Gerald Orange film released.

Osu!

I am happy to announce that a short movie starring GMstr. Gerald Orange has been released. Gerald Orange is an old time student, "Chinatown DoJo Alumni," of Grand Master Urban. He has been an actor, involved in the theater and movie industry for many years. To watch a short clip of the movie, go to the following address. Gerald Orange appears at the very end of the clip, entering through door in Chef's hat.

http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi1218904601/

The film also has its own website at www.thedaythebreadturnedgreen.com

Urban Way Ceremony

Osu!

Our Sensei was honored in proper fashion on Saturday, with a ceremony befitting of a man who's accomplishments had such a positive effect on so many of us. On Central Avenue in Union City New Jersey, where his 10th street dojo was located, a huge group assembled to view the unveiling of a long overdue tribute to our mentor.

I wish that I could have been there, but unfortunately I no longer reside in that part of the country. However, I did have some of my people there to represent and to take pictures and report of the goings on to me. So now I can report the goings on to you.... Click on pictures to enlarge.

















Union City Mayor and NJ State Senator Brian P. Stack addresses the audience.

















Maestro Urban's daughter Julia is presented with a likeness of the Peter Urban Way street sign.

















Hanshi Ray Herman addresses the audience as his students perform kata.

















Hanshi Archie Rullan addresses the audience as his sons hold Maestro Urban's Battle flag.

















The Ombudsman of Urban GoJu, Hanshi Sekwii Sha addresses the audience.

















Hanshi Fidel Montalvan addresses the audience.

















The successor of Grand Master Frank Ruiz, Nisei GoJu Head, Hanshi Wilfredo Roldan addresses the audience.

















Julia Urban Kimmerley and the crowd watch with excitement as the beautiful commemorative plaque is revealed.






















A rightfully proud daughter, touches her father's plaque as Union City Mayor and NJ State Senator Brian Stack looks on.






















The look of anticipation as the Peter Urban Way street sign is unveiled.

















TaDa!!!!!!

















A lot of well known faces of the GoJu family were to be seen.

















It was good to see so many branches of our tree represented.

















This was a celebration of The Sensei's life, not a sad occasion of mourning. You can see the joy in the faces of his people.


In a matter much like Grand Master Gogen Yamaguchi's funeral, a group of those present got up and performed the kata Tensho. It is interesting to see the differences in kata nuance of the various factions of our American GoJu.

















Special thanks to Sensei Elias Bonaros for taking these pictures and video for me.

Osu!
Throughout history, it has bee customary for noteworthy masters of the martial arts to have monuments dedicated to them after their demise.

I have been lucky enough to have been able to travel and live all over the world, and to visit various locations in which these types of memorials exist.

Kanryo Higashionna, seen here with Hanso Arakaki sitting at his left and Chojun Miyagi at left behind him with cap on, has a beautiful monument dedicated to him.










It reads: Kanryo Higaonna sensei (1853-1917) was born the 4th son of Kanyo and Tsuru in the Nishi district of Naha. At the age of 20, he traveled to the Fukien region of China where he studied Nanpa Shaolin Kenjyutsu Hakutsuru Ken (Southern Shaolin Fist Technique White Crane Fist) for 15 years. In 1889, he opened a Karate dojo in Naha. This is the oldest known Karate dojo. Nahate is based on Higaonna sensei's own studies of White Crane Fist on his return from China and became known as a“Te”technique that spread mostly in the Naha region. (Translation of the inscriptions found on the back of the monument)

Note: This monument is known as the Kanryo Higaonna and Chojun Miyagi Monument Memorial and is located in the Matsuyama Park, Naha City.




Gichin Funakoshi, who is credited with bringing KarTe from Okinawa to Mainland Japan, and who the ShotoKan style was named after, has two very cool monuments on Okinawa in his memory.










This one says: The Gichin Funakoshi Monument (Enkakuji, Kamakura)

The father of Karatedo, Gichin Funakoshi Sensei, was born on October 10, 1870 in Shuri City, Okinawa Prefecture.
At 11 years old, he started learning To-te jutsu* with both Anko Asato and Anko Itosu Sensei. Studying the secrets of the art thoroughly, he became the head of the Okinawa Shobukai** in 1912.
From his moving to Tokyo in May 1922, he devotedly taught Karatedo.
On April 26, 1957 he died a natural death at the age of 88.
He completely devoted himself to the spreading and improvement of Karate. While he advocated Karatedo, the main purpose was to adapt the principles of ancestral To-te jutsu. Emptiness (kara or ku) is the perfection in martial arts. The way (michi or do) is the intention of transforming technique into Bushido.
Funakoshi's maxims "Karate ni sente nashi" (there is no first attack in Karate) and "Karate ha Kunshi no bugei" (Karate is a martial art for true gentleman) are based on the principles of warning the misuse of technique.
Reminding the virtues of sensei, the father of Karatedo, and praising his achievements, we his students establish the Shotokai and connected with the adage "Ken Zen Ichi" (Fist and Zen are one), we erect this monument within the Engakuji Temple.



