Dan -- thanks for the note and hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Reference your question on USMA Karate, it is true that the West
Point Team in fact has two sides for training and competition: TKD
(mostly olympic style) and Japanese Karate. When i was instructing
there (Phys Ed dept and with the Team) 98- 01, the cadets with
previous experience mostly came from those 2 backgrounds, and since
West Point leadership supported giving the most cadets training
opportunity (ie; turn no one away ..) but could only fund one
organization, the cadet leadership set on a composite TKD/ Karate
Club for all to train. For my years there, this was never an issue:
All trained basics (kihon), kumite, and kata. The dojo would just
divide somewhat into Kurio vs. Kanku (as applicable), but all still
trained kata the same time. When competitions were scheduled, TKD
cadets competed in theirs, and Shotokan in Japanese style
tournaments. In many way, the composite dojo made for more seasoned
competitors and less-partisan camps as it was one family tree with
understandable and respected differing branches. If your cadet sees
a heavy TKD focus now, it is probably due to 1) more TKD cadets by
percentage, and/ or 2) little or no Shotokan instruction from
officers in charge. I would like to know the current situation, and
offer my help in any way possible. In fact, had recently (summer
time) sent a note/ update to the Team leadership as they stay in
touch from time to time with previous Team cadet and then officer
leaders. If i can be of help to your Son in his training, the Team
Shotokan program, or any of the Shotokan cadets at USMA, pls have him
contact me; email: bronco16@...; or cell: 760 267 2732.
Would love to conduct a seminar up there again (and revisit the
makiwara we built from scratch!) // again, thanks for the note, vr,
OSS, Matt Michaelson


In ShotoJukuKai@yahoogroups.com, "Dan Smiley" <dansmiley@c...> wrote:
>
> OSS!!
> Greeting and Happy Thanksgiving to the SKJF membership!!
>
> Sensei Michaelson do you have any tips on Shotokan Training at West
> Point currently. My son is currently a plebe there. He said that
the
> martial arts club didn't have anyone that he could find that was
> training in Shotokan now-mostly TaeKwonDo.
>
>
> Dan Smiley
> Sacramento, CA
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ShotoJukuKai@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:ShotoJukuKai@yahoogroups.com]
> On Behalf Of michaelson6647
> Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2005 3:22 PM
> To: ShotoJukuKai@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [ShotoJukuKai] Update from Matt Michaelson//
>
> O'Sensei and SKJF -- Greetings from the Mojave Desert, CA. So
sorry i
> missed training this passed weekend in Rochester, NY, was occupied
with
> Army training in Louisiana; i know the training must have been
> tremendous! Have been busy lately, most recently returned from
hosting
> seminars in Karate, Army Combatives, and Women's Self-defense
courses
> at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. A great martial program
there
> in their PE school. Look forward to talking with everyone as soon
as
> possible. Wishing everyone great training and a very happy
> Thanksgiving to all! Respectfully, OSS, LTC Matt Michaelson
>
>
>
>
>
> SPONSORED LINKS
>
> Martial
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?
t=ms&k=Martial+arts+equipment&w1=Martial+a
>
rts+equipment&w2=Martial+arts+video&c=2&s=52&.sig=jRGVmdoFVv0CS4dEQB11
cg
> > arts equipment
> Martial
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?
t=ms&k=Martial+arts+video&w1=Martial+arts+
> equipment&w2=Martial+arts+video&c=2&s=52&.sig=6FmrVuz-
CbrSXYnttm6rNg>
> arts video
>
> _____
>
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
> * Visit your group "ShotoJukuKai
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShotoJukuKai> " on the web.
>
> * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> ShotoJukuKai-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:ShotoJukuKai-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?
subject=Unsubscribe>
>
> * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo!
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> Terms of Service.
>
> _____
>