Chito

Hello,
I read your definition of Dojo Kun. Will please permit me to use it as a reference to our students in our martial arts class? I will of course refer it back to your website here.

Thank you,
Chito

REPLY:

Sensei Chito,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my Shotokan web site and for asking for permission to use the dojo kun section of my web site as a reference for your students.

You do indeed have my permission to use this material and please let me know if your students find the material informative. Do visit often and I wish you continued success with your dojo and all my best to you and your students.

Sincerely,

Peter

Master Laboy

if anyone knows an instuctor by the name of Hatim Hassan...He is from Harrisburg Pennsylvania can you please forward me any information on him or his schools.
Thank you
Master Laboy

David Rigby

Only just a brief look at your site just before class, will visit again later after classes tonight. I like the information you have provided for your students.

REPLY:

Sensei Rigby,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my Shotokan web site and for your comments I do appreciate it, I am always pleased to hear from a fellow instructor.

I visited your web site this evening and I particularly liked the layout and the opening page with the Torii arch and Mount Fuji in the background – well done. By the way I did notice, however, that when I clicked on the three links in the photo gallery section of your web site I received a notice stating that the links were broken, perhaps you are updating these pages, but nevertheless I wanted to point that out.

Please do visit often and I wish you continued success with your dojo and all my best to you and your students.

Sincerely,

Peter

Sensei Shiv Panchal

Dear Sensei

osu

This is Sensei Shiv Panchal from India, i m Chief Instructor of International Shotokan Karate Federation of India.I visit urs web today, It is very nice n helpfull to promote Karate Do.I will be happy to share my Karate with urs organisation, If U ve any opportunity plz. mail me at my e-mail.

Domo Arrigatou

Sensei Shiv Panchal
www.iskfindia.com
Cell no =+91-9812429009

REPLY:

Sensei Panchal,

Thank you for your email and for visiting my Shotokan web site, I am always pleased to hear from a fellow karate-ka.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend to you and all of your fellow students, my best wishes and my hope that your journey down the karate road will be a lifelong one – good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Deolal

I have been wanting to contact David Ballasone for a few years now. Do you have a way to contact him? I also studied with him in the late '80 and early '90 in ROchester NY.

Let me know if you have contact informationf or him or if you want to give it to me.

Deolal

REPLY:

Deolal,

Sorry but I am unfamiliar with David Ballasone.

Peter

jay

Dear sir,

My name is jay,i am 25yrs old and situated in mombasa,kenya,i want to learn karate,but i dont know of any dojo's around me,i went through one of your posts and you helped someone with our fska affialiate email address,if you could please email this address so i can find a place to learn.
thanks
jay

REPLY:

Jay,

I came across this email address for Sensei Peter Ochieng, Secretary General Ufak Zone 5 / KKF Nairobi Branch / Fska Kenya

damkarateboys@yahoo.com

This phone number came to me from an outside source so I can not verify one way or the other if this is the correct phone number Tel # +254 722655661

Good luck in your search for a dojo.

Sincerely,

Peter

AYANANGSHU SAHA

Hi, PETER,
Hope you r doing well.I am willing to take up karate.But,I want to know some thing.You know, in many sites i have read people saying that to fight in real life situations, or in street fights karate is useless.They suggest aikido, tae kon do , or wrestiling, boxing.Is it true?If it is true then why should I learn karate if my main purpose to learn a martial art is for self defense?

REPLY:

Ayanangshu Saha,

Thank you for your email I am pleased to hear that you are interested in studying karate, over the years I have found it to be an excellent system for personal development on both a physical and mental level.

As for street fighting I do not believe that any particular martial art can claim that it is the most ideal method no matter what the ads you read have to say. In any real fight the skill of the winner and their physical ability to defend themselves will usually determine the outcome regardless of whether they study have been studying, boxing, Aikido, Taekwondo, or for that matter a particular style of karate.

All of the martial arts you mentioned have their own merits and they are all worthy of study, I hope you find a style that fits you the best and that you never have to use your training and your new found skill outside of the dojo.

Sincerely,

Peter

Stitchit

I noticed some posts from Ft.St.John, BC. I will be relocating there in the next couple of months and will be looking for a place to train. Any suggestions from anyone? Thks

REPLY:

If anyone has any suggestions please contact the karateka at the above email - thank you.

Peter

bhavik

i know 26 Kata name. but i heard that more than 26 other Kata there are. so please can u tell me all Kata name.
thank you.

REPLY:

Bhavik,

I presume that you are referring specifically to Shotokan katas, in which case there are 26 katas, plus three Taikyoku katas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taikyoku that together make up the Shotokan syllabus and that are practiced in most traditional Shotokan dojos. Many other different katas exist of course in other styles of karate and these can be sourced on the internet if you are interested.

I hope this answers your question to your satisfaction – good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Robenson Dorvil

Hi Peter,Osu!
I hope tihs mail finds in good health and your all family is doing well. I'm in California and hope to hear from you. We have to talk in a couple days because it's been a while we didn't talk and i wish you all the best.

REPLY:

Robenson,

Thank you for the email it is good to hear from you once again, I hope you are enjoying your time in California.

Up here in Canada we have had a very good year and we are currently looking forward to the opening of our new dojo in about three weeks time. Please do keep in touch whenever you have the opportunity – in the meantime all the very best to you and your students for the coming New Year.

Peter

I was instructed by David Balassone in the mid 80s

David Pope

S Funakoshi, Shihan Hirano passed away on October 1,2009. Please excuse the delay.
David Pope, Sensei(JIKC)

REPLY:

Sensei Pope,

Thank you for your email - please accept my condolances on the passing of your Founder, Shihan Hirano.

