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AJA NEWSLETTER

Volume XXXIX, Issue II Summer 2016

A Tribute to Professor George Kirby Thomas Salander

It was a Road Trip. Baltimore, knowledge later. There was ties, their styles, their attitude Maryland to Mount Airy, North value in that: each instructor towards students and towards Carolina for the American JuJit- had a different focus, a different each other — there was the su Association (AJA) National take on how to move, how to bigger picture. Convention, a first for us. “Us” execute a technique, how to ... was Will Harris, Mark Burton, defend yourself. Prof. George Kirby, Founder Mike Parks, and me. This was and Chairman of the American something new; I had started It was too much to process at JuJitsu Association, the driving taking jujitsu to learn self- the time, and long before most force from the beginning, has defense, and now I was going to of us carried movie cameras in retired from the AJA Board of a convention? What happens at our pockets. Returning home, I Directors. He has not retired a self-defense convention? tried putting things together, as from teaching, but after decades if every instructor gave me a of being “The AJA”, he is now As it turned out, it was (at least piece or two of a giant jigsaw “just” a member of the AJA. To Inside this issue: for the four of us) a series of puzzle. I thought there might be many members of the AJA he’s training sessions with different a grand picture where all the a name, an author, a video in- BOD Bio: Dave 2 instructors. We split up, map- pieces fit in their own way. Lat- structor. You may not feel Boesel ping out the topics that sounded er, I began to see something much connection, but for many interesting with the intention of quite different. It was the teach- Heads Up 2 pooling our collective ers themselves, their personali- (Continued on page 5) Concussion Awareness What Would You Do? Upcoming Events 3 Gene Roos Editor’s Note: This article is a reprint ter the (to protect your- in the eyes (with the edge of the Training in Japa- 3 from the previous edition due to the self from being seriously wound- book). nese Swordsman- errant omission of the photos that accompanied the article. You can find ed). ship Follow up to either option: the photos at the end of this article. What is available? You have the attacker down to Yudansha Promo- your backpack, your text books, the ground (either forward or 5 Imagine you are between classes chairs, desks, maybe even a fire backwards) on his head. Odds tions at school and there is a young extinguisher. Use ANYTHING are the attacker doesn’t know Mudansha Promo- man in the hallway running to- 7 you can. Here are two possible how to fall properly without tions wards you as he is stabbing options: injuring himself and he hits his other students. About the AJA 8 head on the ground. This may Option 1: Swing your backpack hurt the attacker enough that What do you do? You wanted so as to hit the attacker’s eye or to take jujitsu, but you never he doesn’t continue his attack. Board of Direc- 8 eyes. This may stop the attack got around to it. Again you tors temporarily. When you can safely do so, get think, “What do I do?” a teacher or an administrator to Option 2: Use a heavy text- handle the attacker and call the Administrative 8 The first thing to do is get out book to knock down the at- Staff of the way of the attacker. Use police. tacker’s hand and then hit him anything that is available to de- (Continued on page 4)

