Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai - GKK

March 2013 Newsletter
Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai
www.goju.com
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Annual Dues 2013
by Ed Myers
“It is once again time to collect the annual dues and generate an active member list.
dan ranks are $25 and kyu ranks are $15. Dojo leaders are to send this to your national
director. The national directors are to send the active member list to Ed Myers (CEO)
and the monies to Jean Stamper (Treasurer). This is all due by April 1 2013.”
Keeping GKK Panama Updated
By Aleojin Ríos
Last January, I had the chance to travel to Ohio with one of my
students, Felipe. The objective of the trip was to keep me up to date
regarding Shihan’s direction on traditional Goju Ryu training and kata
performance. We had the opportunity to train with a group of
outstanding karate instructors during our stay. We first had a session in
the morning with Stamper Kyoshi. We worked on understanding the
general strategies behind kata. His comments and insights helped to
clear up many doubts I had. We greatly appreciate your time and
willingness to share your knowledge with those who seek you. Right
after, Felipe and Myers Sensei work on kata. Mr. Myers shared valuable
suggestion for Felipe to improve his kata performance. That same evening, we visited Mr. Maunz’ dojo. We first had a
private session with him where we reviewed Geki Sai Ichi and Ni, Ukeno Kata and Kihon Kata. Maunz Kyoshi shared
some practical application from each of those kata for a better understanding of certain movements. Breathing was
emphasized. During the night, a group of black belts joined us and we had a fun and productive group discussion on how
each of us performed kata and what could be the areas to improve. Every comment was heard and respected. There was a
good feeling of camaraderie among all participants. Regardless of the dan rank, everyone listened carefully to the
observations made by others with lower or higher ranks. It looked like a family of black belts sharing and growing together
in the art of Goju Ryu.
The following day, we had a full session with Yamakura Shihan. Mr.
Myers joined us for that one. We first started working on basics to later move
on to kata practice. Shihan’s insights and corrections were as accurate as a real
Master can be. Felipe was very impressed by Shihan’s talent to analyze his
fighting skills based on his kata performance. We took turns as we
demonstrated different kata. Shihan would address each of us with great
analysis and truthful remarks. Mr. Yamakura also made several helpful
recommendations for me to grow as a karate instructor. At the end of the
session we all left the dojo with a sense of completion and total satisfaction.
Thank you Shihan for your unconditional guidance thru the way of Goju Ryu
karate.
For the last day, we had a final session at Myers Sensei’ Black Swamp Dojo. We first worked on kihon ichi and
kihon ni drills directed by Mr. Myers. Next, we all together took turns sharing techniques derived from kata. Later, Felipe
and Myers Sensei left the group to work on Felipe’s kata while the rest of us worked on black belt kata with Maunz Sensei.
It was a great close up activity. Then we had some delicious food prepared by Mrs. Myers. Thanks for all those wonderful
treats! I would also like to thank Mr. Henderson for being such an awesome tour guide and taking us for a ride around the
city. We certainly brought home every item from the shopping list.
If your Dojo is not in the Toledo area, or it is far away in another country just like mine, I totally recommend you to go
visit. You will have an astonishing experience with many of our GKK leaders and high ranked instructors. In addition, you
could have the chance to train with Yamakura Shihan and improve you karate getting the observations right from the main
source. You will be amazed with his mastery and skill to teach. I had a fantastic time, and so could you. What are you
waiting for?
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GKK Around the World
Editor's Note; I omitted the last two entries in the 2011 International Annual Report so I am including them here.
GKK Panama
Aleojin Rios, Director
Well, this past year 2011 was a quiet year for us. There were only three
promotions held during the year. One in April, another in august and the last one in
December. During this testing sessions only three students have been promoted.
Felipe Estribí ( 9th kyu in April, 8th kyu in August, and 7th kyu in December),
Roberto Mendez ( nephew) (8th kyu in August ) and Emmanuel Quiel ( 9th kyu in
April ). The attendance has been very irregular for most of the year since we can
only meet twice a week and either the really bad weather or professional duties prevented students to attend sessions. This
year attendance seems to be coming back to normal and a testing session has been scheduled for April 25th.
