Sempai Chris Pace and Sempai Valerie Holmes tested for the rank of 9th kyu orange belt in kobudo on February 4th 2009.
Congratulations to you both! O mede tou!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Origin of Empi Kata Discovered!
We have been aware for some time that both Empi Kata and Mawashi Kata, with their linear embusen, repetitive movements and lack of turns, are not traditional kata but rather basic drills that were used as kata by our Sensei when he initially built his system's curriculum; however, the exact origin of these drills has eluded us.
Until now!
Sensei Julie Keil, 4th dan in Kobayashi Shorin-ryu and chief instructor at her dojo in Midland, Michigan, recognized our Empi Kata as one of the 14 kihon, or basics, of Shito-ryu karate, which she studied briefly in the past. Shito-ryu is a Shorin-ryu offshoot that was developed in the 1920s and 30s by an Okinawan karate master in Japan.
Kyoshi Neil Stolsmark of Waukesha Wisconsin, 7th dan in Kobayashi Shorin-ryu and world-renowned martial arts instructor, also recognized Empi Kata as a basic line-form drill, although he could not recall exactly where he had seen it before.
The precise origin of Mawashi Kata remains a mystery, but clearly neither it nor Empi Kata are traditional kata; both were entry-level fundamental drills that were added to our curriculum as kata.
Our Empi Kata is not to be confused with the traditional Empi Kata, a 350-year old form called Wanshu whose name was changed in the 1920s by Gichin Funakoshi to Empi (meaning "Flying Swallow," and not "elbow"). This kata is a much more complex, black-belt level kata that does not appear at all in our curriculum but which is common in other Okinawan styles, particularly Shotokan.
Until now!
Sensei Julie Keil, 4th dan in Kobayashi Shorin-ryu and chief instructor at her dojo in Midland, Michigan, recognized our Empi Kata as one of the 14 kihon, or basics, of Shito-ryu karate, which she studied briefly in the past. Shito-ryu is a Shorin-ryu offshoot that was developed in the 1920s and 30s by an Okinawan karate master in Japan.
Kyoshi Neil Stolsmark of Waukesha Wisconsin, 7th dan in Kobayashi Shorin-ryu and world-renowned martial arts instructor, also recognized Empi Kata as a basic line-form drill, although he could not recall exactly where he had seen it before.
The precise origin of Mawashi Kata remains a mystery, but clearly neither it nor Empi Kata are traditional kata; both were entry-level fundamental drills that were added to our curriculum as kata.
Our Empi Kata is not to be confused with the traditional Empi Kata, a 350-year old form called Wanshu whose name was changed in the 1920s by Gichin Funakoshi to Empi (meaning "Flying Swallow," and not "elbow"). This kata is a much more complex, black-belt level kata that does not appear at all in our curriculum but which is common in other Okinawan styles, particularly Shotokan.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Karate Kata Name Changes
After thorough research into the matter, including a discussion with Kyoshi Neil Stolsmark, 7th dan in Kobayashi Shorin-ryu, student of Shugoro Nakazato (10th dan in Okinawa), and one of the highest-ranking instructors in the Shorin-ryu Shorinkan, we have decided to change the names of two of our karate kata:
Shinto Kata will henceforth be known as Chinto Kata. This kata, which is practiced in many Okinawan and Japanese karate styles, was named after a Chinese sailor called Chinto, who came to Okinawa and became a great fighter there. "Shinto" is a Japanese religion, and has nothing to do with budo. There is no "Shinto Kata" in any other Okinawan karate style.
Bassai Dai will henceforth be known as Bassai Sho. In most karate styles that practice the Bassai kata, there are two of them: Bassai Sho ("the lesser Bassai") and Bassai Dai ("the greater Bassai"). The kata we have been calling Bassai Dai is actually Bassai Sho in Kobayashi Shorin-ryu and other systems; Bassai Dai is a variation of this kata, but is one that is not a part of our karate curriculum.
I am unsure exactly how or where these errors in nomenclature first occurred, but it is necessary to correct them, I believe, as we become aware of them in our continued effort to improve our karate-do through research and study with high-ranking instructors in sister sytles.
If you have any questions, please e-mail Sensei Noah or Sensei Carol, or visit our Ask Sensei link.
Shinto Kata will henceforth be known as Chinto Kata. This kata, which is practiced in many Okinawan and Japanese karate styles, was named after a Chinese sailor called Chinto, who came to Okinawa and became a great fighter there. "Shinto" is a Japanese religion, and has nothing to do with budo. There is no "Shinto Kata" in any other Okinawan karate style.
Bassai Dai will henceforth be known as Bassai Sho. In most karate styles that practice the Bassai kata, there are two of them: Bassai Sho ("the lesser Bassai") and Bassai Dai ("the greater Bassai"). The kata we have been calling Bassai Dai is actually Bassai Sho in Kobayashi Shorin-ryu and other systems; Bassai Dai is a variation of this kata, but is one that is not a part of our karate curriculum.
I am unsure exactly how or where these errors in nomenclature first occurred, but it is necessary to correct them, I believe, as we become aware of them in our continued effort to improve our karate-do through research and study with high-ranking instructors in sister sytles.
If you have any questions, please e-mail Sensei Noah or Sensei Carol, or visit our Ask Sensei link.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
CONGRATULATIONS, Sue!
Congrats to Sue Brocchi, who tested for her 3rd kyu brown belt in kobudo on January 7th 2009.
Great job! O mede tou!
Great job! O mede tou!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
CONGRATULATIONS Contest Winners!!
Here are the results of our annual Holiday Prize Draw.
Congratulations to all who won!! O mede tou!
______
Mountain Stream Budo bumper sticker &
belt rank keychain . . . . . . . . . Ellen Waldman
Funakoshi calligraphy plaque . . . . . Sempai Olivia Bizovi
Mountain Stream Budo baseball cap. . . . Sempai Valerie Holmes
Mountain Stream Budo t-shirt . . . . . . Ben Herman
Mountain Stream Budo t-shirt . . . . . Stephen Conti
One month of free training . . . . . . Keon Brock
Congratulations to all who won!! O mede tou!
______
Mountain Stream Budo bumper sticker &
belt rank keychain . . . . . . . . . Ellen Waldman
Funakoshi calligraphy plaque . . . . . Sempai Olivia Bizovi
Mountain Stream Budo baseball cap. . . . Sempai Valerie Holmes
Mountain Stream Budo t-shirt . . . . . . Ben Herman
Mountain Stream Budo t-shirt . . . . . Stephen Conti
One month of free training . . . . . . Keon Brock
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Happy 25th, Sensei Kenny & Sensei Noah!
December 2008 marks the end of Sensei Kenny & Sensei Noah's 25th active year of karate training.
_______
September 2008 marked the end of Sensei Carol & Sensei Noah's 10th year of active training in kobudo.
Happy anniversary!
O mede tou gozai masu!
_______
September 2008 marked the end of Sensei Carol & Sensei Noah's 10th year of active training in kobudo.
Happy anniversary!
O mede tou gozai masu!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Ju Jitsu Rank Test November 2008
Photographic highlights from Richie Gleason and Kenny Moore's 4th kyu ju jitsu rank test can be viewed here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/IM1ofHis2/JuJitsuTest11108#slideshow
All photographs are ©2008 by Lori Schiavone. Used with permission of the artist.
http://picasaweb.google.com/IM1ofHis2/JuJitsuTest11108#slideshow
All photographs are ©2008 by Lori Schiavone. Used with permission of the artist.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
