AIWa-News May 2007

Volume 31, Issue 5

A proud member of Wadokai England, and working in close harmony with the Japanese Karate Federation, Federation of European Wadokai (FEW), Karate England, and the Amalgamated Warrior Arts (AWA).

 

New Face for Licences for DKW and Wadokai Southwest.

Due to the Wadokai implementation of standardisation and central licence control, the DKW Licence Office has had to implement changes to the licensing policy. AIWa Licences will be replaced by the new Wadokai Licence. However, those who already posses an AIWa Licence will NOT be effected. Present AIWa Licence holders will be able to retain their licence and carry on as normal, as they are still accepted by the DKW and Wadokai Southwest. All new applicants will be receiving the `Wadokai' design. Many Instructors and students may have already seen these new licences, as they have been issued since the end of March.

Due to the `late arrival' of these licences, many students were issued with Wadokai England's `temporary licences', these would need to be replaced upon the next renewal. For this, just simply send your `temporary licence' in with the renewal form, and you will receive a new Wadokai Licence, plus, we shall also return your `temporary licence' so you can retain your personal grading/training records, etc.

 

New Affiliation.

Please welcome Lee Minion 5th Dan of the Derby Karate Academy. Lee Minion, Godan, DKA Chief Instructor. Lee has been studying and teaching martial arts for over 30 years and is one of Aiwakai's senior instructors. He is also a former coach to the England Wado-Kai National Karate Team.

Lee started training in 1975 and has trained with some of the top Wado instructors including Senseis Sakagami, Shiomitsu and Suzuki, among others. He has been National kata champion five times and was asked to coach on the national squad after retiring from active competition. Since then he has held positions of Senior Kata Coach, Senior Kumite Coach and Head Coach for the Wado-kai England national team and in total coached on the squad for ten years before moving on from that position to follow his professional career.

During that time he has coached people to compete and win at International and World tournament levels. As a world-class karate-ka, registered with the Japan Wado-Kai, Lee has been featured in Traditional Karate magazine. If you would like to visit the Derby Karate Academy, you can locate them on: www.derbykarateacademy.co.uk/ 

Welcome to the Alliance of International Wado-ryu!

 

DKW Licences Charges may have to be increased due to overwhelming application discrepancies for 2007

You would think, with everything written on the application form in full view, that there would be NO problems with Licence Applications. Everything is explained and highlighted as to what to include in the application.

For example:

INCLUDE WITH APPLICATION

1.  Stamped (Large 1^st Class) self-addressed envelope (at least A5 sized).

2.  Remittance of £19.50 (UK Sterling). Please make payable to DKW.

3.  2 Passport sized photographs. Not required if renewal.

But you'd be wrong!

80% of all licence applications that have been received by the DKW Licence Office have one or more of these requirements missing. In fact, in March 2007, two application forms came through without ANY of the above included, and with ONLY the name and address of the student written on the form! Additionally no other part of the form filled out at all (so we didn't even know which club/s they were from). There was no SAE, cheque, or photograph included. I have even had to collect many licence applications from the Post Office because they never had ANY stamps (or insufficient postage) on them when they were posted! Cheques are still coming in payable to AIWa, so we have to return the cheque to be made payable to DKW. However, it's not just `discrepancies'... Some licences have even been out of date for more than EIGHTEEN MONTHS, and the student has still been training without insurances for all that time - this also putting the Instructor at risk...

With the extra time, effort and money being spent on these discrepancies (and others) we may be forced to increase the licence charges from £19.50 to £25 in the New Year if this trend continues.

As from NOW all licence form discrepancies are being returned to the INSTRUCTOR (if we know who he is!).

 

Promotions within Wadokai Southwest

Well done to: Molly Shalliker 8th Kyu, Callum Trenerry 8th Kyu, Jake Bennett 8th Kyu, Thomas Bradshaw 8th Kyu, and Ryan Maffey 6th Kyu of the Plymstock School of Karate.

Congratulations from the Alliance of International Wado-ryu (AIWa) President, Gary E Swift (7th Dan) Kyoshi.

