Hmmm. Bruce Lee and Kahil Gibran thought the same?

 I was reading through Bruce Lee's "Striking Thoughts". On the topic of teaching he writes, " A teacher, a good teacher that is, functions as a pointer to truth, but not as a giver of truth....."
ブルースリーの「Striking Thoughts」を読んでた。教えることについて彼はこうのように書いた“先生、良い先生は、真実に向ける役割がある、真実を与えるのではなく。。”
(**?) Hmmmm, I read a similar thought somewhere else.....Ahhhh. (^^)

Kahil Gibran's "The Prophet". In it Gibran writes, "If he is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind" Two different minds, different eras, one a martial artist, the other a poet. Both philosophers . Both with the same message. Interesting.

ううう、何所か同じ発想を読んだ気が。。。そうだ、カヒリル　ギブランの”The Prophet"だ。その中でギブランは書く“彼が本当に知的なら知恵の家には誘わない、そうでなく自分の思考の入り口に誘導する”実に興味深い。二つの思考、違い時代、一人は武芸者、もう一人は詩人。二人とも哲学者。同じメッセージを送っている。

Teaching, I feel, is an art and discipline in itself. Those of you that are educators may relate to this.

It is art/skill form because you need to work with various types of students in heading towards the same goal (Budo). The art of being able to mold your teaching so that all the students can get the maximum benefit from learning. Now in class, you cannot cater to each and every student one on one as that would amount to chaos.  (^^).  You need to nurture the students' desire to learn, then the rest is easy (well, not that easy). It takes discipline to teach a class full of kids ranging from 5 years old to 12 years old.
教えることは芸と修養だとおもう。先生である人は共感すると思う。いろんな違った生徒を同じ方向に向かわせるのは芸である。自分の教え方をいかに生徒全員が最高に学べるようにしなければならない。クラスでが生徒一人一人に気を配ったらもう大変な状態になる。生徒が学ぶ意思を育てれば後は簡単である。５歳から１２歳のクラスを教えるには相当ば修養が必要である。

Think if you will, the Terakoya 寺小屋 where the local samurai or priest would teach  children of all ages in one room. Or, perhaps in the old days of "The Little School House on the Prairie". Attention level and interest changes by age (my opinion) and to be able to get all of them to focus on one art, whether it be karate, flower arrangement, Zumba is no easy task. It is often said, "Two hours of preparation for one hour of instruction". Hmmm, with classes ranging from pre-school to sixth grade, that is quite a demand!
寺小屋を思い浮かべてほしい。地元の侍またはお坊さんが一部屋で年齢がまちまちの子供達を教えた。又は「荒野の小さな学校」。年齢によって集中力や興味に違いがある、それを空手であろうと、花活けだろうと、ズンバであろうと、一つにまとめるの至難の技としか言えない。ううう。保育園児から小学校６年と成ると大変だ。

Teaching karate is no different. It is not a matter of showing up and start punching and kicking. There has to be a curriculum in which one lesson serves as a spring board to another.
空手も同じだる。だた集まって突いたり、蹴ったりだでは済まない。ひとつの稽古が次の稽古に繋ななければならない。
Yes, Kihon does not change but any change in presentation and application requires planning.
基本は変わらないが、応用と教え方には準備が必要である。
With an one hour class, we need to maximize the use of the time. With Kyokushin based kihon that is easily 30-45 minutes! Perhaps with the firm belief that Kihon is the foundation, that may not be too much of concern to some teachers. But then again, when you need to practice the applications of kihon.....is there enough time to have the students grasp the concept? Naturally you keep on reinforcing the application through follow-up lessons.
一時間の稽古となればもっともな有効な時間と使い方が強いられる。極真系にお基本だと簡単に30－４５分は掛かる。基本が大事と発想から観れば大したことではないだろうが。でも基本の応用なを生徒が理解できるのに時間が足りるだろうか。まー継続の稽古で強化するしかない。
That is why I am not a strong proponent of seminars, especially "self defense" seminars. At best,  you may grasp the concept, but then you need to be able to follow-up back in your own Dojo. The only problem with that is you often do this with no guidance. After all, you most likely attend seminars because you can't receive the instruction in your own Dojo. Upon return, the seminar attendee now becomes the instructor, if you will. Has he mastered the topic at the seminar? Whether it was one hour or all day makes no difference. Just for simplicity sake, I hold a seminar on "How to fall safely" using basic Judo ukemi (break falls) Do you really expect anyone to be able to master ukemi in one such seminar. Yes, attendees will understand the concepts but to master ukemi takes time and it is foolish to think that an attendee has "mastered" ukemi well enough to go back and share it with his Dojo. (^^)
だから自分は護身術セミナーとかは好まない。良くしても、そのようなセミナーではコンセプットしな学べない。あとは自分の道場に戻り予習するしかない。だが問題はちゃんとした指導の下ではないのが現実。そもそも、自分の道場で学べないからそのようなセミナーに参加するのでは？セミナーから戻った受講生が道場で指導員の立場になる。だがセミナー一時間だろと一日であろうと本当に愛用をマスターできたのだろうか？簡単な例を書けば、自分が柔道の受身技で“安全な転び方”セミナーを開くとする。そのようなせっみなーで実際に受講生が受身をマスターできると思うか？
受講生は受身のコンセプットを把握できるだおるが完全に受身が撮れると思うのは間違えである。ましてそれを道場に戻って教えるとなると。

