wadokarate : Messages : 1-30 of 10167

Hello everyone. Here are a few comments on some of the subjects that have already come up in discussion in this excellent forum from the other side of the Atlantic. There are more a form of intellectual musing rather than a statement of fact, I don't feel qualified to do the latter (Funakoshi himself had to wait until he lay on his death bed until he felt that he could say 'I think I understand the essence of tsuki'). Kata is a subject that is of extreme interest and indeed fascination to me (as, I suppose it is, or, rather, ought to be, to all serious karateka). It is often said that there are three k's in karate. Kihon, Kata and Kumite. Like the three corners of a triangle, each cannot exist without the others. The kihons are our basic building blocks, they form the foundation of our art, without them, our technique will collapse: fighting will become merely a dangerous mess and our kata meaningless. Without kata we cannot translate these constituent parts into a coherent whole; just as a human body is more than merely a collection of fundamental elements, so we must learn the importance of the juxtaposition of technique, of how it all fits together. Finally kumite is the foundry of our art, where our technique is tempered and honed, where timing and maai are learned, where our spirit is tested and our limits discovered. But kumite is not the end of our journey. Too often is this three-way relationship seen as merely as a progression: we craft our instruments, then we learn how to do a few tricks with them and then we play in the band - from luthier to jazz musician in three easy (or, rather, difficult) steps. This is to misunderstand the very essence of our martial art. Wado is the way of peace and of harmony. We train not to fight, but to not fight. Moreover, kumite is not real fighting - real fighting is a la mort, or 'to the death'. We all hope that we will never need to defend ourselves against an assailant intent on our injury or death, as medieval bujutsuka did. The very techniques that one would use in a life or death struggle (strikes to the knee or groin, open hand techniques to the face, nerve strikes and breaks), are precicesly the techniques that one (rightly) cannot use. The UFC et al. have shown us that it is futile to search for 'ultimate realism' in fighting, any competition is a product of its rules (just watch a Gracie jujitsu fight where one combatant will fall on his back and wrap his legs around his opponent's waist in the 'guard' - Gracie jujitsu is an excellent system and the guard is an excellent strategy in groundwork WHEN ONE IS ALREADY ON THE GROUND, but any competition that leads someone to go from a standing position to lying on their back with their legs spread is not 'realistic' in my book). But we can learn to make our kihons better by free-fighting with real people, we will never know whether our gyakuzuki merely looks good or IS good until we actually try and hit someone with it, thus kumite feeds back into kihon and kata. As Ohtsuka said, if we do not perform the kata with an understanding of their meaning and a focus on this, they are not kata but igata, they are not vital but empty of life. Thus there is a symbiotic relationship between all of the three k's of karate. Returning to the subject of kata in Wado, it seems that, in common with many of us, Ohtsuka was a martial arts devotee, he was fascinated by every aspect of it. It is interesting to remember that a grandmaster of a respected school of jujitsu was willing to don a metaphorical (if not actual) white belt and start from the bottom of a completely different martial art in order to make his own better. There are very few so-called 'masters' who would be willing to do that today. Where he differed from many of the 'greats' of twentieth century martial arts (and karate in particular) was not only in the vivacity of his search and the breadth of his knowledge, but in the scientific way in which he analysed and sought to understand its fundamental essence. It is in the light of this, I believe, that we can understand his apparently ambivalent attitude to some of what we call the Wado katas. Firstly, the small number of Wado kata: many of our fellow karateka from other styles have many times the number of kata from which to choose. Is this because Funakoshi, for example, just knew a lot more kata than Ohtsuka. This is extremely unlikely given the number of masters of karate in various different styles with whom Ohtsuka trained. Ohtsuka has certainly been recorded as saying that he only taught Naihanchi kata because the other two kata in the series were simply not worth studying as they added little of value in his opinion. In discussion with some Shotokan karateka at the Oxford University dojo, I was intrigued to discover that after the Heian series of katas they could choose which kata they learned for their next grading. This suggests that the 'advanced' kata were merely a well of equally important information from which to dip our crucible from time to time. In contrast, Ohtsuka had (correctly I believe) very strong opinions on what order the so-called 'advanced' kata should be learned in. After we have learned Kushanku, via the five Pinan katas (I have heard it said that if you only learn one kata, learn Kushanku), we progress to Naihanchi. Naihanchi introduces not just a new stance (the eponymous Naihanchi Dachi) but a new (and more difficult) way of generating power and balance than in the previous, more 'basic' stances (Zenkutsu-Dachi, Kokutsu-Dachi, Kiba-Dachi, Shiko-Dachi, the various Nekoashi-Dachis). Next comes Seishan where this principle is advanced still further with Yoko- and Tate-Seishan-Dachi. Finally comes Chinto, which builds again on all that came before. There is a natural progression designed to optimise the development of the budoka's technique. This is the nine basic katas of Wado. The other kata that Ohtsuka registered as part of Wado were, I would suggest, listed because they also added something of interest, but the nine 'primary' katas were the basis of a karateka's development. I hope that my ramblings have been of some interest to you and I hope to continue to see thoughtful and thought-provoking items in this newsgroup. Wado has unfortunately become split and disparate since Ohtsuka Sensei's passing away. Let us unite in the intellectual and spiritual search for the spirit of Wado. In this way we continue to develop the art to which we owe so much and, as Ohsensei ourselves as people also. Yours in budo. Philip Stevens, Linacre College, University of Oxford, England.

#28

From: Todd W Newton <japankaratenw@...>
Date: Sat Nov 13, 1999 12:33 am
Subject: Kihon Gumite

japankaratenw@...

Hi all,

I think this Wado list is a great idea.  The info on Suparempei and Unshu
has been informative.  Thanks Nash Sensei.

Questions:

Do you practice follow up techniques in the Kihon's?  For example, elbow
strikes, take downs, grappling control techniques.

Do you analyze the vital point strikes in the kihon's?  I have
communicated with a Wadoka in the UK via e-mail who has done fairly
extensive research into the applications of pressure points in the Wado
Kihon's.  It is interesting stuff and I'm curious to know if anyone else
has researched this area.

Regards,

Todd Newton
Japan Karate-do Northwest
Eugene, Oregon

#27

From: wado_dave@...
Date: Fri Nov 12, 1999 10:50 pm
Subject: Re: wado katas

wado_dave@...

Ryan asked: >>I was wondering, how much does your dojo practice the 9
alternate katas and how much are they a part of your dan syllabus>>

I was thinking about the post that Ryan made, and decided that the
way I replied to him may not have been the best way to reply.  I
referred him to a list of our kata requirements per belt level,
along with other requirements, that I have put togther on our website
as my answer to his question.  Since this is an email forum, and some
of the members may only have email (like juno subsrcribers), and not web
access, I should have just given a short synopsis answering him, and
then added the url links as an option for anyone who wanted to see more
detailed descriptions.

