Exciting Affiliate in Chicago.....Enso!

Let me take a moment to announce that we have established a wonderful relationship and friendship with two fabulous sensei in Chicago Ill.  Sensei's Jay and Denise Nacu!  Jay Nacu sensei is a 4th Dan and Denise Nacu a 3rd Dan in Shotokan Karate-do.  They run a fabulous dojo in downtown Chicago and we a KOJF are overjoyed with our great relationship.  They are also both members in good standing of the esteemed Dai Nippon Butokukai of Kyoto Japan, oldest Budo organization in Japan (circa 1895) recognized and sanctioned by the Imperial Family of Japan and Ministry of Education.  Having witnessed and experienced training with these wonderful sensei I definitely endorse connecting with them to either begin your training of continue your training in Shotokan Karate-do.  Their passion and love are unquestionable and you can not find two finer teachers with impeccable character than these two.  If I sound bias I am after being around them long enough to know good teachers and sincere practitioners.  When in Chicago, stop by and visit with them and I think you will be pleased.  If you live in Chicago, give them a call for sure.
Their website:  http://www.ensostudio.com/index.html 

Announcing a new Shibucho(Branch Dojo)

Anouncing a new Shibucho in Indian Springs Ohio under

the direction of Sensei Kevin Downard, 3rd Dan Shotokan Karate-do

Kevin is an outstanding sempai of the Hombu and Karate of Japan Federation

and his technical and kata prowess is certainly noteworthy.

We are proud to have him as one of our outstanding

yudansha and look forward to his future

contributions to the students and KOJF.

CONGRATULATIONS KEVIN-SAN!

Osu!

Happy New Years!

I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone here a very Happy New Years Weekend and a very rewarding 2012 year ahead.  Live Strong! Live Well! And Live Long!  Foster goodwill to each other and kind words as we move forward.  Let’s focus on what we can do and not what we can’t and worry less about others shortcomings and more of how we can improve our own.  I love you all as my fellow human beings and hope I can make each of you smile at least once during my lifetime and share a little positive knowledge along the way. I am not only a student of karate-do but of life and hope I can learn just as  much from each of you along the way.  Happy New Year!  Humbly your friend from a distance.  Dwight~

Seek Perfection of Character~

The Dojo Kun are the rules of the dojo that have been passed down from Okinawan Karate Masters to the present for us as a guide to correct Budo Spirit and how to lead our life in earnest.

Seek Perfection of Character.

(Hitotsu !!! Jinkaku Kansei Ni Tsuto Muru Koto)

This means that the art of Karate is more than just physical. All beginners, especially the young, are taught the importance of character building through discipline and rigorous training.  For the beginner, the character building process begins with the perfecting of techniques through repetition.  The spirit to fight will be achieved as one gains more confidence through development of stronger techniques.  We train hard to develop a strong spirit, not only to fight but also to overcome personal problems especially in times of weakness. Developing these spiritual values is most difficult. But once achieved they will provide a lifetime benefit of inner strength and peace.

Budo & Loyalty

Budo & Loyalty

     I recently was made aware of an article from a former student who has excelled to great heights in Karate-do.  At one time he was considered the “golden child” and the one who would carry the torch when I am no longer here.  Unfortunately the article was one that glorified his accomplishments and offered a fabricated tale of his training and karate history.  He made no reference to the truth about his having trained under my hand and starting his Japanese Shotokan training under my guidance nor did he reference his rankings of dan gradings to his current state of 6^th Dan having come from me and my sensei.  He has become somewhat now more of a pain in my side and a black eye in the history of students who have been given their birth and introduction to Japanese Karate-do through my efforts and teachings.

     After speaking with several high ranking friends in the Budo community I have found that this any more is becoming more common place than not and it saddens me because those who are sincere in their efforts are hurt because of their sempai who have cause their sensei to no longer give more than just the common knowledge and certainly not trust the those who would attempt to befriend the sensei. Those who are deserving of their sensei’s teachings and the depth and breath of their knowledge would be held back and have to work extra hard to earn the right to be taught the most treasured secrets.  Loyalty is a serious word and trait that earns great rewards but how can a sensei be sure of a students intent when others have betrayed their trust previously?  It is hard to know who to give your full attention to and who to simply teach standard karate.  It is sad that when a sensei hopes to find that handful of students to which everything can be taught and he/she must hold back know being sure of their actual intent. Finding the trust in that they will be loyal once you have given them the secrets and knowledge is hard.  Loyalty is shown through actions, not words.  Words are easy to say, actions are proof in the pudding!  I reward loyalty but still I am cautious at my age. Sadly I will not be able to pass everything I have learned in the pass 47+ yrs of study until I find that “loyal” few.  I will continue to hold back until then.  Tell me, who can I trust???

