The UMAAI Newsletter - About Sanshin Kan International

2012 FALL “OSU NEWSLETTER”
©September 2012
K
Kookkuubbaasshhiinn H
Ryyuu
Haa K
Koorryyuu B
Buujjuuttssuu G
Goosshhiinn R
K
Kookkuubbaasshhiinn H
Haa K
Koorryyuu B
Buujjuuttssuu K
Kaarraattee
UNITED MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL
Post Office Box 8252 Glendale, California USA 91224 818-398-0874
[email protected] www.UMAAI.com
“Over every possessor of
knowledge there is one
who is more knowing.
Conversely, bear in mind that knowledge has no formidable
enemy than ignorance, neither can the unskilled ever judge
the truth of my art to them unknown, beware of rash
judgment and accept my efforts auspiciously as I present
them willingly, censure me justly, let no man look down on
my work herein causeless, and so I refer myself to the
reproach of such as those who are skillful and
knowledgeable on an equivalent level. Nevertheless, I can
knock forever at the door of him who will not hear or will
not see and the non-answering inhabitant is all the less for
it. Osu”
The UNITED MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION
INTERNATIONAL “OSU” Newsletter is for educational
purposes and news material for UMAAI Members, UMAAI
Associate Members and UMAAI Friends. You are free to
ask questions or to send in news by contacting
[email protected]
The
SANSHIN-KAN
KARATE organization:
Tamas
Weber,
the
SANSHIN-KAN founder,
holds the honored title of
“Kancho”. Kancho is a
well-experienced
and
qualified military person
who served in the Foreign
Legion and is currently
ranked
as
Brigadier
General in the Swedish
Military Reserve Army.
Kancho Weber was honored to receive a number of
bravery medals for his achievements.
Kancho established the
style as a result of his
deep knowledge and vast
experience
in
close
combat fighting during
war as a Commander in
the Foreign Legion.
Kancho is well recognized as one of Europe’s premier
close combat experts. He has trained Police and
Armed Forces in close combat and self-defense in
various countries (e.g., USA, Canada, France, Turkey
and Israel).
Kancho was born in 1942 and started to learn Judo
under the teaching of Kawaishi Sensei, 8th Dan. He
has been devoted to the Martial Arts since the early
1950’s and was first graded to first Dan in 1957.
Today, Kancho holds the rank of Kudan (9th degree
black belt) in the World Karate Federation and he also
has been honored with the rank of Judan (10th degree
black belt) in Shito-ryu Motobu-ha. During his more
than 50 years of Martial Arts experience, he has also
achieved black belts in Judo, Aikido and Ju-Jitsu.
Kancho started to teach in 1965 and he was also a
member in the Swedish National Karate Team.
In 1983, he received 7th Dan “Shihan”
title by Motobu-Ha Shito-Ryu.
In 1985, Kancho’s responsibility was to promote
Shito-Ryu and he was the official representative of
Seishin-Kai in Europe and the Middle-East.
During his many visits to Okinawa, he met and worked
with well known teachers: Nanbu Yoshinau, Fujiware,
Nakazono, Suzuki, Kazaki, Anai, Kawata, Miyazato,
Kuniba, Tani Chojiro, Hizatake, and Hayashi.
Mr. Weber wrote two fascinating books in which he
gracefully describes his exceptional life story: “Song
of the Desert” and “The Warrior’s Rose.”
In addition, Mr. Weber has published a Video Cassette
in which he explains basics of his practical approach of
Close-Combat Self-Defense under the name “Close
Encounters.”
It is good to reconnect with Kancho Tamas Weber, whom I
have known for a very long time. He is the only Budo Ka I
know who has been in the Martial Arts nearly as long as I
have and he is still going strong.
Thank you, Kancho for the message on the internet and it is
very good to hear from you once again. Osu
Our Good friends at the
AMERICAN GOSHIN
and KOBUDO will host,
yet
another
training
weekend, at Butch Velez,
Kaicho’s
Breezy
Meadows Farm & Stables
in Stella, North Carolina
USA.
AGK Members
and non-AGK Members
are invited.
“The Fall Training at Breezy
Meadows Farm is set for
October 20th. I look for a good
turnout as before. For those who
have been here before, the
Hampton Inn in Swansboro, NC
is a good choice. It’s about 4
miles from the farm. There are
also plenty of places to eat the
same distance.
Upcoming
training sessions will include the
beginning kihans (fundamentals)
for Te Waza (hand techniques).
I suggest you get a note pad for the progressions. This way
I can get a little uniformity within the progression of waza.
I learned it that way, now you can.” Butch Velez, Kaicho
AGK.
These training sessions have been highly successful and
extremely educational for those attending.
The
AMERICAN GOSHIN BUDO AND KOBUDO Fall
training will be held October 20th, 2012, an all day session.
