RyuTe® News

RyuTe News
®
July 2015
Inside this issue
● Birthday Seminar● Update from the Board ● What does Bu mean to you? ● Note from Robin●D.C. Spring Seminar ● Ormaza Regional
Seminar ● Instructions for submitting Bio● Belt testing from Johnny ● Request for old Newsletters● News you can use
News from the Board
The Bylaws:
have been revised and can be found at http://ryute.com/documents/Bylaws-v7-02-May-2015.pdf
New Website:
Keegan Rollins, one of our members, drafted several versions of a website with a new look and feel. The Board
has reviewed and selected a version which will be in development and will be released later this year. If you are a
Dojo Owner and certified instructor we need a short bio from you. Please see instructions on page 9.
Follow us on Twitter @RyuTeRenMei
Be a part of a committee and make a difference
Here isa list of committees that you can volunteer for. If you think you can help out, contact the
board liaison or newsletter staff, so you can be added to the list. Some committees are already
in communication with ideas, so sign up today to be included.
Committee
Board Liaison
Translation and Language
Jonny Jandrakovic
Research and History
Seminar Committee
Blake Burgert
Bogu Kumite
Empty Hand Kata Advisory
Jonny Jandrakovic
Technical Weapons Advisory
John Risko
Tuite and Kyusho Advisory
Jim Toolan
Association Issues
Jim Toolan
Finance
J.P. Steele
Communications and Outreach:
Newsletter
Robby Collingwood
Marketing
J.P. Steele
Webpage and Facebook Design
Robby Collingwood
What Does Bu mean to you
Helen Cawley
“Waga Jinsei wa Bude Hajimari Bude Owaru” translates into “My
Life begins with Bu and ends with Bu”. Taika wrote this for us
and presented it as the theme of the seminar in October of 2009.
He said that it was his last will and testament for us, his students,
to have when he is gone. We all have the t-shirt. The calligraphy
is familiar, but have you thought much about what it means to
you? More descriptively or as an oath I would write this translation as: “I will begin my life studying the way of the true warrior,
and die studying as a true warrior”. Or to be more pragmatic: “I
will begin and end every day following the way of a samurai.”
So let’s say I go down that path and study the way of the
Samurai or warrior. My first step is to find the instruction manual.
I find that there is a set of laws, bushido, that give guidelines on
how you should behave. Is this what Taika wanted us to follow?
Maybe some of it, but some of it seems to be too old fashioned
and not Taika’s style. It is based on very old feudalistic concepts
and was a guideline for the Samurai who were practically indentured servants to their Lord. Some of these concepts are very hard to transfer to modern democratic life
and martial arts study. However, there are some very noble concepts in bushido. The seven virtues are:
Moral integrity, Courage, Compassion, Respect, Honesty, Honor and Loyalty. Maybe this was at the core
of what Taika meant. Maybe he wants us to live every day showing these virtues in our words and deeds.
In fact, this is not too- far- a- field from the Christian 10 commandments. I mean this comparison just so
that if you are Christian, you are familiar with the commandments as guidelines for how you are to live
your life and can relate. The seven virtues are more Shinto and Zen ideas and are based on a philosophy
of life, not on a faith, but there are some similarities: Do not covet thy neighbor/ moral integrity, love thy
neighbor as thyself/ compassion, never tell a lie/ honesty, honor thy mother and father/ honor, Have no
other God before me/ Loyalty. This is not an easy path to follow but I find them to be good guidelines
when making decisions in my daily life. I can use them and see how they add positively to my daily routines. It might be as simple as being the person on the block who picks up a piece of trash off the sidewalk
or a reminder to call my Dad and ask how he is doing today. They are good reminders for me personally
to act and say the right things when I am involved in my community and motivate me to be involved. Do I
reflect on them everyday, well no, but I do make them a part of my life and will try and make them a part
of who I am just like I make Ryu Te a part of me.
What Taika wrote for us, is an amazing gift that I feel we have forgotten to open. I don’t know
how many months or years he spent to construct this saying, but I consider it a culminating life’s work.
This is a statement or credo that explains a philosophy of life that he presented to us at the end of his life.
Most importantly he starts the statement with the words “Waga Jinsei” or “my life”. “My life” means you,
your life, not your brothers, your cousins, your best friend, or fellow practitioner, but yours. This goes
back to what he told us at almost every seminar. He said that we must investigate a technique for ourselves. He said that we had to study the “way own body works”. How many times did you hear Taika say
that? He emphasizes the same idea in this statement. He means for it to be for you individually and personally to find your budo and live it. In studying this statement none of us are going to become better
martial artists, but in understanding and recognizing it as an important part of being involved with Taika’s
art, we can more appropriately represent his art. We can compassionately and honestly say that this was
Taika’s wish for us, and this is the path he wants us to follow now that he is gone.