Humbly,

Kyoshi

Bushi Matsumura (Karate history)

Sokon 'Bushi' Matsumura

Sokon Matsumura (1792-1887) was the forefather of Shorin Ryu.
Matsumura was recruited into the service of the Sho family (Royal family of Okinawa) and eventually became the chief martial arts instructor and bodyguard for the Okinawan King. At some point in his career, approximately 1830,  he went to China and studied the Shaolin style of Chinese Kenpo (fist method) and weaponry. It is also known that he traveled to Foochow in Fukien province, China on numerous occasions as an envoy for the Okinawan King. After his return from China he organized and refined the Shorin Ryu system of Okinawan Karate.
Matsumura is credited with passing on the kata or formal exercises of Shorin Ryu Karate known as Naifanchi I & II, Bassai Dai, Seisan, Chinto,  Gojushiho (fifty-four steps of the Black Tiger),  Kusanku (the embodiment of Kusanku's teaching as passed on to Tode Sakugawa) and Hakutsuru (white crane). The Hakutsuru kata contains the elements of the white crane system taught within the Shaolin system of Chinese Kenpo. Another set of kata, known as Chanan in Matsumura's time,  is said to have been devised by Matsumura himself and was the basis for Pinan I and II. Matsumura's Ryu has endured to the present day and the above mentioned kata are the core of Shorin Ryu Karate today.
Matsumura was given the title  "Bushi"  meaning warrior by the Okinawan King in recognition of his abilities and accomplishments in the martial arts. In fact,  Matsumura fought many times but was never defeated.  His martial arts endeavors has been the progenitor of many contemporary karate styles, Shorin Ryu,  Shotokan Ryu,  and Shito Ryu,  for example. Ultimately all modern styles of karate that evolved from the Shuri-Te lineage can be traced back to the teachings of Bushi Matsumura. This includes Taekwon Do (Korean Karate).

---

Karate-do

    I attended a small KOJF Shiai in Lousiville Ky and sharing a good time with some of my seniors.  Have what I felt was a constructive meeting regarding "Rules of Conduct" that have been set for KOJF that should prevail throughout everyday life as well. 

    I have two senior students take their exam for Nanadan.  The effort was great and performance of waza was good as well.  Both men were in their early sixties which made it even better to watch.  All in all it was a good weekend.
Two weekends prior we had a visit from our Sri Lanka Shibucho chief instructor/representative Mr. Anto Dinesh Sensei and at that time he was awarded his Godan (5th Dan Black Belt).  He is one of our best international representatives and has the strongest of ethics and character befitting a karate instructor of his caliber.

    I believe that we have renewed our intention and resolve to build an even stronger core group in KOJF for the sake of traditional Shotokan Karate-do.  Within a few weeks one of our highest ranking females out of the International Hombu in Ohio, Amy Schwartz with give birth to her first child.  She is a Yondan(4th Dan Black Belt) and assistant instructor at the Hombu, and the editor of the KOJF International Newsletter.  We are all wishing her an easy birth and extremely healthy child.  We look forward to her return to the dojo after much needed time away for the birth of her first child. 

     In the coming furture I have been asked to travel to share my Karate-do knowledge in additional seminars as well as my knowledge of Ryukyu Kobudo.  Look for some future postings related to this.  Please feel free to contact me for any additional information regarding KOJF(Karate of Japan Federation) and the soon to be completed secound book, "The Blueprint of Karate" due to be completed this fall.  Until the next posting, when training use the phrase... "Ganbatte!" 

Humbly yours through karate-do,

Dwight Holley sensei

                       Special Notice!!!!

 

The date of this training has been changed to June 11th (Sat) due to schedule conflicts. This is open to all CSK/KOJF members and non-members. This is a must attend seminar with some high level training. You will not be sorry you attended.
This training will be intense. Bring your hand towel and notebook.