For
more
information,
please
write
to
[email protected]. Those of you interested in
Karate Do, Jiu Jitsu, Kobudo and related Martial Bodies
should attend these training Sessions. You don’t know what
you don’t know. Osu
DENTOKAN:
From Roy
Hobbs, Hanshi:
The Sekai
Dentokan Bugei Renmei, Inc. is
going through a period of
transition. A transition purposely
instigated by me.
Until all of this is fully sorted out, my advice is “don’t let
the turmoil bother you.” The key is to get back to training,
unencumbered by politics. We remain committed to our
individual dojos, senior yudansha, and students. As the old
saying goes: “You have to break some eggs to make an
omelet.” We’re breaking eggs right now, but the omelet
will be delicious in the end.” Roy Hobbs, Hanshi Dentokan.
I founded the Sekai Dentokan
Renmei in 1994, while still on
active duty in the military. I did
not retire from the military until
2004, and did not discontinue
working full time until 2010.
In preparation for
“retirement,” I incorporated the Dentokan and trademarked
it.
Once “retired,” I began traveling and teaching extensively
throughout the world. Some wonderful achievements were
accomplished, such as the Dentokan gaining organizational
membership in the Zen Nihon Sogo Budo Renmei, in
Kyoto, Japan, and the development of a close relationship
between the Dentokan and the Nippon Seibukan Academy,
also in Kyoto, Japan.
Unfortunately, not all discoveries were positive. What I
found was that the Dentokan had really grown too large,
with a too broad span of control. Additionally some
individuals entrusted with leadership positions outside the
United States had taken the Dentokan in a never intended
direction.
My vision of the Dentokan has always been an organization
that is dojo focused, where senior yudansha work
harmoniously for the betterment of the Dentokan. What I
found in one location, in particular, was a Dentokan that had
morphed into a bureaucratic nightmare. These bureaucratic
structures took on a life of their own, and began delving into
governance and policy-making. Such activities should have
been the sole purview of the National President. The result
was that individuals vied for power, cliques developed,
senior yudansha were pushed aside, and juniors acted
inappropriately. It became a leadership issue.
AAU USA KARATE SEMINAR AND TOURNAMENT
Rony Isurael, Kozo Kuniba, President of AAU Nishituzi
Taiseikai, Seiji Nishimura
and Chuzo Kotaka,
Kozo Kuniba, President of
Kuniba Kai attended the
recent AAU USA Karate
Seminar and Tournament.
Kozo Kuniba was a student
of Masaio Tateshi at the
Seishin Kai Karate Hombu
Dojo in Osaka, Japan. He
also spent some time training with his father, the late Shogo
Kuniba, Soke.
Another related problem was the increasing, unapproved
variances that had crept into Karate, Kobujutsu, and
Aikijujutsu kata. My emphasis on decreasing the variance
in these kata simply fell on deaf ears. So it became not only
a leadership issue, but a technical one as well.
In order to correct this wrong-headedness, I have asked
some individuals to leave the Dentokan. I have expelled
others, and I have asked others to choose (i.e., stay or go).
But, I have not allowed those concerned to simply sit on the
sidelines. I feel a somewhat smaller Dentokan, filled with
dedicated, and trustworthy members is the best way forward
right now.
As we separate ourselves from
the now non-Dentokan groups
(those who have departed or
been expelled), I request all
Dentokan members allow for a
cooling off period. By that, I
mean we should refrain from
participating in any martial arts
activities
organized
or
sponsored by those who have
left. How long we will need to
do this is undetermined at this
time, and will hinge on the
behavior of the non-Dentokan
groups.
The 10th Week of Karate Summer Camp was Great!
The First through the Tenth week of Karate Summer camp
were Awesome. We conducted Martial Arts Training,
Balance Beam Training, Acrobatic / Basic Tumbling, SelfDefense Training, Kobudo Training, Tournament Training,
Triple Decker on shoulders, Double Decker on shoulders,
Standing on shoulders, Dragon Force Demo Team Tryouts,
Brown Belt Testing, and Kyu Belt Testing. We took field
Trips to Ocean Breeze Water Park, Virginia Zoo, Kids
Cove, Zoo Water Park area, Military Aviation Museum,
Dinosaur Land, Bounceeez Gym, Virginia Aquarium /
Marine Science Museum and Sportsplex Stadium Demo
Team Practice /Field Trip. Dragon Force Demo Team
performed two Halftime Karate Shows at the Piranhas Pro
Soccer Double Header Games at Sportsplex Stadium.
Movie trips to “Avengers”, “Men in Black III”,
“Spiderman”, “Brave”, “Ice Age: Continental Drift”,
“Batman”, “Step Up: Revolution”, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid:
Dog Days”, “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” and “Total
Recall.” Birthday Celebrations for Lynwood Yeatts, Ellen
Honeycutt, Keegan Grinspoon, Dayjha Armstrong, Andrew
Hnatkowicz, Elijah Herndon, Logan MaGuder, Noah
Caldon, Nina Loree, David Hummel and Steven Altman.
We also did Long Jump / Obstacle course Training, Karate
Runway Showdown, Board, Brick and Concrete Block
Breaking Demos, Awesome Karate Talent Show Contest
and lots of Fun.