Peter

Alan

I recently recieved a leaflet advertising Karate under Sensei Saulius Puida, and was quite interested. I have cerebral palsy and i'm currently studying Aikido. I've trained in Shotokan before, but quit due to the difficult kicks, hence the interest in Aikido. I was wondering if I started training again, would there be any chance of private lessons?

REPLY:

Alan,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my karate web site and for leaving your comments I do appreciate it.

I am unfamiliar with the instructor you mentioned or their dojos policy on such matters, but for the most part private lessons in most dojos are usually at the instructor’s sole discretion either with the instructor or with an appropriately ranked student assigned to the task, every dojo is different.

There is often a cost associated with such instruction as the lessons take place for the most part outside of normal class hours, as such you might want to discuss the matter of cost before making any commitment.

I wish you every success in your training.

Sincerely,

Peter

goldwin

I just started attending shotokan karate here in pangasinan, philippines, at first I hate it, because i really don't know what to do first, and I've been discourage by our place for practicing our katas, its very dirty.. but as go on.. everythings change.. i really like it, even when I'm 19 years of age, I'm a white belt student.. I really hope that because of this.. i will change a lot more.

REPLY:

Owen,

Thank you for your email I am pleased to hear that you are enjoying your karate training.

You will be pleased to know that everyone struggles with kata, not just white belts. Every new kata you learn as you rise up the belt ranks brings with it a new set of challenges and often the need for a new way of thinking. The thing that I like most about kata is that the learning process is never ending, even if you think you know a kata you must constantly practice it and in doing so you will always learn something new about the kata and about yourself.

I hope that you will continue with your training for many years to come and I extend my best wishes to you, your sensei, and to all of your fellow students.

Sincerely,

Peter

Gamini Soysa

We are teaching traditional Okinawan Karate and Kobudo since 1974 in Sri Lanka and India. Beside for sports karate practioners Renbukai (bogu karate)classes daily at our dojo, free lessons on Sunday. Instructor-Gamini Soysa, 8th dan Okinawan shorin ryu 7th dan, Japanese Renbukai( 40 yrs teaching experience, USA,Sri Lanka & India)

REPLY;

Sensei Soysa,

Thank you for visiting my Shotokan web site and for leaving your comments.

I am pleased to learn that Okinawan Kobudo is also being studied in Sri Lanka as well as in India. I have visited your web site and I enjoyed the many photos you have posted there, I wish you continued success in your efforts to promote both of these martial arts in your country.

Peter

Rob Ingram

Hey Peter:
Just a heads up that we are hosting a Shotokan Tournament at the Hollyburn Club in North Van on October 10th. There will be kata, ippon shobu kumite, team kata, and a weapons division. I'll send you a registration package as soon as I get them finished. Hope to see you there. Oh, and send me an e-mail address please.
Rob Ingram

REPLY:

Sensei Rob,

Thank you for the email it is good to hear from you, I understand that you were recently here on the island to do some kobudo training at Sensei Nicholson’s dojo. As you know he is a great source of knowledge having been Sensei Tamayose’s student for a great many years so I know you were in good hands. As I understand it he is the only Canadian ever to have graded under Sensei Tamayose for Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, and Yondan since the Tesshinkan was formed so I am sure you learnt lots.

Please do send along the tournament package at your convenience, my personal email address is peterb@vreb.bc.ca - take care and good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Kev Nolan

Oss Sensei Lindsay

Just a short note to thank you for your earlier words of encouragement and to let you know that I passed my 7th Kyu grading! I was so pleased, as I did have difficulty in the Kata as mentioned. This feeling of passing was better than getting my first belt. My sensei has been very patient! He and our karate ka extend our best wishes to you and yours.

Oss and Rei.

Kev

REPLY:

Kev,

Congratulations on passing your exam, from your attitude I am confident that your new rank is the first of many yet to come.

As for having a problem with your kata during your test it is important to remember that mistakes are inevitable, not only during a grading, but also in life. It is how you respond and how you deal with your moments of uncertainty and stress in any given situation that helps to shape and define you as a person. After all our mistakes are life’s way of gently teaching us and at the same time helping us to grow as individuals, the trick of course is not to repeat the same mistake over and over again, which is why your sensei will undoubtedly stress to you and your fellow students the benefits of proper practice and the development of good basics and good habits.

If your dojo has a web site please send me the address, do keep in touch and let me know who you are progressing – in the meantime all the best.

Sincerely,

Peter

NIKHIL

i m vry deeply obliqued that we have a great talent in India but we re having lack of services or we can say a huge lack of finance in India but still i like that many of us are very muck keen in going martial arts infact i am also a black belt holder in karate

THANK YOU

REPLY:

Nikhil,

Thank you for your email I do appreciate it. I am well aware from the many letters that I receive from martial artists in India that karate is doing well in your country and it continues to grow.

Finacing remains a major factor in the development of any organized activity and karate is no exception. I wish you and your dojo every success in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Peter

Jason Parker

Hello Sensei. I enjoy the information on your site every time I visit. I am a first kyu shotokan student and am glad to see that there are other students who started late like me. I am currently thirty-eight years old. I too had trouble with Heian Nidan. I think it was the hardest kata for me to learn and still gives me occasional trouble if I haven't performed it for a while. Visualization helped immensely to overcome difficulties learning this and other katas. Keep up the good work with your website and I will look you up if my family and I come to Vancouver Island.

