Ryukyu Coalition Preserving the Life Protection Arts of Okinawan Issue #9 Editor: Thomas L. Freeman Kata Tuite Kobujutsu Tools for the Classical Ryukyu Kempo Martial Artist. Atemi Kyusho Bogu Kumite Contents Mission Statement................................................................................... 3 Announcements...................................................................................... 4 Ryukyu Coalitions TiTan Games / Seminar SummerCamp............5 - 10 August 10-11 Parkville, MO . Interview with Seiken Takamine Hanshi.........................................11 - 14 Editor......................Thomas Freeman Contributing Photographer......... Robert Edgmond Ryukyu East Asian Martial Arts Coalition Ryukyu Coalition Founders: Koubushi/ Hanshi Bill Gossett - Seibushi/ Hanshi Steve Stark Mission Statement: Responding to the need for substantive martial arts training in the world. Offering multi dimensional and in-depth instruction in the ancient Ryukyuan martial arts. Striving to achieve courage, commitment and strengthening of the soul for every individual who recognizes and walks the Ryukyuan martial arts path in life. Mr. Steve Stark, Hanshi Mr. Bill Gossett, Hanshi Announcements So far, this has been an amazing year for the Ryukyu Coalition. Seibushi Stark and Koubushi Gossett have continued to spread the Old Ways of the Okinawan Life Protection Arts that they learned from Taika Oyata, to anyone wishing to be open, and expand their knowledge of Okinawa’s Martial Arts. This is the 9th issue of the Ryukyu Coalition newsletter and I feel it’s the best yet. We will be starting this issue off with the Annual Titan Games where we had some great competition for the karate-ka, to the Judo player, to wrestling. It was spirited to say the least. The next day was the seminar with special guest Seiken Takamine Hanshi from Long Island, New York. Congratulations to this years testers!!! Mrs. Laura Faith Hannah, Sho Dan Mr. Robert Bliss, Sho Dan It is with great pleasure that I get to introduce into the Ryukyu Coalition family, the Ryukyu Coalitions affiliation with Seiken Takamine and his Uchi Te Ryu Association!! Coming Attractions: our next issue, #10, will feature the Ryukyu Coalition Hawaii & Okinawa Tour 2013. Seminar in Long Island New York with Seiken Takamine, Hanshi at the Uchi Te Ryu Associations Hombu TBA Long Beach, CA Oct. 19, 2013 With Mr. Matt Seymour Sensei On Saturday August 10, 2013 in Parkville, From California, Mr. Matt Seymour treated Missouri the Titan Games returned. This is a us to a kata that I had never seen before, unique tournament in that it features three Ugushuku No Sai. Mr. Seymour worked different Martial Arts in one arena. Competitors this kata with unbelievable precision, speed compete in Karate , Judo, and Wrestling. and flow, it was truly a treat to watch. The whole area has mats from one end of the Mr. Jamaal Anderson wowed us with h i s gym to the other. At one end you had the demonstration of Shiho Happo Note. karate-ka performing the kata’s, and weapons Watching Mr. Anderson and his version of forms. Next to them were the Judo players this kata makes me understand how much throwing one another and working their pins. more work I need to do, it’s such a beautiful Then on down farther, you had the wrestlers kata. competing. On conclusion of the demonstrations, On the Karate end we started off with some competition started. Mr. Scott Hannah, Mr. well performed demonstrations of Ryukyu Mike Anderson, and I were given charge of Kempo’s kata, weapons and empty hands. I the Karate ring. started the demo off with a performance of Sanjaku Bo Kihon Kata. We started off with the empty hand kata, which was very spirited and enjoyable to Next up, was Mr. Scott Hannah, working his watch. version of Sansetsukan Kata ( this is the three sectional staff ). I had the privilege of As we were waiting to start the weapons learning this kata last year and know just division I was able to watch some of the how hard the weapon is to work. Seeing Mr. Judo competition. I had never seen a live Judo Hannah working this weapon with the fix-ups competition so this was a treat to me. he has received was amazing. What caught my attention was the way i n Mr. Mike Anderson worked his Sanjaku Bo which a young Judo-ka, eight or nine years old Dai kata which to me is always so strong and walked out onto the mat. You could just see the inspiring. look in her eyes, confident, focused and ready to go. It was amazing to see. Well she The banquet was held at the famous