1 ACCREDITED COACHING AND TECHNICAL COURSE IN

2 Soke Saito & Robert Senpai Travel to Iran (March 2014)

Monday 3/3/2014 Del Saito Soke and Robert Burstein Senpai, departed from Medford airport to begin their long journey to Esfahan, Iran. A bit apprehensive due to all the negative propaganda, passport and approved visa in hand, the two set out to meet their Middle East Karate brothers and sisters. After waiting for four hours in Seattle, they boarded an Emirates 777, and was greeted by gorgeous flight attendants. The fourteen hour thirty minute flight to Dubai was fairly comfortable with a bit of leg room (aisle seat) and friendly travel companions to converse with. After landing safely and an easy processing through Customs, Soke and Robert marveled at the modern architecture of this United Arab Emirates facility. A five hour layover was slowly testing the stamina of the already weary travelers, but they managed to keep their senses to board their next two hour flight to Tehran Komeini Airport.

As part of the airline's standard training, flight atten- dants are required to undergo beauty and etiquette training.

Tuesday 3/4/2014 Arrival to Tehran was slightly less than pleasant for Robert Senpai. The airport police wanted to get his finger prints so he was escorted into a back room. This is generally not required from the visitors, how- ever, it seems to be a tit for tat gesture for American visitors. Soke himself was exempt as he was de- clared as the guest of the government. After clearing the immigration process, they were greeted by Amir Mahdavi Shihan, the TKFI Director of Iran and the Middle East, and presented beautiful flower bouquets, and of course the customary kiss on the cheek.

After a much needed sleep at the Ferdossi Grand Hotel in Iran, although a very short one at that, Soke, Amir Shihan and Robert Senpai enjoyed a typical Iranian breakfast consisting of eggs, non-pork sausage, vegetables, cheese, bread, hot beans, juice, chai and coffee.

3 Wednesday 3/5/2014 Tehran, also known as the city of hospitality has about 15 million people. Soke and Robert are quick to notice that Iranians drive like maniacs and although initially shaken up a bit, they marvel at the technical skills of each driver; and there are no signs of road rage. There is also no ryme or reason to traffic sig- nals, lanes or pedestrian crossings. Motorcycles are like weeds on the street as operators weave in and out of traffic and even at times they drive on the sidewalks and go the wrong way. The horn blown is like saying, “Watch out, here I come!”. And if you’re crossing the street, don’t expect cars to yield as they do in the U.S. Perfect timing is a must and at times cars miss you by inches. At first, the two travelers were nervously following Amir Shihan’s lead, but after a few times, learned to laugh while crossing to the other side. Soke is quick to note that one of the requirements for the black belt will now include driving on a busy street in Tehran for 30 minutes.

The first order of events for the day was to meet the National Iranian Karate Federation officials in Kesh- vari stadium. Soke and his assistant were warmly welcomed by Mr. Alireza Samandar, the head of Na- tional Iranian Karate Federation, Shihan Ashoori, the executive director of the federation, and Mr. Sadr, the international public relations manager of the federa- tion. The guests presented the hosts with some gifts and after cordial exchanges, points about progress of Karate Do in Iran and the desire to reach the level for Olympic competitions was discussed. The offi- cials were very pleased to see Soke in Iran willing to Traffic is horrendous especially during Norwuz, the extend the knowledge and skill of Iranian instructors New Year holiday period. Hundreds of lives are lost on his style of Karate. Everyone was extremely im- during the two weeks’ holiday. (March 20 to early April) pressed with Soke's biography and achievements which Mr. Amir Mahdavi had already printed and distributed amongst the group.

The executives of the federation promised to do their best in advancing Soke’s Shito-ryu style of Karate in Iran and assist Mr. Amir Mahdavi, Soke's representative in Iran. Establishing and making forward progress in the whole region, under the ultimate supervision of Soke, would be one of their goals.

