| Ed and Becki in front of Futema shrine |
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Selected articles from Dec 07 Newsletter
Sensei notes
The study of karate can be
divided into different aspects of training. Each is necessary to develop into a well rounded martialist. The areas in order
of importance of study are: basics, kata, weapons, preset kumite, preset self defense and various free kumite. Other areas
of study are supplimentary to the others. Supplimental training includes physical conditioning, iron shirt training, focus
training and intellectual training. In class I concentrate on major aspects of training . The supplimentary training is primarily
the responsibility of the student during none class hours. I guess you can call it homework. Start homework training with
reviewing and practice of kata taught during class, then do some supplimentary training.
Homework assignments
I encourage each student to
discuss their homework training with me. I can help you design a good program for you as an individual. Physical conditioning
training must include endurance training, strength training, speed training and flexibility training. Focus training is taught
in class but needs extreme practice. Individual focus practice can be accomplished in many different methods. Some examples
are tennis ball focus, paper focus, makiwara, speed bag, double end ball, heavy bag and breaking.
Important
Info?
Each newsletter I try to include some educational topic. The newsletters
should be put in your student notebook (you are keeping one right?) This letter will address information that should be important
but is overlooked by most beginning students. Often I meet kids that say they study karate. My first question is who is your
teacher. It is amazing the number that do not know. It is not so much my name I want my students to know ,but that of what
and why we are. Who and what we are is an accumulation of knowledge and experience passed down over hundreds of years from
teacher to student. My primary teacher was Seikichi Odo, the founder of Ryukyu Hon Kenpo Kobujyutsu and judan (tenth degree
black belt). Master Odo was considered the worlds foremost expert in Okinawa weapons and Okinawa kenpo. He was senior student
of Shigura Nakamura a famous teacher that founded Okinawa Kenpo. By individual names we can trace our art back in time to
the early 1600’s. Past that their are no records other than some general references dating back to the 1300’s
and earlier. Many of the names are Chinese. Due to the Boxer Rebellion and later the communist take over of China, the Chinese
martial arts have nearly perished from China but are preserved in Okinawa karate. Master Nakamura renamed his martial art
Okinawa Kenpo to reflect its Okinawa heritage yet giving credit to China. Kenpo is Chinese for fist method (martial art).
Nakamura desired that Okinawa Kenpo be open to all martial artist with the emphasis on free fighting using protective armor.
This melting pot of karate masters associated with Nakamura produced Okinawa Kenpo as we know it today. Master Odo became
the head of the Okinawa Kenpo System after Nakamura passed. Late in his life Master Odo changed his system name to Ryukyu
Hon Kenpo Kobujyutsu to more correctly reflect its purpose, origin and to remove people and organizations improperly utilizing
his name. Only a selected few instructors were invited to join. I was lucky to be one of them and served on the committee
to establish the new bylaws.
To say that I have been influenced only by Master Odo would be incorrect.
My studies started in Lynchburg VA at age 10. I eventually earned my first degree black belt under Dave Futcher at the YMCA.
Then I went to Okinawa and was accepted by Master Odo. Another major contributor to my martial training is Dean Stephens.
Master Stephens is the most senior of Master Odo’s American students. Stephens was stationed in Okinawa at the same
time I was there. Being the senior in class he often lead the class for Odo. I had the honor of being promoted to 7th degree
by Master Stephens last year. Stephens is now a 9th degree. O.K., I am off topic again. Lets examine the name of our system:
ryukyu hon kenpo kobujyutsu. Ryukyu is the name for the island chain that encompasses Okinawa. It has a unique culture that
is as much Chinese as Japanese. Before the Japanese claimed the island the Ryukyu kingdom was an independent country and a
close friend of China. Some believe it was part of China. The word "hon" means original and unique referring to the fact that
Odo taught the old way. Kenpo of course is the Chinese word for fist law or Chinese boxing. Showing the lineage to China.