Alejandro Rios Sensei reactivated his dojo in La Chorrera with 3 students. He currently has 5 students (two are returning
ones). Promotions for these students are scheduled for April 14th.
Goal for this year 2012:
1- To increase our active member lists.
2- To save money to make a trip to the GKK headquarters either by the end of this year or in January 2013.
3- Find ways to normalize attendance for more consistent training.
4- To have both dojos interact at least once a month for unity of the group and sense of belonging to an organization.
Sri Lanka
D.K. Withanage, Director
Recap for the year 2011; Sri Lanka Karate do Federation appointed me as Media Committee.
National Karate Championship 2011: I won the 3rd place in veteran Black Belt male kumite 40
+ yrs held by Sri Lanka karate do Federation. I was awarded National Black Belt Rank of (Godan)
5th dan by Sri Lanka karate do Federation.
Colours Awards Ceremony - University of Colombo. As you would know, I am the Karate instructor of the University of
Colombo. I am happy to inform you that all six members of my team won the Inter-University games and they were
awarded in the Colours awards Ceremony. I was also offers a special "Token of Appreciation" in this ceremony for my
guidance to victory. I'm pleased to inform you that the Sri Lankan branch has shown a steady progress during the last few
months.
Following are the goals for 2012.
1. Building a new dojo in Colombo as the capacity of the existing dojo is inadequate for the demand. Funds to be raised.
2. Increasing the pool of instructors and thereby increasing the number of training centers in different parts of Sri Lanka.
We wish to increase the memberships by 20% during the year.
New Email Address for GKK USA Director
Please use the following email address for all correspondence to Mr. Dwight Scales; [email protected]
Did You Know?
by Rich Stamper
Did you know that your submissions are welcomed and are an integral part of our Newsletter. You are a varied and
talented lot with much to share. Please take a few minutes and write about something you know that would benefit the rest
of us. We need you and would really like to hear what you have to say.
Kata; Battle Dance of The Martial Arts
by Doug Lafferty
Imagine for a moment, you've just taken your cash from the ATM, and as you're walking back to your car, you
notice out of the corner of your eye, someone is approaching 2you from the side. Now you hear footsteps behind you. Your
Kata; Battle Dance of The Martial Arts
by Doug Lafferty
Imagine for a moment, you've just taken your cash from the ATM, and as you're walking back to your car, you
notice out of the corner of your eye, someone is approaching you from the side. Now you hear footsteps behind you. Your
heartbeat goes up, and you quickly put your money away, because you know both hands will be needed. You notice an
arm coming around your neck from behind, as the person you saw out of the corner of your eye is walking toward you,
now brandishing a knife. Instinctively, you remembered the techniques you practiced in the kata you learned in karate.
Within in a few seconds, your attackers lay on the ground, one with a broken arm; the other with a broken leg. Would you
believe the art of dance could do this?
Ever since I started practicing Karate about thirty years ago, I've always thought of it as an art, and not some style
of fighting. I was told by many, it is rare for a child of thirteen years to have that point of view. After years of studying, I
have learned what I was told is true. I acquired that point of view after learning my first kata (kah-tah). Studying from
high ranking and very experienced people such as Kyoshi Duane Sammons, 7th Degree Black Belt (Founder of Bellingham
Academy of Self Defense), Joe Lewis (studied under Bruce Lee, PKA World Champion), Shihan Motoo Yamakura, 8th
Degree Black Belt (Chairman of Goju Ryu Karate Do Kyokai); reading books such as “The Book of Five Rings”
(Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645), “The Character of Goju-Ryu” (Stamper, 2009), “Goju-Ryu Karate Do” (Yamakura,
1989); watching countless documentaries and successfully competing in various tournaments. My experience has also
taught me that kata is the foundation to the teachings of the martial arts.