Message from Robin Oyata
I can never say how much it meant to me to hear from so many of you last month, thank you so very
much! It really warmed my heart. Taika told me many times that if he weren't here, he knew he could
count on a lot of his students to be there for me.
July is and always will be very strange to me without Summer Camp/Conference. Of course I always
remember the hot days at Tall Oaks! I remember always being thankful that I was Taika’s wife when we
would get to sleep in the A/C guest bedroom in the house of the caretakers of the camp.
It was always fun to tepee a cabin or break out some water guns or to see an unexpected wedding. Or
to laugh when I would switch the signs on the restrooms when you would go and be there waiting for
when the guy/guys would come with a look of surprise and I would point out the sign, then see their look
of embarrassment for that brief second before remembering that women’s restrooms didn’t have urinals.
Of course some of the black belt testing at Tall Oaks was legendary, the question I always got, "Is Taika
in a good mood?" There was a lot of work for these camps for a lot of people and I know most of my
nights before camp I was getting maybe 3 -4 hours’ sleep, but, I would not have had it any other way. It
was very important to Taika that things go smooth, we always knew how expensive it was and the
amount of time away from family so many of you were sacrificing. Taika, myself, even our kids always
gave all that we could because you were giving so much to us, we believed in all of you. I will always
miss seeing everyone in July, but I know that October will be coming. A great time for our family to
come together to remember and celebrate Taika at our home away from home. I recently spoke with
Kathy, the young lady that drives the shuttle at the Hilton and also works in the office. She told me that
the Hilton is our home. She spoke very highly of Taika of course, but also had great things to say about
some of you and how impressed she was that so many are sticking together and looking out for RyuTe
and told me it touched her to hear how they talked about Taika, RyuTe and even me, the genuine love
and respect.
Even though I had been told that RyuTe would not survive without Taika, and no other association has
been able to continue when losing the Master, I NEVER had my doubts. I know our family, our
perseverance and character. I know of the love and respect for Taika and each other. I can say, I have
never been so very humbled, and proud of a group of men and women doing something that has been
very hard, and you stepped up to the plate. I brag about all of you a lot!
I was there at the beginning, when Taika & I lived on spaghetti and tuna, borrowed money because we
didn’t have enough to pay rent, lived in a roach infested apartment. Taika would teach during the day,
clean carpets with Greg at night. Every month, we would go the grocery store, fill the cart with all the
baby food and diapers we would need for Masami and any left over money we would make do. We
would check out and they would ask how many kids we had. It was funny to see the look on their face
when we said one. It was always get the kids their stuff first. Funny, because did the same thing with
outrtwo dogs. It was always a big discussion when I told him you don't need to buy 10 jumbo bags of
treats, but, Taika did. Taika always wanted us, and all of you to have enough, to have enough training,
to get enough techniques, get enough of his time. I am sure that we all agree, it wasn't enough time with
him. But, when RyuTe is together, then we all have parts of Taika, that it is like we have more time with
Taika and what he left us with.
Taika and I didn’t always have the best or smoothest marriage. Considering the difference in our age,
different countries and working together, the odds were definitely against us. Honestly, there were times
I didn’t like Taika much, I felt like I was done and Taika felt the same way about me plenty of times too.
We had some volatile times. We had two things going for us, we did love each other, even when we
didn’t think we did, it was still there and we had our kids. Taika was not able to be a father to his kids in
Okinawa in the manner like he was able to be with Masami & Masaki. I would have never taken that
from him, that is loving someone even when you don’t think you do. That is a very deep love in my
heart. I could not imagine my life without Taika, there was always something there between us that held
us together, a strong bond and deep love. I certainly couldn’t imagine my life away from all of you. If
Taika and I can get through what we did, then we can get through the rebuilding of our RyuTe family,
there is no greater honor to Taika and yourselves. It was always very important to Taika that everyone
sticks together. I saw many times Taika explaining that with one chopstick, it is easily broken, but with
many it is too strong to break. He never said every chopstick was the same or would always agree. I
have seen times when one of you did not agree, was not happy, felt slighted, but acted with
unselfishness, honor and humbleness and would do something, thinking of RyuTe, knowing the hearts
of others and honoring Taika.
I look forward to seeing a lot of you in October, to celebrate and honor Taika, to go home.