REPLY:

Jason,

Thank you for your email and for your very kind comments which I do appreciate.

As a Shotokan stylist and someone who started karate at the ripe old age of twenty-nine I have struggled with all of the kata at one point or another and even today after so many years of practice I recognize that there is still so much for me to learn. If you ever find yourself in the Greater Victoria area I would welcome the opportunity to train with you - in the meantime I extend my best wishes to you, your sensei and all of your fellow students.

Sincerely,

Peter

Doug Turner

Thanks for the information on counting. We are in a GED class but one of the students is studying Japanese. The answers to our times table flash cards will be in Japanese.

I have heard of "kuku" or 9-9, a series of phrases Japanese elementary school students use to master the times tables. Can you tell us where to find these phrases? Thanks,
Doug Turner or dturner@amadorcoe.k12.ca.us

REPLY:

Doug,

Thank you for the email - I am pleased that you found the counting page helpful. I am unfamiliar with the 9-9 series of phrases that you refer to but if I come across any information in that regard I will forward it to you - all the best.

Peter

Richard Buller

Sensei,

I arrive in Washington on 27 August to visit my son for two weeks. It would be an honour to train with you during my visit. Is this possible? I am a member of Souths Notts Shotokan Karate Club and my Sensei is Rob Manning. I have attained 8th Kyu, having started Karate at 57 years of age.

Regards,
Richard Buller

REPLY:

Richard,

Thank you for your email I am very pleased to hear from you and my congratulations to you on beginning your karate journey at the age of 57, that is terrific.

While you would be most welcome to train at our dojo during your visit I suspect that the distance between our location and your son’s home in Washington will probably preclude this happening. If you are visiting Washington state you will be south of our location and in the USA, as opposed to Canada where we are located. If you do plan on making a cross border visit to Canada we are in the city of Victoria on Vancouver Island and can be reached by car and or ferry from Seattle.

If you do plan on making a visit to British Columbia let please let me know and we can make arrangements for you to train with us. In closing please extend my regards to Sensei Manning and your fellow students, I hope that we will have the opportunity to train together - in the meantime all the best.

Sincerely,

Peter

jenishmange

KARATE IS A WAY OF LIFE DONT THINK AS A SPORT .I BOW TOWARDS THE LEGEND KARATE MASTERS AND TOWARDS MY SENSEI UDAY KURDEKAR

REPLY,

Jenishmange,

Thank you for your email I do appreciate it.

While I agree with you that karate can indeed be a way of life I also understand that sport karate is partly responsible for spreading the popularity of karate around the world. While sport karate has its place it should never be confused with traditional karate and all the benefits that it has to offer - good training.

Peter

Kev Nolan

Rei Sensei Lindsay

Thank you for your web site. I have not been doing Shotokan Karate for too long, having just graded for my 8th Kyu and going for my 7th. I am a bit late getting into Karate as I am now 42!

Nevertheless, your site have been a great wealth of information and compliments the support from my own Sensei. As a total novice, even simple/basic information such as counting has been helpful to me.

Still having trouble with Heian Neidan, but we will get there!

Thank you once again and keep up the great work.

Kev

REPLY:

Kev,

Thank you for your email and for your very kind words, I am always pleased to hear from a fellow karate-ka. As for being age 42, I have always felt that it is never too late to start learning karate, since karate has SO many benefits for people of all ages.

With regards to Heian Nidan, even students holding a Dan rank can always find something in this kata to remind them of its complexity and the need for continual study. No student should ever take this kata for granted simply because they have managed to memorize the embusen of pattern. Did you know that Heian Nidan was originally taught to students as the first Heian kata, with the present kata, Heian Shodan, being taught second. The complexity of Heian Nidan, however, posed many problems for beginners who found the kata very difficult and so the order in which Heian Nidan and Heian Shodan were taught was subsequently changed to be what we have today.

I would like to extend to you, your sensei and all of your fellow students, my best wishes, if your dojo has a web site please be sure and send me the web address - good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Sensei Buddy Legnon

Oss! Greetings to you Lindsay sensei!
My name is Buddy Legnon (Godan) and I am writing to you just to give you a big thumbs up for your site! It is a great resource of mine when directing interested parties to the world of Shotokan.
I dont have my own website in regards to my training. Buy why would I with such great sites out there that already exist, like yours!

Do you sell your school t-shirts?
Would you be intrested in a Shirt for Shirt trade with me? I have new school shirts and I think they are great. I like to collect tshirts from other schools as I travel, but BC is not a place I will be going anytime soon.

Take Care and Good Wishes to you!
Yours in the Arts,
Buddy Legnon

REPLY:

Sensei Legnon,

Thank you for your email and for taking the time to visit my Shotokan web site, I am always pleased to hear from a fellow karate-ka and I am glad that you found something of interest on my site.

Please visit often, your thoughts and comments are always welcome, in the meantime I would like to take this opportunity to extend to you and all of your fellow students, my best wishes - remember – “always train as if it is your last day in the dojo, for one day it will be” – good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Chaudhary Mudassir

OSS,
Sensei. i am very happy to see your wonderful web site and i get so much information about karate which i have needed from the past so many years...

well i belongs to Pakistan and i am also shotokan shodan black best and under training of My Nidan Black belt test...

But Sensei i want more information in the form of CDs....in which i would see all Shotokan katas and kumite traning for my Nidan test...
i hope you will help me in this regard...
and i will wait for your E-mail...
yours FaithFully
Ch.Mudassir

REPLY:

Chaudhary,

Thank you for your email, for taking the time to visit my Shotokan web site, and for passing on to me your dojos web address.