*NOTE: Triple Decker on shoulders was performed at
numerous locations including Ryoshin-Kan Karate School,
Dragon Force Demo Team Practice, Balance Beam
Training, Sportsplex Halftime Karate Show, Bounceeez
Gym, Virginia Zoo, Wendy’s, Arby’s, Virginia Aquarium,
and inside the AMC Movie Theatre.
*New Camp Attendance Record: We have 108 Registered
Participants overall with 25 attending the 10th Week of the
Karate Summer Camp Program. The Eleventh and Final
Week of the 2012 Karate Summer Camp Program will also
be Action Packed, Educational and Fun Filled. OohYa!
Ryoshin-Kan Karate Talent Championship 10th Week
Karate Camp Talent Show was Awesome!
Congratulations and Well Done to all Participants of the
10th Week Karate Summer Camp Talent Show and the
Brick and Board Breaking Demo conducted at the RyoshinKan Karate School on Friday, 24 August 2012.
Excellent BRICK & Board BREAKING Demos: Sensei
Thompson Broke a stack of 7 Concrete Patio Blocks with an
elbow strike. Michael Milliman and Patrick Johnston Broke
stacks of 2 Bricks with Palm Strikes and Hammer Fist
Strikes. Evan Butler broke a Board with a Punch.
TALENT SHOW was Outstanding: The individual and
Team routines were high spirited and creative. We
Awarded all Participants / Champions with the New design
Star Karate Medals with a Red/White/Blue ribbon. We also
gave out Toys, Sports Balls, Sports Bottles, gifts and other
Awards.
Thank You to Mrs. Hye Cha Thompson, Keegan
Grinspoon, Chris Altman, Kai Loree, Hayden Bowles,
Dayjha Armstrong, Quinn Barson, Zachary Bowles and
Lynwood Yeatts (Supplies) for excellent work as Camp
Assistants. Thank you to Keegan Grinspoon, Christina
Altman and Mrs. Hye Cha Thompson for shooting the 10th
Week Karate Camp Photos / Videos. Thank you to
Mrs. Hye Cha Thompson and Mrs. Ellen Honeycutt for
providing transportation for Field Trips.
Congratulations and Well Done to all Participants of the
10th week of Karate Summer Camp 2012. Osu
Joe Lewis (March 7, 1944 August 31, 2012) was an
American kickboxer, point karate
fighter, and actor. As a fighter,
Lewis gained fame for his
matches in the 1960s and 1970s.
He had attained the titles of
“United States Heavyweight
Kickboxing Champion,” “World
Heavyweight Karate Champion,”
and “United States National
Black Belt Kata Champion.”
Mr. Lewis died as a result of complications from a brain
tumor. Joe Lewis will be missed.
I have seen a great many
changes in, what is
called, Martial Arts
during the past 60
years and I no longer
recognize the real
Martial Arts as being
taught as they should
be.
Every “Black
Belt” thinks he or she
is teaching “The”
Ultimate Martial Art but it just is not true. Sure, there
are plenty of Martial Ways being “taught” but even
they are hard to recognize since everyone and his
brother and sister have become “Black Belts” and
“Masters.”
THE BLACK BELT:
Look at all the phony “Soke,” Judan, Kudan,
Hachidan, Nandan, etc., who claim this and that. The
“Black Belt” has come to mean very little. In days
past – being a “Black Belt” was a badge of excellence,
very extraordinary accomplishments filled with honor
and good character.
I have been asked by many why I have not been as
active as I once was in World Martial Arts/Ways. I
suppose that I have just grown weary of watching
something beautiful die such a slow and ugly death. I
have lost interest in trying to help others outside of
UMAAI. . Nevertheless, I can knock forever at the door of
him who will not hear or will not see, and the nonanswering inhabitant is all the less for it. Thus, what is the
point? The ignorance of most cannot be overcome even
with the facts and truth. They are like so many who
simply say, by their actions, “Don’t confuse me with
the facts.” I have just grown weary of trying to show
them the truth. None are so blind as those who will not
see. I have been doing it for sixty years and I am tired.
Osu
PSYCHOLOGICAL PRINCIPALS OF KARATE DO
For those who practice Karate as a Do (DOH), or a
way of life, it becomes more than a mere method of
fighting and physical fitness. There are mental
benefits such as discipline, self-assurance, confidence,
pride, humility, patience, friendship, love, respect,
honor, tradition and loyal. A new state of mind begins
to flow and form within the individual. The previous
needs to be overbearing; with others it is lost to the
feeling of self-confidence. Pride in oneself overcomes
a need to prove one’s individual worth. Patience and
inner peace are found in training and performance of
the art. Karate, therefore, becomes a basic part of the
individual’s existence. Fear and anger are replaced
by tranquility. And for those who believe in a creed of
non-violence, Karate teaches an inner peace
surpassing social understanding.