The best way to describe what kata is, would be to say it's somewhat like dance. Kata is choreography of several
techniques, most commonly resulting in the reenactment of a battle. Just like there are different styles of typical art, there
are different styles of Martial arts. With typical art for example, there is painting, sculpting, or dancing. Within each of
those types of arts, there are various styles. It is very similar with martial arts; some types of martial arts would be karate,
kung fu, and aikido. Within in those types, there are many various styles of martial arts. Within karate, some would be
Shotokan (founded 1939, Gichin Funakoshi, 1868–1957) , Goju Ryu (founded c 1930, Chojun Miyagi, 1888-1953), Shorin
Ryu (Founded 1933, Choshin Chibana, 1885-1969) , and many others. Techniques may differ slightly, between the various
styles, but the core technique itself is the same. Kata is performed in each style of karate, or martial art for that matter,
however they may differ slightly. I study a style of karate called Goju-Ryu, which translates to “hard/soft style.”
To properly perform a kata, the karateka (practitioner or student) must practice over and over again, hundreds of
times, and let their imagination go free to help interpret the application for the kata, and all the while maintaining a focused
character. What Sven Birkerts, and Jeanette Winterson discuss in their essays, “The Owl Has Flown”, and “Imagination
and Reality”, respectively, resonated in my mind because they correlate so directly to kata.
Kata is one of the primary ways to preserve the teachings of the style's founder, so it is important a kata is
memorized, and repeated continuously. This allows for a complete understanding of the form, to pass on correct
information to future students. Birkerts writes, “When books are rare, hard to obtain, and expensive, the reader must
compensate through intensified focus, must like Menochio, read the same passages over and over; memorizing, inscribing
the words deeply on the slate of the attention” (31). This repetition cultivates a better, deeper understanding of the
material being studied; resulting in a more thorough knowledge of the topic. The same is true of kata. Only one kata is
learned at a time, enabling a deeper focus, and it is performed repeatedly; each time perfecting the timing and flow of
movement, thus getting ever closer to a deeper understanding of the kata's meaning. For this purpose, to maintain a deeper
knowledge of the form, there is only fifteen different katas to learn in Goju-Ryu Karate, and they are taught at various
levels of rank over a period of about twenty years or more of consistent training.
One of the requirements when promoting for a black belt is to take a particular kata, and with a partner, apply it
as the karateka interprets it. This is called bunkai (boon-kai), and it is a very valuable learning tool, as it requires using
imagination and to think of the techniques in the kata, and put them in an actual application. What happens quite often is a
particular technique in the kata may be different than it appears. For example, in the kata Seiunchin ( say-oon-shin,
meaning Attack, Conquer and Suppress, or Subdue from a Distance), when raising your hands back to back in front of you
then bring them down and apart, is that a block? Or grabbing an opponent’s arms? Another epiphany comes to light; the
karateka begins to notice things about it that is done in everyday living. When putting on a jacket and pushing the arms
through the sleeves; couldn’t that be a strike? How about when driving a car and turning the steering wheel... could that be
a circular block?
Being able to see hidden techniques in a kata requires the release of imagination. Winterson writes “The work
of the artist is to see into the life of things” (362). What Winterson is stating here, is it’s the artist’s job to look beyond
what is in front of them, and see what makes up that which is in front of you. To understand the meaning of a kata, the
student must look into the kata; let their imagination run wild. They begin to visualize the actual battle taking place, for
example, a student could imagine: the underdog is being attacked by one or more aggressors. Overcoming insurmountable
odds, you attack and conquer the opponents; ultimately suppressing them all. Does it always have to end in victory? It
could be argued that a kata could end in defeat, or even possibly a draw: You and the imaginary opponent realize after a
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great battle, there will be no winner or loser, so the battle ends in a mutual understanding and respect. Having the ability
to tap into the imagination is invaluable to the Karateka, as it alleviates many restrictions and allows for a much better
understanding of the application for any technique.
Some may believe it isn't art if there isn't any value to it. When hearing the word “value”, many instantly assume
it's about money. However, that is not always the case. It is very difficult to place a monetary value on art, and those that
do are usually the ones within that circle of art, because it is most valuable them. Value does not always imply money
though. Value can also be defined by the education and wisdom provided by the art in question. Quoting Winterson; “just
as the rich man can buy himself a young woman but not her love. Love is reciprocity and so is art” (358). The practitioner
gets out of a kata what they put into it. The more passion, dedication and imagination that is put in a kata, the more it will
reward the student. A painting on a wall or a sculpture offers a moment of thought, however learning a skill that could
literally save a life, from an art which invokes imagination, I say holds a great value far beyond any monetary amount. I
like to think if that's the case, then I am truly wealthy.
