Yoshukai International Fall 2012

In this issue: Year of the Dragon 2012 Upcoming Events ...... 1 Upcoming Events Dojo News ...... 2 Yoshukai’s Senpai – An Interview with Lee Norris ...... 5 Safety Tips for the Holiday Shopping Season ...... 14 January 12, 2013 Featured Exercise ...... 15 Winter Testing 2:00 PM Bamboo&Dojo&& th Yoshukai Karate International would like to wish all our 2111&14 &Ave.&& members and their families a HAPPY AND HEALTHY Vero&Beach,&FL& For more information: HOLIDAY SEASON! John&Matthews&(772)&770A2491&& Time is a precious commodity – especially around the holidays. It seems that no matter how hard you plan, that never-ending “to-do” list launches its annual sneak February 2, 2013 attack and devours what little time you have. This year, Cross Training TYKI Dojo try something different. Before you launch into panic 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM mode, set aside some time for yourself and your family. TYKI&Dojo& The time you take for yourself should be spent doing Sears&Town&Mall& 3550&S.&Washington&Ave.& something good for your body. Go the gym, go for walk Titusville,&FL& or do some stretching. If physical activity is off the For more information: menu, try meditation or a nap. Then, make sure to Ricky Copeland (321) 794-2789 Alan Drysdale (321) 269-2394 spend some quality time with your family. Do something ! fun and rejuvenating or just relax and enjoy the moment. Remember what is truly important – family and friends! March 2, 2013 Alabama Spring Training Once you recover from the holiday festivities, we have & Testing a full schedule for 2013. In January, the Bamboo Dojo 9:00 AM – 1st Kyu/Dan Testing will be hosting the annual Yoshukai Winter Testing for 1:00 PM - Training 1st kyu and Dan grades. In February, Mr. Copeland and Sylacauga&Karate&School& Mr. Drysdale will be hosting their annual Cross Training 226&North&Broadway&AVe& Seminar that includes a blend of Karate and Sylacauga,&AL& For more information: training. In March, the Sylacauga Karate School will be (256) 249-3106 hosting their annual Spring Training and Test. ! We hope to see you at these events! 12

Yoshukai Karate International Fall 2012

2013 Events to watch out for… 9th Kyu Hali Toreihi January 12 Edgard Walton Winter Testing, Vero Beach Bhakti Patel February 2 Cross-training, Titusville th 8 Kyu March 2nd Jason Cheng Alabama Spring Training & Testing TJ Deale March 22nd – 24th Ethan Perkins New Zealand Summer Camp Reid Herringdine April / Clinic (details TBA) 7th Kyu May 4th Heather Collier Randy Gettings Memorial Beach Training Tyler Collier June Brett Grimes Summer Test Review (details TBA) Seth Joiner Emily Thrash July 18th – 21st YKI Summer Tai Kai – Webber Intl. th 6 Kyu Univ., Babson Park, FL Robert Boss Hannah Scrogham Port Orange Yoshukai green belts Dylan Skinner 3rd Kyu Robert and Hunter Schattie attended Kevin Mendoza Danielle Scrogham Kyoshi Larry Mabson's Foundation Free Tournament in Fort Corbin Holland Jeanine Cleveland Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday Tournaments Keegan Holland November 3, 2012. Robert earned a 2nd place trophy in kumite and 3rd and Other Steven McLeroy 2nd Kyu place in empty hand kata. Hunter News… Abigail Patten Collin Yeager earned 3rd place in his fighting division and 3rd place in his empty hand kata th 5 Kyu division! Dylan Seifert Shihan Steve Harrington, Davon and Dawson Dobson Sal from Holly Hill Yoshukai attended Holly Hill's "Trunk or Treat 2012" Anna Claire Patton handing out flyers and treats to more than a thousand prospective Yoshukai students on Halloween evening!

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The Sydney City Dojo has moved to a new location - check out the photos below!

The new dojo is located at: 491 Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt, Sydney, NSW2040 Telephone: 02 95500129

For more information and class times, please email Neil Frazer at [email protected] 3

Yoshukai Karate International Fall 2012

Congratulations to Helge and Isabel Hermann as they welcome the arrival of their precious new baby girl! We hope Mom and baby “Lily” are doing well and we look forward to seeing many more photos!