Gichin Funakoshi sensei's "Kansha no Matsu"

The memorial pine "Kansha no Matsu" (Gratitude Pine) stands in the Sueyoshi Park in Naha City. It was planted in August 1998 by Shoto-kai 's Motonobu Hironishi and Jotaro Takagi sensei to honored the 130 birth anniversary of Funakoshi sensei.

Brief personal history of Gichin Funakoshi sensei
(taken from the memorial post standing next to the pine)
Born in 1868 in Yamakawa, Shuri (presently in Naha City)
Chaired successively the Okinawa Shobukan.
In 1922, moved to Tokyo to spread karate.
On April 26, 1957 passed away at the age of 90 years old.

Note: Next to the pine stands another pine dedicated to Yoshitaka Funakoshi sensei, son of Gichin sensei. The pine is name "Homare no Matsu" (Honoring Pine).












Chotoku Kyan, SuriTe = Shorin Ryu, master and teacher of both Eizo and Tatsu Shimabuku has a great monument also.

Chotoku Kyan sensei lived from 1870 to 1945. He is considered as a preeminent karate master from modern times Okinawa. Kyan sensei whose nickname was "Chanmigwa" was born in a prestigious and wealthy family of Shuri in 1870. He spent his childhood in Tokyo and studied the Chinese classics there. In the meantime, his father introduced young Chotoku to karate. On his return to Okinawa, he trained under great masters of Shuri-te and Tomari-te to become the grand master he was. While his height was only of 150 cm, it is said that Kyan sensei developed an extreme power and speed in his techniques.
Around 1910, he moved to live close to the Hija River located in today's Kadena Town. He then taught to students of the Prefectural Agriculture Senior High School, the Youth Teachers School and the Police Academy, as well as teaching for no fee karate to the youth of the surroundings. He instructed them on the "Technique" and "Spirit" of the way of karate. While training was hard, all his students respected and praised his deep knowledge and warmhearted personality. He was truly following the way of "Bun Bu Ryo Do" the way of scholarship and martial arts and as a reminder of his virtue we his students raised this monument. (1997)



On a more occidental tip, Nisei GoJu founder Frank Ruiz was honored with a memorial stone here in the US.































This stone resides in the famouse Tompkins Square Park in the Lower East Side of New York City in the neighborhood that Shihan Ruiz taught. The stone was put there by Ruiz's successor Hanshi Wilfredo Roldan. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE LOVELY EDEN BROWER FOR TAKING THIS PICTURE OF THE RUIZ MEMORIAL STONE FOR ME. Luv Ya Eden.



























And finally! It is my honor to announce that my teacher, Peter Urban, The Grand Patriarch of All American GoJu Systems, will now be honored accordingly.
The following is a message from his daughter Julia.
Union City, N.J. , where my father was raised and graduated high school ( Emerson High '53), and then in 1959 established his first dojo, has graciously decided to honor my father's name.

This ceremony bestows my father with a street name "URBAN WAY", a historical marker/plaque , a program itinerary detailing all planned events with pics. and bio . Attending also will be the Mayor and State Senator, Brian P. Stack and other special guests and notorieties.The ceremony is on Central Ave. from 10th to 9th streets and starts at 12:oo

All Urban Gojuists , supporters and guests are invited to attend this marked occasion to proudly commemorate the life and accomplishments of my father, the one and only "PETER URBAN".


Thank you.

Julia Urban-Kimmerley

Profile of an Urban Loyalist. Ol' Reliable

This Satori profile segment will deal with americangoju.com Webmaster James Norman Price, Hanshi USA GoJu.






Hanshi Price is seen here with Maestro Urban near the last days of Maestro Urban's life.

At first glance, Hanshi Price seems like exactly what he is, a well-educated professional. Originally a school teacher, he later became quite successful in, and is now retired from his career as a representative for a major pharmaceutical company. His mannerism is gentle and it is obvious that he is of high moral character.

This mild mannered persona masks a quite different back ground as far as the martial arts are concerned. He originally came from, and acheived Yon Dan Renshi in, the dojo of an old friend of mine, Master Joseph Kelljchian of Florida, who was a student of Sensei Urban. This group, now called U.S.A.G.F. is a no nonsense, hard contact, rough training group to say the least.







Hanshi Price is seen here training with Maestro Urban at Master Joe Hess' Dojo in Florida circa 1979.


Later going directly under the tutelage of Grand Master Urban, Hanshi Price always went above and beyond the call of duty.