Article published in the Islamic Republic of Iran National Karate Federation on the clinics taught and supervised by Del Saito Soke. 4 TKFI gifts for our dedicated Iranian Karate leaders. L-R Mr. Ashoori, President Samandar, Saito Soke, Robert Senpai and Amir Mahdavi Shihan. Soke was invited to attend the internal Karate tournament and team selection for all karate styles and age groups scheduled to take place in . However, the tight itinerary of Soke's travel and limitations on flight tickets and schedules did not allow planning for that event.

At the end of the session Soke presented Mr. Samandar and Mr. Ashoori with the insignia of the Tradi- tional Karate-do Federation International and souvenir gifts to commemorate the occasion.

The photos about the session and a descriptive of article of the event was published in the related web sites of Karate federation and the Society of Shito-ryu Hanko-ryu Karate Do of Iran, as well as announce- ments in the national broadcasting .

The guests then visited the Maydan Azadi and its museums near the Mehrabad Airport. Once informed of the arrival of the guests, the museum officials provided expert guides and called in a photographer to document the visit.

After the visit to Maydan Azadi (translates to Freedom Square) the guests were invited to a traditional restaurant near Ferdossi Square in Tehran. Lunch consisted of tasty lamb kabob with rice with saffron, fresh vegetables, chai and a flat bread (naan), which is baked over a bed of small hot stones.

Freedom Square Tower. Spectacular Bird’s eye view of Tehran. Friendly and informative Mu- seum officials. 5 The guests were then introduced to Ostad Ali Babri, one of the founding members of Jujitsu in Iran, and Mr. Shikh, an official associated with the house of representatives in Iran. The group discussed some points on the history of the host country and the unfortunate negative views of many towards Iran due to lack of interaction and misunderstandings. Mr. Babri hoped that the guests will have a pleasant stay and feel the hospitality of the hosts to establish their own views outside the media representation of the country.

Mr. Ostad Ali Babri and Mr. Shikh shares lunch with Soke, Mr. Amir and Mr. Burstein.

Soke, Amir Shihan and Robert Senpai then flew to Isfahan and were welcomed by Mr. Mahdavi's family and many of the dignitaries and trainers of Karate groups in Isfahan.

Soke and Robert are welcomed with flowers and Iranian Pleasant greeting from Amir Shihan and his family. hospitality.

After a short relaxation period, the guests received Mr. Ali Davaiha (the president of Karate Group of the Province of Isfahan) and Ostad Reza Roohi (the executive manager of the provincial Karate Group). The guests were then invited to have dinner before returning to the Ali Quapu Hotel to retire for the evening.

6 Left to right: Ostad Talebi, Dr. Batvani, Shihan Mahdavi, Mr. Davaiha, Soke Saito, Mr. Burstein and Ostad Roohi.

Thursday 3/6/2014 Training session for Men started at 9 AM. The style, skill, techniques, and especially the attitude of Soke was admired by all the students as well as on lookers who stated that they had not seen such a useful and engaging session from any of the visitors they have had before. Everyone was most impressed by the humble attitude of such a well known expert of this special art.

Even during the rest period instructors and student could not leave Soke Saito alone and constantly tried to benefit from every minute of his presence. It is also a hospitality gesture not to leave the guests alone in order to make them feel welcomed and appreciated.

7 The second session lasted till 2 PM and the group benefited from Soke's teaching of principles, men- torship and demonstrations of techniques.

The afternoon was spent on site seeing and visiting the bazaar. It is busy, it is crowded and it is real. You can find goods for unbelievable low prices as well as high end items such as gold jewelry and ex- pensive rugs - and you can bargain. The bazaar is a city in the city, it is huge and has its own areas for different kinds of goods and numerous restaurants. The sound of metal clanging is the work of many craftsman holding on to the traditional metal work called “Ghalamzani”. This form of art is where sheets of copper or silver are shaped into objects such a vase or plates. The object is then painted upon using pre-designed perforated templates. Then the master Ghalam Zan uses tiny chisel and hammer to dent the object and create a 3D design on the painting. This is later on cured to gain shades of gray highlights. Soke took part in a few hammer strokes to experience the art.

