Dojo Formality & Customs

The dojo is a symbolic structure that contains specific meanings. The north side of a dojo is called the Kamiza; it is the most important place in a dojo. Another term used for the north end of a dojo is the Upper Seat. This area is reserved for honored guests and high-ranking instructors. The south side of a dojo is called the Shimoza and is also referred to as the Lower seat. This is where the students usually sit. In Japan, there is a saying, “There is no teaching from the south.” This means the students should not try to instruct or speak to one another during class. It is poor etiquette to speak to one another during training unless it is to instruct by a Sempai. There is no need to discuss what you did, could have done or should have done during class. The south or lower seat is the area identified for training purposes and learning.

The East Side of a dojo is referred to as the Joseki or Upper Side. This is where visitors usually sit and watch practice. This is also where the instructor sits if an honored guest is sitting at the Kamiza. The east is also the direction of the rising sun and is associated with enlightenment. Some dojo in Japan, bow to the east before and after training to symbolize the recognition and honoring of enlightenment.

The West Side of the dojo is referred to as the Shimoseki, or Lower Side. It is usually just a space or area of a dojo without specific meaning other than the fact that the sun sets in the west and the west symbolizes darkness, or the direction the dead take in afterlife.

The above relates to the formality, beliefs, and customs regarding the four sides of a Japanese dojo. However, even in Japan, the Kamiza, and the other symbolism in a dojo are arranged in whatever manner provides the best use of training space.



The Role of a Sempai        


 Seniors are generally considered those members ranked Sankyu (Brown belt) or higher, although, anyone of higher rank is a Sempai.

Being a Sempai is an important role within the Dojo. A Sempai is a position of trust, honor, and responsibility.

Sempai should teach students how to bow, tie their obi, proper etiquette, and assist the Sensei with instruction.

Sempai should ensure that the Dojo remains clean.

Sempai should always be encouraging and helpful and should never criticize or tear down their Kohai (juniors).

Sempai should train frequently and harder than other students, thus setting an example.

Sempai should have the class lined up properly and ready for training when the Sensei steps onto the floor.

Sempai should be positive, kind, and display respect, thus showing proper budo.

Sempai should maintain dojo discipline and correct violations of etiquette or policy by taking one aside and instructing him gently and with respect. Never embarrass anyone.

Always research any question that a Kohai asks. When unsure of the correct answer a Sempai should never guess and should refer the question to Sensei.

Sempai should learn the names of all students.



A Sensei’s Lament

Stan O’Hara – OGRKK Chairman


Now later years track me as a wild dog tracks its prey. I find myself reflecting on the paths I have trod. I did my dispassionate deeds as all men do, but ultimately saw folly in ego-bound endeavors to be the fastest, strongest, the best and now in our most inglorious moment, “the ultimate”.

As time passes challenges reach greater heights; but for those of us involved in physical [the spiritual not withstanding] we measure ourselves by our ability to defeat, destroy, to humiliate and in so doing to ingratiate ourselves.

My time in the study of karate has taken, in some small measure, each of these ignoble challenges. I wanted to be the best, toughest and unchallenged “hero” of fighting arts. I know now that I never could be that, any more than anyone can be that – there is always somebody better.

Today, because of our ”ultimate challenges” the minds of our young students are possessed by the glory and remunerative value of victory. All of the “ultimate challenges” are there not to promote healthy competition, which produces excellence, but to excite audiences and build egos of Herculean proportions.

The only ultimate challenge is to strive to develop qualities and abilities to share with our fellow man so that we might all become better people and in turn pass on those tenets which will ensure that those with whom we come in contact, our students, will do the same.

  There is no room in a sane world for:

“See how good I am.”

“I can make you invincible, like me.”

“Listen to me and you will be a champion.”

And on - - - and on - - - and on.

If your teacher tells you how good he is, he is a failure and will make you a failure and the insufferable chain will continue. Our praises are sung enough by our students if we deserve it. We need not and should not advise our students of our abilities or accomplishments. Be humble and your students will come to understand that humility is our greatest reward. Those who follow this maxim will reap rewards more valuable than medals trophies, prizes or monies – they will earn the respect of their students and peers.



OGRKK Makes Kobudo Change

Stan O’Hara – OGRKK Chairman

I am pleased to announce that I have decided to discontinue our affiliation with Matayoshi Kobudo, and Sensei Franco Sanguinetti, as we have formed a Kobudo Division within the OGRKK. By forming our own Kobudo program within our organization, we are able to eliminate politics, control training fees, control grading fees, and take better advantage of the excellent Kobudo resources available to us. I am setting the objectives for our program and have appointed Sensei Steve Wilson to oversee and implement the program throughout the organization. Sensei Grant Carriker will be chief instructor at GRKB and will be assisted by Sensei Mark Malone.

