Newsletter

Masters Magazine Photo Shoot

During the past couple of months my nephew Andrew and I have taken a couple of trips down to Sun Valley, which is just outside North Hollywood and not far from Universal Studios, to visit Masters Magazine.

As many of you know, I write a lot about karate and, in addition to my book, I have had articles published in several magazines and websites. Well, in the next
year you will be seeing two fa-miliar faces in the pages of Masters Magazine as Andrew and I have put together a series of photo shoots on some part-ner work sets from our style of Shotokan.

I have also written a couple of articles and submitted an inter-view with a good friend of mine, Richard Berger, who still lives in Japan and trains at Master Kanazawa’s dojo in Tokyo. These will also be published in Mas-ters Magazine throughout next year’s quarterly issues.
May I say, that it has been a pleasure to work with Jose Fraguas, the editor of such a top-quality martial arts magazine. Masters Magazine is available from Barnes and Noble and many of the back issues can be found in our dojo.

Master's Magazine Winter Edition Available Now with Interview with Kancho:

MASTERS MAGAZINE!
IN BOOKSTORES NOW!
DAN INOSANTO – THE LEGEND SPEAKS!CLAY MORTON – KARATENIKKEI GAMES 2009PENCAK SILAT – HERMAN SUWANDAKANCHO KANAZAWA - KARATERALEK GRACIE – GRACIE JIU JITSUYONG CHIN PAK – TAE KWON DOPATRICK McCARTHY – BUBISHI: THE BIBLE OF KARATESHANE LACEY – CHOY LEE FUTALFRED HSING - WUSHUFACE OFF WITH JONG SOO PARKCOMPARING KICKS – SPINNING HOOK KICKColumns by: Teruyuki Okazaki. Luke St. Onge, Tony Annesi, Jiang Bangjun. David Petersen, etc…INCLUDING AN EXCLUSIVE 2 HOURS & 35 MTS. DVD WITH TRAINING SECTIONS, INTERVIEWS, TIPS FROM THE MASTERS AND MUCH MORE…!The magazine can be found in leading BOOKSTORES (Barnes & Noble, Borders, B.Dalton, Books-A-Million, etc.) throughout US and Canada.Please visit: www.mastersmag.com to see this issue's content.

2010 OzaWa Cup Tournament and Master's Seminar

2009-12-13T19:51:00.007-06:00

2010 OZAWA CUP
International Karate Tournament
APRIL 1 thru 4, 2010
Hosted by: Las Vegas Shotokan Karate
In exactly four months the 2010 Ozawa Cup International Karate Tournament will be upon us. I want to inform you that we are in the process of getting all our tournament materials and information ready for mailing out. If you want to receive a Tournament Packet and you don’t think that you are on our mailing list, please send us your mailing address and we will send you a tournament packet as soon as they are ready. I want to sincerely thank you in advance for your continued support of our Tournament.

Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Please continue below to see more information on the 2010 Ozawa Cup.

Sincerely,
James Tawatao
President: Ozawa Cup

Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa Interview

2009-10-30T16:48:00.000-05:00

The following interview is taken from the fall, 2009 SKIF USA Newsletter which can be found here.

Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa Interview
By Glenn M. Stoddard
SKIF-USA General Secretary
June 24, 2009
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Introduction: Kancho, I’d like to ask you about the Shotokan Karate-do International Federation (SKIF) “system” or “syllabus” you
have developed. I’d also like to ask you about the additional kata you have included in the SKIF system, and also about other aspects of karate training in the SKIF system.

Question: First, currently how large is SKIF as an organization?

Answer: In SKIF we now have affiliated member groups in about 120 countries. This means SKIF is the largest Shotokan style karate organization internationally. But in Japan the Japan Karate Association (JKA) is still larger than SKIF.

Question: Kancho, in the SKIF system you teach specific ways of breaking down the kihon, and you have a detailed system of teaching kumite. In addition, you have some specific ways of doing the kata. When did you develop the SKIF system?

Answer: I started to develop it before I left the JKA, when I was teaching in England.

Question: What was your purpose in developing the SKIF system as it exists today?

Answer: For teaching kihon it was to make it precise, like teaching kata, and for discipline. For the kumite system it was for the same reasons but also to develop a number system for the different types of kumite, so when the student would hear the number, for example “kihon ippon kumite number one,” the student would automatically remember the movements and be able to do them with his or her partner. So it is also to train the mind for memory and the body for response. In addition, the kumite system is for training the body and spirit together.

Question: How many different types of defenses are there in the SKIF system for each type of prearranged (yakusoku) kumite?

Answer: For each type there are actually eight different defenses. However, I only have five in my books, because that is enough for most people to learn. Also, number 6 is more difficult and performing numbers seven and eight can be dangerous. But I have developed the higher ones for myself as part of the philosophy of the SKIF system.

Question: When you say they are part of the philosophy of the system what do you mean?

Answer: In the system I have eight defenses and I also use eight different angles of defense. This is because eight is an important
number in the philosophy of Budo historically. Also, using rotation on eight angles (tenshin) we can evade many different attacks using stepping and shifting (tai sabaki). This makes it possible for a smaller, weaker person to be able to defend against a larger, stronger person by using the different movements, techniques and angles.

Question: Is there more to the philosophy behind the SKIF kumite system?

Answer: Yes, a major idea behind the kumite system is the philosophy that karate-do and kumite training is for everyone, not just competitors. It is to develop body, mind and spirit. Thus, it helps develop inner harmony and harmony with your training partner. If there are 100 people training, all 100 can improve their karate, including their timing, distance, and techniques by training in the kumite system. Also, it is important to be able to train for life. Free sparring (jyu kumite) is not so safe or good for older people but prearranged (yakusoku) kumite can be done like kata and kihon for a person’s whole life. This is consistent with Funakoshi Sensei’s precept number fourteen that “karate is for your whole life.”

Question: Do you think the SKIF system will change over time, as the younger instructors do more teaching?

Answer: Even if I retire, the SKIF system will not need to change because it is a good system and the SKIF instructors all over the world have learned it and are teaching it. But it is fine for any higher level instructor to add on to the system with his or her own ideas or techniques.

Question: Kancho, now I’d like to ask you about kata. I know there are some minor differences in the way we practice some of the Shotokan kata in the SKIF from the way the JKA generally practices the kata today. Why are there differences between the schools?

Answer: Actually, most of the SKIF kata are taught and practiced the original way, as they were taught by Funakoshi Sensei when the JKA was first organized. However, since then the JKA has made many changes. In SKIF I have made only some very small changes to some kata in order to make the application work correctly or for another reason. Kata is not just self-defense. It is also art and, therefore, each kata has its own meaning or philosophy behind it, so it is important for the movements in the kata to reflect the kata’s own philosophy or meaning.

Question: In addition to the 26 Shotokan kata, you have included four more kata in the SKIF system, including Seienchin, Seipai,
Gankaku-sho, and Nijuhachiho. Why did you decide to include these four kata in the SKIF system?