It's all there, right in front of us; every day, but many are not open to seeing beyond the here and now. Too often
people get caught up in the face value of things and fail to look past other purposes or meanings of things. They become
too focused on things, giving them a form of “tunnel vision” which blinds them to other things. Next time you see a dance,
or a painting, or a sculpture; you should stare at it; gaze upon it. Watch it with open eyes and an open mind. Why were
those colors used in the painting? What is the statue looking at? What is the story behind the dance? Asking these
questions just may reveal a much deeper understanding of the piece of art being viewed.
As martial artists, it's the karateka's duty to find these hidden techniques and meanings. To do this, they must
study intensely, practice repeatedly, release their imagination, and see beyond the actual technique being performed. I like
to reflect on what hidden secrets might be in the kata. Is the block really a block or is it a strike? What about the transition
from one technique to the other? Could that be an offensive or defensive move? These are just a few of the items that
intrigue me when performing or watching a kata.
I will continue to perform my kata, over and over again. There are hidden techniques yet to be discovered, and
more kata to learn. I will reenact the battles, enjoying the anticipation of learning the deeper meaning of a kata. I will
question each move, and perfect each technique to continue the valuable teachings of the art of karate through kata. What's
more enlightening than personal discovery? Helping others reach theirs. There is a particular joy, a satisfaction in seeing
people I teach, guide, and mentor; find their meaning in a kata. Seeing the expression of discovery on their faces brings me
one step closer to my own goal of nirvana.
Works Cited; Birkerts, Sven. “The Owl Has Flown.” Think Vertically. 2nd ed. Edited by Whatcom Community College
English Faculty. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press, 2012. p.29-36. Print
Miyagidojonet. “Seiunchin Kata” Online video clip. YouTube. 3 Sep. 2006. Web. Sep. 2012.
Winterson, Jeanette. “Imagination and Reality.” Think Vertically. 2nd ed. Edited by Whatcom Community College
English Faculty. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press, 2012. p.353-366
Winter Items for Sale
by Angie Monday
Hello everyone. We have winter items for sale -hoodies at $35.00 each and black sweatpants (men & women's) $25.00
each. Everyone in our class has them and we all love them! I also have a few sweatshirts $25.00 each. and black ball caps
$15.00 each. Everyone loves the black polo shirts @ $25.00 each. I am going to order more in the near future. If there is a
size you need and would like to make sure I have it, please e-mail me at [email protected] and I will make it
happen! Also, if anyone would like us to stock something we don't have let me know and I will see what I can do!
THANKS AND KEEP ON KICKING!!!!!
USA National Karate Federation Qualifier
by Mike Ritter
Saturday Mar 16 :
Sunday Mar 17:
USA-NKF Rules Class Kumite and Kata
USA-NKF National Qualifying Competition
Kings Mills, Ohio, 45034 USA
For registration forms, map and information go to: http://www.rittermartialarts.com/html/Tournament_Flyer.html
Training As We Age
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Training As We Age
Mr. Zak Zaklad and I had an email discussion a few months back on training as we age. We thought a GKK wide
discussion on training as we age would be worthwhile. Mr. Giller's and Mr. Morca's articles, which follow, seem like a
great way to kick things off.
Some excerpts from Mr. Zak;
Mr. Yamakura said to me and a few others a couple of years ago, "Take more rests,
you will lose speed and power inevitably. Strive for precision." Seems to me you and I emphasize different things in how
we train, so there will probably be a wide range of approaches to staying healthy and strong as we age. My overriding
goal is to nurture the body, the mind, the spirit. It would be pretty interesting to hear how others do it, both conceptually
and actually. It would be interesting to have a GKK-wide discussion of staying together as one ages, because there are a
lot of terrific MA people in our organization. Here are some questions we could pose;
* how is your karate practice changing as you age? both your practice and your teaching.
