Hayashi Shihan wins the Gold Medal at Korea Open!

Hayashi Shihan

My good friend Hayashi Shihan, Arahan Dojo, recently garnered the Gold Medal in Poomsae (Kata)

competition at the Korea Open! Congratulations! Her students must be proud of her! Osu!

This month has been filled with happy news! First Yokohama Dojo's Shihandai William Fox finished his final examination for his Doctor of Medicine degree while also getting his 6th Dan in Iaido. Next Hayashi Shihan wins the Gold Medal in international competition. 

What more happy news awaits me? Y( ^ ^)Y

Shihandai William passes 6th dan in Iaido

Shihandai William testing for his Renshi in Iaido

Yokohama Dojo Shihandai William successfully passed his Renshi, 6th Dan test in Iaido!

What is inspiring is that he did this in midst of taking his final examination for his Doctor of Medicine Degree! Shihandai William started karate with me when he was in elementary School and I have watched him grow from the "little chubby" kid into a fine gentleman and scholar. He is an inspiration to all our kids in the Dojo. He exemplifies the Spirit of Osu!
Dedication, Perseverance and Self Control.
Not only did he pass this Iaido test he also attained a professional car racing driver license. All while finishing up his sixth year of medical school at Juntendo School of Medicine and completing training at Harvard and Chicago in the United States.

Kimura Dojo is very proud of Shihandai William and encourages all the "Pokemons" to follow his example in their endeavors.

WELL DONE SHIHANDAI!!

OSU!





 



Circuit training (^^)

The class is getting quite large and increasing difficult to teach effectively all my self. It isn't too bad when Yachiyo is able to assist but her presence is dictated by her work, She couldn't make it to practice today. A full class is 31 kids and adults. Today three were absent. We do our sonoba kihon in a circle so I can see everyone and input in my mind what needs to be corrected. But there needs to be a venue to be able to go one on one so that the corrections can be effectively conveyed.
Thus, the circuit system.  The adults are coming along fine and several are capable of helping the Pokemons (kids). It offers the opportunity to check their own kihon and also start learning the basics of sharing their knowledge with kids. Teaching exposes them to their own weaknesses. Jita Kyoei, together we flourish, a win/win situation.
I've uploaded some parts of the practice tonight. Once I edit more, hopefully I an upload more scenes. Some are funny to say the least.  There were five posts today; front kick led by Michael; Seiken Ago Tsuki led by Yukari; Seiken Chudan Tsuki led by Yukiko; Jodan Uke led by Hiroshi.  All five are parents of kids in the class.

Kids always enjoy having someone different teach them. A break from grouchy Sensei!
Gahahahaha. The adults got a taste of the challenges of leading the kids! Y(^^)Y

 

3 and 4 yrs olds are always fun to watch and a challenge to teach! (^^)

Asa Ren 朝練 Sunday morning pratice (^^)

Aloha and Good Morning All! Y(^^)Y
When I was in Yokohama we used to have Sunday morning practices at the Negishi Shinrin Park.
It was a good way to refresh the mind and body as well as review our Kihon, Kata and Goshinjutu.
I have revived it in Hawaii as well at the Makiki District Park. No Cherry Blossoms like in Yokohama but the park has a nice open space to work out in. The morning sun feels just as good as it felt in  Yokohama. (^^) Of course there is only one sun. Gahahahaha
Asa Ren is done as I feel like it. No set menu. Just a time for refreshing my mind and body.
Some shots from this morning's session. The good thing about kata is that you can do it in anyway which suits you at that time. There are days when I do it hard and other days soft. The breathing (Kokyu) can be adjusted as well. The important thing is it makes you feel good.

Have a good week y'all!
Osu from Hawaii.

2012 Evaluation at Makiki Dojo, Honolulu

This past Saturday and today, Monday, Makiki Dojo had its annual evaluation. The evaluation format is not the typical format in which students wait for their turns and perform in front of the instructors. The evaluation is conducted in the usual practice format. I have my reasons for this and will everything there are pros and cons. Junin Toiro, Ten people. ten colors.
I felt that using a standard evaluation format does not necessarily reflect the "true" student. I observe them throughout the year and so I have a definite and clear idea what they need to work on. Some are capable of miraculously "shape up" on the day of the evaluation, but returns to the true self afterwards. (^^) So to me, the eval becomes just a "show" with no substance.
Sure enough. students will exhibit the same behaviors when placed in the usual practice format, despite knowing it is an evaluation. Old habits don't die???
One of the many parts of the eval is leadership. Senpais are assigned Kouhais and instructed to help them with some kihon waza. It is a good way to observe the quality of their wazas, but more important whether they exhibit the proper attitude and willingness to help their kouhais. In addition they also experience the challenges of having to "teach". Gahahahaha It is always easier to follow than lead.

