ええええええええ！！！！！大変だ！！！！！！ＯＭＧ！！！！

ええええええ！ななななんにー！

Whaaaaaaaaaat? OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!

本当にー？

FOR REAL???

Tony and Jennifer got MARRIED TODAY!!!!

トニー先生とジェニファーが今日結婚しました！

おめでとうございます！

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Update On Wristbands

Photo from the Times Union Newspaper here in Albany. My friend and her fellow Japanese lecturers who teach Japanese language, Kyoko Mono Ullrich, (in red). Mono, Sensei, and her fellow lectures hold some of the 2000 wristbands, at the time of the article, we had raised $2000
for Japanese earthquake relief. You may remember seeing the wristbands that they're holding. The article ran in the local paper Tuesday April 12, 2011 in Albany, NY. (Philip Kamrass/ Times Union ). Thank you to all in the Mechanicville Dojo who helped by buying or selling the wristbands. Our total as of the writing of this post, was close to $6000.

Music Karate?

Hmmmm. What can I say? ううん。なんと言いましょうか？
Just enjoy. まー楽しんでください。
Put aside any debates of Budo. 武道うんぬんは置いといて。
I believe Japan and Korea are behind USA and Europe in incorporating music into their arts. Much of what I have seen here in the States is more gymnastics with kicks and punches added.(^^)
日本と韓国は米国と欧州と比べ、音楽を取り入れるのが遅いと思う。米国で見た限りは床体操に突きと蹴りを着けて印象が強い。





空手の創始者の大先生方は思ったのだろう。（＾＾）
I cannot help but wonder what the fathers of our arts would think?

Comparative Study of Tsuki. A punch is a punch is a punch?????

Let's take a look at basic punching techinques. Today I have picked Japanese Kenpo, Shorinji Kenpo. Wing Chun and JKA karate styles of punching. Note that all the Kenpo styles punch with the vertical fist compared to the horizontal fist of JKA.


This is the mainstream Shorinji Kenpo as known in Japan. It is interesting to note that they do not emphasize "Hikite" as in Karate Basics.


Nippon Kempo is another major style of Kenpo in Japan. From its inception, utilization of body armor and face mask (similar to Kendo), throws, joint locks along with kicks and punches were incorporated into its style.


What more can I say of this style? (^^) Karate as most people know it!


Bruce Lee's original martial art, Wing Chun. The vertical fist is also their basic punch just as in Shorinji Kenpo and Nippon Kenpo.


My good friend Fukushima Shihan's kids practicing their basic punches. Fukushima Shihan is formerly a Shorinji Kenpo instructor. We worked together when he was in the Japanese Coast Guard. Notice the hip movement and weight shift in his punches.


Of course we should look at boxing! (^^) Interesting to note that in this video the fist is corkscrewed more than in a karate tsuki. The foot stance is "somewhat" similar to Seisan dachi (some call it Hangetsu dachi). When executing the right cross the stance looks like an shortened zenkutsu, albeit with the rear heel up. This advice of pulling the shoulder back when doing the cross (gyaku tsuki) reminds me of Hikite. (^^)
     Now how do we punch when it comes to competition? Do we punch according to our Kihon? (^^) That is one topic I always ask myself when teaching. Kihon is important, no doubt. But when we spar we don't really punch with what is taught as Kihon. There is no hikite true to kihon. Yakusoku Kumite, yes we still have hikite in basic form. In Point sparring (WKF style) the hikite is emphasized more for show than for its impact. In full contact do to the continuous attack, we rarely use hikite, at most when sweeping the opponent to the ground and making a "pose" to claim a point. So is t better to teach kumite dachi and punches from kumite dachi as Kihon and shed the traditional sanchin dachi in position kihon? (^^) Just food for thought on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

A nice and lazy Sunday morning.

Time to chill out (^^)　ノンビリと行こうぜ。

　　It's a beautiful Sunday here in Hawaii! Blue skies, a slight breeze, no commuter traffic noise or dropping off of kids at the nearby schools. (^^) A time to relax, perhaps read a book or sit poolside and get a tan. Of course I am sure that those scheduled to compete in the AAU Nationals are already doing their dashes and other "stuff". Well, it takes commitment to compete. Oh well that's a topic I won't discuss this morning. It is too goods a morning to start a debate. Junin Jushoku. 十人十色。

　　清清しいハワイの日曜日。青い空、そよ風、通勤の車の雑音なし、近くの学校の登校の雑音無し　（＾＾）リラックスする一時、読書でもまたはプールサイドで日光浴。ＡＡＵ全米大会の出る選手は多分すでに走りこみやら何やらしているだろう。まー試合に出るって事はそれなりの傾注でやらないと。まーその課題に置いていこう。討論を始めるには勿体無い朝だし。十人十色。

　　I have been reading Ushiro Sensei's book " Karate and Ki" an extremely interesting read.  In it he writes "The ultimate goal of martial arts shugyo is kakugo (resolve). This is the spirit of not starting war and the commitment not to let others start one." How does one do that through Budo, a martial art that teaches home to maim and kill people? Is that the difference between Bujutsu and Budo? Or is there a difference?

I guess I think about those things while enjoying my lazy Sunday. (^^)Hmmm I feel like eating some good pancakes with lots of butter and syrup. I think it will be good for my Gikkuri Goshi!

      宇城先生の「空手と気」を読んでいる。とても興味深い本でせう。その中で”武道の修行の目標は覚悟である。戦争を始めない心そして他に戦争を始めさせない信念。」注意：英語文を翻訳してので、原本は多分違っていると思うが、ご了承願います。(**:)

どの様に人を怪我させたり、殺したりする術を教える武道を通してそができるのだろうか？武術と武道にう違いがあるのだろうか？まーそんな事を考えてゆっくり今日を過ごすかな？

　　うううう。でもバターとシロップたっぷりの美味しいパンケーキが食べたい気もする。多分ギックリ腰に良いかも。

いいねー。平和は。人間は物に集中過ぎるよー

Ahhh- Peace is nice. Humans concentrate too much on having things.

Pancakes are calling me!!!!

早くおいでー

ふふ。食べてきた！（＾＾）美味しかった！

JUMP!

     Just back from watching the Korean Martial Arts Comedy performance. (^^)
Haven't laughed sooooo much in years! Amazingly there is no dialogue just action!
The skills of the performers was absolutely amazing.
I hope everyone gets a chance to see it one day. 90 minutes of non-stop action and laughter.

A must see performance!

Comparative Study of Maegeri

Aloha Everyone! (^^) Thank goodness for You Tube. Thought it would be interesting to compare basic techniques of various martial arts. Start off with the simple (??) front kick or maegeri. Each art has its theory for its waza. Depending on what you practice it may make sense or not make sense. But the important thing is in trying to understand the theory. It may or may not be something you can use to improve your own front kick. Have fun!

Please note the slight variations in the chambering of the knee, use of the supporting leg and hip joints in the four styles.

I think this is a good way to develop your legs! Slow is also painful.....(**#)


Of course let's not leave out the Kyokushin or full contact method (^^)