Japan 2102 Y( ^ ^ )Y

Safely arrived in Japan yesterday and thanks to Shihandai William was able to crawl into bed a little past midnight. But alas! My body is on Hawaii time and so after a short restless sleep I woke at 0330 and am now waiting for the Buffet Breakfast to begin at 0600. As some of you may know, one of Shihandai's many hobbies is car racing (the legal kind), so i got to get a ride in a souped up car with fins and all. But  not to worry he is a very careful driver. He had just returned from his studies in the States and was briming with confidence.
Since I couldn't check in at my usual Hostel due to the late night arrival(beats a two hour trip from Narita!) I stayed at a hotel in Chinatown and what a name ! Super Hotel, I really like it, Too bad its not as cheap as the Hostel.

      As I mentioned I've been up since 0330. I decided to take an Asaburo 朝風呂。I haven't soaked Japanese style since retiring and going back to Hawaii. Ahhhhhh, It was sooooo relaxing! Now I need to figure out how to get an Onsen (hot spring) into my schedule. I only have two free days left!
     Another great feature of Japanese hotels are its toilets. The seats are heated (if needed) and your derriere is cleaned with pressurised water that is also temperature and pressure controlled. There are some folks that get addicted to the cleaning! ( ^ ^ )

I also liked the fact that the front entrance is secured and locked at midnight and you have to remember your room entry code to get in. Gahahahaha Who can remember such a thing when you're out drinking past midnight! Incentive to go to sleep early.

Just back from breakfast at 0630 hours. Whew! Am stuffed! A very decent spread with variety of breads and jams, pastries, salad, two kinds of meat, rice porridge, a large selection of drinks. It's included in the room cost. ( ^ ^ )

The buffet line, very clean and orderly.

The coffee machines with all sorts of choices!

 My first pickings, Egg Salad on toast, yogurt, pork sausage, mini burgers and rice porridge

Rice porridge with pickled veges, seaweed and umeboshi.

Boiled organic egg.Very tasty as is.



Off to Japan

I will be going to Japan on July 3rd to take care of my mother's affairs and to make a report to her parent's grave in Tokyo.
While in Japan I will see many old friends from work and Dojo. I will be very busy. ( ^ ^ ) My nights are rapidly being booked up, Of course I will be conducting classes as well.
The schedule for classes are 7, 8 (Sunday morning) 10, 12 14 and 15 (Sunday morning).
The Kyokushinkan tournament will be held during my stay so  hopefully I can go see it.
Two weeks will go by fast. But then, with the current yen rate, any longer I will be penniless. Gahahaha. I truly miss the days $1.00 was 360 yen.
I hope to post some pics from Japan.
Osu!
Richard

お誕生日おめでとうー！！Y( ^ ^ )Y

Today is Yachiyo Sensei's aka Mrs. Kimura, Da Boss birthday. Her newly acquired age is Top Secret and Not Releasable to the Public. (NRP) She is celebrating her 21st birthday for the ?? time.  The picture was taken at Los Cabos, Mexico during the top sales awards ceremony called the President's Club. Only the top 10 percent are selected to this prestigious group. I got a free trip as baggage holder! Y( ^^ )Y

I hope that Yachiyo will continue to diligently train in Karate and take me on another trip! 

Anyways please wish her a Happy Birthday! OSU! 

今日はやちよ先生異木村夫人、親分の誕生日でした。年齢は極秘扱い、公不出とされています。２１際の誕生日はこれで何回目でしょうか？写真は彼女の会社主催のトップセールス（上の１０％）の表彰パーテイ。メキシコのロスカボスにて。我が輩は鞄持ちで付き添い。

これからも空手稽古の切磋琢磨しまた旅行に連れってくれるのを楽しみにしてまーす。

とにかく誕生日おめでとう！

押忍

Form

 Form 形

My wife recently received a package full of birthday gifts (all edible)  from her older sister in Japan. Aside from the fact that now I cannot conveniently forget her birthday ( - -; ), all the presents looked delectable. Perhaps I will be able to take a nibble or two while she is gone ( ^ ^ ).

Back to my main theme!  One of the packages caught my eye. The original is as you can see, an ordinary package with some printing on it.

Original package

The package actually looked like this ( ^ ^ )

Package in its presentation form.

The package was transformed by merely two cuts on the side. It was then folded into the shape of a collared shirt. I thought it was brilliant! A very unique presentation. 

As my brain is always in and out of the Budo mode, I began thinking of the package as Kata or Form.

