IOGKF-USA Winter Gasshuku - Ann Arbor Michigan a Great Success
Over 200 participants braved the Michigan Winter to make this one of the largest and exciting IOGKF-USA events in recent years. The friendship, intensive training, and special activities generated more than enough warmth to keep the single digit temperatures at bay. Special thanks to Sensei Sam Larioza and the staff of Ohana Family Karate & Fitness for their hard work.
Watch for a full report posted on this site soon.
IOGKF-USA reorganized with Sensei Tetsuji Nakamura as IOGKF-USA Chief Instructor
Sensei Higaonna formally appointed Sensei Tetsuji Nakamura IOGKF-USA Chief Instructor at the January 18 Instructor's meeting in Ann Arbor. Over the next 2 years, Sensei Nakamura will be leading the effort to revitalize the USA Dojo structure, beginning immediately. Instructors are advised to watch their e-mail for additional information.
For answers to specific questions, please contact Sensei Nakamura at admin@iogkf.com
Training With Sensei Bakkies, June 2007 By Andy Franz, Yakima The Gasshuku began as many do, with lots of old faces from far off places showing up. Slowly the gis came out and pretty soon the room turned white with uniforms. People began to discuss how they are, their current life training and many of us that run schools got together to talk about how many students we have, and how great they all are. Finally, a hush came over the room, as Sensei Bakkies Laubscher came walking through the sea of uniforms. Those close to him bowed and offered greetings as he made his way to the changing room. The conversation in the room quickly picked up, but this time it was dominated by stories about Sensei Laubscher and what people have heard about him. This time when he entered the room everyone watched him closely as they assemble on the floor. The first class was for 3rd degree black belts and up, so I had the pleasure of listening from the sidelines and learning. Within the first 15 minutes I was blown away at the amount of knowledge that he conveyed to the class, and he was only about halfwaythrough warm-up. As he began to teach Kururunfa, I couldn’t help but be amazed at his ability to tear this incredibly complex kata down into its most basic elements and teach them to his audience. The second day proved to be even more eventful than the first. About halfway through the day Sensei Laubscher looked at Sensei Taku, whom he had been picking on for the last 3 hours, and said simply, "sorry Taku, I need someone bigger." Immediately his eyes fell on me and I obediently ran up. The next few minutes were a blur of me being used as a practice dummy. Sensei was throwing me on the ground multiple times, kicking and tossing me. At one point he delivered a very strong axe kick to my ribs. Proving that everyone was enjoying the exposition, the other students all gasped in unison. The last of my demonstration work with Sensei ended with him asking me, as I lay on the ground from a recent throw, to "roll away quickly, like you are trying to get away from me!" This was very easy for me to emulate. I followed instructions, only to find him once again on top of me, his knees buried in my sides and his fist pressing firmly into my cheek and jaw. I then returned to my place in line, slightly amazed at all the work that we had just done, and before I knew it, class was over. The final day of training was as good as the rest. We all went to the Yakima Arboretum where worked with Sensei outside. He "took it easy" on us this day with only a 45 minute warm-up and several brief sprints around the park. Soon, training was over. I had learned all kinds of new details about Goju. I had learned, laughed, and had been in awe of this master from South Africa for three days now and he was returning to his home. After personally thanking him for his teaching and his time I got into my car and drove home. In the end it was probably one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that I was so glad that I seized. I am sure that if the opportunity arises again that I will be one of the first people to sign up to train with him again. I hope that all of my students will get a chance to train with him too, because he is truly a master.
Annapolis, MD Hit by Terauchi Tsunami in June 2007!
By Michael V. Gardner Annapolis, Maryland –
In this colonial city of cobblestone streets and small brick shops that accentuate the Chesapeake Bay’s emerald-green waters and salty, cool breezes blowing across sailboats and yachts – there was a Japanese tsunami coming to town. Not a tsunami in terms of a devastating weather storm, but a Japanese Master of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate, none other than Kazuo Terauchi Sensei, the 8th Dan from Tokyo, Japan, who traveled half way around the world to teach American children and adults at the Annapolis, MD 2007 USA Gasshuku (Seminar) with Terauchi Sensei on June 10th and 11th, hosted by Sensei Tony Ferrer and the Free State Martial Arts School.
There was a very special Grand Opening Ceremony for the Free State Martial Arts School, with Tony Ferrer, Miko Peled, and Kazuo Terauchi participating and receiving three certificates from a local city official, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, and Barbara Mikulski, the U.S. Senator from Maryland.
Terauchi Sensei conducted amazing classes for the children that began with a thunderstorm of running backwards and forwards, performing flips and cartwheels, jumping, backbends, push-ups, sit-ups, and other fun exercises with the children – all with plenty of laughter and excitement. He followed with a heavy rain of kihon waza (basic techniques), first demonstrating the techniques with the speed, precision, and snapping gi sleeves from 40 years of training. For a man who is 59 years old (almost 60) to perform at this high-level and intensity, leaving everyone gasping for air, was simply a privilege for everyone to see. Whenever a few children would look confused about what to do, since Terauchi Sensei spoke Japanese or only a few English words, he would go over to the child and physically help him with the drills, all while the child was laughing and trying to keep up with everyone else. Miko Peled Sensei would continuously translate Terauchi Sensei’s thunderous commands, while other adult black belt instructors helped the children survive the tsunami of training – everyone got wet with plenty of sweat!
The Terauchi tsunami continued for the adult training. Terauchi Sensei had everyone perform hojo undo (warm-up exercises) and endless kihon waza. Then students performed kata, followed by the pounding waves of kata bunkai and some exhausting Sanchin kata training with the strong wind of loud breathing. During the Sanchin kata training, the Terauchi tsunami would move around the room with Sanchin Shime that included pinching, punching, striking, or kicking students as they performed the kata. The kata bunkai performed with partners included heavy contact like ude tanren (arm conditioning) and fast, flowing sweeps and takedowns. Terauchi Sensei’s translated words said, “Everyone needs to train more in Sanchin. I can tell who has trained in Sanchin, and who has not trained by the way it is performed. You must train daily in Sanchin.”
The gasshuku ended with Terauchi Sensei thanking Tony Ferrer for inviting him and everyone for attending. He signed the IOGKF membership booklets and took group and individual photographs with the students. As everyone packed up to leave, there were many hugs and goodbyes, as everyone anticipated seeing each other at the next gasshuku – “Soredewa noche hodo! (see you later). Everyone got very wet, but we survived the Terauchi tsunami!
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