Chito-Ryu Karate-Do Newsletter 2009 Vol
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CHITO-RYU KARATE-DO NEWSLETTER 2009 VOL. 2 Chito-ryu Karate-Do Published in the Interest of Chito-ryu Karate by the U.S. Hombu BUTOKUKAI NEWS: Special Occasion in Honor of Dometrich Hanshi What makes so unique of our association is not based His fellow senior members of Chito-kai across the USA, on just superior skills and styles of traditional Budo, but and Kyoshi Deliberto of Canada, Kyoshi Burgermeister potent spirit, discipline and caring respect they have for of ISKU, Hanshi Thomas of Bushin Kan, Kyoshi one another. When they appeared together in honor of Posenau and Edelman of USA Bushin Kan, Renshi Riley Hanshi Dometrich, it was like the refreshing new life of Boston Komyo Dojo, and Mr. Crisman and new energy transforming with the misty air of spring and members from Uechi Ryu dojo of RI, and many notable aroma of fresh flowers long awaited in the advent of new instructors and practitioners from DNBK ID attended season. to celebrate the grand occasion for the special event to Over 100 DNBK International Division Karatedo honor a man of great legend and tradition in Karatedo in Yudansha gathered in Norfolk VA USA to celebrate the the US. coveted ceremony of Kyudan rank (9th Dan) from Dai After a serene dedication of Harai no Gi through Nippon Butoku Kai which was bestowed to a great classical Iaido Kata, very energetic Dojo demonstrations martial artist, Hanshi William Dometrich, 73, grand were executed with high precision and discipline in very master of Chito-kai USA. This unprecedented honor dignified way. They were all impressed and moved by was awarded in Kyoto last year after the Third World each other’s great effort and spirited waza. It was a Butoku Sai and later rectified by the board of Hanshi in testimonial of DNBK ID Karate-do essence represented Honbu Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (circa 1895). He became by dedicated instructors and members. the first Karatedo practitioner from the western world Then, DNBK Kenshoin of Karate-do led the selective to have received the highest Dan grade honor from training format based on the Dan groups. Kyoshi DNBK Kyoto Japan. He displayed great courage, spirit, Posenau, Kyoshi Burgermeister, Kyoshi Diliberto, dedication and martial skills for many years befitted to Kyoshi Holley, Kyoshi Hunsaker, Kyoshi Edelman, all this insurmountable feat of honor where no one else was top leaders in DNBK Karate-do have created the able to reach from the western hemisphere. In honor of exciting training drills for the participants. Although Hanshi Dometrich, many Yudansha partook to join with allotted time was so brief, participants from Shodan to this special occasion where the Kyudan diploma sealed Shichidan level enjoyed the broad spectrum of Karate- by Sosai Haigashifushimi, Jigo was presented to him. do skills and traditions. They also engaged in strong ...continued page 3 UNITED STATES CHITO-RYU KARATE-DO FEDERATION PAGE 1 CHITO-RYU KARATE-DO NEWSLETTER 2009 VOL. 2 FOUNDERS FORUM THE KARATE-DO STAFF VINDICATED! (1972-2008) I am positive that a great majority of the older members of the United States Barbara Dometrich Chito-ryu Karate Federation are familiar with the problem I had with the [email protected] original founders of Black Belt magazine in 1972 when one of the brothers informed me that they would not do an article about my karate teacher Dr. Tsuoshi Chitose. He then proceeded to degrade Chitose Sensei and Chito-ryu Editor-in-Chief Karate in general. At that time I informed him that our small school was selling Yoseikan Hombu one hundred of his magazines a month. “You don’t sell all those magazines,” he Covington, KY told me,“you send the magazine covers back to us for credit.” I informed him that we had never sent one cover back for credit but since that date we stopped selling their magazines. Cyna Khalily, MD Fast forward to May of 2008 when I had the distinct honor of being elevated to [email protected] the karate rank of Kyudan by the prestigious Dai Nippon Butoku Kai while I was in Kyoto, Japan. I would like to thank Dr. H. Tesshin Hamada Hanshi Chair Assistant Editor International Division DNBK for his nomination. Yoseikan Takanoko And I greatly appreciate his sponsorship of a special training session in my honor Louisville, KY in Virginia during April of this year which included guests from various states and foreign countries (see articles in this issue). It was at the completion of this training session that my official certificate of Kyudan was awarded. I have been informed that this is the first time that the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai has promoted a non- Japanese national to this rank. I do greatly appreciate it. CONTRIBUTORS I would also like to thank Sensei Patrick McCarthy for his faith in me, his William