Answer: I added the four kata to give SKIF more history, and for technical reasons. For example, Seienchin is from Shito-ryu and Seipai is from Goju-ryu. These two kata include the shiko-dachi (square stance), which we don’t have in our 26 Shotokan kata. In the Shotokan kata we have kiba-dachi but not shiko-dachi. But both stances are very important and complement each other. Kiba-dachi is very strong but rigid. It is like a house make of bricks and cement. Shiko-dachi is also strong but a little more flexible. It is like a house made of wood. It is also the stance used by Sumo wrestlers. For older people, who have knee problems, shiko-dachi can be easier and better for them. Kiba-dachi is very good for younger people and people with strong knees. These kata have different timing and a different meaning or philosophy from our other Shotokan kata, so this helps Shotokan people learn more and have a broader understanding of karate-do.

Question: Why did you include Gankaku-sho and Nijuhachiho in the SKIF system, Kancho?

Answer: Both Gankaku-sho and Nijuhachiho are very old kata, so I included them in the SKIF system partly for history and partly for their techniques. For example, Gankaku-sho is the old version of our Shotokan Gankaku kata. So it gives us this history. But it also includes many different stances, and it is very good for stance training and for changing from one stance to another. This is very important for more advanced students. Likewise, Nijuhachiho is a very original kata. It gives us history and also many different techniques that we do not have in our 26 Shotokan kata.

Question: Do you know and practice other kata, and do you have any plans to add more kata to the SKIF system?

Answer: I do know and practice other kata but I do not teach them and I do not plan to add any more to the SKIF system, because we have enough now and it is hard for people to learn so many kata.

Question: What is the origin of the Gankaku-sho and Nijuhachiho, Kancho?

Answer: Both are from the crane style, which was mostly practiced in the village of Tomari in Okinawa. So they are sometimes called Tomarite kata. The Shito-ryu style largely originated from there. Whereas, the Goju-ryu style largely originated from the village of Naha in Okinawa. Shotokan, however, is mostly from Shorin-ryu.

Question: Where did you first learn the Nijuhachiho kata, Kancho?

Answer: I learned this kata and Gankaku-sho from Master Inoue (“Inoway”) who lived in the countryside of Japan near Gifu. He did not teach other people but he practiced a very original style of karate-do and I had a friend who knew him. He just wanted to keep his karate for his own practice. But through my friend I asked him if he would teach me. At first he said no but when my friend said my name he agreed. But he said he would only teach me the kata three times. If I did not learn it by then he would not teach anymore. Fortunately, I learned the kata. I also learned Gankaku-sho from him. After he taught me, I found out that he had not even taught Nijuhachiho to his own son, so I felt very lucky. I think his son became upset and maybe later he taught the kata to his
son. I have not seen him in several years and I am not sure if he is still alive.

Question: Kancho, in your classes you have sometimes taught about the different types of kiai (“yell” or "shout”) in the kata. Would you explain this further?

Answer: In each kata there is usually a positive kiai and a negative kiai. A positive kiai usually sounds like “yah.” With a positive kiai the feeling of the technique is to send the power outward to the opponent. Therefore, for punching, striking and kicking we do a positive kiai. But a negative kiai is different. A negative kiai usually sounds like “eh.” With a negative kiai the feeling of the technique is more to bring energy in to yourself. Therefore, when we do blocking or jumping we do a negative kiai.

Question: Is there any other type of kiai, Kancho?

Answer: Actually, Funakoshi Sensei used to do a kiai that sound like “tooh.” This was a little different and I think it was more like a middle type of kiai. This is the kind of kiai we sometimes do when we do two techniques at the same time, like a block and a counter punch at the same time.

Question: Kancho, I now want to ask you about the way you teach basics (kihon). In SKIF we have certain ways in which we break down the techniques, for example doing punches in two or sometimes three counts. Also doing blocks and kicks, and strikes in the same manner. Why do you teach the kihon this way?

Answer: For kihon and for all of karate form is very important. This is not only for the art but for balance and power in the techniques. In particular, moving from the center of gravity, using correct breathing, and having the right spirit is all very important and good form helps to achieve these things. It is especially important to concentrate on the Hara (center of abdomen) and breathe from there when doing karate techniques, and especially in kihon training. This helps improve mental concentration, as well as circulation and the health of the internal organs like the lungs and heart. This is good especially for juniors (children) because it helps them learn to concentrate their minds. The other thing about training from the Hara is that it is good for safety because it improves balance. So it is very important in all kihon training for the instructor to check to make sure the students are doing the techniques from their Hara. Actually, kumite and kata should be trained in the same way.

Question: Kancho, how would you describe the different purposes of kihon, kata and kumite training in karate-do?

Answer: Kihon training is for yourself, to develop harmony with yourself.
Kata training is for developing harmony with nature and, therefore, the image in your own mind of what you are doing and of your feeling is very important. Kumite training is to develop harmony between you and your opponent. This means it is not to beat your opponent but, instead, to find harmony with your opponent and to show each other mutual respect. It is important to move at the same time as your opponent and to have the same breathing pattern. This way you do not become frightened. Also, in kihon-ippon-kumite (basic one step sparring), for example, it is important to always see your opponent’s eyes. This is true for other types of kumite also.

Question: Kancho, during training, and especially after doing a series of kihon techniques or a kata, you practice and teach your students to do a special breathing exercise with their arms. How did you develop this breathing exercise and what is its purpose?

Answer: I developed this exercise after studying Tai Chi Chuan. The purpose is to develop and invigorate the brain, the chest, and the Hara. First, you breathe in and have the feeling of the air coming to your head and brain. This improves intelligence. Second, you push the air out and down and contract the Hara and lower abdominal muscles. This develops your power and fighting spirit. Finally, you straighten up and let your chest come back to a natural and relaxed position with good posture. This develops good character and a feeling of kindness toward others. The words for this are “ten,” “chi,” “jin,” meaning head, Hara, chest or
“sky,” “ground,” “human.”

Question: Kancho, are there any other issues you would like to discuss today?

Answer: Yes. I think it is important to respect sports but it is very important to remember that competition is only a small part of karate-do.

Thank you very much Kancho

International Martial Arts Symposium Columbia, SC - Oct 9, 10 & 11, 2009

2009-08-05T19:11:00.002-05:00

30th Annual
2009 International Martial Arts Symposium
Columbia, South Carolina – USA
October 9, 10 & 11, 2009

The Premier Educational Event for Traditional Martial Arts in the USA
Presented by: International Shurite Yudansha-Kai & Hanshi Ridgely Abele

Training In The Arts Of:
Karatedo
Kobudo
Karate-Jutsu
Ju-Jutsu
Tuite-Jutsu
Kyusho-Jutsu
Iaido/Kendo
Kali/Arnis
Chin-Na
Wing Chun
Baguazhang
Xingyiquan
Qigong
Healing Arts
Self-Defense
Sport Kumite
Kata Training
Martial Science