 

Nu-Ki

NU-KI = Japan. Refers to the Wado concept of 'releasing your power' during the practise of Wado techniques. If we refer to the concepts of 'Nuki' within Wado movement, this can be explained quite easily (I hope). If we look at some other styles of Karate, outside of the concepts of Wado-ryu principles, each move is very often emphasised too much separately, and has very little, if any, flow. Power is held and there are many long pauses, especially after and during a delivery at a Kiai point. When observing other styles while they practise their Kata techniques, when each 'individual' technique is performed, it seems to almost finish at that technique. In the 'extreme' cases, as I mentioned before, this is very often during the point of any Kiai. When they have the Kiai there is a 'holding' of the Kime (extending the power) within that technique to almost over-emphasise the strike, etc. However, in Wado, we do not 'hold' onto the Kime or overemphasise any technique during Kiai or normal practise (this is known as 'detaching or disconnecting your power'). We attempt to move in a flowing manner from technique to technique in the same way as normal training. When the Kiai is expressed do not hold onto the Kime, but just simply move on as if there were no Kiai. Ohtsuka Meijin used to rarely (if ever) Kiai at certain techniques, this is because he did not want the 'manufactured power' to be expressed, or the flow to be 'deliberately interrupted' by an unnecessary pause due to an `emphasis' of power. All Wado Kata should flow from move to move without the use of unnecessary amounts of power or tension. Do not hold onto your power, but release this power prior to finalisation of each technique, this would then allow you the freedom of movement to the next technique without tension or restraint. Nuki is probably one of the most complicated aspects of Wado-ryu Karate to practise. The method of striking, in order not to generate over exertion of power is very difficult. Additionally, to create power and release this power `prior' to the extension of the technique takes a lot of skill and timing to perfect. As you use your 'initial' power to generate your technique, release fractionally 'prior' to the finalisation of the technique. This then releases the momentum. From here you can decide what you want to do with it - next move, pull back, etc. In respect to the Kiai correct `timing' is important; in this situation, Kiai at the initial point of the technique, rather than at the point of `final delivery'.

My interpretation of Nuki is this - It is almost like pushing a car - use your initial strength, on your first step, to push the car until the car starts to move then let go - the car would then still continue to move until it came to a standstill. Think of your Chi pushing the car (initial element of technique), then release and watch your efforts continue through. Spontaneous energy release, followed by continual motion.

Think of a bucket full of water... Punch the surface of the water and pushing the technique through to the bottom creates a lot of splash. Alternatively, punch the surface of the water and allow the fist to pull back very quickly after just touching the surface. This then creates the desired 'ripple' or 'wave effect'. We create a ripple effect on the opponent's body with our strikes.

If we have Nuki we can also start the 'pull-back' process earlier (or change our technique completely).

The thing about Wado is that we should use 'spontaneous energy' (with release) as opposed to 'continual energy'. Continual `motion' can be achieved through `spontaneous energy'. Also, power is achieved through speed and focus, not by physical strength. Gary E Swift (7th Dan) Kyoshi.

 

If AIWa can do it for nothing, why can't the rest?

AIWa has been running as a `non-profit' organisation since its `official' arrival in the 1980's. At present AIWa does not charge for club affiliation, does not charge for membership, does not `tax' for the use of facilities, etc. However, so many of the so-called `National Governing Bodies' do, why is that? This is simple; many of the National Governing Bodies are run by individuals who want only to make profit for doing virtually nothing. AIWa organises better value insurance packages through the DKW, Instructor Insurances, MORE Competitions and Courses. AIWa also organises `self-maintained' Wado Courses, Squad Training Sessions, CRB Checks, 1st Aid Courses, Multi-art Courses, etc., than ANY other National Governing in the UK and are still able to maintain consistency and continuity. Karate England, the so-called 'official' Karate Governing Body (for Sport Karate) want to impose affiliation fees far in access of normal affordability, thus making themselves guilty of `Restrictive Practices'. AIWa pays Wadokai England £50 per year affiliation fee, which is the Governing Body for the Japanese Karate Federation (JKF-Wadokai) in the UK. As AIWa ARE Wado this is the obvious choice to make. However, if AIWa are to affiliate to Karate England, for the sake of the `minority' who wish to pursue English Karate status within the `all-styles' sport karate circuit in England, AIWa would be expected to have to pay in excess of a whopping £1500 (plus) per year for membership to Karate England under the present requirements. And where does this money go, you may ask?... Well this is obvious - right in the wallets of the Directors' back-pockets! AIWa started as a non-profit making organisation from its modest beginnings back in the late 1970's when established as DKW, and we have `outlived' ALL of the National Governing that have EVER been created in the UK - The secret? We don't rip people off and we don't have a self-vested Committee. We don't tell people what to do, we only offer services!