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Yoshukai’s Senpai – An Interview with Lee Norris By Ben Cleveland, 4th Dan

I got the chance to sit down with Lee Norris at his home football. I said “Yes” and was told to report to the Air in Gainesville, Florida on February 2, 2012, and talk to Force football team. Within two weeks, I became good him about his 50 years of studying karate. Lee, a retired friends with a man named Zimmerman, who asked me to electronics technician, started karate in 1962 while come over to the gym to watch a karate class. I had no stationed in Japan, and received his black belt in 1964. idea what karate was. I went with Zimmerman and watched a class, and wasn't all that impressed with it When Lee returned from Japan in 1964, he opened the since I didn’t really understand what they were doing, but first karate school in Orlando, Florida, and when Mike I decided to join up anyway. That was in September Foster returned from Japan in 1966, Lee joined in with 1962. him to begin spreading Chito Ryu (and later Yoshukai) in Florida.

Goju Ryu Class (Japan) taught by Watanabe Sensei, US Air Force. Seated in front row (from left): Lee Norris, Foster Sensei, Yamamoto Sensei and Watanabe Sensei. (BC) What style was it you went to watch? The Dojo Desk Reference defines senpai (pronounced (LN) It was a Goju Ryu class, taught by Hiroko sempai, with an M sound) as “the senior man”, or “the Watanabe, a 4th degree. He was part of the All Japan one who came before, as opposed to kohai, or the one Karate Do Federation, of which Dr. Chitose was who comes after. The senpai / kohai relationship always President. Watanabe taught at the base gym at Itazuki exists regardless of the level of training or understanding Airforce Base. that either one elevates to.” “Okinawans may use the term shija (older brother).” 1 Mr. Norris is Yoshukai’s Senpai, he is our “older brother”. (BC) What was class like, what did y'all work on? (LN) Classes were on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and cost $8 per month. We worked out for two hours, on (BC - Ben Cleveland) When and why did you begin basics, floor work, kata, and after you'd been in class for karate? a while, kumite. We didn't have safety gear, so sparring (LN - Lee Norris) I was in the Air Force, and was was pretty tough. stationed in Japan. My first day in Japan was August 3rd 1962. It was a small class, although there were a lot of students who came through the dojo. Most didn't stay long once As soon as I landed in Japan, I was asked if I played they found out how hard the training was. 5 43

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midnight and got off at 8 am. There were three of us on The base had a handball court inside and a tennis court that shift, and if an aircraft had problems, we tested the outside, and we’d train on one or the other depending on engines, did leak checks and troubleshooting. We'd the weather. When we'd work out on the tennis court, document any problems we found, and the day shifts we’d go the full length of the court doing basics and kata. would do the repairs. Once the repairs were completed Up and back, up and back, over and over. by the day shifts, we'd test the engine again the next night to make sure the repairs were completed properly We worked on punches, blocks and , with and there weren't any other problems. Wantanabe correcting us. Once you were half way proficient in basics, he'd teach you the H Forms. There One person had to stay at the shop all night, even if there was no explanation about what you were doing, and were no jets that needed to be tested for repairs. The was never explained. other two guys were married and I was single, so if there was nothing to do, they'd go home and I'd stay there by I was there two years, and worked on 11 kata. There myself all night. The jet engine shop was a big hanger, was one stretch when I spent 6 months working on and during the winter I'd go out on the shop floor and . As a matter of fact there were times when I was work out to stay warm, and in the summer I'd go outside working Sanchin so hard in class, working the dynamic and work out. tension and dynamic breathing, that the last thing I remembered was everything going (BC) When did black. I was straining you meet Dr. so hard during the Chitose? kata that I’d pass out, (LN) One day and would wake up Watanabe took with someone asking me to Chitose me if I was all right. Sensei's house, and we stayed Sanchin is an there three interesting kata. You days. I assume would never, ever win Wantanabe met a tournament in this with Chitose to country (USA) doing discuss some Sanchin, but when I association was a brown belt I business (the All won second place in a Japan Karate tournament in Japan Do Federation). doing Sanchin. The association Lee Norris (center) with Mike Foster Sensei (right) and Hiroko included Chito It’s different today. Watanabe Sensei (left) Ryu and Gogen Today, students want Yamaguchi’s to start learning the “next” kata, whatever the “next” kata Goju Ryu and Watanabe was part of Yamaguchi’s Goju is, when they don't really know their current required kata Ryu. The Federation only existed from 1957 to 1964 or well. 1965 I think.