Our Senseis and their Senseis have left us the legacy of various Katas. The Katas have, I would dare to say, have changed with the Senseis and their interpretation of it. A little tweak here and there. Interpretation of the Kata's applications also changed depending on the performer's vision of the Kata.

I think that is great! Just like the package, a little thought and vision makes it into a different form.

The original is still there as well.  ( ^ ^ ) and we can always go back to it. 

Bunkai and Oyo is now having a big impact on the Karate world (perhaps more in the Western world)

Discussions and arguments abound in numerous blogs and websites with regard to authenticity, lineage and so forth.  Just as the earth evolves and changes, it is only natural that Kata evolves and changes.

Why waste time arguing? I expect the what I passed on to my Shihandais will eventually change and it will continue to change with their successors. I think that is wonderful. 

OSU!

Farewell at the Sea, June 10, 2102

 The morning started with the completion of the Hawaiian woven basket for transporting the ashes. The  basket was decorated with flowers from members of Yokohama Dojo under Shihandais William and Nagaie  and members of Kesshinkai Dojo of New York under DeMarco Sensei.

 The trip started in shaky grounds with engine trouble. (^^) Not much for us to do but wait!!

 After a quick repair, we were able to head to our destination of off shore Waikiki.

 The weather was perfect and the sea calm as we headed towards Waikiki and Diamond Head.

 Our destination  (^^) You can see the famous Royal Hawaiian Hotel with its pink facade. We are quite far from the shore as the photo was taken with a zoom lens.

 The flower petals following the ashes in the sea.

 The sun was beginning to set as we headed back to the port.

A beautiful ending to a wonderful farewell to my parents. 

A BIG MAHALO to all of you have sent me words of encouragement and support !

押忍！

My dear mother passed away this morning at 0130 hours. She lived her fullest for 85 years and 2 months.
I last spoke with her on Memorial Day. Now she is with my dad watching over me as they have always done. My heartfelt gratitude to my parents for bringing me into this world and giving me their love.

OSU!

June 3, 2012 Sunday 

Picked up my mother's ashes this morning. Now she is next to Father enjoying being at home together and resting until their final journey out to sea. 

My parents wanted their ashes to be claimed by the sea. Dad had to wait awhile for Mom, but now they are together once again. (^^) Ashes scattering arrangements were made for this coming Sunday at Sunset.

The three of us. 1950

June 6, 2012 Wednesday . Beautiful flowers arrived from Yokohama Dojo (^^)

ありがとうございました。押忍！

 June 8, 2012 Flowers from Sensei Tony and members of Kesshinkai Dojo, New York

My parents must be enjoying the lovely flowers surrounding them.

Mahalo to all my Budo friends!

      All things must come to an end. That is a reality that cannot be avoided, delayed perhaps,  but eventually the time will come to say good bye.  This week, my mother was taken to Emergency for complications of pneumonia as well as effects of not being able to eat. Parkinson's Disease has made it difficult for her to swallow anything. She chose not to undergo force feeding via tubes inserted through her nose and into her throat. I am told some patients have to be tied down due to the pain involved. I must abide by her wishes. So for  how long will she will last on IV and Antibiotics? Will she be able to regain enough to swallow and take nourishment. 

     After a discussion with the attending physician, it was decided not to go the force feeding route. So now,  I must concentrate on how to have my mother comfortably pass her time away until the end. I will be in consultation with doctors in the Palliative care. I ma grateful for all the care the care taker has provided for my mother and my deceased father. But now, she may not be able to handle aspects of palliative care. Of course that is just one of several options that needs to be considered. I will have to rely on the doctors for the medical aspects. I will need to concentrate on the mental support not only in relationship with my mother but my own self. That is where all the years of Budo come in. 

       I am grateful for the lessons learned from my Budo instructors and from the teachings of many religious and philosophical  leaders. It is giving me strength when I most need it. I find myself returning to my Budo roots to understand and accept the reality of my mother eventually departing this earth. Things I cannot no longer do for her. Things I should have done for her. It is a time for self reflection and self criticism. 

      For the readers of this blog, I wanted to share this very private matter because it shows that Budo is not merely a "fighting" or "physical" art. We can all "talk' about the mental, moral benefits of pursuing Budo.  But at the end of the day, when faced with certain realities, then do you fully realize whether your Shugyo has been successful.  Budo is not about gaining gold medals and trophies. It is not about defeating an opponent with a Jodan Mawashigeri or Shitazuki. Those are just a small side trips on the your travel along the main road seeking the true purpose of Budo. 

                     

  OSU!