Pine Waves, Vol. 10, No. 1 March 2006 Page 1 Registration Fees: Don’t Miss the 2006 Spring Student or Regular Seminar! Day of Training Family Individual Sensei Robert Fusaro Guest Member Instructor! Friday only or ½ $25 $15 Saturday © Saturday only $50 $30 AAKF NorthWest Region Vancouver, WA – Sensei Robert Fusaro has JKA-US NorthWest, Inc. visited the Northwest several times, but it has been Sunday only $25 $15 Friday & Saturday Vol. 10, No. 1, March 2006 some time since he was in Vancouver, OR Washington. This is the center of our Region, making it possible for those who might not Saturday & $70 $50 Mark Your Calendar!! otherwise be able to see Sensei Fusaro at past Sunday Friday, Saturday, Summer Seminars to get the opportunity to attend $80 $60 & Sunday his classes. Spring Sensei Vancouver, Lodging April 7-9 Robert Sensei Fusaro is one of Sensei Nishiyama’s Seminar WA Shilo In Fusaro original students, and one of the highest ranking th non-Japanese black belts in the world. He is an 401 E 13 Street Judges’ Sensei Corvallis, May 6 Vince excellent instructor who teaches the concepts and Vancouver, WA Seminar OR Nistico principles of karate in a way that is easy to Reservations: 360-696-0411 Northwest understand. Call for group rate: Corvallis, May 7 Regional Group name: JKA-USNW OR Tournament Event Schedule Reference Number: 040706JK June AAKF Albert Laguna National Friday April 7…………………7:00 – 9:00pm Guests Rate 10-11 Cheah Hills, CA Room Room Championship per Per ITKF Type Tax & VTA July AAKF San Diego, Saturday, April 8……………10:00 – 12:00pm Room Room Summer Lunch………………..12:00 – 1:30pm 15-21 Office CA Camp ………………………1:30 – 3:30pm Non- August Summer Sensei Coos Bay, Smoking 10.1% + $64.95 per Nishiyama Double 1 - 4 $2.00 11-13 Seminar OR Kyu Exams…………………...3:45 – until done night Queen per night September Sensei Corvallis, Instructors: have exam paperwork done Fall Seminar Chris ahead of time!! Room 15-17 Smaby OR World October Saskatoon, Group Dinner after exams: Location TBA Championship Contact for more information: Canada 6-7 Gil Hartl Sunday, April 9………………9:00am – 11:00am Work: 541-259-1211 Cell: 541-401-3006 Email: [email protected] Pine Waves, Vol. 10, No. 1 March 2006 Page 2 NorthWest Region Hosts Celebratory The Bridge SENSEI NISHIYAMA LEADS Retirement Dinner for Bob Graves 2006 WINTER SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS COME FROM An old man going a long high way Hazel Dell, WA – nearly 100 people packed the ACROSS THE U.S. Hostess House in Hazel Dell, WA to celebrate Bob Came, at the evening cold and gray, To a chasm vast and wide and steep, Graves’ retirement, Saturday evening, February 25. Vancouver, WA – The 2006 Winter Seminar was With water rolling cold and deep. Invitations to the event were sent out all just one and a half days this year so the Regional The old man crossed in the twilight dim, over the country. A grand search went on at the Council could hold its biannual meeting early. same time to find people who were early students The sullen stream had no fears for him, Usually, the meeting is held on the Saturday evening and friends and had dropped out of sight for many But he turned, when safe on the other side, of the Seminar, but this year that night was reserved years. And built a bridge to span the tide. for Bob Graves! The gathering was on of a big loving “Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near, Once again, it was our honor to have Sensei family who hadn’t seen each other, in some cases, “You are wasting your strength with Nishiyama as guest instructor, and he was in fine in 20 or 30 years. building here, form, very animated and looking fit! Famous (and infamous stories) filled the Your journey will end with the ending The turn out was excellent and included air along with laughter and discoveries of friends day, noted karateka from all over the U.S. Those not seen in a long time. You never again will pass this way, participants who came from out of the Region to help Ron Porzio, Don Tilson, and Hank Bach You’ve crossed the chasm deep and wide, celebrate Bob Graves’ retirement did not have to pay played guitar and sang providing wonderful Why build you this bridge at eventide?” registration fees. background music while everyone talked, drank The builder lifted his old gray head, Saturday’s exams went well, and included and ate veggies before being seated for an candidates for fourth dan and sixth dan. excellent dinner. “Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said, Bob Ems was the organizer and coordinator of the very successful event. While “There followeth after me today, guests ate, he wandered through the tables, A youth whose feet must pass this way. Sensei Toru