Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai - GKK

April 2014 Newsletter
Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai
www.goju.com
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Dues
By Ed Myers
It is once again time to collect the annual dues and 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 (in Excel or Word) to Ed
Myers (CEO) and the money to Jean Stamper (Treasurer) 4450 LuAnn Ave., Toledo,
OH 43623. This is all due by April 1st.”
Spring Seminar and Annual Meeting
By Dwight Scales
We are excited to come to you with the information about our Spring Seminar and Annual Meeting and are especially
excited to let you all know that a decision has been made to add a small tournament to the weekend activities.
The dates for all of this are, May 23rd and 24th (Friday and Saturday). This will take place at The Clay Avenue
Community School, 1030 Clay Avenue, Toledo, Ohio, 43608.
Friday – May 23rd
Black Belt Promotion – 6pm
Saturday – May 24th
Seminar
Tournament Seminar -
(All Ranks) – 9am until 11am
(Green belts and above) – 11am until 12:
(Black Belts) – 12:30 until 2pm
Tournament
Officials Meeting – 2pm
Competition – 2:30
Banquet and Annual Meeting – 6pm.
$5 one division, $7 both kata and kumite. No participant will go away empty-handed.
$10 one session, $15 two sessions, $20 all three, $30 for non-GKK members, $5 more for anyone without
a patch
Please review your records and submit the names of members eligible for promotion to Sho Dan and above to me as
soon as possible. We want no one to miss the opportunity to advance as they should.
Prices for the seminar and tournament will be determined soon. Rest assured they will be reasonable. I am sending this
notice so that everyone can make travel plans.
We are all part of the GKK family. As family members, we all have ownership in how the family is maintained. We
need to see representatives from all regions for this to be a successful venture!
I am looking forward to seeing all you in May. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail
([email protected]) or call me at: (419) 304-1666.
Seattle Area Seminars
By Carol Gittins
Shihan Yamakura is coming to the Northwest April 2-5, and there will be training sessions every day. On Saturday,
there will be a marathon training session from 12:30 to 5:30 at the Meadowbrook Rec Center which is located at 10517
35th AVE NE in Seattle. The cost for that session is $50, and there will be a potluck following training at Steve Hampsten's
home, which is about half a mile away from the rec center.
Upcoming Franklin, Kentucky Training Event
By Ken Maunz
GKK members from Toledo and Springfield will be going to the Franklin KY dojo for training Friday evening April 25th
and most of Saturday April 26th. All are welcome to attend.
For more information contact Ken;
[email protected]
734-888-1245
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Cumberland Gap Training Event
By Ken Maunz
Once again we are going to Cumberland Gap to train and play! The trip will be June 26th Thursday thru
June 29th Sunday. This is a family friendly national park with plenty to do in the area. Once again there is no charge
for training. Camping in the park is 18$ a night for electric sites per night. We are hoping to get t- shirts this year
with GKK logo and year and park on it. But we need to know if you would like to go to order shirts for size and
price.
This is our 3rd year for this and we have been getting the same people and a few more last year so everyone has enjoyed
it so far! So we hope to get more people this year also, Hope to see you!
For more info or to let us know if your coming and how many. Contact me at [email protected]
or call me at 734-888-1245
Awesome Seminar
By Sebastian Pirrone
Yamakura Shihan never fails to wow his audience. What a great Seminar. Nearly forty mudansha and a dozen yudansha
were on the floor taking in the experience that Yamakura Shihan was sharing. No matter what level you were at, something
new and inspiring was shared. Having guests sensei Mr. Ed Myers and Mr. Matt Loiselle from the Ohio area made the
seminar even more extra memorable.
Did You Know?
By Rich Stamper
Did you know our USA Director, Mr. Dwight Scales, retired a few years ago but now serves forty hours per week as
Character Coach for a charter school in addition to teaching karate classes? As Character Coach he handles conflict
resolution, provides counseling, offers support, and encourages as needed. He also provides general services in whatever
capacity is required. Role models are sorely needed today and Mr. Dwight’s strength, compassion, and humility provide an
excellent example for the kids at the school. And for those of us in the GKK as well.
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Imagine Clay Karate Club
By Dwight Scales
My “retirement” job is working at the Imagine Clay
Community School. One of the things I do at the school is hold
an after-school karate class. Here are some pictures from their
promotion in February.
Ms. Angie Monday helps with the class. Mr. Ken Maunz
was our guest at this promotion. I’m asking their parents to
sign with the GKK to make this an official dojo.
Even though we only meet once a week, and then only for
an hour, five of our students made 8 kyu; Jade Hines, Bill
Merrick, Andrew Price, Walter Billops, Diamante Parker.