I, as Sensei Urban’s representative for the southern states can tell you that whenever we needed anything, Price was there. He and his students also participated in countless seminars, classes, crazy training and tournaments that I ran in Florida. Speaking of tournaments, who could forget the wild tournaments that Price organized on Ft. Myers Beach for Master Kelljchian back in the day? Good times…….

A little vignette about the Internet:

I received a fax one morning from Sensei Urban, asking me if I could put together a web site for him. Originally Master Dayton Guinee had put together a website for Sensei Urban, however, at that particular time he was legitimately to busy to tend to such an affair. Keep in mind that when doing something for Sensei Urban, things had to be done immediately, so understandably Master Guinee had to vacate his position as web master. I contacted Sensei Urban via telephone, explaining that not only did I not own a computer at the time, I didn’t even know how to turn one on if I did. I informed him however, that I had an idea of who we could recruit as our internet guy. After discussing this with Hanshi Price, and him agreeing to take on the arduous job of web master, the official website of Maestro Peter Urban began. Originally called Martial Combatives DoJo. It is now called americangoju.com Grand Master Peter Urban’s Fight Schools Network. Sensei Urban’s intent was to have a web site that besides giving information about his system and organization, would be a list of his active, loyal membership. In order to be listed on his site, one had to apply directly through Sensei Urban. There was no guessing or being mislead as to an applicants standing with Sensei Urban, for as I said, the only people listed on the site were those who’s name received the green light from Urban.


Click on image to enlarge.

















There have been misconceptions lately as to www.americangoju.com being only for the last wave of students of Sensei Urban, but as read in his news letter above, it was for all of his legitimate loyal dues paying instructor level students.

Many of us later made our own web sites since then, however, the site that Hanshi Price put together was and still is the one and only official website of Maestro Peter G. Urban PHD.








Today = Now, Hanshi Price is still active in the martial arts, aside from being Webmaster.

Now at ninth dan, he teaches KaraTe and practical self-defense classes at the clubhouse of the Pelican Preserve where he lives with his lovely wife Karen. The Pelican Preserve is an exclusive gated community built in coordination with a National Audubon Society preserve. He is also the curator of the beautiful butterfly gardens there at the preserve.

Nunchaku

Osu!

Something that I have not written about in ages is the nunchaku. Personally this was always my favorite toy/tool/weapon, since I was a kid.

Grand Master Urban often spoke of the difference between a TOY, a TOOL, and a WEAPON.

What is the difference?

INTENTION.

Many believe that the nunchaku was originally a farm tool,. A flail used to thrash crush or gather rice etc., later to be used after the ban on all weapons in Okinawa.

Others believe that it was a piece disconnected from a horse bridal .

Although there is little doubt that these tools were at times used as weapons, it seems unlikely that their presence in the Chinese arts came from Okinawan farm tools. Therefore it seems reasonable to believe that the flail has been around in various forms all over the globe since someone was creative enough to attach two or more sticks or what have you, together for the purpose of playing, working, or fighting.

The nunchaku has been an object of controversy on an off throughout the years.

As a kids, in NY and NJ back in the 70s, we used to carry them concealed on the streets. This was both before and after they were made illegal. My memories of the bloody nunchaku fights between various factions of neighborhood gangs are still quite vivid. As a matter of fact, the one and only time that I was ever knocked unconscious in my life was self induced while practicing a difficult under the arm pit and over the shoulder reverse switch at high speed while walking my vicious standard poodle Noal. I awoke with Noal licking my face as a cop looked down at me while straddling over head. The cop said “You were doing pretty good until you clocked yourself!” He had been watching me from a distance. I was more worried about being arrested, than I was about having just whacked myself unconscious. Thankfully, when I showed him my dojo id, he went to his car and brought out his own police issued black, square nylon nunchaku and handed them to me, asking if I wanted to give them a try. I remember that they had a very short string and I was able to whip them around even quicker than my own. However, the police nunchaku was actually more for seizing, pinching, and come along techniques.

On a more legit note: I actually carried the nunchaku that I bought in the 70's at NYC's Honda Martial Arts Supplies, into combat while in the Marine Corps. I also trained fellow Marines in the use of the nunchaku while stationed in Okinawa Japan, both at my on base dojo, and during the hand to hand combat classes that I gave on various bases throughout the 3rd Marine Division.

The nunchaku was made illegal in the 70's, in California first. Then after a police officer had the misfortune of chasing a thug up to a tenement building’s roof, to which the thug waited next to the roof’s door for the cop to follow, the thug proceeded to use a rear strangle technique on him as he exited the stairwell onto the roof. The cop was murdered, and the nunchaku became illegal overnight in NYC.























In this article from Official KaraTe Magazine January 1974, our own Shihan Al Gotay warns the reader of the new anti nunchaku law. (Click on article to enlarge.)

