New PDF Magazine Format

WHAT’S BIG IN THIS VERSION
Message from Sensei
Tetsuji Nakamura
Anatomy of a Punch
Sensei Pervez Mistry 8th Dan
Page
Higaonna Sensei
receives rare awards
From across the Globe
Passing of the Flame
Part 1 & 2 on Sensei Nakamura
Terauchi Sensei &
Kiysoe Dojo
& the brand new Website
Interview with Sensei
Spongina
WHAT’S FREE ONLINE?
Everything in thisNewsletter and with videos
and more!
Kumite Drill Videos
By: Sensei Ernie Molyneux
Master Higaonna
Interview
Okinawan Tiger
Documentry
About Master Morio Higaonna
2012 Year in Review
Covering this years Big events
IOGKF Portugal
Celebrates 30 Years
And many other event reports
from across the Goju-ryu World
Holiday Greetings!
I hope everybody had a wonderful year. This year was a very special year for me as well
as IOGKF. Higaonna Sensei retired from his position as the World Chief Instructor at the
World Budosai, and appointed me as the new Chief Iinstructor for the next generation. I
feel very honored and at the same time I realize that it is a big responsibility. I received
many supporting messages from all over the world after my appointment. I can not explain in words how much your messages meant to me. I would like to thank you all for
your trust and support in me. I will do my best to keep the tradition and pass it on to our
next generation.
Looking back over this year, our main focus was the World Budosai in Okinawa. This
event is the special event that is organized by IOGKF Okinawa every four years. It was a
great success, and I thank all of the supporters from the IOGKF countries as well as
IOGKF Okinawa for hosting such a great event.
In the next year, Higaonna Sensei is traveling to South America (Peru), North America
(Canada), Europe (Italy), and Euro Asia (Russia). I encourage all members to attend
these seminars. Please check the IOGKF website for more details.
Sometimes people say, "time flies". When you live your life without any objective, you
feel that time just flies by and you are still the same as the year before. However if you
live your life fully and work hard to achieve your goals, "time accumulates". Traditional
Okinawan Goju-Ryu is a system which allows you to improve throughout your lifetime.
Regardless of your age and physical ability, if you train properly you will improve your
skill, spirit and body through out your entire life. At the end of the year, I hope that each
of you feels that you are different from the year before.
I wish everybody to have a great holiday, and have a happy new year!
Tetsuji Nakamura
IOGKF World Chief Instructor
admin.office@iogkf.com
It is hard to believe that the end of the year is almost here. Since I took over the
position of Administrative Director from Nakamura Sensei I have been busy. I am
still finding my way through the many and varied administrative tasks. But I have
enjoyed having the opportunity to help many of our instructors and members. At
this time I would like to inform all of you of the following:
1 - Budosai 2012 DVDs are now on sale. This video has been professionally prepared. Relive the major moments that made this year’s Budosai so special. 1 & 2
disc editions are on sale - see details advertised later in this edition.To purchase
yours please email me on the above address & state how many copies of each
version you would like and the shipping address.The total cost, including shipping,
will be emailed back to you, along with payment instructions.
2 -Now that Higaonna Sensei has retired from his position of World Chief Instructor he will be doing only four major Gasshuku every yearMark your calendars with
these dates and locations :
South America:
Peru
March 28th to 31st
North America:
Canada
May 2nd to 5tth
Europe:
Italy
July 22nd to 26th
Euro-Asia:
Russia
September 14th to 16th
Chief Instructor’s:
Japan
October 16th to 19th
Remember to check the events section of www.iogkf.com for events taught by Nakamura Sensei & other
senior instructors.
3 - Just a reminder that the IOGKF admin office is now: admin.office@iogkf.com
lambert@goulburnkarate.com
Welcome to our first ever PDF edition of the International
Newsletter. This idea was suggested to me at the 2012 World
Budosai by numerous people and we owe all of this to their
fantastic ideas. Although the PDF file will include some feature
articles, the best way to experience the Interational Newsletter at its
best is online!
High quality video clips accompany most online articles, including
the Kumite drills section of newsletter, which is produced and filmed
exclusively by Sensei Ernie Molynuex (World Vice-Chief Instructor)
for the International Newsletter. Viewing the newsletter online
brings you as close to sharing in the experience as possible. I hope
Dojo instructors around the world will print this or share the link with
their students and Dojo members. This PDF venture is the next step to keeping the
International vibe of the newsletter alive.
The next edition of the newsletter will be released in April 2013. It will be a preview edition of
the two major events of 2013 - the Miyagi Chojun Festival in Canada and the European
Gasshuku in Italy. My team and I welcome all contributions to the newsletter and I hope that
if you have an idea, research article or event report, that you will be kind enough to share it
with the rest of the IOGKF & Goju-ryu World. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe
and happy New Year. Thank you for all your support & I look forward to what 2013 will bring!
By: Sensei Pervez Mistry, IOGKF India - 8th Dan
INTRODUCTION
On returning from The Okinawa Budosai in 2004 one of my students, a Go-Kyu
from our Honbu dojo, wrote a very interesting article, entitled “THE SCIENCE OF
STANDING PROPERLY”, and which was published in our old International Newsletter.
There is always something to learn from everyone and everything around you, be
it your Sensei, or student. Kersi’s article sparked off a dormant interest on this
topic, that went off like a delayed time bomb and had me hunting for my old notes,
pen and paper.
