Moving into the new year of 2011 with karate as my guide

     Welcome to the 2nd day of this new tool and I am getting use to how to use this for the betterment of our mutual karate-do.  I look forward to the coming year and learning more and sharing that new knowledge with those who connect with me and want that knowledge as do I.  Part of the coming year is the plan to bring to Cincinnati a wonderful sensei of Shotokan karate-do and former student of Asai Shihan and Yahara Shihan, Mr. Andre Bertel from New Zealand.  He is easily seen on Youtube.com on video's such as this one,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sCwEte1Zsw   The month planned for this is in April and I should have something fairly concrete in the next 2 to 3 weeks!

     In the meantime we are having a holiday party at the Honbu dojo in Cincinnati Ohio for all members nationwide and internationally.  Our membership currently spans through Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Japan, Argentina, with Brazil and Bosnia pending.  We have several states in the USA that have representation as well.  We are of course a small Federation with no hopes of growing to epic proportions rather to develop strong and unified Japanese Karate-do with strong tradition and Budo spirit.  The only requirement for membership other than practicing traditional Japanese or Okinawan karate-do is that you desire to keeping the true spirit alive and the absence of ego.

     It is my hope that this coming year I can help everyone forge ahead with their own goals and achieve them in due course.  Remember this, it is not how much you know or how many kata's you know rather how well you can do what you know.  It is about QUALITY and not QUANTITY.  I know, I know over 106 kata and think I can do about 4 or 5 fairly well.  After nearly 50 years of karate I can honestly say that from experience.  If I can offer any other advice it would simply be...."Shut up and train!"

Humbly your friend through karate-do,
Dwight Holley

Welcome to Karate of Japan Federation's new Blog!

     Welcome to the my first attempt to create yet another tool for those who are members and wish to follow on the journey of Japanese Karate-do through the vision of both KOJF and my eyes.  This is my attempt to share part of my vision to grow and preserve the teachings of my sensei for the sake of my students and those who are more concerned about simply studying, learning and practicing the art of Karate-do.  I am partial to Japanese and Okinawan Karate since the last nearly 50 yrs of my life have been spent trying to learn and develop into a decent practitioner and leader to those who trust in what I share and teach.

     I have been blessed with many good students who are great in my eyes to me.  I feel blessed that they felt I was good enough to become their teacher though in my own eyes by my own standards my karate is sub par at best.  I try to continue to improve my karate though my body is plagued with injuries and simple aches and pains of growing old.  I cannot let this become a basis for making an excuse however as men older than myself have improved and gotten better and perform at peak levels.  They inspire me as much as my own students who are younger.  I hope I can keep them inspired by my effort to study, train and improve. 

     Finally I am blessed to have a loving family who supports my efforts to become a good karate sensei and a better student, husband, father and human being.  Karate-do has opened many doors for me and blessed me with many many friends with whom I hope this blog will also connect and allow me to share those things that I have learned and seen during my journey through the training of karate-do.  Again I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my view, knowledge, journey and life in karate-do with you.  I look forward to continuing this journey and sharing with you for years to come. Osu!
Humbly your friend through karate-do!
Dwight Holley
See my facebook page under " Holley Kyoshi "