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Kanki Izumikawa Biography
This Biography was written exclusively for our News Letter by the current leader and youngest son of the Master.
………J.L. Coleman
Biography of Kanki Izumikawa
Date of birth: April 16, 1908 (Meiji Era)
Died: November 1, 1967 (Showa Era)
Kanki Izumikawa was born as third son of Kanpo Izumikawa in Makishi-cho, Naha-shi, Okinawa-ken, Japan. He started to
learn fundamentals of karate from his elder brother at the age of eight years and moreover, he received his training from his
grandfather Kanchu Izumikawa who was one of the best students of Sokon Matsumura, a master of Shurite, Okinawa.
At the age of fifteen years, he became a student of Chohatsu Kyoda who was one of the best students of Kanryo
Higaonna and began to learn Goju Ryu. Also, he learned Okinawa kobudo (traditional weapon Okinawa martial art) from
his cousin Kantoku Izumikawa since he was a little child.
At the end of the Taisho era, the friend of his elder brother had a karate seminar at his birthplace and he learned karate
from the instructors from different styles of karate.
At the age of twenty (1928, Showa Era, year 3) he started to receive the training of Goju Ryu from Seiko Higa. In 1936
(Showa Era, year 11) he migrated to Tenian, Saipan, Palau Island on the South Sea and taught karate to local tribes as the
assistant manager of Higa Seiko. At that time, there were many leading karate masters migrated from Okinawa to Palau
Island and he was one of them who played an active part in teaching karate there.
In 1937 (Showa Era, year of 12) he manuscripted the "Bubishi" and received an approval to become a formal successor
of Goju Ryu karate. In 1938 (Showa Era, 13) he migrated to the mainland of Japan, Kawasaki city, Kanagawa pref., as the
first instructor of Goju Ryu karate who came from Okinawa Island and started to put his efforts to contribute for the
recognition of Goju Ryu karate in Japan. In 1938, April (Showa Era, 13) he opened his dojo, "Goju Ryu Karate Do Kenkyu
Kai" in Kawasaki City and began to teach karate. Next year, 1939, he renamed his dojo, "Goju Ryu Karate Do KenkyuKai, Senbukan" and began in earnest to teach as 1st. head master of Senbukan.
After the end of the war, with the expansion of the organization, he again renamed his dojo as,"Goju Ryu Karate Do
Senbukan" and afterwards, when his first son, Hirofumi Izumikawa became the successor, the naming of "Senbukan"
changed to "Senbukai" to this day.
In 1942 (Showa Era, 17) he received the 'Renshi" from Nihon Butoku Kai (Japan traditional martial art association) and
received the title of Master of "Hanshi" (10th dan) in 1957.
In 1957 he participated the foundation/establishment of "Nihon Karate-do Rengokai (Association)" and in 1967; he
received the title of the Master of "Hanshi" from this organization.
Back in 1941 (Showa Era, 16) October 14, he performed "Suparinpei" as the master of Goju Ryu at the "Okinawa Scito
Karate Do Sogo Enbu Taikai (means All Okinawa Legitimate Karate Exhibitions)" that was held at the grand hall of Rinpo
Kan in Tsurumi, Yokohama, Japan.
After the war, he also taught Goju Ryu karate to the American soldiers at the U.S. military base which was located at
Haneda, Tokyo (near Kawasaki) and it led to the chance for the karate popularization in foreign countries (especially in
U.S). In 1950, he was interviewed by US Warner Patty News, NBC TV, Reuters Communications and so on and this was
the first time that Japanese karate was introduced in the international news in foreign countries.
In the 1960's (from July to September 1964) Kanki Izumikawa visited twice to the United States, Hawaii for the purpose
to give the guidance in regards to the correct way to perform original traditional Okinawa Karate in Hawaii Senbukan.
In his second visit, Hawaii Senbukan hosted karate exhibition. At that time in Hawaii, Okinawa karate was
misinterpreted such as to break boards with full force/power or other things. Therefore the most anxious plan to perform
karate at this exhibition was to relay the wrong message that was to break the boards even by Siroobi and to implant the
students/audiences that this was true original traditional Okinawa karate. This was why his visits were quite valuable and
meaningful to Hawaii karate do.
The karate exhibition became roughly adopted by the newspaper and TV in Hawaii and he received the honorary letters
of thanks from the State of Hawaii Governor.
At his dojo, he taught the techniques which are able to face against big American soldiers because he was a very small
man. With his small body, his special skill was "Tenshin" (quick and smooth footwork) and in his training at dojo, he
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always tried to walk with his heels up and toes down like the cats walking with the tips of toes and it was said that his
movement was faster than cats.