During my research on “Sanchin Kata”, with Dr. Doongajee, head of the research
wing of the KEM Hospital, I had done a rough draft on the speed and power of a
punch, based on experiments we had done. Now thanks to Kersi, I am finally completing what I had begun many years ago.
“A punch is just a punch and a kick is just a kick”.
- Bruce Lee.
OR IS IT?
PHYSICS OF A PUNCH
Before delving into the physiological aspects of a punch, let us first understand
the Physics behind this simple but highly effective technique.
Many years ago I had read an article in “Scientific America”, called “Karate Physics”, and now on searching through the net, I came across several such studies
from various Universities and research organizations from around the world. Most
of these studies are based on finding out the exact speed and power of a punch
and in some cases a kick, as well as a downward strike( I dislike the word chop in
this context), or Shuto Uchi, applied in board or brick breaking.
To determine the speed and impact force some researchers now a days use laser
technology, but others use strobe lights at 60 and 120 pulses per second. The karate-kas at various levels of proficiency performed innumerable punches which
were photographed. On developing the film, the speed of the punch was calculated by counting the number of times the strobe flashed until the fist hit the target.
It was found that students with up to a year of training had an average speed of 20
feet per second, or a bit more than 6 meters per second. The Black Belts with
more than five years of training clocked in at 46 feet per second, or about 15 meters p/s. Finally the Black Belts with more than 20 years, did an astonishing 76 feet
per second. In everyday terms that’s precisely 69.4736842105 miles per hour.
Now take into consideration that the weight of an average human hand weighs in at
1.1/2 lb., the force of impact ranged from 800 newtons (one Newton = 0.2248 lb per sq.
inch, or to put it more imaginatively, is approximately equal to the force exerted by the
weight of an apple), to 17,500 newtons or an amazing 3,934lb per sq. inch. It requires
only 1,900 or 427 lb per sq. inch to go through a concrete block.
Boxers too can punch as quickly and have an impact force as strong as any Karateka,
but they do not break any concrete blocks, or a pile of bricks. The difference is in the
technique or nature of their punch. When a boxer punches he normally ends the movement with a follow through – just as golfers and tennis players do – and it will surely
knock down his opponent. But in fact, this follow through puts the brakes on the actual
point of impact, and thereby diffusing the force of the blow. In boxing the idea is to jar
the opponent not to smash the bridge of his nose and send the bone into his brain.
A karate Oi-zuki (lunge punch), or a Gyaku-zuki (reverse punch), has no follow through.
The zuki strikes out like a cobra, and withdraws instantly. It was found that when a fist
strikes a 2.5 inch thick board, the time of contact is a mere 5 milliseconds, and yet the
board breaks with a resounding crack.
How does this work? We found out that as a Oi-zuki when correct form is executed, it
reaches maximum velocity when the arm is about 80% extended. This is precisely what
we have been taught. We learn to focus in such a way that the punch ends inside the
opponents body rather than on the surface. To deliver maximum power the contact has
to be made before the slow down begins.
There is an old saying in Japanese, which translates to “One punch, one life”. We train
in Karate not as a sport, but to defend ourselves and others, when there is no other option available. It may be brutal, but it is a fact of life. When a hundredth of a second is
all that may save you from a deadly knife attack, you have to garner all your resources
that the training has given you. For this reason alone, Makiwara training is absolutely
necessary.
In “Tameshi wara” or breaking techniques it is important to know and understand the
subtle forces at work. All inanimate objects, solid as they may seem, have a minimum
elastic limit. Hit an object with enough force and they begin to vibrate, and when this
vibration reaches its elastic limit, the object begins to give way and finally breaks.
Now the question that you may be thinking of, is with all this power and impact force,
how come the knuckles of your hand or the bones on the ball of your feet don’t break.
It has been found that bone can take 40 times more force than a concrete block, and
your center finger bone can take a force greater that 25,000 Newtons or 5,620lb per sq.
inch. Furthermore, regular Makiwara practice puts on layers of tough callous on the
contacting surfaces of your hands and feet, resulting in far greater protection.
PHYSIOLOGY OF A PUNCH
MENTAL
The brain and the body together have made us the most formidable species on this
planet. As the noted author Bill Bryson said in his recent book “Ä short History of
nearly Everything”, has put it so aptly, “It’s an unnerving thought that we may be the
living universe’s supreme achievement and its worst nightmare simultaneously”.
The brain houses the mind, which in turn comprises of the volatile mixture of emotional and logical thinking processes. Playing a game of chess involves the logical
mind, while playing a game of Table Tennis uses the instinctive reflexes brought
about through the emotional mind, which allows the body to react instantaneously
to the ever changing responses of the game. The body then sets into a rhythm, and
if the tempo of this rhythm is correct, it increases the fluidity in the body to enable
the player to react much faster than his opponent.
The very instant your eyes perceive an opening in your opponent’s defense, your
control switch board or the nervous system goes into hyper drive. Your eyes are
your body’s primary organ for the assessment of all that is happening around you,
and it is for this reason that you must learn to use your peripheral vision, which
works far better than using focused vision, during fast bodily movement. Messages
from the Ophthalmic centre are relayed through the spinal cord to the nerve centers
in all the muscles of the body. Some muscles contract, and others lengthen, still
others stabilize and control the body all at the same time. This complex wizardry
happens thanks to the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the nervous
system. Whilst the former operates from the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebra,
the latter operates from the top of the spinal column namely the Atlas and at the
lower end of the vertebral column, the Sacrum vertebra. If the muscles around the
spinal column are normally tensed either through bad posture, injury, or poor technique, the free-flow of messages and the speed of transfer will be curtailed to a
marked extent, resulting in poor performance.