Symposium Instructors:
Ridgely Abele, 9th Dan
Robert Bowles, 10th Dan
Jim Logue, 9th Dan
Tom Muncy, 10th Dan
Dr. Steven Roensch, 9th Dan
Carl Wilcox, 9th Dan
Rick Moneymaker, 9th Dan
Herb Johnson, 9th Dan
Gat Puno Abon Garimot Baet
Dan Smith, 8th Dan
Devorah Dometrich, 8th Dan
Donna Judge, 8th Dan
Kimo Wall, 7th Dan
Benny Meng, Sifu
Vitus Bilking, 7th Dan
Coach Ed Griffin, 7th Dan
Ernesto Martinez, 7th Dan
Sandy Bowles, 7th Dan
George Sheridan, 7th Dan
Rey Perez, 7th Dan
Tony Bisanz, 7th Dan
Darren Myers, 7th Dan
Tom Ryan, 7th Dan
Maria Evans, 6th Dan
Mike Hernandez, 6th Dan
Troy J. Price, 6th Dan
Tommy Hood, 6th Dan
Dr. Clay Morton, 5th Dan
Mark Baker, 5th Dan
Jeff Rhodes, 5th Dan
Cole Ricks, 5th Dan
Paul Cote 5th Dan
Alex Ormaza, 4th Dan

When:
October 9, 10 & 11, 2009
Friday 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM (Dan Rank Examinations)
Friday 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (Special Shuri-Ryu Karatedo Training Session)
Friday; 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM (Main Training Sections Start)
Saturday; 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday; 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Where:
Marriott Hotel, Columbia
1200 Hampton Street
(Corner of Main & Hampton St)
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Reservations 1-800-228-9290
Special Room Rates $89.00
Ask for Symposium Rate

Contact Information:
Ridgely Abele
604 Meeting Street
West Columbia, SC 29169
Phone: (803) 794-3908
E-Mail: oeyec@aol.com
Website: www.shurite.com

Cost:
$250.00 Pre-Registration for the “Symposium Ultimate Package”
Symposium Fee, Training Syllabus, Free T-shirt, Friday Night Meal, Saturday Lunch & Banquet Must pre-register by Sept. 08, 2009
$75.00 deposit; to hold the pre-registered price; balance due on arrival (nonrefundable)
$275.00 Pre-Registration after September 08, 2009
$300.00 at the Door
Individual Day Cost:
$100.00 Friday Only
$175.00 Saturday Only
$75.00 Sunday Only

Special group rates available:
For every five paid participants one person attends free; must be from the same group/school; must submit all registrations at the same time.

Special Youth Training: 8-12 yr. old, Saturday Only, $50.00 for those not attending the Symposium

Special Shuri-Ryu Karatedo Training Session: (Friday 3:00 to 5:00 PM at the Marriott)
Open to all levels & styles; free to symposium attendees.

Dan Rank Examinations: (Friday afternoon from 1:00 to 2:30 PM)
Dan level testing for Kobudo, Shuri-ryu Karatedo and Shuri-Te Ju-Jutsu will be held on

Instructor's License Certification:
Review & test will be offered during the weekend; please Contact Ridgely Abele for more information.

Martial Arts Expo:
Martial arts equipment, weapons, books, T-shirts, DVDs, uniforms, calligraphy, Chinese herbs, & Asian gifts will be available for purchase.

Weapons Training (Kobudo, Iaido & Arnis):
Attendees should supply their own weapons for all Kobudo, Iaido & Arnis classes. Bo, Jo, Kama, Sai, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Katana, sticks, & training knifes. Weapons will be available for purchase.

Special Training:
Sections on Elite Athletic Training, International Kata, Olympic style Kumite and referee training; for schools that do not compete there will be classes of drills for skill development, and one with different instructors sharing their favorite drills.

Empty hand forms competition for all styles:
This is a free competition, for men and women. The competition will be held over the course of the weekend during the breaks between classes. All awards will be given out during the banquet.

At the Symposium there are five to seven different classes taught every 90-minutes 64+ different classes. With 32 different instructors; you choose the arts you wish to train. There are classes for all levels and Special Classes for 4th Dan & above.

Due to the economy we are keeping the Symposium price the same as last year.
Thank you for your support

REGISTRATION & RELEASE FORM, 2009 INTERNATIONAL MARTIAL ARTS SYMPOSIUM

Name________________________________________________Rank___________________DOB______________

Address_______________________________________________________________________________________

City____________________________________________State___________________Zip____________________

Phone_____________________________E-Mail_____________________________________________________

______Deposit - $75.00; Free T-shirt Size _________ for those that Pre-Register

______$250.00 Pre-Registration Package By September 08, 2009

______$275.00 After September 08, 2009

______$300.00 Day of the event, at the door for all three days

______$100.00 Friday Night only

______$175.00 Saturday only (Lunch, Banquet & Syllabus included)

______$75.00 Sunday only

______$50.00 Special Youth Training: Saturday, for non-symposium attendees

______$35.00 Additional “Banquet” Tickets, Quantity ________

______Empty hand forms competition (free to all symposium attendees)

Additional Gear: Quantity Size

T-shirt - $18.00 _____ ______

Sweat shirt - $30.00 _____ ______

Polo shirt - $30.00 _____ ______

Shirt Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XX L (Please indicate size next to quantity)

Kyoshi Ridgely Abele’s Books”

_____$90.00 Karatedo; Art, Sport & Science (Hard Cover)
_____$65.00 Karatedo; Art, Sport & Science (Soft Cover)

Make Checks payable to:
International Martial Arts Symposium
604 Meeting Street
West Columbia, SC 29169

AMATEUR ATHLETIC WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY
In consideration of being allowed to participate in any way in Columbia School Of Karatedo and the International Shurite Yudansha-Kai athletics/sports program, and related events and activities, the undersigned:

1. Agree that prior to participating, they each will inspect the facilities and equipment to be used, and if they believe anything is unsafe, they will immediately advise their coach or supervisor of such conditions.

2. Acknowledge and fully understand that each participant will be engaging in activities that involve risk of serious injury, including permanent disability and death, and severe social and economic losses which might result not only from their own actions, inactions or negligence but the actions, inactions or negligence of others, the rules of play, or the condition of the premises or of any equipment used. Further, that there may be other risks not known to us or not reasonably foreseeable at this time.

3. Assume all the foregoing risks and accept personal responsibility for the damages following such injury, permanent disability or death.

4. Release, waive, discharge and covenant not to sue Columbia School Of Karatedo, International Shurite Yudansha-Kai, its affiliated clubs, their respective administrators, directors, agents, coaches, and other employees of the organization, other participants, sponsoring agencies, sponsors, advertisers, and, if applicable, owners and employees of premises used to conduct the event, all of which are hereinafter referred to as "releasers", from any and all liability to each of the undersigned, his or her heirs and next of kin for any and all claims, demands, losses or damages on account of injury, including death or damages to property, caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the releaser or otherwise.
The undersigned have read the above waiver and release and understand that they have given up substantial rights by signing and sign it voluntarily.

PRINTED NAME: ____________________________________________

SIGNATURE: _______________________________________________

DATE: ______________________________

Rank Tests: Congratulations

2009-06-28T19:06:00.001-05:00

Rank Tests at Austin Shotokan Karate

Congratulations to the following people who passed their Kyu exams today (Sunday, June 28): Tabitha Down, 7th Kyu; Valentin Panayatov, 2nd Kyu; and Randy O'Brian, 1st Kyu. They faced an extra challenge because the air conditioning was out in the Recreation Center! Our thanks to Mr. Joe Formica for administering the exams and to Jackson Keeney and Gerald for assisting.