"Kobujyutsu" means old warrior fighting system. This is a marked departure from what the Japanese call "do" or way. (i.e.
karate-do). Odo intended for this to represent the real cultural authentic martial way as compared to the Japanese sports.
I hope this helps everyone understand our art better.
More important than this is our Christian acknowledgment. God is
the ultimate master and Jesus is our true master teacher. We should never forget this.
_____________________
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| Shuri Castle |
- The National Police Agency announced that 32,249 people committed suicide in Japan last year. This marked the 11th successive
year in which suicides topped 30,000. The 4,580 people in their 30s who killed themselves in 2008 was the highest number in
this age group since the agency started keeping suicide statistics in 1978. So far the pace in 2009 is ahead of last year. More
lives are lost to suicide in Japan than to violent crime in the United States.
- The National Congress of Parents and Teachers Associations released a report surveying cell phone use among primary and
middle school students. Figures showed that 20% of 5th grade students owned a cell phone, rising to 42% by the second year
of middle school. Sixteen percent of middle schools students admitted to sending more than 50 mobile e-mails per day. About
25% of both primary and middle school students reported feeling "very anxious" if they did not receive replies to their e-mails.
Throughout
2009, churches in Japan are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first arrival of Protestant missionaries in 1859. Before
that time, Japan had been closed to foreign visitors for 230 years under the shogun warlords, who prohibited Christianity,
drove out the Catholic missionaries, and forced some 280,000 of their converts to recant or face torture and death.
This year marks 460 years since the Portuguese Jesuit Francis
Xavier brought Christianity to Japan in 1549, and 60 years since the postwar wave of missionaries arrived in 1949.
Some historians argue that Christianity first entered
Japan as early as the second century A.D., brought by Assyrian missionaries who traveled through India, China and Korea. Regardless
of when the gospel first arrived, this would be a great year for revival to break out in Japan, where Christians make up less
than 1% of the Japanese population.
WE ARE A BLACK BELT SCHOOL! (Article
modified from the original)
When we first begin martial arts training we look at the black belt as being the ultimate goal. Just seeing someone
with a black belt sends chills of excitement and amazement down our spines. After over thirty years of training and being
a black belt for twenty five, I still get this feeling. It really means something.
I remember how much time, energy and study it took just to get to that first black belt. I hope that my students
are feeling the same desire and anticipation of receiving their first black belt. Let me tell you about why we are a black
belt school and give you some details on what a black belt is. As far as martial arts history goes the symbol of the black
belt is very new. There is some discussion on how it originated. It seems to have originated in several different ways. The
first theory is that everyone wore a white belt. This was used to hold the pants up and the shirt down! Everyone knew who
the master was. Over time the white belt would gather mold and turn a green color. This took about six months. Then the mold
would die producing a shade of brown. That along with dirt being ground in to the belt caused it to be brown. This took about
another six months. Then about one year later the belt would be so dirty it was black.
The second theory is that the founder of Judo devised the ranking system
after watching the Olympic swim team using colored bands to identify levels of swimming skill. He choose the colors, white
brown and black because belts could be cheaply made and dyed darker as the student progressed. Those are the two most popular
stories. I have another based on my research in Okinawa. I found that the attendants, dignitaries and royalty of the Okinawa
Shuri Castle wore different colored hats to identify their social station. This likely came from China where in the official
courts the color of clothing identified those of high social status. I even found that the Shuri elite wore a red and white
checkered hat the same color as our 7th and 8th degree belts. Perhaps all three are valid. It was not
until 1945 that the black belt became known and revered by Americans. Our US service men and women station in Okinawa and
other parts of Japan saw the maters teaching and training. It was the exceptional skill of those early masters that set the
standard. Many Americans were accepted as students earning their black belts before returning home. The black belt system
soon adopted the standard Japanese education rating system. This used the kyu or grade system and the dan or degree ratings.
