Happy New Year!!

Toshikoshi Soba on New Year's Eve. Jen and I gathered in front of the TV to watch the ball fall, eating the soba noodles. Happy New Year Roushiichi, Yachi-san and Yuta.

From Jen Suki, and Tony

COMIKE コミケ (**:)

165,000 attendees on the first day of this year's Comike ! And I fear that my daughter, set to graduate college next March is part of that statistic. What is Comike you ask? Well its short for Comic Communication (I think). Its a major event for comic lovers and cosplayers (costume players who dress up as their favorite character) Can you imagine how long it took just to get in the convention hall?
Some of the characters are far from the kids images. More suited for the daddies visual entertainment.
Sigh, Japan has its crazy culture which is hard to comprehend at times.
I just hope Michele did not go dressed as Pikachu! Thank goodness she is back to Pokemons. Until recently she was in Shinsegumi. Now, that I can imagine!


Not quite sure which cartoon characters these three are from !??!

Pikachu ??? GAAAAAAAAAH!!!!

Well, I hope my daughter had an enjoyable day. If she had only stuck to Karate.........Hmmmm. She's better off in the comic world. But you would be surprised at the large number of adults at this convention.

Sanchin

Tony,
Looked up some Sanchin on You Tube. There are so many variations out there. Some are slow and dynamic with emphasis on hip and ab preparation while others are quick with hardly and prerequisite hip/ab setups.  All are correct.

Higaonna Sensei's Sanchin (emphasis on hip and abs set up)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kybxNOlnl20

Gushi Sensei's Sanchin (note the lack of hip and ab setups)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7YDkZrJ-V0

Ogawa Sensei's Sanchin (interesting posture)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpLkMI1zEo8

A different version of Gushi Sensei's Sanchin (note the setting of shoulder muscles in the begining)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz9_hL5mmWI

Goju Kai Sanchin by Yamaguchi Sensei
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpEVNUIkVx8

and finally Kyokushin Sanchin (emphasis on ibuki)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKbTp42z5yA

Enjoy all the variations! (^^)

Bonus video! The ultimate way to test your sanchin !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc3ARNKXEDI

Breathing Question of Sanchin??

Sanchin of Okinawa karate, from M. Higaonna, Sensei

From:YouTube - okinawa karate p3

Sorry Could not publish the youtube video here.

In this youTube of Higonna, Sensei he discussed the breathing of Sanchin. I know Rouchiichi that we discussed breath (kokoro, kokyu-chikara). I have been working on the tanden with my jo, and working with the students to understand this tension of breath and how it relates to the movement of sanchin. Most nights I find this much like catching a storm cloud ( we are bracing for the first real winter storm of the season), just has I reach for it hits, and its gone. Both my students and I are getting better but I seen to hit the breath with the step, about one out of twenty attempts.

Please listen to Higonna, Sensei discuss the second form of breathing in sanchin:

"There are two forms of breathing in Sanchin. One is directly from the nose, down into the lower abdomen or tanden. The other is done with a feeling that the air travels…Up around the back of the head. Down the spine, and up into the tanden where it is wound up like a spring.

Both of these are done harmonizing the breathing with the movement

Press the feet hard into the floor and turn them outwards (inwards??) Tighten your thighs and your buttocks"……. M Higaonna

Finally the Question: Roushiichi have you ever hear the breath described like that?? The first part we have talking much about. The second was news to me.

Mele Kalikimaka

Mele Kalikimaka from New York!! I wanted to share a short note and image of Christmas from Our home in Stillwater. Jen and I will be with my brother Joe and Jodi and their family for Christmas Eve, and then Christmas Day will be with my Sister Laurie and John and family.

I am off to learn more about the Japanese New Year and its food. Roushiichi has sent Jen and myself a "care package" full of goodies for the holiday.

Here is to health and happy New Year!!!

All type-0 are Suki's fault she is walking on the key board....