Congratulations to Desiree Garcia, Simon DuMortier, Gerald, and Jayant Vohra on their fine efforts in Wednesday night's Kyu exams. Desiree passed to the rank of Seventh Kyu (orange belt). Simon and Gerald had good exams overall and were given some specific parts of them to work on for a retest in a month. Jayant took the test for experience only.The Fourth of July holiday shouldn't affect our class schedule. Please remember to register for the month of July at the front desk of the Rec. Center. We didn't do our end-of-the-month lunch after class today, so we'll try to do it next Sunday.

Oss!Scott Monroe

Basic Karate Terminology

2009-06-15T10:16:00.003-05:00

Basic Karate Terminology

(Link Submitted by Randy)

Basic Karate Vocabulary

karate (kah-rah-tay):
“empty hands”
dojo (doe-joe):
school or training room
kata (kah-tah):
practive form
kiai (key-eye):
“spirit shout”, focus of energy
kumite (koo-mee-tay):
sparring, fighting
gohon kumite (go-hone koo-mee-tay):
five-step sparring
Shotokan (show-toe-kahn):
“House of Shoto”
karateka (kah-rah-tay-kah):
practitioner of karate
gi (gee)(g is hard as in gun):
uniform, ie. karate-gi “karate uniform”
reigi (ray-gee):
etiquette

kihon (key-hone):
fundamentals

waza (wah-zah):
technique(s)
tsuki(zuki) (zoo-key):
punch
uchi (oo-chee):
strike
uke (oo-kay):
block
dachi (dah-chee):
stance
keri(geri) (gary):
kick
do (doh):
way, ie. karate-do “the way of karate”
budo (boo-doh):
martial way, the way of preventing violence
Intermediate Terms
embusen (em-boo-sen):

floor pattern/ the lines of a kata

bunkai (boon-k’eye):
application of kata techniques
ippon kumite (oo-pohn koo-mee-tay):
one-step sparring
yakusoku kumite (yahk-so-koo koo-mee-tay):
“promise”/premeditated sparring
gohon kumite (goe-hone koo-mee-tay):
five-step sparring
jiyyu kumite (jee-you koo-mee-tay):
free-style sparring
ashi-barai (ah-shee bah-rye):
foot sweep
yori-ashi (yoh-ree ah-shee):
sliding of the feet
jishin (jee-sheen):
self-confidence
hombu dojo (home-boo doh-joe):
central dojo (of an organization)
focus of power
kime (key-may):
maai (mah-eye):
distance
kamae (kah-my):
posture
tai-sabaki (tie sah-bah-kee):
body shifting
shomen (show-men):
“front” of the dojo
kami dana (kah-mee dah-nah):
ceremonial altar at shomen
shinnen (sheen-nen):
ryuha code, dojo creed
gashuku (gah-sh’koo):
gathering of entire dojo for training
Shuri-te (shoo-ree tay):
old name for the Shotokan style

Advanced Terms

shorin (show-reen):
light/fast style karate
shorei (show-ray):
solid/strong style karate
hiki (hee-kee):
“to pull”
hikite (hee-k’tay):
opposing (pulling back) hand
awase (ah-wah-say):
“combined”
“the two” or both
ryo (row) (roll the r):
kensai (ken-say):
feint
nage (naw-gay):
throw
kokyu (koe-k’yoo):
deep breathing
kuzushi (koo-zoo-shee):
loss of balance

Commands

narande (nah-ron-day):
line up
keiretsu (kay-ret-sue):
line up by rank
yoi (yo-ee):
readiness
kio-tsuke (key-oh t’skeh):
attention
seiza (say-zah):
kneeling position
mokuso (mok’soo):
deep breathing meditation
shomen ni (show-men nee):
face front (of the dojo)
sensei ni (sen-say nee):
face the instructor
sempai ni (sem-pie nee):
face the senior student
otaigai ni (oh-tie-guy nee):
face each other
bow, respect
rei (ray):
za rei (zah ray):
traditional kneeling bow
matte (mah-tay):
wait
hajime (hah-jee-may):
begin
yame (yah-may):
stop
yasume (yah-soo-may):
relax or rest
naore (nay-ore-ray):
return to shizen-tai
age-te (ah-gay tay):
raise hands (guard position)
kamae-te (kah-my tay):
“guard up” or fighting posture
mawatte (mah-wah-tay):
turn around

Expressions

onegai shimasu (oh-nay-guy shee-mahss):
“I make a request” or “I welcome you to train with me”
(domo) arigato
thank you
gozaimasu (doh-moe ah-ree-gah-toe go-zah’ee-mahss):
thank you (very much)
hai (h’eye):
yes/affirmation
osu (ouss):
“I understand and will try to do my best.”

Major Concepts

zanshin (zahn-sheen):
Continuing of mind and heart.“following through” a technique while maintaining awareness.
sen (sen):
initiative
sen no sen:
Seizing the initiative earlier. Attacking at the exact moment your opponent attacks.
go no sen:
Seizing the initiative later. Let opponent attack first to open up targets for counter-attack.
sen sen no sen:
Seizing the opponents “sen no sen”. Attacking before your opponent does.
sun-dome (soon-doe-meh):
“Three centimeters”. Stopping a techniques just prior to contact.
ikken hissatsu (ee-ken he-sat-soo):
“To kill with one blow”. Emphasizes a decisive technique.
karate ni sente nashi:
“Karate does not include the first move.”

Counting

ichi (eech-ee):
one
ni (nee):
two
san (sawn):
three
chi (shee):
four
go (goe):
five
roku (row-koo):
six
shichi (see-chee):
seven
hachi (hah-chee):
eight
ku (koo):
nine
ju (joo):
ten
ju-ichi (joo eech-ee):
eleven
ni-ju (nee joo):
twenty
ni-ju-ichi (nee joo eech-ee):
twenty one
hyaku (h'yah-koo):
one hundred

Directions and Facings

mae (my):
front
yoko (also sokumen) (yoh-koh) (soh-koo-men):
side
ushiro (oo-she-row):
back
hidari (hee-dar-ree):
left
migi (mee-gee) (hard g as in gun):
right
gyaku (g’yah-koo):
reverse form
naname (nah-nah-may):
45 degree angle
jodan (joe-don):
head level
chudan (chew-don):
mid-level
gedan (gay-don):
low level
tate (tah-tay):
verticle
otoshi (oh-toe-shee):
dropping
tobi (toe-bee):
jumping or flying
zenshin (zen-sheen):
forward
koshin (koe-sheen):
rearward
ue (oo-eh):
above
shita (shee-tah):
below
soto (soh-toe):
outside
uchi (oo-chee):
inside