Our mind and body combines the “Holy Trinity” that makes each one of us what we
are. The integration of the mental, emotional and physical all combining together
gives us the fulfillment of thinking, feeling and being.
Our mental faculties comes from the head within which lies the brain, and is thanks
to the chemical and electrical communication between the millions of brain cells
that sensory information is gathered, analyzed and assimilated.
Our feelings that are the basis of our emotions literally and figuratively come from
the heart. During times of extreme happiness or extreme sadness, we literally feel
our heart stop and re-start, or even race along. This comes from the electrical impulses given by the sinoatrial node(SA) also called the natural peace-maker us our sense
When we become emotional our endocrine system
secretes hormones, which in turn affects the SA node,
giving us the feeling of extreme depression or
happiness. Martial Art training gives the practitioners
control of their emotional content, anger is channeled
into focus, fear into cautiousness and pride into compassion. Shihan Higaonna on one of his trips to India,
had presented me with his work of Japanese Calligraphy, which says “FUDOSHIN”, and when I asked him
what it meant, he said in his inimitable style “Poker
Face”.
Our physical strength is located an inch below the
naval, and is also the center of gravity of the body. It is
at this location that that gives us our sense of being. It
is the source of our “gut feelings”, that keeps our
honesty and morality on an even keel.
PHYSICAL
In order to understand how the body works at the execution of a punch, it is important to know the types of muscles doing the work:
Agonist muscles: These are the muscles that contract and shorten and do the actual work.
Antagonist muscles: These muscles work in tandem with the Agonist muscles simultaneously. While the Agonist muscles contract Antagonist muscles lengthen.
For example on doing a bicep curl, the bicep muscle shortens or contracts , and at
the same time the triceps muscle lengthens, enabling you to lift the lower arm upwards.
Fixators & Synergists: These muscles help to support and hold the body together.
Using the above example, the scapularis (shoulder blade) and pectorals(chest )
muscles act to hold the arm in place. All action that requires movement of the body
is essentially a combining force of muscle contraction and relaxation around the
joints.
EXECUTION
At the point of delivering a right Gyaku-zuki, here is what happens in less time than
it takes you to blink.
In the half Zenkutsu-dachi or forward stance, the shin muscles act as synergists to
hold the feet and ankle joints, with the spring energy of the Achilles tendon, to snap
and power the whole body into action.
Now the Quadriceps muscles along with the large Gluteus muscles of the butt, work
as Agonists to accelerate the knee and hip joint sending power up the leg.
The Transverse muscle or the deep abdominal corset, and the Erector spinae or
lower back muscles now work as synergists and antagonist to stabilize the pelvis
and spine, and simultaneously the upper back muscles are working as agonists to
further speed up the torquing action of the torso, delivering power up the body.
At this point of time, the thoracic rib cage opens out like a bow and the agonists
muscles of the lats and chest alongwith the Deltoid muscles of the shoulder power
the arm muscles; the triceps, biceps and the extensors of the fore-arm, like an arrow, for a powerful delivery of the gyaku-zuki.
Hang on there, its not quite over yet.
Whilst this complicated sequence is going on, other muscles work to control and
stabilize parts of the body in order to recover quickly. As the Soleus and Gastrinomous muscles of the calves contract isometrically, the muscles at the back of the
thighs or hamstrings, lengthen to hold and control the knee joints. As the pelvic and
torso twists upwards, the muscles on the right and left sides of the body, the Psoas
muscles also referred to as the Suspender muscles, or the lateral and anterior link
between the spine and the upper thigh, lengthen to control the pelvis.
The Rhomboid muscles and the Rotator Cuff muscles of the upper back and shoulder, work to stabilize to control the shoulder joint, so that the arm can be extended
with blinding speed and awesome power, and immediately return to an on-guard or
Kamae position, ready for defense or attack.
Martial Artists have known for a very long time that core power generates from the
low abdominal region, which has now been substantiated by sports scientists and
researchers. However, from the above explanation it becomes abundantly clear that
all body activity is a result due to the ‘Kinetic’ muscle chain that unites all parts of
the body for total body power. Consequently if there is any weak unit in the muscle
chain, it will result correspondingly in a reduction of speed and power.
For example; if a Karateka has a tight Hamstring muscle, it will curtail the amount of
twisting action on the trunk, which in turn will disrupt free flow of forces up the back
and into the shoulder and punching arm. The muscle mass of the shoulder is relatively small and if inadequate power is generated by the preceding links in the Kinetic
muscle chain, the shoulder has to increase and generate power, instead of being the
force regulator it is. Hence by steadily increasing the flexibility of the hamstring muscle at the back of the thigh, lumbar strength and trunk rotation during a gyaku-zuki
will greatly reduce the incidence of rotator-cuff injury, in the shoulder. Though this diagnosis of biomechanical analysis is difficult, with study and knowledge of human
anatomy, is a crucial and effective element in preventing an injury especially in the
high risk prone shoulder joint.
Well, there you have the Anatomy of a punch, so the next time your Sensei tells you
“Mo Ichido”, after the first hundred repetitions of gyaku-zuki, perhaps you will have a
greater appreciation and understanding of the technique and yourself in totality.
A: Achilles Tendon Giving the spring Elastic energy from the ground, and driving power up the
legs.
B: Calf muscles. Lengthening on the back leg in an
isometric contraction, with concentric contraction
on the front leg.