   "Shut up & Train / High level kata"

 

 

 

 

Place: Cincinnati Shotokan Karate-do Dojo(KOJF Hombu)
Time: 1pm to 4pm
Date: June 11th, 2011
Fee: $20
Subject: Advanced Karate/ High Level Kata
Instructor: Dwight Holley, Kyoshi 8th Dan Karate-do

*Bring your hand towel to wipe your sweat and video camera to document your training. All KOJF/CSK black belts are expected to attend. You will not be sorry you attended. This is serious training. This will be one to remember and help you advance your karate skills. Please RSVP due to limited space.

• Contact: cincinnatishotokan@yahoo.com
• Phone: (513) 385 - 4830

Karate publication "Hidden Secrets of Karate" now available~

Now Available!

Hidden Secrets of Karate-do is a new book based on over 40 years of study and practice of the Japanese Art of Karate-do in Japan and the USA under such notables as Katsumi Niikura, Hidetaka Nishiyama, Isao Aioki, Kunio Sasaki, Charles Taylor, William Dometrich, John Sells and other great Karate-do masters. Master Sensei Holley has used the insights he's gained from this experience to develop a number of outstanding students with a great understanding of practical karate knowledge, and now he's collected the lessons he's learned in Hidden Secrets of Karate-do.

No matter what style of martial arts you practice, Hidden Secrets of Karate-do unlocks the doors to understanding your karate better with its great technical applications. This book will help you transform your basics into the lethal and deadly techniques that were once only taught by Masters to their most prized students. This is a must have book for ardent students and teachers alike of virtually any style of karate.

Here is what others have said

“I highly recommend this book, Hidden Secrets of Karate-do, to all students of Karate, from beginner to high ranking black belts with years of study. This book by Sensei Holley should be a must have for every karate-ka’s martial arts library.”
William J. Dometrich, Hanshi 9th Dan, DNBK
Founder U.S. Chito-Ryu

“I applaud what Holley sensei shows us in this book as sound and authentic.  It is devoid of mocking have-truths and unknowables presented as absolutes the material is presented in a sincere and respectful manner.  I hope that Holley sensei continues to contribute to the martial arts world, as the Hidden Secrets of Karate-do portend of even more to come”
John Sells, Hanshi 8th Dan
Seito Shito-Ryu Karate-do
Nihon Karate-do Kai, USA

“The reading of this book will open many doors to the understanding of Karate-do.  I recommend this book to those who are just learning the art of karate-do and find it to be invaluable to those of us who have long studied the tradition and spirit of Karate-do.”
David B. Williams, 7th Dan Okinawa
Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu Karate-do

Ordering Info

Price: $19.99 plus $4 shipping in the U.S.

Cincinnati Shotokan Karate-do
9244 Colerain Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45251
Phone: (513) 385-4830
email: cincinnatishotokan@yahoo.com

Coming to Amazon.com and Borders Online in the near future!

Holley Kyoshi on Facebook

Special Announcement! 

Shotokan Karate-do Seminar

 Andre Bertel Sensei, 6th Dan from New Zealand!

Date: August 27th & 28th
Location: 10490 Taconic Terrace, Cincinnati, OH 45215-1123
                       (Beautiful large traditional Japanese Karate dojo)
Time:  1st session: 1pm to 2:30pm
            2nd session: 3pm to 5pm
Fee:    1st session:   $50 in advance/$65 at the door
            2nd session: $65 in advance/$75 at the door
(Note: both sessions $99 in advance/$130 at the door)

Hosted by: Karate of Japan Federation, USA Honbu
Dwight Holley, Chief Instructor

* RSVP required due to limited space.  Deposit required of $50 by May 31st to reserve your place.
*Send check, money order or call with credit card information to:
Cincinnati Shotokan Karate-do
9244 Colerain Ave
Cincinnati, OH. 45251
(513) 385-4830
email: cincinnatishotokan@yahoo.com 

Unfortunately New Zealand suffered a very large earthquake over 6 on the ritchtor scale and suffered many casualties.  Sadly they are in the midst of the worst event in recent history of the country. This is important because our friend Andre Bertel Sensei of Asai Ha Shotokan ryu Karate-do lives there and nearly escaped injury with his wife as they were driving along the motorway. We thank God that the news of his safety rings through and hopefully the damage to his family and property I hope is minimal.  I am sure he will further inform everyone in time but they were without power for quite few hours. 