Kato’s Sushi Restaurant. This is the finest Japanese restaurants I have ever been to. preceded to throw and pin her opponent at will, After everyone had finished eating it was and when her opponent threw her, she got time to see if the testers had passed there right back up and was in his face. When you reviews earlier in the day. Mrs. Laura Faith see this kind of spirit, it is c a l l e d Hannah of Missouri received her Sho Dan. “Fudoshin” which means indomitable spirit! Mr. Robert Bliss of California also received When I see this in a young person, forged his Sho Dan. Each received hand written through Martial Arts training, it is awe certificates from Seibushi Stark and Koubushi inspiring to me! Gossett. The certificate’s were beautifully In weapons division we got to see students brushed by Mr. Gossett himself. work many different weapons. Sai, nunchukus, bo, kama and a unique kata with a Japanese fan. The next day was the seminar with special guest Seiken Takamine Hanshi from Long Island, New York. He taught Nunte Bo, gave us some background on the Nunte Bo and a very informative talk on why we work the weapons. As this was going on, Mr. Stark, Hanshi and Mr. Gossett, Hanshi were teaching everything from Shi Ho Happo No Te, to the Nunchuku, Bo, Fan and Nunte Bo - Nunte Sai kata’s and applications. After a day of total overload on knowledge, I hope to get home and remember what I have just been taught. It was a wonderful day, meeting new friends and seeing old friends, it could not get any better than this. If you ever get a chance to work with any of these true Martial Artist’s you will not be disappointed. The banquet was held at the famous Kato’s Sushi Restaurant. This is the finest Japanese restaurants I have ever been to. “New” Ryukyu Coalition Affiliation with Hanshi Seiken Takamine and the Uchi Te Ryu An Interview with Seiken Takamine, Hanshi Founder of International Uchi Te Ryu Association. Kokusai Uchi Te Ryu Renmei ­ By: Thomas Freeman Interviewed after the Annual Ryukyu Coalition TiTan Games/ Summer Camp Mr. Steve Stark, Mr. Bill Gossett, Mr. Seiken Takamine, Brothers training together 30 plus years under Taika Oyata TF: Sensei I want to thank you for allowing me ST: Taika’s family was wealthy so after the this interview. war, cause of his bloodline he was able to get a job. My family were just farmers, peasants. In ST: You are welcome. Okinawa you were born a fisherman, you died a fisherman! TF: I would like to start off where you were born and when? TF: When did you first meet Taika Oyata? ST: I was born on Nov. 30, 1945 in Yomiton ST: Late’s from Mr. Albert Geraldi and Mr. Okinawa. The bomb hit Hiroshima Aug. 6, 1945 Gerry Senese, Gerry hosted a seminar for Taika. and the Okinawan people were all captured and At the time I was going through a divorce. I had put into a camp. The Japanese peace treaty was no money, nothing, but I was still studying. Taika signed on Sept. 2, 1945. I was lucky to have been was struggling too, at this time he was eating tuna born at this time because most of the babies born can spaghetti. So I go through the seminar and before Aug. 6, 1945 did not live because of the translate a bit for Taika, and after he knocks me harsh conditions. to the floor a few times, I’m in la la land, we finished. After this, Taika suggests we go to a TF: So your childhood was pretty bad off then? Japanese restaurant. Here I am going through a ST: Yes, we all were. Taika too, but Taika’s divorce and I have no money. So Taika is family was wealthy. So he didn’t have to worry struggling too, but he had just made a few about food, etc hundred dollars on the seminar. He pulls out a hundred dollar bill and gives it to me and says TF:. You mentioned that you didn’t have any we’ll go out to dinner. I say to Taika, I don’t electricity until the 50’s. know how I am going to pay this back. He says that's ok, come with me. That's the day I made ST: (Big laugh) Yeah, there was nothing my mind up, this is the man I want to train with there. They leveled the whole island. The only and I trained with him ever since. Of course I thing left were a few trees. paid him back. Day in day out! Sometimes we would stand there and double block, single block for 2 - 3 hours at a time. TF: What was the training like? Did everyone line But eventually the light bulb came on. But you got up and throw so many kicks and punches? to ask questions and you got to answer your own questions. Then the light bulb comes on! Until then ST: Day in, day out! Sometimes we would stand you never see it.