Page 2 AJA Newsletter

BOD Bio: Dave Boesel, President & Chairman of the Board

Dave Boesel is a Ph.D. the1990s, he began practicing Tomiki . He started political scientist training in jujitsu while still engaged in aikido, and after achiev- whose career was ing a Shodan in Aikido, devoted all of his efforts to devoted to research learning Budoshin Jujitsu. Dave practiced under the leadership on policy issues for of Dick Lab, Reggie Heefner, Dennis McCurdy, and Terry federal, state, and local Feelemyer. In 1999, he became sensei at the Anne Arundel governments. He has Community College Dojo, succeeding Heefner. He renamed worked for the federal the dojo “Kaiwan Budokai” – Bay Area Martial Arts School – government (Defense because of its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay. In 2011 Dave Department, Depart- took first place in Masters Self Defense at AJA’s North- ment of Education), ern Regional Shiai. Johns Hopkins Univer- sity, and Abt Associ- Dave’s service with AJA began in 2007, when, at the request ates, a private consult- of George Kirby and Dennis McCurdy, he worked with Jeff ing firm. At these Wynn and Bill Swope on revising the AJA constitution. There- organizations, he spe- after, he served as Director of Recruitment and Newsletter cialized in leading re- Editor. Dave was elected to the Board of Directors in 2012, search teams that serving first as AJA Secretary and then as Vice President. He conducted large-scale, multi-year studies, often at the request was elected President in July 2015 and Chairman of the Board of Congress. He also served in administrative roles, including in May 2016. Director of the National Institute of Postsecondary Education. Dave and his wife, Gail, have three adult children – daughters In 2003 he retired from the government and founded the So- Kyle and Alison and son Justin – all of whom are married – cial Science Research Group (SSRG). In this capacity, he led and five grandchildren. They all live in the Washington metro- research projects for the Department of Education; the De- politan area. The extended Boesel family loves to travel, and partment of the Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs); the Depart- in various combinations they have visited most Western Euro- ment of Labor; and the Arlington, VA school district, among pean countries; Jordan, , and Turkey; South Africa; Mexi- others. co; and the Caribbean (many times). Dave loves to Scuba dive, as do his children, their spouses, and his two grandchil- Dave’s involvement with the martial arts began in the 1970s, dren. when he earned a brown belt in Shorin Ryu . In

STUDENTS & PARENTS: SENSEI/INSTRUCTOR: CONCUSSION AWARENESS CONCUSSION AWARENESS TRAINING & CERTIFICATION Injuries or concussions are very rare in AJA dojos. However, they do occasionally occur. Here is some really usable If you’re an instructor and NOT yet Concussion Awareness information on concussion awareness for you as a parent and Training certified go to: http://www.cdc.gov/headsup/ as a student. Please download this information, read it, and youthsports/training/ take the FREE 30 minute course, pass keep it for future reference: the FREE exam, and secure your FREE Concussion Awareness Training Certificate. This is an insurance coverage For students/athletes: requirement. www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/athletes.html Also, make sure you’re making the information presented For parents: above in Students & Parents: Concussion Awareness, available www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/parents.html to your students and their parents on a regular basis, either by printing up the documents and handing them out in class or For general information: providing students and parents with the links so they can www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/index.html download the information themselves.

Volume XXXIX, Issue II Page 3

Upcoming Events

Northern Region Seminar Budoshin Ju-Jitsu Yudanshakai George Kirby Seminar and Shiai Summer Camp

Where: The Orokawa Y in Towson Where: North Oaks Park Where: Woodmont Program Ctr (aka Towson YMCA) Community Room 2422 N. Fillmore St 600 W. Chesapeake Ave 27824 N. Camp Plenty Rd Arlington, VA 22207 Towson, MD 21204 Canyon Country, CA 91351 When: Saturday, Nov 5, 2016 When: Sunday, July 24, 2016 When: August 12-14, 2016 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily (date is tentative)

Cost: $50 for adults Cost: Varies based on days/events Cost: TBD $35 for youths 17 & under attended Notes: Look for more details as Notes: Seminar instructors include Notes: Please visit we get closer to the event. Tony Maynard, Bill Stockey, www.budoshin.com/ Advanced registration is George Parulski, Bruce seminars.htm for complete recommended. Jones, and Will Harris. The details and registration links. day will include waza com- petition for all ages/ranks (no kumite/ compe- tition). Hosting an Event? Please send pertinent info (what, when, where, cost, how to register) to: Contact: Paul Klara [email protected] [email protected]