According to Iain Abernethy, each kata originally was a Watanabe and I trained with Dr. Chitose while we were at self-contained fighting system. Years ago, the Okinawan his house, and I got some pictures after our workouts and karate masters only knew two or three kata at most. Dr. some pictures of Dr. Chitose punching his makiwara. I Chitose studied for 7 years before he was taught also trained with Chitose Sensei at group workouts we another kata. Students need to really delve into the kata had at Yamamoto's tournaments. Anytime Yamamoto they’re working on instead of being so anxious to go to had a tournament, Dr. Chitose was there because the next one. Yamamoto was his number one fighter.

(BC) You said Yamamoto periodically came to (BC) Did you work out any on your own, in addition to Wantanabe's dojo? the regular classes? (LN) Yes, he'd visit about twice a month. Sometimes (LN) Yes, at work! I was a jet engine mechanic and Yamamoto would come alone, sometimes he'd bring a worked graveyard shift, which meant I went to work at couple of students. They'd ride the train to a station near

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the base, and after training I'd take them back to the train (Watanabe's students) also went to Yamamoto's dojo a station in my car. lot, so we became good fighters too. One of the things I remember about training at Yamamoto's dojo was that Before I’d take Yamamoto back to the train station after you never got hurt. Now, you got bruised up, but never class, though, we’d usually go to the airmen's club. It seriously hurt. His students would help you, work with took the service men about two visits to figure out that you. you'd better not mess with the dude with the long hair (Yamamoto). At first they were making fun of him, but You never saw a lot of higher kyu ranks in class because Yamamoto didn't speak English and didn’t understand the Japanese couldn't afford to test. When you'd go to them. I heard them, and explained to the airmen that Yamamoto's dojo, you saw a few black belts and a whole there are certain people in life you don't mess with, and dojo full of white belts (this was true at a lot of dojos). that the long haired dude they were making fun of was You might line up across from somebody in class and probably the toughest fighter in Japan, and that they think “he’s just another white belt like me”, but that really, really didn't want to make him mad. It didn't take person may be more than equivalent to a black belt long for word to get around, and the airmen gave based on time on the floor and experience. Yamamoto a wide berth. I remember Yamamoto lined up in front of me once and invited me to front him, as hard and fast as I wanted to. But Yamamoto didn’t line up in a fighting stance, he lined up in a shiko dachi, on his tip toes, standing wide open in front of me with his arms stretched out to his side. Well, I thought I could get him, so I launched my front kick at him. Quick as a cat he dropped his weight to his left, squatting on his left leg and my kick sailed over his right arm. Before I could retract my kick he flexed his bicep, which caught my ankle between his bicep and Lee Norris executing back (groin) kick against opponent during first “Shiai” in Tampa, forearm, and stood Florida. straight up. That took my other foot out from under me, and I was hanging upside down by my ankle! Yamamoto was one tough fighter. I'd classify him as a Yamamoto walked around the dojo, holding me upside Japanese Mike Tyson, he was that good and that tough. down by my ankle and talked to the other students. Of I don't think Yamamoto had been beaten by anyone in course, they fell out laughing! Japan, and he'd fight anybody.

(BC) What was the train station incident you (BC) What did y'all work on when Yamamoto came to mentioned to me? Wantanabe's dojo? (LN) I was a 1st Kyu at the time, and after a workout I was (LN) Fighting! Yamamoto also taught us the bo and taking Yamamoto back to the train station. There were taught us the , and sometimes he'd show us self four of us - Richard Judge (a brown belt), Wantanabe, defense techniques or applications out of a kata. Mostly, Yamamoto and myself. When we got to the train platform though, he'd fight with us. six or seven guys were standing around, and I thought Yamamoto knew them because they were all talking. But Yamamoto's people were all good fighters. We Wantanabe told us to take our watches off, which told me

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there was about to be a fight. Apparently, these guys and he said “not anymore”. Well, we fell out and started had called Yamamoto a “sister-boy” because of his long scrapping, and he started beating the daylights out of me. hair. Yamamoto said something to Wantanabe, and I finally caught him with a back kick, which took the wind Wantanabe told Richard and I that “Yamamoto says he'll out of him and doubled him over, but by that time he take care of it”. Then Yamamoto side kicked one guy could have the taxi, because my nose was laid over to and punched another guy at the same time! Both went one side and my mouth was busted up and I was in no down, knocked out. As his foot was coming down after shape to go to the annex. That was on a Saturday the side kick, Yamamoto grabbed another guy by the evening. Monday I went to class with two black eyes. throat and punched him, and knocked him out. Watanabe said, “what happened to you?” and I said “this Everybody else took off running! karate stuff don't work!”

