PAWMA News Uniting and Empowering a Diverse Community of Women and Girls in the Martial Arts

PAWMA News Uniting and Empowering a Diverse Community of Women and Girls in the Martial Arts

PAWMA News Uniting and empowering a diverse community of women and girls in the martial arts. Vol. 35 No. 3 Summer 2012 PAWMA Camp 2012 August 3-5, 2012, Berkeley High School, Berkeley CA Camp Info • Housing, Meals, and Transportation info • Teachers • Group Rebates Living Legend: Fukuda Keiko Shihan Frances Christie Shihan Keiko Fukuda, 10th dan, is one of the most important masters in the art of judo. Sensei Fukuda has dedicated her whole life to judo for over 77 years; from her first years in the Women’s Section of the Kodokan in the 1930s, invited to study there by Jigoro Kano who was the founder of judo, till the present day. Her grandfather, Hachinosuke Fukuda, was the first of the three Ju-Jitsu masters who taught Kano Shihan. Kano Shihan sent her out into the world to spread the teaching, tenets, and philosophy and Kodokan judo. Fukuda Shihan’s accomplishments and awards are numerous. In 2011 she was granted 10th dan in judo by USA Judo and US Judo Federation, the first woman ever to be honored in this way. Fukuda Shihan first visited the US in 1953, and settled in San Francisco in the 1960s to teach Judo at Mills College and eventually at her own dojo, Soko Joshi Judo Club in San Francisco, where she still teaches. Photo copyright Flying Carp Productions Fukuda Shihan demonstrated Ju No Kata with Noritomi Sensei at the Olympics in Tokyo in 1964 and published a book in 1973, Born for the Mat: A Kodokan Kata Textbook for Women. She has also published a book studying the finer details of Ju No Kata. She has traveled to teach all over the world, and has held numerous positions in The United States on the local and national PAWMA News • Vol. 35 No. 1 • Winter 2012 2 Levels, such as Technical Advisor, Promotion Committee Chairperson, Board of Examiners Chairperson, Chief Advisor, and Head Kata Judge. Fukuda Shihan is the founder of the annual Joshi Judo Camp that for more than thirty years has brought together women from all over the United States. Over forty years ago she began the Kagami Biraki ceremony in San Francisco which is the annual New Year’s Celebration that mirrors that of the Kodokan. Fukuda Shihan is the founder of the Fukuda International Kata competition that reunites Judo family from all over the world every October. Over the years, she has taken her students to numerous teaching engagements and competitions nationally and internationally, including the USA Senior National Kata Championships, The World Master Athlete Championships that bring together competitors from numerous countries, and the first Pan American Judo Union Kata Championships in 2000, an historic event. All her efforts are intended to challenge and to nurture the spirits of her students and friends who love Judo. In numerous ceremonies celebrating her 88th birthday and her many accomplishments, San Francisco’s Mayor Willie Brown gave Fukuda Sensei a special award to commemorate the creation of a “Keiko Fukuda Day” as part of a festival of martial arts. It is no wonder that the Emperor of Japan recognized Fukuda Sensei as a National Living Treasure of Japan in 1990, honoring her with a Medal of Honor, The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette. Shihan Fukuda embodies her motto: Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be Beautiful. Pat Harrington, judoka from Australia published a book about Shihan Fukuda: Bow from the Heart. Recently, Yuriko Gamo Romer debuted a film celebrating Shihan Fukuda’s many accomplishments and amazing life: Mrs. Judo: Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be Beautiful. Single Class Registration Available for Opening Class with Shihan Keiko Fukuda PAWMA is especially blessed and honored as it approaches the occasion of its 35th annual training camp. The opening class on Friday night, Aug 3, will be taught by a Living National Treasure of Japan and pioneer of women’s martial arts, "Mrs Judo" herself, Shihan Keiko Fukuda, 10th Dan. We don’t want anyone to miss this unique opportunity to learn from the highest ranking woman in Judo. We are offering a special one-class registration for those who are unable to attend the full camp. Registration for Opening Class includes admission to the Saturday night martial arts demonstration. Click here for details and to register for opening class only. The opening class with Fukuda Shihan is included in the full PAWMA camp. You do not need to register separately for Opening Class if you are coming for the full camp. The Opening Class registration fee can apply toward full camp registration for anyone who later decides to attend the full camp. Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists 2 PAWMA News • Vol. 35 No. 1 • Winter 2012 3 Fukuda Shihan will teach Ju No Kata, one of the seven official Kodokan Judo katas. Fukuda Shihan has devoted much of her life to intensive study of this kata, which exemplifies the principle of strength with gentleness. Ju No Kata consists of 15 techniques of self-defense, performed very slowly with no throws or falls. Although it is very advanced, it is a beautiful kata and ideal for women. It can teach a lot about timing and the principles of tai sabaki, or repositioning, and all participants should be able to learn from this practice. Shihan Fukuda will be assisted by several of her black belt students, who are experienced practitioners of the kata. Two of them will demonstrate the kata, followed by a breakdown of each technique. Camp 2012 Jennifer Argle, Editor, PAWMA News It is nearly time for PAWMA’s annual training camp and this year it promises to be quite an event. Over the nearly 35 years since PAWMA’s first camp the locations, accommodations, and classes offered have all changed however the spirit that drives us to gather, share, and inspire one another still remains strong. Also, the hallmark of our annual camp is the high level of instructors the board attracts and this year is no different. In addition to the other great instructors we have this year, we are honored and excited to have Shihan Keiko Fukuda teaching the opening Friday night class! Recently, the newsletter has published several articles from women who organized and participated in some of the earlier camps to provide a better understanding of what sparked the idea to start PAWMA and what those early camps were like. This issue also includes a previously published article from Professor Coleen Gragen outlining her vision (in 1988) for PAWMA and women’s martial arts in general. A lot has changed over the years and although there are more women training in martial arts now it’s still a very male-dominated art/sport, which brings to mind two of PAWMA’s vision statements: We come together at our annual Camp, and other events held throughout the Pacific region, to share our joy in the martial arts, our stories, our challenges, and expand our skills and knowledge, and to recharge our energies for our work in the world. We offer women a vision of the possibilities available to them, and offer the world a view of the vast diversity of women martial artists. Both of these statements are at the heart of what PAWMA is all about. Our annual camps help inspire not just the women who attend but the men and women around us! Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists 3 PAWMA News • Vol. 35 No. 1 • Winter 2012 4 However, PAWMA is at a crossroads today with more resources available for female martial artists of all styles to gather and train together. Twenty-four years after Professor Gragen’s article was published how do you see PAWMA growing in the future? A few weeks ago the PAWMA board sent out an email with a link to a survey to gather your thoughts. The deadline for the survey has passed. If you didn’t have a chance to respond I encourage you to contact the board via email or on Facebook with any ideas or suggestions you might have! See you at camp! Notice of Annual Membership Meeting Rosanne Boudreau, President The annual membership meeting will be held on Sunday August 5 at 12:15pm in Berkeley High School’s Jacket Gym, during PAWMA camp. All current PAWMA members are invited and encouraged to attend. We will provide a box lunch to camp attendees so when you register for camp, be sure to note any dietary considerations you may have. In accordance with article 4, section 8 of the PAWMA bylaws, this serves as notice of the annual meeting. Working Agenda 1. Financial Report 2. Membership Report and Camp Attendance 3. Format, Location and Dates of Camps o Survey Results o Discussion 4. Setting a new Two-Year Plan: o Format, etc., of 2013 and 2014 PAWMA Camps If you have a topic you want to bring before the membership at the annual meeting, please email Rosanne Boudreau president@pawma.org. Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists 4 PAWMA News • Vol. 35 No. 1 • Winter 2012 5 Self-Defense Success in Grenada - Part 1: Nobody’s Buddy Chantrelle Johanson Editor’s note: This is a harrowing account of an incident that occurred several years ago in Grenada and underscores the importance of being aware of your surroundings and listening to your inner voice. Thursday afternoon I came home from the store to drop off groceries before heading back out to pick up my son from school at 3:00. I was inside for maybe 20 minutes and when I came out, the back tire on the car was completely flat.

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