When you think you have it rough

We all get frustrated at times when we just can't seem to get something right. Be it a section of a kata or just in kumite. Can't nail down the deep squat and shuto mawashi uke without losing balance.
Can't shift quick enough to avoid a maegeri.
時折、何かが上手くいかずイライラする時がある。型の一部分にしろ、組手にしろ。深くしゃがんで回し手刀受けをバランスを崩さずに出来ない。前蹴りを素早く裁けない。
Well, when I get those "days", I "kick my own butt" watching performances such as above. The true spirit of "Osu!"  So when you feel down, remember there are many out there that are in far less advantageous situations but are not held back.
そんな日が有ると、上記のビデオを見て自分に“活”を入れる。本当の押忍の精神である。落ち込んだ時他に沢山自分より恵まれない状態に関わらず頑張っている人が沢山いる事を思い出してもらいたい。

Another inspirational video to get me going when I falter with the myriad of excuses. Too little time. I'm not as young as before. Been busy. On and on.
Excuses are easy, to perservere is the true spirit of Budo.
言い訳が多くなって来た時下記のヴィデオをも見て気を入れなおす。時間が無い、もう若くないのだ、忙しいとたかの言い訳。言い訳は簡単。忍んで耐えるは真の武道精神である。



(^^) Can you tell that it has been one of those days for me? OSU!
今日がそんな日であったって分かります？押忍！

婚約おめでとうございまーす！（＾＾）

TONY SENSEI AND JEN ARE OFFICIALLY

ENGAGED !!!!!

トニー先生とジェンが正式に婚約しました！！！

おめでとうございます！CONGRATULATIONS!

Report from Yokohama Dojo (^^)/

Japan's School Lunch! Yummy, yummy!

Harako Mama of Yokohama Dojo has submitted a report on Japan's School Lunch System to share with the members of the Hawaii Dojo and Kesshinkai Dojo. I hope that you all enjoy it! (^^) I did a quick translation and hopefully it is pretty much accurate. Thank you Harako Mama for the report!
The Harako family is very active in the Yokohama Dojo. Not only Harako Mama, but Harako Papa and their two sons practice together. Harako Mama is not onlyh active in Karate but numerous community and volunteer activities. She is also a member of the local "Indiaca(?)", a type of volleyball game developed by Germany. She is also the member of Yokohama Dojo's cutter boat racing team.
Well here is the report.