Training in Japanese Thomas Dineen

“What’s the point of learning about a whose practical ble, opponents by cultivating …a state of being focused value mostly disappeared in the 19th century?” I wondered yet open to all contingencies, free of distracting thoughts or when my first jujitsu sensei, Prof. Dennis McCurdy, appeared emotions. in our dojo with a bag of (wooden ) that we’d Like many Asian arts, evolved from techniques be using that day. (jutsu) into a martial path (do) that helps develop—in addition to coordination and good bearing—moral qualities such as After several such classes, however, I became so fascinated by respect and self-control. Even benevolence comes into play, Japanese swordsmanship that I took a break of several years as when a swordsman applies mental pressure to de-escalate from jujitsu to get my shodan in iaido (ee-EYE-dough). a fight before he and his opponent have drawn swords, or when he chooses to spare a wounded enemy from a final, First, a description of this somewhat esoteric discipline. Iaido lethal thrust or cut. is the art of drawing the Japanese long , parrying attacks of and cutting down imaginary opponents, flicking their blood The art has been influenced by , , , (also imaginary) off the blade, then resheathing the sword. and the code of (“way of the warrior”) adhered to by Some practitioners use live blades () to maximize real- the class. ism, but many prefer dull-edged swords (iaito) for a degree of safety. A literal translation of iaido (“way of mental presence and immediate reaction”) conveys its more subtle psychological This element of danger—seeking deep understanding of a aspects. The sword offers a way to heightened awareness and deadly weapon—adds emotional gravity to training in iaido. responsiveness, akin to the “sixth sense” that many martial Few activities inspire such intense concentration. Advanced artists seek to develop. Some iaidoka pursue the ideal of ki practitioners strive to appear to be fighting real, though invisi- (Continued on page 6)

Page 4 AJA Newsletter

What Would You Do?

(Continued from page 1) stabbing. The wounds can range from a superficial flesh wound to something severe enough to be fatal. When an Obviously no one wants to be cut or stabbed by an attack- attacker has a deadly weapon and a transportation method er with a sharp weapon. Learn to use your environment. to deliver it, do not worry about hurting him in order to Pick up objects (staplers, tape dispensers, paper weights, stop the attack. Hurting your attacker to the point he is books, etc.) that you can throw at the attacker’s eyes (only incapacitated may be your only chance at survival. attack the eyes). Pick up objects (a chair or student desk) that you can use to keep the attacker at a safe distance and Now go sign up for those jujitsu classes you never got hopefully keep him from cutting you. around to taking!

The attacker with a knife can inflict damages by slicing or

Option 1

(1a) Attacker with a knife (1b) Defender takes a left foot (1c) Defender’s left Optional Finish arc step and right hand swings hand drives down- (1d) As the defender hits the attacker, his left runs toward the defender. his bag at the attacker’s eyes. the attacker’s hand is placed in back of the attacker’s neck. face to the ground. (1e) Then the defender’s left hand drives down- ward the attacker’s face to the ground.

Option 2

(2a) Attacker with a knife runs (2b) Defender takes a left foot (2c) & (2d): The defender knocks down the attacker’s right (2e) The defender’s toward defender. arc step and starts to knock hand, then the defender strikes the attacker’s eyes with the left hand drives the down the attacker’s right hand. book edge attacker’s face down- ward toward the ground