 

Our Wadokai England President, Sensei K, Sakagami Honbucho.

Sakagami-Kuniaki Sensei started training in Wado-ryu in 1959 when he was a teenager. He originally wanted to train in boxing but found that the nearest boxing gym was thirty miles away; in those days this was a great distance to travel. A friend then told Mr Sakagami he could easily find a karate dojo, so Mr Sakagami decided to do that instead.

The dojo happened to be one of Mr Tatsuo Suzuki's, a very famous instructor with a good reputation.

At this time Mr Sakagami did not know anything about Karate `styles', it was only by chance that it happened to be a Wado-ryu dojo. The training was a little different then in those days you would do jogging in bare feet and the discipline was military style, you never said "no" in the dojo, only "yes", "hai", you were allowed to question if you were not sure of something but you could not question the teachings.

Mr Sakagami won the Middle Japan Kumite two years running and then went on to take a British Wado team to Japan to participate in the World Wado Karate Cup. This was a proud moment for Mr Sakagami, as he had always wanted to take an English team to Japan.

 

DKW Karate remains unchanged since introduction in 1964

Very few organisations can boast that their syllabus has remained virtually unchanged for almost half a century.

As more and more organisations become `watered down' and break-away from each other the situation will only get worse. AIWa Standardisation Courses were originally set up to ensure the `purity' of what was `first' introduced into the UK from Japan remained intact. This concept has become even more important now than ever. Pictured from left to right: Suzuki Tatsuo (8th Dan) Hanshi and Fukazawa Hiroji 8th Dan. Two great masters of traditional Wado-ryu Karate-do, who have not allowed their Wado to become `corrupted' by either `western' influences or damaging `modifications'.

The Standardisation Courses are still promoted, and the traditional Wado methods of the 1960's are still being taught. The DKW syllabus has been stuck in a `time warp' ever since the founder, Ohtsuka Hironori Meijin, passed away in 1982. Gary E Swift (7th Dan) Kyoshi feels that when the founder passed away Wado should remain the way it was from then, as Ohtsuka Meijin is no longer around to change it.

 

Domei Kokusai Wadokai & Wadokai Southwest bowing on/off Procedure

The `traditional' method of lining up in the Wado Dojo is quite simple. On the command of `Seiretsu' students must line-up quickly and quietly in the proper grade/rank order (highest ranks starting from the front-right working down to the lowest ranks on the rear-left) in equal rank & file in the Kiritsu (informal attention) position (Musubi-dachi), as per diagram. You must not pass in front of higher graded ranks to do so, filter in from the rear and side of your own line. All Sensei stand facing the rank & file of students. In the event that there is more than one Sensei, the highest graded Sensei would usually be positioned at the left of the lower ranked Sensei (this would then be in correct rank position during the 'Shomen-ni-rei', where the highest ranks must be on the right in the line up).

Bowing-on Procedure

Sensei: 'Seiretsu' (line up in correct ranks and files). Sensei `signals' the Sempai to acknowledge the start of the bowing-on procedure.

Sempai: 'Seiza' (all knee).

Sensei: 'Dojo kun' (Dojo maxims).

Deshi: `Dojo Kun' (acknowledgement of command.).

Sensei: 'Reisetsu O Mamori' (stick to the rules of the Dojo).

Deshi: 'Reisetsu O Mamori'.

Sensei: 'Shingi O Omanji' (be loyal to your Instructor).

Deshi: 'Shingi O Omanji.'