学校給食レポートfrom JAPAN
Report on School Meals from Japan
ハワイとニューヨークのみなさま　こんにちは。☆Hey!ヽ('ｰ'#)/ Hello!☆
今日は日本の子どもたちのランチタイムの様子をご紹介しますね。
Hey! Hello y’all in Hawaii and New York. Today I will introduce the lunch time of Japanese children..
日本の小学校には「給食」という制度があり、
ランチタイムは、学校で作られた給食を教室でクラスメイト全員で食べます。
学校の先生たちも、同じものを食べます。
There is a “Kyushoku System” in Japanese Elementary Schools. Lunch which is prepared at school eaten in the classrooms by everyone, including the teachers. The teachers eat the same meals as the students.
毎月のメニュー表は各家庭にも配られ、
材料や一食あたりのカロリーとたんぱく量がきちんと記載されていて
１年生から６年生までの全学年、メニューは同じですが、量は発育に応じて３段階に増えていきます。
A menu is distributed to families every month. Included in the menu are the ingredients, calorie per meal and amount of protein. The menu is the same for First grade through Sixth Grade, but the amount of the meal is adjusted in proportion to the children’s growth in three levels.
アレルギーのある子どもには、アレルゲンを除いた別メニューが用意されているという
細やかな配慮もきちんと行き届いています。
A separate menu which leaves out allergens are made for children with allergies, such minute details are taken for those children.
これは親にとってもありがたいことで
年に何回か、遠足などの校外活動の日はお弁当を作ることもありますが
仕事に行く前の忙しい朝、毎日お弁当を作ることなく
おいしくて栄養の偏りのないお昼ご飯をわが子に食べさせられることは何よりも安心できます。
This is a thankful thing for parents. There are several occasions in which lunches are made by parents for excursions, but it is great not to have to make a lunch during busy mornings before going to work, knowing that the child will be eating a nutritious meal at school.
給食の始まりは約１２０年以上も前。
貧困のため、学校にお昼ご飯を持ってこられない子どもたちのために、
おにぎりと焼き魚などの食事を提供したのが始まりとされています。
第二次世界大戦で一度は途絶えた給食でしたが
アメリカなどの救援を得て再開され、現在に至るそうです。
Kyushoku started almost 120 years ago. Due to poverty there were children who could not bring lunch to school.
For those children onigiri (rice balls) and broiled fish were provided. Although school lunches were stopped during the Second World War, with the United States assistance the system was revived and continues to this day.
ハワイとニューヨークの子どもたちに、日本の給食を紹介したいとのリチャード師範からのお話しを受けさっそく、拳心塾横浜道場の子どもたちが通う小学校へ取材のお願いに行くと
「プライバシーの問題もあるので、顔写真には配慮してください」という条件付で
快く撮影を許可してくださいました。
After receiving Shihan Richard’s request to introduce Japan’s Kyushoku to the children of Hawaii and New York,　I quickly approached the elementary school which Yokohama Kenshinjuku children attend. With the stipulation that face photos were not taken due to privacy concerns, the school approved of taking photos.
管理栄養士の指導のもと、きちんとカロリー計算された食事は和食、洋食、中華料理とメニューも豊富なので、その日によって主食はお米、パン、麺とさまざまです。
Under the supervision of a Nutritionist, with calories measured, a varied menu of Japanese, Western and Chinese meals are prepared. Depending on the day, bread, rice or noodles are provided as staples.
ある週のメニューをご紹介します。
I will introduce a week ‘s menu.

(月曜) Monday
☆ぶどうパン Bread w/grapes
☆ツナと野菜のスパゲッティ Tuna and vegetable spaghetti
☆ミックスビーンズサラダ Mixed Beans Salad
☆牛乳 Milk

(火曜) Tuesday
ご飯 Barley Rice
☆イワシのかば焼き Broiled Sardine
☆ひじきの炒め煮 Braised Seaweed
☆お味噌汁 Miso Bean Soup
☆牛乳 Milk

(水曜) Wednesday
☆胚芽ごはん Multigrain Rice
☆ビビンバ Bibinba (Korean Vegetable Dish with meat)
☆わかめスープ Seaweed Soup

写真②挿入







(木曜) Thursday
☆ご飯 Rice (white)
☆チリコンカン Chili Con Carne
☆海草サラダ Seaweed Salad
☆ドライプルーン Dried Prune
☆牛乳 Milk

(金曜) Friday
☆ロールパン Rolls
☆ししゃもフライ Fried Capelin (fish)
☆ボイルドキャベツ Boiled Cabbage
☆人参ポタージュ Carrot Potage Soup
☆牛乳 Milk

と、こんな感じ。色は少し地味ですが、とってもおいしいですよ～♪(＾ー＾)
The Food color may seem dull but it’s very delicious!
４時間目の授業が終わると、子どもたちは白衣、帽子、マスクを身につけ
石鹸で手をきれいに洗い、給食室にクラス全員分の食事をもらいに行きます。
盛り付けも自分たちで頑張ります。
After the Fourth Period is over, the children put on white gowns, caps and face mask, wash their hands thoroughly and proceed to the kitchen to pick up the entire class’s meal. The serving is also done by the children themselves.



Serving lunch in their classroom.



Off to get our lunch!


食前は「いただきます」、食後は「ごちそうさまでした」のご挨拶。
自然の恵みと、作ってくださったかたたちへ感謝をこめて手を合わせます。
Prior to eating they all say “Itadakimasu” and after finishing they say “Gochiso sama deshita”
They put their hands together to show appreciation to the nature’s bounty and to those who made the meals.

"Itadakimasu" "Gochisosama"

取材はいつでもどうぞ！と許可をいただいたあと、
日にちを連絡していなかった突然の訪問にもかかわらず、
なんと私の分まで用意してくださっていて子どもたちと一緒に給食をいただいてきました♪
After receiving permission to make the report anytime and in spite the fact I had gone without setting a date, they provided me with a meal so I could eat with the children.
教室中にあふれるにぎやかなおしゃべりと笑い声、
おいしい笑顔に包まれた楽しい給食の時間はあっという間に過ぎました。
Laughter and conversation filled the classroom. An enjoyable lunch time surrounded by smiling faces quickly passed by.
食後はみんなで後片付けをします。
空になった食器類を給食室へ返すときも大きな声で「ごちそうさまでした！」を言い
牛乳パックは開いて洗い、リサイクルへ。
After the meal everyone helps clean up.
Empty dishes and utensils are taken back to the kitchen and in a loud voice say “Gochisosama deshita!”
The milk cartons are opened up, washed and recycled.




