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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
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