- Sensei
Eric Marn, 6th Dan, FSKA, Hawaii
-
- Sensei Marn has
trained in the martial arts since 1958 and he is
currently the Chief Instructor at The Funakoshi Shotokan
Karate-Do (FSKD) which is an affiliate of the Funakoshi
Shotokan Karate Association (FSKA). Sensei Marn's dojo is
located at Manoa Park, 2721 Kaaipu Avenue, Honolulu, on
the island of Oahu.
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- In 1976 Sensei Marn
began training in the art of Shotokan Karate with Shihan
Kenneth Funakoshi at the old Puck's Alley dojo, near the
University of Hawaii in Honolulu. When I asked Sensei
Marn how he would describe the training back then he said
the classes were "rigorous and strenuous", with
every class consisting of at least "gyaku zuki, 100
times on the right and 100 times on the left, then to Mae
geri, 100 times on the right and 100 times on
the left, then line drills at half speed then building up
to full speed, up and down the floor".
-
- Sensei Marn
remembers that Shihan Funakoshi used to instill in his
students, "it is better to train hard and with full
concentration and commitment with all your being for an
hour, than to train with no intensity and with a
lackadaisical attitude for a week".
-
- Promoted to the
rank of Rokudan, 6th Dan, by Shihan Funakoshi in 2000,
Sensei Marn brings with him a wealth of karate knowledge
not easily found anywhere else.
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- SHOTOKAN
KATA SEMINAR WITH SENSEI ERIC MARN
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- Ever
watchfull
- As with any art
form Shotokan karate requires good basics. Without the
underlying support of strong basic techniques there will
be no foundation for everything you will be taught in the
future. After a vigerous warm up Sensei Marn started the
training by making sure that each and every student had a
through understanding of the even the most basic FKSA
requirements.
-
-
- Up
close and personal
- Paying particular
attention to the senior black belts Sensei Marn answered
questions on a wide variety of topicsMarn gave hands on
instruction when needed and everyone, regardless of their
rank, definitely benefited from Sensei Marn's extensive
knowledge and expert skill.
-
- All
eyes and ears
- When ever there was
a break in the action all of the students paid very close
attention to Sensei Marn's comments and suggestions,
especially when he talked about all of the various
importance aspects that go into making for good kata.
-
-
- Advanced
kata
- All of the senior
students got a chance to do their katas and to have their
performance evaluated by Sensei Marn. goes over some of
the more subtle movements in the kata Jion. He paid
particular attention to the timing and the rhythum of the
kata as well as discussing the finer points regarding
shifting, balance and kime. Sensei Marn aslo took the
time to demonstrate how the movements in this kata should
be done, and when, he also explained how to avoid making
many of the more common mistakes that students often make
when practicing this kata.
-
-
- Always
a leader by example
- Here Sensei Marn is
seen going over some of the more subtle movements in the
kata Jion. Sensei paid particular attention to the timing
and the rhythum of the kata, as well he spoke at length
about the finer points often overlooked regarding
shifting, balance, and kime. Sensei Marn aslo took the
time to demonstrate how the movements in this kata should
be done, and when, he also explained how to avoid making
many of the more common mistakes that students often make
when practicing this kata.
-
-
- Caught
on the move
- Here Diane Lusaniak
is seen settling into her stance as she puts the
finishing touches on the kata Heian Godan. In addition to
going over many of the advance kata in detail for the
benefit of the instructors, Sensei Marn also made a point
of covering particular details in katas that were also
appropriate for the kyu belts as well.
-
- A
fast learner
- Mark Luszniak is
also captured in the moment. Here Mark is seen performing
the last movement of the kata Heian Sandan. Since joining
the dojo Mark has made excellent progress. Mark is one of
the hardest working students in every class he attends,
and he trains at least three to four days per week, next
stop red belt.
-
- Thank
you Sensei Marn
- On behalf of
myself, and all of the students that took part in this
weekends seminar I wish to express my sincere thanks and
appreciation to Sensei Marn for his time, and his
knowledge.
-
- Some
of the many who attended
- I know that all of
the students and instructors alike who attended the
seminars given by Sensei Marn came away with a greater
understanding of many of the more sublte aspects of
Shotokan karate. I look forward, as do many of those who
took part in this weekend seminar, to seeing Sensei Marn
once again at the 5th Annual Funakoshi World
Championship, in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 22nd and 23rd.
-
- KALI
& ESCRIMA SEMINAR WITH : DATU LOWELL MANABE
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- Datu
Lowell Manabe
- Datu Lowell Manabe
is an exceptionally gifted instructor, and an expert in
the deadly arts of kali and escrima. Over the next two
days Datu Manabe put on one of the finest seminar I have
ever attended and each and every person who was
priviledged to be there came away with nothing but praise
for his skill, knowledge, and relaxed method of teaching.
Datu Manabe began his martial arts career in the 1960's
and in the early 1970's he began to train along side
Sensei Eric Marn in the art of Shotokan karate under
Shihan Kenneth Funakoshi. During this time Datu Manabe
was a member of the FSKA's predecessor, the Karate
Association of Hawaii, developing a reputation as a
skilled fighter he was part of the Hawaiian kumite team
that fought against the famous West Coast All Stars
karate team and won!
-
-
- Block
and strike
- Asked to put his
hand behind his back for the purpose of this
demonstration, Mark learns first hand that using one hand
to block and the other to strike has its benefits.
-
- Lots
of laughs through out the day
- Sempai Katharine
Kaye and Sempai Barry Norman look like they are having
way to much fun as they and everyone else have a go at
freestyle escrima. Much harder than it looks, this one on
one free for all gave the students the opportunity to see
just how quickly you pay for being caught off guard.
-
- Practicing
patience
- Biding her time
Sempai Marilyn Norman stays just out of range of Sempai
Cathy Quinn's attack, while in the background Sensei
Baldwin and Sempai Amy keep close tabs on each other.
-
- Doce
Pares
- During a break in
the training most of the students took advantage of the
time to work on their basics. The Doce Pares or "12
pairs" formed the basis for all of the techniques
and blocks used during the seminar. As with many art
forms the need to learn to balance both sides equally,
meant that no matter whether you were naturally left
handed, or right handed, both sides need to get equal
time.