The bazaar still forms the commercial heart of Isfahan. Amir Shihan bargains with the owner to get the best deal.

The Bazaar of Isfahan is one of the oldest and largest bazaars in the Middle East dating back to the 17th century.

8 By this time in their trip, Soke and Robert begins to become very comfortable with the Iranian people in general. A nation made up of numerous ethnic groups, mainly , Turkish (Azari), Kurds, Balouchis, and Arabs, it is quite an experience just to be standing on part of Persia which was once a great world power. With all the images depicting Iran as a dark, dangerous place full of fundamentalist fanatics, our guests discovers the real Iran with friendly people and wonderful surprises. Everyday folks notices the foreigners as they walk throughout the city, discover that they are Americans and always smile and practice their English with their hellos and cordial welcome.

Friday 3/7/2014 Training and teaching sessions for men continued on the second day. Soke taught his special Saito-ha Shito-ryu Kata techniques. On the second session a Bo Kata was taught which was exciting and well received by the students who enjoyed the skill and the unique style of teaching.

The event was covered by the Isfahan Broadcasting organization and was also aired on the national TV with a number of commentaries on the importance of the honored guests in the world of Karate. Soke also conducted an interview which was aired on the national channels.

Isfahan Broadcasting interviewing Sensei Majid Erfanmanesh assists Shand Tabatabaie Sensei, official trans- Soke Saito. in the translation. lator for our guests. Although Soke Saito could speak a little Farsi, Amir Shihan assured everyone that most of the instruc- tions would be clearly understood by hiring the service of Sensei Shand Tabatabaie. He was most patient and articulated the main points of the course very professionally and made it possible for Soke’s ses- sions to be most successful.

Shihan Amir Mahdavi, TKFI Director and the president of Iran's Traditional Shito Ryu Karate-do, thanked Soke for accepting the invitation to visit Isfahan and expressed the team's appreciation for the work and effort presented by the guests. Shihan Ali Kamali, the president of Isfahan Shito Karate, followed with his expression of thanks to the guests. Then Shihan Morteza Zamani, the president of Hayashi ha Shito- ryu Karate club of Isfahan, representative of northeast style, Ostad Hamed Zafaranlo, Ostad Ali Davaiha (president of Isfahan Karate Group), each followed with their expression of welcome and gratitude.

9 A daily ritual between sessions was to meet at the Daily lunches after classes was not only tasty but a good time coffee house for chai and delicious cakes. to relax, laugh and to get to know one another.

Typical Persian main dishes are combination of rice with meat, lamb, chicken, or fish and some onion, vegetables, nuts, and herbs. The rice is exceptionally fluffy, not sticky and with saffron and a golden crust.

After completion of the men's session and lunch and a brief rest, Soke and Robert visited the office of Shihan Afshin Tabatabi (the President of Kyokushin Kai Karate of the Middle East) and continued with his teaching of Karate principles and techniques to advanced group of instructors. Shihan Tabatabi then presented one of his own written books to Soke.

The guests are then accompanied by Ostad Davaiha and Shihan Mahdavi to visit Ostad Mostafa Soltani (the president of Kan Zen Ryu style of Karate-Do in the province of Isfahan) who was recovering from an illness. Soke Del Saito was warmly received in the club and he explained the importance of main principles and basic concepts to be followed by all the students. Gifts were then exchanged between the guests and Ostad Soltani Kaicho.

10 Saturday 3/8/2014 Soke begins the Women Instructor’s Training session and technical teaching for the basic and advance stages. The all-female karate session (women typically do not train together with the men) caters to a wide range of girls and young women wearing their dogi as well as the customary hijab, a veil that covers the head and chest. The women are all eager to learn with enthusiasm, focus and unyielding spirit. They are also brave, hopeful and with high aspirations of becoming very successful in karate as well as in life.