C: Hamstrings: Lengthen to stabilize the knee and
pelvic joints.
D: Quadriceps: Contracting to add power to the
pelvic and lower abdomen; the Power Center.(1).
E: Gluteus: Contract to speed up power into the
Power Center (1).
F: The External and Internal Obloquies muscles ,
which assist in torquing the pelvis, Accelerating the
movement.
G: The Lower Abdomen, which includes the
Strength & Power Center (1) and the anterior Abdominal muscles.
H: (2): From the Abdominal muscles the power
moves upwards into the lower back and into the
Thoracic Center (2), which opens outward enhancing power into the large Lat muscles.
I: For every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction; Newton’s third Law of motion is very
aptly applied here. The greater the pull back the
faster and stronger the zuki.
J, K, L, M: The agonists muscles of the Scapularis
and the Rotator Cuff J , now contract sending
power into the Deltoids K, and the Triceps L,
further powering the extensor muscles of the
fore-arm, culminating through the first two knuckles of the punching fist.
Karate and the Martial Arts of
today has become the centre
piece of action movies, the corner stone of Saturday night bar
& pub viewing thanks to the
cage fighting revolution and is
something creeping towards
becoming an Olympic sport.
Living in a modern world such
as this makes it hard for many
young and aspiring martial artists not to fall prey to the lure of
fame and show fighting. But on
the island of Okinawa, 300
miles south of mainland Japan,
73 year old Goju-ryu Karate
Master, Sensei Morio Higaonna
has taken steps to ensure the
future and legacy of his true
and ancient martial art is not
lost within the modern world.
As one of the of the planets
most highly regarded martial
arts masters, renowned for his
immense knowledge and awesome power, Sensei Higaonna
has spread the art of Okinawan
the globe. This was this wish of his
own master and the founder of the
style before him. Sensei Higaonna’s work to trace the lineage
of his Karate back to the Shaolin
temples in China has proven the
clear survival of this deadly fighting
art throughout the ages. His
achievements are many and his
reputation legendary. But at the
age of 73 years old, Sensei Higaonna has been faced with the
challenge of ensuring the art will
continue to survive in our rapidly
changing and developing world.
While many traditional styles
around the world are separating
after the death of their senior master and from the political & power
struggles following, Master Morio
Higaonna has had the humility and
the wisdom to not let the same
happen to Goju-ryu. The worldwide
following he receives through his
‘International Okinawan Goju-ryu
Karate-do Federation’ (IOGKF)
has always been overwhelming
and while he and his style continue
to be as strong as ever, he has
surprised many with his decision to
step back from his position as
World Chief Instructor.
Enter Sensei Tetsuji Nakamura,
the man entrusted by Master Higaonna to fulfil a life time’s duty of
protecting traditional Goju-ryu and
passing it on the next generation.
In July 2012, Sensei Higaonna announced to his senior students
around the world that he would be
passing the flame of Goju-ryu onto
Sensei Nakamura – a man who
has been one of his closest and
loyal students.
At the age of only 47 years old,
Sensei Nakamura claims that as
he is young he still has a lot to
learn as a Karate-ka; demonstrating the kind of humility we
have come to expect from his
own instructor. He has committed himself to spend the rest of
his life to further protect and develop Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate
-do.
BEGINNINGS
Sensei Tetsuji Nakamura had no
idea that when he began martial
arts training at the age of 12,
that his journey would become
as serious of a life’s pursuit as it
has. He was born in Osaka, Japan on April 3rd, 1965 and took
up Judo at the age of 12, beginning the practice of Karate in
Senior high school at the age of
15. He continued his Judo practice for six years, achieving the
level of 2nd Degree Black belt in
the art. His commitment to his
martial arts training began at an
early age, with him training in
Judo a minimum of five times
per week.
As he entered senior high school
he experienced his first introduction of Karate, practicing in a
Goju Kai club for three years.
Although he admits that his focus was more on Judo at this
time, there was obviously a passion and appreciation for Karate
that lead to him joining another
Karate school upon attending
university.
Sensei Nakamura attended Kagawa university and while there
style club. The training was
physical, but focused on a lot of
free fighting as the club was full
of eager young men out to
prove themselves on the dojo
floor. Sensei Nakamura was
one to hold his own and when
he told the club instructor that
he was heading with some
friends to vacation on Okinawa
during his university break, his
instructor insisted he should get
in contact with one his own
Sensei’s.
Always the loyal student, upon
arriving in Okinawa Sensei Nakamura telephoned a man
name Shuichi Aragaki. Unto his
knowledge, Sensei Nakamura
was calling a Karate Master
who was one of only two private students of the Goju-ryu
style founder, Bushi Chojun Miyagi, following the devastation
of World War II. Aragaki Sensei was very kind to this young
stranger and invited him to his
home for dinner. During the
meal, Aragaki Sensei told him
about his training with Chojun
Miyagi Sensei and what is true
karate was all about. After Nakamura Sensei returned to the
main land, he started thinking
about Aragaki Sensei’s stories
often. He decided to return to
Okinawa and visit Aragaki Sensei one more time to find out
more out his Karate from him
before he graduated University.
Upon returning to Okinawa, Sensei Nakamura contacted Aragaki
Sensei and visited with him
again. The Karate master then
took the young man and led him
to the Uehara dojo in Okinawa.
Following introductions, training
began. The aging Master asked
the young Nakamura Sensei to
punch him. Realising the age
different, a Sensei Nakamura
punched slowly for Master Aragaki who was taken aback. He
asked again for the young man
to punch him with full power.