In reply I would suggest to you that while video tapes and CD’s can be helpful it is very important I am confident that as someone who is training for their Ni Dan exam you are already aware that the nearest and best sources of the information you seek is your own sensei.

Today the internet provides a wide range of videos on kihon, kumite, kata and bunkai, however what you will find on the internet being performed by other students and instructors may not always be in accordance with the beliefs and methodology of your own sensei. By all means look around for other points of view and training methods, but in the end make sure that what you discover fits in with the teachings methods of your sensei who has given you so much of his time and expertise.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend to you, your sensei, and to all of your fellow students my best wishes – good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

christine erlinger

Sensei Lindsay, Once again i have been challenged to prove that an ura-zuki exist in Shotokan kata. This time the challenge takes me to Tekki Shodan. I thought it was after the hook punch and middle block. I thought the series was much like that of the one in Jion. Can you please clear the confusion in this kata. Thank you as always for you knowledge. To share knowledge is a wonderful act and will ensure future generations are able to carry on the shotokan way. thanks and rei christine erlinger

REPLY:

Christine,

Thank you for your email – your questions are always interesting.

As you probably know an Ura zuki is essentially a forward punch with the palm facing upward, it is also known in some styles as shita zuki or, an inverted punch. You stated in your email - ”Once again I have been challenged to prove that an ura-zuki exist in Shotokan kata.” The problem with trying to prove that a specific move exists is that some movements in kata are “hidden movements” by that I mean that their potential purpose is not always meant to be clearly visible or understood by watching someone perform a kata. Instead these movements are performed subtly and without fanfare, often only beginning to reveal their underlying possibilities when the student has practiced and explored the kata for a considerable length of time.

In Tekki Sandan as you stated, you first perform the mawashi zuki, or hook punch, then this is followed by stepping across and performing either and hidari uchi uke (inside outward block) or an urakan (back fist) depending on what a student has been taught by their sensei. It is at this point that you would then simply reach forward with your left arm while loading your right fist and then perform a migi jodan uraken or right back first.

The “hidden movements” are most often only revealed when performing the katas bunkai or in a demonstration when you might chose to reveal a possible purpose, or meaning for a specific movement, or technique found in the kata. This is where after performing the hidari uchi uke, or an urakan, you could demonstrate that an ura zuki, or inverted forward punch would fit in as part of a bunkai by punching forward to your opponents chin for example, prior to then following up with the migi jodan uraken.

As you can see it is very important to remember that in karate not all things are meant to be seen - or for that matter proven. I hope that this explanation helps you in some way, I wish you continued success in with your.

Sincerely,

Peter

Jeron Tarpley

i like the website. its nice to have something organized and easy to understand... thankyou. i am a practicioner of the huntsville school of karate.

Jeron -

REPLY:

Jeron,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my web site and for your comments, I am pleased that you found it to your liking.

All the best to you, your sensei and your fellow students.

Peter

Lloyd Madronero

Pax Christi,

Good Morning sir. I am A practitioner of the same art My shihan died two years ago and along with him our club died. All Other clubs are so on to money than training. I want to train well so i can able to attain true karate discipline. I have stop for 3 years and have not followed my dujo kun since i stoped. I want to train some children in our hometown hope with your healp we could build a organization here in Cagayan de Oro, Phillipnes, I trust your organization is well favored hop you can help us. thank you. God Bless More Power

REPLY:

Lloyd,

Thank you for your email, I am always pleased to hear from a fellow Shotokan karate-ka.

Our affiliation is with Shihan Funakoshi in the USA and I am not aware of an FSKA dojo in your area, you may want to try and contact the Philippine branch of the ISKF at http://www.iskf.ph/ .

In regards to your comment about fees for training it is important to remember that while not every instructor is interested only in money the cost of operating any dojo can be considerable and as such it is only natural that membership and other fees are often charged.

Good luck in your search for an qualified instructor and organization in your area – all the best.

Sincerely,

Peter

Jimmy B

Sensei Lindsay,

I have studied Shotokan Karate-Do in the past, my own Sensei has since retired. I am a disabled veteran with a desire mentally to complete my training, but the physical part of me has some doubts. I have purchased materials and searched the web for way to complete the trsining or get advice from others such as yourself. I want your opinion on what would be the best way to complete my training on a self taugh basis? Or is that even possible. I went 5 years in Shotokan Karate-Do, and lost my job some time ago and was unable financially to pay for any further training. I have medical disibilities that prevent me from performing some of the kata's but I do my best to attempt to achive my goal. I want to become a black belt, I was only months away when I was layed of my job then. I am retired now and have a fixed income and nothing but time on my hands. Thank You Sensei Lindsay for you time. J.B. Ridgecrest, CA.

REPLY:

Jimmy,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my karate web site and for your email, I am always pleased to hear from a fellow Shotokan karate-ka.

I have trained in the past and still do today with students who have disabilities of one kind or another. One of the things that they all seem to have in common is a desire to learn, to grow and to continue their karate training for as long as possible, in spite of their own personal limitations. As such I understand and admire your own desire to continue your training and to perhaps one day obtain a Dan ranking.

Since your previous instructor has retired I would encourage you to try and find another instructor in your area, since I have always believed that any students continued progress is best accomplished under the guidance of a qualified sensei. Even today after more than 30 years I still look to my own teacher whenever possible for knowledge, guidance and technical correction and I am always rewarded with new insights and a clearer understanding of the ways in which I too can improve.

