KARATE

Philosophy,History,Articles,&Events

 
a Monthly International Newsletter
February 2016





Ohtsuka head                 

Ohtsuka    

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The only difference between the possible and impossible is one's will"

-Hironori Ohtsuka

 

Itosu
 
    
Higaonna
Funakoshi

Miyagi

Mabuni
In This Issue
"Museum Pieces and Their Names" by Robert Hunt
'War waging" by Ray Hughes
Sports Psychology
Humor
Zen Stories
Moral Wisdom
British Wadokai News
International Wado Federation News
Wado Seminar
Wado Agenda
Wado and TRYR Seminar
WIKF Seminars
Master Takagi Seminar
Competitions and Events
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Welcome to the world of karate history, philosophy, other martial art information 

 

Dear Karate Enthusiast;

 

The purpose of this newsletter is to pass on historical information, philosophical views and activities of interest to karate martial artists around the world. Please send your article, event or activity with a photo of the instructor and/or event organizer by the 20th of the preceding month to get your information in this newsletter. Please send your text in a Word document. Please send posters and pictures in small jpeg files, thank you. 

 

Instructors, please forward to other karate enthusiasts,  

thank you.

 

Sincerely,

Ray Hughes, Editor 

and Volunteer Staff

Contact Us

 

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Disclaimer: Titles                   bow

  

One of the most difficult areas this newsletter has to deal with is the use of instructor titles. We are very sensitive to this issue and do not want to offend or insult anyone. To simplify this daunting problem we will use the following guidelines with the use of instructor titles:

 

a. The correct title of the instructor(s) must be in the article or seminar information submitted by the author or event organizer.

b. All captions that we place under photos will be:
  1. Japanese instructors: Last name followed by the title Sensei.

  2. Non-Japanese instructors: The title Sensei followed by the last name of the instructor.

c. Any title and name that is placed in this newsletter by newsletter staff will use the title of Sensei.

 

 

We consider the title "Sensei" a very prestigious title

 

 

Feb

 
Robert Hunt
Robert Hunt
 
 
Bunkai
The Karate Tapestry - Part 20
By Robert Hunt

            

 
 
Someone commented once that a demonstration of karate application bears a striking resemblance to a World Wrestling Federation match.
They weren't far off.
Here's an idea - you step forward and punch at me and hold still. I'll block, kick you in the head, then an arm bar, then I'll sweep your legs out from under you and deliver a screaming blow to your prostrate body, fierce as a tiger, and then you grimace in imagined pain.
What do you think?
Such is a demonstration of (contrived)
bunkai - the secret fighting techniques hidden within the kata that we learn and pass on and how we understand them, manipulate them and demonstrate them.
The story of bunkai is truly long and winding, filled with myth, imagination, a few facts, untold misunderstandings, make believe, fairy tales and lies - pretty much like the rest of life.
The original point of kata was apparently to preserve and enhance fighting methods among a predominantly illiterate fraternity of martial artists. A selection of techniques was strung together, memorized, practiced in an order and passed on. Over the centuries, those strings were modified, expanded and named, to fit the criteria of various teachers until, in modern times, they became calcified in karate "styles" and innovation ceased. Now we sort through ancient kata for understanding, much like an anthropologist sorts through ancient cities. We strain to glean hints to the meanings woven into routines created hundreds of years ago.
                           
Click  HERE to read the rest of the article                
 
To contact Robert Hunt  
 
 
Feb
Ray Hughes
  

 The Current War within the Karate Community 
by Ray Hughes
 

 We recently concluded an Awards Banquet in Arizona. At that banquet I gave the following speech. I have discussed the pros and cons of competition in this newsletter before. This is a little different angle in respect of awards given to competitors.




There is currently a war waging within the karate community.  A war that has been persisting for over a hundred years, a least as far as modern karate goes.  This battle revolves around the giving of awards to competitors.
 
There are those who believe that giving awards to competitors is wrong.  They believe this contradicts the philosophy and the spirit of the martial arts.  They believe one should train for personal growth, the perfection of skill, overcoming the weakness of mind, and the development of humility.  Not to train for materialistic awards and the seeking of glory.

I must admit, I personally believe 100% in this view!