Sensei: 'Jojitsu Ni Oberesu' (students & Instructors are not all one, never take advantage of his friendship).

Deshi: 'Jojitsu Ni Oberesu.'

Sensei: 'Shinkenmi Ni Tesseyo' (be serious in your efforts).

Deshi: 'Shinkenmi Ni Tesseyo'.

Sensei: 'Mokuso' (quiet thought) - Students and Instructors shut their eyes for a moment of meditation to clear the mind of outside distractions etc., concentrating on the task ahead of serious Karate training and the concepts of the Dojo-kun.

Sensei: 'Mokuso Yamae' (stop meditating) – all students and instructors open their eyes and look to the front. The Sensei will turn to face the Shomen (front), towards the Kamiza (shrine).

Sempai: Shomen Ni Rei (bow to the front) – all bow.

The Sensei turns to face the class.

Sempai: 'Sensei Ni Rei' (bow to the Instructor) – all bow.

Sempai: 'Otaga Ni Rei' (bow to each other) – Deshi bow.

Sempai: 'Kiritsu' (come to attention) - all must stand at once, with the Sensei, to the attention stance – Musubi Dachi) – all bow together with the Sensei.

 

Thought of the Month!

Who `owns' Wado?

As far as my own personal opinion is concerned I have the deepest respect for everyone, and the deepest respect for their Wado. I feel that in respect to Wado we should all be working together for a greater goal and also moving forward in its search for the road to understanding. Too many people, nowadays, seem to concentrate too much energy and effort on 'in-fighting' and not making any positive direction or research. To me this is confusing, counterproductive and very frustrating. Thankfully, in AIWa, we are not so insular and do tend to attend ALL courses and seminars on offer from ALL respected heads, and have felt welcome when attending. In turn, we have invited many Japanese and Western teachers to our Dojo and people have been very happy with the extra knowledge and perspectives.

To me, we only have two arms & legs and with the 'principles' of the Wado concepts can only move them in a set way. Wado 'schools' have taken these concepts and have 'created' forms of partner-works to put a 'stamp' on the school, etc., and have said 'this is the way it is to be done'. If this becomes the 'word of god', then this is the mistake... Maybe this is the way it is to be done, but only in their way of thinking and only in their own school.

There is so much Wado out there, and many Instructors. In turn, these instructors have taken these concepts and have developed their methods to fit personal or directed personalities. This is not wrong, just different - and also can be seen as development.

For my clubs, in Wadokai Southwest and the Domei Kokusai Wadokai, we have retained the Suzuki Sensei syllabus and teachings. This is the syllabus that has taken me to where I am now (so if it's good enough for me...). Additionally, Ohtsuka Meijin is no longer around, unfortunately, and is unable to 'direct' the direction of the Wado he perceived and conceived, so who knows where he wanted to go with it? This is the reason I have not changed the way I teach my Wado, so I am (as you may say) stuck in a 'time-warp' - hah, hah! But I do attend and encourage my students to train in as many of the Wado courses available from as many sources as they can. Our syllabus may not change, but our thoughts and learning does.

I learn from others, and enjoy comparing partner-works, etc. However, I shall never be one to throw stones at anyone because of the way a certain school may be performing their Wado.

I like to think that Wado can be encompassing, as everyone can contribute so much knowledge to the 'Wado pot'. We all perform Kata a little different from each other, that's because we are 'individuals' and have our own mechanics in the way we perform things. From personal research I have found that as far as the 'official' Kata are concerned (Pinan to Chinto) we are all the same (if with very 'slight' variations). The Wado world has gone a bit different from school to school with the advanced ones (Bassai upwards), but this is only natural as they were 'nicked' from other sources and 'Wado-fied'. Maybe Ohtsuka did intend to 'officiate' them, who knows? But what we have is what we have and we must all attempt to make and get the best out of our Wado together.

 

"There is no such thing as right or wrong, there's only thinking that makes it so"

 

Gary E Swift (7th Dan) Kyoshi.

 

All prospective Dan grades must have shown an ability to teach and to lead by good example.

They must at all times seek to promote safe practice and a harmonious and friendly atmosphere both within the Dojo and outside.

