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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
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Disclaimer: Titles
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
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April
| Robert Hunt |
Kobudo - The Ancient Martial Art
The Karate Tapestry - Part 22
Empty hand fighting is great, but every once in a while it's nice to have a stick in your hand.
In its inception, karate was called Unante or Uchinadi and nothing about it implied fighting empty handed. The entire art was a combination of weapons, strikes and kicks intended to injure or kill.
It's only in modern times in Japan, shortly before the Second World War, that karate became only an empty handed art, with a new name to fit. Most karate in Okinawa has always included the practice of weapons.
The kinds of weapon arts that emanate from Okinawa have existed in every culture from time immemorial - weapons fashioned from available material and in abundant shapes and applications. The same approach can be seen from the Hawaiian Islands to New Zealand's Maori culture. Robin Hood's side kick, John Little, carried an oak quarter staff, not all that different from an Okinawan bo.
But, in Okinawa, the use of such weapons developed into a virtual art form, due to the prohibition of bladed weapons, first by Sho Shin, one of Okinawa's unifying kings and later by the Satsuma occupiers. In our times, the Japanese word kobujutsu and later, kobudo, has come todescribe fighting with weapons. But the words themselves have nothing to do specifically with weapon arts. Kobujutsu means "ancient martial art"; kobudo, means "ancient martial way". Technically any ancient Okinawan martial art, from empty hand fighting to nunchaku, fits that definition. They are all "ancient martial arts" of Okinawa.
Separating the weapon art of kobudo, from empty handed karate, came about with karate's emigration to Japan in the 1920's. The Japanese were interested in Okinawa's empty handed art but not the rest. Kobudo in the Japanese mind was sword, halberd and bow. Okinawan weapons were low class, plebian. Conflating the tonfa and the sai with the sword, the "spirit of the samurai", was akin to sacrilege.
Click HERE to read the rest of the article To contact Robert Hunt
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April | Ray Hughes |
"The Karate Tournament" a Microcosm of Life
by Ray Hughes
Many people, and unfortunately some martial artists, think karate tournaments are about winning medals. To the true martial artist, there is nothing further from the truth.
The true martial artist is primarily concerned about the battle within; defeating ego, managing emotions and stress, and overcoming the 7 deadly sins of mankind (Pride, Envy, Anger, Gluttony, Lust, Sloth and Greed.) The skills developed from battling these challenges help the martial artist successfully pilot through the difficulties of life; in other words, to be successful, happy, and to contribute something to mankind. This is the priority of a true martial artist and not the materialistic goal of a medal.
The best way to develop these skills is by immersing oneself into these above mentioned battles. By experiencing these challenges in small doses along with proper mentorship, skills can be developed that can be applied to future struggles.
The karate tournament is an ideal place to practice managing these challenges. This is because the karate tournament is a microcosm of life.
Competition is a mirror reflection of life. Like life, karate competition includes stress, emotions, injustice (both real and perceived), regulations, authority, failure, success, human error, conflict of perceptions, protocols, interaction with diversified personalities and numerous other imperfections of the human condition. It is a scaled down version of life.
The karate tournament must be looked at as a training ground for developing life skills. With proper mentorship, students (which are primarily the young) can develop skills in a relatively safe and harmless environment. Life skill mistakes made at a tournament (loss of discipline, emotional breakdowns, and insecurity issues to name a few) are not nearly as devastating as making these mistakes in the real world. It is better to learn these skills at the tournament level versus trial and error in real life. Also, it requires repeated competition over a long period of time to develop these skills.
To read the rest of this article click HERE
Ray Hughes
Scottsdale Martial Arts Center
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April
Martial Art Humor
We all need a little humor in our life. If you have a joke, send it in.
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April
Zen Stories
Nature's Beauty
A priest was in charge of the garden
within a famous Zen temple. He had been given the job because he loved the flowers, shrubs, and trees. Next to the temple there was another, smaller temple where there lived a very old Zen master. One day, when the priest was expecting some special guests, he took extra care in tending to the garden. He pulled the weeds, trimmed the shrubs, combed the moss, and spent a long time meticulously raking up and carefully arranging all the dry autumn leaves. As he worked, the old master watched him with interest from across the wall that separated the temples. When he had finished, the priest stood back to admire his work. "Isn't it beautiful," he called out to the old master. "Yes," replied the old man, "but there is something missing. Help me over this wall and I'll put it right for you." After hesitating, the priest lifted the old fellow over and set him down. Slowly, the master walked to the tree near the center of the garden, grabbed it by the trunk, and shook it. Leaves showered down all over the garden. "There," said the old man, "you can put me back now."
We all need a little Zen in our Lives. If you have a story, please send it in. |
"The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong." C.G. Jung
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Traditional Karate Websites
To list an international traditional karate website, contact editor
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WIKF Wado Ryu Karate Seminars with Sensei Wicks
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
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Sensei Wicks
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To view seminar schedule from January 2016 through August 2016
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Other Seminars and Events
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Rocky Mountain Championship
May 1, 2016
Louisville, Colorado USA
Referee Course April 30th
for more information
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Wado and TSYR Pentecost Seminar 2016
The Connection between Wado ryu and Shindo Yoshin ryu
Instructors: Toby Threadgill (USA) Menkyo Kaiden, Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin ryu
Shuzo Imai (Germany) 8th Dan Wado ryu (DKV)
Wado ryu is based on two pillars: Shindo Yoshin ryu and Okinawa karate. The seminar offers a deeper understanding of Wado ryu. Happo no kuzushi and different methods of speed and power generation are based on principles which are fundamental both in Shindo Yoshin ryu and in Wado ryu. On the first day, Toby Threadgill will teach these principles in Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin ryu via Kata and Kunren and Shuzo Imai will teach this in Wado ryu at the example of Kihon kumite 1 - 10. On the second day, the investigation of these principles will continue via the Tantodori of both Wado ryu and Shindo Yoshin ryu.
May 14 - May 16, 2016
In Berlin for additional information click HERE
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Americas Masters Games in Vancouver
August 26-September 4, 2016
Karate BC is excited to be part of the upcoming Americas Masters Games in Vancouver, August 26-September 4, 2016. We are one of 24 sports participating in this event. We believe this event is a wonderful opportunity for karate practitioners 30 years an over to get together to compete, make new friends, renew friendships and socialize with other 30 years + athletes in Vancouver, British Columbia. Here is some karate specific information. - We will have two age groups: 30-45 years of age and 46 +.
- There will be 3 general categories of competitors: novice (8-5th kyu), intermediate (4th-1st kyu) and advanced (black belts levels)
- 3 disciplines to compete in: kata, kumite, and kobudo.
- In kumite there will be 2 weight categories: men -75 kg and +75 kg; women -61 kg and +61 kg.
- Competition will be modified WKF rules. Modifications will be as per Karate BC guidelines and will be distributed at a later date.
- Competition date(s) will be Sept. 2, 3. If less than 100 competitors then Sept. 3.
- This is an Open event - participants do not need to be part of their country's NSO; however if they are not they will need to buy tournament insurance for the day(s) of the event. This event is sanctioned by Karate Canada and Karate BC so members/affiliates will be able to make use of existing karate insurance.
- Hotel information will be coming out in next bulletin.
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2016 Japanese Karate Tournament Schedule 2015 USA
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