In answering your question Ryan, we practice all of the 15 original
Wado kata, plus one beginner kata, for a total of 16.

(I will list kyu ranks, not belt ranks, since belt colors differ between
schools - Also, the kata listed is the kata that is learned at that
rank)
9kyu   - First Basic Kata (Very Similar to Shotokan's Heian Shodan)
8kyu   - Pinan Nidan
7kyu   - Pinan Shodan
6kyu   - Pinan Sandan
5kyu   - Pinan Yondan
4kyu   - Pinan Godan
3kyu   - Kusanku
2kyu   - Jutte
1kyu   - Jion and Naihanchi

Shodan - Chinto and Passai
Nidan  - Seisan and Neseishi
Sandan - Wanshu and Rohai
(We are now looking at Suparinpei to add sometime in the future)

At our schools, we do not really have optional kata...we treat
each one of them as equally important, and strive to make each
of them the best they can be.  During the Shodan Test, Naihanchi
has no more weight than First Basic Kata; Kusanku is no more important
than Pinan Nidan.  Each kata must be performed and understood well,
not simply the most recent one you might be working on.

Of the Pinan katas, Pinan Godan seems to be my favorite.  Of the others,
it would have to be Passai, Jion, and Jutte.

It seems to me, that under my lowly and unexpert opinion, that some
of the Wado katas seem to show influence away from the Shuri-Te
katas of Shotokan.  Does anyone have any depth of history about
Otsuka Sensei's training with Kenwa Mabuni, founder of Shito-Ryu,
(whose katas show a blend of shuri, naha, and tomari); and Choki Motobu,
who trained under Goju's Miyagi, but seemed to be more interested
in fighting from what I have read.  I would enjoy hearing more about
Otsuka Sensei's training with these two, and any others apart from
Funakoshi.

Dave Taylor - eGroups WadoKarate Moderator
Conrad Jones Karate Schools
www.falconx.com/conradjoneskarate
Franklin & Brentwood, TN USA


also Choki Motobu

#26

From: JACKSON RYAN <ryanj1@...>
Date: Sat Nov 13, 1999 12:25 am
Subject: Typo

ryanj1@...

Sorry was reviewing my previous post and I meant to say 6 alternate kata
not 9.
									 Ryan Jackson

#25

From: "May, Peter" <PL.May@...>
Date: Fri Nov 12, 1999 8:42 pm
Subject: wado katas

PL.May@...

Hi

I'm glad to be part of a Wado-specific group.  Thanks to those who set it
up.

Ryan asked: >>I was wondering, how much does your dojo practice the 9
alternate katas and how much are they a part of your dan syllabus>>

I train in Wado Kai as a member of the University of Calgary (Alberta,
Canada) dojo which is part of the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation.

As part of kyu belt promotion requirements (and regular training), we
practice the five Pinan kata as well as our first two basic kata which we
call Chi kata and Chonan.  Kyu belts also practice several secondary kata,
namely Chonan Shodan, Seisho, Shopei, and Sankyo. However, the focus for kyu
belts is on the Pinans.

Kushanku is required for promotion to shodan.

Katas part of the black belt 'syllabus' include Naihanchin, Seishan, Chinto
and Wansu.

There are other katas that people practice (although I don't know whether
they are historically Wado-based) but those listed above are the main focus
of our training.


Cheers,
Peter May

#24

From: "Thomas J. Kosslow" <kosswikf@...>
Date: Fri Nov 12, 1999 6:20 pm
Subject: No subject was specified.

kosswikf@...

I am interested in participating in this discussion group.
Tom Kosslow, Rokudan, WIKF, USA Chairman
kosswikf@...

#23

From: "Tokai Dojo" <tokaidojo@...>
Date: Thu Nov 11, 1999 11:15 pm
Subject: No Subject

tokaidojo@...

I would like to join.

Jerry Williams

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (4)

#22

From: rnash@...
Date: Fri Nov 12, 1999 12:52 am
Subject: Hakoishi and Suparinpei

rnash@...

HI,
I'm having e-mail problems so if this shows up twice I apologize...
I just reread what I wrote.  If I offend, I apologize again.  The
intent was to initiate a fruitful dialogue...


I was looking at Hakoishi's book during my lunch hour and noticed that
it really did not have a publisher or a price on it.  I got mine from
Norm Foster.  She got me a copy when she visited Dr. Hakoishi.  I am
going home to Japan in December so I will ask around.
Yes, the book is in Japanese.  And I do not recommend learning the kata
from the book because it is hard to discern the movements from the
photos.  He did not pose for these photos.  He is just doing the kata
and a camera is clicking away.  So each picture shows him in transition
as opposed to the typical kata book where the author freezes at the end
of each movement.  If you already know the kata then these photos are
extremely informative because as we all know, it is the transition that
is the most important about a kata and not the finish...(end of the
movement).
However, what I can say is that Dr Hakoishi is doing Suparimpei in
sanchin stance and not seishan stance.  And also if you can learn the
Shitoryu version then you pretty much got it because I sure as heck
can't tell the difference..Don't ask me about goju because I don't know
the details of the goju version although on the surface it appears to
be very similar.
The same goes for gojushiho.  If you know the Shitoryu gojushiho then
you pretty much have the Wado one. The stances are just 'Wadoized'.
(unlike suparinpei which stays true to the Shitoryu stances.)
I forgot to mention that the book also has Wado Sochin.  Once again, it
is the Shitoryu version and not Shotokan.  The Shotokan Sochin is not
even close.  It is a totally different Sochin so don't even
bother.(This is not meant to be a slam on Shotokan Sochin.  I really
like the Shotokan version..)
My theory on all of this (just my personal opinion because I don't know
very much but..) is that Otsuka learned these katas from Mabuni but
never got around to modifying them that much for one reason or another.
If you look at our core katas you can see that he took the time to put
his stamp on it.  Contrast the Shotokan Heian, Shitoryu Heian and Wado
Pinan.  I guess you really can't compare the Wado Pinan with the
Shotokan Heian because Funakoshi's son radically changed all the katas
so we really don't know what father Funakoshi really taught his first
students but..Anyway, you will see that the Shitoryu influence is much
stronger than the Shotokan influence.  Naihanchi doesn't count because
Otsuka learned that from Choki Motobu.  There are always exceptions.
Our Bassai is more similar to Shotokan than Shitoryu.  I'm sure there
are others but I don't know much about kata. (No false modesty. I
really don't.  I only know the katas I've been taught. I never learned
Jion, Jitte, stuff like that.  Unless I can find someone to teach me,
I'm usually not interested in learning on my own. Guess I'm too lazy
and not smart enough to figure it out.)