Shimoji Leads microphone in hand, encouraging people to stand The chasm that was as naught to me, 2005 Fall Seminar and share their stories and reminiscences of “Bob”. To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be. The stories brought sore stomach muscles He, too, must cross in twilight dim, from laughter and silent, personal, heartfelt tears. Good friend, I am building this bridge for Corvallis, OR – The NorthWest Region was Jerry Fitzpatrick read a poem (“The him”. honored to have Sensei Toru Shimoji from JKA- Bridge” reprinted below) in honor of Bob Graves By Will Allen Dromgoole US South Atlantic Region (SAR) come as guest and Sensei Nishiyama. instructor for our Fall Seminar. The next to last person to speak was Sensei Nishiyama. At the end of his short speech, Sensei Shimoji is known across AAKF he presented Sensei Graves with a special Regions as a popular and dynamic instructor. certificate – conferring on him eighth dan. We were not disappointed! The last one to speak was the guest of Remember: AAKF memberships are Friday evening was the blackbelt only honor himself, humbly, quietly, thanked everyone due session. Even though some of our seminars for coming and sharing these special moments. have the first session as “blackbelt only”, lower Pine Waves, Vol. 10, No. 1 March 2006 Page 3 ranks are always welcome as observers. Black Belt Magazine There is always something to learn by just watching and listening. This session se the January 2006 inaugurated 2006 with an interview of Sensei foundation for Saturday’s sessions. Friday’s Issue Black session was well-attended with about 25 or Nishiyama in its karateka filling Corvallis’ dojo. Belt January 2006 issue. Even warm-ups can be a lesson in Magazine Advertisement of the From: American Amateur Karate Federation themselves. Watch the difference between a interview was To: AAKF Members Interviews Re: 2006 Events master and students during warm-ups. A emblazoned across the Sensei top of the cover so that master knows the “why” behind each exercise Dear Member, Nishiyama it was clearly seen and uses that to enhance study and training. As you know, the International Olympic Students just follow along without the when the magazine Committee 9IOC) General Meeting last November dynamics of each exercise. was sitting among other magazines on the denied the application of World Karate Federation The rest of the Fall Seminar had a store shelves. 9WKF) for karate as an Olympic sport. very good turnout, filling the Boys and Girls This is a very good interview of Although this news came as a shock to the Club gymnasium in Corvallis. Sensei Nishiyama, and if you collect general public, interest in WKF karate had already interviews of Sensei, this is definitely one to been going down because, step by step, the WKF had made their rules similar to Tae Kwon Do’s rules. keep. It is well-written and informative. Nearly 30 Karateka Fill Corvallis Karate This issue was already gone from Public support only came because of WKF store shelves by mid-December. To order propaganda that karate would soon become an School for Gonzales Benefit Olympic sport. But this time the IOC decision your own copy, contact Black Belt magazine: clearly showed that WKF karate is not going to be www.blackbeltmag.com , Black Belt Corvallis, OR -- Last year, Eugene Karate Club’s included in the Olympic games. Communications, LLC, 1-800-423-2874. At this moment, as public interest in WKF David Gonzales suffered a serious injury to his eye karate is rapidly going down, it is important that each while in karate class. To help David defray expenses, the Corvallis Karate School held a AAKF member demonstrate to the public that benefit karate class. Nearly 30 karateka from Traditional Karate and WKF karate are completely and fundamentally different in order to avoid sinking around the Region attended the successful benefit. Sensei Jerry Fitzpatrick, who had recently with WKF karate. Also, this is our best chance to moved back to Oregon, was invited to be the guest continue the development of our Traditional Karate. For this purpose it is necessary to raise each instructor at the benefit. The Region couldn’t have New Address: asked for a better instructor for the benefit! member’s level of technique. AAKF National Office Each year the International Traditional 1930 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1007 Karate Camp in San Diego continues to increase the Los Angeles, CA 90057 technical development of participants. Each AAKF Tel: (213) 483-8262 member club must try to send their coaches, judges Fax: (213) 483-4060 and athletes to the International Camp so as not to fall behind other countries in there technical development.