Just how does Karate training achieve all of these
marvelous goals? There are basically two means of
obtaining positive mental control. One is through
faith, whether it is in a Supreme Being or in a
philosophy. To know one’s self is the second means.
However, this does not mean that the two cannot work
together.
Karate enables one to have a more
comprehensive understanding of self and presents a
philosophy in which to believe. Thus, Karate’s
psychological principles strengthen and promote
growth and understanding in the person who chooses
this means of attaining higher goals in life. The
disciplining of the mind and the strengthening of the
will are two important results of Karate training. The
beginning Karateka first learns this discipline at a
physical level when, as a beginner, it is impossible to
assimilate the material fast enough and thus, strength
and endurance often fail under the pace set by the
Teacher. In these first weeks of confusion, sore
muscles, and sometimes humiliation and near
exhaustion, you face the first real test of will. Your
choice is to retire gracefully under the pretext of being
too busy, perhaps a sore back, or just not coming
anymore; or should you continue to come, you begin to
lose a part of yourself and prepare to meet greater
difficulties and overcome them by the strengthening of
will and disciplining of the conscious mind.
At some later point, you may suddenly discover that
through your perseverance, you have gained some
degree of ability in performing the techniques as well
as the physical ability to live through the lesson in
good shape. Still, later on, you may find yourself in a
new dilemma, more serious than the first. Despite a
feeling of well-being, due to improved physical
condition, you may experience the unique sensation of
realizing that you are both “tori” (attacker) and “uke”
(blocker); that your only enemy is yourself. Thus, to
practice Karate as a Do or Way gives the idea of a
constant but unending attempt at one’s own perfection.
To the Japanese Style Master of this Kai, the Do or
Way is to be considered as a road to follow in life. The
Way is endless and profound. It is long, steep, and
filled with numerous technical difficulties. It is to be
traveled as a means of self-cultivation and it leads
ultimately to self-perfection.
The Japanese have a proverb: “Senri No Michi Mo
Ippo Kara”, which translates roughly as, “the journey
of a thousand miles begins with the first step”. Each
person beginning instruction wants to begin
immediately on advanced techniques as seen in the
“Kung-Foolishness” movies shown on television,
forgetting that there is a basic framework of technique
necessary to reach that level. So, it would be wise for
each beginner to consider the following guides:
1.
Karate is not only a physical form of
self-defense but also an art form. The art is in the
eventual ability to control the mind, spirit, and body
toward a more coordinated being. To obtain harmony
with oneself and the universe should be a goal of the
Karateka and this requires time and patience.
2.
As the piano student must first practice
scales before playing Beethoven, so must the Karateka
learn the basics of stance and position before
incorporating technique and Kata. And, as the piano
student must practice daily, so must the Karateka.
3.
Never compare your work or progress
with fellow students. The Teacher is the only one
responsible for your upgrading. Your Teacher will be
the sole authority for your promotion. Remember,
however, that the belt color is only the symbol of the
accomplishment, not the accomplishment itself.
4.
Each student begins training at different
levels of development. This is to say that two students
may join the class at the same time but one is already
the better fighter without having trained. This is also
naturally true of yellow, green, brown, and black belts;
not all have equal ability. Progression, therefore, is
an individual matter. Osu
THE CONCEPT OF MEIJIN. The Master of the
DO form, the Meijin, is a technician whose ability has
gone far beyond that of physical expertise. His
essence is a spiritual one. He has reached a state of
being in which self-perfection is more important to him
than are his motor skills. The Master’s movements
always appear to be “effortless effort”. A person who
performs Karate as a physical technique alone fails to
master the art if his mind is tense and he exhibits
consciousness of his actions. This person is a
technician, perhaps a Master of technique, but not a
Master of himself. Dexterity of the appendages does
not mean that the practitioner has knowledge to match
that dexterity. All techniques, a great river flowing
incessantly, have been learned by the Master through
painstaking experience. The technician’s skill, on the
other hand, is simply a river with a temporary flow
after a heavy rainfall, soon exhausted. Mastery of the
DO is wisdom, while learning pursued only for the
sake of knowledge falls short of wisdom.
The concept of Meijin was aptly described by the
Master swordsman Yagyu Tajima no Kami (15271606) who said: “Learning and knowledge are meant
to be forgotten and it is only when this is realized that
you feel perfectly comfortable. However well a man
may be trained in the art, the swordsman can never be
the Master of his technical knowledge unless all his
psychical hindrances are removed and he can keep the
mind in the state of emptiness (mu), purged of
whatever technique he has obtained. The entire body
together with the four limbs will then be capable of
displaying for the first time and to its full extent all the
art acquired by the training of several years. The body
will move as if automatically, with no conscious effort
on the part of the swordsman himself. All the training
is there, but the mind (shin) is utterly unconscious of it.
The mind does not know where it is. When this is
realized, with all the training thrown to the winds, with
a mind perfectly unaware of its own workings, with the
self vanished nowhere anybody knows, the art of
swordsmanship attains its perfection and one who has
it is called a Meijin”.