Sensei Nakamura charged in
and quickly found himself on the
ground numerous times. He later
explained that each of Master
Aragaki’s punches landed precisely on vital areas each time
and that he felt as if he could
have been killed by the Sensei
had the choice been made.
Training eventually moved on to
Kata training. After the Master
saw the performance of his Kata
he asked him ‘what is this? This
is not traditional Karate.’
The meeting ended, but those
words continued to echo within
Sensei Nakamura’s mind, especially when returning to the university dojo. Later the same
year, Sensei Nakamura graduated from university with a law
degree and a degree in politics.
His had hoped to become was to
become a high school teacher,
or business man, which had
changed from his original choice
of wanting to be a policeman in
High School. Regardless, Sensei
Nakamura had the education
and degree’s to enter any occupation that he chose. But with
the words of Master Aragaki rolling through his head again and
again, he decided he must return
to Okinawa.
As you can imagine after achieving such high profile degrees at
a university level, his mother
was not impressed with his decision to move to Okinawa to practice Karate. With all this sitting
upon his young shoulders, Sensei Nakamura still decided to
pursue Master Aragaki and
called to tell him he was return-
ing to Okinawa.
Arriving at the Masters house,
Sensei Aragaki explained to the
young man that he did not have
time to instruct him. Instead he
took the young Sensei Nakamura to the legendary Higaonna
Dojo, the Okinawan home of the
famous World IOGKF Chief Instructor, Sensei Morio Higaonna.
The World Master was living in
America at the time, but Master
Aragaki had a plan for the young
man. He showed Sensei Nakamura how to use traditional supplementary training tools (Hojo
Undo), such as Chishi, Nigiri
Game and Kongoken. He told
Sensei Nakamura, ‘you must do
this every, train hard’.
In the time of Goju-ryu founder,
Bushi Chojun Miyagi, a student
who applied to the dojo was subjected to several years of Hojo
Undo and Sanchin training. If the
student had the patience and the
focus to survive this ordeal, then
he would be taught Kata and
more about Goju-ryu. Although
this Hojo Undo still holds a large
part in the training of a Goju-ryu
Karate-ka, it is an old custom
that today is no longer set in
stone, in an attempt to ensure
Karate remained popular. Karate
was already popular with Sensei
Nakamura and Master Aragaki
recognized this to the point
where he subjected him to the
same ordeal as that of a new
student some fifty years before.
Determined to find true Karate,
Sensei Nakamura listened to
Sensei Aragaki and practiced
hard every day. However, after a
few weeks Master Aragaki had
not visited the Dojo. Sensei Nakamura would often have dinner
at the Masters house on the
weekend, Aragaki Sensei gave
him lectures about Karate and
life, but he visiting to the Dojo
was never mentioned. Training
continued and the weeks continued to pass, still no Master Aragaki.
It was not until six months had
passed, that Master Aragaki had
confirmed that Sensei Nakamura
had the drive and discipline of a student from the olden days. He went
to the Dojo and began to train Sensei Nakamura once or twice per
week. First he taught him Sesan
Kata, followed by other Goju-ryu
Kata; Sesan Kata is Nakamura
Sensei’s favourite Kata to date.
Sensei Nakamura continued to train
and when Master Higaonna returned to Okinawa in 1991 to visit
and train at his Okinawan Dojo, he
immediately identified the young
man’s ability and training style.
When he managed to win the
IOGKF World Championships Hard
style free sparring (Irikumi Go) and
2nd place in the Kata competition in
the same year, Master Higaonna
saw the value in Sensei Nakamura
and asked him to come to America
with him so he could continue his
training.
Very nervous, Sensei Nakamura
told Master Aragaki of Higaonna
Sensei’s invitation and he urged
him to go. ‘Higaonna Sensei is the
best Master in the world. You
should go learn from him.’
MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA
So once again, Sensei Nakamura
packed up his life for Karate and set
off to America to pursue training under his new Master. When first arriving in California, Sensei Nakamura was living with Master Higaonna and his family, becoming an
Uchi Deshi (literally a house student). He would train every morning
with the Goju-ryu Master in his garage and then again with him in the
afternoon and evening at his Dojo in
San Marcos – the Institute of Traditional Karate. Class training with
Master Higaonna is physical as it,
let alone being one on one with him
and having no place to hide or
leave room for error. The training
was gruelling and helped forge Sen-
sei Nakamura into the Karate
warrior he would become.
He was soon promoted to assistant instructor at the San Marcos
dojo and spent time assisting Higaonna Sensei’s wife, Alanna, in
the IOGKF office, who was administrative director of the International Federation at the time; a
role he would one day inherit from
her. Sensei Nakamura was also
responsible for teaching junior
classes and when Higaonna Sensei was away teaching overseas
Gasshuku’s he would instruct the
senior classes.
As anyone who has had the fortune to train with Master Higaonna knows any session under
him drastically improves your Karate in all aspects, Sensei Nakamura has spent years continuously training under the Master
and benefiting from his knowledge and traditional methods.
This was proven when he again
claimed gold at the 1994 IOGKF
world championships in the free
fighting competition (Irikumi Ju)
and Kata. In 1995 his name became well known among the
IOGKF and Goju-ryu world as he
was direct assistant to Master Higaonna in his legendary video
documentary ‘Power Training’.