A Dan grade should not have to be asked to assist the club; they should do so automatically and willingly.

They should always help their fellow students to progress in any way they can, remembering that they where once kyu grades.

They should constantly practice and refine their own technique and ensure that what they pass on to their fellow students is of the highest order both in training and advice.

A Dan grade should never stop training, evolving and exploring their technique and should always seek out advice from senior Instructors. Seek their knowledge it is priceless & invaluable. Attend courses & seminars. 'Never stop learning'

Any person attaining a Dan Grade should never lose sight of the fact that they where once beginners. Conceit and arrogance of any kind is a luxury that no Karate student can afford to have.

There is no place for inflated egos or conceit within Karate.

On a final note please remember that Dan Grade or Black Belt is not a code for the word "GOD". When you reach black belt level you are still just a human being.

'A wise person never seeks praise for their abilities. Any fool can tell you what you would like to hear.'

Written by Barry Archer 4th Dan, UK Bushido Karate.

 

Karate and the Olympics

With all the rumours going around I thought I should share this from the AAU:

Dear Karate Enthusiast: It is with Great regret that I must inform you that rumours being circulated as to the Olympic status of Karate are false. We have been inundated with questions regarding whether karate is now an Olympic sport. Apparently, the excitement and rumours were sparked by the proclamation on the USANKF website and headline in a commercial Karate website that "Karate is now an Olympic Sport." The article goes on to state that "karate has been raised to the level of an Olympic sport," proclaiming a sundry of items and asks for a $250.00 lifetime membership to the USANKF the organization making this claim.

Let there be no misunderstanding - - karate is not in the Olympics and is not an Olympic sport. The International Olympic Committee has confirmed to us in writing that karate indeed is not an Olympic sport. We will attach their communication with our office for you. "Click Here for .pdf Doc" The following explanation should allay any remaining doubt. "Five `non-Olympic' sports - roller sports, squash, golf, karate and rugby sevens - - had been studied by the Olympic Programme Commission as part of its two-year analysis. The International Federations, the IFs, for these five sports were deemed to have met the criteria to be considered. The following procedure was followed in Singapore in 2005 to determine whether any of those sports would become Olympic sports. The first group of voting would determine the first nominee for consideration. The following are the results of that vote as reported by the IOC: First Round: Karate: 23, Roller Sports: 20, Rugby: 17, Squash: 16, Golf: 14. Second Round: Karate: 27, Rugby: 22, Squash: 21, Roller Sports: 20. Third Round: Karate: 33, Squash: 29, Rugby: 25. Fourth Round: Squash: 40, Karate: 39.

Squash is elected as one of the two nominees.

The second group of voting would determine the second nominee for consideration. The following are the results of the that vote as reported by the IOC: Fifth Round: Karate: 32, Rugby: 23, Roller Sports: 22, Golf: 15.

Sixth Round: Karate: 35, Rugby: 33, Roller Sports: 28.

Seventh Round: Karate: 54, Rugby: 38.

Karate is elected as the second nominee.

From these five `non-Olympic' sports, the IOC members selected karate and squash as the two sports which could potentially be chosen to join the Olympic programme for London 2012. For such selection to be endorsed, however, a two-thirds majority is needed, since any `non-Olympic' sport must become an Olympic sport and listed as such in the Olympic Charter under Rule 46.

The following are the results of the that vote as reported by the IOC:

Vote on the Inclusion of Karate on Rule 46 of the Olympic Charter

Yes: 38. No: 63.

"Neither squash nor karate obtained this two thirds majority and will therefore not be included for London 2012."

Further evidence that karate is not an Olympic sport can be found at Rule 46 of the IOC Charter, titled "Olympic Sports," which provides that "The sports governed by the following IFs are considered as Olympic sports." The Rule goes on to list 27 IFs for the summer games. The WKF is not listed.

In 2005 in Singapore, karate was not accepted by the International Olympic Committee ("IOC") as a sport to participate in the Olympics through at least 2016. Karate is not scheduled to participate as a sport in any upcoming Olympics. Moreover, the IOC itself referred to karate as a "non-Olympic" sport in its July 11, 2005 report of the Singapore vote.