RyuTe® Chicago Seminar
August 2015 Agenda
Friday, August 28, 2015
5:00 pm to 6:30 pm Evolution of 2 Techniques from Footwork, Body Position and Kyusho Strike -Instructor: Kyoshi Mike
Cline
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Flow Drill Comprising 16 Tuite and Armbars – Instructor: Kyoshi Blake Burgert
Saturday, August 29, 2015
10:00 am to 11:30am
Technique 1: Application of First Move Passai Kata (flat hand on closed fist) – Instructor: Kyoshi Jim
Toolan
Technique 2: Defense vs. Wrist Grab (How to Do on Someone Much Bigger Than You) – Instructor:
Kyoshi Jim Toolan
Technique 3: Defense vs. Lapel Grab – Instructor: Kyoshi Jim Toolan
11:30 am to 1:00 pm Partner Rear Grabs/Armbar /Techniques Flow Drill - Instructors: Kyoshi John Risko, Kyoshi J.P. Steele
1:00 pm to 1:30 pm
Snack (bring your own)
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Instructor-by-Instructor Review of all Friday and Saturday Material
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
All You Can Eat Sushi Dinner (price not included in seminar fee)
Register today http://www.registration123.com/oyaya/2015-3
Spring DC Seminar
Helen Cawley
We meet this spring in DC for our 1st National Seminar of the year. Testing started on Thursday
morning, followed by training on Thursday afternoon. Friday and
Saturday were packed with training weapons, technique and Shi Ho
Happo no Te. It was great to see people, not just from the DMV
(DC, Maryland, Virginia area), but from around the country, come
into town to train together.
Thursday afternoon were sessions that included teaching of
technique by Alex Ormaza and Arthur Hearns. We all worked in
pairs and practiced
several moves and
started to get in the
grove of training. That night we all had a chance to talk
and catch up in the bar with some light snacks at the
cocktail hour.
Friday morning started with training Shi Ho Happo
no Te. We split up into three groups, depending on where
we were in learning the kata. Then we had a lesson in the
Amarillo version of single/
double/face which, as JP put it, is one of the boxcars on
the train of the spider web drill. The afternoon was
spent on weapons: chizikun bo, cane and manji sai.
Saturday was mainly a much needed review of
the Friday. This has been a very popular format; to have
a day of intense learning, some time to think on it and
sleep on it and then review the next day. You really feel
that you have something you can bring home and work
on at the end of the weekend. There were also sessions about how to focus your
training and finding techniques in the kata.
Saturday night was a great celebration of the weekend with a full sushi buffet and some other
good food. Certificates were awarded to those who tested. Congratulations to Lee Richards and Lisa
Ohmes for receiving their instructor certification, and to Bernard Johnson for receiving his Nidan.
Ormaza Regional Training Camp
Arthur Hearns
This past weekend , I had the honor of teaching as one of the instructors at Alex Ormaza’s , 2015 Classical
BuJustu Regional Training Camp. It was a great weekend with a great line up of instructors and talented participants. The classes were taught by, Renshi Lisa Ohms,
Renshi Lee Richards & Tony Skeen, Kyoshi Troy Price, Shihan Alex Ormaza and
myself. What made this event special is the fact that there were some senior Ryu-Te
practitioners who actually came and participated in a seminar where most of the instructors had lower rank and less
than half the time in Taika’s art than they did. Thank you
to Kyoshi Kevin Pleasant, Kyoshi Darrell Pope and Kyoshi Steve Burris for your support. That type of humility is
rarely seen in the martial arts world. There were no egos, no attitudes and no arrogance present! It was good energy and nothing but positivity and support from all of those in attendance.
This seminar felt right. Here were students and teachers
from Ryu-Te and numerous other styles together building
relationships. We were there sticking together like Taika
wanted but doubted would actually happen. We were sharing Taika’s Art with those seekers who have been searching
all their lives to find something special and with those who have found it and just
can’t get enough.
Thank you to Alex Ormaza for introducing me to Troy Price who invited me to
teach at the National Shuri-Te conference last month and for also giving me the opportunity to teach at the
event this past weekend and putting on such a great event! Hopefully more of you will attend the next Regional Seminar.
I can just imagine Taika and Tasshi smiling down on us and saying, “pretty good, this
one ok, but Naihanchi not to good”!