I visited Brendon Lai's Kung Fu Supply Store in San Francisco the other day. Rather than a display of various nunchaku, they had a sign on the counter, saying that nunchaku were illegal out side of martial arts schools in the state of California, and were not sold there.


The nunchaku was introduced for use, to the NY and NJ police departments by USA GoJu instructors who were on the job. This did not go without a certain amount of controversy either.






















In This August 1970 issue of KaraTe Illustrated Magazine, the subject of police use of the nunchaku is discussed by Shotokan Master Fred Hamilton "RIP," and NinJitsu Master Ron Duncan, as well as Shihan Al Gotay, who also demonstrates Police Nunchaku techniques.

























































































































































































Master Ed Veryken and Master Joe Hess, both were instrumental in training Police in the use of nunchaku, as seen here in Official KaraTe Magazine's Annual Special Weapons Edition 1974.














My nunchaku training came from quite a few sources. I learned formally from Sensei Urban “who was a weapons genius,” of course.

I also learned from Sensei Ernest Hyman in the mid 70s, who many may remember was billed as the fastest man in the world with the nunchaku at Aaron Banks’ Oriental World Of Self Defense at Madison Square Garden.
I wish that I had some video of Sensei Hyman performing. You would not believe it! I can still remember walking around with cracked finger nails and sore hands after the nunchaku classes that he gave at the New York Karate Academy.











Everybody had a copy of this book when I was a young teen. Fumio Demura's Nunchaku KaraTe Weapon Of Self Defense served as our Chucker's Bible.







Later while stationed in Okinawa I learned the original premise from Dai Sensei Hanso Arakaki.



The way that nunchaku is used in the Ko Ryu = old school is a bit different from what you see in the modern versions. The flailing is less complex, however very powerful. The techniques are really not so much different, but separates them from the modern, is that they were used as a defense against weapons. But for that matter, the bulk of what is contained in the old KaraTe kata are techniques that deal with fighting against an armed opponent.


Hanshi Tadashi Yamashita is an Okinawan Shorin Ryu master who has lived in California for many years. He became quite famous back in the day for his flashy nunchaku demos.

No article about the nunchaku would be complete without clips of Bruce Lee.


The Chinese Connection


Return Of The Dragon


Enter The Dragon


Game Of Death

Just awsome!

Osu!

There is hope for KaraTe.

Just look at this presentation of Anan / Han Bunkai.

The Bad Guy........

Osu!

How many times have you heard people speak ill of others just to take the spot light off of their own bad performance?

How many times have you been guilty of doing this your self?

In the martial arts, there are so many people who revel in gossip rather than self perfection.

Yes, everybody loves a bad guy. So they can say "Look, there's the bad guy"

The problem is that it is most often the person who has the most to hide, or be ashamed of, that points the finger of judgment.

It's so much more gratifying to complement or stick up for, someone than it is to speak ill of them.

I remember back in 1980 when I first arrived in Okinawa Japan. I had visited a couple of dojo, and was pretty disappointed in one particularly. Later, while visiting Grand Master Eizo Shimabukuro, I commented about the dojo of disappointment, and asked what he thought. He said "KaraTe teacher no talk bad about anyone." I bowed and said Hai Sensei, as he had just taught me a very important lesson.

Something that I learned from my older brother Dai Sensei Kow Loon Ong, is that it is far more important to clean ones own house, than it is to worry about how dirty someone else's floor is.

I myself have been guilty of perpetuating historic bad mouthing on the subject of Bad BuDo and Pseudo Sensei ism.

That is a short coming on my part.

The thing that really urks me though, is when it is a supposed friend that bad mouths you.

Especially a supposed friend that has so many skeletons in his or her closet that they could easily start a Halloween shop.........

The interesting thing about this, is how folks that participate in this type of interaction generally can't keep their mouths shut. They pass the poison on, gladly sharing where it originated from.

So, my dear reader, what is the moral of this story?

Keep your friends close by.
Keep your enemies right next to you.

Trust no one. I hope that I am incorrect about that one........

And as the Bible says: Don't be so quick to point out the cinder in another's eye, until you have removed the log from your own.

And even then, if you can't say something nice, re read this article.........

Ghost Dog

Osu!

Last night, via suggestion of my friend Greg, I watched a movie that I had never seen before.

It was not a Chop Socky flick.

It was not a Blacksploitation flick.

What it was, was a very well put together story about a gangster from the ghetto, who serves as a retainer to a Mafioso who once saved his life.

Based on the Samurai ideal, replete with readings from the book Hagakure throughout the movie, this is a flick worth watching.

Hanshi Lou Angel and the Long John Nebel Show.

Osu!

Recently Hanshi Lou Angel, Founder of Tenshi GoJu, and the National College Of Martial Arts, sent me some great pics of historic note.

Hanshi Angel was one of Grand Master Urban’s first students.