Preparedness (**#)

     The past few days Hawaii has been hot with heavy rains and subsequent damages in the form of landslides and flooding has caused some havoc. An interesting comment from a city manager was to the effect "the drain off system didn't work....". Hmmm. This made me think of our martial arts training. Can we afford to make the same comment " it didn't work"?
     As I have written in the past, martial arts training should allow us to avoid or defuse conflicts, so we do not have to depend on the techniques we have learned. We learn to identify potential threats and take preventive measures. Simple common sense takes care most of the dangers. For example, not going to areas known to be crime ridden late at night (or any time for that matter), not to indulge excessive alcohol, to be observant when walking to your car in a parking lot. etc.  Several years ago, Japanese media "played up" how Japanese were being victimized in the United States. Well, the so-called victims were "delivering a bicycle to a friend late at night in a crime infested section of town"; drove to a 24 hr convenience store past midnight in a luxury car; sight seeing poverty areas, etc. Unfortunate that no one was able to input some common sense.
     Back to the topic  of "it didn't work". When we face a situation where not fighting is not an option, we will not be able to say later "it didn't work". This then becomes an often discussed and debated topic. Is what you are learning going to protect you? Those that have been in harm's way can understand that not everyone reacts the same way. Even simunition cannot replace the sound of an round zipping past you and the consequent reaction.  The Self defense drills cannot replace the "fear" of being suddenly attacked without warning or standing in the front row of charging demonstrators.  We can recreate to a certain level but we cannot recreate the actual tension and pressures of a real confrontation. After all, it's a class and when its over we all go home. Knowing that  it is a class and knowing that we will all go home is not the same as not knowing what will happen next.
    It is said Kata is the "Bible of Self Defense". I agree, there are many techniques that are applicable. I have actually seen my Sensei use the jodan uke in the fist movement of Gekisai 1 and take down rowdy Marines in bar. You might ask "Jodan Uke? Take down?" Isn't it a block against a head attack? That is where bunkai and oyo come in. It is a very long road from displaying kata to using kata. Now I ask myself, would I be able to do the same thing? Perhaps if I put in the hours that Sensei put in. But, as a weekend warrior? Hmmmm.
I recall  two incidents in Japan that have "influenced" (perhaps exaggerated) my view of martial arts.
      The first incident was a female Nidan who was attacked while hiking and murdered by a homeless. If we were to go by rank alone, then many would wonder why wasn't a karate nidan unable to protect herself?
I ask, what do we expect a Nidan to be able to do? What type of training did she have? Was bunkai and oyou part of her testing requirements? Was stamina and strength part of the testing? Or was it purely recreational?
     Nowadays, it the terms "alive", "reality base" "compliant/non complaint" are used extensively in advertising various schools. I believe that those terms may have some merit, but then my Sensei never used those terms and most of all he was able to apply the kata in actual confrontation. So I am confident that kata practiced wisely is effective, contrary to those who espouse the uselessness of kata training.
       The second incident was when a male reacted to what he thought was a female in distress, kicked the "antagonist" in the head with a jodan mawashigeri and knocked him down. The male subsequently hit his head on the street pavement and died. The "Samaritan" was sentenced to jail on excessive use of force resulting in death charges and spent time in a Japanese jail. Why a jodan mawashigeri to the head? A simple maegeri to the stomach wold have sufficed or even a gedangeri to the thigh. Or even a shitatsuki to the body.
He was a yudansha. What should we expect from a yudansha? Just techniques to knock someone down?
What happened to verbal skills? By the way, the couple was having a quarrel but it was not anywhere near a life threatening argument. 

      That is why need to pursue the path of Budo, the art of stopping conflict and not just the art of knocking someone down. (^^)

    Just some ranting on a rainy day !

Season's Greetings!

MERRY CHRISTMAS  (^^)

Absent from the photo are Hana, Tori, Travis, Benten, Riki , Takeru and Kyle's Dad.

 

 Happy Holidays from the pokemons, mommies, Tamura Sensei, Yachiyo and myself!

 

We hope you all have a Super Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thank you for everyone's  support this year and hope to make 2011 even better and spread the spirit of Jita Kyoei.

押忍！

道というものは、天地自然の道に外ならない。ゆえに人はこの道を行うもであるなら、天を敬うことを目的とすすべきである。天は人も自分も同一に愛給うゆえに、自分を居明日う心をもって人を愛するべきである。人を相手とせず、天を相手として力を尽くし、人を咎めず、自分の誠が足りないことをいつも反省しなければならない。西郷隆盛

Saigō Takamori (Takanaga) (西郷 隆盛(隆永）, January 23, 1828 – September 24, 1877) was one of the most influential samurai living during the late Edo Period and early Meiji Era. Saigo has been dubbed "the last true samurai". His statue stands at the entrance of Ueno Park in Tokyo.

Tony, your first Japanese lesson for 2011! (^^) Take your time. Fufu. 頑張って下さい！I think you may find Saigo's thinking similar to something Western. (^^)

Oh, by the way Take took first in the All Hawaii Tournament this month!

