Weekly Update August 17-22
Happy Monday!
All classes are running as scheduled this week.
Note: I apologize for getting the update out later than usual. A small contingent from our dojo travelled to Little Tokyo in Los Angeles over the weekend (details below) and I just got back home a few hours ago. Now, back to work! Thank you for your patience!
Matsubayashi Ryu Gathering In Little Tokyo, Los Angeles
It was such an honor to attend the Matsubayashi Ryu Training Seminar in Little Tokyo, LosAngeles over the weekend. This was a very rare training opportunity because it was led by the President of the World Matsubayashi Ryu Karate Association, Taira Kaicho. (translation for Kaicho: President). He was assisted by his son, Saturo Sensei, the WMKA' Overseas manager (and practitioner), Daichi Sakamoto. They travelled all the way from Okinawa specifically for this special event. What an honor to meet them all and listen to all they had to share.
The trip also marked the first time members of our dojo attended an external training event. While visiting from Okinawa this summer, Tony Sensei worked extensively with the group (often several days a week and for hours at a time) to prepare them for the rigorous training ahead. We are incredibly grateful for his knowledge, time, and guidance.
Once we arrived in Los Angeles, it was a joy to watch everyone experience training at such a high level. There were moments that were both amazing and overwhelming, but most importantly, each participant returned home with new knowledge and a deeper understanding of what they are capable of accomplishing through karate.
Please enjoy some of photos from the weekend.
Picture Notes: Tony Sensei was also with us, and he is not wearing his Gi in the photos because the group pictures were taken informally after the event ended. The formal picture was taken on day one but it has not been released yet.
Ayelet was featured at the beginning of the event because she volunteered to “Drum”. It was amazing! Also, Sadie is pictured with Kata Olympian Sakura Kokumai and an actress from The Karate Kid Movie Series.
A Very Special Video….
This video was taken over the weekend at the conclusion of our Matsubayashi-ryu training event. Traditionally, these sessions conclude with demonstrations beginning with the least experienced participants and progressing to the most senior. We were incredibly proud that the first group called forward consisted of three brown belts from our dojo, Brown Belts Aaron, Ayelet, and Jack, who demonstrated Fukyugata Ichi bunkai.
At the conclusion of the demonstrations, we were deeply honored when Taira Kaichō stepped forward to perform Passai Kata. Seeing someone of his stature perform publicly is enormously rare, so his demonstration came as a wonderful surprise.
Before beginning, Taira Kaichō, who is 83 years old,s poke through his translator and humbly asked everyone to extend him grace, explaining that he had lost much of the muscle he once possessed and that he was offering this demonstration for those in attendance. Yet when he began, the sound of his gi snapping with each movement could be heard throughout the room. He also performed both of the kata’s challenging kicks with remarkable ease.
Watching him perform Passai, my favorite kata, was profoundly inspiring. It reinforced one of karate’s greatest gifts: it is something we can continue practicing throughout our entire lives. At a different point in the training, Taira Kaichō also referenced a well-known teaching from Matsubayashi-ryu founder Nagamine Sensei, which, paraphrased, encourages us to “train through the final breath of this life and into the first breath of the next.” However one interprets those words personally, their message is clear: we continue training with what we have, for as long as we have it.
The quality of this video is not ideal, as it is a copy of a copy, but the moment was simply too rare and meaningful not to share. If you are unfamiliar with Taira Kaichō, you can find his photograph on the far-left side of our Wall of Respect in the dojo. He is one of the teachers toward whom we express our gratitude at the beginning of every class.
Please enjoy this very special demonstration.
Curriculum This Week
Levels 1 - 4 : Karate Club Levels
MONDAY and TUESDAY : Kihon, Kicking
WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY (Level 1 & 4) : Kumite, Combatives
SATURDAY: (11:30 Only This Week) Instructor’s Choice
Level 5 : Junior Advanced Level
Monday : Kicking / Kihon
Wednesday: Combatives
Levels 6 - 7 Teen / Adult Levels
MONDAY : Kihon / Kicking
TUESDAY (Black Belt) : Weekend Debrief and Associated Material
WEDNESDAY : Combatives / Kata
THURSDAY : Kata / Kihon