One of the few Japanese today that was recognized as
a true living Meijin was Soke Shogo Kuniba. He
possessed Fudoshin, or “immovable mind”, a mental
state that enabled him to meet any situation with
composure, hence his “no trouble” philosophy. Other
characteristics of the Meijin as described by D.
Draeger in Classical Budo, Vol. II, pp. 26-30, include
an outward calm which attests to the depth of his ease
of mind. Any action of the Meijin reflects the
dominance of his mind over his body in the controlled
efficiency of his movements.
Another living Meijin, in my opinion, was Soke
Masaharu Sakimukai. He had an agile body that
moved in a characteristically light and accurate
fashion when training and his movements bore the
quality of accident: he did things in such a way that it
was as though they happened accidentally. This
quality cannot be gained through analysis, masterful
mimicry, or an assumed attitude of expediency; it is
entirely due to the spontaneous functioning of the self.
“Those who are pretentious declare to the world that
they are just novice scholars or martial artists.”
(Funakoshi, G., Karate Do Kyohan, 1973)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Shihan, my Sensei
says that there is no such thing as Dim Mak. What
do you say? D. M. Georgia USA. Very good
question and MY OPINION is Yes and No! There are
several “death blows” but there is no “delayed death
touch.” The word “touch” is only an idiomatic
expression. Damage by Dim Mak, for the most part, is
caused by a blow that has its orientation in closing
down aspects of the visceral nervous system or
involuntary nervous system that controls the part of the
peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system
functioning largely below the level of consciousness,
and controls primitive functions. It may take some
time for this type of blow to bring about death – thus
the “delay.” Now, I could make additional statements
but it would take up a long Newsletter and you should
be learning this in the Dojo and not from a Newsletter.
Osu.
Soke Shogo Kuniba, Shuseki Shihan Hugh Kelley and
Soke Masaharu Sakimukai.
The high state of mastery over technique and self tunes
the Meijin’s mind to such a degree of sensitivity that
his body is responsive to the slightest need for action
in order to avoid danger. It is also this state of mind
that allows the Meijin to rise above the petty self to a
state of selflessness of “no-self”. Therefore, the Meijin
is always a humble man whose fine manners and
courtesy give him great dignity. He stands proof of the
value of wholesome human endeavor gained through
experience in facing the rigors of self-imposed
discipline. For the Meijin, the protracted discipline of
a classical DO culminates in the special kind of
spiritual strength unattainable by those who do not
engage in such disciplines. The performance of a
Meijin can only be liked to the fragrance of a flower; it
can only suggest, never be, the flower itself, which is
its source.
An ordinary exponent of DO disciplines not knowing
any more than he learned or can express in action; but
as he acquires mastery, first of technique, then of
himself, his insight quickens and deepens, and there
are qualities that he unconsciously suggests rather
than consciously exhibits. (Draeger, Op. cit.) We in
America are used to Karateka of high rank who pose
and strut and are delighted to tell you about the
number of trophies they have collected and the number
of ranks in various styles that they have accumulated.
Soke Shogo Kuniba and Saiko Shihan Masaharu
Sakimukai, on the other hand, were humble and
refused to talk about theirs achievements. They were
even reluctant to perform Kata, etc., for their own
students. Master Gichin Funakoshi once said that
“masters and saints may appear as simpletons”.
Sir, I was told that you have given Dim Mak
demonstrations. Is this true? B. R. Mississippi
USA. Yes and No. I used to give a demonstration
where a piece of fruit was placed on a surface with a
plank over it representing the human body and the fruit
representing a human organ. There was about a 1/5”
between the fruit, usually an apple, and the plank. I,
then, struck the plank with a palm heel strike without
breaking the board. This piece of fruit was then locked
in a container and given to a person from the
audience. As a control and comparison, an identical
piece of fruit was marked and locked in the same
container.
The person, always a very responsible
individual, took the container home for three days and
then opened the container in front of witnesses to find
the “demonstration” piece of fruit withered and dried
up, and the control piece of fruit was normal. The last
time I gave this demonstration was for some UMAAI
Black Belts and the container was given to a Medical
Doctor for safe keeping. I believe he was skeptical
until he opened the container and saw the results.
Most of my students have seen me give this
demonstration over the years. You may call this
demonstration whatever you want to but the results
will still be the same. I learned this technique in Lau
Sul Wu Shu many years ago. Osu.
Shihan, what does Shuseki Shihan mean? W. R.
Texas USA. Briefly, in an organization like United
Martial Arts Association International where we have
a large number of high ranking “Shihan” – Shuseki
Shihan is like saying the Number One Shihan of the
UMAAI Shihan or the Head Shihan. Osu.
Shihan, my Teacher told the class that there is no
such thing as a single death strike. What do you
say? D. M. Georgia USA. It is my opinion that I
should have combined your two questions. Yes, there
are single blows capable of killing. However, there
are a number of factors to consider: 1) The physical
fitness of the attacker. 2) The physical fitness of the
defender (one delivering the counter blow). 3) The
knowledge, speed, focus and power of the defender.