BACK TO JAPAN
In the same year, Master Higaonna realised the need for
mainland Japan to have a strong
headquarters and decided he
would return to Tokyo to establish
the Ryubukan, a Dojo that would
become the centrepiece of Gojuryu in Japan. He asked Sensei
Nakamura to accompany him and
two moved to Tokyo together...
MIYAGI CHOJUN
FESTIVAL 2013
May 2 - 5, 2012
Niagara Falls, Canada
Email:
mcf2013@iogkf.ca
Main Event Instructors:
Master Morio Higaonna
Sensei Tetsuji Nakamura
Sensei Ernie Molyneux
Sensei George Andrews
Sensei Linda Marchant
& More...
Written By: David Lambert
Terauchi Sensei is an IOGKF legend, a name that strikes respect (and fear!) into the hearts
of all those that train with him. He is renowned at Gashukus all around the world for his
speed and power, his unflinching attitude and his firm belief in Kihon, the basics of all good
Karateka’s training. This article takes another look at the man known affectionately as “Mr.
T”.
From 1968, Terauchi Sensei trained at Yoyogi Dojo in Tokyo, at the time amongst the most
notorious martial arts gyms in the world. Goju Ryu students included James Rousseau and Bakkies Laubscher from South Africa; Ernie Brennecke from the United States; Steve Bellamy
and Graham Ravey from Great Britain. Meanwhile there were also regular visitors from other
styles such as Terry O'Neil (Shotokan), John Jarvis and the French national team, not to
mention celebrities like Monster Man Eddy and Benny "the Jet" Urquidez.
Many know Terauchi Sensei as one of Higaonna Sensei’s long-term students, training not only
at Yoyogi, but also in Okinawa, where he also trained with An'ichi Miyagi Sensei. The Kihon
training at this time was severe, with 1000 repetitions coming as standard! On more than one
evening, the Yame simply never came, and they trained until daybreak stopping only for the
occasional water break.
As well as Kihon, Terauchi Sensei is
also a Kumite champion, winning the
East Japan Championships (1978),
the All Japan National Championships
(1981) as well as the 1981 IOGKF
World Championships held in Okinawa. His speed and power was awesome, so when he was invited onto a
Japanese TV show hosted by Beat
Takeshi (host of Takeshi’s Castle) he
ended up chasing the other contestants off the stage!
For the past 25 years, Terauchi
Sensei has been teaching at Kiyose
Dojo in West Tokyo. He still performs regular demonstrations, and is
known for his sturdy Sanchin, with
Shime tested by none other than Higaonna Sensei! Mr. T treats young
and old, male and female alike…all
are welcome at Kiyose provided they
come prepared to leave inhibitions at
the door to train in sweat (and
possibly blood!).
The incredible video library website by Sensei Ernie Molynuex
(IOGKF 8th Dan) & Sensei Roy Flatt (IOGKF 7th Dan). Covering
all aspects of the Goju-ryu syllabus, including Kata & Bunkai
- A private lesson with some of the best in the World Online Previews available!
!!!THE COMMEMORATIVE DVD
SET IS NOW AVAILABLE!!!
Option 1:
Single Disc Set Budosai Demo
3500 Yen
Option 2:
Double Disc Set - Demo &
Marching band & opening
ceremony 4500 Yen
Plus shipping. For an exact costing,
please email the admin office.
To whom would you recommend to practice Karate?
Sensei Spongia:
To anyone without limitation.
It might seem an obvious and “advertising” question but I think that it is a fundamental quotation. However, I would like to advise at once that Karate-Do is for everybody
and for no one. That is to say that, definitely, the practice of Karate-Do offers, in its
most complete sense, an infinite range of instruments and learning experiences,
which, taught wisely by an experienced teacher, could allow any person at any age to
reach the maximum of both their psychophysical and moral potential.
Yet, as any respectable art, Karate-Do requires sincere dedication, especially after a certain level of learning has been attained. It means that Karate-Do should become the
foundation of one’s life, with its principles transferred effectively into daily life.
With the word “dedication”, I do not mean a single-theme mania. On the contrary,
those who know me are well aware that my “model” Karate-Do teacher is not only a
specialist in kicks and punches but a complete person in any sphere of the life, who is
able to grasp the principles of the art and to apply them to every moment of ordinary
life. And still, one must get deeply into the study of the Discipline offering it the necessary time, passion and commitment; otherwise the results will only be limited, as in
any art.
Everybody likes to say that they practice “the art of Karate” but any respectable art requires enthusiasm, dedication and discipline, as well as creativity and intuition (which,
ironically, are precisely the result of the discipline), or else Karate-Do may become, at
best, a hobby like many others, with much weaker effects indeed, in some cases, deleterious effects, due to the dangerous hobby like and disengaged attitude, which is
common these days, lies at the root of numerous diseases of our society.
To complete my answer: the sea is immense, but if you approach it with a spoon, you
will get only a tablespoon of water...
Let me add a comment on the training of children, which for me is a separate chapter.
Training involving children must have a enjoyable approach.
Precisely, it is necessary to develop every movement and psychological characteristic
of the child, offering him/her the means for an adequate growth and, at the same
time, making the best use of educational, mythical and symbolic tools, which are provided to us by our discipline and which speak deeply to a child's psyche.
I am against some “sport oriented” approaches that have purged these precious elements off the Karate-Do for children, turning it into a dull sporting game deprived of
all its mythical and symbolic potential.
When and why did you start practicing Karate-Do?
I started when I was 13.