After breaking for a brief visit to the tea house just outside of the venue for our daily ritual of chai, coffee and cakes, the women’s session continued to mid-afternoon where the fundamentals and principles of Kata were reviewed.

The women are eager to learn and take instructions very well. Soke Saito and Robert Senpai were impressed with their attitude and spirit. Some students traveled hundreds of miles to attend the clinics.

After lunch and relaxation Amir and Ebrahim Ramazani, who is one of the martial art and karate cham- pions of Iran, accompanied the guests to see Hotel Abassi complex and special royal reception areas related to Safavid and Qajar dynasties (16th to 18th century). These areas decorated with silver and gold plated walls and sculptures carvings and were designed by royal architects at the court of Shah Abbas Safavi.

After some site seeing, the guests were invited to have the traditional dinner at the open VIP reception area. After dinner the guests entered the special recreation to see the traditional athletic dance of young and fit champions in a special arena, called Zourkhaneh (or the house of power). Customarily, a special bell (zang) was rung, to call to attention when a hero or a champion entered the arena. The bell keeper (Morshed) rang the bell twice in honor of the guests who enjoyed a special performance by a skilled performer.

11 The guests then visited the "Maydan Naghsh-e-Jahan" (Global view square) which is registered by UN- ESCO as the world second largest square (built around 1605). Mr. Sadegh Shai Ibani, one of the candy shop owners in the perimeter of the square invited the guests to taste the special honey candies (Sohan) and a local sweet (Gaz) and presented the guests with some packages of candies to take home as a traditional hospitality gesture wishing the guests to share sweets with their students and friends.

Ebrahim Ramazani Sensei (Center), Se- Soke addresses the gen- Abassi Hotel was built at the time of king Sultan curity Coordinator provides grand tour eral assembly at Iran’s Hossein some 300 years ago. The guests await the of the Abassi Hotel which has 225 finest property. bell ceremony. rooms.

Beautiful decor and art adorns the ceil- A sumptuous and attractive garden Mr. Sadegh Shai Ibani (right), introduces ings, halls and rooms. in the courtyard is a must to see. Soke and Robert to some Iranian sweets.

The tour continued to the Grand Bazar of Ghaysarieh where some handcrafts and artifacts were exam- ined. Mr. Reza Rasouli (one of the karate instructors and manager of international public relations) pre- sented the guests with a couple of souvenirs to remember the occasion.

Other historical sites such as Ali-Ghapoo and Masjid-Shah and Masjid-Sheikh-Lotfolah were visited. The guests then retired at the Ali-Ghapoo hotel.

Sunday 3/9/2014 The instruction sessions for the women reconvened at 9 AM and Soke covered many fundamentals and advance Kata, including Seipai, Suparinpei, Gojushiho, Unshu and the Bassai series. After the com- pletion of the session, everyone had a good laugh sharing the concern of Soke that women couldn’t be touched while being instructed. Once informed that it was perfectly fine to do so, instructions from Senpai Robert and Soke went smoothly. The women then took every opportunity to introduce themselves while asking to take photos with our guests. Everyone had a great experience including the instructors which formed a solid foundation for mutual respect and understanding.

12 Around 2:30 the guests went to Shahrzad Restaurant for lunch. After some rest time the guests were accompanied to visit some of the oldest bridges built centuries ago over the then grand river Zayandeh Rood.

Then tea was served in a restaurant located in the base of Zagros mountain.

Khaju Bridge, built by Shah Abass II in 1650. Students gather around Soke and Robert on the Khaju Bridge.

Taking a breather under one of the arches of Shahrestan Bridge is the oldest bridge on the Zayandeh Rud. Khaju Bridge.