Yamamoto then went to the three guys who were out cold, took off their watches and put them in his pocket, (BC) What was Watanabe's response? took out their wallets, took their money out of their wallets (LN) Watanabe's response was “You need to train more!” and put their money in his pocket, then took out his I became fanatical in training, because that false sense of business cards and put a business card in each of their “I'm a big, bad green belt!” was gone. All I wanted to do wallets where their money had been, and put their wallets was train. Like I said before, there were lots of nights back in their pockets. I guess he wanted them to know when I was on duty where we didn't have anything to do, where they could find him if they wanted their watches and I'd be by myself in the shop, and so I'd train. and money back. He then nonchalantly walked off to wait for his train.

(BC) What are some other memories you have of training in Japan? (LN) I remember my very first tournament. I had just made green belt, and thought I was getting really good. There were maybe 150 competitors. A folding table set up outside the ring with trophies on one side, and Dr. Chitose sitting behind it, and I think Yamamoto's father in law was sitting there also. My Tournament hosted by Yamamoto Sensei (bottom row, 7th from left). To the right first fight was against this of Yamamoto Sensei is Dr. Chitose and to his left is Watanabe Sensei. Mr. Norris is little Japanese guy, who in the top row above Yamamoto’s right shoulder. looked like he was still in grade school. Yamamoto was center judge and said “Hajime”. Well, that little dude did a jump front kick, and I (BC) When did you meet Mike Foster? thought, “I've got him!” About the time I thought I was (LN) Mike Foster came back to Japan for a three week doing a killer down block, he spun and back kicked me so visit in January 1963. He walked into the airmen’s club hard I thought he’d caved my chest in! That back kick hit on base and someone told me “That’s Mike Foster over me so hard, I went airborne, landed on my back and slid there”. I’d heard of him because Watanabe had been into the side of that table, which promptly fell over and Mike Foster’s original karate instructor, so I went over dumped all those trophies everywhere! and introduced myself and told him I was studying karate with Watanabe. He asked me if I knew where he could Watanabe came over and asked what happened to me. I find Watanabe, and I told him “Yes”. told him the other guy’s back kick drove my sternum into my backbone. I don't think that fight lasted 3 seconds. Watanabe worked for the Kyoto Ball Bearing Company, which was a division of Ford Motor Company at that time. I also remember my first fight outside the dojo, when I Watanabe was a college graduate, but only made $125 was still a green belt. I'd taken a taxi outside the air base per month. I took Mike downtown to where Watanabe going over to the annex. A dude stepped out into the worked. street and stopped the taxi. I told him “this is my taxi” 8 109

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anything. What means something is getting out on the Mike Foster came to the dojo that night, and proceeded floor and training, training, training. to beat the tar out of everybody. Watanabe pulled me to the side and asked me if I could take Foster over to When I work out by myself, I wear a white belt to remind Yamamoto’s dojo the next day, and I said, “why yes…yes myself how far I still have to go. I can!” So the next day, I took Foster over to Yamamoto’s dojo, and got to watch Yamamoto do to Foster what Foster had been doing to us! (BC) When did you come back to the United States and when did you open your own dojo? (LN) I came home to Orlando, FL on June 5th, 1964 and (BC) Was that the first time Foster met Yamamoto? there was no karate being taught in Orlando at that time, (LN) Yep! It was a “meeting” Foster would never forget. although Jackie Johns did have a school just But it also sparked a desire in Mike to train with outside of Orlando. I started teaching Goju Ryu out of my Yamamoto, because here was somebody (Yamamoto) house, and began with two students (Fred Kelly was one that could really fight! From then on Mike Foster came of my first students). Later I taught karate at Jackie back to Japan to train with Yamamoto every chance he Johns’ Judo School, but that didn’t last very long.

