4TH QUARTER NEWSLETTER

SHOTOKAN -DO INTERNATIONAL

U.S. FEDERATION

DECEMBER 2005

AN INTERVIEW WITH SUZUKI RYUSHO SENSEI: A MOMENT IN TIME INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Nearly twenty years since his 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th All last visit to the U.S., Suzuki SKIF Japan Championships. Ryusho Sensei was greeted by Currently the Director of the AN INTERVIEW 1 Northern California instructors WITH SUZUKI Soleimani, Mallari (seminar Instructor Division at Honbu RYUSHO SENSEI host), and Withrow upon his dojo, Suzuki Sensei is responsi- arrival at San Francisco Interna- ble for nine instructors and tional Airport. Following a brief oversees several phases of the Suzuki Sensei demonstrates KERI/THEORY AND 2 training program prior to their PRACTICE check-in and rest period at the proper hip position. hotel, the welcome party ush- teaching assignments with the ered Suzuki to a delectable SKIF organization. Below: Seminar attendees KARATE: A 3 feast of sushi at one of in San Jose, California, USA PSYCHOLOGICAL A graduate of International APPROACH Berkeley, California’s finest Budo University, Suzuki began Japanese restaurants. his marital arts training at age (focus) as a “spark” that oc- TAKUSHOKU 3 six and continued under his curs when all the elements Dinner time conversation is a come together at the precise UNIVERSITY wonderful way to get re- father’s instruction for ten years until he met Kanazawa Kancho moment of impact. This can acquainted and catch up on the be illustrated as necessary news from afar. Suzuki was and applied for membership EDITIOR’S 4 with SKIF. He received the rank ingredients for combustion: a COLUMN: receptive to our questions and fuel supply, sufficient oxygen was eager to share about cur- of godan (5th degree) and com- CULTURAL BASED ments that his favorite tech- and a body in motion which rent events from the Honbu creates the spark to start a HEALING dojo in Tokyo. We were excited nique is gyaku zuki. After watch- ing Suzuki demonstrate at our chain reaction, launching your to hear of how preparations are technique with timing and under way for the upcoming Northern California seminars - - TRAINING TIP 6 his flowing combinations and finesse. To the on-looker, the SKIF World Championships in movement may appear effort- November 2006. The USF team graceful hip rotation - - it is obvious why he has been given less but on the receiving end, selection process is still in its it is devastating. qualifying stage, but Kwok the respectable position which Hanshi, Technical Director and he now holds. Participating in Suzuki Sen- National Coach, is confident the Under the leadership of Kana- sei’s training session was very USF team will represent the zawa Kancho, is it any wonder memorable and we are truly United States with quality com- why the cadre of instructors thankful to all those who made petitors that are sure to exem- within the SKIF organization are it possible including, Kwok plify the very best in unmatched by any other? Hanshi, Soleimani Sensei and spirit. our seminar hosts Mallari and During his teaching sessions Castellano Senseis. It is with Suzuki, himself a world hosted by San Jose State the friendship and support champion, competed in the 8th University Karate Club, the at- that SKI-USF continues to grow World Championship in Durban, tendees witnessed first hand and the teaching of Kanazawa South Africa (2003), placing Suzuki Sensei’s teaching style. Kancho that builds harmony first in Bassai-sho. Prior to He has an elegant way of de- throughout the world. that year, he placed second in scribing key elements of each individual kata and second in technique so that even the at the 4th World Cham- most senior student can gain a pionship in Mexico City (1988). more enlightened understand- Kanazawa Hirokazu He also has a noteworthy ac- ing of their applications. A Living Legend complishment of placing sec- ond in individual kata at the Suzuki Sensei describes kime

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KERI (KICKING) THEORY AND PRACTICE

Keri includes some of the most powerful techniques in karate. Keri is peculiar to karate and includes variations absent from the other and sports. If sufficiently mastered, kicking techniques can have a more powerful effect than attacks with the hand. However, mastering kicking techniques requires much time and effort. When kicking, good balance is of primary importance because the body weight is supported by only one leg. This situation is aggravated at the instant the foot hits the target by the strong counter shock of the . To counteract this shock, place the supporting foot firmly on the ground and fully tighten the ankle of the supporting leg, keeping the upper body well balanced and perpendicular to the ground. To achieve maximum effect, kick with the entire body instead of with the leg alone. Pushing the hip forward during the kick helps achieve this goal. Be sure to withdraw your kicking foot quickly after completing the kick. This pre- vents the opponent from catching it or from sweeping your supporting leg. As soon as the foot is withdrawn, it must be ready for the next attack. The photograph on the left shows Kanazawa Kancho performing tameshi-wari (testing of technique power). 1 1Adapted from Dynamic Karate by M. Nakayama, 1966.