Volume XXXIX, Issue II Page 5

A Tribute to Professor George Kirby

(Continued from page 1) Instead of teaching an ancient, ossified molded into the AJA, an organization of you the connection goes far deep- art, he teaches his students to experi- rare, if not unique in the world of er than you can imagine. ment! Of course, after experimenta- Martial Arts. tion is evaluation, but in this way, Prof. Kirby is a Teacher. Not just a every student not only gets a better The AJA is made up of many styles of teacher of martial arts, or jujitsu, or understanding of how a technique JuJitsu. We talk, we share, we work self-defense, but his professional works, but they may even have an with each other. There is not “the career as a high school teacher brings opportunity to improve the art! And one best ryu”. Instead, we are a a different approach to teaching — he follows his own advice: the Tai group of students, with slightly differ- and learning — martial arts. Prof. Otoshi you see in his 1985 book looks ent ways of getting to basically the Kirby was one of those instructors in different from the Tai Otoshi you may same place. The AJA helps us get a North Carolina decades ago, and see him teach now. Some students little further along our path. maybe the one who had the longest have even objected “Wait! That’s not lasting influence on me. the way it looks in the book!” He’s hap- Prof. Kirby believes he is leaving the py to explain what has changed, why AJA in good hands. I know we are One of the things I learned from him he now does it differently. The short going to work very hard to validate that seems unusual in martial arts version is he is a life-long student: his trust. I still look forward to the instructors is to teach with a sense of repetition, experimentation, evalua- Christmas from George, Adel humor. I will never master the groan- tion. Rinse and repeat. and Kim with another interesting worthy puns his students have come story in rhyme which I read and to expect, nor will it come as natural- Which gets to a more fundamental shake my head in amusement. I look ly to me as it seems to for him. I point: everything and everyone chang- forward to seeing him again at camp know some instructors have said the es. Whether it’s the mix of students in this summer where we will both humor isn’t professional, but I’ve also the dojo, the attitude(s) they have at teach, both be students, and both seen humor start to creep into some any given time, the way an instructor continue to learn. of those same instructors’ classes. interacts with their class or evaluates Someone could write a dissertation a student’s performance; it all changes. Most of all, I look forward to many just on the many advantages of relax- This scares people, and maybe it really years visiting with the man who built ing in the martial arts, and there is no is not an approach that’s right (or a structure within which I was able to better way to get a student or a class right at this time) for them. He’s both learn, who I first met as a Teacher, to relax than with humor. a teacher and a student. Off the mat, and who I now am pleased to call a he just wanted us to call him George. friend. While his humor is one of the more noticeable ways Prof. Kirby differs I believe many of the things that set Dōmoarigatō Gozaimásu, Sensei from the stereotype of a martial arts Prof. Kirby apart after that first en- instructor, it is far from the only one. counter are characteristics he has

Yudansha Promotions (since 1/1/2016) Name Rank Date Dojo Ben Hirata Shodan 1/15/2016 Vancouver Institute of Self Defense Damon Cronin Shodan 1/29/2016 Vancouver Institute of Self Defense Kelly Garcia Shodan 1/15/2016 Vancouver Institute of Self Defense Jason Claus Nidan 1/29/2016 Vancouver Institute of Self Defense Jason Hirata Nidan 1/15/2016 Vancouver Institute of Self Defense Jodi Canapp Nidan 4/22/2016 Baltimore School of Self Defense William Griffin Nidan 1/29/2016 Vancouver Institute of Self Defense Joe Walstrum Sandan 4/22/2016 Baltimore School of Self Defense