Beginning his martial arts training in 1954 at the JuJitsu school of India at 48th and Broadway in NYC, he later took up JuDo under Sensei Nick Yang at The Academy Of Music in Brooklyn.

While in the United States Marine Corps, he trained in IsShin Ryu KaraTe, with GMstr. Don Nagel in Jacksonville North Carolina.

He started training with GMstr. Urban when he returned to NY. He trained with Urban twice a week at The Academy Of Music, and also twice a week at the famous JuDo Twins DoJo.

Hanshi Angel opened a dojo in Brooklyn under GMstr. Urban in 1960, and in 1961 left to open a dojo in Tulsa Oklahoma. This was while GMstr. Urban was still teaching at the 17Th Street DoJo in NYC, prior to the opening of the Chinatown DoJo.

In 1963 Hanshi Angel left Oklahoma as a nidan (2nd degree black belt), and with a letter of introduction from GMstr. Urban, traveled to Japan to train with his teacher’s teacher, GMstr. Gogen Yamaguchi, at the Ueno DoJo in Tokyo.




After extensive training with GMstr. Yamaguchi, Hanshi Angel tested for and was promoted to the rank of SanDan (3rd degree black belt.)









Hanshi Angel formed the Midwest GoJu KaraTe Association, and later founded his own style called Tenshi GoJu. Tenshi is Nihon Go = Japanese language, meaning angel.

The Tenshi GoJu system contains the kata that Hanshi Angel learned from GMstr. Urban and GMstr. Yamaguchi, with the only difference being in the Bunkai that he developed.

(Author's note: During a conversation with Hanshi Angel, he told me that he will always consider GMstr. Urban his Sensei.)

His style and organization became very large and successful throughout the Mid West.

He later founded the National College Of Martial arts, which is open to practitioners of all styles.

One of his more well known students is Jeff Speakman, star of the popular movie The Perfect Weapon, who attained nidan under Hanshi Angel, before moving to California to pursue his acting career. It was Hanshi Angel who suggested that Speakman hook up with Ed Parker while in California. The rest is history…….

As many may know, in March of 1960, Grand Master Urban and some of his students including Hanshi Angel, appeared on the Long John Nebel Show on WOR TV Channel 9. . This was a late night variety show, which was known to feature not so every day things, from VooDoo to UFO’s and conspiracy theories. Interesting late night entertainment for those who found interest in the unusual.



Here is a pic from the advertisement for the show. On left in Iron Wall position, is Hanshi Angel.
Click on picture to enlarge.

In this picture Grand Master Urban demonstrates a nukite on Lou Angel during the Long John Nebel show.

Lastly, here is a classic pic that Hanshi Angel sent to me, of Grand Master Urban doing one of the things that he did best. This pic was taken at Hanshi Angel's Tulsa Oklahoma tournament in September of 1967. GMstr. Urban is breaking 3 suspended boards with his left hand. He had injured his right hand before coming to Tulsa.

Special thanks to Hanshi Lou Angel for his time, photos, and friendship.

Shek Kin passes.

Unfortunately, we lost another martial arts icon.

Shek Kin, who played Mr. Han in Enter The Dragon, has passed away.

He was quite the master in real life. He also starred in many Chinese films that most westerners don't know about.

Here he is, doing a demonstration of his kung fu skills.

David Carradine passes away.

Osu!

Just got the word that Kung Fu TV legend and Hollywood actor David Carradine was found in his hotel room in Thailand supposedly hung by accident.

His body was found in the closet by a hotel maid, with a rope around his neck and parts of his body.

No doubt CSI Thailand is going to get in on this one.

I remember meeting David Carradine when I was a young teenager, at Madison Square Garden during one of Aaron Bank's Oriental World Of Self Defense shows. He seemed like a nice guy.

Here is an old clip of the Carradine that most of us will always remember, replete with the burning urn scene that was taken from Maestro Urban's story about Shaolin in his book The KaraTE DoJo.

Machigai / MISTAKES

The following micro treatise on mistakes comes from a fantastic book on Eishin Ryu Swordsmanship, written by Masayuki Shimabukuro and Leonard J. Pellman, called Flashing Steel.

The message given can apply to life in so many ways.

In IaiJutsu, a confrontation ends in the blink of an eye and one of the combatants lies dead on the ground. The samurai could not afford to make a mistake. Mistakes, very simply, meant death.

On the other hand, the only way to learn an art as difficult and complex as IaiJutsu is to make mistakes. So in one respect, you must train with an intensity of kihaku as if there were no room for mistakes - as if they would be fatal - while in another respect, you must accept the fact that mistakes are a normal part of the learning process.

It is important, therefore, not to dwell on your mistakes, wether they are simply training errors in the dojo, or mistakes that have a serious impact in your life. If you allow errors in your past to have affect in your future attempts, at very least you will find yourself loosing confidence and going into a slump. At the worst, you can become so paralyzed by the fear of failure that you will no longer even try!