Photo taken by Lee Norris while attending his second tournament in Japan

got, and even lived in Yamamoto’s dojo for a while. When I decided to open a commercial dojo, I opened my own dojo in Orlando close to Orange Ave in late 1964 or (BC) What year did you get your black belt? early 1965, then later moved to Orange Ave, and was (LN) It was in May 1964, after I placed 2nd place in a there from 1966 to 1971. I had the very first karate tournament in Japan. Dr. Chitose promoted me to black school in Orlando, Florida. belt. My 1st Dan was in Goju Ryu, since I was a student of Watanabe, but as I said Watanabe was part of the All I came home from Japan in June 1964, and meanwhile Japan Karate Do Federation, and Dr. Chitose was Mike Foster went back to Japan in September 1964 on a president of the organization. Currently I’m a 6th Dan in 90 day visa. However, instead of just staying 90 days Yoshukai and a 4th Dan in kobudo (Ryukyu Kobudo Foster lived in Yamamoto’s dojo for 19 months before he Hozon Shinkokai). As I said, my original Shodan rank was caught and deported back to the US. was in Goju Ryu, my Nidan and Sandan ranks where in Chito Ryu from Chitose and Yamamoto, and my Yondan (BC) When did you meet back up with Mike Foster in rank was in Yoshukai from Yamamoto. the US? (LN) It was a couple of years after I came home from To be honest, though, rank doesn’t mean anything to me. Japan. In 1966 I took Fred Kelly, Mike Waltz, myself and All your belt does is hold your gi shut. People get caught my wife (at the time) to the first USKA tournament in up in the “I’m a this, and I’m a that”, and it doesn’t mean Miami. We went to compete in the tournament. Well, in

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walked Mike Foster, who’d been back from Japan for only (BC) What was your training like with Mike Foster three weeks. Mike Foster competed and annihilated back then? everyone at that tournament. (LN) We'd take the class outside and run them to the local park. We [would] also beat the living daylights out I’d become pretty good friends with Mike in Japan of people with a bamboo shinai. because I had a car over there and used to carry him around everywhere, so when I saw him at the tournament We spent enough time on kata to get by for tests, but we I went to talk to him. He said he was moving to Tampa to usually did what we did in Japan, which was get in line open a dojo, and I told him I had a dojo in Orlando with and do basics up and down the floor for about 45 about 20 students. minutes, then we fought. We did round robins with each other, and Mike Foster would fight each person in class Foster opened a dojo at 703 East Platt Street, Tampa, every time we fought, day after day after day. about a block from the University of Tampa. I’d take any of my students who wanted to go with me over there on We [worked] on sweeps also. Mike Foster would turn Saturdays to train. That was the beginning of Chito Ryu you upside down in a heartbeat, and about the time you here in Florida, hit the ground his and we were fist was buried in called Yoshukan. your chest! Mike Foster was a Somebody might 4th degree in Chito try to hold their leg Ryu and I was a up and do multiple 1st degree in Goju roundhouse kicks Ryu (soon to be at you, and they promoted to 2nd might hit you with degree in Chito the first one. But if Ryu). There was you grab their leg, only one other turn them upside black belt with us down and slam at that time, a them to the floor, man training with they usually didn’t me named Sam try it again. Young, who had received a 1st Mike Foster is one degree black belt of the finest in Issinryu while fighters I've ever stationed in seen in the dojo. Okinawa as a At one time there Marine. were probably 30 guys who trained Foster’s class in Original Yoshukan Karate Dojo card under him that Tampa grew to 15 would have done students, and then anything for him, he started also going out to St. Leo College to teach we'd have laid down our lives for him. It was probably the additional classes. closest thing I've seen to how a samurai felt about his lord. Eventually I was transferred with General Telephone to Tampa. Foster had moved to a new location, which was bigger and had some rooms in the back. I rented a room (BC) What happened after Foster moved to Illinois? from Foster, and we trained all the time. I worked in (LN) I had been transferred back to Orlando after I broke Tampa for 8 or 9 months while Sam Young taught my my hand fighting (boxer’s fracture), so I started driving to class in Orlando. During this time Don McNatt had joined Tampa on Saturdays to teach there and would go to St the organization. Leo’s at least one day a week to try to keep that dojo going. Yuki Koda came over in 1968 and was teaching, The Tampa dojo then moved to its third location, on the and Koda went to Lakeland to teach at Don McNatt’s riverfront, about 1969. Sometime in 1970, Mike Foster original school. got an ironworker’s job, and moved up to Illinois for work. At this time we had 17 schools in Florida, and eventually Foster did come back from Illinois.