Sorry for the rambling.  I can be rather opinionated.  Just to have
some fun, let me sign off with the following statements....

- Kata competition is stupid. (yes I competed. yes I'm stupid.)
- Wado katas are very difficult.
- You can gauge the level of a karateka by his/her kata....
- The main purpose of kata is to study how to release energy within the
given movement..
- And lastly, my dear friend who I consider to be the best karateka in
the United States (his kata is amazing but will remain nameless) and
you have to trust me when I say I've seen or trained with most of the
'masters', once said "Wado insults kata"....;)

Bob Nash, JKF-Wadokai 5th dan.

#21

From: Leonidas Papakonstantinou <papahis@...>
Date: Thu Nov 11, 1999 8:22 pm
Subject: Wado Ryu

papahis@...

Dear Matthew,
I am very pleased  having the chance to be a new member of the dicussion
group about WADO RYU.
Be sure that on the next days you will have more news from me and my
Sensei TAKIS STATHOPOULOS (5th dan) - (under Sensei SUZUKI)
best regards from Corfu / Kerkyra in Greece.

Leonidas

#20

From: wado_dave@...
Date: Thu Nov 11, 1999 3:45 pm
Subject: Re: dan requirements-running

wado_dave@...

"john dodd" <john.dod-@...> wrote:
Passing a monthly physical test (note:
> although the criteria for the P.T. vary according to age, gender, and
rank,
> the basics include a 1-mile run in under 10 minutes, 60 push ups in 90
> seconds, 60 situps in 90 seconds).

We have a similar 'PT' portion to our dan tests, with push/sit ups &
running.
Our age criteria is:
under 15  9 minute mile
  16 - 49  8 minute mile
50 & over 9 minute mile

I will share my story when it came to the running portion of our test.
It is intended to be humorous, but also possibly teach a lesson in
what we can attain if we really focus, and are determined.  For a poor
runner, this story is surprisingly long-winded.

I am not a running person.  As a matter of fact I have always hated
running for the sake of running....I love all sports and have always
enjoyed running while playing...not just running to run.  I would
gladly
play full-court basketball, or racquetball, or tennis for 5 hours
straight, than run/jog/etc. To make a long story short, it was very
difficult for me to overcome the mental side of not wanting to run;
much
less the physical side.  I do not have the traditional runner's body.
At 6'5, 260ish, I tend to have the body style of a linebacker, or maybe
a professional wrestler, but not a distance runner...you tend to see
guys that run as being 5'5, 120 lbs, but not my sasquatch-like size.

As we started training, I found that 8 minutes seemed to be an
unreachable
goal for my body type.  I trained for over a year, and saw my times
drop
from a starting pace in the 20's, (I was laughingly given the title,
'slower than a dead rabbitt' by our Sensei) to somewhere in the 10-11
range.  I had two occasions where I broke 10(9:45, & 9:15), but never
approached the allusive 8.

When time for the test came, I was as mentally determined as I could be
to
make this goal, even though I had never broken 9, much less 8.  I
started
off flying, with the intent of forcing myself through the test, at a
pace
high enough to pass.  This strategy worked well it seemed, as I passed
the
quarter mile mark under 1:30, which had me on a sub 6 minute run.  I
was
still going strong almost to the halfway point, when it hit [BAMMMM],
and
'the wall' was there, and my body told my brain, "No Thank You!, This is
stupid, and I am not going to do this anymore!!".  I made the half
way turn at 4:15(My best half ever), but new I would have to keep the
same
pace, and knock off some to still reach 8:00.  I became extremely dis-
couraged, and my body kept saying, "You are too big to run this fast,
You
can't do this!"...but I mentally kept pushing through.  Then I hit a
stage
where I realized that I could not do it, and that I was going to fail,
and there was nothing I could do about it, no matter how much I wanted
to
make it, I just wasn't physically able.  I spent a few seconds wallowing
in pity, and even dropped out to a fast-walk because of it, then
something
else happened.  I got mad!  I started telling myself that I had trained
and
worked so hard for this, that I was not going to give up, and I would
finish
the run, and be sure I had given all that I had.  With new vigor, that
must
have come via divine appointment, I started running again, and past the
3/4 marker at a fairly good rate...but I was too drained to have the
coordination to be able to look at my watch to see where my time
was...as I
turned into the last stretch, I heard the Senior Dan, who was timing the
test say, "...Is that Dave??? Oh my Gosh....He might make it(with
incredible
disbelief and amazement in her voice), and she and the others started
cheering...I must have looked like a cyclone of arms and legs flailing
down the path, trying to get to the line, without falling down.  I came
to
point where I should begin the 'runner's kick', (I doubt anyone could
tell
I sped up any, but mentally I thought I was kicking), and I finally
made
it across the finish line without falling down.
It seemed like I had just returned from a week long trek through the
amazon,
not a simple, 1 mile jog...but to me, it was more than that.  My
heart-rate
was somewhere up around 500 bps, and my heart and lungs were very near
exploding.  I had extended myself way out of my comfortzone, and had
given
every possible ounce of strength and determination that I had to finish
this race.  I have never done anything that was so immediately
demanding
and challenging as this, and I never let myself give up on the goal.
What
do I have to show for it?

--------------------------------> 7:53 <-------------------------------
-----

A number that I will always cherish, because it will always remind me
that
I was able to reach deep within, and find a way to attain a goal that I
really did not have the ability to reach.  I was able to trade my old
title
of 'slower than a dead rabbitt', in and was given a new title by our
Sensei
of 'fastest eighth ton on the planet'.

Never lose sight of your goals, never give up, and have the will to
believe!
Dave

#19

From: "John Dodd" <John.Dodd@...>
Date: Thu Nov 11, 1999 2:55 pm
Subject: re: kata syllabus, dan requirements

John.Dodd@...

>I was wondering, how much
>does your dojo practice the 9 alternate katas and how much are they a
>part of your dan syllabus

At David Deaton Karate Studio (part of the US Eastern Wado Ryu Karate-do
Federation), we practice First Basic Kata, the five Pinan Kata, Kushanku,
Naihanchi, and Chinto with tremendous regularity.  Although we practice
Seisan more frequently than some of the other remaining kata (Bassai, Jion,
Jitte, Wanshu, Neseishi, Rohai, etc.) these are all practiced with somewhat
less frequency.  Out of personal preference, I I work heavily on Bassai,
Wanshu, Chinto, and Naihanchi.

>I was sort of wondering for everybody what the Dan
>qualifications were at your Dojo and also what the age limit on a Dan
>grade would be.

