HIS Karate-Do

Just a quick reminder that we’re fortunate to have Sensei Ed Fujiwara visit us on Saturday, 1 June as guest instructor.  Sensei Ed was my teacher from the mid-eighties through the mid-nineties.  Sensei Trisha was also lucky enough to train under him during those years.  In turn, for four decades, Sensei Ed was a personal student of the late and legendary Master Tetsuhiko Asai, one of the most gifted karateka the world has ever known.  Whenever Sensei Ed shares some of his great karate knowledge, he is also sharing some of the unique insights that he gained during his long association with his mentor and friend, Master Asai.  Any of you who have spent time with him knows that a session with Sensei Ed, is never a “usual day at training”, haha. On that Saturday, please come early – I always arrive well before our 09:00 am start time, but inevitably, find Sempai James, Sensei Ed, and Sensei Ed’s father, already dressed and warming up for class. Blessings, Wes

As we welcome in the brand year of 2013, it is filled, both with a sense of anticipation on what the new year brings for us all, as well as a natural reflection on how we did in the old year, 2012.  Every new day, of course, is really kind of a repeat of past days – it is how we view and treat it, what we do with it, that makes all the difference.  In the case of the first day of the new year, we each realize that this is something special. I suppose that I’m kind of lucky to be one of those who has a nearly continuous memory of major and mundane events in one’s life, going back to around 3-4 years old.  Oh, I don’t remember every little detail, but similar to recalling what happened last year, I have decent memories back to around 1955.  I have read somewhere that lying dormant in our brains, are organic bytes ready to relive every memory of every moment of our lives – the challenge is being able to locate the information.  Eidetic (or photographic) memory must be an amazing gift – but then, you’d also remember all of the junk stuff too, haha.  [...]

I sometimes compare the open pavilion where we conduct our karate training to working out in a park.  All around us are trees, open green space, complete with sun, tradewinds, and singing birds.  Of course, it’s not quite the same as training out on the grass – and there is a group that does use those environs for just such a purpose.  Every once in a while, on an early weekend morning, I’ll be driving past some quiet park and notice a group of folks slowly moving about in what appears to be synchronized dance.  Generally, they’ll be dressed in regular, comfortable clothing, with an average age demographic that is several decades removed from high school.  You’ve probably seen such groups in the park before – you know them – the tai chi practitioners. Let’s face it, many of us think of tai chi as some “old folks” activity, usually found in such parks, community center elderly programs, or hospital rehab programs.  The truth is, it’s a very excellent program for conditioning, mind-body-chi development, cultural appreciation, and especially for the elderly – aids in fall protection.  It also seems to be on the opposite end of the martial arts spectrum [...]