Just thinking out loud ( ^ ^ )

     Thursday is a no cook day so I find a lot of time on my hands, which can be good or bad. Naturally I tend to lean towards Budo related matters. Or, go on a nice hike with my Nikon in hand. ( ^ ^ ).
I was recently "poked" into some thinking with regard to Full Contact kumite which is part of my karate. The Goju I learned on Okinawa and Kyokushin both had hard contact. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of Dojos, that may not fit the category of Full Contact style, but never the less kumite is hard contact. Perhaps it's the image of Full Contact that has those Dojos not take on the label of being a Full Contact style Dojo. (^^). Well that is not the topic I want to write about. Sorry for the diversion.
      I am getting "old". 62 years old in couple of months. I love my style of Karate and the contact in kumite. I believe it keeps me honest about my mental and physical self. However, since returning to Hawaii (five years have now passed) , I have not done any hard kumite. Mainly because  I have no one to kumite with.  A lot of Pokemons, yes, and I love them dearly  but they are not kumite partner material naturally.  If Da Boss trained 6 days a week then I would have some kumite time. But, alas, she cannot, due to her work and more than likely, she would hurt herself in kumite. Don't get me wrong, she has taken her lumps along the way. Concussion, fractures, major bruising. I guarantee she is one tough lady mentally and physically.  But I think the days of hard kumite is pau (finished in Hawaiian) for her and perhaps for me.  We can continue to do kata and yakusoku kumite (a big difference from jiyu hard contact kumite)
      Never the less. I still have the itch to do some serious hard contact kumite. Alas, I have been out of any serious kumite for the past 5 years. This year when in Japan, I did some kumite with Shihandai.......it was shocking to experience what 5 years absence can do.  Gahahahahaha. It took a while for my engine to warm up and start but more like an clogged up engine such spewing smoke and no power. I miss the kumite, but I also question myself if it necessary at this time in my life. All  my  instructors were young (under 50's) and in their prime and got on the  mat.  Then again at one Dojo, the head was in his 60's, he would observe the training, make comments and explain but in a controlled setting, but  I never saw him doing jiyu Gahahahahaha nor do I expect him to (now that I think I have gotten a little wiser).
     I believe that there is a major difference in yakusoku and jiyu kumite. Yakusoku is prearranged so you know what course an attack is coming so ou have ample time to react. I jiyu kumite, there are no forewarning. It is often said you build up your skills with yakusoku and then apply them to jiyu kumite. Then there is no contact jiyu kumite and hard contact jiyu kumite, head shots and no head shots. Skills get rusty when not continuously practiced. Kata is a fine tool for training, but it cannot replace the hard contact.  Some days it gets frustrating not to be able to enjoy full contact kumite.
      At least I know there is no real "end" to my shugyo. So perhaps it is best to accept my current situation and just keep going and see where my shugyo takes me.
       Thanks for putting up with my rambling of a geezer dreaming of remaining young!

OSU!

CONGRATULATIONS YACHIYO SENSEI! Y(^^)Y

Yachiyo with her Division Manager at the awards party.

Last night "Da Boss" aka Yachiyo "Sensei" was awarded three Top Representative trophies for her outstanding performance in the second quarter for 2012. 

She is proof that anything is possible with the proper determination, drive and perseverance. It was not that long ago (I need to keep her age secret!) that Yachiyo moved to Hawaii on her own to find a new life. Learning a second language was her first challenge. Her second challenge was to be gainfully employed so that she could support herself in this expensive Hawaii!  I recall her telling me of the days she took naps in her car in between jobs.

I'd like to think that karate helped her overcome the many trials and tribulations she faced along the years. Of course, I would have never met her and end up being married to her if she had not taken up Karate under Aonuma Shihan more than 10 years ago. (^^)

As you all know, sales, especially the time share industry,  is a "cut throat" environment. There really is no "middle ground" to take it easy.  Either you sell or sink. A strong will and mental toughness is required to survive in the industry. 

I think that Yachiyo exemplifies  Oyama Sosai's principle of「頭は低く　目は高く　口慎んで　心広く　孝を原点とし　他を益する。」Carry your head low and your eyes high, be reserved in speech and posses  a kind heart with filial piety as your roots.

Congratulations and Omedetou! OSU! 

"Nothing is possible if you think it is impossible. Nothing is impossible if you think it is possible. Think positive and work hard, and ANYTHING is possible." 

Thomas J. Vilord