Ranking

go-souke (goe-sew-kay):
master, reserved for the head of a style
renshi (wren-shee):
one who has mastered oneself an expert instructor
hanshi (hawn-shee):
master, honorary term for the highest black belt in an organization
shihan (she-hawn):
master intructor (of an organization) or "teacher of teachers"
sensei (sen-say):
intructor/teacher
shidoin (shee-doh-een):
assistant instructor
sempai (sem-pie):
senior student
kohai (koh-high):
junior student (to oneself)/comrade
kyu (k’yoo):
grade or class, used for ranks before black belt ranks, which are referred to as dan.
mudansha (moo-don-shaw):
students without black-belt ranking
obi (oh-bee):
belt, sash
dan (don):
degree, level, or rank, used for black belt ranking.
yudansha (you-don-shaw):
black belt holder (any rank)
shiro-obi (shee-row oh-bee):
white belt
ki-obi (key oh-bee):
yellow belt, 10th kyu
ao-obi (ah’oh oh-bee):
blue belt, 9th and 8th kyu
midori-obi (mee-doe-ree oh-bee):
green belt, 7th and 6th kyu
murasaki-obi (moo-rah-saw-kee oh-bee):
purple belt, 5th and 4th kyu
cha-obi (chah oh-bee):
brown belt; 3rd, 2nd, and 1st kyu
kuro-obi (koo-row oh-bee):
black belt, all dan lavels
shodan (show-don):
first black, student (sen)
nidan (nee-don):
second black, disciple (go no sen)
sandan (sawn-don):
third black, confirmed disciple
yondan (yone-don):
fourth black, expert (sen no sen)
godan (goe-don):
fifth black, spiritual expert
rokudan (row-koo-don):
sixth black, spiritual expert
shichidan (shee-chee-don):
seventh black, specialized expert
hachidan (hah-chee-don):
eighth black
kudan (koo-don):
ninth black
judan (joo-don):
tenth black

Kata

shodan (show-don):
first, eg. first level of
nidan (nee-don):
second
sandan (sawn-don):
third
yondan (yone-don):
fourth
godan (goe-don):
fifth
dai (die):
greater, major
sho (show):
lesser, minor
hasen kata (haw-sen):
a series of kata, performed “in waves”
Taikyoku (tie-key’oh-koo):
First Cause
Heian (hay-on):
Peaceful Mind
Tekki (tek-key):
Iron Knight or "Iron Horse"
Bassai (bah-s’eye):
“To Penetrate a Fortress”
Kanku (kan-koo):
“To View the Heavens”
Jion (jee-ohn):
Buddhist temple name, translates to “Loving Grace” or “Gentle kindness”
Hangetsu (hawn-geh-t’soo):
“Half Moon”
Empi (em-pee):
“Flying Swallow”
Chinte (cheen-tay):
“Unusual Hands” or “Extraordianry Hands”
Jitte (jee-tay):
“Ten Hands” or “Technique Hands”
Jiin (jee-een):
“Place of Mercy” or “In the Shadow of Kindness”
Nijushiho (nee-joo-shee-hoe):
“Twenty-four Steps (or Directions)”
Gankaku (gahn-kah-koo):
“Crane on a Rock”
Sochin (soe-cheen):
“To Keep the Peace” or “Grand Suppression”
Gojushiho (goe-joo-shee-hoe):
“Fifty-four Step (or Directions)”
Unsu (oon-soo):
“Cloud Hands”
Meikyo (may-ee-k’yoe):
“Bright Mirror” or “Clear Mirror”
Wankan (wahn-kahn):
“King’s Crown”

Dachi Waza : Stances

shizen-tai (she-zen-tie):
natural stance/posture
hachiji dachi (hah-chee-jee dah-ch):
open-legged stance (yoi)
heisoku dachi (high-soh-koo dah-ch):
feet together stance
seiza (say-zah):
kneeling posture
musubi dachi (moo-soo-bee dah-ch):
attention/bowing stance
zenkutsu dachi (zen-koot-soo dah-ch):
front stance
kokutsu dachi (koe-koot-soo dah-ch):
back stance
kiba dachi (key-bah dah-ch):
straddle/horse stance
fudo dachi (foo-doe dah-ch):
rooted stance (fighting stance)
hanmi dachi (hahn-mee dah-ch):
half facing stance
kosa dachi (koh-saw dah-ch):
cross-legged stance
neko-ashi dachi (nek-o ah-shee dah-ch):
cat-leg stance
renoji dachi (ren-o-jee dah-ch):
L-stance
hangetsu dachi (hawn-get-soo dah-ch):
wide hourglass stance
sanchin dachi (sawn-cheen dah-ch):
hourglass stance
sochin dachi (soh-cheen dah-ch):
diagonal straddle stance
tsuru dachi (t’soo-roo dah-ch):
crane stance (Gankaku)
sagi ashi dachi (sah-gee ah-shee dah-ch):
crane stance (Jitte)
shiko dachi (shee-koe dah-ch):
square stance

Uke Waza : Blocking Techniques

age uke (ah-gay oo-kay):
rising block
gedan barai (gay-don bah-rye):
down block
uchi (ude) uke (oo-chee oo-day oo-kay):
inside (forearm) block
soto (ude) uke (soh-toe oo-day oo-kay):
outside (forearm) block
shuto uke (shoo-toe oo-kay):
knife-hand block
gyaku uke (g’yah-koo oo-kay):
reverse-form block
nagashi uke (nah-gah-shee oo-kay):
sweeping block
haiwan nagashi uke (high-wahn nah-gah-shee oo-kay):
sweeping back forearm block
osae uke (oh-sigh oo-kay):
pressing block
morote uke (moh-roh-tay oo-kay):
augmented block
kosa uke (koh-sah oo-kay):
crossing block
empi uke (or hiji uke) (em-pee oo-kay) (hee-jee):
elbow block
tate shuto uke (tah-tay shoo-toe oo-kay):
verticle knife-hand block
juji uke (joo-jee oo-kay):
X-block
te nagashi uke (tay nah-gah-shee oo-kay):
sweeping hand block
kakiwake uke (kah-kee-wah-kay oo-kay):
reverse wedge block
haishu uke (high-shoo oo-kay):
back-hand block
manji uke (man-jee oo-kay):
half-swastica block
sukui uke (soo-koo-ee oo-kay):
scooping block
otoshi uke (oh-toe-shee oo-kay):
dropping block
tsukami uke (soo-kah-mee oo-kay):
grasping block
teisho awase uke (tay-show ah-wah-say oo-kay):
combined palm-heel block
teisho morote uke (tay-show moh-roh-tay oo-kay):
double palm-heel block
haishu awase uke (high-shoo ah-wah-say oo-kay):
combined back-hand block
sokumen awase uke (soh-koo-men ah-wah-say oo-kay):
side combined block
kake uke (kah-kay oo-kay):
hooking block
tekubi kake uke (tay-koo-bee kah-kay oo-kay):
hooking wrist block
mawashi kake uke (mah-wah-shee kah-kay oo-kay):
circular hook block
hineri uke (hee-ney-ree oo-kay):
twisting block
seiryuto uke (say-ree’oo-toe oo-kay):
ox-jaw hand block
kieto uke (kigh-toe oo-kay):
chicken-head wrist block
suri uke (sir-ee oo-kay):
sliding block
hiji suri uke (hee-jee sir-ee oo-kay):
sliding elbow block
shuto kakiwake uke (shoo-toe kah-kee-wah-kay oo-kay):
knife-hand wedge block
haito kakiwake uke (high-toe kah-keh-wah-kay oo-kay):
ridge-hand wedge block
koko uke (koh-koh oo-kay):
tiger-mouth block
yama uke (yah-mah oo-kay):
mountain block
ryowan uchi uke (row-wahn oo-chee oo-kay):
double inside block
hasami uke (hah-sah-mee oo-kay):
scissor block