Furthermore, your mind will inevitably try to achieve whatever you visualize. So if you keep visualizing yourself making the same old mistake over and over, you are effectively training your subconscious to repeat it.

Instead, pay attention to your mistakes without dwelling on them. Try to determine what caused the error and how it can be corrected or avoided in the future, then visualize yourself acting correctly. In this way, rather than being a setback or hindrance, each mistake becomes an investment in your future success.

Remember, too, that it is far better to have tried and failed - and learned from the experience - than never to have tried, never to have learned, and never to have truly lived!

An'Ichi Miyagi Sensei passes away.

Osu!

Well known GoJuKa. Student of both Miyagi and Miyazato Senseis and the person that IOGKF Founder,Morio Higaonna Sensei chose as his mentor An'Ichi Miyagi has passed away, according to Tetsuji Nakamura, IOGKF Vice Chief Instructor and Administrative Director.

What's new in kata?

The subject of KoRyu "old school" kata vs modern kata is nothing new any more. The reader may be surprised at exactly how long the argument for and or against the validity of both has been going on.

There was a time, not so long ago, when the martial arts were monopolized by the nationals of their endogenous lands. This is to say that many, if not most, believe that only Asians had the potential to fully comprehend an Asian art.

When the two concepts mentioned above are put together, it makes for an even more interesting debate.

Let’s start with the fact that the origin of what is called Naha Te "GoJu Ryu" was actually the Fukien Province of China. The kata that was learned there and brought to Okinawa was reformed in order to siut the Okinawan people.

As time went on, the Okinawan martial artists mastered and developed an art that became tyheir own, going as far as to change the kanji for karate from China Hand to empty hand so as for it to be more easily accepted when they introduced it to the Japanese mainland.

KaraTe became Japanized over the years with the names of certain kata in some styles being changed completely.

Just as in Asia, KaraTe became better understood and yes, even mastered in the west.

Let’s take a look at how the subject of modern kata has been discussed in the past.

Black Belt Magazine's January 1969 issue had a debate on this subject between quite a few well known karateka of the time. Three of these folks were from our lineage. Peter Urban, Richard Kim and Albert Gotay.

Here is what they had to say:

Urban:


Inferior American products are no more insignificant than inferior Oriental products.
If it passes the test of time, it is good.
In general, it seems an oriental kata has been improved in America precisely the same way American and German optic and electronic developments have been improved in Japan.

It is the performance of the kata by the individual performer that determines the quality and not just the construction of the kata itself.

We speak English in America, but it is not the same English spoken in Great Britain. Yet for all intents and purposes, it is the same language and we can communicate. It is the same with kata.


Kim:


Reformed kata may have some value, but the only significance if any, would be of callisthenic value. From that view point, any exercise is better than no exercise at all.

Feeling that some American sensei may be presumptuous in their attempts to evolve new kata, Kim reminds them "only a meijin can create a kata."

A meijin is one who has gone beyond the highest degree of proficiency in his art. He is one who has achieved KenSho. He is more than an expert or specialist.

There are no meijin in America, and the last karate meijin was Funakoshi Gichin.

Author's note: With all respect to Sensei Kim, that is a debatable statement, being that Funakoshi's Shotokan style has gone through so much change since his demise, that they truly must be producing quite a few meijin it seems...................
Also considering that Funakoshi was chosen to be the karate ambassador to Japan by his Okinawan seniors because of his scholastic back ground instead of his raw martial prowess, it seems that we are using the word meijin a bit loosely.

Going up to a metaphysical plane, Kim defines kata as "A unique method of religious practice with the aim of bringing the student to a direct intuitive realization of reality. It is meant for the body to be fazed into a total instrument of realization of the absolute mind. Kata is not a manifestation of logical reasoning as Americans have superficially mistaken it to be.

Kata brings the student by degrees, by complete transcendence, emancipation, total penetration, and identical alignment to Do or Dao.

Since the master cannot transmit his kensho, he uses kata to bring the student to the same state of illumination that he has attained.

Authors note:

Black Belt Magazine wrote:

In an apparent attempt to counter Kim's phraseology, NYC's Peter Urban comments:

"American instructors utilize systematic logic and creative imagination to produce kata, music, art or technology the same as the other masters. It has been said that the western man cannot achieve NIRVANA or SATORI and oriental ethnic back grounds are the best for the martial arts. What archaic nonsense!"

In a later issue of BB Mag. Urban wrote:

A matter of principal

I would like to sound my personal objection to the statement made in Black Belt's kata survey (January 1969) referring to my "apparent attempt to counter Kim's metaphysical phraseology."