He also studied shoutei kumite (infight techniques) that was developed in his younger age and created the technique of
the unique approaching offense and defense kumite style and taught them to his two sons.
To be more specific about this technique, it is to catch opponent's first movement quickly by entering with soft power
technique and uses one inch punch. Because if you use with hard power, it causes a crash between your power and
opponent's power. Therefore, in order to avoid this, you must use the technique of soft method. That is to say, by doing so,
there is a technical characteristic in avoiding not to make opponent's first power reactions.
Shoutei kumite will be connecting, in other words in Okinawa karate, "To get things done not striking others by not
being struck by others" means spiritual enlightenment where old Okinawan karate masters finally reached in conclusion by
training.
When his second son, Katsuya Izumikawa, third master of Senbukai, visited Okinawa for the first time, which was right
after returning to Japan from US occupation, he had the chance to meet his father's childhood friends who remembered well
about his father when he was a child. His childhood name was called Taro and he was a nimble and mischievous child.
They told the interesting stories such as follows:
● Taro jumped high up and kicked off the bowler hat of the passenger who was riding on a jinrikisha ( a carriage/vehicle
driven by human).
● Landed o the ground by jumping/kicking a ceiling and then spinning his body.
● Ran at the stone fence with his body/foot sideways.
However, he advised not to use the upper kick (jodan geri) when deshi (disciples) were playing kumite. He educated /
taught differences in show kumite and real fight kumite. Furthermore, at dojo, he always made contact with his deshi
(disciples) with soft berated manner within the strictness and enjoyed talking about various subjects while drinking ocha
(Japanese tea) with them after the training. He told mostly the stories such as the scuffling / fighting of his adult age, but
always ended up saying them to avoid in doing so.
Here, let me introduce about two interesting episodes when he was young:
● One is the story when his close friend was involved in the trouble with yakuza (Japanese mafia) and was kidnapped.
It happened while he was staying in Osaka. To help his friend, he made a raid on yakuza's main house (building) with sai
(one of karate's instruments) stuck in his waist and two sais in his hands and performed the kata using sais in front of the
yakuza boss and then stuck (by throwing) the into the floor. The boss was quite impressed/amazed by his performance and
courage and released his friend.
● Other is the story when he was teaching in the island of South Sea. He was found by local tribes when climbing the
palm tree and trying to pluck off a coconut. Natives of the island were waiting under the palm tree with swords on their
hands and to punish him when he comes down. He thought if he get off just as it is, he will be captured and be cut off his
neck and body. But then he came up with an idea to turn his body upside down and started to go down with a smile in his
face. This way he can be ready to take a posture from getting attacked by the enemy. Of course, the tribes were quite
surprised by his sudden posture and finally welcomed him with applause and nothing happened.
This is exactly what Okinawan karatekas saying, "To get things done, not striking (fighting) others by not being struck
by others," and is the story that might represent Okinawa karate master's way of philosophy and living attitudes at that time.
In 1967 (Showa, 42), November 1st. regretfully, Kanki Izumikawa died at the age of 59 years old. During his living
time, he truly poured his soul and heart into the expansion / popularization of Goju Ryu in mainland and produced many
excellent disciples not only in domestic but also overseas. His best disciples are Sosui Ichikawa Sensei, Japan Goju Ryu
Karate-do Sousikan, Tsutomu Takato Sensei, branch officer in Otaku, Tokyo, Busen Arakawa Sensei, first nunchaku
master in Japan, Juichi Sagara Sensei, ex. Japanese famous pro wrestler, Antonio Inoki’s brother, San Paulo Karate-do
Renmei, Kazuhito Murakami Sensei, Branch Manager of Hawaii Senbukai, Noriyuki Moshimaru Sensei, famous Aikido
master,Hyotaro Harada Sensei, Senbukai Seishinjigu (currently named, Senbukai Seiyu Rengo).
Twenty eight years in mainland, while keeping Okinawa traditional Goju Ryu, he put his efforts deeply into searching
the advancement of Goju Ryu style and reached a high level of karate do and created / developed his own unique
techniques.
After his death, his first son Hirofumi Izumikawa succeeded to second master o Senbukai , but he died at the young age
of thirty nine years old in 1982 (Showa, 37). Incidentally, he has the records of continuation victory at All Nihon Karate-do
Senshu Ken Taikai, Kata Tournament organized / sponsored by Nihon Karate-do Rengokai from years 1963 thru 1968.
After the death of second master, his second son Katsuya Izumikawa succeeded to third master of Senbukai and is still
Adhering / conveying Goju Ryu traditional style that was inherited from his father and brother.