Yes folks. It does snow in Hawaii! (^^)

Snow on top Mauna Kea Observatory.

Yup. Thar u c genuine snow. I' m pretty sure it is as much as you see in New York or Japan.  It takes a while to drive up the volcano to touch the snow. (^^)  I do beleive some folks actually snowboard up there and then drive down to the beach do some surfing!

Tony and all, be careful driving out there! 

Yokohama, if it snows this year or early next year make sure to wear non slip boots! (^^)

The calls to 911 in Tokyo and Yokohama greatly increases when it snows! The folks don't know how to walk in the snow or iced sidewalks!

I dreaded driving up north to Niigata in winter months! Didn't have the driving skills! Gahahahaha. Thank goodness for the bullet train!

Christmas Holiday in New York

Traditions for New York

I will do my best this Christmas season to bring some images of the holiday here in New York. As I sit here, I wonder what I can show Yokohama and even Hawaii that is special about Traditions here in New York. Maybe Traditions don't have to be special...then again if we did lost them....then that might make them special again?

Well here is the first one from me...each year I make a little trip to the wood lot behind my home and collect the pine bows. I bring them home and attempt a Christmas wreath for the front entry to the house...this is the results for this year. The next job is the tree....but first a bit of rest. Oyasuminasai

Question for New York (^^)

What are your Christmas and New Year traditions we can share with Yokohama and Hawaii Dojos?
In Hawaii, due to its multicultural make-up, various Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Philippine, Korea traditions are incorporated into New Year festivities, especially in the food. (^^) Great buffets!

It may seem strange but in Japan.......the following two are inseparable for Christmas.

Strawberry Shortcake (^^)

Yup! A barrel of Colonel's finest!

Why? I have no idea! I recall that on Christmas Eve, all the Daddies would pick up a Cake to take home.
In Japan, Christmas is not a national holiday so everyone works the Eve and Christmas Day. As long as I can remember (from 1950's when I was a kid) the strawberry shortcake was a given for Xmas. A really big treat back then! If you can imagine a country that was rebuilding from a devastating war, a simple cake was a super treat for the kids. 
I do not know when KFC got into the act. It is now synonymous with Christmas. I would venture to speculate that perhaps the inability to roast a Turkey or bake a ham may have something to do with it.
American size ovens are still are rarity in average Japanese homes.
Yokohama, can you explain this phenomena for us? (^^)

New York Shinsa Today....

Mechanicville Dojo Kyu Shinsa December 11 2010.

Kyu Shinsa today for five Mechanicville Kesshin-kai students. I am hoping to save some short videos of the day. I also have some stills of the video does not make it though on the blog. This part of Shinsa was under the direction of Sensei Pat Martone. Today we had one member from each of our kyu ranks up to San Kyu. I wish I had the video running durning my Ido Kihon section of the test....I used much of Ookoshi, Sempai's Ido that you sent me in the DVD. By the way Roushiichi, you are becoming a expert with the video editing. I think that DVD will be a treasure for Sempai and his family back in Yokohama. Great work!!!

I also enjoyed Kumura Dojo's 2010 New Letter. I like you Roushiichi, am so fortunate to continue my karate journey. Arigato Gozaimasu to you Roushiichi for our wisdom, friendship, understand, and constant challenges to better myself on this way. To Shihandai William for my Nihongo Lessons. To Take, Sensei thank you to my introduction to AAU Karate, and a new understanding of kata. Mahalo to all. Seems Yachi, Sensei has been promoted in and out of karate. Congratulations on the Sales Woman of the Year, and your Hachi Kyu from Lowe Shihan's dojo. I also thank you for modeling kihon and oyo for my in all the DVD's. Mele Kalikimaka to you all!!

The second video is from the keri Ido today, I enjoy watching and looking for areas that I and the students of Mechanicville can improve on, so comments are welcomed.

Ido kihon II

I am not sure that the longer kata video will post. I missed the opening to Pinan sono ichi today, but I am sure you will be able to fill in the previous movements. I note of interest, we do not use migi tettsui kome kami. I have never seen any other dojo, use Shuto as we do here. I just got off the phone with my, Sensei Dan Sisto and we were taking about change to kata. We may be getting a group to review all the change and variation that have made their way into kata. It has not been lost on me the discussions we had on the kanji of kata, maybe its just a but more malleable "shape or form that cuts our earth" in New York (^^). Time will tell here in New York. I will close now Jen and I would like to tree decorate tonight. I have to be honest Roushiiichi, the woman of bootcamp took it out of me today ( I think, I twisted wrong, my right rib cage is very sore....I know I should be more careful.....I still learning about "old".