I will quote from a recent letter I received from Mr. Deaton, which came
along with the results from one of my quarterly black belt reviews:

"Please find listed below the requirements for degrees of black belt:

1) A black belt must be in good standing with their school and instructors
2) A black belt must be actively participating in classroom instruction
(minimum 6 times per month).  Passing a monthly physical test (note:
although the criteria for the P.T. vary according to age, gender, and rank,
the basics include a 1-mile run in under 10 minutes, 60 push ups in 90
seconds, 60 situps in 90 seconds).  Able to perform all basic requirements
(kata, kiso, kihon, etc.)
3) A black belt must be participating in school functions and competitions.
4) a black belt must have succesfully passed a minimum of six quarterly
reviews to be considered for the next degree.
  5) A black belt must meet the following requirements for age and time of
practice:

Adult
1st Degree - 16 years old and 3 years practice (five Pinans, Kushanku,
Naihanchi)
2nd Degree - 18 years old and 5 years practice (five Pinans, Kushanku,
Naihanchi, Chinto)
3rd Degree - 21 years old and 7 years practice (five Pinans, Kushanku,
Naihanchi, Chinto, Seisan)
4th Degree - 25 years old and 10 years practice (five Pinans, Kushanku,
Naihanchi, Chinto, Seisan, Niseishi)
5th Degree - 32 years old and 15 years practice (five Pinans, Kushanku,
Naihanchi, Chinto, Seisan, Niseishi, Bassai)
6th Degree - 36 years old and 20 years practice (five Pinans, Kushanku,
Naihanchi, Chinto, Seisan, Niseishi, Bassai; candidate's choice of Wanshu,
Jion, Jitte, Roahi)
7th Degree - 42 years old and 25 years practice (all kata)
8th Degree - 50 years old and 30 years practice (all kata)

Juniors
1st Degree - 10 years old, 3 years practice
2nd Degree - 13 years old, 5 years practice
(At 16 years, Adult Certification For 3rd Degree & up follow the adult
schedule)"

#18

From: wado_dave@...
Date: Thu Nov 11, 1999 1:19 pm
Subject: Re: Wado Karate

wado_dave@...

jackson ryan <ryanj-@...> wrote:

> snip..... As to Mr. Taylor, I was wondering, how much
> does your dojo practice the 9 alternate katas and how much are they a
> part of your dan syllabus.

Thanks for joining and writing Ryan.  As to your first question, our
schools practice all of the original wado kata, excluding Suparinpei
(which we are in the process of trying to learn).  They are all part
of our dan syllabus, with kyu ranks learning First Basic, Pinans 1-5,
Kusanku, Jion, Jutte, and Naihanchi, and dans learning Chinto, Bassai,
Seisan, Neseishi, Rohai, and Wanshu.

> snip......I was sort of wondering for everybody what the Dan
> qualifications were at your Dojo and also what the age limit on a Dan
> grade would be.
> Ryan Jackson - 14 year old Shodan
> Danner Karate Center Nashville,
> TN

You can examine our belt requirements at http://www.falconx.com/conradj
oneskarate/beltreqs.htm.  Also,
you can view an overview of our 1998 shodan exam and written exam at:
http://www.falconx.com/conradjoneskarate/1998exam.htm

As far as age is concerned, our starting age is 10, but we have never
tested anyone at that young of an age.  One of our instructors tested
with his son a few years back, and he was close to ten, but was
unusually mature and bright, and was able to do very well.  We do not
have junior black belts, so when our youth test for black belt, they
must meet the same requirements that the adults do.  Hope this answers
your questions.

p.s.  Say Hello to Mrs. Judith Gregory.  She is either a green or brown
belt at your school, and I work with her at American General, and have
spoke with her often about our karate interest.
Dave Taylor
Conrad Jones Karate Schools
Franklin & Brentwood, TN USA

#17

From: JACKSON RYAN <ryanj1@...>
Date: Thu Nov 11, 1999 5:25 am
Subject: Wado Karate

ryanj1@...

I'm a new list member. I've been taking Wado karate for about 7 years
now. I really hope this list takes off. I've been on other lists that
focused on other stuff I wasn't as interested in so this list really
excites me. To John Dodd, I don't know whether to call you Sensei or
Sempai so please pardon me. I noticed your post about using Bassai in a
tournament. Congratulations on the 2nd place. I've seen Sensei Greer
compete MANY times and have never been disappointed in what I've seen.
His control and power are very impressive to me. I love watching his
front kicks, not to mention he ties his belt really cool lol. If you had
to lose the 1st to anyone that's someone to lose to. I have never been
very sucessful at the tournament level though I've never really done
much of it. My favorite kata would have to be Seishan. The tension at
the beginning is awesome. I'm not great at it, but I love watching a
properly done form of it. As to Mr. Taylor, I was wondering, how much
does your dojo practice the 9 alternate katas and how much are they a
part of your dan syllabus. I know that we practice them very often at my
dojo and they are a large part of the dan grading syllabus. For my next
belt I will have to perform Chinto (obviously one of the 9 main katas)
and Jitte. I was sort of wondering for everybody what the Dan
qualifications were at your Dojo and also what the age limit on a Dan
grade would be. This should provide those looking for one a number of
threads to reply to.

Ryan Jackson - 14 year old Shodan
Danner Karate Center Nashville,
TN

#16

From: "St-Arneault, Roger" <rstarneault@...>
Date: Wed Nov 10, 1999 1:45 pm
Subject: TR: Welcome to a New Wado Discussion Forum

rstarneault@...

Hello,
my name is Roger St-Arneault. I think that you have a very nice idea with
this forum. So i'm interest to be in the dicussion of Wado. Let me know all
the information about it.

Sorry about my english, i'm french. I speak english but sometimes my
sentences are'nt correct, but for this forum i won't think it will be a
problem.

In harmony


Roger St-Arneault 6e Dan
Rouyn-Noranda Wado-Kai
(819) 764-3398
rstarneault@...
http://www.lino.com/~karate <http://www.lino.com/~karate>