The kyu grades started at 10 being the beginning and went to one or 1st kyu being the highest grade. The student
then graduated and received their first degree or 1st dan. To better understand the dan or degree ratings, we can
compare them to our public education system. The kyu ranks are al the grades from kindergarten to being a senior in high school.
Upon graduating the student has received their degree. This is the 1st degree. Going on to college to earn a one
year certificate equals the 2nd degree. The 3rd degree corresponds with an associate degree. The fourth
degree is a bachelor degree. The 5th is adding a teacher certification to the bachelor degree. The 6th
degree is equal to a masters degree. Then the 7th and 8th degrees are Doctorate level. Finally the 9th
degree is a professorship and the 10th is a chancellor. Some martial arts systems even use the titles of master,
Doctor and Professor to indicate their advanced levels. Now that we understand the belt system lets examine why we are a black
belt school.
Getting
the student to skill level of a 1st degree black belt is our first goal. You or your child has enrolled in a school.
The object of any school is not only to learn but to graduate! We don’t go to high school without the goal and intention
of graduating. I only want the best for my students so my goal is that they earn their degree. I hope that they will then
continue into college and into the higher degrees. Of course our school is not just a high school but a full level University.
We are a black belt school. I do not teach you or your child to be a yellow belt, orange belt, purple belt, etc. I teach them
to be a black belt by the old standard.
A loving note to parents
(And house parents) Parents, you are the most important person in your child’s education. The raising
and education of your child is ultimately your privilege and responsibility. I want to thank you for trusting me with the
martial arts education of your child. There are some things that you can do to assist me. Please understand that everything
I do in class has a purpose. I realize that it is hard not to become directly involved during class time, but I do ask that
you trust me to handle any situation in class. Even if it appears that your child is not paying attention or is not performing
as well as expected, please do not attempt to correct or teach the child yourself. In karate class there are many methods
of dealing with each child and each behavior. Often the best is to ignore undesirable behavior and to utilize different teaching
strategies to encourage and gain interest of the student. Most often I teach like the Okinawans. They teach with a large amount of tolerance. Mostly, the only time you will see a negative correction is when a safety issue
is involved. Each child is different but equally special. Each will respond in different ways to training. The ultimate goal
of all is the same. That goal is for them to be a better person, thus improving the world one child at a time.
Three months. Three months is the minimum I ask for you to keep you child in class. The benefits of studying
karate are well known, however, it takes time. Please don’t get discouraged and most important, do give your child the
opportunity to learn to follow through with commitment. After three months I suggest you talk with your child about continuing
class. At that time if the child just does not like I, then you can make a decision for them to continue or not. Based on
my experience and education three months is the minimum time a child should study or participate in an activity to be able
to make a judgment on how it will affect their lives.
I have said a lot in this article. If you have questions I would love to set a time to talk with you. Here is
a list of some things I have learned about teaching children.
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A lot of energy is a good thing
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Short attention spans are not short
·
Even if they look like they are not
paying attention they are.
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Children respond to short term goal
achievement.
·
Most do not thrive on competition
against others, but they do thrive on self competition as they see themselves grow.
·
A poor self image is the cause of
a lot of teen age problems.
·
A good example is better than an
explanation
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Love is always the answer
Sensei Ed Hershman’s qualifications.
This is not to brag, but to help develop your trust in me
·
7th degree black belt
in karate
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7th degree black belt
in kobudo
·
BA Degree in Biblical studies
·
Associate Degree in Christian Education
·
Associate degree in General Studies
·
Graduate of the IPHC ministers course
·
Virginia Department of criminal Justice
certified instructor
·
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice
certified Advanced Defensive Tactics Instructor
·
Graduate of FBI General Instructor
course
·
Former police office
·
Former school teacher
·
Former school principal
·
Honorable military service (8 years)
·
Lived and often visit Okinawa.
