Shotokan Karate Talk

We welcome and support our newest club member.

Oss! Chuck Coburn, Western Region ISKF Director

Exciting news ISKF is returning to Flagstaff. I am happy to announce that a ISKF Karate Club is now forming at Northern Arizona State University. If you live in Flagstaff and have been wanting to train in Karate or looking for a Shotokan Karate Club please contact Mr. Andrew Krohn. You may reach him by email: andrew.krohn@gmail.com

Mr. Krohn has set up a website for information http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/alk224/

Please click the following link for instructor details:

http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/alk224/about.htm

The 43rd ISKF Master Camp in Green Lane, Pennsylvania was another successful event in the long established tradition of Shotokan Karate. More than 400 people of varied backgrounds and of all ages participated representing 46 member countries. The atmosphere was one of friendship, goodwill and fun.

We all had the honor and pleasure to train with respectable masters like Sensei Okazaki, Sensei Kanazawa, Sensei Yaguchi, Sensei Miura, Sensei Ochi, Sensei Field, Sensei Woon-A-Tai and many others.

The week long camp had a full schedule highlighted by the Dan, Instructor, Examiner and Judges Exams, and by the popular Goodwill tournament.

A typical day was reminiscent of boot camp, with Sensei Bob and his ubiquitous whistle making sure that everybody received an ear piercing wakeup call at 6:00 am. At 6:30 am we all met at the tennis field and after a brisk jog we had our first training of the day in one of the dojos. Breakfast followed and after a short break there was another training at 11:00 am and following lunch we had the opportunity to train twice more at 3:00 pm and 4:30 pm.

The camp setting was idyllic surrounded by lush green forests. Food, despite prior rumours, was surprisingly comestible. In the short but savoured free time we had access to plenty activities like tennis, ping pong, basketball or the use of the pool.

At the end of camp there was a celebration at a venue called “Rising Sun” where we were entertained by live music and especially by Sensei Miura’s dancing skills.

With the minor exception of lodging the camp can be characterized by three words: Great, Great and Great; Great experience, great fellowship and great fun.

OSS! Adrian Rus

slide show

What a fantastic weekend. After taking the short cruise through the mountains to Payson, Saturday morning, we were really glad to be up in cooler weather. Upon arriving at the gym, I was pleased to see that Sensei Hyder’s camp was filled with approximately 40-45 anxious and excited karateka. However, I noticed many of those were TAPING their feet! Oh, Oh, are my feet going to be in trouble?

Once training got started for “Session 3,” Sensei Field got us directly into some interesting combinations that led into using the techniques with a partner. Sensei Field stressed distance, how to develop powerful punching, and finishing each technique separately (Bark! Bark!). Interesting how it seems to work so good until you use a partner (Bark!)! After one and a half hours of good training, we went back to the hotel to prepare for some good relaxing and eating! Everyone met at the “El Rancho” restaurant later to have dinner together. It was really nice to dine with the whole camp in a casual and intimate setting and share in the congratulations of Sensei Hyder’s black belts as he presented them their dan certificates. We sat and reminisced and laughed with Sensei Field about some of the other camps we attended together and some of the antics we got into! It was a fun and nice evening for all.

“Session 4” on Sunday morning had Sensei Field asking the campers if they knew the difference between ‘listening’ and ‘hearing’. “Listening” as Sensei Field describes, is to understand it, absorb it and then apply it! “Hearing”, is just letting it flow from one ear to the other. H-m-m-m, maybe some of us had too much fun last night. We were able to work up some good sweat as he taught how to defend against sanbon-zuki (Bark! Bark! Bark!), then with a partner (Bark! Bark!). He then had us doing ippon kumite without using gyaku-zuki as a counter technique (Bark! Bark!). Along with everything else, he would not allow us to taking any steps BACK, only side to side or forward.  Fun, fun, fun!

As I reflect on the past weekend, I will remember as we trained, you could hear at the back of the gym a soft BARK! A BARK? I will record as a first, Sensei Hyder’s dog, “Toni”, was brought to partake in the camp!  

Congratulation to Sensei Hyder, the camp was quite enjoyable and informative with the greatness of Sensei Field’s training, teaching us to listen, develop explosiveness with hip twisting and developing the feeling of punching through to the wall BEHIND your partner. Although as a finale to the camp, Sensei Field prepared us to perform tokui kata, yoi…then stated “MIRROR IMAGE!!” Yikes, hair-pulling!!

SKA Attendees: Cheryl Coburn, Fred Kess, Andre McWilliams, Fred Lien, and Sergei Sheydayi

OSS – Cheryl Coburn

Oss!

Myself and couple of our  members were fortunate enough to attend the Master Camp this year. Our members will be contributing a recap of the camp in the near future.

WOW, what a great camp!  I haven’t been to Master Camp for over 12 years or more. I can’t believe the growth — it truly is an International event now. This was the 41st Annual Camp and it’s bigger and stronger than ever. Master Okazaki certainly has accomplished something that he can be quite proud of. I know of no other Shotokan Karate Camp in the USA that has the turnout, growth, history, or years in existence (43) that is even a close second. I have been to many camps over the years since 1972 and am amazed with so many people in attendance from different countries.

It was great to see so many people still training that I haven’t seen for a long time. The camp wouldn’t be same without Bob Sadler (“whistle Bob”), he is still going as strong as ever, waking everyone up bright and earlier with that whistle, yelling and screaming, “it’s time to get up!” He even did some jogging. I think he must be in his 90’s by now. He is an amazing man. Keep going Bob!

For all the old timers who weren’t there, we missed you and hope you will attend next year. Even if you’re in one the new fragmented  groups, consider coming to Master Camp (it’s open to everyone) as we aren’t getting any younger. If Bob can do it, you can too!

You will have a great time seeing a lot of old friends and training.

Just Do it!  You Can Do it! JUST TRAIN!

Sah iko – Let’s Go, See you at the 44th Annual Master Camp.

OSS! Chuck Coburn

Master Camp Cabin 30