Page 6 AJA Newsletter

Training in Japanese Swordsmanship

(Continued from page 3) ments from several major Japanese schools (ryu) of swords- ken tai icchi, a feeling of the body, sword, and spirit being manship. seamlessly entwined. You have six minutes to bow in before the judges, com- Iaido training is based almost exclusively on solo kata, al- plete the forms, then bow out. If you take longer, you will lowing you to practice alone. While I enjoy the camarade- likely fail. And if you appear rushed in avoiding going over rie of jujitsu, the need for training partners can limit even six minutes, you may also fail. The goal is to come as close the most committed jujitsuka to a few hours of class time to finishing in exactly six minutes as possible…without per week. But with only your sword and a belt to hold it, being able to check your time during testing. you can practice iaido whenever you want, wherever space allows. It can be simultaneously relaxing and deeply fo- Compare this with a jujitsu promotion at your own dojo, cused, not unlike qigong or other meditative arts. where advanced ranks may be asked to perform dozens of techniques and improvise defenses over the course of an Iaido also has an element of time travel. Dressed in skirt- hour or more. like trousers called , which originated in the 6th century, you wield a sword whose design goes back at least This contrast underscores the minimalist austerity of iaido. to the 12th century. You study and endlessly refine the It may sound limited to practice only twelve forms thou- graceful, often complex movements used by samurai for sands of times over many years, but this attention to detail hundreds of years. reveals the subtleties of the draws, cuts, thrusts, weight shifts, and that go into apparently straightforward It’s hard to overstate the veneration accorded the sword in kata. Japanese culture. Katana made by famous swordsmiths are prized by collectors for the beauty of their hamon (visual With experience, it’s easy to discern a swordsman of high outline of differential hardening of the steel blade) and oth- rank merely by the way he performs a basic horizontal er aesthetic qualities. As students of a Japanese art, all draw. It will be smooth and effortless, with no tension or jujitsuka ought to be acquainted with the basic history and extraneous movement. (Serious music listeners may sense construction of katana. the same quality in a great violinist or guitarist playing a single note or chord.) Iaido deepens such understanding by observing the punctili- ous etiquette (reishiki) governing the handling of swords, Although iaido concentrates on individual physical and mor- which in turn reflects the formalities of samurai life. al self-refinement, competitions (taikai) are often held at large seminars. Here, judges assess two iaidoka performing I’ve seen people fail promotions over matters of eti- the same forms side by side. The better competitor ad- quette…not bowing at proper times or sloppily handing a vances to the next round until a single winner remains in sheathed sword. You can also fail based on technical fine each rank. points, such as using a sword that is unacceptably short (and thus easier to handle), or executing forms too fast or Iaido has much to offer as a complement to jujitsu. It re- too slow. minds us that our art developed among armed and ar- mored warriors and familiarizes us with a preeminent an- In fact, as rank goes up, so do failure rates, making high cient combat weapon. Iaido also focuses strongly on the rank in iaido a rare distinction. In recent years, the pass tanden as the place from which energy derives (and is near rate for 8th in one major sword federation was less the of your sheathed sword). than 5%...and you have to travel to to test for the highest ranks. As with many jujitsu techniques, in iaido it helps to imagine energy emanating from the tanden at the draw, then “re- Promotions are more formal in iaido than in jujitsu and centering” that energy when resheathing your sword at the most other arts. In the Zen Nippon Renmai end of a technique. Careful breath control is also crucial in (ZNKR), which oversees much iaido training worldwide, iaido, and reflects how it can apply in jujitsu (e.g., exhaling exams in the U.S. are generally held twice a year as part of at the end of a form). weekend-long seminars; there are no local exams conduct- ed at individual dojo. Judges come from all over the U.S. Because you must conjure opponents out of thin air, iaido and often Japan. compels you to develop “situational awareness” of how you may be attacked—an obvious complement to jujitsu Through 3rd dan, in tests you execute only five randomly practice. You also discover that some of the defensive chosen techniques of the twelve seitei-gata, or standard positions we assume in jujitsu echo common stances in forms. These were established in 1969 to consolidate ele- (Continued on page 7)

Volume XXXIX, Issue II Page 7

Training in Japanese Swordsmanship

(Continued from page 6) Jujitsu instructors could imitate Prof. McCurdy and con- iaido (e.g., chudan-no-kamae). sider integrating a bit of sword training at their own dojo. Just don’t be surprised if one or two students slip off to Other arts of interest include tamishigiri train full-time in swordsmanship. (cutting targets—usually mats—with a katana) and kendo (where two armored opponents fence using straight bamboo swords called ). The latter, of course, don’t Recommended Resources for Additional Information: look or feel like katana; as kendo gained great popularity as a  All-US Kendo Federation (AUSKF: oversees iaido th 20 century sport in Japan, iaido was promoted as a way to and kendo in U.S.; includes dojo list): http:// preserve a cultural connection with handing actual swords. www.auskf.info/iaido-new/index.htm  Bokken: Art of the Japanese Sword, by Dave Lowry You don’t need expensive equipment to begin exploring. Go (1986) buy a $10 bokken and pick up one of the well-known texts on  Flashing Steel: Mastering Eishin-Ryu Swordsmanship, by swordsmanship noted below. Bokken have been used for Masayuki Shimabukuro and Leonard Pellman (2nd centuries and, in 1612, legendary swordsman Miyamoto Mu- edition, 2008) sashi used one to defeat handily an opponent who was armed with a steel sword.  Japanese Swordsmanship, by Gordon Warner & Donn th F. Draeger (5 printing, 2001)