-----Message d'origine-----
De: Dave Taylor [mailto:davidwtaylor@...]
Date: 7 novembre, 1999 18:17
À: "A. Ross Keele"; "Adam Flint"; "Andrea Collis"; "Andreas Heinrich";
"Barbara"; "Benny Baggott"; "Bill Taylor"; "Billy Woolfolk"; "Caroline
McGee"; "Chris Howland "; "Conrad Jones"; "Craig Peter Jacobson"; "Damion
Gilday "; "Dan Wallis"; "Daniel Williams"; "Danielo Di Feola"; "Danny
Chapman"; "Danny Spits"; "Dave Bockus"; "David Button"; "Deborah Bell ";
"Denise Ashley"; "Dennis D. Labbe "; "Dennis Dunn"; "Dennis Shepherd"; Don
Isaak; ""Erik Rubsamen"; "Francis "; "Frank Young"; "Gary Musson "; "Gordon
Moir "; "Greg Glass"; "Howard Crocker"; "Hoyt Hill"; "Ian Palacio "; "Jan
Andersen"; "Jay Boatright"; "Jenny Rayna"; "Jim B Razendale "; "Jody
Warrick"; "Joe Karovics "; "John Breen"; "John Dodd"; "Jose Morcillo ";
"Jose-Carlos Garcia"; "Joshua"; "Jude Braden "; "Judy A. Harte"; "Karfnr";
"Kathrin Kirsch "; "Leonidas Papacostantinou "; "Leslie Bowers"
bowersls@..."Linda M. Pinson"; "Malcol Burden "; "Marius RENAUD ";
"Mark Moser"; "Mark Thomas"; "Marx Family"; "Mary Poag"; "Matt Henderson";
"Matt Smith "; "Mike Cimino-Hurt"; "Mike Evans "; "Mikhail Faiguenblat";
"Neil Prime "; "Nigel Brown "; "Oliver Brunton"; "PAUL NEWSTEAD "; "Paul
Richardson"; "Paul Stamford "; "Peter May"; "Peter Morrison"; "Peter
Spanton"; "Philip Andrew Stevens"; "Pontus Johansson"; "ROBERT McGRATH ";
"RONALD STEWART"; "Rachel Pavlu"; "Randy Smith"; "Rick Stone"; "Rob van
Leeuwen"; "Robin Ohlsson "; "Roger St-Arneault"; "Ron Sheyan"; "Ryan Jackson
"; "S. J. Matthews"; "Scott and Karen Gawne"; "Shaw Vrana "; "Shodan ";
"Shoji Nishimura"; "Simon Hall"; "Stephen C. Merritt"; "Stephen Irwin";
"Steve Southwood"; "Steve Treavett"; "Stuart Eather"; "Thomas J. Kosslow";
"Tim Evans"; "Tom French "; "Tommy"; "Tony Tate"; "Trevor Seddon"; "Tyrone
pardue"; "Willem Vellema"
Cc: "Matthew Witherspoon"
Objet: Welcome to a New Wado Discussion Forum


Hello - *REI*,
I am forwarding this to all Wado Karate enthusiasts.  If you would like to
be involved with a new forum dedicated to Wado Karate, Shindo Yoshin Ryu
Jujitsu, and other studies related to Master Hironori Otsuka please read
further about how to subscribe to this new forum.  It is intended to
encompass
all organizations:
(WIKF, JKF-Wado Kai, USEWKF, Wado Ryu Renemi, Shintani, etc...);
to be a venue for all students of Otsuka Sensei to share ideas and
conversations
regardless of political affiliation.

Matthew Witherspoon has created the forum, and gives the following charter
below.

Please join and let the discussions begin!  There is no fee, just a desire
to
create a forum dedicated to the discussion of Wado.

--- Matthew Witherspoon < amakw@... <mailto:amakw@...> > wrote:
> Reply-to: wadokarate@egroups.com <mailto:wadokarate@egroups.com>
> Date: Sun, 07 Nov 1999 03:11:38 -0000
> From: "Matthew Witherspoon" < amakw@... <mailto:amakw@...> >
> To: wadokarate@egroups.com <mailto:wadokarate@egroups.com>
> Subject: [wadokarate] Welcome to Wado Karate Web
>
> Welcome.
>
> This forum has been established for the use of practitioners of the Wado
> style of Karate - the Way of Peace established by Master Hironori Ohtsuka.
>
> We charter this group with three primary rules.  Contributors are expected
to
> know and observe these rules at all times for the good of the forum.
>
> 1) You may only represent yourself in this forum.  No contributor shall
> presume to represent or speak with authority in the place of another
person,
> entity, or organization not participating in the discussion.
>
> 2) You shall not engage in personal attacks against other contributors to
the
> forum.  No namecalling, ad hominem insults, or any other abusive
submission
> will be allowed.  Disagreement, argument, and general loathing is allowed,
> but you must be excruciatingly polite about it.
>
> 3) You shall not contribute crass commercial messages intended to promote
> your own financial interests, products, or services, or the financial
> interests, products, or services of others.
>
> If we need more bylaws, we'll add them as we go.
>
> Again, welcome!  As I greet you, so shall I bow quietly aside and allow
the
> discussion to begin.
>
> Matthew Witherspoon
> Nashville, Tennessee, USA
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> To Post a message, send it to:   wadokarate@eGroups.com
<mailto:wadokarate@eGroups.com>
> To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to:
wadokarate-unsubscribe@eGroups.com
<mailto:wadokarate-unsubscribe@eGroups.com>
>
> -- eGroup Home: http://www.egroups.com/group/wadokarate/?m=1
<http://www.egroups.com/group/wadokarate/?m=1>
> -- Free email groups at eGroups.com
>
>
>

#15

From: sensei@...
Date: Wed Nov 10, 1999 10:50 am
Subject: Wado Forum

sensei@...

Hi all
Looks like this idea is good if it brings together lots of karateka who
enjoy Wado Ryu.I hope it goes from strength to strength.Trev Seddon

#14

From: mikehu@...
Date: Wed Nov 10, 1999 3:20 am
Subject: Hakoishi and Suparinpei

mikehu@...

To: Bob Nash

Greetings Bob,

Is the Hakoishi book you have in Japanese or 'Merican? Could we order
it from JKA-Wado Kai?  Do you know its cost? Some of these things can
run $200.

Thanks,

Mike Cimino-Hurt

#13

From: wado_dave@...
Date: Tue Nov 9, 1999 7:35 pm
Subject: Re: re: suparempei

wado_dave@...

"john dodd" <john.dod-@...> wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/wadokarate/?start=10
>
> Dave: Thanks for the summary on the history of Suparempei.  I
occasionally
> compete in open tournaments, and have found that our core Wado kata
tend to
> be either too short (e.g. Chinto, Naihanchi)
> or too common (it seems like half of all competitors are doing
Kushanku),

**Agreed....I would rather do any kata than Kusanku...with so many
people
**doing it, I would enjoy something less 'flashy' like Jutte or Jion
than
**it....I would be more happy not winning and doing something unique
than to
**be one of the multitudes of Kusankuers.

> to score in the very top
> echelon.  My sensei (Mr. David Deaton, 7th Dan, USEWKF) has
"invented" a
> very long kata that he calls "Kimi," which combines almost every
> high-flash/high-difficulty move from our core Wado kata, and he has
had
> tremendous success on a national level in open tournaments with this
form.

**Sounds like a good idea if you enjoy tournament kata, and you want to
be
**competative and also original.

> However, I am more interested in learning something like Suparempei,
which
> has a basis in tradition, than in learning some zoomy made-up form
simply
> for the sake of open competition.  Hence, I purchased master
Higaonna's
> Suparempei video...and was immediately overwhelmed with intimidation
at the
> magnitude of the form.  It's probably not impossible to learn
Suparempei
> via the video; it's just that I would probably wear out the heads on
my VCR
> before I could even memorize all of the moves.