You may have considered this already, but have you thought of enquiring to see if your veterans association, your medical plan, or some other government agency can be of assistance in deferring some, or all of the cost of a dojo membership, perhaps as part of any rehabilitation program given the fact that you are a veteran?

In closing I would like to take this opportunity to extend to you my best wishes and I hope that you do indeed find a means of continuing your journey down the karate road.

Sincerely,

Peter

crissy e

Sensei Lindsay, recently I have been studying Jion. It is not clear to me if the movements after the x block above the head are indeed uraken followed by an urazuki. In my reading materials Best karate series by Nakayama, and in 25 Shotokan Kata by Sugiyama it states urazuki. But when reviewing video it is not as easily seen. Is there indeed urazuki in Jion? Please help if you can. I would love any other ideas for reference materials on this question.thank you for any help you can offer. Christine

REPLY:

Christine,

Thank you for your email and taking the time to visit my Shotokan web site, I am always pleased to hear from a fellow karate-ka. As for your question regarding the kata, Jion, I think it is an excellent one and I offer you the following thoughts and comments from my own experience and my point of view.

There are several approaches to this combination of techniques and as I am sure you will appreciate the approach that you or I are taught will most often flow from what was taught to our respective sensei s. Having said that I teach was taught this series of movements as follows:

- after the jodan juji-uke ,or as it is commonly referred to, the X block, the left hand becomes a jodan age-uke, while the right hand performs jodan uraken,
- this is then followed by the right hand performing jodan nagashi-uke, while the left hand performs jodan zuki-uke,
- then this is followed again by another right jodan uraken
- end of technique.

Another approach to this series of movements using ura-zuki as you mentioned can be found in an excellent book by two well known British karate-ka, Aidan Trimble and Vince Morris. The book is called “Karate Kata and Applications, Volume 2”. I am not sure if the book is still currently available in print as new so you may have to look for it second hand on line , but I consider it a very good reference for both kata and bunkai applications. In their book they describe the Jion series as follows:

- after the jodan juji-uke, or as it is commonly referred to, the X block, the left hand becomes jodan age-uke, while the right hand performs ura-zuki,
- then this is followed by the right hand performing jodan nagashi-uke, while the left hand performs chudan zuki-uke,
- then this is followed by right jodan ura-zuki
- end of technique.


As you can see my approach and their approach is similar, but not identical, yet both work within the pattern and the rhythm of the kata. In the end what I believe is important is that you treat this entire series of movements from start to finish, as one thought. No breaks, no stops, or pauses. Just one complete movement.

I hope this helps you in some way, thank you again for writing me, if your dojo has a web site please let me know, in the meantime please extend my best wishes to your sensei and to all of your fellow students, I hope that your journey down the karate road will be for a lifetime - good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Hayley

Oss,
Im Hayley-Marie and i am a karate-ka student of the Red Scorpion Dojo. Karate is my life and i some day hope to be a sensei to my own dojo. I know this will take time and so much effort but in the end it will all be worth it to see how i can show others and teach others the way aof shotokan karate-do.

My sensei, sensei Godard, is one of idols and i strive to be as dedicated as he is. He has recently involed our dojo in many seminars, taken by Sensei Otis. Probably the highlights of my karate. Along with training with Senisei Kanazawa.

I want to thank you for your site. it has helped me understand alot more about shotokan karate and i deffinately would refer any one interested in learning more to check it out.

Ive recently graded for my green belt by Sensei Otis and was invited to our dojos 'elite' black belt club. So im very happy to be a part of karate in every aspect. at the age of 16 i am very confident about mose things, taking part in compeitions has been a great help in this.

please accept my great thanks and best wishes for the long journey that is still ahead.....

oss,
Hayley-Marie

REPLY:

Hayley-Marie,

Thank you for your email and my congratulations to you on obtaining your green belt from Sensei Otis and for being accepted into your dojos black belt club. I visited your dojos web site this evening it looks great, I particularly enjoyed the photographs of the various seminars in the gallery section, it looks like all of the students and instructors had a great time.

I am very pleased to learn that you found something of interest on my web site that the information was helpful to you, please visit often and your thoughts and comments are always welcome. You may also wish to visit our dojos web site at http://www.olsonsmartialarts.ca/ . Listen to your sensei, train hard, practice with sincerity, and always be supportive of your fellow students and their efforts, but I think you know this already.

Do keep in touch and let me know how you are progressing - in the meantime my best wishes to you, to Sensei Godard, and to all of your fellow students.

Sincerely,

Peter

Jim

Just thought I'd take a moment to stop by and say thank you for the information on your website. I've been studying & practicing Shotokan Karate for the last 11 years and have found the information on your website rather useful, especially the last few years as I've stepped into black belt and beyond.

Regards,
Jim Ehrman
Ni Dan
Jichooshin Dojo
Kihaku Kai Int'l Shotokan Karate Federation

REPLY:

Jim,

Thank you for your email and for taking the time to visit my Shotokan web site, I am always pleased to hear from a fellow karate-ka and I am glad that you found something of interest on my site. From your comments I gather that you have returned to karate after an absence of some length, many of us know what that is like and how hard it can be to stay the course, but I gather you are pleased to be back in the dojo.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend to you and all of your fellow students, my best wishes and my hope that your journey down the karate road will be a lifelong one – good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Ken

Hello to Shotokan Karateka!

Study with honesty, courtesy and spirit each time you put on you uniform. Then take that into your life.

