HIS Karate-Do

Whenever I watch the program, Antique Roadshow on the tv, I wonder about the true meaning of value. I get shocked, like everybody else, when the experts examine some dusty old figurine or a small wooden table or some (ugly, to my eye) landscape painting, and triumphantly declare that the item is worth a small fortune. Other times, the anxious owner smiles weakly and nods, when their obviously valuable family heirloom (or so they thought) is priced at under a hundred dollars. The ugly old painting that was wrapped in paper and stored in grandma’s closet, forgotten and valueless, except as something to be thrown or given away…this same painting, properly cleaned/framed in an art museum with a million dollar price tag, may be thought to be a magnificent, priceless work of art. The lesson learned here is, things are only worth whatever value one places upon them. A long time ago, one of my senseis told me, “Wes, the day you have a dojo of your own, don’t teach for free… Even if the place is rent-free, charge the student at least $1.” Since I was hoping to teach for free, I asked him why. He went on to [...]

Just a reminder that next Saturday, April 21 is our bi-monthly rake-day at Momilani Rec Center . Yes, weather permitting, it’ll be an opportunity to get even more fresh air, sun and healthy exercise raking leaves from the grounds that surround our training place. If everyone arrives and starts right at 09:00 am, the work should be done quickly. At the same time you folks begin to rake, I plan to give our two mature purple belts (Edith and Ken) their long delayed exam…then we’ll quickly change to join you in the sun. If for some reason, rainy weather delays our rake day, bring your gi’s just in case.

As you know, the NHPC Karate Ministry exists as a small, independent group of karateka, belonging to the ohana of New Hope Pearl Community. Our mission is to share the benefits of Shotokan Karate in a Christian environment with our members, hopefully without the ego, competition, and politics that one sometimes finds in dojos and larger organizations. To be sure, there are many good dojos out there, ranging from large modern commercial facilities to small backyard/garage clubs. While many are independent clubs, it’s likely that the majority of students train in a dojo that is affiliated in some way with a larger organization. Personally, I’ve spent the majority of my time in karate in dojos that were in some way, under the umbrella of the Japan Karate Association (JKA). The JKA was created just around the time I was born in 1951. The Chief Instructor for its first three decades was Master Nakayama. Of course, the founder of Shotokan, Master Funakoshi lived until 1957 and was seen as the official head of the organization, though he was already in his eighties and really more of a figurehead or symbol. The first generation of Shotokan students in pre-war Japan were training [...]