**I have gotten about 2/3s of the way through it doing the rewind,
memorize,
**and rewind again method.  I stopped just after the part where you do
the 4
**sheeko dachi-double gedan uchi, step, shooto uchis to the 4 corners,
just
**before it goes into the flowing, 'fly-swatting' movements.  That
obviously
**show its naha/chinese roots, and of which I am not sure what the Wado
equiv-
**elent would be.  I would be suprised if the Wado Suparinpei does the
'fly-
**swatting' moves, so I just picked that as a good stopping point.  My
sensei
**is interested in this kata too, and we plan on adding it to our list
as soon
**as we can get it down.  It is very difficult doing this from off of a
tape,
**but you do the best with what you have.  I also have a goju book that
has
**Suparinpei, Karumfu, Sanchin, and several of the other goju katas in
it, that
**I can use for help, but the Hiagonna video is the best source I have.
  It
**would be much easier to learn with a partner, so that you could have
one
**person watch the moves, and pause the tape, while 'dicatating' to the
other
**what moves to execute.  That would eliminate the problem of
translating
**the mirror image of the tape, or trying to watch it over your
shoulder.
**Maybe sometime when we both get a little further along with it, we
can
**get together with a tv and vcr and try to polish it up.  I figure if
I can
**learn the Goju version, then whenever I cross paths with someone who
can
**show me the Wado version, it will be easy to pick up.

> Interestingly, when I
> decided to focus on our core kata, and started performing Bassai and
Wanshu
> in open tournaments, I started having some measure of success (I took
> second place at the 1999 Southern American National Championships
> performing Bassai, losing to E.J. Greer, who took first place with a
very
> long version of Shorin-Ryu Chinto).

**Congratulations.  I think Bassai is probably my favorite kata, or at
least
**one of them.  It seems that Chinto can be a very effective kata and I
have
**seen it be very successful, but it is also so very demanding,
balancewise,
**with all of the sagiashi dachis.  People who can perform it and
'lock' the
**moves into place look very sharp, while often it comes out wobbly to
others.

> Coincidentally, I had a discussion last week with Sensei Deaton and
with
> Mr. Wayne Tyler (6th Dan, USEWKF) regarding Suparempei.  They both
agreed
> that Master Ohtsuka dropped it from our core curriculum not because he
> couldn't remember it, but because he considered it (along with a
number of
> other kata with which he was intimately familiar) to be redundant; he
said
> that once you get past our 15 core kata, all stances, blocks, kicks,
and
> strikes become repetitious.  I think the word he used was
"peripheral."
>
**Otsuka Sensei seems to take this one step further in his limited
edition book
**Wado Ryu Karate (I have #172 of 2000).  He seems to imply that only
the nine
**of Pinans 1-5, Kusanku, Naihanchi, Seisan, and Chinto are needed; and
that
**Chinto is the pinnacle of the katas.  Because of this reference in
his book,
**I have seen alot of Wado schools drop Niseishi, Jion, Jutte, Passai,
Wanshu,
**and Rohai, even though they have been traditionally accepted.  I
don't
**interpret Otsuka Sensei as saying only do the 9, but that Wado can be
**expressed soley in those.  I enjoy some of the others, and think they
have
**merit and are worthy of study.  I think the vagueness of his
discussion
**leaves some room for opinion.

> In any case, I'm glad to be a part of the new Wado discussion group.
> Thanks for getting it started.
>
> John Dodd - Shodan USEWKF
> David Deaton Karate Studio - Brentwood, TN
>
>

**Thanks for replying John.  Invite any web-users from Mr Deaton's
schools
**to join our merry band of wadokas.  We would welcome their input!
Dave Taylor
Conrad Jones Karate Schools
Franklin & Brentwood, TN USA

#12

From: wado_dave@...
Date: Tue Nov 9, 1999 6:57 pm
Subject: Re: Suparinpei

wado_dave@...

Very Interesting Bob!!  This is the kind of stuff that I was hoping
would come
out of a forum dedicated to Wado....not just general karate or kata
stuff,
but details about Wado Kata, and about Wado People!  I am not familiar
with
Dr. Hakoishi.  Do you know if his book can be ordered, and if so, where?
I would surely like to look at it.  I have been studying Morio
Hiagonna's
Goju version, and I would like to see how similar or different it is to
the
Wado version.  I have not started even thinking about Unsu, but am glad
to
know that material for it exists also.
This is the first time I have heard of there being a Wado version of
Gojushiho.
I know that Nijushiho is the Funakoshi name for what we call Neseishi.
I have
seen other styles reference Gojushiho, but not Wado.  I have also read
that the
original name for it is Useishi.  It seems to be related to Neseishi,
but I
do not know much about the history of either.

Thanks for the inciteful comments, and please pass along any info you
might
have on where to get the Dr. Hakoishi book.
Dave Taylor

"Bob Nash" <rnas-@...> wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/wadokarate/?start=11
> The Wado kata Suparimpei is available in Doctor Hakoishi's book.
(Along
> with Gojushiho, two versions of Rohai, Unsu and others..)
> Doctor Hakoishi was the gentleman responsible for adding Suparimpei
and
> Unsu to the list of the official Wado kata list for the World Karate
> Federation of which Dr. Hakoishi was a member of the referee council.
> Dr. Hakoishi performs Suparimpei very similar to the Shitoryu way
which
> makes perfect sense to me since Otsuka learned it from Mabuni. Our
Unsu
> is a hybrid of Shotokan Unsu and Shitoryu UNSHU.  Our Rohai(one of
> them) is identical to the way Shitoryu does it.  Our Gojushiho is very
> much like the Shitoryu version and not like the Shotokan Gojushiho-sho
> or dai although there are minor similarities.  If you really want to
> learn these katas you will have a problem because no one in the United
> States really knows them.  Norma Foster of Vancouver, Canada (Wadokai)
> was the first person on our continent to learn Unsu from Dr Hakoishi.
> Since then, Ajari's group in Berkeley, CA has been practicing Unsu
> (George Nakahara, a senior with Ajari, videotaped Hakoishi performing
> Unsu and brought it back to the US.).  I only know what I know because
> I currently train in Hayashi-Ha Shitoryu and I have a copy of Dr.
> Hakoishi's book.
>
> For those of you unfamiliar with Dr Hakoishi, he is one of the senior
> instructors of JKF Wado-Kai(8th dan) and was a direct student of
> Otsuka, along with Suzuki, Arakawa, Niwa, Mano and others.  Dr
Hakoishi
> has also been very active on the international scene as a member of
the
> WKF Referee Council for many years.
>
> Bob Nash
>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (5)

#11

From: rnash@...
Date: Tue Nov 9, 1999 5:32 pm
Subject: Suparimpei

rnash@...

