Just wanted to welcome all readers to this new way of communicating on our dojo web page. Be sure to check out information about Nisei Week this Saturday and the practice at Shotokan Ohshima Dojo on Sunday. There is going to be a lunch after Sunday’s practice and a little party for Sensei’s 80th birthday.
On Saturday, August 7th, come watch the oldest annual public karate demonstration in the United States. Shotokan Karate of America presents the 54th Annual Nisei Week Karate Exhibition and Tournament.
The event began in 1957 when Mr. Tsutomu Ohshima, a direct student of Master Gichin Funakoshi, gave the first official demonstration of… karate to the American public. Master Funakoshi is known as the “Father of Karate” and is credited with introducing karate to Japan.
The tradition continues yearly as part of the Nisei Week Japanese Festival, a seventy year old celebration of Japanese arts, traditions, games and foods.
2010 marks the 54th Annual Nisei Week Karate Exhibition and Tournament, which will be at the California Institute of Technology’s Braun Gymnasium.
Doors open at 10:30 AM. Admission and parking are both free to the public. For more information visit www.ska.org
The following article was posted on the SKA.org newsletter site.
If kibadachi were a spectator sport, this moment would have had the crowd on their feet roaring. A brown belt had pushed until her legs utterly failed; now she was doubled over, swaying, grimacing with effort, clumsy and faltering like a newborn chick but still on her feet by sheer effort of will, struggling desperately to get her back straight and her head up.
I stepped up to help but a senior told me to let her do it on her own. So I stood transfixed, only an arm’s length away, watching her now dipping toward the floor, now strengthening, until at length she fought her way back into stance, and the battle, against great odds, was won…Read More
You will need the user ID and Password for the SKA website to read the rest of this article.
Brown Belts from Lake Forest Shotokan with Mr. Ohshima
This article originally posted on the SKA.org newsletter website
Practicing in Indianapolis, we are reminded to take advantage of Mr. Ohshima’s practices at the Shotokan Ohshima Dojo whenever we can. I was lucky this year to be in the area around the brown belt practice time. I tried to get to the Dojo early, since this was my first visit. I had to call folks in Indy in the morning to clarify the directions (they had just about finished Saturday’s practice).
Brown Belt Practice at the Shotokan Ohshima Dojo
The people at the Dojo felt like family. The brown belt practice with Mr. Ohshima seemed to fly by quickly. Thanks to Cal, who suggested writing an article about the practice, I wrote down my notes afterward. Mr. Ohshima reminded us about attitude towards our seniors, especially for older brown belts with younger seniors. The reason we practice “not regretting on our life at an older age” is something to think about. We received a heads-up about the changing the attitude around 12th and 20th Special Trainings. Practicing kata every day is a good thing and helps you feel better. Mr. Ohshima mentioned his friend who did 30,000 Bassai before he understood it.
We practiced maegeri: knee just about the toes and move with hips and quick knee motion. This sounds simple, but how many have we already done just to understand such simple advice. Oizuki is very important in Shotokan practice (“it is the Shotokan technique”) and how the foot positions transfer from oizuki to gyakuzuki. We practiced supporting hand (two to three points are stronger than one). Practicing with supporting hand reveals the basis for the right feeling.
I was corrected two times during Bassai (“synchronize the hand movement on the first move”). Of course the “elbow should be in” during the middle block, not at the side. I am glad we could ask questions. I finally settled the “pulling hand during tetsui block in Bassai” question. Fellow brown belts had many good questions…how to breathe when taking a punch…“letting it slide”…how is the weight distributed in the back stance?…you can’t be swept and can’t be pushed…the 3rd-4th kokutsu-dachi is one count in Bassai.
Born in Europe I realize what it means to have multiple homes. We usually go back home to be reminded where we came from. After the weekend at the Shotokan Ohshima Dojo I feel like I have another home to go back to. Thanks to Mr. Ohshima for that.
– Igor Gejdos, Indianapolis
Leader: David Affeld
Location:
Cate School
1960 Cate Mesa Road
Carpinteria, California 93013
Website: www.cate.org
Dates: Wed, 8/18/10 thru Sun, 8/22/10.
Check-in: Wed, 8/18/10, 4:00-9:30pm, next to cafeteria (no meals provided)
Price: $300.00
Deadline: July 30, 2010, late fees apply after deadline Late Fee: $25.00
Make checks payable to: SKA
Mail application and payment to:
Shotokan Karate of America
222 S. Hewitt St., Rm 7
Los Angeles, CA 90012
First Practice: Thur, 8/19/10, Last Practice: Sun, 8/22/10 (ends around
7:30am)
Meals: Thurs thru Sat.-Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Sunday – Breakfast only.
Accommodations: Dormitory room w/bare mattress (no bedding) Each building has card operated washers and dryers.
What to Bring: Toiletries, sleeping bag/sheets, pillow, towel, alarm clock…
Transportation from LAX: www.santabarbaraairbus.com, IHOP-Carpinteria dropoff.
If you have any questions, please contact Frank Lee: flee415@yahoo. com or call (626) 757-1714