Kristin

I am a Shodan with GKR Karate which is a combination of Goju Ryu and Shotokan.

I just found your website and have really enjoyed it, there are so many great learning tools and information. I will definitely pass this on to my students. The quotes are awesome. Especially the following:

"Learning the pattern of all twenty-six katas found in the Shotokan system is one thing,
truly understanding them, however, is a process that will take you an entire lifetime."

I have a few students who think that the more katas they know, the better karate-ka they are. It is so important to focus on your relevant grade katas and "try to" perfect them before moving on. It truly is a process of a lifetime.

REPLY:

Kristin,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my Shotokan web site and for leaving your very kind comments, I am always pleased to hear from a fellow karate-ka.

As for your comment about kata, it is often the same here when it comes to a student’s approach to learning. I too often find that in today’s fast paced, high speed, I want it now world, many students simply learn the pattern of the kata, practice it for awhile, then say that they know it, and ask to be taught the next kata.

This attitude often comes from younger students who really enjoy karate and who are simply eager to learn, but who have yet to completely grasp the importance of time and patience. Older students and especially adults who have had more life experience on the other hand tend to learn early on in their training that nothing is “instant” when it comes to kata, and that the concept of “studying deeply” is not only the best approach to learning a kata, it is truly the only approach for those who seek unlock all that is hidden within the katas movements.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend to you and to all of your students my best wishes and my hope that your journey down the karate road will be for a lifetime - please visit often and do keep in touch - good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Ally

Oss!
I am so happy as a bigginer of Shotakan karate, i have find a wonderfully website that will teach me a lot of things on my way to my dream about karate.
Keep it up!

REPLY:

Ally,

Thank you for your email and congratulations on taking your first steps along the Shotokan karate road. I was pleased to learn that you found something of interest on my web site that the information was helpful to you. Listen to your teacher, practice with sincerity, and be supportive of your fellow students and their efforts.

Do keep in touch and let me know how you are progressing in the meantime all the best.

Sincerely,

Peter

Normand J. Laliberte Jr.,RN

Enjoyed your website. It is one of the best Shotokan Websites. I am a student of Sensei Roger St. Piere, Woonsocket, RI. We are FSKA as well. I would be greatly honored to meet you some day!

Oss!
Normand

REPLY:

Normand,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my Shotokan web site and for your very kind words, I am always glad to hear from a fellow member of the FSKA and I too hope that at some future date we will have the opportunity to meet on a course, or at the FSKA World Championships.

Please give my best regards to Sensei St. Pierre and his family, Roger I have met on numerous occasions at the FSKA World Championships in Las Vegas and I hold him in very high regard. Also please pass on my best wishes to all of your fellow students, do keep in touch, and continued success with your personal training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Gord Mclean

Konnichiwa Sensei,
just another sunny day here off the coast of Somalia. Not much chance for any Karate training this mission but I hope to make an appearance again once I get back in Sept. Had the chance to visit Shuri castle in Naha during our visit to Okinawa a few months back. Now it's desert sand, endless sea and the occasional pirate... My best regards to yourself, your family and everyone from the Dojo.

Gord

REPLY,

Gord,

Thank you for the email it is great to hear from you. Glad you hear that you made it to Okinawa and I do envy your visit to Shuri Castle, Sensei Nicholson has often talked about his past visits there.

I know that everyone at the dojo would want me to send you their best wishes and we all thank you and all of those serving in uniform with you for your service to Canada at home and abroad. Stay safe and do keep in touch, I look forward to seeing both you and Dana back at the dojo in September - in the meantime all the best.

Sincerely,

Peter

Rick

I have been learning shotokan karate for almost 13 yrs now, and winning various tournament when i was in Kenya, thats where I was born though shotokan is shotokan whenever you go.

I really enjoy watching karate stuff and i feel great been part of shotokan karate "traditional"

Be strong in your mind and body.

Have fun with Karate.
"Sleep Karate...Eat Karate...Drink Karate...Dream Karate" Everything Karate "Empty Hands"

REPLY:

Rick,

Thank you for your email and for visiting my Shotokan web site, I am always pleased to hear from a fellow karate-ka.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend to you, your sensei, and all of your fellow students, my best wishes and my hope that your journey down the karate road will be a lifelong one – good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Cynthia

I found your site today, what I have read I will keep in mind through out this afternoon and throught my demonstration this evening. Tonight hopefully I will be promoted from white belt to gold. I am demonstrating Kihon ichi-dan, Kihon ni-dan, and Kihon san dan. Send good vibes my way please.

Cynthia

REPLY:

Cynthia,

Thank you for your email and for your comments I am please to learn that you found something of interest on my web site that was helpful to you.

I do indeed wish you every success in your demonstration and in your efforts to obtain your gold belt this evening, please let me know if you are successful, in the meantime all the best.

Sincerely,

Peter

Mari Bacuyag

Hello, Sensei Peter Lindsay,
May we print your quote in our children's book about martial arts?

I'm helping publish a children's book and would like to get your permission to include your quote in a special collection of quotes that we have in our book. We hope that the quotes, which are representative of several countries, will provide valuable insight about martial arts and inspiration to the young readers of our book, as well as their parents.

We are extending invitations to members of the martial arts community around the world to ask them to share a quote with us to print in our book. May we have permission to include your quote in our collection of quotes?

The quote that I noticed on your www.shotokankarate.ca website is:
"The objective of karate-do is to contribute to the evolution
of the human spirit through physical and mental training."
Sensei Peter Lindsay

I've browed through your website and find it very resourceful and nurtures the growing respect and popularity martial arts has earned to have, on a global scale.