There are those, however, who believe there are skills developed from competition that cannot be fully developed in the dojo.  There are skills that can be developed in the dojo such as technical development, goal setting, strategy, and philosophical understanding.  But there are skills that cannot be entirely developed in the dojo, such as functioning under elevated pressure, dealing with injustice in real time (both real and perceived), and other internal struggles within the mind that surface when under stress.

To this view, I agree 100%!

This may sound like a contradiction. But it's not.

I believe that competition actually achieves the goals the other side seeks.

But first, isn't self-defense an important aspect of the martial arts? I still think so.  And if this is true, how do we best develop skills that will improve the chances of success in real self-defense situations?
 


To read the rest of this article click   HERE  

Ray Hughes
Scottsdale Martial Arts Center
  
 
Feb
 
Dr. Sam Sterk
 
Sports Psychology 
by Dr. Sam Sterk   

The use of Visual Imagery 

involves a vivid creation or recreation of an athletic performance in your mind, from start to finish. See yourself doing your skill/skills. Mentally rehearse them from start to end. i.e. Katas or your fighting/sparring skills. There are other important uses, namely:

*To motivate your persistence and the intensity
*To manage your energy levels correctly
*To mentally rehearse your perfect skill- great form
*To refocus & maintain your Concentration and eliminate any and all distractions
*Prepare for competition. 


       Pointers on how to learn to use imagery
  • Be calm and use all your senses or even as many as you can (hearing, visual, smell , tastes, kinesthetic
  • Control your images-make sure you perform as you want to
  • Use your senses and begin with the words, I feel
  • Practice, practice, practice
 


To read the rest of the article click HERE 
 

Sam Sterk, Ph.D., CC-AASP
www.peakplusaz.com 
Email: peakplus@aol.com
480-767-0956
 
 
Feb 
Martial Art Humor  
 
We all need a little humor in our life.  If you have a joke, send it in.
  
Feb
                            Zen Stories 
 

Successor                



The old Zen master's health was fading. Knowing his death was near, he announced to all the monks that he soon would be passing down his robe and rice bowl to appoint the next master of the monastery. His choice, he said, would be based on a contest. Anyone seeking the appointment was required to demonstrate his spiritual wisdom by submitting a poem. The head monk, the most obvious successor, presented a poem that was well composed and insightful. All the monks anticipated his selection as their new leader. However, the next morning another poem appeared on the wall in the hallway, apparently written during the dark hours of the night. It stunned everyone with it's elegance and profundity but no one knew who the author was. Determined to find this person, the old master began questioning all the monks. To his surprise, the investigation led to the rather quiet kitchen worker who pounded rice for the meals. Upon hearing the news, the jealous head monk and his comrades plotted to kill their rival. In secret, the old master passed down his robe and bowl to the rice pounder, who quickly fled from the monastery, later to become a widely renowned Zen teacher.
 
 

 
We all need a little Zen in our Lives. If you have a story, please send it in.
 
thinking man
feb                        
Moral Wisdom
 
"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality."
Dante Alighieri 
 
Traditional Karate Websites 
To list an international traditional karate website, contact editor 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

          Wado Seminars
             and Events
 
Wado Agenda
by Rob van Leeuwen

Info on other International Wado Events 

http://wadokarateagenda.wordpress.com/ 


Wado and TSYR Seminar
 
Dominating your Opponent through the Control of
Initiative (Sente) and Distance (Maai)
 
Toby Threadgill (USA)
Menkyo Kaiden, Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin ryu
 
Kaki Kawano (Japan)
5th Dan JKF Wado-Kai

February 06 - February 07, 2016
In Berlin


For additional information click HERE 

 
WIKF Wado Ryu Karate Seminars with Sensei Wicks WIKF  
 
 
 
All courses are open to Wado practitioners (unless stated) and will include traditional Wado Techniques including- OHYO, KIHON GUMITE, TANTO & TACHI DORI, (KNIFE &SWORD DEFENCE) IDORI (KNEELING DEFENCE) AND KATA
Jon Wicks
Sensei Wicks 
 


To view seminar schedule from January 2016 through August 2016
click HERE. 
     

 Other Seminars and Events



                                     
                                   2016

 Japanese Karate Tournament Schedule 2015 USA
                                                     Click HERE
 
                             


December
   
      12/26-1/5 2016    The 13th Pan American Maccabi Games
                                Santiago, Chile
                                Dr. Sternberg      skusajka@aol.com
                                Caren Lesser       lesserc@bellsouth.net