4) The knowledge of the defender’s Sensei.
I will not discuss the areas of the human body to
attack. That should be done in the privacy of your
Dojo if your Sensei knows them. Your Sensei may be
teaching Sport Kahrotty or Karate Do. If so, there is
no need to learn “death blows.” My Karate Ryu Ha is
neither for Sport nor for The Way of Empty Hands.
My Ryu Ha is strictly for self defense and cannot be
used in Shiai (tournaments). Osu.
Shuseki Shihan, you write about the organizations
AGK and Dentokan a lot, are you or UMAAI
affiliated with these organizations? A. S. Nigeria
West Africa. Yes, in the sense of Brotherhood,
Friendship and Cooperation. Shihan Butch Velez
(AGK) and Hanshi Roy Hobbs (Dentokan) are very
knowledgeable and great teachers. Plus, we are
connected via Soke Shogo Kuniba and I know their
Martial Arts lineage is true and factual.
Osu
Newsletter also covers other Dojo or Kan that we are
not affiliated with in any way. However, we are
always happy to pass on information and news
concerning our friends at AMERICAN GOSHIN and
KOBUDO and/or DENTOKAN. Osu.
Shihan, why isn’t UMAAI affiliated with a
Japanese organization? B. W. Australia. Perhaps
you are new to the UMAAI OSU Newsletter, but here is
the answer to your question: As Shogo Kuniba, Soke’s
Senior
Student
outside of Japan, I
can teach either
Motobuha Shitoh
Ryu or Kunibaha
Karate Do. I no
longer
teach
Kuniba Ryu Karate
Do or Motobu Ha
Shi Toh Ryu Karate
Do. I do not teach
Karate Do period.
What I teach is an
older version of Karate that is a Bujutsu rather than a
Do! Like Shogo Kuniba, Soke, I am an innovative
Sensei and I have taken my Martial Arts in a different
direction as he did on a number of occasions.
First and foremost, it is incorrect to refer to all Martial
proficiencies as Martial Arts. Budo, i.e., Aiki Do, Ju
Do, Ken Do, Karate Do, Tae Kwon Do, Ju Jitsu, etc.,
are Martial Ways and are not Martial Arts. Bujutsu is
a method of combat that was planned by and for
warriors to use in confrontational situations that
meant life or death. Budo is a method of mystical
reasoning (training of the spirit or psyche) and for
self-defense meant to deter and was planned by and for
non-warriors. It used to be said that Bujutsu was for
the Warriors and Do was for the people. You need to
be very much aware of the difference in these two
Martial Bodies and you should realize that you are not
studying and training in a Martial Art - the approach
most people believe - but probably in a Martial Way.
“But I trained in Japan!” or “But I train with so-andso!” Good for you, but self-defense is not taught in
Japan as you may believe it to be and those teaching
any of the Do (Doh) Martial Ways are not teaching a
Martial Art. All of the Do related Martial Bodies, i.e.,
Karate Do, Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Aiki Do, Ju
Do, Jiu Jitsu, Ken Do, any of the Bu Do, are Martial
Ways. For example: Karate Do = Empty Hands Way
not Empty Hands Art, etc., and can be used as Sports.
Often, non-Martial Japanese translate Bu Do as
Martial Art. No, Bu Do means Martial Way. Now,
take Jiu Jitsu: Jitsu refers to The Way or Do - Jutsu
refers to the method - thus, Jitsu is a Martial Way and
Jutsu is a Martial Art. However, do not feel badly if
you did not know the difference in a Martial Way and a
Martial Art your teacher probably did not know the
difference either.
The easiest way to remember the difference is that
Classical Martial Arts are Koryû Bujutsu for and by
warriors used in battle to main or kill. Traditional
Martial Ways are Gendai Budô for and by nonwarriors to use as a sport or to deter an attacker. Any
Martial Body that can be used as a Sport is a Martial
Way – not a Martial Art. I am just trying to educate
you as to what is and is not correct in the Martial
Bodies.
Sokeships came about in America and can be bought
for a price and consist of a piece of paper and a piece
of paper cannot give you the background, knowledge
or skill. Every other person and his brother in
American Budo claims to be a Soke. How can there be
more Soke outside of Japan and Okinawa the home of
systematized Karate Do, etc.? Historically, only a
Soke could pass down the title of Soke to his student
and it was passed to a relative to keep it in “the
family.” One is not named Soke of an organization
(Kai) again; one does not become a Soke of an
organization but of a Ryu Ha (style).
It was never the intent of Shogo Kuniba, Soke to have
any branches or offshoots of his Seishin Kai Martial
Arts, Inc. a.k.a. Seishin Kai International. William
Price was to be the
Daiko of Kuniba-Ha
Shitoh-Ryu and KunibaRyu Goshindo attached
to Seishin Kai Martial
Arts, Inc. I was named
the
“Kaicho”
(President),
General
Manager and High Dan
Board President by
Shogo Kuniba, Soke of
Seishin Kai Martial Arts, Inc.