I had played tennis since the age of seven and discovered Karate, as it often happens, because of a friend, who had already been practicing and who led me to attend a lesson... it was like an electric shock, I still remember the smell of the Dojo, it
felt like to be back home again.
For a couple of years more, I was training in the Dojo and still playing tennis at a
competitive level, and then, by the age of 15, I had to decide which way my energy
should be directed, and I had no doubts in choosing Karate-Do; I felt that it could offer me more, as it further did, to become a man; well more than scoring a point by
hitting a ball over a net.
I chose Karate-Do because I realized that I could take it with me into my everyday
life instead of having an experience limited to the tennis court
Among Karate styles, Goju-Ryu is maybe the most traditional one, rooted deeply in the island of
Okinawa.. Which are the main differences with the other Karate styles?
Sensei Spongia:
Honestly, I would refrain from comparing their qualities.
I believe, I know my style well enough but I do not have sufficient knowledge of
other styles to be able to discuss them.
The Karate-Do, which was imported to and spread in Japan, has undoubtedly undergone significant changes, as compared to the original Okinawan Karate, both
in terms of technique and style, as well as in terms of its goals.
Sports development then did the rest.
I think it does not make sense any more to talk about styles in sport karate.
The same Goju-ryu has undergone a dramatic transformation on its way from Okinawa to Japan, in so much that some training methods have been completely
abandoned and the same Kata have been modified significantly.
I think that a style practiced with proper dedication and under a competent
teacher should be able to ensure an effective system tested by the long-term experience that comes from a lineage of Masters.
A style must be “effective”, and by this term I do not only mean its effectiveness in
a fight, which is certainly anaspect, but also the efficiency of energetic and psychophysical development, which would ensure well being of the person practicing the style.
In short, one should reap the benefits and see the exact results of his/her training
both in terms of combat performance and well being.
Otherwise, one’s way will be fraught with all those aberrations that make one’s
search for well being through lax and comfortable exercise to the satisfaction of
public demand, and this, in my opinion, apart from bringing a temporary relief, appears utterly ineffective for deep and lasting training and benefits. Or in the case
one seeks the notorious combat “efficiency”, may ensure in some, rare cases are a
certain short-term effectiveness, which will inevitably plummet with age leaving
behind a broken body.
Too often do we see planting on of dubious products, a medley of techniques and exercises without any connection between them.
Before discovering the Goju-Ryu of Higaonna Sensei, even though I was training very
hard just as I do now, I had been plagued by many doubts because I had not been
able to reap the promised benefits to see the concrete results corresponding he GojuRyu that I practice, I believe it is a complete style in the fullest sense of the word. All
forms of exercise we employ, from Junbi Undo to Hojo Undo, from Kakie to Irikumi,
from Kata to Bunkai, etc., lead us at the final result: the complete development of the
practitioner both from the point of view of martial or fighting skills, as well as psychophysical training and well being.
If you neglect even one aspect of the training, the final result will be far different.
MORE OF THIS INTERVIEW IN OUR APRIL EDITION
2013 IOGKF European Gasshuku
Catania, Italy
July 22 - 26, 2013
Master Higaonna & Sensei Nakamura
Plus many other IOGKF Senior Instructors
www. Europeangasshuku2013.it
In 1994 Tetsuji Nakamura was 29
years old and had just accomplished his goal of winning the
IOGKF World Championships
free fighting category – a task he
felt pressured to accomplish having been an instructor at the
IOGKF Honbu Dojo. But as he lay
in bed the next morning, he
thought to himself ‘am I really the
best in the world?’ His answer to
himself was no. Even though he
had achieved an impressive win
of the entire tournament, he still
felt that compared to many of the
IOGKF International senior instructors, he was only starting out
as a good traditional martial artist.
It was at this point that he decided to end his competitive career to focus solely on Traditional
Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do. He
changed his personal training
schedule to reflect a greater emphasis on Hojo Undo
(supplementary training specific
to Goju-ryu) and Sanchin practice. He felt this Karate, strength,
power and speed improved drastically as he moved into his thirties.
His commitment to traditional Karate made returning to Japan to
assist Master Higaonna in establishing the Ryubukan Dojo a little
easier. Master Higaonna decided
a strong centrepiece for Goju-ryu
in Japan was needed and in turn
he established the Dojo in the
capital of the land of the rising
sun. Sensei Nakamura was training daily and teaching at the
Ryubukan as an assistant instructor. He stayed in Tokyo for three
years to help Master Higaonna to
establish the Japanese Headquarters.
In 1997, Sensei Nakamura
moved to Canada to help his
friend, Jim Marinow (former
IOGKF Canada Chief Instructor).
The two had practiced together
in California under Master Higaonna in the early 1990s. In
2000, he married Rania and they
had their first baby, Emilie, in
2002.
In same year, Mrs. Alanna Higaonna retired from her position
as an administrative director and
Master Higaonna appointed
Sensei Nakamura as the new
person to oversee the running of
the International Federation. Na-
kamura Sensei moved back to
Okinawa with his wife Rania and
three month old daughter for one
year, so he could take over the
task of administrative director for
the IOGKF. He then moved back
to Canada in 2003, as Jim Marinow left the IOGKF in 2002. It
was here that Master Higaonna
appointed Sensei Tetsuji Nakamura as Chief Instructor for
IOGKF Canada.
When Sensei Nakamura declared to his parents that his intentions were to follow his Karate calling after he had finished
his university degree, they were
not overly impressed. His mother
did not speak to him for a great
length of time. But when his parents travelled to Canada in 2000
for a vacation, they quickly realised the happiness and the life
that Karate had given their son.
