October, 2001 AJA Newsletter
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AJA Newsletter American Ju-Jitsu Association™ News Letter Fall, 2001 ™ EDITORIAL nor can I, or any organization I represent, subsidize any portion of their trip in any form or manner. They are solely Friend or Foe? responsible for paying all of their expenses and providing all of their own transportation, housing, meals, etc., etc., etc. Requests for Invitations Third, I advise them that they will need a driver’s license and By PROF. GEORGE KIRBY 1-2 credit cards (preferably Visa or MasterCard) if they plan When I announce seminars I occasionally get to rent a car (necessary in some locations), stay at some Q: letters or e-mail requesting an “invitation” to hotels or to get cash from a bank. I also advise them that attend a seminar we are hosting. The request for they should have international medical insurance as I cannot an invitation usually comes from individuals outside of the assume any medical expenses they might incur. I will also United States. Sometimes they say that they need the advise them of local costs for hotel, meals, cab fare, other invitation to get their government’s permission to travel modes of transportation, etc., simply as a matter of courtesy abroad or for funding of their trip. Are these requests so that they do not have a “monetary shock” when they legitimate or is there something I should come here and “didn’t bring enough be cautious about? Most of my students do money” or “don’t have sufficient stuff for me quite often funds.” Be cautious! Sometimes the (thank goodness) and I do request is legitimate and I try to do this as professionally as A: not like to impose on them possible for a number of reasons. First, sometimes it can be a come- as a result. on to get you involved in covering a I want to be completely honest with person’s travel expenses (nice — if you can afford it) all the people. I do not mind taking a couple way to a true scam to get money from you. of people out to dinner or chauffeuring them to and from the clinic. However, I have been in a “deep pockets” and First, when I get requests for an “invitation” so someone can “shuttle bus service” position, and I really do not have time attend a seminar, the first thing I ask is, what do they for it or like doing it, especially if I am running a seminar. specifically need it for so I can word it properly. I also ask Also, I will only very rarely ask one of my students if they who the invitation will be presented to (i.e.: which can provide transportation services for a guest. Most of my government agency) so I can address it to that person. students do stuff for me quite often (thank goodness) and I Second, and most important, I inform the person — and do not like to impose on them as a result. include in the invitation — a statement to the effect that the If their request is legitimate, I am giving them information person is responsible for all of their own transportation, they do need and they will provide me the information I need housing, living, entertainment and medical expenses and that to write an appropriate invitation. neither I, or any organization I represent, assume any Please see REQUEST, page 13 financial obligations or responsibilities that the person incurs, Fall 2001 Page 1 AJA Newsletter REGIONAL LOCAL Northern Regional Tournament Ju-Jitsu Students Score Bigtime Event: AJA Northern Region Fall 2001 Tournament In the largest promotional presentation ever, eight students Date: September 22, 2001 from the Budoshin Ju-Jitsu Dojo received promotions to Host: Arlington Budoshin Jujitsu Dojo their next rank on Thursday, August 23, 2001. Testing the Location: Arlington YMCA, Arlington, Virginia eight students took two evenings to complete as each had to meet specific performance requirements for their promotion. Gedan st 1 Linda R. Myer Maru Martial Arts According to George Kirby, head instructor for the program, 2nd Kerstin Nettekoven Arlington 3rd Barbara Keary Arlington normally all of the testing for lower ranking 2-4 students can Chudan, Youth be done in about an hour once every 9-10 weeks. However, 1st Shane Connelly White Marsh nd this is the first time seven of the eight examinees were testing 2 Marisa Levin White Marsh 3rd Sebastian Guy White Marsh for higher grades at the same time. [See Promotions for th Chudan, 6 Kyu information on individual promotions.] Each brown belt test can 1st Toblyn Nishi Arlington 2nd Lawrence Tomek Arlington take half an hour or more to administer. Students must 3rd John J. Reiff Maru Martial Arts demonstrate certain Ju-Jitsu forms and self-defense th Chudan, 5 Kyu techniques at each level, demonstrating a working knowledge 1st James E. Gaul Arlington 2nd Philip Browning Maru Martial Arts of the art. Most students have been members of the dojo for 3rd Vincent Hayes Maru Martial Arts many years. The dojo has been conducting classes through th Chudan, 4 Kyu the city of Santa Clarita Park, Recreation and Community 1st Daniel Gaul Arlington 2nd Chad Kahler White Marsh Services Department since 1996. 