Recycling milk cartons!

 このように日本の学校では、「給食」は単なる「食べること」としてだけではなく
[教育活動の一環」として、きちんと位置づけられています。
ハワイやニューヨークの子どもたちは、どんなランチタイムを過ごしていますか？
As you may have noted, in Japan’s schools “school lunch” is not merely about “eating”. It is part of education and is an integral part of it.
How do children in New York and Hawaii have their lunch time?
―以上、レポートは横浜道場の原子(HARAKO)でした　(^-^)ﾉﾞー
Reported by Yokohama Dojo member Harako (mama)
Translated by yours truly, Roushiichi aka Richard



Now it is Hawaii and New York's turn to report! (^^)

My good friend Sensei Naoko Hayashi

My good friend Sensei Naoko Hayashi is currently competing at the World Poomsae (kata in Korean) Championships in Uzbekistan this week. She, like Tamura Sensei has in the U.S. AAUs, has won gold medals in Japan and in International tournaments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=272yjMYR_uM
I couldn't get this to embed into the blog.
Sensei Hayashi teaches in Tokyo and Yokohama. Some of my senior males at Yokohama attend her classes as well. Of course they go with a "pure heart" and intentions. (^^)
Hope to see her performance on You Tube soon.

Addition: She placed 5th in the Seniors. Otsukaresama deshita!

Different styles of teaching

My dear and good friend in Japan, Fukushima Sensei has a bevy of "champions" with his kids placing high in major Full contact and kick boxing tournaments. His emphasis is on competition and the training reflects this. From 4 years old and up it can be considered that mitt training is their "basics" followed by endless kumite. I cannot recall any of the standard kihon training normally seen in traditional Dojos.
His students do not do any Kata.

Here in Hawaii, my good friend Tamura Sensei also focuses on competition. He himself is a Silver Medalist in the recent AAU nationals. His training program is old style "traditional" of kihon, Ido followed by Kata and Point sparring. The number of techniques are limited. Kumite style is also limited making teaching simplified. His kids also do very well in local tournaments in Kata (an average of 12 tournaments a year based on WKF standards). 

My Dojo? Competition is not emphasized at all. (^^) But we do have a "Fighters" session for the upper grade and adult students for "fun" after regular practice.

Three different styles of teaching.  Full contact/Kick boxing, Point sparring/Kata and no competition training.  (Yokohama does have a competitors session for full contact).
Fukushima Sensei said to me without the competition he probably wouldn't be teaching at all. Seeing his kids do well in competition gives him his "purpose" in teaching karate.
Tamura Sensei feels competition adds incentive and goals to his kids as well as to himself.
Moi? I feel kids have enough pressures growing up and going to school. Why add more? If a kid wants to compete then he/she will have to put in the training.

All three styles of teaching provides self-discipline, self-control as well as better health to supplement the parents efforts in raising their children. As far as discipline is concerned , all three of us believe discipline starts at home and is not something that a child learns solely at the Dojo. Discipline has to work hand in hand between the home and Dojos. Parents and Instructors cannot have different standards of discipline. It only confuses the child and in worst case scenario develops the child into a wily one who at an early age learns to "play the field" or act the role depending on location. I have seen instructors "discipline" children as well as adults with smacks of the shinai (bamboo sword). I guess you could call it the "old style" of forging the spirit. On small mistake and "Thwat!". Yes, it probably gets the students not to make the same mistake. But, on the other hand it may teach a child that physical punishment or the threat of physical punishment will let them "get their way". Is this the mentality that we seek in our children?

.

Smithsonian: Walk though Old Japan

The October 2010 Smithsonian has a wonderful article on The Kiso Road, A Walk Through Old Japan | Travel | Smithsonian Magazine I know you wrote me of your last trip to Yokohama included a nice walk along a old road, that you used for "walking meditation". I was trying to remember if the path was in Kamakura or if I am getting the old roads of Japan confused. The picture is from the Smithsonian.com, I can read the first three kanji

中 nake , 山 sen, 道 do/michi, to me I understand this to be the "inside mountain way". ( I understand these kanji from karate, shuto nake uchi, great mountain from Oyama, Sosai, and path from karate-do.) I am sure Roushiichi, and Willam, Shihandai have much more to teach us (me)...but thought you might like the article. It really made me want to jump the next plane to Japan (Oh MONEY and TIME!!!).