We hope to send final pages of the book to the printer very soon and it would be an honor to include your quote within the pages of our book, My First Kata.

Thank you,
Mari

My First Kata
A Children's Book -- to be published May 2009
U.S.A.
www.myfirstkata.com
mbacuyag@gmail.com



REPLY: Mari,

Thank you for your email and for your very kind comments about my web site, I do appreciate it

I have in turn visited your web site this afternoon and I have found it to be truly unique, my congratulations.

The publication of your children’s book sound exciting and I am pleased and honoured to learn that you would like to include a quotation from my web site. You do indeed have my permission to use my quote "The objective of karate-do is to contribute to the evolution of the human spirit through physical and mental training" in your publication provided that you acknowledge me as the source of the quotation. You may also include my web address if you wish, but this is not a requirement of my consent.

Once your book is published please let me know where I can obtain a copy – I wish you every success - in the meantime all the best.

Sincerely,

Peter

Stuart Schopf

I trained at The Way of Japan under the late Robert Haliberton

REPLY:

Stuart,

Thank you for your email and for visiting my Shotokan web site, I am always pleased to hear from a fellow karate-ka.

If I call correctly Sensei Robert Haliberton passed away last year about this time, from what I can remember reading he was apparently a very dedicated martial artist and teacher who was highly regarded and well thought of by his many students.

My best wishes to you and I hope that like your sensei your journey down the karate road will be a lifelong one – good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Greg Whyatt

I have been training for many years and the learning never stops.
Your articles are vary insightful and I thank you for your time and effort.

REPLY:

Greg,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my karate web site and for your very kind comments I do appreciate it.

Please visit often and if your dojo has a web site please be sure and send me the web address - in the meantime good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Sensei Nicky Newsome

Hi just thought i'd comment on your site as i stumbled upon it while i was looking up info on various kata, i have to say th pictures of the purpose built dojo are spectecular, something we irish could only dream about though there are a few they would be nothing like that standard. congrats on a great website.

REPLY:

Sensei Newsome,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my karate web site and for leaving your kind comments I do appreciate it.

The dojo you mentioned in your email to me belongs to a dear friend of mine, and while it is not the dojo I teach at on a weekly basis I do enjoy visiting his dojo and training there, especially when our kobudo instructor, Sensei Hidemi Tamayose visits from Okinawa.

I have visited your dojo’s web site, it is well laid out and easy to navigate, your tournament photos give every indication of students enjoying a spirited competition and could just as easily have been taken at a tournament in our area such is the universality of karate.

In closing I would like to take this opportunity to extend to you, your sensei, and all of your fellow students, my best wishes for continued success.

Peter

Tom Hodges

Hello Lindsay sensei,please contact me at the supllied e-mail address I am working on a Tesshinkan project I hope you could assist me with.But I am having trouble locating e-mail addresses for a couple of the groups.

Oh yes very nice site.It is nice to see sites that are regularly updated.

REPLY:

Sensei Tom,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my web site and for your kind comments - I am always pleased to hear from a fellow member of our Tesshinkan family. I have visited the Ocala Tesshinkan web site on many occasions found it to be very well laid out and easy to navigate – my congratulations to all concerned.

You can always reach me at this email address at your convenience - in the meantime all the best to you and the other members of your dojo - good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Santanu Roy

I am 34 yrs old guy,since a kid i used to dream of learning karate. long ago i was a student of Ashihara kaikan for 2 yrs . i had to quit learning due to some medical problems. Though I could not practice karate during these yrs, i still used to read lots of karate books and articles. Sir i want to know if there are any Wado-ryu-karate centres in Kolkata and is Ashihara karate is still taught in kolkata, for i could not find any centres in kolkata.

I would like to know from you if all the martial arts are effective in real situations or if there are many martial arts whose most of the katas and strikes are mere show off.

Sir, i am a lover of traditional martial arts. i like to read your reply to different queries. i really respect you for your sincere love of karate and your respect for martial artists of different styles and your relentless efforts to help other fellow karate students/sensai's.

yours faithfully
santanu

REPLY:

Santanu,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my karate web site and for your questions and comments.

First let me say that I am unfamiliar with any Wado-Ryu dojos Kolkata and I am also unfamiliar with the term Ashihara karate so I regret that I am unable to tell you if that particular style of karate is taught anywhere.

Second, let me say that the effectiveness of karate in a real is situation, as you put it, depends on a great many factors, not the least of which is the technical skills and the abilities of all of those involved in any given situation. As such any answer I would give you as to the effectiveness of any martial art, including karate, could only be hypothetical at best. Each situation is different, a person could win or lose at anytime regardless of their years of training, that is why the true goal of Shotokan Karate is to seek victory over yourself, not over others.

I wish you well and I hope that you find a dojo that meets your needs and that karate will have a positive impact on your life.

Sincerely,

Peter

vinod

Dear Sensei,

Thank you very much for your fast response.

Even if I need to start as beginner , I am determined to continue practice. For the past few weeks I have been refreshing my old lessons and physical training myself as a preparation to rejoin karate . I found it difficult at beginning ,but now I am getting better day by day . Now I see two options ahead me . I will explain those.Pease help me to pick the best.

1. I should rejoin in same style which I had been practicing,and if they permits , I should undergo proper training for adequate time , and recertify the grades until brown belt altogether and continue ( I am not sure of this, still I remember in our dojo one or two karatekas had done like this under certain circumstances.)