Tournament Terms

aka (ah-kah):
red
shiro (shee-row):
white
sanbon shobu (sawn-bone show-boo):
three point match
otegai ni rei (oh-tee-guy nee ray):
bow to each other
hajime (hah-jee-may):
begin the match
yame (yah-may):
stop
hantei (hawn-tay):
decision
(aka/shiro) no kachi (no kah-ch):
(red/white) winner
waza-ari (wah-zah-a-ree):
half point
ippon (ee-pon):
full point
jogai (joe-guy):
out of bounds
ai-uch (eye-ooch):
clash, same time techniques
chui (choo-ee):
warning
hansoku (hawn-soh-koo):
disqualify

Tsuki Waza : Punching Techniques

oi zuki (oh-ee zoo-key):
lunge punch
gyaku zuki (g’yah-koo zoo-key):
reverse punch
choku zuki (choe-koo zoo-key):
straight punch
morote zuki (moh-roh-tay zoo-key):
parallel punch
kizami zuki (key-zah-mee zoo-key):
jab
ura zuki (oo-rah zoo-key):
close punch
kage zuki (kah-gay zoo-key):
hook punch
oi-gyaku zuki (oh-ee g’yah-koo zoo-key):
lunging reverse punch
ren zuki (or nidan zuki) (wren zoo-key) (nee-don):
double punch
san zuki (sawn zoo-key):
triple punch
heiko ura zuki (high-koh oo-rah zoo-kee):
parallel close punch
hasami zuki (hah-sah-mee zoo-kee):
scissor punch
otoshi zuki (oh-toe-shee zoo-kee):
dropping punch
ippon ken zuki (ee-pone ken zoo-kee):
single-point fist punch
awase zuki (ah-wah-say zoo-kee):
U-punch
yama zuki (yah-mah zoo-kee):
mountain punch
tate zuki (tah-tay zoo-kee):
verticle punch
mawashi zuki (mah-wah-shee zoo-kee):
circular punch
nagashi zuki (nah-gah-shee zoo-kee):
flowing punch
teisho zuki (tay-show zoo-kee):
palm heel punch
yumi zuki (yoo-mee zoo-kee):
“bow” punch

Keri Waza : Kicking Techniques

mae geri keage (my gary key-ah-gay):
front snap kick
yoko geri keage (yoh-koh gary key-ah-gay):
side snap kick
ushiro geri (oo-shee-row gary):
back kick
mawashi geri (mah-wah-shee gary):
round kick
mae geri kekomi (my gary keh-koe-mee):
front thrust kick
yoko geri kekomi (yoh-koh gary keh-koe-mee):
side thrust kick
uchi mikazuki geri (oo-chee mee-kah-zoo-key gary):
inside crescent kick
soto mikazuki geri (soh-toe mee-kah-zoo-key gary):
outside crescent kick
kage geri (kah-gay gary):
hook kick
gyaku mawashi geri (g’yah-koo mah-wah-shee gary):
reverse round kick
fumikomi geri (foo-mee-koh-mee gary):
stomping kick
nami-ashi geri (nah-mee-ah-shee gary):
returning wave kick
tobi geri (toe-bee gary):
jumping or flying kick
nidan geri (nee-don gary):
double kick
ono geri (oh-no gary):
axe kick
fumikiri geri (foo-mee-kee-ree gary):
cutting kick
kansetsu geri (kahn-seh-t’soo gary):
kick to the knee
kesa geri (kay-sah gary):
“across” or diagonal kick
kesa mawashi geri (kay-sah mah-wah-shee gary):
diagonal round kick

Uchi Waza : Striking Techniques

tettsui uchi (tet-soo-ee oo-chee):
hammer-fist strike
uraken uchi (oo-rah-ken oo-chee):
back-fist/knuckle strike
hiraken uchi (here-rah-ken oo-chee):
flat fist/fore-knuckle strike
uchi shuto uchi (oo-chee shoo-toe oo-chee):
inside knife-hand strike
soto shuto uchi (soe-toe shoo-toe oo-chee):
outside knife-hand strike
haito uchi (high-toe oo-chee):
ridge-hand strike
uchi haito uchi (oo-chee high-toe oo-chee):
inside ridge-hand strike
shihon nukite (shee-hone new-kee-tay):
four point spear
nippon nukite (nee-hone new-kee-tay):
two point spear/fork
ippon nukite (ee-pone new-kee-tay):
single-point spear
tiesho uchi (tay-show oo-chee):
palm heel strike
kumade (koo-mah-day):
bear claw/hand
koko uchi (koe-koe oo-chee):
tiger-mouth strike
haishu uchi (high-shoo oo-chee):
back-hand strike
sieryuto uchi (say-re’oo-toe oo-chee):
ox-jaw hand strike
washide (wah-shee-day):
eagle-beak strike
hasami uchi (hah-sah-mee oo-chee):
scissor strike
wanto (wahn-toe):
sword arm strike
keito uchi (kay-toe oo-chee):
chicken-head strike
otoshi uchi (oh-toe-hee oo-chee):
dropping strike
furioroshi uchi (foo-ree-oh-row-she oo-chee):
downward swinging strike
kansetsu uchi (kahn-seh-t’soo oo-chee):
strike to a joint

Rank Test Date Questionnaire

2009-06-14T21:12:00.002-05:00

Dear Austin Shotokan Karate Members,

Please check your email for an important questionnaire regarding the next rank test.

6/7/09 Video Training Valentin #9

2009-06-07T20:48:00.002-05:00

6/7/09 Video Training Valentin #8

2009-06-07T20:38:00.002-05:00

6/7/09 Video Training Valentin #7

2009-06-07T20:33:00.002-05:00

6/7/09 Video Training Valentin #6

2009-06-07T20:22:00.002-05:00

6/7/09 Video Training Valentin #5

2009-06-07T20:13:00.002-05:00

6/7/09 Video Training Valentin #4

2009-06-07T20:08:00.002-05:00

6/7/09 Video Training Valentin #3

2009-06-07T20:06:00.001-05:00

6/7/09 Video Training Valentin #2

2009-06-07T19:50:00.002-05:00

6/7/09 Video Training Valentin #1

2009-06-07T19:38:00.001-05:00

37th Annual Mountain States Open Summer Camp

2009-06-06T19:41:00.001-05:00

37th Annual Mountain States Open Summer Camp
July 30-Aug. 2, 2009

And
23rd Master Nakayama Memorial Tournament
Saturday, Aug. 1st Brown & Black Belt Only
Special Guest Instructor, Shihan Okazaki 10th Dan
Chief Instructor, ISKF

OTHER INSTRUCTORS
ISKF Technical Committee Instructors
Sensei James Field, Vice-Chairman
Sensei Cathy Cline, Secretary
Sensei David Jones, Canada
Sensei Larry Loreth, Canada
Sensei Gary Swain, Mt. States

Hosted by
Yutaka Yaguchi
Chairman, Technical Committee
Chief Instructor
Mountain States Region, ISKF

CAMP SCHEDULE:

Thursday:
Check-in 4:00pm-7:00pm
All Training 7:00pm-8:00pm
Free Time 8:30pm

Friday and Saturday Training
Wake Up 6:00am
All Training 6:30am-7:30am
Breakfast 7:30am-8:30am
Blk Belt Trng 10:30am-11:30am
Colored Blt Trng 10:30am-11:30am
Lunch 11:30am-1:00pm
All Training 3:30pm-5:00pm
Dinner 5:00pm-6:30PM
Free Time 7:00pm

Sunday:
Wake-Up 6:00am
All Training 6:30am-7:30am
Breakfast 7:30am-8:30am
Dan Exam 9:30am-10:30am
Check-out 8:30am
End Camp 10:30am

On Saturday also:

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION:

Brown and Black Belt Only: Tournament Time: 12 – 2:30 PM Saturday KATA and KUMITE

ISKF RULES APPLY

Camp Fees

____PLAN 1: 1 NIGHT/2DAYS $270 U.S.
____PLAN 2: 2 NIGHTS/3DAYS $340 U.S.
____PLAN 3: 3 NIGHTS/4 DAYS $375 U.S.
ALL UNDER 13 yrs REDUCED--$250 or $25 off

TOURNAMENT FEES: CAMP NO CAMP
One Event No Chg $30
Two Events No Chg $35

BROWN AND BLACK BELT ONLY!!!
ISKF STANDARD RULES FOR COMPETITION!
TOURNAMENT: YES___NO___KATA___KUMITE___
JUDGE: YES___NO___ JUDGE RANK______

If paid before July17th deduct $25.* *Applies to all regular fees. No reduced fees qualify
__________________________________
INSTRUCTOR TRAINING CLASSES

Instructor Training classes will be held on Friday. The fee is $20 in cash and that should be given to the person collecting the fees at the door. Bring you Instructor books with you so they can be signed by Master Okazaki right after the training. If you have any questions, please address them before the classes.
Any black belt is welcome in the class and there is no additional charge. The only charge is for Instructor Trainees.
Dan Examination
New Requirements

Sunday 9:30am

Testing Fees:
1st-$80.00, 2nd-$100.00, 3rd-$120.00,
4th-$150, 5th-$200
Fees payable to Kushi Kai

Dan Certificate Fees:
1st-$85, 2nd-$115, 3rd-$160,
4th-$215, 5th-$265
Fees payable to ISKF July 24th IS THE FINAL DEADLINE

Dan Certification papers must accompany Request for Dan Exam. Without the application and the 2 photos plus the appropriate check, Dan exam will not be allowed.

Requirements-Current ISKF card; Shodan and above must have Dan registration number and written permission from your instructor if you are not a Mountain States Region member. Plan to be there 30 minutes early.

Camp Participants:

It gives me great pleasure to invite you to the 23rd Annual Master Nakayama Memorial Tournament and our 37th Annual Mountain States Region Summer Camp.

Master Okazaki will be providing outstanding instruction for us. Assisting in the instruction will be members of the ISKF Technical Committee led by Sensei Field.

I look forward to seeing you at our 37th Annual Summer Camp. Please take advantage of this unique opportunity to meet new and old friends and build your enthusiasm and understanding of karate-do.

Yutaka Yaguchi
Chief Instructor
ISKF-Colorado

226 S. Broadway, Denver CO 80209
PH# 303-733-8326 FAX# 303-733-1226

Camp Coordinator, Gary Swain 303-797-6608 karatecoach@comcast.net
_____________________________
Parents of
Young Campers

It is highly encouraged to have all colored belts attend the camp, regardless of age. The training is outstanding and the friendships that can be started are some that will last a lifetime. However, it is necessary to have all youth supervised by a responsible adult while they are at the camp. In addition to the karate training there is also a swimming pool, climbing wall, tennis courts, movies downtown and many other things for young people.

To encourage parents to bring their children and enjoy the camp there are special rates available for those who are supervising and not training.

Rates for Non-training Participants

Room and Board Only

Plan 1: 1 night, 2 days $135
Plan 2: 2 nights, 3 days $175
Plan 3: 3 nights, 4 days $215

These rates are base on 4 people per room, which is the standard housing in the dorm. If special arrangements are called for then the rates would be adjusted accordingly.

ACCOMMODATIONS & MEALS

Each dormitory suite has 2 bedrooms with 2 single beds each. Each room is designed to handle 4 people. Linen and blankets are provided at no extra charge. Meals begin at the University Friday morning and there are also many good places to eat in town.

Check-in and lodging Lawrenson Hall
Meals Holmes Dining Center
Training Rec Center Gym

There are facilities available for swimming, volleyball, tennis and golf. The main activity is karate training, however, be sure to take advantage of these other fine facilities, if you are interested.

TRANSPORTATION

The University of Northern Colorado is located in Greeley, about 60 miles northeast of Denver. There are at least three methods of transportation:
1) Car rental from Denver International Airport, which you arrange on your own. Please call ahead of time.
2) Rocky Mountain Shuttle from DIA to Greeley. The one way fare is about $31 and the round trip is about $60. The phone number is 1-970-356-3366. You will need to call to arrange your times. If you have a group, lower rates may be possible. You can also book on line at rockymountainshuttlecompany.com.
3) Be at the headquarters dojo by 1:00pm on Thursday, Aug. 11, and you can ride with other students up to Greeley. There will be regular class from 11:45am - 12:45pm on Thursday and you're welcome to train.

Please arrange your own transportation from the airport to the camp or to the dojo.

BBQ & VOLLEYBALL

Get your team ready to compete. Each year we seem to have a different champion from different parts of the country. Competion is fabulous and the cheers are unbelievable. Food is out of sight. Time is always too short so we need to be ready to spike and dive.

If you have questions,
please contact
Gary Swain,
Camp Coordinator
at
303-797-6608
karatecoach@comcast.net

5/31/09 Video Training Nidan Kihon 4

2009-05-31T19:43:00.001-05:00

5/31/09 Video Training Nidan Kihon 3

2009-05-31T19:26:00.002-05:00

5/31/09 Video Training Nidan Kihon 2

2009-05-31T19:19:00.003-05:00

5/31/09 Video Training Nidan Kihon 1

2009-05-31T19:09:00.003-05:00

Construction at Austin Recreation Center

2009-05-30T17:41:00.002-05:00

Construction at Austin Recreation Center

FYI: From The ARC Recreation Program Supervisor:

Starting August 17th – August 30th that ARC will be partially closed in order to replace the entire HVAC system (Air conditioning). The reason it is partially closed is because contract instructors will have the option of either continuing classes as normal with the knowledge that there will be no air conditioning in the entire facility and ARC will provide as many fans as possible & safe. The second option is to cancel services until the project is complete and A/C is restored. I understand that August seems like a long way away, but I just wanted to give you as much notice as possible, so you can inform your participants before deciding what to do. Once you have made a decision please let me know so appropriate signs can be posted on-site informing participants also.

