WARRIOR LEGACY MARTIAL ARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!

Thank you to all of our students for supporting this years Warrior's Legacy Martial Arts Championships held at the Williams County YMCA. Master Franz cannot thank you all enough for demonstrating the qualities that make our dojo great such as courage, honor, discipline, respect and so much more. We are so thankful for you all and it was wonderful to watch you compete with integrity! Pictured below are the students who earned trophies at the event but everyone was a winner in our book! Next year's event will come soon enough so train hard and have FUN!

       

WIN A BRAND NEW APPLE IPAD FOR HELPING US GROW THE DOJO!!!

2012 CLASS SCHEDULING - Feedback is needed

Master Franz is working diligently on a new class schedule for 2012 and has posted a few things on Facebook asking what new classes you all would like to see added. We are also looking at modifying a few classes. Here are the modifications we are thinking about:

Monday we are going to run All Ranks Karate from 6 to 7 PM and move weapons classes to run from 7 to 7:30 PM. Tuesday and Thursday we are going to keep the same at this time.

NEW CLASSES we are seeking feed back on adding include the following (we are asking people to pick what peaks their interest and time they are available in order for us to decide what to add):

Saturday Kumite Class from 12:30 to 1:45 PM
Saturday Jujitsu Class from 1:00 to 2:15 PM or 12:30 to 1:30 PM
Wednesday All Ranks Class 6:30 to 7:30 PM
Friday Open Dojo / Kumite Class from 6:00 to 7:00 PM
Sunday Iaido / Sport Kenjutsu Class from 5:30 to 6:00 PM

If you have any feedback on these classes please talk directly to Franz Sensei so he can determine which classes to add and which ones will not work with our student's schedules. Thank you :)

THE COMPETITION CORNER - Tournament results, news and upcoming events...

The PKC is holding the Holiday Double Points tournament in Marion, Indiana on Saturday December 3rd. This is not very far away and is a great event. Master Franz and a few other students have committed to attend this event and if you would like to go and compete please let us know. Thank you.

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS -
12/3/11       PKC Double Points Holiday Tournament - Marion, Indiana - A GREAT EVENT!
4/18/12       PKC Phil Wade Memorial Tournament - Kokomo, Indiana
5/5/12        The Spring Smash - Kokomo, Indiana...GREAT AWARDS!

SEMINARS & OTHER EVENTS
None at this time but keep an eye out for a great seminar coming in 2012 with Master Bethea and Master Michaels...Sensei is working on the details right now :)

A BIT OF MARTIAL ARTS HISTORY - Paying Respect Forward...

During the month of November the martial arts world lost another incredible Sensei, man and Karateka. Jim Logue Hanshi was a 9th Degree Black Belt under Taika Seiyu Oyata Hanshi in Oyata Shin Shu Ho Ryu Karate. Logue Hanshi began his studies of martial arts in 1963 and has been a world wide influence to many thousands of Karate students and Sensei. He was also a very noteworthy and published author on many martial arts subjects from traditions to vital striking techniques.

In January 1994, Logue received a resolution from the South Carolina House of Represent ivies for his community service and achievements in the martial arts. In October 1999 Logue received the Kana Oyata Meritorious Service Award from the Oyata Shin Shu Ho® organization. This award is dedicated to the memory of Taika Oyata's father, Kana Oyata, and given for 30 years of dedicated service in training, instructing, promoting and upholding the ideals of the life protection arts, Oyata Shin Shu Ho® and RyuTe Ren Mei®. Also, in October 1999, he received Meijin Award from the Board of Directors of the International Martial Arts Symposium in recognition for a lifetime of dedication and leadership to the Martial Arts Community. May you rest in peace Hanshi.

The Forgetten Master of the T'ang Arts....courtesy of Martial Arts Grandmaster's International

Kibi Daijin (also Makibi and Kibi-no Maki) was born in 693 and died in 775 A.D. A minor noble, Kibi Daijin would eventually become the Japanese Minister of State under emperors Shomu and Fujiwara Nakamaro.

Often referred to as the Sun Tsu or DaVinci of his time, Makibi is celebrated as a true Renaissance man. In 711 A.D., while still a student, he accompanied a Japanese mission to T’ang China. After devoting nearly two decades to studying Confucianism, astronomy, military affairs, folk and martial arts (archery, spear, sword, empty hand, and mounted combat), he returned to Japan in 735 A.D. and was named Togu Gakushi, or Scholar of the Eastern Palace.

Two more extended visits to China followed, and in addition to lecturing on Confucian classics and sharing many aspects of the rich T'ang culture, Makibi is credited with the invention of Go (a board game favoured by the warrior class) and developing the Japanese simplified writing system, kana. He also crafted innovative military strategies and introduced combative training methods including the concept of Yuba-no-michi, a precursor to the code of Bushido.

