Classical Fighting Arts The Authentic Martial Disciplines of China, Japan, and Okinawa Publisher David Chambers Editor Robert Dohrenwend Ph.D Okinawan Art Director Robert Lloyd Karate Seminars Director of Sales Haruko Chambers Web Site Training in Okinawa: Alexandra Chambers, B.A. Copyright © 2012 by Dragon Associates Inc. What is it Really Like? All Rights Reserved. Summer 2012 Classical Fighting Arts (ISSN 1547-416X) “Knowledge is of two kinds. Published quarterly by We know a subject ourselves, Dragon Associates Inc. PO Box 6039. or we know where we can Thousand Oaks, California, 91359 find information on it.” USA subscriptions are available for —Dr. Samuel Johnson, 1709–1784 1 year $29 (4 issues); 2 years $49 (8 issues); 3 years $69 (12 issues) who was the best Canadian subscriptions (airmail): We used to regularly receive inquiries asking us 1 year $35 (4 issues); teacher to train with in a particular style, or who was best at kata, bunkai, free 2 years $65 (8 issues) fighting, and so forth. Of course, these questions are almost impossible to answer Overseas (airmail): 1 year $49 (4 issues); successfully given the many variables that exist. We would also be asked for intro- 2 years $95 (8 issues) ductions to famous karate teachers, which is always difficult because one never Please call (800) 717-6288 knows what the eventual outcome of an introduction might be. The student might to subscribe or visit our web site: be unhappy with the teacher, and vice versa. In both instances we would be blamed www.classicalfightingarts.org. for their dissatisfaction. Change of Address: Please advise us in writing There is also a very distinct communication problem inherent in these exchanges. (PO Box 6039 Thousand Oaks, CA 91359) For example, when the student asks for, “the best kata teacher” does he mean an or by e-mail: ([email protected]) instructor who can teach him how to rapidly overcome a violent opponent in a “life Important Notice: CFA magazine is not or death” situation using karate, or someone who will coach him for a sport karate responsible for replacing undelivered copies. kata championship, in order to acquire a plastic trophy. Similarly, we are asked for Periodicals postage paid at Thousand Oaks, CA, and additional mailing offices. “bunkai” instructors as if kata and bunkai teachers were the karate equivalent of POSTMASTER: Send address changes to such medical specialists as urologists and pediatricians. Classical Fighting Arts magazine We tired of explaining to people that any legitimate karate teacher should be PO Box 6039 Thousand Oaks CA 91359. capable of teaching a complete system, regardless of the style. I’m sure that many felt Advertising: To advertise in Classical Fighting Arts magazine that we were withholding information, but we were not. It was simply too difficult to please call toll-free (800) 717-6288. explain concepts that were obvious to us, but seemingly incomprehensible to others. All materials published herein are copyrighted Eventually we realized that the best solution would be to expose those seeking a and may not be used for commercial purposes, deeper understanding of karate to the source—the most senior Okinawan karate or reproduced elsewhere without the express written permission of Dragon Associates Inc. instructors of all styles—and allow them to draw their own conclusions. This we and/or the original copyright holder. did for the first time three years ago by organizing a series of seminars in Okinawa Articles appearing in Classical Fighting Arts may with the most respected senior instructors on the island. The results were extraor- only be used for educational and research purposes as permitted by the Berne Convention on copyrights. dinary. Experienced Western karateka, when confronted with genuinely traditional The views and opinions expressed herein karate were shocked, amazed, and then seized with a desire to learn as much of it are not neccesarily those of the publisher. as they could, as quickly as possible! Follow CFA Online! When we placed our invitation to attend an Okinawan karate immersion course in the pages of this magazine, the first group to respond was a diverse one. It included professional karate instructors, lawyers, a physician, business people, engineers, a Facebook: Twitter: journalist, a security consultant, a writer, a translator, college students, and a fac- Classical CFAMagazine Fighting Arts www.classicalfightingarts.org • Classical Fighting Arts 9 The Class of 2010: Front row, left to right: Jason Quero, Michael Galose, Yoshio Kuba Sensei, Taylor Prakken, Mickey Brock, Warren Graham. Second row: Paulo Bartolo, Ray Walter, Rick Wilson, Chris Denwood, Leland Pierce, Jeff Bickle. Third row: Rick Arter, Denis Boilard, Alexander Puchalski, David Isenberg, Jonathon Roll, Sarah Morse, Edward Comeau, Jon Berry. Fourth Row: Michael Kwasigroch. tory worker. They traveled from