Mudansha Promotions (since 1/1/2016) Name Rank Date Dojo Elijah Sassmanhausen Hachikyu 2/19/2016 Vancouver Institute of Self Defense Ava Mosely Shichikyu 5/5/2016 Baltimore School of Self Defense Elise Fonseca Shichikyu 5/24/2016 Kaiwan Budokai James Mosley, Jr. Shichikyu 5/5/2016 Baltimore School of Self Defense Malik Pemy Shichikyu 4/20/2016 Baltimore School of Self Defense Michael Free Shichikyu 5/24/2016 Baltimore School of Self Defense Raef Strim Shichikyu 2/29/2016 Baltimore School of Self Defense Eric Gundlach Rokyu 2/19/2016 Vancouver Institute of Self Defense Braden Smith Gokyu 6/22/2016 Baltimore School of Self Defense Nissan Zahavi Gokyu 4/9/2016 Belle Chasse Martial Arts Victor Ellifritt Gokyu 5/29/2016 Ho'on Dojo Cody Claus Sankyu 3/11/2016 Vancouver Institute of Self Defense Kale Claus Sankyu 3/11/2016 Vancouver Institute of Self Defense Roger Chen Sankyu 6/6/2016 Reston Jujitsu Shannon Fetherston Sankyu 5/20/2016 Vancouver Institute of Self Defense Joseph Terrebonne Nikyu 4/9/2016 Belle Chasse Martial Arts Steven Trauth Nikyu 4/9/2016 Belle Chasse Martial Arts Jonathan Mumme Ikkyu 4/9/2016 Belle Chasse Martial Arts Kendrick Smith Ikkyu 5/19/2016 Kaiwan Budokai

Page 5 AMERICAN JU-JITSU ASSOCIATION

PO Box 801854 About the American Ju-Jitsu Association Santa Clarita, CA 91380 The American Ju-Jitsu Association was founded in 1972, by George Kirby and William Fromm at the request of their sensei, Jack Seki, for the purpose of bringing different ryu of the art together in an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and respect. Since that time it has grown from two dojo to ap- proximately twenty-four, plus international affiliates. The AJA has established itself as a reputable organization within the martial arts community and works closely with other major Ju-Jitsu organiza- tions in the United States and internationally in areas of mutual concern.

The AJA is a non-profit amateur athletic association registered with both the state of California and the United States government [IRS code 501(c)(3)]. It is a non-profit corporation with a charitable foundation status. Although originally recognized by the IRS as a “social club” because there was no other way to recognize the AJA as an amateur athletic association, formal recognition of the AJA as a true amateur athletic association, according to the criteria of the United States government, was se- cured in 1976 under the Sports Act of that year. To our knowledge, the AJA is the only martial arts organization in the U.S. that is classified by the IRS as an amateur athletic association.

Board of Directors Position Name Email President & Chairman David Boesel [email protected] Vice President Jeff Wynn [email protected]

Secretary Kristine Wiscarson [email protected]

Treasurer Marc Tucker [email protected]

Western Region Director Tony Damigo [email protected]

Southern Region Director & Thomas Salander [email protected] International Competition Coordinator

Northern Region Director Paul Klara [email protected]

Director Gene Roos [email protected]

Administrative Staff Position Name Email Certificates Coordinator Barry Stebbins [email protected]

Communication Director John Landry [email protected]

Historian Mike Balog [email protected]

Materials Coordinator Jef Rice [email protected]

Membership Kristine Wiscarson [email protected]

National Awards Vacant [email protected]

National Standards & Certification Board Harold Zeidman [email protected]

Newsletter Editor Will Harris [email protected]

Recruitment Sherry Gibson [email protected]

Webmaster Scott Finley [email protected]

Visit us on the web: www.AmericanJuJitsuAssociation.org