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The Masters Belts
The different color yudansha (Dan or black belts) belts is often confusing to the new karate student. Just because
a person is a black belt does not mean they are limited to wearing of a black colored obi (belt). There are other belts that
many styles and school use to differentiate between the advance ranks. Back in the 1900’s
in Japan there were so many black belts that it was getting difficult to identify who the senior members and teachers. The
answer was in giving the advanced level members a specialty belt. The founder of Judo, Jigiro Kano, is credited with creating
the first shihan or kyoshi belt. The belt was alternating red and white sections. The belt resembles the red and white DOT
reflective tape used on the back of large trucks. This was awarded to the advanced members. In Okinawa karate it is worn by
the 7th and 8th degrees. In Judo it is worn by 6th, 7th and 8th degrees.
In kodokan judo a 5th degree woman can wear it.
No one really knows why Kano choose red and white. It is suggested that it is because of Japans fondness of the
colors. I have a theory that there was an abundance of red and white flag material after world war two. It was the easiest
material accessible. Later there were other color belts added. Here is a list
of possible advanced belts that can be found in use in Okinawa karate systems starting from the lowest rank going up.
1st and 2nd degrees wear plan black, 3rd degrees in some systems wear a black
belt with a red stripe through the middle. 4th, 5th and 6th degree may were the renshi belt.
This belt is black on one side and half red and white stripes on the other. A 4th degree wears it black side out.
A fifth degree wears it white side up. A 6th degree wears it red side up. Next is the shihan or kyoshi belt discussed
earlier for the 7th and 8th degrees. There is also a red belt with gold strip through the middle that
is worn by some 7th and 8th degrees. Then the solid red belt is worn by the 9th and 10th
degrees. The red belt is called the hanshi belt. A few 10th degrees
may wear a gold belt. Even though a person qualifies to wear a specialty belt does not preclude them from wearing a black
obi.
Gakusei, jokyou, renshi, kyoshi and Hanshi.
Titles in the martial arts are becoming overused and extravagant. In Hanamizuki dojo we utilize the traditional
teacher certification titles of the Former Ryukyu Hon Kenpo Kobujyutsu Federation. In addition we have added the assistant
instructor certification of jokyou. These titles originated with the Japanese swordsmanship systems to identify levels of
instructor certification. Today these certification are mostly automatic with promotion to a specific rank, put this was not
always the case. A person could obtain a martial rank and not have a teaching title. From the previous article on the master
belts it is already seen that the titles are accompanied by a belt. However, many Okinawa karate systems and individuals choose
not to use them, there is an alternative and more common indication of a person’s teacher level. This is done by placing
stripes on the end of the obi. Not the way Americans do for each level of dan but stripes that represent the titles of renshi,
kyoshi and hanshi. On the belt of an Okinawan instructor look for one, two or three stripes on one end of the obi. These are
sometimes only on the rear of one side. One stripe represents a renshi. Remember that a renshi may be a 4th, 5th
or 6th degree black belt. Two stripes represent a kyoshi 7th or 8th degree. Three stripes
represent a hanshi or 9th or 10th degree. What do these titles mean? Gakusei means student and is a
1st, 2nd or 3rd degree black belt. Jokyou means assistant instructor and is a third degree.
A jokyou status is not automatic with 3rd degree. Renshi means polished instructor. A renshi may be a 4th,
5th or 6th degree. A true renshi must be a 6th degree although the renshi instructor license
is often awarded at 4th degree. Kyoshi means class room teacher. In karate it is a senior teacher. There is a difference
between an instructor and a teacher. An instructor shows and directs. A teacher causes someone to learn. The last title of
hanshi means judge advocate. In karate it is the master teacher or teacher of teachers. Hanshi is the highest honor a karate
teacher can achieve. There are very few that reach this level of mastery.
Contact me, Ed Hershman for information. I can be reached by telephone at 238-7392 after 7pm or on weekends or
email at edhershman@hotmail.com .
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