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first fight he swept a guy and both of them went down. It I was then working for Western Electric and got looked like a bar brawl. transferred to Miami in 1971. Sam had gotten a different job and couldn’t teach, so I had to close my dojo in Orlando when I moved to Miami. I quit teaching in 1971. (BC) Did you ever get to see Dr. Chitose again after you’d moved back to the US? While in Miami, I worked out with Okazawa, a (LN) Yes, both Dr. Chitose and Yamamoto went to practitioner in Miami, a really great karate man. Soon, Canada in August 1967 to demonstrate karate at the though, I had to start moving all over the place due to my World Expo. Mike and I went to see them (Mike flew and I job. drove).

I trained in a lot of different dojos, and a lot of different Mike [Foster] and I both competed in a tournament put on styles, but always with the same results. I just wanted to by Mas Tsuruoka (one of Chitose’s black belts in line up in the back of class and workout. As soon as the instructor saw that I could and kick pretty good, he wanted to know what training I’d had. Once I told him I was Yoshukai, I’d have to line up and fight one at a time with everybody in the dojo, from the lowest kyu ranks up to the black belts. It was an ego thing with them, because everyone knew who Mike Foster was and they wanted to see if they could beat somebody who trained with him. All I wanted to do was line up and train.

I finally landed in Gainesville in 1982, and started building a dojo in 1984 over my garage. This project took a while because I was doing all the work myself, and finally completed it in 1990.

Mike McClernan moved to Gainesville in 1987, and when I found out he was here we started working out together again.

(BC) What were tournaments like in the late 60s and early 70s? (LN) Tournaments were rough. Both of my hands have been broken, two times apiece, from punching underneath and hitting elbows or kneecaps. The first USKA tournaments were in the 60s, and there were no pads or safety gear. If you showed up with even an ace bandage on, you had to take it off or you couldn't compete. You paid $5 to get in a tournament, and you paid that entry fee to either break somebody's nose or to get your nose broken. The rules were minimum face contact, which meant you couldn't draw blood. You could leave a big red mark, but as long as there was no blood, it was fine. Yamamoto Sensei’s 11 year old sister in-law performing I remember a green belt [Goju Ryu] who'd pay $5 just to bo kata. Watanabe Sensei on floor, Yamamoto Sensei go to a tournament and punch somebody in the mouth. seated on chair. February, 1964 He didn't care if he got disqualified, as long as he got a Canada), and Foster beat everybody. Yamamoto and chance to punch somebody in the mouth. There were a Foster put on a bo and sai demonstration, and then Dr. lot of people who competed during those days that did Chitose put on a demonstration and threw Yamamoto the same thing. and Mike Foster around like they were rag dolls.

You could also do sweeps and takedowns during those After the trip to Canada, Chitose Sensei, Yamamoto and days. I remember seeing Bob Bremer at that Miami Mike Foster flew to Covington, KY, to visit Bill tournament (when I met up again with Foster). In Bob's Dometrich's dojo. I left Canada and drove down to