3rd Joey Connelly White Marsh Jodan The Budoshin Ju-Jitsu Dojo, a non-profit organization, 1st Robert L. Connolly Arlington conducts its classes on Thursdays, 7-9pm, although it is nd 2 Daniel Orkwis Arlington hoping to expand its program to two nights per week starting 3rd Geoff Sasso Maru Martial Arts Yudanshia in September. [Petco is located at the corner of Newhall 1st Mark Burton White Marsh Ranch Rd. and Bouquet Canyon Rd.] George Kirby, the head nd 2 Michael S. Hickey Towson instructor, holds a 10th degree black belt in Ju-Jitsu, is a 3rd Joni L. Wood Towson Overall Champion public school teacher by profession, is an internationally Robert L. Connolly recognized martial arts author (including a new book Judges: scheduled for release in October), and also volunteers his time as a defensive tactics consultant as a member of the Los Wade Susie, 6th dan Thomas Salander, 3rd dan Karen Curley, 5th dan Michael S. Hickey, 2nd dan Angeles Police Dept. Civilian Martial Arts Advisory Panel. Will Harris, 4th dan Charles E. Youman, 2nd dan Kirby has been teaching Ju-Jitsu since 1968. Assisting Prof. Mark Burton, 3rd dan Joni L. Wood, 1st dan Kirby is Sensei [teacher] Marc Tucker, 3rd degree Black Belt, Referees: who is also a stock broker & financial planning consultant. Thomas Salander, 3rd dan Robert L. Connolly, 2nd kyu Both sensei are students of the late Jack Seki, who brough Charles E. Youman, 2nd dan Daniel Orkwis, 3rd kyu Kevin Brennan, 2nd kyu Ju-Jitsu from Japan to the United States prior to WWII. Additional Support: Budoshin Ju-Jitsu classes are held on Mondays and Felicia Ansty Michael Hobson Kerstin Nettekoven Thursdays, from 7-9pm. The official session is 9-weeks long. Carlton Bonilla Roberto Hoyle Mary Claire Salander New students will test for Green Belt at the end of the first Daniel Gaul Barbara Keary Lawrence Tomek Marisa Levin 9-week session. Continuing students can test for higher grades every 6-9 months. Visitors are always welcome at the dojo. Fall 2001 Page 2 AJA Newsletter COMMENTARY senseless without any apparent effort because they are not resisting at all. A Jūjutsu Stylist Looks at Aikidō Also, the non-combativeness and non-competitiveness of By BEN HARYO Aikidō makes it an ideal martial art for the future. A person does not need brute strength to learn Aikidō, nor does he or In my country Indonesia, Aikidō is far more popular than she need to have the cunning and killer instinct required by Jūjutsu. It is also the fastest growing martial art organization, the more combative arts such as Karate or even Jūjutsu. No spearheaded by the Y.I.A (Indonesian Aikikai Foundation), competition ensures that people will flock under the which received its mandate directly from the Honbu Dojo. guidance of Aikidō Senseis to learn the Way of Peace and While Karate stylists, Taekwondo fighters and Jūdō athletes Harmony, not to win some trophies or some kind of looked in confusion when witnessing this martial art, a non- competition. One lone combative art which taught mostly “unrealistic” defenses exception is the No competition against overhead palm strikes, wrist grabs and have no kicks Tomiki school of nor chokes, Jūjutsu stylists often got startled due to many Aikidō who held a ensures that people similarities contained within their respective arts. kind of Randori will flock under the Aikidō could be considered as a cousin of modern Jūjutsu. It (sparring) guidance of Aikidō is important to notice that the Aikidō of the east and the competition, but to Senseis to learn the me Tomiki is more modern forms of Jūjutsu of the West developed roughly at Way of Peace and the same time after the end of World War II. Both forms of Jūdō than Aikidō, and martial arts descended from the earlier Jūjutsu forms, the it is not endorsed by Harmony, not to win pre-Meiji (pre-1868) era Jūjutsu. This explains why both arts the Aikidō Honbu some trophies or used similar techniques. Before World War II, Uyeshiba Dojo. some kind of taught Daito Ryu Aikijūjutsu, and he even handed Daito Ryu This, however, does competition. certificates to his students (such as Mochizuki Minoru who not means that Aikidō later founded Yoseikan Aikibūdō). The Aikidō as we know is completely lacking as a form of self-defense. With years today is a much later creation, borne out of Uyeshiba’s mind upon years of patient practice, an Aikidōka may master the after he has become a wise amazing “KI” power, on which he or she could do amazing The non- and peaceful old man with things, such as the ability of throwing down people without nothing more to prove.