* how is your life changing as you age, and how does karate fit into this. Physically, mentally, spiritually? how
do you stay strong in all those areas, and what does "strong" mean to you?
* how can GKK continue to thrive and grow when many of our senior people are aging? in our dojo, we have 1520 active black belts. I have turned 70 and many are in their 60's or pushing 60. Who will take over
when we "retire", and what does "retirement" mean to you?
So, we are asking our members, old and not-so-old, to offer their training advice, pose questions, share thoughts, etc.
Where Am I?
by Bill Giller
For those of us over sixty and maybe even fifty, we are certainly aware of the toll that time and training has taken on our
body. Our joints, limbs, legs, -you get the idea- have slowed down. And some days movement is just plain painful. We ice,
we heat, and we adjust to what we can still do. Of equal importance is what we do for our cognitive function. What do we
do for our brain? How do we keep it active? Crossword puzzles, sudoku, chess, solitaire, extension classes? To assist my
brain and memory I play a game called "Where Am I?" The game involves where I am in relationship to the stance that I
chose to be in and its relationship to katas. It keeps my memory sharp and creativity active.
If I am in shikodachi right leg forward 45 degrees am I doing Gedan I or Seiunchin? Or both? Where can my next turn
or block take me? And is that movement true to the kata? Which way do I move and how does it affect the kata. I think I
am doing? Try it. Get in sanchin stance or some other, right or left leg forward and see where it takes you. Which kata
unfolds for you and why? Kata assists my memory because there are specific moves for each one. If I am stuck some place
I have the good fortune of reviews on CDs with me; Mr. Sammons and Mr. Yamakuara performing all katas within the
Goju system. All of the katas in the Goju system have been broken down to precise moves which are extremely instructive
because I do forget some of the moves at times. But challenging myself to start somewhere in some kata forces me to think
and get into my memory bank. Beats chess on certain days. Give it a try to see where you are!!
Ageing Gracefully
by Teodoro Morca
When Bob Hope was asked, "your getting older and you are rich, so why don't you retire"? He answered: "I would rather
wear out than rust". How can we prevent wearing out and or rusting, and just age gracefully?
There is no one answer but at 78 years of age, I have found a few positives for the body and of course that means using
our heads. In both my 62 years of non-stop dance and also my many years as a karateka of Go-Ju, the 3 Ss, pop into mind:
Stretch, Strengthen, Stamina. It is a balance of these, along with proper placement and posture, with no short cuts, that have
helped me continue an active life, physically and of course mentally and spiritually.
"Placement", is a strong key here. So many injuries come from mis- alignment of body placement, stretching too fast,
over and under doing strength workouts without proper rest and basically, not listening to your body. We all know by now
that "no pain, no gain" is the wrong way to go in training. Over doing is just as bad as under doing. Think of taking
vitamins: one pill a day, fine, the whole bottle at once, sickness or death.
I was always fascinated that my ballet classes had more women than men and my karate classes had more men than
women, but the exercises and movements other than kumite were basically the same. Squat in karate, plie in ballet; the 3 S's
in both classes in a balanced way.
As I have aged, yes, I have had to adjust physically, as being a performer on stage, I cannot do at 70 what I did at 30.
That also is a lesson to learn. Most of my injuries have been from being over tired and bad placement, causing knee
problems. So, age gracefully so we can live a longer life without wearing out or rusting.
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The Point © by Bill Handren
Bazooka Boys
O
ur parents used to "ground" my brother and I when we did something wrong, which was quite often. I suppose that
made sense if a parent was home to supervise the grounding. But, left alone and after a hearty breakfast of "Sugar
Pops" cereal, trouble was sure to follow.
I had built a home made chinning bar which was about four feet long and could be easily taken down from a doorway.
My talent for building things which would end up being disastrous was blooming.
Our uncle, Eddie, had given us a bunch of bottle rockets. Bottle rockets look like a firecracker taped to a foot long stem.