Sensei Richard Kim took me by the hand in Yokohama during my teenage years and introduced me to the martial arts. He personally brought me to two famous meijin in Japan so I could specialize in the hard and soft styles of KaraTe.

I don't disagree with my sensei in principal, Only in degree. Also, I always knew my sensei was a meijin. In the martial arts, a meijin is a divinely inspired person. One who might be called a genius in a particular field. I believe that only a meijin can create a kata, and I also believe that meijin do exist in the United States. Sensei Kim's statement that there are no meijin in America is just another instance of the traditional modesty peculiar to meijin who have been trained in the orient.





Albert Gotay of Queens NY feels in some cases kata created by Americans does have significant value. Although American kata appears to have been created for convenience, I have seen others that are outstanding.

Kata is not created but merely evolves as the natural product of years of training and experience, coupled with dynamic personality and enlightenment.

Authors note:

In 1969 even martial arts scholars were not privy to a lot of the since discovered writings from the past.

Thanks to Kiyotaka Yamada, Sensei aka San Zinsoo who translated many old Okinawan martial arts writings, we can now see how the subject was viewed by Chojun Miyagi himself.


At the meeting of Okinawan KaraTe masters held on October 25, 1936 at the Showa Kaikan Hall in Naha City Okinawa, Miyagi had this to say:

Regarding kata, I think traditional kata should be preserved as old or classic kata. For the nationwide promotion of KaraTe, I think we better create new kata. We will create both offensive and offensive kata which are suitable for students of primary schools, high schools, universities and youth schools. Mainly, we, the members of Shinkokai = KaraTe promotion association, will make new kata and promote them throughout Japan. Now there are Physical Education Association and Okinawan branch of BuTokuKai. We also have senior students of KaraTe and those who are interested in KaraTe. We therefore cooperate with them to study and promote KaraTe. If such organizations and experts study KaraTe thoroughly, we can make a decision about the KaraTe name issue and KaraTe uniform relatively soon. I think the old kata should be preserved without any modification, while new kata should be invented; otherwise I am convinced that no one will be interested in KaraTe any longer in the future.

Author's note:

Well that pretty much settles that debate. = period!

TameshiWari to the extreme!!!

Osu!

I finally found footage of the infamous Master Breaker!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Grand Master Ron Jeter was a major mentor to me, as my coach during my time in the 70's as a member of his competition team.

He truly was somthing to behold, both on stage and in person.

This is a pic of he and I during our first training session.

Just kidding.........

He was a real nice guy, but I can see why this kid would be a little nervous.



Here he is TEARING THE HOUSE DOWN as we called his demo back in the day.



I could not help but feel a little sad when I watched these clips.
Besides being my coach, he was my friend, and I truly miss him.

Some old shots from tournament karate's early days.

Osu!
Back in the 60s, The Sensei = Urban was frequently seen in Black Belt Magazine. At that time, he was one of, if not the, most sought after tournament official. Here he referees an intercollegiate match between students from The John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Iona College. The event took place in 1968 at John Jay in NYC.

Here is The Sensei in 1968 refereeing a match between the late Thomas LaPuppet and the popular Texas Tae Kwon Do stylist Skipper Mullins, at S. Henry Cho's All American Open. This was one of many historic matches of this event, as both competitors were super stars of their respective arts and states. LaPuppet being a New York Shotokan stylist and Mullins being a Texas Tae Kwon Do stylist. For those of you who were not around back then, Mullins had the fastest feet around at the time.

Here is something that you don't see every day.
Urban student Leon Wallace " who later founded Harlem GoJu," fighting Chuck Norris, as Urban referees, at the same All American Open event.

Nisei GoJu founder, Frank Ruiz poses with his student Louis Delgado and his teacher Peter Urban after the 1968 All American Open.

Sad news.

Osu!
I am saddened to have to report the loss of a good friend and GoJu brother.

Hanshi, Walter Parks, 10th Dan, U.S.A.G.A. of Massachusetts passed away on Wednesday February 25, 2009.

Hanshi Parks was a long time practitioner and teacher of the martial arts. The legacy that he left can be seen in fine dojos throughout the New England region.

His loyalty and service to our system, and to Maestro Urban was always above and beyond the call of duty.

It is with no reservations that I can say that he will be missed.

Condolences and questions about funeral arrangements etc. should be sent to Hanshi Parks' student, Sensei, Gary Gascoyne: gascoyne@americangoju.com

The Kyokushinkai Days.

Osu!

When one thinks of Peter Urban, they usually equate him with Gogen Yamaguchi.
It is common knowledge that he also trained with Richard Kim and Masutatsu Oyama, however one rarely sees pictures from the days when he trained with them.








Here are Mas Oyama and Richard Kim.