Should he need any assistance I am sure he will reach out to all of us as I have sent an email sharing our concern.  I will try to keep everyone abreast of their progress as I am certain it is available with the news cast.  Our prayers are all with him and his family. Osu!

"The more you sweat in training the less you bleed in battle!"

    Before the movie "300" (the tale of Spartan warriors) came out I was touting in the dojo these words of training advice to the deshi.  They understand the importance of this.  Pushing yourself to the limits and then beyond.  I always tell the students that "I will make harder in the dojo during training that it will ever get outside."  It is important because most people will train to a point on their own and when they start to tire out decide that is enough and never train to exhaustion only to the point of being tired.  Pushing yourself is always the hardest but of course it is my job to do just that.  I have been in training when I felt like I was going to pass out, even just recently in Virginia at the Butokusai training in the ocean on the beach at about 30 degrees outside at 5:30am in the morning with just a karate dogi on.  I survived(bearly) but I survived and believe I am stronger for it.(or simply nuts!

   If it weren't for others around me doing the same thing and sensei edging me and the others on I might have simply said "this is enough!" but I didn't.  I am glad that I did not give up but stretched my limits.  I hope that you too will find yourself being challenged and your limits pushed.  No matter what budo art you practice, mines being karatedo, find a way to stetch your limits and go beyond your normal boundaries to find that you can not only survive the training but expand your horizons in life itself.  I look forward to sharing more on what little I know of karatedo. Osu!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_zmL6BRCOA&feature=related

My dojo:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgeleVAvQW0 

Andre Bertel Sensei scheduled for August 2011

CORRECTION:  In a previous Blog I apparently posted that Andre Bertel Sensei was rescheduled and not coming in August.  This was an error on my part.  He is being scheduled for Cincinnati Ohio the last weekend in August of 2011(this year!).  Please post and mark your calendars for this time. 

      You can RSVP me at karateofjapan@yahoo.com  so I can ensure we have enough space to accommodate those wishing to attend.  Place and times to be announced(TBA).  

*Special Seminar scheduled for the last weekend of August 26th/27th.

I am certain you will find this one of the best seminars you will attend in 2011!
Contact me via the email to RSVP: karateofjapan@yahoo.com 

Humbly your friend through Karate-do,
Dwight Holley

Karate in Japan...

I wanted to simply make a quick note regarding Karate in Japan and my experience.  Though when I first went to Japan in 1974 I was already the holder of the rank of Shodan having earned that rank in 1969 while in high school in Cincinnati, Ohio.  I found that I was not nearly as good as I thought I was.  Boy did I find that out quickly.  Fortunately I was guided well upon my arrival in my first Japanese dojo to bring and wear a shiro obi(white belt).  I think it helped me get accepted by my sensei and get privy to learning the more advanced Shotokan kata like Unsu, Gojushiho and others which at that time I was not learned in.  I was infected by the likes of Bruce Lee and the incredible movies of that period like Kung Fu Invisible Fist and the Five Fingers of Death.  I even mimic'd many of the fighting sounds and style of these movies so when I went to Japan my karate was sloppy and truly somewhat useless. 

I was like the nail sticking up from the floor that had to be hammered back down and polished again.  It was a great learning experience.  My sensei was one of the best in Japan I could have lucked into, Isao Aioki at the time a Godan and under the JKA and still alinged with Hirokazu Kanazawa Hancho.  I have fond memories of those days of training there in Higashi Fuchu at Fuchu Air Station.  Later I will share more of this training but I have added a youtube link being one of my favorite of some of the JKA sensei demostrating my beloved standard JKA Shotokan of which the world is more familiar with in it's more pure form and practiced by some of the "old guard".  What explosive and wonderful skill.  I hope to someday get somewhat close to before I die.  Enjoy!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4KSLUzv3sQ


Humbly your friend through karate-do, Osu!

Andre Bertel Shihan

    After several conversations I am able to secure the last week of August 2011 to have Bertel Shihan to come to Cincinnati Ohio to execute a seminar on Shotokan/Asai Ryuha Karate-do.  He is one of the most prolific and dynamic Shotokan practitioners I know who is not Japanese.  He is to the point, practical and a definite example of the late Asai Hanshi of JKA Shotokan Karate-do.  He is gentle and kind and in conversation with him I find him to be open and understanding and appreciative of those who wish to promote and practice traditional Shotokan karate-do.  More importantly we share a simular idea on the status of many of the Japanese Hombu and their concepts and teaching the complete art to non-Japanese.  More importantly he seems to be devoid of political favorites and holds true to the art of karate-do.