The Wado kata Suparimpei is available in Doctor Hakoishi's book. (Along
with Gojushiho, two versions of Rohai, Unsu and others..)
Doctor Hakoishi was the gentleman responsible for adding Suparimpei and
Unsu to the list of the official Wado kata list for the World Karate
Federation of which Dr. Hakoishi was a member of the referee council.
Dr. Hakoishi performs Suparimpei very similar to the Shitoryu way which
makes perfect sense to me since Otsuka learned it from Mabuni. Our Unsu
is a hybrid of Shotokan Unsu and Shitoryu UNSHU.  Our Rohai(one of
them) is identical to the way Shitoryu does it.  Our Gojushiho is very
much like the Shitoryu version and not like the Shotokan Gojushiho-sho
or dai although there are minor similarities.  If you really want to
learn these katas you will have a problem because no one in the United
States really knows them.  Norma Foster of Vancouver, Canada (Wadokai)
was the first person on our continent to learn Unsu from Dr Hakoishi.
Since then, Ajari's group in Berkeley, CA has been practicing Unsu
(George Nakahara, a senior with Ajari, videotaped Hakoishi performing
Unsu and brought it back to the US.).  I only know what I know because
I currently train in Hayashi-Ha Shitoryu and I have a copy of Dr.
Hakoishi's book.

For those of you unfamiliar with Dr Hakoishi, he is one of the senior
instructors of JKF Wado-Kai(8th dan) and was a direct student of
Otsuka, along with Suzuki, Arakawa, Niwa, Mano and others.  Dr Hakoishi
has also been very active on the international scene as a member of the
WKF Referee Council for many years.

Bob Nash

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (5)

#10

From: "John Dodd" <John.Dodd@...>
Date: Tue Nov 9, 1999 3:35 pm
Subject: re: suparempei

John.Dodd@...

Dave: Thanks for the summary on the history of Suparempei.  I occasionally
compete in open tournaments, and have found that our core Wado kata tend to
be either too short (e.g. Chinto, Naihanchi) or too common (it seems like
half of all competitors are doing Kushanku), to score in the very top
echelon.  My sensei (Mr. David Deaton, 7th Dan, USEWKF) has "invented" a
very long kata that he calls "Kimi," which combines almost every
high-flash/high-difficulty move from our core Wado kata, and he has had
tremendous success on a national level in open tournaments with this form.
However, I am more interested in learning something like Suparempei, which
has a basis in tradition, than in learning some zoomy made-up form simply
for the sake of open competition.  Hence, I purchased master Higaonna's
Suparempei video...and was immediately overwhelmed with intimidation at the
magnitude of the form.  It's probably not impossible to learn Suparempei
via the video; it's just that I would probably wear out the heads on my VCR
before I could even memorize all of the moves.  Interestingly, when I
decided to focus on our core kata, and started performing Bassai and Wanshu
in open tournaments, I started having some measure of success (I took
second place at the 1999 Southern American National Championships
performing Bassai, losing to E.J. Greer, who took first place with a very
long version of Shorin-Ryu Chinto).

Coincidentally, I had a discussion last week with Sensei Deaton and with
Mr. Wayne Tyler (6th Dan, USEWKF) regarding Suparempei.  They both agreed
that Master Ohtsuka dropped it from our core curriculum not because he
couldn't remember it, but because he considered it (along with a number of
other kata with which he was intimately familiar) to be redundant; he said
that once you get past our 15 core kata, all stances, blocks, kicks, and
strikes become repetitious.  I think the word he used was "peripheral."

In any case, I'm glad to be a part of the new Wado discussion group.
Thanks for getting it started.

John Dodd - Shodan USEWKF
David Deaton Karate Studio - Brentwood, TN

From: OBrunton@...
Date: Tue Nov 9, 1999 7:42 am
Subject: Fourm

OBrunton@...

Thank you for your EMail regarding a Wado Fourm I look forward to meeting
those involved.

Oliver Brunton 6 Dan JKFWado-Kai
WKF Referee Council

From: cmcgees@...
Date: Tue Nov 9, 1999 2:02 am
Subject: Great opportunity

cmcgees@...

Hey Dave,
So cool to be a part of this new venture in Wado.  I'm struggling with
Passai and Chinto as it is...the thought of just one more kata!!!  Oh
well, I am interested in all that I can learn to become better person
as well as a better martial artist.
Thanks for the effort,
Caroline McGee

From: davidwtaylor@...
Date: Mon Nov 8, 1999 11:27 pm
Subject: Wado Discussion Group Website

davidwtaylor@...

You can go directly to the Discussion group's site at:
http://www.egroups.com/group/wadokarate/

You can read posts as they come out without waiting until the next day.

You can also add a link to your Wado website if you have one, or
add yourself to the Wado database.  Both of the options are available
at the website.  If you want, you can also create a user-profile for
yourself.

Please share the news of our new discussion group with any Wado
associates
that you think might enjoy it.

Dave

From: davidwtaylor@...
Date: Mon Nov 8, 1999 11:19 pm
Subject: Wado Suparinpei Kata

davidwtaylor@...

Since the discussion group is still in its infancy stage, I will start
what
hopefully will be an interesting thread to some of you.
I have been studying Wado for several years, and I find one of the most
interesting topics is about the 'lost wado kata' Suparinpei(Chinese
Pechurin)

Here is the history behind Wado Kata & Suparinpei as I have read:

1.  Around 1939-40 at a Budo Festival in Kyoto, Otsuka Sensei and some
of the
     other style leaders were asked to register their style with the Dai
Nippon
     Butoku Kai (Japanese martial arts governing body at the time).
From what
     I have read, he registered the 15 'traditional' wado katas (Pinan
1-5,
     Kusanku, Naihanchi, Seisan, Chinto, Jion, Jutte, Neseishi, Passai,
Wanshu,
     Rohai), plus #16 Suparinpei.  It seems fairly accepted that Otsuka
Sensei
     did not learn Suparinpei from Gichin Funakoshi.
     Otsuka Sensei more likely learned it when he trained with either
     ShitoRyu founder Kenwa Mabuni, who studied under Kanryo
Hiagionna,(founder
     of Naha-Te, who possibly learned Suparinpei while training in China
under
     chinese kempo master Ryu Ryu Ku); or maybe from Naha-te's Choki
Motobu.

