Dear Students, Teachers and Parents,

The dojo will be closed this Monday on February 17th for Presidents
Day. Hope everyone has a great long weekend.

My Shorin Ryu instructor is coming in on the 27th of this month and
is going to be teaching a seminar. In addition, Zenshin Shimabukuryo
will also be here helping us with our karate. Sensei Zenshin
Shimabukuryo is the son of Zempo Shimabukuryo, the Grand Master of
Seibukan around the world. Thursday night and Friday night from 6-8
will be held at Timberview Middle School and the seminar continues in
Denver on Saturday and Sunday for those that want to attend there.
Details are on the web site – www.americanblackbltacademy.com. Cost
for the seminar is only $30 for our students ($79 for everyone else)
and I highly encourage everyone who can to attend.

Because of the seminar, there will be no classes at the main school
on Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th.



Kyoshi Dan Smith

I am skipping my normal weekly lesson to take the time to tell you a
bit about Dan Smith and hopefully convince you what an opportunity
that is available for you to come and train with this man.
I was introduced to Dan Smith in 1990 after having studied Shorin Ryu
already for over ten years. Sensei Smith was the American
Representative for Seibukan Shorin Ryu in the United States under
Zempo Shimabukuryo in Okinawa. Having visited most of the schools in
Okinawa, I knew that the Seibukan students possessed some of the best
quality I had seen while there. During my first meeting with Sensei
Smith I learned how much knowledge of the Okinawan kata he truly
possessed.
Seibukan is a very traditional organization and they normally don't
teach any of their information to outsiders but Sensei Smith made an
exception to the rule. He took me, and my son Jeremy, under his wing
and began teaching us his bunkai and principles of the kata. During
his first seminar at our dojo back in 1991, he amazed my senior
students when he demonstrated his ability of using his chi or energy
to turn one of my black belts arm's color to almost blue simple by
touching him with his fingers.
I have traveled to Okinawa with him to train at the head dojo and try
to go to his home in Atlanta to train with him as often as possible.
He also tries to get to Colorado once a year as well. As a way of
paying him back for everything he has done for us, I try and set up a
seminar for him when he comes to town. This small gesture does not
adequately compensate him for all he has done for our organization,
but this is our duty to show support anyway.
Kyoshi Smith has trained with almost all the top Okinawan karate
masters and is recognized as one of the top American teachers today.
Down-to-earth and a man of high integrity, I hope each of you get a
chance to come and train with him, and develop a personal
relationship with him, as I have.

Respectfully,

Terry Bryan, Kyoshi