I remember seeing Oyama's book What Is Karate?, at the NYC martial arts store Honda when I was a kid. Most GoJuKa of this generation don't realize that there are many pictures of Urban in this book. This is basically because the book has been out of print for many years. Long before the majority of you were even in the arts, or in many cases alive. However it is somtimes available at www.ebay.com for hundreds of dollars.

This was back in the original days of the Kyokushinkai. Before it became so focused on competition. When it was a more "traditional," style, which is to say that there was more of an emphasis on kata, self defense and even weapons. Not to say that the brutal kumite was not being practiced, but you had a tendency to see more of the style publicly than just competition fighting. ( No slur meant on the Kyokushinkai style. It is still a fine system, just very competition oriented.)






















Here is a pic of Sensei Urban utilizing the SuburiTo which is a heavy over sized version of the BoKken = wooden sword. This implement is used to develop strength in technique.























Here we have The Sensei utilizing the hand weights that were popular in martial arts training at the time.





































Here The Sensei develops that gorilla like build that we all remember.






















The Sensei served as uke in the segment of the book that dealt with female self defense.














The ladies of the Kyokushinkai were nothing to mess with, as The Sensei attests to in this pic.
















Also in this pic.




































And especially this pic...........OUCH!











Here The Sensei serves as uke for Masutatsu Oyama.


















Besides studying with Nei Chu So, Gogen Yamaguchi, and Gichin Funakoshi, Oyama also trained in Daito Ryu AiKi Jutsu with Yoshida Kotaro.









Here, the AiKi Jutsu influence on KyokuShinKai is seen with The Sensei once again serving as Oyama's uke.






















Also here, with the ever popular uke Urban.




























Here The Sensei gets to show some of his own KyokuShiKai expertise. Urban's Uke is none other than GMstr. Shigeru Oyama, who later founded USA Oyama KaraTe.

























And here, some more of KyokuShinKai's AiKi influence, executed by Urban. It is always interesting to dissect our style, and attempt to figure out which facets came from which of The Sensei's various teachers. I personally had the opportunity to cheat at this, as I was able to frequently ask him where things came from.

Special thanks to Renshi, Elias Boneros, for the use of his copy of this book, and to his Kohai Steve Trost, NiDan, for letting me spend all that time at his home scanning the pics. Also to the Trost family for putting up with me doing this until 2am.

The Drunken Master

After much thought, prayer, and experience, there is much to be said about sobriety, and it's effect on our lives, and on the lives of others.



Even someone who as a rule, walks distinguished, and is a plethora of knowledge and discipline, can become a clown when sobriety is lacking.

Hell, the only time you ever saw Mr. Miyagi not having his shit together, was when he was drunk. Notice Daniel San, as he watches, half ammused, and then joins in.

Luckely this was an isolated incident, as the student will usually tire of The Drunken Master. Or in other instances, follow in the teacher's footsteps, thereby stepping in the same pile of shit as the teacher.

Either way, an unpleasant experience.



Come on!

God has a sense of humor........

Osu! One Today = Now at a time.

That's My Satori

And I'm Stickin To It!

Perpetuating The Flow

Osu!

This latest pedantic rant will be on the use and nomenclature of the ever popular and often vaguely understood term RYU.

The literal translation of "RYU" is drive(or flux // on march // river // slobbery stain // stream // streaming motion // tide // trend)

It is akin to the perpetuation of various genres of music or fashion.


The kanji that is popularly used these days, as with other modern kanji, is a cursive version of what was at one time a more obvious pictograph. This is to say that it's older version was more easier seen and understood by it's aesthetic property. However, if one looks at the kanji with the pictographic meaning in mind, one can see the intended artistic message.

In this case, we see a two part picture.

The left side is a flowing stream.

The right side is a child being born.


If we understand and recognize kanji, we already know that the kanji for person is shi, ie: BuShi Warrior or Martial guy / girl. KyoShi = Wizard or wize guy.

Another usage is as a symbol of generation, as used in NiSei or SanSei.

In an old article that Dave Lowery wrote for Black Belt Magazine, Lowery writes that the right side of the kanji looks like a dripping newborn.

Personally, I feel that the pictograph is of a newborn actually coming out of it's mothers loins.

It would be good to note that the term Ryu is not an Okinawan idea at all.

It was first used in Okinawa by KaraTeka, when they began to export their arts to mainland Japan, in order to blend in with the Japanese vogue of order and organization.

A RYU con notates the old Japanese pyramid hierarchy structure of an art form.

An art that is a recognized, "by the Ryu's Powers That Be," offshoot or subsidiary of the parent art or Ryu is called a RyuHa.

A RyuHa will usually have some unique aspects, such as it's own prearranged sparring routines, additional techniques, and often new kata.

This is not to say, that the parent Ryu's properties should or would be discarded and or disregarded.

Ryu Ha often use the term Kan or House, such as GoJu Ryu's MeiBuKan, ShoreiKan, JunDoKan etc.