THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE YOSHUKAN KARATE ASSOCIATION Winter 2020 SENSEI DOMETRICH PROMOTED TO 9TH DAN, HANSHI GRADE Sensei Devorah Dometrich, Chief Instructor of the RYU KYU KOBUDO HOZON SHINKOKAI (Okinawan Weapons Preservation Society) has been promoted to 9th Dan, Hanshi (Grand Master grade) by her group of 29 Shibu (Senior Students). Sensei Dometrich has devoted her life to studying and teaching the ancient okinawan weapons comprised of: Bo; Tekko; Nunchaku; Sai; Tonfa; Tinbe; Eku; and Kama. Sensei has developed a large community of senior teachers in three countries and spends a tremendous amount of time each year driving across North America and promoting her art. A consistent visitor to the Yoshukan Karate Association summer camp, Sensei has developed a new group of kobudo Kancho Robertson presenting Sensei Dometrich with a Red Belt on behalf of the Continued on Page 2 Canadian Kobudo students, with Sensei Steve Kabboord hosting KANCHO CORNER IN THIS ISSUE COURAGE 4 Karate Excellence Yoshukan Karate Years ago I was a witness to a purse-snatching. I was sitting in traffic and 5 Association a woman had her purse snatched and began screaming. I quickly parked Tournament and took off after the snatcher. This was in upper Westmount and the man ran down into lower Westmount. Another man on the sidewalk also took 6 Athletes des Jeux du pursuit and he and I were scouring the back alleys of the area looking for Quebec Par Excellence the snatcher. We eventually gave up on the pursuit and walked back to the 7 Multi-Dojo Exam area we started. Open House and Belt It was only then that I realized this man had multiple sclerosis and was 8 Awards Ceremony struggling with walking. I reflected that it didn’t take much courage for me, Continued on Page 2 11 Hochelaga Dojo Sensei Devorah Dometrich Kancho Corner Continued from Page 1 Continued from Page 1 advocates in Canada. Many of the Yoshukan Black Belts now a young, fit lion, 3rd Dan at the time, to take chase. But this hold ranks in both Karate-do and Kobudo due to Sensei’s man, who struggled with walking, was willing to confront a efforts. young, potentially armed thief. That was – Courage! As is the case with most martial arts organizations, there Over the course of my business life, I have come across is a time when the association promotes their teacher to a other rare examples of courage. People that speak truth to higher rank. This is exactly what has taken place with: Masami power. People that aren’t afraid to chart a different course than Tsuruoka; Shane Higashi; Mike Foster and Masaru Inomoto. their group. People that stand up for integrity in spite of intense It was time for our kobudo association to do the same for our pressure. People that won’t let themselves be influenced by teacher. The 29 Shibu were unanimous in promoting Sensei to greed or dishonesty for personal gain. These ‘heroes’ are few her new rank (she had been 8th dan for many years) and most and far between. They stand out because of the rarity of their were at the Embu Tai Kai. They also sent along the following principles. They won’t be influenced or pushed into behaviour comments: that they know is wrong. They show ‘courage’. “I am totally for Sensei being promoted!!! Would she In this era of feckless leaders and cowardly politicians, it is accept 10th dan, I don’t know? She is most deserving of this too easy to not stand up for what is right. Let’ all follow the lead for sure!” of that courageous man running into dark alleys after a thief and realize that doing what is right…is the only thing to do. Best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday and a prosperous 2020! Embu Tai Kai Ceremony (Remembering those that have left us) in Satellite Beach, Florida. The names of our teachers is on the scroll on the wall Sensei Dometrich Embu Tai Kai “Looks and sounds great!!! Great job, I am excited about this!!