J. Dometrich assistance to me, and recommendation on my behalf when I was considered for Don Schmidt DNBK membership. Two of my students approached Sensei McCarthy without Wes Ernest my knowledge in 1998 to see what would be required for me to obtain membership in the DNBK. Unfortunately neither of these two students is with Kira Kembre me now, but credit is due where credit is due: Sensei George Van Horne ( now Mina Ludwig deceased) and Sensei James Davenport approached Patrick McCarthy on my Gordon Levin behalf. A special thanks to both of them. Dani BaylesYeager I also need to give thanks to my wife Barbara Ellen Dometrich. It was she who and special contributor: has over the years taken care of the U.S. Chito-kai, from its inception to the Rony Kluger, Israel present, and helped it to grow. I need to thank my many students who have worked so hard to make the organization and style of Chito-ryu a success. Last but not least I thank Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose, my teacher, for accepting me as his student, without which none of this would have taken place. I was to say the least, a little shocked upon being called forward in Japan to be The United States promoted before my peers. I accepted the honor not as Bill Dometrich, but as Chito-ryu Karate-do Dr. Chitose’s United States representative; a Chito-ryu karate practitioner. I was Federation very happy, not for myself, but because of the fact that such an honor was bestowed upon a person who had studied Chito-ryu Karate. Had it been Sensei 22 Martin Street Masami Tsuruoka, or Shane Higashi or David Akutagawa, I would have been Covington, KY 41011 equally as happy because it was awarded to a Chito-ryu stylist. 859-291-7232 My mind often returns to 1972 and my conversation with the founder of Black www.chito-ryu.com Belt magazine. I guess this just proves he was wrong about Dr. Chitose Sensei and Chito-Ryu. At long last I feel vindicated. By: Wi!iam J. Dometrich, Hanshi UNITED STATES CHITO-RYU KARATE-DO FEDERATION PAGE 2 CHITO-RYU KARATE-DO NEWSLETTER 2009 VOL. 2 continued "om "ont page... he were here today, he would have been so elated and Yakusoku Kumite drills with all participants and practiced proud to witness this grand ceremony for his best student the dimension of practical applications of Kata. Osame no becoming one of the most distinguished practitioners in Gi, concluding ceremony was performed very powerfully Budo world today. and gracefully by all six Kenshoin instructors in their Japanese old saying points out, “Bushi ni Nigon Nashi”, selective Kata. Throughout the event, thunderous Kiai which means Samurai warrior needs no second word. That and motivational force was never stopped and continually implies, he is direct, cut all nonsense, straight to the core raised the bar of excellence for all. and truth and get it done to a maximum precision. He was At the conclusion of the event, on behalf of Honbu such a man of high moral integrity. His contribution in DNBK, award ceremony was presented in honor of Budo field goes beyond his Kyudan attainment and his Hanshi Dometrich. Hanshi Dometrich received the legacy will be remembered by many who follow his path. Kyudan Diploma sealed by Sosai, Higashifushimi of As Hanshi Dometrich stated at the conclusion of the DNBK and he also received Most Outstanding Budo event, he encouraged all participants to hold high esteem Spirit and Lifetime Achievement Award Plaque. Together, of Shoshin, beginner’s mind in the long journey of Budo. the rank and title were recognized for new members. All That is clearly the necessary mindset where the trainees participating members were congratulated on their must uphold in his incessant struggle for excellence. outstanding efforts, strong skills, dedication and spirit. Unequivocally, the Budo world today is truly blessed by his They were able to forge their strong camaraderie and courageous presence. friendship through Budo training and showed unfaltering respect for each other. At the ending ceremony, Gassho, calligraphy of Kokorozashi, which means Purpose, Tesshin Hamada aspirations, vision and faith, was presented to all participants as a token reminder that each trainee must Chair, DNBK International Division define his own philosophy of Budo in his long arduous journey. It was stated in the ceremony on Hanshi Dometrich that during his long-standing career, his professional attributes and meritorious accomplishments were too many to mention and consistently he has carried the commanding respect in all accounts in the world of Budo. Each dojo group made a strong dedication in this special occasion through their Kata demonstration. Their dignified and spirited presentations showed deep respect and celebratory joy for Hanshi Dometrich who has given his heart and soul so tirelessly and selflessly for his students and the community and the nation through Karate-do.