In addition to travelling between Japan and China, Makibi visited the Nantou islands (modern Okinawa prefecture) on two separate occasions (as a part of mission to Chang'an the T'ang capital) and some historians believe that interaction with local martial artists led to the birth of the fighting method of T’ang-ti.

TRAINING TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS

Proper posture in most beneficial to everything we do in life...and in the dojo it is essential. The alignment of the spinal column aids in one's ability to breathe and the proper function of every single internal organ you have. When we use proper posture our lungs are opened up and we can intake more oxygen along with exhaling more carbon dioxide. The use of posture in the martial arts is also extremely important when learning how to develop strong strikes and kicks as well as one's ability to balance. As we all known if you lose your balance or do not have balance during the course of a self defense encounter you can fall, be thrown or taken down which, unless you are trained well in our Jujitsu system, can be devastating to your life.

When we study the use of stances such as front, horse, back and cat stance we must pay close attention to the alignment of the hips and shoulders to insure our back is properly aligned. Those who do not align their spine, hips and shoulders will easily be swept or knocked down by one who has mastered this process through their use of Tai Sabaki, or body movement.

The alignment of the hips and shoulders as well as the spine all have to do with power generation as well in the martial arts. If the alignment of a side kick is not proper the kick will never generate enough stopping force to disable an attacker and in all likely hood you will be knocked to the ground. The exact same goes for the use of the simple punch in Karate. There is an alignment of the wrist and shoulder that makes the bones stronger and more effective when striking an opponent.

SHIHAN'S CORNER - Thoughts from the desk of Master Franz

As we approach Thanksgiving I always begin to think about what I am thankful for. This has been a year of difficult and rapid changes in my life but it has been a good year as well. I have learned so much about being a person, being a martial artists, being a Sensei and just how to live in the last year alone so I am very thankful for all those lessons I had endure. I have had people come and go from my life this past year but each one has left some sort of memory in my heart...even those who managed to upset me, use me or hurt me. I am thankful for the lessons I learned from them as much as I am for the ones that I learned from people who have shown me love, kindness, compassion and care.

I am thankful that I have been blessed with a positive outlook in life no matter how hard it may get. Life to me is a day by day adventure filled with both good and bad but it is the good that I take and the bad I let drop away. Each new dawn relights the fire in my heart and kindles the ability to realize that day is a blessing and not to waste it.

I am thankful for all my family who have given me advice over the years, even if I didn't want to hear it. My parents raised me, disciplined me and supported me when I needed it. My brothers argued with me and laughed with me over the years. Both of them have given me nephews and a niece that are good kids to enjoy watching them grow. Having a great family is a wonderful blessing and I hope each day they are proud of me even if it may seem that I am a struggling Karate teacher :)

I am thankful for each and every student that has ever come into my life. Some have stuck around for a long time while others have quit but that does not mean that I did not cherish having them as part of my Karate family nor that I will forget their time with us in the dojo. Each student teaches me as much as I teach them and I am thankful for the smiles, the sweat, the effort and the time they invest in the dojo and me as their Sensei.

I am thankful for my friends that I have in my life. Many people go through life never knowing who your good friends are and I have been blessed with, not one, but several who are very close to me. Cliff, Brian, Brad, Jarrod, Mike & Mike and others are life brothers to me and I am very blessed to have them in my life.

I am thankful that God has given me a talent and allowed me to use it to impact other's lives. I spent many years trying other things in my life for a career but I was always drawn back to teaching and training Karate for some reason. In 2005 I finally gave in and threw all my savings into opening a full time Karate dojo. God has blessed me with the ability to teach and promote Karate to the masses and has given the ability to make a modest living at it. I am very thankful for being able to do something I love and pray to God that I make him happy with what I do.

No matter what positive or negative thing hit me last year I had a great year of growth. My mental, physical and spiritual aspects of my life have never felt more balanced than they did this past year even with going through a divorce, losing a few close people to me, struggling to pay the bills and more...it has been an interesting and learning year and I sincerely hope that I will be given the strength and wisdom to learn from it and move onto a great 2012.

Most of all I am thankful that I am alive and able to be thankful for all the above. Happy Thanksgiving to all and be blessed in your travels and time with your families :)

NIHONGO - LEARNING TO SPEAK JAPANESE

How to say "Happy Thanksgiving" in Japanese.

幸せな感謝祭 - Shiawasena kansha-sai (she-ah-wah-say-nah Kahn-sha-sigh)

How to say "Merry Christmas" in Japanese.

    (メリー・クリスマス) - Merii Kurisumasu (Mer-E Koo-ree-soo-mah-soo)