the UK, needed more resources, they were instantly ees had, what would be for many of them, US, Canada, Portugal, and Brazil, to Naha made available; if a student had a problem, their first sight of Uechi Ryu. Seiyo Itokazu International Airport to be met by a wel- people were set to work on solving it! So Sensei2 took them through the basics of the coming committee of senior members of the different from what one experiences with style and then on to Sanchin, the fundamen- Okinawa Prefectural Karate Do Rengokai, and CFA other karate organizations! tal kata of Uechi Ryu. He emphasized the magazine staff. The Rengokai provided the Okinawa need for body conditioning during his semi- This 2010 event created a blueprint upon Prefectural Budokan for the seminar venue, nar, a requirement which was not obvious which all subsequent events have been based. an impressive building of unique design that to many of our members until they tried to It was simple, practical, enjoyable—for both stands on the edge of Onoyama Park close block Itokazu Sensei’s (“polite”) punches. teachers and instructors—and rewarding to the East China Sea, bounded on one side The well conditioned arms of an Uechi for those of us who organized it. It also by National Highway 58, and on the other Ryu practitioner are weapons. As seminar did much to encourage openness among by the Kokubagawa River. The second floor attendee and journalist Rick Wilson noted: the more conservative Okinawan instruc- Rinsei Dojo in which we train is very large, “Equally impressive—or scary—were their tors who had initially balked at teaching light, and airy, with private changing rooms forearms, which sometimes appear to have publicly. One must remember that for many for students and teachers. Like the building been tattooed purple. Hours of kote kitai or veteran karate instructors, teaching still of which it is a part, its design is unique, arm pounding exercises have turned them means working with one or two students, in and ideally suited to its intended purpose into the equivalent of baseball bats.”3 a private dojo, behind closed doors.1 which, according to the legend above the Tsuyoshi Uechi Sensei taught the after- We also discovered from this first event entrance door, is: noon seminar on Isshin Ryu, a style only that working with the board members recently recognized by the Okinawan of the Okinawan Prefectural Karate Do “…A special place for training the mind authorities as traditional, (dento 伝統) large- Rengokai—our karate hosts, and the larg- and body. In the dojo, budo practitioners ly as a result of his efforts and those of the est karate organization in Okinawa—was must maintain discipline and show proper Rengokai. Quiet and unassuming, Uechi an amazing experience. President Isamu courtesy and respect. The dojo should pro- Sensei is a strong proponent of traditional Arakaki and Vice Presidents Minoru Higa vide a quiet, clean, safe, and solemn environ- training methods as can be seen from his and Zenpo Shimabukuro were efficient, ment.” fists, made hard and huge by years of organized, and fun-loving. If something dedicated makiwara training. Apart from went wrong, it was fixed immediately; if I On that first Monday morning our train- his obvious strength, his most impressive 10 Classical Fighting Arts • www.classicalfightingarts.org Classical Fighting Arts Contributing Editors Wm. Acevedo M. Eng. Kiko Asai-Ferreira B.A. Robert Dohrenwend, Ph.D. The Authentic Martial Disciplines Alan T. Francis, OBE of China, Japan and Okinawa Matthias Golinski, M.A. features are the quality and strength of his Charles Goodin, J.D. kata, which is truly superb. His front kick is Elizabeth Guo, B.A. remarkable for its speed and power, yet he might well be. Zenpo Sensei’s father was Stanley Henning, M.A. performs it without apparent effort.4 a senior student of Chotoku Kyan, (Chan David Hooper, Ph.D. On Tuesday morning, as the Prefectural Mi) a contemporary of Gichin Funakoshi. Brian Kennedy, J.D. Budokan in Naha was closed for mainte- Seibukan karate is distinguished by its Jeffrey K. Mann, Ph.D. nance, we piled into our bus and headed for power, speed, and punishing impact that is Mario McKenna, M.Sc. Gary Masterson M.D. generated by dynamic stance shifting as the Okinawa City, 15 miles north of the capital Richard Nguyen, M.D. city of Naha. The Okinawa City Budokan body is being “whipped” in the character- Graham Noble, B.Sc. was recently extensively refurbished to pro- istic Shorin Ryu fashion, a vital “power” Guy Power, M.A. vide a venue for the All Japan Gymnastic ingredient that is now absent in Shotokan Robert Redmond J.D. Championships, and now boasts superb karate. Alan Ruddock, B.Ed karate and judo dojos. We have the exclusive Like Zenpo Sensei, Kiyoshi Takamiyagi Dan Smith B.Sc. use of this huge facility when we train there, Sensei5 10th Dan Uechi Ryu is a fluent Charles Swift, B.Sc.