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Kentucky to see them. in Yoshukai (Sho No Bo) was a variation of Sakagawa No Kun Sho, but there were sections left out. Now, if you During this visit to , Dr. Chitose made Bill understood Yamamoto's knee situation, you understood Dometrich head the USA branch of Chito Ryu. Bill began why those particular sections were left out because of the training with Dr. Chitose in Japan in 1953 (while Bill was low squats involved. in the army), and once he was discharged and returned to the states in 1955, Bill started teaching Chito Ryu. I There's no doubt in my mind that Chitose Sensei trained think Mike Foster felt like he should have been named with Shinkin Tiaria (considered the father of modern head of Chito Ryu in the US, because he had won every kobudo), which is why I think our kata resembles theirs. tournament he’d entered and was unbeaten. When you read the history of kobudo, Shinkin Tiaria made many trips to Japan, and he'd do a circuit of many After the Canada/Kentucky trip, Yamamoto flew down to dojos before returning to Okinawa. Tampa with Foster and stayed here two weeks. At that time, we weren't real good at kata because all we did was I also did tai chi at one time, which helped me see the fight. Yamamoto took each person, and taught them one value of doing techniques slowly, and I've studied kata, and that person was responsible for teaching that Shotokan. kata to everyone else. Most all karate is the same. There may be small technical differences (for example, Issin-ryu doesn't turn (BC) You were Tiger Moore's original instructor, their fist over when they punch), but the primary weren't you? differences are in other styles’ philosophy of why they do (LN) Yes, I had a school at the Sanford Naval Academy. certain things. The basics are the same. When I started it, Tiger must have been in the 6th or 7th grade. I sometimes used to take my students up to Rock Springs at Apopka (Florida) to train outside. When you'd (BC) How old are you now and how often do you train go down to the second landing, there was a stream, and for yourself? I'd make them get in the water and walk upstream (LN) Right now I'm 71. Before my cancer treatments I punching. Tiger's head wasn't too much higher than the almost never missed a workout, but I haven't had a gi on water line. since August (2011) because of the treatments I'm on. I still go up to my dojo and watch videos and read. I tried to get started back after New Years, and I put my gi on (BC) Do you have a favorite Kata, and why? and went upstairs to the dojo. Well, I went up and down (LN) I would say Bassai, but I also really like Naifanchi. the floor a few times and was just exhausted. Remember, though, from 1966 – 1970 we didn't spend a whole lot of time on kata, we spent our time fighting! Before this, my normal workout was four days a week, for about two hours a day. I do basics. I do 2,170 basic techniques during a workout. Its 15 steps up my dojo (BC) Do you have a favorite weapon, and why? floor, turn, then 15 steps back. One set consists of 7 (LN) Sai is my favorite. I train with , bo and times up and back. 6 times I do one technique up and tekko (like brass knuckles) also, but I really love sai. back. The 7th time I do three reps of whatever technique I'm working on, so if its middle lunge punch, I do 3 middle punches. (BC) Did you ever study another form of Budo besides Karate? I do center punch, face punch, low punch, upper block, (LN) I'm a 4th degree in Kobudo. I used to go to Bill inside middle block, outside middle block, and backfist. Dometrich's summer camp every year in Covington, KY, and I met his daughter, Devorah Dometrich in 1991. She Once I finish my first set (which consists of 7 times up had trained with Akamini Sensei in Okinawa for a long and back), I strap on bungee cords and work 25 slow time, and was his only American deshi (student). She punches with my right hand with my right leg forward, had never been down to Florida, so I asked her about turn around and do 25 pulls with my right hand (hikite), coming down here. My dojo was the first dojo in Florida then turn around and do 25 slow punches with my left she ever came to (in 1993), and eventually she started a hand with my left leg forward, then turn and pull 25 times circuit, which included several stops in Florida. with my left hand (hikite).

The exposure I had to weapons prior to this was what I then go to the makiwara and hit it 100 times. I'm not Yamamoto did, and he mainly took our empty hand hitting 100% each time, but hard enough to know that my and adapted them for weapons. What I discovered elbow is in a correct position as my punch extends, my through Devorah Dometrich was that the bo kata we did wrist is not bending up or down or side to side.

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he understood timing better than everybody else. Then I do sit ups and pushups, and 25 curls. The human body can only move certain ways, and if you Now it’s back to my next set. I do 8 sets (one set of each understand where a person's weight is, you can know basic technique), so you wind up doing 2,170 basic where he can move and where he can't move without techniques up and down the floor, you hit the makiwara shifting. Then you know where to attack. 800 times each workout. I do this Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. (BC) Is there any one you would have liked to train On Fridays, I do the same workout, but without the with? weights and execute the techniques at 100%. This is There's a whole bunch of people I'd like to have trained also when I do kata. I pick three kata, and do them 10 with. One person in particular I would have like to have times each. trained with is Yamamoto's father-in-law.