13 During the teaching and practicing classes, many of the region karate champions paid their respect to Soke and welcomed him and enjoyed his companionship. Some of those people were: Ostad Ali Kamali (Shito-ryu Shitokai), Morteza Nilforoushan (Kan Zen Ryu), Morteza Zamani (Shito-ryu Hayashi Ha), Reza Roohi (Wadoryu), Mohamad Eftekhari-Poor (Shito-kai), Mehdi Mir-Shamshiri (Wadokai), Ali Davay- iha (President of Isfahan Karate Group), Hossein Sharifi (Director of Isfahan Karate Club), Massoud Alam-Shiri (Shotokan), Hamid Khadem Khorassani (Shito-ryu), Hasan Salam-Poor (previous Head In- structor to National Iranian Karate Team), Javad Shirani (Manager of Kargaran sport stadium, who was one of the wrestling champions of Iran), Massoud Salehi (Director of REEF Sports Club), Mr. Yazdi- Zadeh (Assistant Director of Youth & Sport of Isfahan Province), Mr. Talebi (Vice President of REEF Club of Iran) and Mr. Vazir Zadeh (Representative of Isfahan Radio and TV).

Also from the Women section: Ms. Mahnaz Talebi (Vice president of Women's Traditional Shito-ryu Group of Iran) and Ms. Nahid Shahbazi (Vice president of Isfahan Karate Group).

Monday 3/10/2014 The guests visited the Jolfa area of Isfahan which is the residential area of Christian Armenians, and visited the Vanek Church which is one of the oldest historical buildings of Isfahan and the oldest church in Isfahan. The Chehel-Sotoon (40 pillars) monument was also visited (this is one of the old landmarks of the city depicting the traditional architecture of centuries ago. It is called 40 pillars due to the reflection of its pillars on the waters of the river it used to shine above.)

14 The guests were then invited by the management of REEF Sport Center to visit the center. This visit was organized by Amir Mahdavi who is the chief trainer of the club's Karate Club . After the customary introduction to officials and customary presentation of welcoming gifts in honor of the VIP guests, the office of Traditional Shito-ryu Federation of Iran and Asia was officially opened. Soke Del Saito initiated the opening ceremony by cutting the ribbon.

Mr. Massoud Salehi Exec Director of REEF Sports Club as- The new office of TKFI Shito-ryu in Iran and the Middle sists Soke in the ribbon cutting ceremony. In the back- East. ground Mr. Talebi (technical director of REEF), and Mr. Erphan.

The guests then visited Attar House which is a mansion renovated with the traditional architecture design through the support of Mr. Tabashiri, the executive director of Reef Group, and dedicated to charitable events. The next organized event was a visit to the sport club of Ostad Habibolah Nazarian. Mr. Nazarian was the president of Iranian Karate Federation for 15 years and a member of Asian Karate Federation Directorate. Mr. Nazerian welcomed Soke Del Saito, and recognized the social and international stature of Soke in a very complimentary speech admiring his world renowned techniques, philosophy, and skills. Then Ostad Nazerian, president of Iranian Shotokan, presented Soke with a traditional design gift to mark the occasion. (Soke was also invited to stay at this exquisite mansion on his next visit to Iran.)

15 Tuesday 3/11/2014 Initially, the plan was to fly to Shiraz, known as the city of poets, literature, wine and flowers. However, the trip had to be revised, and instead, Mr. Majid drove our guests in his Land Rover to the fifth most populous city, which took about 6 hours.

Mr. Majid, trusted driver with Persian rug, chai and sweets to Remains of the palace and tomb of Cyrus in , make the long journey to Shariz enjoyable. a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2006) On the way the group stopped at Passargad and visited the tomb of Kourosh Kabir (Cyrus the Great) who was the first king of Achaemenid dynasty (500 BC). The remains of palaces and stone writing of the time were also visited. They passed by Naghsh Rostam where the story of the kings of the time was carved on the side of the mountain. After passing by the tombs of some of ancient kings (Babak and Ardeshir), they visited the Zoroastrian Fire House. (Zoroastrians did not believe in temples as the place of worship, however, fire was sacred to them so they had fire houses in the community. The job of the fire keepers was to make sure fire and ashes remained smoldering at night to stay warm and making it easy to start the fire during the day). These monuments had survived dozens of centuries to tell a story of a civilization and beliefs of the Persian Empire.