Pinan Sono Ichi

Sphagetti anyone?? (^^)

I just had to share this scene from one of my favorite movies, "Tanpopo" directed by Itami Juzo


Here's the link if embedding fails..... (**;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z__PZq_aiQU
Now lets see how to eat Ramen (Chinese noodles)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XyoAZFREnY

Now my favorite scene. This reminds me of the countless functions I attended during my career in Japan. (^^)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcMaZLiqVpI
I sort of wonder if we teach karate the same way.....Gahahaha
Have a wonderful day!

おせち料理 Osechi Ryori

Osechi Ryori

Did you know that in the "old days" there was no cooking done during the first three days of New Years?
So many housewives were busy at the end of the year cooking up Osechi Ryori in preparation for New Year. Of  course now you can order it at the local 7-11. (^^)
The ingredients used in Osechi actually have meaning. A quick run down follows.

Sato Imo (taro): fertility as many baby taros grom from one seed potato

Renkon (Lotus roots): hole in the root = ability to see the future

Gobo (burdock): as it grows straight in the soil = steadfastness

Ebi (lobster/prawm/shrimp): the bent back like the eldery = long life

Kohaku namasu (pickled white radish and carrots in strips) : festive red/white gift wrappings

Kuro Mame (black beans) : a wish to work in good health

Kazunoko (Herring roe) : fertility and prosperity

Tazukuri (Fried Sardine) : Wish for rich harvest as sardines were used as fertilizer

Kohaku Kamaboko (red/white fish paste cake) : red/white = auspicious colors

Datemaki ( rolled fish paste omelet): wish to improve knowledge and culture. Date also means flamboyant.
                                                       Maki = scroll

Kuri Kinton (chestnuts in sweet potatoe paste) : prosperity from the golden color of the dish

Konbu Maki (kelp rolls) : to be happy Konbu = kobu as in Yorokobu (to be happy)

Takenoko (Banboo shoots) : endurance and flexibility

Tai (Red Sanpper) ; fish used for all auspicious celebrations.

I sure miss the smell of cooking at the end of the year! Of course, I snuck a few bites while grandna wasn't looking! (^^)  Now if folks would stop going to MMA fights in New Year Eve and spend qaulity timw with family at home!

Tradtionally the Ameyoko in Ueno is packed with folks buying the ingredients for Osechi. The Ameyoko
(short for American Alley) was originally a blackmarket area for US goods illegally obtained from Occupation Forces right after World War Two. It then developed into a shoppong area for very cheap goods ranging form food to clothes. The National Museum of Art is close by as well as Ueno Park which is aslo famous for Cherry Blossom Viewing in the Spring. Lots of sake and shiochu flows throughout the day!
The local police is kept quite busy as well. (^^)

Entrance to Ameyko

Shopping fo goodies!

What kind of New Year traditions do you have in New York?

More entertainment from Japan for a lazy weekend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IymzIP6eOo4

Some one please translate........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHCmZt1ZwBY

Only in Japan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SzQF5oBCmw

You can feel the spirit and energy from these ladies.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNU02ySnSVQ
 
My current  favorite song. Just joking (^^)  The real version follows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVC6Xc2va8s

A lot better I think (^^)

Enjoy your Sunday!

Karate and Music

Please enjoy some modern music played with traditional Japanese instruments.
Kumite with such BGM would cetainly be fun!
Just in case the embedding was a no go here's the link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83pvYlCsWxg
Lyrico, the drummer has a solid Zenkutsu and Shikodachi! 基本だね！
I can imagine how much Kihon these two had to master to produce such great music!

Tsugaru Shamisen

Taiko (Japanese drums)

Karate has no borders, it is shared with the same spirit throughout the world.  I feel that music is the same. Music has no borders, it shares the same spirit. If we could all have the same spirit and feeling of mutual happiness and joy from each other the world would be a better place.
Please enjoy Celtic musicv played by a group of lovely Chinese ladies with traditional Chinese musical instruments.  Yes, I admit, my eyes focused first before my ears! (^^)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8K7wKyYVHc

Another beautiful day in Hawaii. Listening to the music has energized me for the day. Looking  forward to my Pokemons this afternoon. Fufu, A different kind of music. Jita Kyoei, I get a lot from my Pokemons!
**For any first time reader, Pokemon refers to my kids in the karate class! (^^)** All sorts of characters!