“ “I am all for her promotion to either 9th or 10th” “Yes. I am all for it.” “Definitely overdue to promote Sensei to 9th or 10th degree. She has devoted her life to spread the teachings of Akamine Sensei. “ “I know I must be the low man on the totem pole. But from my low position I certainly agree that Sensei Dometrich deserves the promotion along with our respect and admiration.” “Thank you so much for including me. It is an honour for me. This is so well deserved.” “Thank you for your email and I am more than willing to support Sensei’s promotion” “We are in agreement with you 100% – Sensei is long over- due for this promotion to 10th Dan. No reservations on our end” Sensei Provencher learning Tawada No Sai ZANSHIN 2 “As long as Sensei Dometrich is on board I am fine with the promotion be it 9th or 10th” “I have no problem with the organization promoting Sensei” “Thank you again for organizing this recognition for Sensei’s immense contribution in martial arts” “Here,here, I’ve been training with this GREAT TEACHER since 1992. In my mind she already is a 10 dan. She will probably demote all of us for putting this forward!” “This is a wonderful honor to bestow upon our teacher.” “Great idea and well deserved” “Hell Ya…” “We are very pleased to hear of this development and completely support and celebrate it...This is an unquestionably well-deserved honor. We are grateful to be included among the signatories” “Thank you. It is my deep honor to be included in Sensei Dometrich teaching senior instructors, Sensei this endeavor” Kevin Gurganus and Sensei Michael Fleetwood “This is such a nice and well deserved honor for Sensei. Thanks for including me as a signatory.” “Thanks for letting us know. Hopefully, we will be able to “Thank you for including me on Sensei’s well-deserved attend the 2020 celebration” promotion. One of the best and technical kobudo instructors “I’m honored that my name will be included in the list of that I have ever met. She has been an invaluable asset to me” shibu. She deserves this more than anyone” There is no greater honour than having such a “I am in full agreement and whole heartedly endorse this distinguished group (all of whom hold senior budo ranks in decree. I would be proud and honored to be a signatory to this other arts) unanimously support this overdue recognition. document.” Congratulations Sensei! Sensei Dometrich’s senior students from across Canada and USA at Embu Tai Kai ZANSHIN 3 KARATE EXCELLENCE ZANSHIN 4 YOSHUKAN KARATE ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT Group Kick-off with SUDO Relaxing after Kata Renshi Provencher and SUDO Sensei Coffey coaching her fighter Shihan Rob coaching his students SUDO mascot ZANSHIN 5 Tournoi Yoshukan 2019 Villa girls are pleased! Villa Maria and NDG competitors Villa Maria group photo ATHLETES DES JEUX DU QUEBEC PAR EXCELLENCE – Melody Monfiston Our Mélody Monfiston was a finalist at the Montreal Sport Event! She came back with a fund of 250$ and a plaque.This is a once a year event that reunites the Montreal Sports alumni. 34 ESI Dinner - L Provencher, M Monfiston, R Khoury ZANSHIN 6 DECEMBER MULTI-DOJO EXAM Brown Belt exam + Black Belt pre-test Green Belt examinees Kamae Yellow Belt test Yellow Orange and Green belt exam ZANSHIN 7 YOSHUKAN OPEN HOUSE AND BELT AWARDS CEREMONY Regan + Bryce Fornek NDG Renshi Provencher Boxing Demo Briac Williams-Jones Gega Sai Here comes a Shuto! JuniKo #4 ZANSHIN 8 Kata Lea Quiao, Briac Williams-Jones Mawashi Geri Noa Widory, Gyaku Zuki ZANSHIN 9 Sammy’ Kumite workshop Sensei Bauernberger correcting technique Sensei Charles engineering an Ouchi Uke Shihan Rob demonstrating JuniKo Proudly promoted! ZANSHIN 10 HOCHELAGA DOJO Yoshukan DVDs – White Belt to 5th Dan All kata; Bunkai; Kumite; Ukemi; Kobudo and Gosin Jutsu ZANSHIN demonstrated by Kancho Robertson and Yoshukan Instructors. DVDs show complete system from White Belt to 6th Dan Black 436 Eddystone Road Belt levels in the Yoshukan System. Grafton, ON K0K 2G0 $25 Each or $45 for 2 or $60 for all three. Please add $15 Phone: 905.601.2880 for shipping & handling charges. Payments can be made Email: : [email protected] by credit card or check made out to: Yoshukan Inc. Website: www.yoshukankarate.com ZANSHIN 11.