The guests then traveled to which was used by Dariush I and Xerxes, the mighty kings of Persia, to receive dignitaries of the empire. The guests were welcomed and joined by representative of TKFI in the Province of Fars including Mr. Abbas Dehghan, Ostad Mohamad-Ali Hadian and Dr. Ghas- semi.

Adashir I, the founder of the Sasanian empire in ancient Persia. Tomb of .

16 Saito Soke and Robert Senpai then made a trip to Takht-e-Jamshid (), where the Iranian tourism organization had provided a guide to explain the historical value of the remains. The palace of Dariush III was burned down by after he defeated the Persian army and captured the palace and surrounding areas (330 BC).

The history, the magnificent architecture, the glory of Persian Kingdom, the Persian Ancestorial greatness is all fascinating. One can understand how the great people of ancient Persia appreciated art, peace, love, and human- ity.

One of the main attraction in a nearby location at that time was a huge walled in garden which is long gone and destroyed. The garden of the palace of Apadana was called "Pardis". The word "Paradise" is derived from that name.

17 The guests then entered the city of Shiraz and were welcomed by Mr. Entezam (Director of Karate Group of the province of Fars.) He was accompanied by one of chief trainers, Mr. Nejat. Soke enlight- ened the well wishers with his views of the sport and how to overcome potential issues related to ex- panding the sport. The guests were then invited to dinner and retired in Eram Hotel in Shiraz.

Wednesday 3/12/2014 The touring of the city and its historical locations continued. The (one the well known poets of Iran) was visited. The rain of the night left some freshness in the air and heralded the approach of spring in Shiraz. Then with the arrival of D. Ghassemi the group went to visit the Garden of Eram which is one of the historical sites of Shiraz. After lunch the guests returned to their hotel to prepare for their departure.

Khwāja Shams-ud-Dīn Muhammad Hāfez-e Shīrāzī, pen name Hāfez, was a Persian poet. His collected works com- posed of series of Persian literature are to be found in the homes of most people in Iran who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day.

In the Shiraz airport Mrs. Loghmani, the representative of women TKFI Shito-ryu of Fars, came to see the guests off. She had missed the welcoming of the guest due to a family emergency, however, felt compelled to see the guests and wish them well. She presented each guest with a book of poems to re- member their trip to Shiraz.

Mrs. Loghmani, TKFI Women Shito-ryu Rep- Shiraz International Airport serves as the largest airport in the south- resentative in Fars. ern region of Iran. 18 The return to Tehran went smoothly despite the traffic grid of Tehran. Everyone seemed to be getting ready for Nowruz which marks the first day of spring or Equinox, the beginning of the year in the Persian calendar. Drivers don’t wait for a gap in the traffic to turn, they create one. When a small window of op- portunity exists, without hesitation, they simply move ahead. This driving behavior is expected in this city which is one of the ten largest cities in the world.

The next day the guests were escorted to the airport by Amir Shihan to assure their smooth processing at the Tehran Komeini Airport and to continue their trip to Dubai and back to the United States.

The good memory of Soke's charisma and the visit of those friends will always remain with the Iranian people. They wish God almighty provide them health and success and happiness.

Congratulations to Amir Mahdavi Shihan for organizing the TKFI International Accredited Coaching Briefing Course and Technical Stage in Isfahan, Iran.

More Photos for Everlasting Memories

19 Saito Soke was the guest of honor at Isfahan’s Shotokan Karate Club.

20 21 Great view of Tehran from the Azadi Tower Senpai Robert takes full advantage of the dine and sleep ex- (Freedom Tower) which marks the West en- perience at an Isfahan restaurant. trance to the city.

