Change is Inevitable but when & how are everything
Peter Urban (www.usadojo.com)
For those of us that practice Goju-ryu, or any “style” of Karatedo for that matter, change is inevitable. Each student of Miyagi Chojun had his own unique and “correct” way with respect to passing on his curriculum, but who is to say what is “right” or “orthodox” or “correct”? Its a difficult question and not one easily answered. Take this recently posted youtube video of the late Peter Urban of American Goju-ryu performing the kata Sanseru. What are we to make of it? Is it “right” or “wrong”? How are we (if at all) going to determine this?
Its my own opinion that the only real “tradition” found in Okinawa Karatedo is the tradition of change. Each subsequent generation adds, eliminates, or modifies the tradition they inherit from their teacher(s). Goju-ryu is no exception. Case in point, look at all the different off-shoots of Goju-ryu that have come into existence since the death of Miyagi Chojun. In a little over 60 years there are now literally dozens. The success (or lack thereof) of these off-shoots and their respective changes brings up a few interesting observation, that the success of these changes is partly the result of the experience of the teachers and the degree to which they stayed within the paradigm of “Goju-ryu”. In other words, what is important is when and how these changes were made. As I have posted earlier, change is not inherently a bad thing, but needs to be done within the confines of the shu-ha-ri model which in turn assumes a level of maturity and experience of the practitioner.
Minowa no Kon (Dai)
I’m amazed again at Yoshimura sensei’s generosity and openness. This time he has uploaded a video for Minowa no kon (dai) on youtube. This is the kata developed by Minowa sensei for the roku shaku bo (6′ staff). It is an extremely complex and challenging kata that is taught almost at the very end of the curriculum. I don’t think I’ll be doing this kata any time soon – way above my pay grade. Still, I hope you enjoy the kata and gain a little insight into the ideas and techniques of Minowa Katsuhiko.
The Great Student Exodus
There’s an interesting phenomena that occurs in Canadian dojo with the changing of the seasons known as the “great student exodus” 
Simply put, you will find that as the temperature begins to rise outside, the number of students that attend Karatedo or Kobudo class begins to decrease. The scientists call this a “negative correlation” where large values of one variable are associated with small values of another. In this case, temperature and the number of students.
Now at one level I can’t blame people for this (its part of human nature I suppose). Canada can get pretty cold in the winter (unlike tropical Okinawa) and come May, Canadians are itching to get outside after being cooped up for half the year. Karatedo and Kobudo being indoor activities as soon as the temperature starts to rise, people want to go outside. Good I say. Go get some fresh air.
But on the flip side of things, perhaps they shouldn’t bother coming back. Hear me out for a moment before I am labeled as being “too harsh”. Its one thing to take a planned vacation away from things, or take time away from practice when work or family demands are pressing. But to systematically drop out of practice when the weather begins to warm, well…quite frankly Karatedo or Kobudo is not a priority for you, and maybe its time to re-evaluate why you practice. Karatedo and Kobudo are not “hot yoga” practice or some other recreational pass time. They’re actually their antithesis – they require commitment, dedication, hard work, but more importantly a nurturing and family-like atmosphere to participate in them.
Shorin ryu – Shidokan
Gojushiho (Useishi) - Tokyo Shorinkan
Although I’m not a Shorin ryu practitioner, I enjoy watching all Okinawa Karatedo. Below you can find some good performances of Shorin ryu Kata by the Tokyo Shidokan branch as well as by the Okinawa hombu dojo. Enjoy!
Gojushiho (Ueseishi)
Naihanchi Shodan
Kusanku (sho)
Pinan Shodan
Knife Disarming
Chinto
Koryu Passai
Naihanchi Shodan
Naihanchi Sandan
Minowa Katsuhiko & Ryukyu Kobudo
- Minowa Katsuhiko (1928 – 2003)
Over the past few days I’ve found myself thinking more and more about Minowa Katsuhiko, my Ryukyu Kobudo teacher. Mostly it’s been random memories of him on just about everything – technique, kata, applications, talking about Taira Shinken, his sense of humor, his stubbornness. Then I think about when he passed away in 2003. It was about 6 months after I had come back to Canada. It was a complete and utter shock to me at the time. Minowa sensei had not only been my teacher, he kindled and instilled a love for Kobudo that remains in me to this day. I remember being so overwhelmed initially and just too depressed to do anything. But some good did come out of it as in the weeks that followed I got off my behind and started teaching. That was nine years ago and I haven’t stopped. I think it was a good way to honor what he taught me. Still, there are times in all honesty when I’ve felt tired and wanted to quit. It sometimes seems no one else really cares, but those sorts of thoughts are just selfish.
What I came to realize is that Kobudo and Karatedo are disciplines (like any other) that can help you be strong enough to endure the challenges of life. They allow you to see and feel each and every encounter that comes into your life - illness, death, life, happiness, joy, sadness. Part of this discipline includes studying under a good teacher – not just a good technician, or someone pedagogically good, but a “good” teacher – some one who is both a good human being but also fallible. Our teachers are models for us and a means of imparting strength to us. We need them in death as much as we needed them in life in some respects because they serve to inspire us to keep moving forward; despite how much we may falter.
Philadelphia Freedom
Source: http://www.visitphilly.com/museums-attractions/philadelphia/the-rocky-statue-and-the-rocky-steps/
So next week I’ll be in Philadelphia for two days for work. I won’t have much time, but was hoping to get in a practice at a good Kobudo or Goju-ryu dojo. But, after a bit of looking and asking around, there doesn’t seem to be much out there. Too bad. I guess I’ll just stick to the weight room at the hotel for a bit of heavy lifting and some Kata practice.
Chiishi
A New Batch of Chiishi
A senior student at the dojo, Brent, made a new batch of chiishi (not chishi as some spell it – its chi(kara) + ishi or “strength stone” – there, my mini rank is over). So tonight I think we’ll be having a good, old-fashioned chiishi training session! And remember, you should be lifting 2 to 3 times a week – traditional and modern. Not sure how to start? Then take a look at this earlier post.
Caring Canadian – Kinjo Sensei
I am so happy to hear that Kinjo Yoshitaka sensei (9th dan – President Gohakukai Canada) is one of only a handful of recipients to receive this year’s Caring Canadian Award from the Governor General of Canada on April 17. This is truly a great honor and a wonderful recognition of Kinjo sensei’s work with all communities. Congratulations Kinjo sensei.
Nothing New Under the Sun
Just ignore the opponent in the photo. What kata does it remind you of?
I enjoy reading through old books on just about any topic (well, almost any topic). They provide a window into the past and provide you with some direction of where you want to go. The other day I was reading through “Farmer” Burns’ Lessons in Wrestling & Physical Culture and was struck by the similarity of the Catch-As-Can wrestling techniques shown and the postures found in traditional kata. Of course it goes without saying that the human body hasn’t changed much in in the last century, millennium, or even farther back. Therefore it goes without saying that the methods and techniques used to disable it haven’t changed much either. No culture, country, generation, etc has a monopoly on these methods. “Farmer” Burns understood that, do you?
Soeishi no kon
Yoshimura Hiroshi Sensei
My Kobudo sensei, Yoshimura sensei, has recently adopted Youtube. Much to my delight and surprise he has uploaded a video of Soeishi no kon (which he learned from Minowa sensei); a very advanced bo kata not taught until almost the end of the syllabus – and rarely seen. Its performed at slow speed – Enjoy. I’m very much looking forward to Yoshimura sensei’s visit this fall!
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