|
WELCOME TO
:
THE
WASHINGTON SHOTOKAN KARATE ASSOCIATION'S
ANNUAL FSKA
SEMINAR, BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A.
NOVEMBER
2007
Guest
Instructor for the past 35 years
Shihan
Kenneth Funakoshi, 9th Dan, (FSKA)
Chief
Instructor, Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association
The Tiger
and dojo
In Sensei
Andre Dulce's beautiful dojo, on the Shomen wall, there
is an almost floor to ceiling Shotokan Tiger that is done
is a raise relief, and that along with a floating wood
floor that covers an area of close to 3000 square feet,
truly sets the main dojo of the Washington Shotokan
Karate Association apart from any other Shotokan dojo,
anywhere else in the world. Established in the greater
Seattle area for more than 35 years the WSKA's reputation
is well earned.
Dojo Kun
Inset into
the Shomen wall is the Dojo Kun, a true representation of
what the art of Shotokan Karate should represent to all
of it's practioners. In addition there is also a
traditional photo of Master Gichin Funakoshi, as well as
a photo of Shihan Kenneth Funakoshi.
-
- The grading
Friday evening
- As is often
the case on the day before the seminar Sensei Dulce
schedules a Dan grading, and this year was no exception,
with four students taking the opportunity to test for Sho
Dan in front of Shihan Funakoshi. Sensei Dulce very
kindly invited me to sit on the grading panel and I was
honoured to do so.
-
- Bassai Dai
- One of
several katas that we focused on in detail during this
years seminar was the kata Bassai Dai. Here Shihan
Funakoshi is seen demonstrating the required block and
associated hip rotation that is required in the early
part of this kata. As with all things related to karate
proper repetition year after year is one of the basic
keys to success.
-
- Attention
to detail
- Through out
Shihan Funakoshi's various demonstrations on the finer
points of kata, all of the students made a point of
keeping a close eye on all of his movements, in
particular the rotation of his hips at certain points in
the kata that is often overlooked by many students when
practicing.
-
- Making a
point about spirit and technique
- At every
class, seminar, and tournament that I have participated
in that Shihan Funakoshi has given, one point is always
emphasised over and over again, and that is that you can
not have good kata, or good basics, without first having
good spirit. On this day with a class of more than 50
senior ranks good spirit was indeed the order of the day.
-
-
- With our
Chief Instructor - Shihan Funakoshi
- Both I and fellow
instructor, Sensei Nathan Olson (San Dan), at whose dojo
I have the privilege of teaching, thoroughly enjoyed
ourselves during the time we spent at Sensei Dulce's dojo
and we are both looking forward to next year.
- Our host
once again
- As in the
past, Sensei Dulce
was the perfect host going to great lengths to make sure
that we were made to feel right at home. We were indeed
fortunate to have once again been in invited to this very
special annual event, we came away with great memories
and it was good to see old friends, and to make new ones.
-
-
- Part the clouds - see the
way.
-
- "The
objective of karate-do is to contribute to the evolution
- of the
human spirit through physical and mental training."
- Sensei
Peter Lindsay
| 
