4TH QUARTER NEWSLETTER SHOTOKAN KARATE-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 Shotokan 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 kata 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 kumite 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 SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO INTERNATIONAL Page 2 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 martial arts 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 kick. 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.” SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO INTERNATIONAL Page 3 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 strike 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 Kihon-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 Takushoku University 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 throw 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 Gichin Funakoshi while executing oi-zuki (lung train against your own image in a Founder of Shotokan Karate punch) non-stop and without 1Adapted from Shotokan: A Precise History mirror. No matter how fast you are, by Harry Cook 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.