I also use weights on my arms, and do the techniques I did get to meet Imamoto, Dr. Chitose's number one slow. I worked up to 8 pounds for each hand, but I student in Japan, but not while I was there. I met him discovered that if I went over 8 pounds I was doing through Devorah Dometrich (Bill Dometrich’s daughter) in damage to my shoulder. The objective is to isolate the Kentucky. Imamoto was in the Japanese Defense Force muscles involved in the technique. in Okinawa, and when Devorah Dometrich went to Dr. Chitose to get someone to train her, Dr. Chitose took her You shouldn't use ankle weights on your legs, though, to Imamoto. since they can cause you to overextend your joints and you can injure yourself. Instead use bungee cords to slowly extend your kick and hold it. Most people will kick (BC) What advice would you give to a Karate-ka who and use momentum to get their kicks up, rather than wants to improve? building up their muscles to extend the technique without (LN) You have to always be a student, no matter how having to use momentum. long you've trained or what your rank is. There are too many egos that want to say “I know it all”. The truth is You have to build up to this, but once you can do this full they don't know it all, not even close. You go out and you workout for six weeks, you'll see a phenomenal find out what someone does well, and you learn how and improvement in your kata. A kata is made up of the 8 why it works. Then you work on it until it becomes part of basic techniques I work on, plus some basic kicks. you. Then find somebody else that does something else well. Doesn't matter if it’s Yoshukai, Shotokan, Issin-ryu, Students want speed, speed, speed, speed, speed. They Tae kwon do, boxing or whatever. don't slow down and work the fine points of the techniques. If you take a video camera and record their Students are too eager to move on to the next thing. As movements, then slow it down and watch frame by frame, soon as you show them one kata, and they sort of have you'll see that their techniques are not consistently the pattern down, they're ready to start working on the landing in the same spot each time. next kata. But they're not even close to having the first one down. The katas teach us to build power through shifting our weight. Look at a lunge punch. You're shifting your Have your students take an index card and list a kata at weight forward, and learning to time the punch to the top, then mark it every time they go through the entire coincide with your forward momentum. Or look at a kata. Doesn't matter if they go through it fast or slow, in a reverse punch. A reverse punch is like a baseball bat tournament, in class or on their own, just have them mark swing or a golf swing. Your power goes from the floor to it down each time they go through the entire kata. If you the hips, then to the trunk, then to the arms. ask your students before they start to keep a record, most students will say “oh, I've been through such-n-such Do this experiment. Put one foot on a scale and raise kata 10,000 times”. Once they start keeping a record of your heel up. Now, drop your heel down and watch the it, they'll be surprised how few times they go thru a weight momentarily jump up. This is weight transfer; you particular kata. For example, if you went to class three are generating momentum downward by your weight days a week, and you did a kata twice in each class, drop. In a lunge punch, you are generating momentum that's six times a week you performed a particular kata forward. which is 312 times a year. Sounds like a lot, but it would take 32 years at that pace to do a kata 10,000 times! It also has to do with timing. For the longest time I thought Mike Foster was just faster than everybody else. I kept track one year of the number of times I did each I realized over time that he wasn't necessarily faster, but kata, and I didn't do any one kata 200 times in a year.

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Yoshukai Karate International Fall 2012

(BC) What is your biggest regret? (BC)Thank you so much for your time and patience! (LN) My biggest regret is not staying in touch with (LN) You’re welcome! Wantanabe over the years. Wantanabe was a really fine person. If my health lets me, I want to go back to Japan and find him and thank him for being my first instructor, 1 The Dojo Desk Reference, pages 298 and 299. and for all the things he taught me.

I&know&that&many&of&you&have&already&started&to&do&your&Christmas& shopping,&so&from&a&security&perspective,&just&a&few&reminders…

When&walking&from&the&store&to&your&car,&always,&without&exception,& have&your&finger&on&your&remote&panic&or&alarm&button.

As&you&approach&your&car,&look&underneath&the&car,&and&while&loading&your&packages,&keep& looking&around&on&all&sides.

ALWAYS,&look&in&the&back&seat&before&getting&into&your&car!!!

Park&as&close&to&the&store&as&possible,&and&if&you&must&park&a&long&distance&away,&ask&the& store&personnel&for&an&escort.&Most&large&stores&employ&off&duty&officers&during&the&holiday& season,&and&they&are&usually&available&for&escorting.

During&this&time&of&year,&there&are&always&people&soliciting&for&charities&in&the&parking&lots& (some&legitimate,&some¬).&The&legitimate&ones&are&usually&set&up&at&or&near&the&entrance& (not&roaming&the&parking&lot).&Once&in&your&car,&never&roll&the&window&down&nor&open&the& door&for&anyone!

And&finally,&one&of&the&most&important&to&me&(which&I&see&all&the&time),&never&ever&post&your& holiday&travel&plans&or&out&of&town&photos&on&social&media&sites,&while&you&are&away&from& your&home.&“Surfing”&these&sites&for&such&information&is&a&favorite&tool&of&criminals.&Once& they&learn&that&you&are&out&of&town,&your&address&can&easily&be&obtained&from&numerous& websites&in&a&matter&of&seconds.&

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Yoshukai Karate International Fall 2012

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