Volume 13 Issue 1 - Winter 2004 |
 Shinzen |
 Shinzen |
Shimbun |
Shimbun |
From the Desk
of the President Greetings. Somehow, I feel as if I just wrote this brief holiday greeting but, in reality, a full year has gone by since my last New Year’s greetings. The Kyokai has successfully completed a full year’s program filled with exciting, educational, meaningful activies and, of course, training. The Regional events have grown significantly. In fact, the Winter Regional hosted close to one hundred ninety participants. The Shindo Budo Kwai Koshiki event hosted the largest number of participants in its history. Wide and diverse support of The St. Patrick’s Day Seminar made that event successful. The Shinzen Shiai also hosted the largest number of participants in its seventeen years of existence under that name. The success of the Certification Clinics for table officials and tournament officials proved their worth in the Regional Tournaments, the Shindo Budo Kwai Koshiki, the Shinzen Shiai and even at the 1st Watanabe-ha Invitational. While, I would like to thank each instructor, black belt, student, parent volunteer, and parent individually that would be impossible and for fear of accidentally leaving out a name or two, allow me to the thank each and everyone one of you, the supporters of the Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai. On behalf of the Kyokai leadership and myself, may you have a very enjoyable holiday season and a healthy, happy, prosperous, New Year filled with good practice. A
Student of Merit In the past few issues, we have taken to opportunity to spotlight a student who has exemplified the best of Shorinjiryu Karatedo philosophy both within and without the dojo. In this issue, we are putting the spotlight on Brett Watson, a student of Renshi Emanuel Hawthorne. Brett began his study of karatedo at the N’Amerind Karatedo Academy, September 1997, at the young age 8 years old. He continuously epitomizes the Spirit of Karatedo. He is a role model for his fellow students by being an outstanding student, always eager to learn, train, help, and, yes, compete. Brett Watson is a member of the O’Neida Band of the Six Nations and a graduate of Princess Elizabeth Public School. For those who are unsure of the significance of the Six Nations - the Six Nations comprise the tribes of Oneida, Seneca, Cayuga, Mohawk, Onondaga, and Tuscarora commonly known as the Iroquois Confederacy. In an effort to prevent warfare among the five major groups of the area, the leaders came together and established the “Great Law of Peace” in 1451 (the Tuscarora joined in the 1700’s). This union prevented warfare among the groups, fostered cooperation but also made them a formable group that exists to today. Brett Watson was awarded the rank of Junior Black Belt in Shorinjiryu Karatedo at the Seventeenth International Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai Federation, in New York City this past October. He was honored with the following award by his tribal leaders: “5th
Annual Urban Aboriginal This award is presented to a Urban Aboriginal Youth/Student who chooses to be a positive role model by living a healthy life style free from drugs and alcohol.” Brett is the first member of his nation to receive a junior black belt and to receive this award. We congratulate him. In honor of his accomplishment, we presented the following Iroquois Nation poem. Spiritual Forces on the Earth, Spiritual Forces in the Sky, Spiritual Forces beyond the Sky The Spiritual Forces on
the Earth are: We give thanks to our
Mother Earth During the year they
purify the lakes
Recent
Promotions Kohai Dennis Banduk 1st Dan Shodan Becky Greenough 2nd Dan Nidan Gerry McKenna* 3rd Dan Sandan Tony Calvino 4th Dan Yondan Peter Deasy* 6th Dan Rokudan Brian Berenbach* ==== * received Kyokai Certification Sunshine News & Congratulations We wish to congratulate Hanshi Brian Aarons upon receiving the Kyokai Anniversary Award for over 35 years of practice and dedication to Shorinjiryu Karatedo. The one hundred plus students and parents who traveled from the Kenryukan to the Shindo Budo Kwai Koshiki Tournament. We wish Renshi Carlos Figueroa, Jr. a speedy and successful recovery. Shihan Giles LaBelle was awarded The Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai Bushido Award. Jose Gonzalez, Jr. was awarded the Peter Murray Youth Spirit Award. Borts Nadelman was awarded the Peter Murray Adult Spirit Award. Good luck to Sempai Stacey Hines on his upcoming Shodan promotional ceremony. Good luck to Kohai Anthony Leiva on his upcoming test for Nidan. Sempai Christian Hernandez and Doro Konate are also wished good luck on their upcoming Shodan exam. Congratulations again to Renshi Brian Berenbach for being having his paper accepted for presentation at the ICSE –The 26th International Conference on Software Engineering. He will present his paper in the Scottish city of Edinburgh in May. Only ten percent of all such papers are accepted from around the world. We are pleased to announce that the superb commemorative video created by Renshi Vincent Capers Jr., The Chronicle of Shorinjiryu is still available. This video details the past 3 plus decades of Shorinjiryu in North America and is a must for serious students of Shorinjiryu. Please contact us with your order. Season Greetings & Holiday Wishes I wish everyone a healthy and happy New Year. On the New Year start with 1,000 punches and then rededicate yourself to another year of meaning practice and in depth study of Shorinjiryu. Dan Hayes, Shihan Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the Shorinjiryu family. Have a wonderful vacation and good luck with all your projects. Traditionally, we usually have resolution(s) for the New Year. I always repeat to my students to become a black belt means much more than better kicks and punches, but it also means to become a better person. I think this could be a great resolution for the year 2004. Remember: goals you set are goals you get. Take care, Michel Laurin, Kyoshi Wishing all a Happy and Safe Christmas and New Year From Kensuikai Peter Deasy, Sensei I wish you, your family, and all the karateka that you touch a peaceful holiday season and a healthy and prosperous new year. Cheers, Max Mastrocola, Renshi Take it from someone who started too late. It is not but you really must practice twice as hard as the younger guys-because they are already moving twice as fast. By the way, Happy Holidays! Stacey Hines, Shodan Have a great New Year. Alberdeston