From this point on, they accepted
and supported Sensei Nakamura’s quest to become the best
person he could be and to spread
Goju-ryu across the world.
IOGKF Canada really began to
grow at Sensei Nakamura’s hand
and at the end of 2003 he decided that it was time for him to
establish his own Dojo. This was
the beginning of Shudokan, now
one of the world’s most popular
Goju-ryu Dojo’s. For a number of
years he taught out of a purpose
built Dojo, but as his popularity
grew he was soon dealing with
over 180 students training regularly, it was decided that a bigger
venue was needed.
In 2011, a labour of love was created. A very large two story mechanics garage was transformed
into the new Shudokan Dojo. Students from all over Canada and
World assisted in building the
new home of IOGKF Canada and
soon the IOGKF World.
Sensei Nakamura’s excellent repour with instructors and students
all across the globe, coupled with
his rapidly growing International
following and his understanding
and respect for preserving traditional Goju-ryu; saw Higaonna
Sensei appoint him as IOGKF
World Vice-Chief Instructor in
2008 and also as an executive
committee member for the World
Federation.
Sensei Nakamura’s role in how
Goju-ryu was protected and
spread to the World was now becoming larger and he began
travel more and more, having visited over 30 countries in recent
years. His humble nature, approachability and sincere desire
to want to help every person improve themself through Karate
brought exciting prospects to an
International organisation which
was well past its 30th anniversary.
As the 2012 IOGKF World Budosai approached, Master Morio
Higaonna took the time to reflect
on his role in traditional Goju-ryu.
Now in his mid seventies, Master
Higaonna had fulfilled the wishes
of style founder, Bushi Chojun
Miyagi and spread Goju-ryu to the
four corners of the globe. From
South Africa to Canada, Britain to
Australia & New Zealand, America to the middle east – the
IOGKF has an extremely strong
foundation in over 55 countries.
Master Higaonna then decided he
had to look to the future.
(Below: Shudokan Karate Dojo)
A meeting was called for all
country chief instructors during
the Budosai event. Master Higaonna announced to his most
senior students, many of them
now respected International instructors in their own right, that
he would be stepping back from
his role as World Chief Instructor to take up an advisory position within the Federation he
had founded.
He then moved to announce
that Sensei Tetsuji Nakamura
would succeed him as the new
IOGKF World Chief Instructor
and charged him the responsibility to pass Goju-ryu onto the
next generation. This announcement was well received
by all attendees at the World
Budosai and news quickly
spread across the globe.
During the same week, Sensei
Nakamura achieved the rank of
7th degree Black Belt from Master Higaonna. When this was
announced to the world it was
met with thunderous applause.
When Chojun Miyagi Sensei
first entrusted Goju-ryu to a
young man named Anichi, he
told him he had given him a
precious treasure, one which
he must protect and never lose.
Master Higaonna had now
given the same to Sensei
Tetsuji Nakamura and the new
IOGKF Chief instructor understood the importance of what
he has given. “I feel a great responsibility to be chosen as the
leader of my generation.”
Today, Sensei Tetsuji Nakamura still resides in Canada
with his wife Rania and two
daughters, Emilie & Sophia. He
is a caring family man and dedicates him time between his
home life and Karate practice
and instruction.
He will still tell you today that
he is not the best in the world.
However it is this humility, cou-
pled with the thousands of hours of
sincere & dedicated practice and research that really do make Sensei
Tetsuji Nakamura one of the best in
World. He once told me that he doesn’t think he can ever reach Master Higaonna’s level, but that he will never
stop striving to do so. With this passion and spirit towards training and
with the backing of the World, the future of Goju-ryu is safe and will continue to prosper under his leadership.
When most people retire or semi retire from their careers, it is usually to take a more
relaxed lifestyle for some well earned rest. Higaonna Sensei is not most people! In
2012 after retiring from his position as World Chief Instructor and taking up an advisory
position within the IOGKF, Higaonna Sensei’s training has not backed off.
He still continues to push his body through the vigorous physical and mental workout
that come with traditional Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate training. But after nearly 50 years
of sweating on the Dojo floor, Higaonna Sensei’s efforts are being recognised around
the globe.
Following the success of the World Budosai he organised in Okinawa, Higaonna Sensei travelled to Moldova for the IOGKF Euro Asia Gasshuku. While there our master
was called for by the President of the country.
Higaonna Sensei was presented with the prestigious ‘Order or Honour’ award. This
award is the highest honour that can be presented to a foreigner in Moldova and it was
presented to Higaonna Sensei for his contributions to Goju-ryu in Moldova, which has a
very strong following. It was equally given for the involvement Higaonna Sensei has had
in building strength between Moldova and Japan.
But upon returning to Okinawa, Higaonna Sensei was informed that he was to soon be
recognised again. The Okinawan Government had deemed the Karate Master was a
worthy recipient for a cultural achievement award.
This was given due to Higaonna Sensei’s efforts to spread Okinawan culture across the
World, through his teaching of Goju-ryu. The award is significant in that it reaffirms Higaonna Sensei’s status as a living cultural treasure.
Goju-ryu Karate thrives today due to the dedication, sacrifice and spirit of Higaonna
Sensei. Even though our Master has cut back his personal travel schedule to spend
more time training at his home in Okinawa, it is satisfying for both student and teacher
alike to see Higaonna Sensei being awarded such honours that he clearly deserves.
Congratulations Sensei!
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