PRACTICAL KARATE 2: DEFENSE AGAINST AN UNARMED ASSAILANT (CONTINUED FROM LAST ISSUE)

Situation:

An assailant has grasped your right sleeve or wrist with his left hand from the front and is threatening to use force against you. You have plenty of room to move about.

Do you recognize the man on the right? Nakayama Sensei demonstrates how to escape with a move that is very similar to kata Heian Shodan. “At his grasp, center your weight with legs somewhat wider apart than usual. Be sure to advance the leg on the side which the assailant is grasping. Watch the assailant carefully. Prepare a tight fist with the left hand, knuckles down, holding it close to the left hip. Keep the rear foot firmly planted on the ground as you shift weight to that leg. Slide the front foot back a short distance, being careful not to bring the feet together. At the same time, using the drawing power of your weight, shift to the rear leg, pull the arm across the front of your body in a downward direction, rotating the wrist toward your thumb as you do this, while keeping your chin tight to the chest as you pull. As the right arm comes free from the assailant’s grasp, make a tight fist. Continue withdrawing the right arm and, with a circular motion, bring it up across his chest, knuckles up.”

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TAKUSHOKU UNIVERSITY

your image avoiding any obstacles on always ap- the way. I would occasionally pears just as stop to rest and catch my fast. I would breath, but when I returned also the to camp I would be ordered makiwara to start all over again. I later between five learned the reason for this: hunderd and The seniors had been watch- Suzuki Sensei leads the class in one thousand ing me through binoculars. At -waza. times every times we had to run in water day until my or up a mountain and I used skin was torn. to add some practices of my Kancho training in the snow with students from At times, small own, such as placing small NIJU KUN pieces of straw stones between my toes, would remain under the skin of performing mawashi-geri • One who practices Karate “Training at Takushoku was always my knuckles. While walking in (roundhouse kick) or mae- must follow the way of justice very hard and I was beaten many the street one day, a passer-by geri (front kick) and watching times by my sempais (seniors) . . . I (who turned out to be a doctor) how far I could the • First you must know yourself complemented the training sessions took me to the hospital to treat stones with my toes. I also Then you can know others at Takushoku with some hard train- my fist. But when I returned to removed hats from people’s • Spiritual development is ing of my own. For example, at the dojo, the seniors told me heads with ushiro-geri (back paramount; technical skills are night when everyone was asleep I not to worry about my hands kick). It was around this merely a means to the end would go to the basement and train and ordered me to take off the time that I finally realized the from midnight to 2:00 a.m. I bandages. futility of hunting the Sumo • You must release your mind couldn’t put on the lights for fear of wrestler who had hit me discovery, so I used lighted candles When in training camp I was years earlier, and I gave up sometimes ordered to run near a mirror. It is very difficult to on the idea.”1 while executing oi-zuki (lung train against your own image in a Founder of Shotokan Karate ) non-stop and without 1Adapted from Shotokan: A Precise History mirror. No matter how fast you are, by KARATE: A PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH

Mizu no kokoro (a mind like water) this principle is rooted in the teaching of the old karate masters. It refers to the need to make the mind calm, like the surface of un- disturbed water. Smooth water reflects accurately the image of all objects within it’s reflection. If one’s mind is kept at this state, apprehension of the opponent’s move- ments, both physical and psychological, will be immediate and accurate, and one’s response, both defensive and offensive, will be appropriate and adequate. If the surface of the water is disturbed, the image it reflects will be distorted. If the mind is preoccupied with other thoughts, you will not be aware of the opponents intentions, whether defensive or offensive, creating an opportunity for the opponent to attack you.