One would use a bottle like a vase, set the stem in the bottle, and light the fuse. The rocket would shoot upward about fifty
feet and a second charge would then explode. Obviously, Eddie never had children, especially boys. We stashed the
rockets away and this day seemed like a good one to set them off. But how? We weren't allowed outside and our fear of
getting caught kept us inside. That's when it hit me; Bazooka Man!!!!
In a few of the World War II films, there were soldiers who fired the bazooka. It was a long tube which the front soldier
aimed from his shoulder while kneeling, as the rear soldier slipped a rocket propelled grenade into the back end of the tube.
The "loader" then tapped the "aimer" on his helmet to let him know the bazooka was ready to fire. The chinning bar would
be the bazooka and the bottle rockets would be slipped partway into the rear of the tube, lit and then pushed all the way in.
At that time we lived in a ground floor apartment. They were called railroad apartments because each room followed the
previous like railroad cars. Each apartment had a bathroom at the back-yard end and a clothesline which ran from the
window to a five story tall pole, one clothesline above the other.
We opened the window, my brother took position as the aimer and with the chinning bar on his shoulder we were all set.
I slipped the first bottle rocket into the "bazooka", lit it, poked the stem in a bit, tapped him on the head and "whoosh" - the
rocket sailed out. It traveled about fifty feet and exploded against an old block wall. We were soooo impressed with
ourselves. After several launches, I wanted to be the aimer and he would be the loader.
I took the lead position, aimed for the wall and waited. I was considerably better than my brother at lighting matches - a
skill which would serve me well as I developed a two-pack a day smoking habit later on. I could hear my brother scratching
the match against the matchbook friction strip. Nothing. More scratching. Nothing. I grew impatient. "Is it lit?" I asked.
No answer. Again; "Is it lit?" No answer. I turned slightly to see what the problem was and heard the now familiar
"whoosh" as the rocket sailed out of the bazooka.
Our neighbor had hung bed sheets on her clothesline. When sheets are hung, they develop little sags between each
clothespin. Our mis-aimed rocket settled in one of the sags, smoldered for a second and exploded. Like two young deer
caught in headlights, we watched in terror as a hole burned in the sheet. It started the size of a dime and had reached the
size of a silver dollar when we decided we should use our junior fire-marshal skills and do something. We ran out the door
in our underwear, down the cellar steps and into the back yard. The smoldering hole was now large enough to toss a
grapefruit through.
"Dirt!" I yelled. "Smokey the Bear uses dirt to put out campfires"! With Agent Orange like efficiency, we ghetto kids
had trampled every bit of vegetation in the yard. Only dirt, trash and a few hardy weeds remained. Considering the burning
hole was about ten feet above the ground, our dirt slinging efforts only added insult to injury. The glowing rim of the hole
extinguished on its own, and the sheet now resembled a flag that could have come from Fort Sumter.
Fortunately, our parents did not have good relations with the lady whose sheet we destroyed. Other than a masterful
recital of profanity as she reeled in her sheet, she never said anything to our parents.
We learn as we grow. Each mistake teaches if we pay attention. Most of my gymnasium and martial art projects were
learning experiences. Some good. Some bad. I eventually learned to have a backup plan or alternate use for a project
which may not work. Perhaps my dojo spring floor may someday be a hit with my granddaughter's friends - something
they could practice tumbling on. I kept the hardware that came with my dojo mirrors. The mirrors are from sliding closet
doors and may someday be used for that purpose. Even worn out ankle weights have come in handy as rehabilitation tools
when strung together. Many, many times, how I went about building something depended on what I had on hand rather
than what I would go out and buy. Frugality became my mother of invention.
Today, I cannot shop in a store without looking at something and figuring if I could build a good piece of training
equipment from it. Farm supply or hardware stores are heaven for those who tinker. We use our creative intelligence to
use what's available or improve upon it - just as in the martial arts. But, it is sometimes like shopping in a mine field....or
playing with a homemade bazooka.
M. Yamakura
Ed Myers
Dwight Scales
Greg Dodge
Deb Crawford
Bill Handren
Chairman
CEO
USA Director
GKK Marketing Director
USA Business Manager
Newsletter Editor
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