Mr. Hassam Salam Pour (L), developing scien- tific studies on exercise for modern karate.

Farzaneh from Isfahan assists Soke Claudia Tamashiro, travel and Robert at the airport. neighbor from Brazil.

22 23 24 Summary

The trip to Iran was one of the most memorable one that Robert and I have ever experienced. The Iranian students were eager to learn everything we had to offer and their appetite for understanding our techniques and philosophy kept everyone training for hours without any breaks. Time just got ahead of us but no one ever complained.

Students took every opportunity to learn more about us and our American culture. They were curious to know how we felt about them. We were warmly received and all the neg- ative perception that was planted in our minds were immediately erased with their hos- pitality, friendliness and respect. They showered us with their kindness and gifts.

Classes were held separately for the men and women, which is foreign to American and European ways. Women’s legal status has changed during different political and historical eras, and they continue to strive for equality. During our initial curriculum, Robert and I were a bit reserved in our approach in conducting the classes. We were told by some that it was inappropriate to touch the women. We were soon corrected and teaching be- came more comfortable and enjoyable.

The sponsors and leadership of every karate and sports organization, welcomed us with open arms. They are doing a phenomenal job assisting Amir Shihan in the care of keeping all styles of karate at its highest level in Iran.

Our hosts love to eat and they treated us to superb Iranian cuisine. Most of their foods are served with fresh green herbs along with fruits such as plums, pomegranates, quince, prunes, apricots, and raisins. Their main dishes are combination of rice with meat, lamb, chicken, or fish and some onion, vegetables, nuts, and herbs. To achieve a balanced taste, characteristic Persian flavorings such as saffron, dried limes, cinnamon, and pars- ley are mixed delicately and used. Tartar sauce is generally served with shrimp, so if you ask for it with a fish dish, expect some resistance as Robert discovered.

The history of the Persian Empire is fascinating and dwarfs our infant history in compar- ison. Words cannot fully describe the true feelings that we experienced standing on the grounds where great kings ruled and beautiful palaces existed; where Alexander the Great (maybe not so great to many Iranians) had swept through the area such as Perse- polis.

Through karate, a common bond holds us close together with respect, encouragement and genuine friendship. Perhaps our country’s leaders can learn as we have, to work to- gether and live in peace.

Thank you for allowing us to share with you karate-do, our true American spirit, and our beliefs with you. Thank you for opening your hearts and sharing your attitudes and feel- 25 ings with us. We will keep the kindred spirit connected in our hearts.

Osu!

Del Saito, TKFI Soke Robert Burstein, Senpai and Assistant Published By: TKFI & Del Saito Soke Editors: Amir Mahdavi Shihan Mr. Pirouz Pirnia

Printed By: Precision Printing

For copies, please order at: [email protected]

Acknowledgements

Motoshakeram to Amir Mahdavi Shihan for his kindness and hospitality. We certainly appreciate all the special touches that has made our classes successful, and our time in Tehran, Isfahan and Shariz most enjoyable.

Special thanks to Mr. Pirouz Pirnia of Connecticut for translating the many correspondence with Mr. Amir Mahdavi and I to as- sure us a successful event. We are grateful for teaching us the Iranian culture and even taking the time to send us samples of Iranian money (rials or “toman”).

Thanks to Mr. Ken Khosroabadi of Oregon for sharing his travel experi- ence in Iran and assuring us that we have nothing to worry about; for inviting our families to his house in Ashland to experience the Iranian cui- sine; and to introduce us to his Iranian friends.

We would like to also thank all the dignitaries, students and supporters who took the time to attend the classes and who made a special effort in meeting and welcoming us with open arms.

Domo arigato gozaimashita to Sensei Jim Hamilton, princess Misty, Cece and to all the assistants and students who helped in the classes during our absence.

26