2. If I need to start as beginner , I can even opt for a different style and with help of this training , I can brush up the lessons of old style myself and at the same time learn a new style also.

Which one will be best option for me ? Please advise me on this .

Thank you
Vinod

REPLY:

Vinod,

Thank you for your email – I am pleased to hear that you have resumed your karate training.

The answer to your question really depends on many factors, but since you have once again resumed practicing your old karate lessons, then it would seem to me that even after all these years you still enjoy training in that particular style of karate.

If that is the case then I would suggest that if you were happy with the dojo you use to train at, if you were happy with your teacher and with your fellow students, then you should first go and speak with your former sensei and see if it is possible for you to rejoin the dojo and resume your training under his guidance. Even if you have to start over again as a white belt your familiarity with the old lessons will make it that much easier for you to once again move up the ranks.

If however returning to your old dojo is not possible for some reason then you may want to consider a different dojo that teaches the same style of karate, the other option is of course to choose another style altogether, either way I hope you continue your journey on the karate road – I wish you good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

vinod

Dear Sensei,
Thank you for maitaining such a wonderful site. I wanted to clear some doubts.I learned karate long back while I was in kerala , for 2.5 years and holds a brown belt.But that was almost 10 years back. After that I forced to discontinue it because of academic reasons., now i am at 30 and now I am worried about my physical condition and I'd like to start practice again. Now Im in bangalore . If I join somewhere here to continue , in the same style which i learned , will they consider my old grade ? or i need to start all over again ? plz advice...

Thanks and regards

Vinod

REPLY:

Vinod,

Thank you for your email and for taking the time to visit my karate website I do appreciate it.

Your question is not an uncommon one.

In reply let me say that if you had not taken such a long layoff from karate then it may have been possible under certain circumstances for you to have retained your previous rank when moving to a new dojo of the same style.

I suspect, however that given your long absence from karate most qualified instructors in Bangalore would want you to start over again as a beginner.

Sincerely,

Peter

mayur

oss sensei,

i am mayur karateka from mumbai, and i am very much impress from your orgnization because your org. have powerfull base in india under the guidance of sensei hasan ismail.
i am shito-ryu student but i studied few advance kata of shotokan also, but i have a dougbt can you help me about clearing the history of karate.
1) unsu, sochin, nijishiho ( nisheshi ) is kata of tomari-te or naha-te because i read in many articles arakaki sensei is naha-te teacher, if there is right information then there is contribution naha-te system in shotokan.

2) and which is traditional stance of kata kokutsu dachi or neiko ashi dachi, because heian katas and all shurite katas is perform in main two stance one is neiko ashi dachi and another is kokutsu dachi, but in okinawa when kata originate which stance was used in that time?

3)i read one article in this link www.shitokai.net/pdf/mabuni.pdf
by this article there is contribution of mabuni sensei ( founder of shito-ryu) in making of shotokan style?

REPLY:

Mayur,

Thank you for your email I do appreciate it.

To try and offer some thoughts in regards to your questions:

1) In Okinawa the katas that Gichin Funakoshi sensei was originally taught by his teachers were a blend of both Naha-te and Shuri-te since he studied under teacher from both styles. Later in Japan when creating the Shotokan system of karate Funakoshi sensei made an effort to include some of what he considered to be the most positive and effective aspects of other styles of karate, including katas. In later years he sent his son, Yoshitaka sensei, on several occasions back to Okinawa to learn katas. He also sent Masatoshi Nakayama sensei, his most senior student and one of the founders of the JKA, to learn kata directly from Kenwa Mabuni sensei, who as you already know is the founder of Shito Ryu system of karate.

2) In Okinawan karate the primary back stance was neko ashi dachi which can be seen in the Pinan series of katas, however where he moved to Japan to introduce karate Funakoshi sensei made several changes to the katas, including re-naming the katas, and so today these same katas are known in the Shotokan system as the Heian series of katas. Another of the changes that was made within the Shotokan system was to lengthen the stances, and so we have today kokutsu dachi as our back stance, instead of neko ashi dachi, although neko ashi dachi is still found and practice in some Shotokan katas such as Wankan.

3) Thank you for the article you sent me, as I mentioned earlier, and as the article you sent me attests, Kenwa Mabuni sensei did indeed have an influence on our present day system of Shotokan karate, for which we will always be grateful.

I hope that I have been of some assistance – good training.

Sincerely,

Peter

Amy Barnes

Hello Sensei Lindsay! Happy New Year! It's me Sempai Amy or just Amy now I suppose, anyways I'm still alive and kicking ( what doesn't kill me makes me stronger) and was wondering how you are? Are you still at Olson's Gym? How is everyone else doing like Sempais Barry and Marilyn,Cathy,Uwe,etc.? A lot has transpired with me since last we talked,many hurdles conquered,and some still in the works, but such is life and I haven't lost sight of my goal to return to karate! If you have time I would love to hear from you!This is my new e-mail address (my last computer crashed along with my email somehow). Hope you and your family are all doing well, miss you! Amy

REPLY:

Sempai Amy,

Thank you for your email it is good to hear from you, and yes it is still Sempai Amy. Once a Sempai, always a Sempai.

Everyone you mentioned is well and still training and we are indeed located at Olson’s Gym. Most of the senior ranking students train Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday.

Like it has with you much has transpired for at the dojo over the last year and a half, we would all enjoy seeing you so please try and return to karate when you feel the timing is right. Do keep in touch, in the meantime all the best.

Sincerely,

Peter