2.  I have read from interviews with Tatsuo Suzuki, Hachidan, that
Suparinpei
     was not taught for very long.  I remember reading several stories
about
     it.  When asked, Tatsuo Suzuki commented that he never learned
Suparinpei,
     that at one point Otsuka Sensei was teaching it, and at some point
in the
     middle (it is a very long, difficult kata)he forgot a movement, and
decided
     to abandon it, and focus on Kusanku and Naihanchi instead.  I have
also
     read that at one time there existed a very old film of Otsuka
Sensei
     performing an excellent Wado Suparinpei, but I have not heard that
anyone
     has ever come forward with it.
3.  I spoke last spring with Yoshiaki Ajari, Hachidan, famous for the
1965
     Wado Ryu video sequences of him and Otsuka Sensei performing
kihons, as
     well as some of the other katas, and Mr. Ajari stated he did not
know
     Suparinpei, but was also interested in learning the Wado version.
He
     informed me that the JKF-Wado Kai had added it and Unsu to the list
of 15
     Wado Katas.  He was hoping to learn it this August while in Japan
for the
     Wado World Cup, but I have not had the chance to correspond with
him to
     see if he did infact learn it.
4.  Another interesting thing about Suparinpei is that a Wado version
may be
     taught and found in a book by Teruo Kono, Hachidan, found at
     http://www.xs4all.nl/~mikado/karate.html, who is the senior Wadoka
in
     Germany.  It is referred to as Betschurin, which looks to be the
     German version of the original Pechurin name.  Unfortunately, I
don't
     read German, so I have not attempted to order the book.

5.  I have the hour video of Goju Ryu Master Morio Hiagonna performing
     many directions and speeds along with Bunkai of Suparinpei, but I
have
     yet to meet a person who knows the Wado version.  I am in the
process of
     learning the Goju version, in hopes that it will help me to be able
to
     pick up the Wado version whenever I run across it.

     Any of you folks know anything different or additional about this
kata?
     I look forward to hearing what your thoughts are.  By the way, it
means
     108 hands, and I have also heard a few different explanations for
this.
     36X3, robin hood riders, evil spirits, level of enlightenment,
etc...
     which could be another thread in itself.

Arigato & Tachi Rei,

Dave Taylor
Conrad Jones Karate Schools
www.falconx.com/conradjoneskarate
Franklin & Brentwood, TN USA

From: "Robert T. Petersen, II" <norsk@...>
Date: Mon Nov 8, 1999 9:27 pm
Subject: Wado Forum

norsk@...

Dear Sir

I would be interested in being added to your list. I do not know that I would be able to contribute very much, but would like the opportunity to partake and learn.

Sincerely

Rob Petersen

Nidan, Wado-Ryu

From: "Pontus Johansson" <pontus.johansson@...>
Date: Mon Nov 8, 1999 12:09 pm
Subject: Wadolist

pontus.johansson@...

Hi all.

I would like to be a member of this list.

Sincerely,

Pontus Johansson.

__________________________________________
Luleå Wadokai Sweden
Shintaishogaisha Budo Kyokai Honbu Dojo
Gammelangsskolan
Gammelangsgatan 2A
961 67 Boden
SWEDEN

Phone: (+46)921/62 000(vx)
FAX:    (+46)921/516 76
E-mail: pontus.johansson@...
WWW: http://www.itv.se/~a1050/wadosve.htm
___________________________________

From: "Matt Henderson" <musubi@...>
Date: Mon Nov 8, 1999 3:43 am
Subject: Thanks and inquery.

musubi@...

Thanks for the invitation. I would like to learn more about the Wado-Ryu
  Karate Do. I am a Goju-Ryu KarateDo and Jujutsu teacher and student
  with a keen interest in Wado-Ryu.
  By the way, Mr. Witherspoon...I lost track of a good friend a few years
back.
  He was a Goju-Ryu stylist and a chef named Tony Olivier. He was a close
  friend and resides in Nashville. Ever run into him in the Martial Arts
circles
  there?

Matt Henderson
Seito Budo Dentokan
musubi@...

From: davidwtaylor@...
Date: Sun Nov 7, 1999 2:08 pm
Subject: Wado Background

davidwtaylor@...

I am glad to see this site materialize.  Thanks to Matt and all of his
effort for putting this together, and having the vision to want to make
a place where Wado can be discussed.

Intro:
My name is Dave Taylor.  I am a student, and assistant with Conrad Jones
Karate Schools in Franklin & Brentwood Tennessee, USA.  Our school is a
result of the many schools in TN that were started by Mr. Cecil T.
Patterson,
Hachidan, who was commissioned by Otsuka Sensei to oversea the teaching
of
Wado in the Us back in the 1950s.  He opened his first Wado dojo in
1957,
in Sevierville, TN.

Our schools focus on teaching practical self defense skills.  We are
not
involved heavily in tag-sparring, but we do heavily train in knee,
throat,
groin, and eye strikes, using alot of empi and hiza attacks.  We have a
large system of self defense techniques, which primarily consist of
either
Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu standing/throwing techniques or Gracie Jujitsu
ground techniques.   We also train 11 Kisos, 25 kihons, 10 tai sabaki
shifts, and 17 katas,

being:
First Basic Kata
Pinans 1-5
Kusanku
Jion
Jutte
Naihanchi
Passai
Chinto
Seisan
Neseishi
Rohai
Wanshu
and are adding Suparinpei.(Would like to hear from Wadoka that do this
one!)

I would enjoy speaking about wado, its history, and what other schools
are
training and focusing on.  Even though our style is split by
organizations
and federations, I see that Wadka have done a very good job trying to
remain
true to the spirit of Wado that Otsuka Sensei created.
I look forward to talking with many of you.

Arigato & Tachi Rei,
Dave Taylor
Conrad Jones Karate Schools
www.falconx.com/conradjoneskarate
Franklin & Brentwood, TN USA

From: "Matthew Witherspoon" <amakw@...>
Date: Sun Nov 7, 1999 3:11 am
Subject: Welcome to Wado Karate Web

amakw@...

Welcome.

This forum has been established for the use of practitioners of the Wado style
of Karate - the Way of Peace established by Master Hironori Ohtsuka.

We charter this group with three primary rules.  Contributors are expected to
know and observe these rules at all times for the good of the forum.

1) You may only represent yourself in this forum.  No contributor shall presume
to represent or speak with authority in the place of another person, entity, or
organization not participating in the discussion.

2) You shall not engage in personal attacks against other contributors to the
forum.  No namecalling, ad hominem insults, or any other abusive submission will
be allowed.  Disagreement, argument, and general loathing is allowed, but you
must be excruciatingly polite about it.

3) You shall not contribute crass commercial messages intended to promote your
own financial interests, products, or services, or the financial interests,
products, or services of others.

If we need more bylaws, we'll add them as we go.

Again, welcome!  As I greet you, so shall I bow quietly aside and allow the
discussion to begin.

Matthew Witherspoon
Nashville, Tennessee, USA