In other words, I was in charge of the Kai, its
administration and Yudansha Promotions. William
Price, Shihan was to be in
charge of the techniques of
the Ryu Ha. Kuniba, Soke left
the two of us in charge of his
American Kai so that it would
continue to operate and grow
the way Kuniba, Soke wanted
it to. Unfortunately, this was
not done because, in my
opinion, some people did not
understand exactly what was
going on at the time of
Kuniba, Soke’s death and
made some decisions without
talking them over with me and
SKMA ceased to be a viable organization. Thus,
Shogo Kuniba, Soke’s dream of two separate Seishin
Kai organizations, one in America and one in Japan,
died with him.
Before Shogo Kuniba, Soke passed away he told
William Price and me that he did not want his SKMA
to affiliate with the Japanese SKKU or any Japanese
Martial Arts Organization.
Soke’s plans for two organizations started back in the
early 60s. At the time of Soke’s death, it was the intent
of Shogo Kuniba, Soke to leave two different
organizations to carry on his teachings: #1) (SKKU)
Seishin Kai Karate Union of Osaka, Japan Motobu Ha
Shi Toh Ryu Karate Do under the guidance of his sons
Kosuke as Soke and Kozo as the Technical Director for
Japan only.
Seishin Kai Martial Arts of the USA Kuniba Ha Karate
Do, Kuniba Ha Goshin Do, etc., under the guidance of
myself as Kaicho and William Price as Daiko or
Representative and Technical Director for everyone
outside of Japan. Thus, two separate organizations
(Kai): neither answering to or having any power over
the other. Two separate Karate Ryu Ha.
Kuniba Soke had very definite reasons for wanting the
Japan Kai and the USA Kai to be totally separate from
each other and to remain that way. Thus, Japan was
to have no authority over the USA Kai. Regardless of
what Japan may or may not have wanted SKMA to
conform to, Japan had no authority over SKMA. Soke
felt that his SKMA was under proper and
knowledgeable leadership.
Unfortunately, the
Japanese SKKU paid no attention to Shogo Kuniba,
Soke’s last wishes but took it upon itself to control
SKKU and SKMA. When SKMA was signed over to
the control of SKKU, I resigned because Kuniba Soke
did not want the two Kai together. Now, years later,
after much thought and discussion, I have come to the
conclusion that some of the people who signed SKMA
over to SKKU did not truly know or understand why
Kuniba Soke wanted the two Kai to remain separated
and independent of each other and the reason for the
two different Ryu Ha.
In fact, William Price, Daiko and I had a lengthy
discussion about this situation. Perhaps things would
have turned out differently, had I had the opportunity
to explain to all concerned why Soke wanted SKKU
and SKMA to remain separate. Perhaps SKKU and
SKMA would be viable and fruitful today instead of
being extinct. Nonetheless, the reasons have been
explained to Butch Velez, Shihan and to William Price,
Daiko. While there are no plans to combine any
organizations, United Martial Arts Association
International has offered American Goshin Kobudo
under Butch Velez, Shihan and Chikubu Kai under
William Price, Daiko the opportunity to place any
Martial related information in the UMAAI OSU
Newsletter.
William Price, Daiko is free to teach Kuniba Ryu Ha
or Motobu Ha; Butch Velez Shihan is free to teach
whatever he wishes as I am. I feel that UMAAI, AGK
and Chikubu Kai are on a friendly basis. However,
there have never been any discussions, to my
knowledge, of any of these three organizations
combining with any other organization or each other
to keep SEISHIN KAI MARTIAL ARTS alive.
Plus, to my knowledge, and my opinion, there are no
reasons
for
UNITED
MARTIAL
ARTS
ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL, AMERICAN
GOSHIN AND KOBUDO or CHIKUBU KAI to
affiliate with a Japanese organization. With our many
years in training, there is no need or desire to affiliate
with a Japanese organization. There is nothing of
significant value a Japanese organization can do for
us (Soke’s Senior Students) AND SOKE DID NOT
WANT US TO AFFILIATE WITH ANY JAPANESE
ORGANIZATIONS.
Shogo Kuniba, Soke had two different Karate Ryu Ha,
two different Goshin Ryu Ha, two different Kai and a
number of Kobudo/Iaido Kata and other waza that
were not taught to everyone. I will attempt to give you
a short answer. However, I suggest that you discuss
this question with your Sensei if your Sensei is Butch
Velez, Shihan or William Price, Daiko as I have
explained in detail and they are aware of the
influences beyond Shogo Kuniba, Soke’s control in
Japan and they can give you a broader answer than I
will give here. Shogo Kuniba was the “Soke” of
Motobu Ha Shitoh Ryu Karate Do of Seishin Kai
Karate Union but he was not “in charge” of Seishin
Kai Karate Union the Kai.