“Big Al” Happy Holidays, and Merry New Year to everyone from Shorinjiryu Ake no Myojo Budo in Baltimore Maryland! Practice Hard! Peter Hiltz, Renshi Happy Holidays and a Happy 2004 New Year to all Shorinjiryu practitioners and a wish that Shorinjiryu will grow three fold in 2004. With Respect Atul Joshi, Shihan I wish all a Happy Holiday season and a prosperous New Year. John A. Mirrione, Kyoshi My best wishes to all. Carlos Figueroa Jr., Kyoshi Dear Brothers and
Sisters in Shorinjiryu. Well here we are at
the start of a new year. Time to reflect back on
our goals in 2003 and whether or not we are on
track. How close to accomplishing your goals in
Shorinjiryu are you? Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. Arigato. Brian Aarons, Hanshi Holiday greetings to my fellow karateka. This is an exciting time we live in, and an exciting time to practice Shorinjiryu. I have seen the Shinzen and Hombu In-House tournaments grow in size to the point where they have to be held in larger facilities. Shihan Hayes is expanding his tournaments to include activities for the family, I will be there with my students in February to enjoy them. I was privileged to have the opportunity to meet with Shihan Watanabe at the NJ Invitational tournament, where he invited me to join him in Baltimore for his next tournament in May. So we are all coming to together again, thanks, in large part, to the tireless work of Kyoshi Lubitsch, and our new Shinzen Vice President Danny Hayes. My wish for the holidays, see you soon, my fellow karate-ka, and I hope to see you often. Brian Berenbach, Renshi Santa Clarita Karate Black Belt Testing Wow, it was an awesome day for Santa Clarita Karate. At 11:00 am, we had the privilege of watching Kyoshi Michael Laurin test for his 1st Degree Black Belt in Judo. It was great to watch. His partner, Sensei Ghislain Dore flew in from St. Jerome, Canada for the event. They only had a couple of days to practice together for the test. The two of them have been doing Judo together since they were 12 years old. The students who were invited to attend were awed and very impressed. At 1:00 pm there was a second student testing for his 1st degree black belt in Judo. Bob Yamasaki did an awesome job and so did his partner Adam Weiner. Both were in top form and again it was a privilege to watch. After all of that there was still much, much more to come. At 3:00 in the afternoon two students tested for their 3rd degree black belt and nine students tested for their 1st degree black belt. This test lasted seven hours and it is amazing to watch. All of the students trained very hard and were ready to take the test. It is physically and mentally exhausting and I can tell you from personal experience it is exhilarating. Santa Clarita Karate and the Santa Clarita Judo Club would like to congratulate everyone who tested. You all did an AWESOME job. The
Shorinjiryu Feeling It all started in the 17th Annual International Shorinjiryu Shinzen Shiai in John Adams High School. As I was going to the yearly tournament, I thought about winning at first. After the tournament, I learned an important moral. When it was my group’s turn, I felt as if there were butterflies, tigers, lions, and sharks all combined in my stomach. When I got up to perform my kata, I said to myself, “it doesn’t matter if I win or lose. I should be proud for what I get.” That feeling almost touched me. I felt proud for who I was competing against. I won 2nd place in kata and 6th place in fighting. That did not matter to me. What did matter was that I had to do my best. In fighting, I lost my first match. That did not matter to me either. In addition, I made a friend. His name was Matthew. To tell the truth, I really think that losing is the best part about competing in a tournament. You can learn from your mistakes by losing. Samantha Soto beat me in kata, I learned a lot, and I understood why I lost. My moral was indeed a moral to learn and understand. A Word of
Thanks Dear Shihan Myron, Well, we are now back in Oz and our visit to your wonderful City and the Shiai are now just happy memories. Every member of our small team had a great time before, during and after the Shiai and, hopefully, we can come again soon. We thank you and everyone else concerned for a well run, unbiased and completely apolitical tournament but most of all for the friendship shown to us by everyone. It was refreshing to attend a tournament where all contestants were from Shorinjiryu. Renewing acquaintances with you and Shihan Laurin, meeting Hanshi Watanabe and so many other great people that I won’t attempt to name them and being a part of “the tournament without egos” was special. We enjoyed the banquet, the dance and the chance to mix informally and have a few quiet and not so quiet beers. Many thanks also for inviting us to your Hombu Dojo and to your students for their great demonstrations. Commemorative
Video Correction in the “Rules of Contest” Page 30 item 24.8 should now read: Section
24.8.a. Section
24.8.b. Tentative
Schedule of Events 8th Invitational
Island Budokan Bogujutsu Tournament Feb. 7th Spring Regional
Tournament St. Patrick’s
Day Seminar Newsletter Deadline - Spring Issue March 31th 8th Shindo Budo Kwai
Koshiki 18th Annual
International Shorinjiryu Shinzen Shiai New Year
Instructions Instructions for Life in the new millennium from the Dalai Lama: 1. Take into account that
great love and great achievements involve great
risk. Are you wearing the patch with pride? Are you wearing it at all? The Kyokai represents a statement of family and solidarity. If you need one please contact us for your order. The submission of articles, newsworthy events and letters is encouraged. Address all correspondence to: The Shimbun Editor Unless otherwise stated, all articles in this document reflect the author's opinion. Inclusion in the Shinzen Shimbun does not necessarily constitute endorsement by the Shinzen Kyokai or any of its affiliates. The Shinzen Shimbun is a
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