 

Although karate has not been ignored by the IOC, it certainly has not been named as an Olympic sport. Feel free to review the IOC website where you will find a section titled "Recognised Sports." Although titled "Recognised Sports," the section actually recognises International Federations, not sports:

"In order to promote the Olympic Movement, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) may recognise as International Sports Federations (IFs) international non-governmental organisations administering one or several sports at world level and encompassing organisations administering such sports at national level."

The section goes on to state the standards imposed on an IF in order to retain its "recognized" status, and that the status is limited to 2 years absent renewal. The section goes on to list 29 sports whose IFs have received "recognized" status. Among these sports are Bandy and Korfball, sports which you probably have never heard of, and Chess and Tug of War, games which most would not even consider to be sports. Karate is listed among these "sports" and the section directs you to the WKF website for more information.

Thus, although the WKF has received Olympic recognition, karate has not. To declare that karate is an Olympic sport would be declaring that Chess and Tug of War are also now Olympic sports. We ask you to ignore the baseless rumours. Notwithstanding the efforts of few to unfairly manipulate the Olympic movement, there are many truly working toward attaining Olympic recognition for the sport of karate. We will keep you advised at that effort.

Tom O'Brian.

 

Letters:

New Kata. There has been some new Kata introduced to the Wado syllabus of late. This has met with a mixed response. There are some who can't get enough of new Kata; there are some who think, `why do we need new Kata'? And of course there are all shades of opinion in between. I think with the Kata such as Suparinpei I have watched over the years the inclusion of this Kata take on a life of its own. Personally I can remember wanting to learn it when I saw Higgaona Sensei of the Goju Ryu School perform it on the Way of the Warrior series over 20 years ago. I liked it then and I like it now. Whether or not it is a `Wado Kata' I leave it for my betters to decide. It became the missing Wado Kata; reports that Ohtsuka sensei used to teach it are legion as are the reasons why it was dropped. The most common reason is that Ohtsuka felt that the Kata didn't conform to the principals of Wado Ryu i.e. economy of movement etc. I have also read that he used to perform it until he forgot it one day in a class and dropped it after that (make your own mind up which is true). We now have Seienchin and I believe a version of Unsu is on the way as well. Our club also has Useishi Kata and Tensho Kata. My own reasons for including the Kata Useishi/Chinese and Gojushiho/Japanese are that when I read through the book Okinawa Karate by Mark Bishop. (He lists all the kata the schools teach.) Gojushiho/Useishi cam up time and time again with a vast majority of the schools so, I thought if it is deemed important enough for all these schools to include then lets have another look. The version we do is very much a mixture of the Shorin Ryu School and the version in C Thompson's book on Wado ryu Karate. We studied the two and came up with a version that suits us. (Wado-fied it we prefer to think). I think it's also important to remember that in all things inclusion, change; other ways must be part of your Karate. Ohtsuka changed and included things he learnt over the years when he created Wado Ryu Karate and he is often quoted as saying that all things must change and evolve, only dead things don't change. Have I answered the question on new Wado Kata? No of course not. If you want to learn them, and then learn them. If you don't then, it's easy, don't learn them. Have fun and remember there is no best style or Kata there is, only Karate. Barry Archer 4th Dan. Ushido Karate.

Dear Barry,

Like you say, they are only there to help us perform our karate, and develop it further. I also like Suparinpei, and as Hakoishi 8th Dan (JKF-Wadokai Technical Director) created it into the 'Wado format' we have today, I just had to learn it from the horse's mouth (so to speak). Again, it's a choice and they are there for people who may want to develop or expand their Wado knowledge further. Other additions to our Wado have been the Idori, Tanto-dori, and Muto-dori, all 'extras' but 'complimentary' to our Wado. Additionally, when we think of it, there are only nine 'official' Wado Kata, the rest have been 'nicked' for the pursuit of knowledge (mainly for tournaments, etc.). However, we all need to develop and improve ourselves, and for me, this is stuffing as much Kata in me brain-box as possible - hah, hah! Gary E Swift (7th Dan) Kyoshi.