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This web site is
dedicated to the teaching and philosophy of our teacher
and
Chief Instructor,
Sensei Hidemi Tamayose, 9th Dan,
Hanshi,
President
of the Ryukyu Kobudo Tesshinkan.
Welcome
to the home page of the
Ryukyu
Kobudo Tesshinkan - Canada
Our
teacher
Sensei
Hidemi Tamayose, 9th Dan, Hanshi,
President
of the Ryukyu Kobudo Tesshinkan
.
Ryukyu
Kobudo Tesshinkan in Canada
Sensei Martin
Nicholson, 4th Dan, is the Chief Instructor at Kado
Martial Arts, in Parksville, British Columbia, Canada,
which he owns and operates with his wife Colleen who
holds the rank of Sho Dan. Together they have been the
driving force behind the development of original Okinawan
Kobudo here on Vancover Island.
Tesshinkan
Certificate of Rank
Watching
our progress
Sensei
Martin Nicholson, 4th Dan,
Ryukyu
Kobudo Tesshinkan
Sensei
Martin Nicholson is one of the highest ranked student in
Ryukyu Kobudo Tesshinkan, and he makes regular trips to
Okinawa to train with Sensei Tamayose in his private dojo
which is attached to his home. During the many weeks of
personal one on one training that he has received in
Okinawa over the past ten years Sensei Nicholson has
established himself as one of the foremost practitioners
of old Okinawan Kobudo. In February of 2007 Sensei
Nicholson will once again be returning to
Okinawa with another group of his students to train at
the Tesshinkan Honbu dojo with Sensei Tamayose.
Awarded 4th Dan,
Ryukyu Kobudo Tesshinkan, by Sensei Hidemi Tamayose, 9th
Dan
Sensei Nicholson is
seen here being awarded the the rank of Yon Dan in Sensei
Tamayose's personal dojo in Ozato City, Okinawa. In
addition to his expertise in Ryukyu kobudo, Sensei
Nicholson also holds the rank of Yon Dan in Goju-Ryu
karate.
The
dojo
A
broad path, worn smooth by the footsteps of many students
Sensei
Nicholson's private dojo in Parksville, British Columbia,
Canada
Operating out of
his personal dojo that is situated on his own property,
Kado Martial Arts has grown into one of the largest
karate and kobudo schools in the central Vancouver Island
area. With a tiled entry, twenty-four foot ceiling, air
conditioning, change rooms, and a wood floor, this 1600
square foot dojo is indeed a pleasure to train in. Many
egar feet have beat a path to this dojo over the years
and the quality of the instruction, and the enthusiasm of
the students, is second to none.
The
dojo covered in new fallen snow
A
Sunday morning snow fall in late November 2006
In stark contrast
to the warm summer days of August when Sensei Tamayose
travels from his home in Ozato, Okinawa, to teach at the
dojo during the annual summer camp, a layer of fresh
fallen snow paints a picture worthy of a Canadian post
card.
Placing
the rock
A
good luck gift from Okinawa
Several years ago
Sensei Tamayose brought Sensei Nicholson a rock from
Okinawa. Here Sensei Nicholson is seen placing in the
rock firmly into the foundation of the new dojo for good
luck prior to starting to frame the walls. Based on the
prosperity the dojo has enjoyed over the years I would
say that the good luck rock is working just fine.
The
private lesson
On Friday, August 4th
2006, I drove the two hours north from Victoria, B.C. to
Parksville to once again train with one of the leading
Masters of Okinawan Kobudo in the world today, Sensei
Hidemi Tamayose, 9th Dan, Hanshi.
The camp was due to
start Saturday morning at 10:00 am and I had been looking
forward to the camp for several weeks. I was visiting
with my father at his home in Qualicum Beach when my cell
phone rang a few minutes after three o'clock. Answering
it I heard the voice of my friend Sensei Martin
Nicholson, and our conversation went something like this;
"Are you up in
Qualicum yet?" he asked.
"Yes I got
here a few hours ago" I replied.
"Are you doing
anything for the next little while" he asked.
"Nothing
special" I replied, 'What did you have in mind?"
His reply I must
admit caught me a little unprepared.
"How would you
like a private lesson with Sensei Tamayose for the next
three hours?" he asked.
Now if you have
ever been closely scrutinized during a class or a camp by
a very high ranking Sensei, well that is one thing,
because eventually he moves on to the next student, but
to spend three hours under such circumstances with only
one other student present, well that is an entirely a
different matter I assure you.
"What time?"
I asked.
"We will meet
you at the dojo at 3:30" came the reply.
"See you then"
I replied.
I could almost hear
my legs were starting to scream in protest as I hung up
the phone, grabbed my gi, and headed out the door for the
short ten minute drive to his dojo.
One
on one with Sensei
Three
hours on one sai kata
Sensei Tamayose
spent a great deal of time showing me the finer points of
the sai kata Chikin Shitahaku No Sai during our Friday
afternoon session. Sempai Rainer Todsen also joined me
for these three hours, during which he received pointers
on his grading requirements, as he would be grading for
the rank of San Dan at the end of camp on Sunday evening.
His work load included the katas, Sakagawa No Kun Dai,
Hama Higa No Sai, and Hama Higa No Tunfa. At the end of
the workout there was hardly a dry spot on either one of
us.
Not
even half way
Chikin
Shitahaku No Sai
This particular
kata is one of the longest katas taught within the
Tesshinkan syllabus and it contains a wide variety of
stances, blocks, strikes, and parries. This kata is a
required to be satisfactorily performed by any student
grading for the rank of Sho Dan. The other katas that are
also required for Sho Dan include the katas, Akamine
Nunchaku, and Sakugawa No Kun Sho.
Thank
you Sensei Tamayose
Tired,
soaking wet, and very happy
At
the end of an excellent day I stood for a photograph with
Sempai Rainer Todsen, Sensei Martin Nicholson, and Sensei
Tamayose. At the end of our three hour session I sat down
and wrote out notes to remind myself of all of the
important points in the kata that Sensei Tamayose had
shown me.
I
filled four pages.
So
much to learn, so little time.
Remember
Good
times and good friends are both irreplaceable.
- Part
the clouds - see the way.
-
- "The
objective of kobudo is to contribute to the evolution
- of
the human spirit through physical and mental training."
- Sensei
Peter Lindsay
- All of this
material is protected by copyright and may not be copied
or duplicated in any way
- without the express
written permission of the Canadian branch of the Ryukyu
Kobudo Tesshinkan.
-
- DISCLAIMER : Please note
that the information and the training methods contained
on this web site can be dangerous. Neither the author,
nor the host of this site, nor any other person, or
persons, accepts any responsibility what so ever for any
injuries, damages, or death caused to, or by, any person,
or persons, as a direct, or indirect, result of the use
of any of the information, advice, movements, and or
techniques, described in the articles contained on this
web site, or any other linked web sites, pages or
articles. Anyone following the information, advise,
movements, and or techniques provided here, does so at
their own risk. All of this material and any of the
linked web sites are intended to be for educational
purposes only.
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