Stacey D. Clack
Recreation Program Supervisor

ISKF Mountain Region Summer Camp

2009-05-30T17:24:00.004-05:00

The ISKF Mountin States Region under Master Yutaka Yaguchi, 9th Dan, will be hosting its annual summer camp in Denver, Colorado starting July 30, Thursday and end on Aug. 2, Sunday. Mark your calendars and look for more information regarding this event will be coming soon. For more info in the interm contact Gary Swain at:
pepcoach@comcast.net

2009-05-30T17:09:00.005-05:00

43rd ANNUAL ISKF MASTER CAMP
INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL TOURNAMENT
JUNE 12 - 19, 2009 CAMP GREEN LANE, PENNSYLVANIA USA

This international karate camp is open to all Shotokan practitioners, regardless of affiliation. It is a full week of instruction for beginners to black belts with separate training facilities and instructors for each rank.No other Shotokan camp is comprised of such high-ranking internationally well-known masters and is attended by Shotokan karate-ka from over 40 countries. For mor info: click (here).

Instructors:
Teruyuki Okazaki ISKF/US 10th Dan
Hirokazu Kanazawa SKIF/Japan 10th Dan
Yutaka Yaguchi ISKF 9th Dan
Hideo Ochi JKA/Europe 8th Dan
Masaru Miura SKIF/Italy 9th Dan

Valentin Runs Green Bay Marathon

2009-05-24T21:07:00.007-05:00

Valentin Panayatov of Austin Shotokan Karate ran the Green Bay Marathon last week. He completed the 26 mile race in 3 hours and 33 minutes. His time both this year and last, qualifies him for both the New York and the Boston Marathons.

Congratulations Valentin!

5.24.09 Video Training; Kanku Sho

2009-05-24T21:07:00.002-05:00

5.24.09 Video Training Kumite #9

2009-05-24T20:34:00.002-05:00

5.24.09 Video Training Kumite #8

2009-05-24T20:21:00.002-05:00

5.24.09 Video Training Kumite #7

2009-05-24T20:14:00.002-05:00

5.24.09 Video Training Kumite #6

2009-05-24T20:09:00.001-05:00

5.24.09 Video Training Kumite #5

2009-05-24T19:51:00.002-05:00

5.24.09 Video Training Kumite #4

2009-05-24T19:39:00.002-05:00

5.24.09 Video Training Kumite #3

2009-05-24T19:31:00.001-05:00

5.24.09 Video Training Kumite #2

2009-05-24T19:20:00.002-05:00

5.24.09 Video Training Kumite #1

2009-05-24T19:10:00.003-05:00

Kancho Kanazawa/Nobuaki Seminar In New Hampshire

2009-05-23T23:25:00.004-05:00

SKIF-USA 2009 Tour Kanazawa Kancho/Nobuaki Sensei Seminar June 20 & 21, 2009 Rochester, NH OPEN COURSE SCHEDULE

SESSION SCHEDULE SATURDAY, JUNE 20

10:00 AM -12:00 NOON
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

SATURDAY, JUNE 20
GROUP DINNER WITH KANCHO
Warren's Lobster House, Kittery, Maine (5:30 - 7:45)

SUNDAY, JUNE 21
10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON

*KYU & Dan Testing (3d KYU & Higher Only) 3:00 PM
*Grading for SKIF Members only – Applicants must be registered for the entire two day seminar and applications for grading must be received by June 1, 2009. Contact Mike Cook for applications. Work# 207 778-0413 Cell# 207 491-5874 E-mail: gunnermfc@gwi.net

Additional Classes
FRIDAY, JUNE 19*
Tai Chi with Kanazawa Kancho
7-8:15 PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 21**
Kanazawa No Bo Kata Class
1:00 - 2:30 PM

TRAINING FEES:
Adult2 Day Course: $145 1 Day Course: $85
Youth (Sixteen and under)2 Day Course: $65 1 Day Course: $40
TAI CHI with Kanazawa Kancho - $40.00*Limited to those with Tai Chi experience*
KANAZAWA No Bo Kata Class - $40.00**Must attend at least a one-day seminar to participate in this class.**
Spectator Fee: $3.00 per day
Per Kanazawa Kancho, NO video taping at the seminar this year.Kanazawa Kancho Seminar Registration Form TAI CHI with Kanazawa Kancho Registration Form KANAZAWA No Bo Kata Class Registration Form
The Kanazawa No Bo Kata Class - This Bo kata was created by Kanazawa Kancho over 30 years ago and it is only now, in 2009, that it will become available to all of us and will officially become part of the SKIF syllabus. The Kanazawa No Bo Kata DVD will be available for purchase at the seminar.
DINNER MENU
Hotel Information:
There are many hotels in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire and near the training site. The link below provides information on hotels and motels in the local area. There are three airports within 1- 1.75 hours to Portsmouth, Boston, Portland, ME and Manchester, NH. Rental cars are available.
Link to Traveltoday - Rochester, New Hampshire
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites ROCHESTER83 FARMINGTON ROADRochester, NH United States 03867Phone 603 994-1175
Group Name: SKF Karate. There are 14 rooms blocked off @ $99.00 per night/ 5 mini-suites blocked off @ $127.00 per night
Driving Directions from Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites ROCHESTER to the Dojo at 150 Wakefield St, Rochester, NH (Rochester Recreation Center Building)
A: 83 Farmington Rd, Rochester, NH 03867-43291: Start out going SOUTHEAST on FARMINGTON RD/NH-11 toward CRANE DR. 1.1 mi 2: Stay STRAIGHT to go onto N MAIN ST. 1.1 mi3: Keep LEFT at the fork to continue on N MAIN ST. 0.5 mi4: Turn LEFT onto WAKEFIELD ST. 0.7 mi5: End at 150 Wakefield St Rochester, NH 03867-1300 Estimated Time: 7 minutes Estimated Distance: 3.41 miles
Additional moderately priced motels
Holiday Inn Express Durham - UNH 2 MAIN STREETDurham, NH 03842(603) 868-1234
Comfort Inn & Suites Weeks CrosingDover, NH 03820(603) 750-7507
Dover - Days Inn Durham/Downtown 481 Central Ave.Dover, NH 03820Rt 16N, Exit 7603 742-0400
Microtel Inns and Suites Dover 31 Webb PlaceDover, NH United States 03820
Best Western Wynwood Hotel & Suites580 US Highway One Bypas, Interstate Traffic CirclePortsmouth, NH 03801603 436-7600
Holiday Inn Portsmouth,NH 300 Woodbury Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801Phone 603.431.8000Please do not hesitate to contact me by e-mail or phone if you need additional information.
Mike Cook - gunnermfc@gwi.net
Day Phone (207) 778-0413 Cell (207) 491-5874

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #18

2009-05-23T22:51:00.002-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #17

2009-05-23T22:39:00.002-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #16

2009-05-23T22:20:00.002-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #15

2009-05-23T22:11:00.002-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #14

2009-05-23T22:03:00.002-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #13

2009-05-23T21:47:00.002-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #12

2009-05-23T21:33:00.002-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #11

2009-05-23T21:28:00.001-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #10

2009-05-23T21:21:00.001-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #9

2009-05-23T21:15:00.002-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #8

2009-05-23T21:09:00.002-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #7

2009-05-23T21:00:00.002-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #6

2009-05-23T20:53:00.002-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #5

2009-05-23T20:43:00.002-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #4

2009-05-23T20:34:00.001-05:00

5.20.09 Video Training Kumite #3

2009-05-23T20:21:00.002-05:00