St. Louis Shihandai – with guest instructor, Kyoshi Gary Shull
Robby Collingwood and Joe Krystofik
The St. Louis Shihandai was held May 15-16 at the Kirkwood
YMCA where Kyoshi Collingwood and Sensei Ralph Godsy hold
classes for children and adults. In attendance, along with Kyoshis
Collingwood and Shull, were Joe Krystofik, Chuck Bockman, Mel
Park and Arthur Ashby. Friday night was devoted to Arthur’s Black
Belt test. With five Shin Shu Ho members on the testing panel, Arthur’s shodan test became an opportunity for all present to share
knowledge, ideas, and concepts. At various times, each panel member would stand to ask Arthur to demonstrate a technique or to offer
insight in to a kata move. At the conclusion of the two+ hour test,
one panel member turned to another and said, “I feel like I’ve been
toto a seminar tonight.” Arthur received unanimous approval of the
panel members and was awarded his shodan rank. He graciously
thanked all of the members of the testing panel sharing that he was
aware of the unique nature of his test and was grateful for all those
who shared their knowledge and experience with him.
Saturday, training with Kyoshi Shull began, in the morning ,with an examination of some of the subtle
hand and foot movements found in Exercise One. Gary soon revealed what many of us had taken for
granted since our earliest days in the dojo, Exercise One, was, in fact, a treasure trove of knowledge. He
went on to demonstrate the effectiveness of various hand strikes utilizing the thumb, pinky finger and
cupped hand and how each strike produced a different effect on the person struck.
Kyoshi Shull explained Goshin Jitsu and its application in everyday life as practitioners of Taika’s life
protection art. He also explained principles that helped deepen his understanding of technique. Later in
the day, we worked with bo and jo. Kyoshi Shull emphasized the importance of using the ring and pinky
fingers to increase power when punching or striking with a weapon. Gary shared stories Taika had shared
with him of Masters Uhugushuku and Uehara.
At the conclusion of the day of training, we all enjoyed dining at Yo Sushi restaurant where more stories
were exchanged and Arthur’s promotion was celebrated. At the end of the night, each participant thanked
Kyoshi Shull for one of our most educational and enlightening shihandais.
Dojo Owners and Certified Instructors
Please send us a short Bio that we can use on our new RyuTe®
website that is under construction. We will use a headshot of you
from Marvin with the Association flag in the background.
Send your bio to : [email protected] or [email protected]
Your Bio should include:




Rank
Years in Ryu-Te®
Home Dojo name and location
Where/how you were introduced to Ryu-Te and what your
specialty is (i.e. Bo, tuite, bogu), more than one favorite can be
listed.
Please send this to us by September 1, 2015
Congratulations to all of Kyoshi Jandrakovik’s
students that tested in February in Wichita, KS
9Th Kyu:Emma Kusmaul, Jason Nguyen, Bao Nguyen, Sean
Thamrin, Valeny Wong. 8th Kyu:Joshua Hassell, Kaylon
Le, Thanh Le, Victoria Liu, Chelsea Low, Alex Nguyen,
Kaylee Thamrin. 7th Kyu: Vince Wong. 6th Kyu:Nathan
Bailey, Seok Lim.Â
Request from the Historical Committee
The RyuTe® Historical Committee is currently seeking copies of our old newsletters
and other historical documents. Our hope is to compile all historical documents and
make them available to members of the association. We are currently missing the following newsletters;
June, August, October, November, December 1986
January, March, August 1987
August 1988
August 1989
February, August 1990
July, August 1991
(September/October 2000
2001-2006 All issues
December 2007
If you have any of these or other historical documents you would like to provide,
please contact [email protected] for instructions. We can either have you ship them
or scan them if you have the equipment available. Thank you for saving our history
and being a part of this great effort.
Lee Richards
RyuTe® Historical Committee
News You Can Use!
Association Website: http://www.ryute.com/
Board member contact: [email protected]
Newsletter: Submit news and articles to:
Robby Collingwood - [email protected], or
Helen Cawley - [email protected]
This newsletter is a publication of the International RyuTe® Association. It can be printed and distributed to
those without email or internet access.
IMPORTANT RYUTE BUSINESS INFORMATION
For all orders and Oyata Enterprises business please contact Steve Burris;
Steve and Missie Burris
4251 Smithfield Drive
Tucker, GA 30084
home: 770-270-0394
Steve: 404-272-0015
Email: [email protected]
Business Hours: Monday , Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m and Weekends after 10am
Photo Credits: Photos used in the newsletter were derived from several sources including authors, and RyuTe®
Association Archive and Facebook. They are the property of the photographer and the RyuTe® Association. Photos
should not be reproduced without permission.
For permission to use or reproduce a photo, contact Newsletter staff who will contact the original photographer.
Editors’ Note
We thank all of the contributors to the RyuTe® News. We give a special thank you to Joe Krystofik for his proof reading
skills. The articles demonstrate the deep commitment RyuTe® practitioners have to the art and especially to our teacher,
Taika Oyata. Please continue to send us your insights into the unique, fascinating and effective art that Taika has taught
us. We also want your news - Seminars, fund raisers, community service, tournaments, etc.