Spring 2015

Dojo Newsletter
CENTRAL BUCKS KARATE CLUB
Tournament Results
CBKC students competed in two
tournaments this year so far. Both
tournaments drew large numbers of
competitors from PA, NJ, MD, and NY.
Although we had a large number of awards,
this does not measure our success. The real
success in these competitions is the
character and sportsmanship displayed by
CBKC students and instructors who
participate as competitors, judges, and
referees. Our students continue to improve
and demonstrate higher levels of skill every
time they perform.
Spring 2015
Special thanks to Solebury Karate Club for
hosting this fantastic event!
AJKA-I East Coast National Medals (CBKC)
TEAM KATA
AJKA-I East Coast National
Championship
IND
KATA
COMPETITORS
A.J. Kratz
1
X
2
3
1
X
2
Dario Cabal
Emma Nguyen
3
1
2
X
X
3
X
X
X
Matt Hetzel
X
Samantha Hayes
X
Arina Sokol
X
Rada Sokol
X
Megan Sokol
KUMITE
X
X
X
X
X
Eleven students represented CBKC at the
7th Annual AJKA-I East Coast National
Karate Championship on February 8th, at
New Hope-Solebury High School. 16 medals
were awarded to our students who
displayed outstanding martial arts skills in
Kata, Team Kata, and Kumite divisions.
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Warwick Shotokan Karate
Championship
Another outstanding performance by CBKC
competitors at CB West High School on May 3rd.
More than 130 competitors from 17 dojos
competed and 10 CBKC students earned a total
of 16 medals. Warwick Shotokan and CBKC
joined forces for the occasion in girls team kata.
Lily, Catherine, and Hailey trained many nights
together at both dojos and earned bronze
medals. Dario added two more gold medals to
his collection in kata and kumite. Jamal took
second place in senior brown and black belt
kumite, competing against some of the area’s
most experienced black belts. Congratulations
to all the competitors, and to Sensei Andrew
Spivack for hosting his first karate tournament!
Warwick Shotokan Medals (CBKC)
COMPETITORS
AJ Kratz
Dario Cabal
Emma Nguyen
Matt Hetzel
Nicole Shaliganatd
Samantha Hayes
Lily Hayes
Shannon Williams
Catherine Fiore
Jamal Ramdani
TEAM
KATA
1
X
2
IND
KATA
3
1
2
X
KUMITE
3
X
X
1
2
X
3
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
www.cbkarateclub.com
X
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Student Spotlight
Dario Cabal
jumping (kosa-dachi). The sequences and
techniques take on a more advanced nature in
preparation for the brown and black belt kata
like Bassai Dai and Kanku Dai. Combinations of
quick and slow movements, timing and fluidity
of motion are essential for this kata. It is the
first Shotokan kata containing a jump, a very
exciting technique for intermediate karateka.
The mizu-nagare-kamae at the beginning of the
kata and the shuto-uchi-komi/manji-uke combo
at the end are extremely vital for proper kata
performance. Bunkai for Heian Godan involves
many throws, locks, and takedowns.
JKA Instructor Yoshiharu Osaka, from Best Karate #5
Jion
Dario Cabal has been training at Central Bucks
Karate Club for six years and earned his Jr. Black
Belt in 2014. He is quickly becoming a familiar
face in local tournament competition. Dario was
awarded two bronze medals in the AJKA-I East
Coast National Championship, and two gold
medals in the Warwick Shotokan Karate
Championship. As a junior instructor, Dario
often teaches the beginner youth class. He is
also a competitive member of the elite CB West
Swim Team.
Kata Notes
Heian Godan
Peaceful Mind #5. This is the most advanced
kata of the Heian series. Techniques introduced
in this kata include flowing water position
(mizu-nagare kamae), upper level X block (jujiuke), middle level pressing block, downward
block to the side in straddle leg stance (gedanuke/kiba-dachi), middle level hooking block to
the side (chudan-kake-uke), crescent kick
(mikazuki-geri), and crossed feet stance after
www.cbkarateclub.com
This kata is named after the Jionji temple,
where martial arts were famously practiced.
Jion begins with the characteristic kamae of the
left hand covering the right, which possibly has
roots in ancient Chinese boxing. This starting
position appears in several advanced Shotokan
kata.
Jion is a powerful yet very basic and
straightforward kata. Mistakes are very hard to
hide in Jion due to its calm power and smooth
transitions in the movements.
The movements should be crisp and direct with
linear power being used. The techniques
should be rooted and students should be well
versed in stance and movements to be able to
shift when required and not shift when the kata
is not calling for this.
It is a kata that brings out a powerful spirit and
has a noble feel to it. Nothing is hidden and all
the movements should be performed with
power and kime.
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Stretching
Famous Quotes
To be a great martial artist, you have to be
flexible. Stretching is an important part of
your training. Here are a few tips on
becoming more flexible.
Here are some famous quotes from a few
martial artists and one former U.S.
president. Notice they all follow the same
central theme.
1. Stretch every time you train.
2. Warm up your muscles before
stretching.
3. Your best stretching should be at the
end of your workout.
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the
enemy without fighting.”
―Sun Tzu-Ancient Chinese military general,
strategist and philosopher
“The ultimate aim of martial arts is not
having to use them.”
Kick to New Heights. Try Ladder/Stair
Stretching
―Miyamoto Musashi, 16th century samurai warrior
and author of A Book of Five Rings: The Classic
Guide to Strategy
If you want to kick like movie star JeanClaude VanDamme, you have to be able to
do a split/straddle. Here is an exercise that
can help you accomplish that goal. Use an
open stairway or step ladder to support
your leg. Place your foot on the highest step
you can then carefully settle into a yokogeri position. Hold the position for at least
30 seconds at a time. If you need to, hold
on to a chair or other stable object until you
can stand on your own. Keep your
supporting leg slightly bent, just as you do
when kicking. When you are ready, move to
a higher step, this may take a few weeks
but your persistence will pay off!
“Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible
to avoid hitting; but never hit soft!”
―Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United
States
“There is no first strike in karate.”
―Gichin Funakoshi, school teacher and founder of
Shotokan Karate
Central Bucks Karate Club
Cornerstone Health and Fitness
740 Edison Furlong Road
Box 1308
Doylestown, PA 18901
(215) 794-3700
Chief Instructor- Sensei David F. Liddle, Godan
Newsletter Editor- Matt Hetzel, Sandan
www.cbkarateclub.com
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For more information visit www.americanjka-pa.com
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