(Written by Katsuya Izumikawa)
October 2010
Editor’s Note; This was retyped from a difficult to read scan of the original. I apologize for any misspelled names.
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The Point © by Bill Handren
Attack of the Post Toasties
“It’s fun to laugh at yourself, it’s the tonic tried and true.
It’s fun to look at yourself, as other people do.”… Candid Camera Theme Song
I
’m in the cereal aisle of my favorite super-store. My snake-like peripheral vision catches a carelessly placed box of
cereal about to fall onto my head from a high shelf. Without hesitation, I turn into a left sanchin dachi and execute an
age uke as I have done thousands of times in Gekisai. The box explodes. A cloud of Post Toasties rains down. The
other patrons are speechless at this masterful display of karate. As I swagger down the aisle, the only sounds heard are
crunchy footsteps and gasps of admiration. I turn to the assistant manager. "Clean up...aisle seven," I say, in my best Sean
Connery brogue casually brushing a few Toasties from my shoulder. A Hispanic woman looks my way and mumbles
"stupedo." I believe that is Spanish for master. I nod at her compliment.
A careless shopper almost hits me with her shopping cart. I side step and chamber my leg Saifaesque style. Her wide
eyes tells me she too, is impressed. She notices the backwards letters burned into my forearms. "What does ihcabiH
mean?" I could tell her carrying a makeshift cauldron of hot coals is the badge of self-mastery, but I keep her guessing.
Only those who study the martial arts appreciate such things. Her little girl asks; “ Mommy, why does that man’s head look
like an onion?” OK, so growing a Samurai topknot with my thinning hair didn’t turn out as planned. I scowl at her. She
assumes the Pouty Face Posture. Tears will be her next ploy and the male warrior has no defense against female tears.
Little girl tears are the deadliest, debilitating as cobra venom. I back down the aisle averting her stare.
I haven't been in this particular store for awhile, ever since I was told they don’t carry Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle
pajamas in 3XL. I took my business elsewhere but I've come back because the prices are lower.
My wife practices her Shaolin here as well. Looked for she cannot be seen, listened for she cannot be heard. "Where
have you been?” I ask. She insists she has been standing right here. "I've been through this section a half- dozen times and
I didn't see you," I add. "Well, I saw you." I guess she assumed I was playing shopping cart derby each time I went by.
Yet, I must admit her ability to blend with her surroundings would make a Ninja envious.
This is my training ground. A gauntlet of sorts to hone the ancient martial skills. Training here is stressful, but
necessary. There is no substitute for the real world. So many carelessly placed items on the shelves. Coupon clipping
combatants who could instantly turn into deadly adversaries over a sale item.
Adrenaline dumps into my nervous system as I hear the loudspeaker announcement, “Attention shoppers, for the next
ten minutes we will be offering specials in our bakery section.” I sometimes have nightmares about blue lights.
I once made the mistake of entering the cookie aisle as a group of unsupervised children had taken it over. I wasn’t
prepared for a bunch of Keebler Elf like attackers. I hadn’t trained for such low level attacks. Only my quick thinking to
rip open a package of chocolate coconut macaroons and toss them into the air saved me.
I have tried to visualize every possible attack when I train, but the Toasties thing really caught me off guard. What if it
were an institutional sized can of corn? Would my defense have been adequate? How can one imagine every possible
attack while training? I suppose it isn't possible. Maybe the best thing is to just do. No thought. Become one with each
store display. Assume the identity of each foodstuff. Be the mayonnaise. Blend with the vegetables. "Wax paper on, wax
paper off." I need to place myself in the mind of the determined shopper. See myself as the customer does.
I no longer visualize much of anything when I train. My body is on auto pilot. I am one with the kata. At least I think I
am since I usually start in one kata and finish in another. Should that count as two? Where was I? Oh yes, doing without
thinking.
Thinking clouds being. I hate old martial philosophers who know the "way of enlightenment." I suspect it is more a
case of early onset Alzheimer’s than any real understanding. I have tried contemplating my navel to reach a higher state of
consciousness but belly button lint is all I noticed.
Maybe this is the answer. The realization I will never know. One can never truly prepare. Such attempts are exercises in
futility. Despite a lifetime of acquiring knowledge I have come full circle back to the beginning. So many theories, counter
theories, advice and advice to the contrary, opinions and counter opinions have led to the answer of the ultimate Zen
parable; “If a tree falls in the forest and no hears, does it still make a sound?"
Yes……..it makes a crunchy sound.
M. Yamakura
Ed Myers
Dwight Scales
Eric Naujock
Bill Kane
Deb Crawford
Bill Handren
Chairman
CEO
USA Director
Webmaster
Program Development
USA Business Manager
Newsletter Editor
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