     With that having been said take a look at his video and you decide on his value to the preservation of the art. Osu!
Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2QTfnlcVcM&feature=related

     I had the privelige of training at the historic Honbu dojo in Covington Ky of the USA Chitokai Karate-do run by  William Dometrich Hanshi.  The occassion was the Kagami Biraki held in conjunction with the Dai Nippon Butokukai of which I am a member.  The training was definitely great as we shared several techniques of Shotokan, Chito ryu and Okinawan Ti which was shared by Devorah Yoshiko who holds 8th Dan in Ryukyu Kobudo and a student of Onaga Sensei from Okinawa.  She shared the technique of Koshi and makiwara practice as done in Okinawa by Onaga Sensei.  It was very enlightening.

       Sonny Kim,6th Dan Shotokan shared his concepts on Mae Geri and Melvin Lewis,6th Dan Shotokan shared a kumite technique of kizami zuki and uraken uchi.  All in all it was simply a good time to simply practice our karate-do amongst friends.  For me it was a little difficult as I have agitated my right shoulder and apparently the rotator cup which is very painful currently.  I will have to go back into rehab mode again to hopefully bring it back to more strenght. 

      I am looking forward to learning to use this medium better and become more frequent in it's use.  I am hopeful that everyone's year is off to a great start and training has become more intensified.  I promised to become more active here and sharing some ideas regarding training and maybe some excerpts from my upcoming second book, "The Blueprint of Karate-do".  I will write more soon.  Ganbatte!

My Journey

No worries, not a long story here as I will save that for another book. For now let me merely say that I started my journey when I was probably 8 or 9 going to a catholic school and being the small frail child I was I was an easy target for the public school kids who would taunt us since we had to wear uniforms and such. Worst was I was picked on by my own classmates even which was no help for my self esteem or confidence at the time. After watching some martial arts on some tv shows like I-Spy and Man from Uncle, the Green Hornet and Kung Fu the series and a few others I was inspired and began to search out somewhere to train. I got a hold of two books, one by Bruce Tegner and one by Bobby Lowe from Hawaii on Kyokushinkai. In 1965 I found a Korean Tang Soo do class and eventually a guy named Jerome who claimed to be a 3rd Dan in Shotokan Karate whom while practicing Tang Soo Do I studied with Jerome as well. I found the Japanese katas to be more appealing to me and not being a great kicker it played into my hands even more so. I also was able to study under a Victor Moore whom at the time was teaching a brand of Okinawan karate called Shorin Ryu.

     By the time I had discovered Black Belt Magazine and read more on Japanese Karate and particularly a man named Tommy Morita who lived in Hawaii and was a student of Chito Ryu karate-do and had spoke of his desire to go to Okinawa to study the spiritual depths of karate under the great Okinawan master Shoshin Nagamine who founded Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu I decided I wanned to go to Japan myself somehow but at the age of 14 I did not know how.  By 1969 I had been promoted to Shodan by Jerome in a hybrid form of Shotokan and gone to high school finally.  By the start of my senior year I found my means to Japan, joining the military and after my conversation with a recruiter found myself two weeks after graduation headed to basic training in the US Air Force in San Atonio Texas.  Four months later I was on a plane headed to the Philippines by way of Japan. Yeah!  After less than a year in the Philippines I was given a special assignment to Higashi Fuchu Japan which allowed me to realize my dream...to study in Japan under a karate master.  First day in Japan with my then mentor and sensei, Charles Taylor we both found the proper Shotokan dojo to train under a student of Hirokazu Kanazawa and the JKA, Mr. Isao Aioki.  The rest as they say is history.  Today over 45 years later I was recently elevated by several martial arts associations/federations to the rank of Hachidan, 8th Dan. My 7th Dan was certified by the Dai Nippon Butokukai which is endorsed by members of Japans Emperial Family and the Japanese government.  It is among the highest honors one can receive in Budo.  Fortunately I know I have much room for improvement and remain on the constant search to someday master the art of karate-do.   I have learned one thing for sure that I believe will bring me closer.  Karate is easy, we as a people complicate it, thus I maintain as a philosophy to simply "shut up and train!"  Osu!

Humbly your friend through our karate-do,
Dwight Holley