Tuski no kokoro (a mind like the moon) Just as moonlight shines equally on everything Correct posture is not only within its range, you need to be constantly aware of the totality of the opponent and his essential for breathing, it is movement. Developing this awareness will aid you to be consistently aware of any proper etiquette. opening in your opponent’s defenses. Similarly, clouds the light of the moon are similar to nervousness or distractions which “cloud” the opponent’s movements and physical intentions, making it difficult to apply the appropriate technique and leave you venerable to attack.

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A LOOK AT CULTURAL BASED HEALING

EDITOR’S COLUMN while the West attempts to system and maintains that control the external environ- the average person has few ment. flaws of any consequence. Eastern medicine, however, In our Fall issue, I discussed a wellness topic that is for- is far more cautious in its eign to many people: the As you can see, there are estimation of the body’s blood type and its relation- some fundamental differ- capabilities. Because Eastern ship to healthy living. I would ences between Eastern and culture believes that the body like to continue this theme by Western attitudes toward the is a flawed organism requir- introducing a holistic ap- body and the prevention of ing continual regulation to proach to health and how it disease. How has Eastern maintain an optimal state of can apply to your martial arts culture displayed the ability health, it may be helpful to training. to look more deeply into look to the East to develop Without courtesy and respect health problems than the rest Western preventative medi- you have no dojo. of the world? It may be that cal practices. As we all know, being healthy Western medicine has and fit requires a planned, tended to treat symptoms consistent effort to exercise. rather than weaknesses in The potential health benefits Practicing a martial art such the body systems that result arising from the practice of as Karate is one of the most in illness. For example, if a martial arts are increasingly systemized, tested, and long- patient were to go to a West- becoming of interest to West- lasting programs available ern doctor for treatment, he ern medicine. This practice today. Engaging in the marital would probably be thumped, can be part of an approach to arts can be a beneficial com- x-rayed, stethoscoped, attain an optimal state of ponent of your fitness routine drained of blood and given a health. Karate practice gives by being one of the primary prescription. If the doctor the student an opportunity to building blocks of good found nothing out of the ordi- exercise both body and mind health. As with anything in nary, he would most likely tell in synchrony. If you are just life, you must make time. the patient that he is fine, beginning, Karate may simply meaning that the patient is be a form of exercise or a no better and no worse than method of self-defense. In anyone else the doctor has time, other aspects of the art Martial arts has been a part seen. will alert you to skills such as of Eastern culture for thou- proper breathing, the sands of years. Its practice development of positive en- reflects the Eastern attitude If an Eastern doctor were to ergy (ki), increased focus towards the effect of exercise (kime), and so forth. I encour- on the body. This view differs examine the same patient, he might shake his head and age you to continue your from the Western perception journey. in that the primary function is pronounce that the patient is to build bigger and stronger far from healthy. The Eastern muscles (“bulking up”). The doctor’s medical understand- Eastern focus of exercise is ing of health for the human to strengthen the internal body allows him to more deli- organs, nerves, joints, liga- cately perceive the overall ments, and blood vessels. state of a patient’s internal Eastern medical thought organs. A perception like this believes that most illnesses would enable the doctor to are due to internal weakness diagnose some major health and that there is no room for problems that a Western disease if such weakness is counterpart might have eliminated through exercise. missed. Westerners, on the other hand, tend to view illness as a result of infectious bacteria The fundamental difference or other outside agents which lies in the underlying philoso- can be controlled with medi- phies of the two systems. cation. In simple terms, it Western medicine tends to may be said that the East view the human body as a tries to fine-tune the body, complete and self-regulatory

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SUZUKI SENSEI VISITS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA

TRAINING TIP Remember the “Rule of Blocking” during practice with a partner (uke-waza). All blocks should involve the body. Think of the arms as merely an extension of the body. When blocking with the body, maintain a body connection with your partner through the arm, making a tight fist and twisting the Editorial Staff wrist at the very end of the block. Synchronize all Editor: Mark Withrow Publisher: Sue Kuipers blocking actions by exhaling and tightening the lower Contributing Writer (s) For This Issue : abdomen. This will help you develop kime (focus). Joanne Mied, N.D.

Dr. L. Wang, L.Ac. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Layout and Design:

Sue Kuipers • January 28, 29 2006 Murakami Sensei visits Northern Edition Published: December 2005 California, USA.

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(925) 484-1954 • 9th SKIF World Championship - Tokyo, Japan. Week of October Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission from SKI-USF. 30, 2006

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