Over the years SKKU was taken over by a faction that
Kuniba, Soke could not command or even influence. In
fact, this is true of most of the Budo Kai in Japan. As
this faction became stronger, Kuniba, Soke’s position
became weaker. When Kuniba, Soke passed away,
Japan gave the title of “Soke” of Motobu Ha Shitoh
Ryu Karate Do of Seishin Kai Karate Union to
someone other than passing the title on to Shogo
Kuniba’s son, Kosuke Kuniba, as Soke’s instructions
had stipulated. Back in the 70’s when this faction
became more powerful than Shogo Kuniba - Soke
wanted no part of it.
Since he had a fairly good base of students in America,
Soke moved to America in the 80’s and virtually
started all over.
Shogo Kuniba established an
organization in the USA that was completely separate
and independent of Japan. Soke also knew that he
really no longer controlled Motobu Ha Shitoh Ryu
Karate Do of Seishin Kai Karate Union; thus, he
established Kuniba Ha Karate Do and Kuniba Ha
Goshin Do which he had been working on for years.
Shogo Kuniba was the first Soke and the Kaicho of
Seishin Kai Martial Arts, Inc. When Soke knew that he
was very ill and that he was going to die, he wanted
William Price and me to take over the Ryu Ha and the
Kai. I had already become the Kaicho before Kuniba,
Soke’s death and William Price was already taking
over much of the duties of clinics, seminars, camps,
etc. We were trying to just let Soke rest and be free of
stress as we prayed for his recovery and carried on
our duties. The first thing that Kuniba, Soke told
William Price and me was NOT to affiliate with
SKKU of Japan but to keep SKMA independent.
However, the Yakuza in Japan made a play for SKMA
and this destroyed SKMA because some SKMA
succumbed to the promises of the Yakuza Leaders of
SKKU. Although it was thought that there was a
good cohesiveness among the SKMA members,
apparently that was not the case due to greed, egos
and outside factions. In closing this question, the
faction was the Yakuza (Yakuza = Japanese Mafia).
The Yakuza is very powerful in Japan and has taken
over many Budo organizations in Japan and even the
non-Yakuza Shihan are afraid of the Yakuza. After
Kuniba, Soke’s death, many of the Japanese Shihan
who followed Soke left SKKU and it was left in the
hands of the Yakuza. The fact is the Yakuza SKKU
Members made disparaging remarks about Shogo
Kuniba, Soke as a Soke, as a Karate Ka and as a man
in general. I heard some of these remarks straight
from the new Japanese Head of SKKU.
Now let us put the above information to rest and
move on. Osu
Since my son is a decorated member of the United
States of America Justice Department, as are most of
his friends with whom I am also acquainted, I cannot
risk belonging to a Japanese Budo Organization that
might be owned or sponsored by the criminal Yakuza.
That would make me contributing to a unlawful group
and I would not break the law even if my son were not
with the United States Justice Department and neither
should any other American but, sometimes not all
Americans are honest enough or bright enough to
realize that they are in trouble until it is too late.
Plus, I have more experience than most of the people
heading these Japanese Budo Organizations. Thus,
what can they teach me, even those that may not be
owned or sponsored by the Yakuza? So, there you
have it. Shogo Kuniba, Soke was satisfied with and
wanted my name and the name of William Price
appearing on Menjo, including Yudansha Menjo, to be
issued to SKMA members after he was gone.
SEISHIN KAI MARTIAL ARTS, in my opinion, would
have been a superior organization with me as Kaicho
and Chief Instructor of the Kai, William Price as the
Head Instructor of Kuniba Ryu Ha Karate, Kuniba
Goshindo and Kobudo; and, Butch Velez as Head
Instructor of Kuniba Ryu Ha Goshin Budo, Jiu Jitsu
and Kobudo. No brag – just fact. SKMA would have
been one “heck” of a Kai.
However, there are just too many egos, too much
apathy and too much disrespect. Everyone wanted to
be Number One of his own little group and no one
wants to admit that he doesn’t know all there is to
know about Shogo Kuniba, Soke’s Ryu Ha past and
present. Thus, it is my opinion that Shogo Kuniba,
Soke’s SKMA did not flourish and stay together
because of his Senior Students – Shuseki Shihan Hugh
Kelley, Daiko William Price and Kaicho Butch Velez
and because some SKMA members joined the Japan
organization against Shogo Kuniba, Soke’s wishes.
Some people wanted a small piece of the pie instead of
keeping the pie as a whole. Now, that is about as plain
as I can tell you why Shogo Kuniba, Soke’s
organizations are no longer viable and why UMAAI is
not affiliated with a Japanese Budo Organization.
If, and I use a strong if, there was an Okinawan Budo
Organization with no ties to the Yakuza, I might
consider affiliation. Otherwise, I will just continue
with UMAAI as it is. Osu
1991 Soke Shogo Kuniba naming Shuseki Shihan Hugh
Kelley President and General Manager of Seishin Kai
Martial Arts, Inc., as well as SKMA High Dan President
and Awarding Kelley Shihan the “Soke Award.”
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