Sensei Wilson is my senior student, having trained with me 28 years. As a member of the Executive Committee and having assisted me in the formation of the OGRKK, Sensei Wilson shares my interest in our students, and in doing what is best for our membership.

Sensei Wilson has trained in Kobudo since 1979. He has studied Shinken Taira Sensei’s system, Ufuchiku Kanaushiku Sensei’s system, and Matayoshi Sensei’s system. Sensei Wilson is one of the few people in the United States, who has learned some of the most advanced weapons kata of the Ufuchiku Kobudo system. Sensei Wilson has learned seven weapons and twenty-five traditional Okinawan/Ryukyu kata, including some very rare village kata. I look forward to growth and improvement in our program.

 

Kobudo Program

Steve Wilson


I am honored that my teacher, O’Hara Shihan, has appointed me to lead and implement the Kobudo program within the OGRKK. I do not take the responsibility lightly, and pledge to do my utmost to make the program enjoyable and beneficial to our membership.

Kobudo and Karate are practiced jointly by many systems, such as Shorin Ryu, and some Shito Ryu systems. Other systems of Karate practice Kobudo separately. Either way, Kobudo has always been a part of traditional Okinawan martial arts. In the OGRKK, Sensei has decided to offer Kobudo as a separate division within our organization, offering to those members who have an interest a vehicle for individual participation.

Kobudo structure is and should be similar to Karate practice. An example of the curriculum is included below:

Warm-up exercises with the weapon
Basics with the weapon(s)
Basic movement with the weapon(s)
Combinations with the weapon(s)
Weapons kata
Weapons bunkai (application)
Pre-arranged Yakusoku Kumite
Free style kumite (very advanced)

Future gradings shall consist of the following:

Understanding of history
Knowing the component parts of each weapon
Brief performance of basics
Brief performance of basic movement
Performance of combinations
Performance of all of the kata known by the student
Bunkai performance from selected kata

As in Karate, the performance of the kata in Kobudo shows the student’s level of expertise.

Grading Requirements:


Green Belt

Four to six months of training
Basics
Basic movement
3 combinations (Renzoku)
2 Bo Kumi or Yakusoku Kumite Drills
Two Bo Kata
Bunkai to one of the two Bo kata
One Tonfa Kata

 

Brown Belt

Nine Months to One Year of Training
Basics
Basic movement
4-6 Renzoku
4 Kumi or Yakusoku Kumite Drills
Two Bo Kata
One Tonfa Kata
One Sai Kata
Bunkai to two Bo kata
Bunkai to Tonfa Kata
Understanding of history

 

Shodan

12 months to 18 months of training
Basics
Basic Movement
6 Renzoku
6 Kumi or Yakusoku Drills
Three Bo Kata
One Tonfa Kata
One Sai Kata
Bunkai to two Bo kata
Bunkai to one Tonfa kata
Bunkai to Sai kata
Written test on history

 

Nidan

24 Months to 30 months of training
All of the Shodan requirements plus
Four Bo Kata
Two Tonfa Kata
Two Sai Kata
One Eku (Oar) Kata
Bunkai to two Bo kata
Bunkai to one Sai Kata
Bunkai to Oar Kata

* One Bo kata may be replaced with Nunchaku Kata.



Instructor’s Certification Course

In our never-ending quest for improvement and growth, we are considering implementing an Instructor’s Certification Course within the OGRKK.

The program would be open to Brown Belt students by invitation, and to all Black Belt students. Upon successful completion of the course, the participants would receive an Instructor’s Certificate.

Items to be covered:

Anatomy
Strength training
Kata detail
Bunkai, the never ending journey to understanding
Supplemental training with traditional implements (Hojo Undo)
Goju Ryu footwork (unsokuho)
ppon Kumite, Sandan Kumite, Yakusoku Kumite, Jiyu Kumite, and Iri Kumi
Teaching basics and basic movement - The roots of Goju’s foundation.
Proper diet and nutrition
Teaching students with varying physical abilities in order to adjust training without sacrificing the standards.

The above course would be held one Saturday per month, for ten months, and would total 30 hours of instruction. It would be held at Honbu Dojo and would be taught primarily by O’Hara Sensei, with some instruction scheduled for Sensei Wilson’s visits. Brown and Black Belt students, please inform Sensei of your interest.



OGRKK Growth in Colorado

Steve Wilson

For the past couple of months, I have been giving private lessons to a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon-Do, who owns and operates a full time dojo in Vail. This winter he plans to begin his formal lessons in Okinawan Goju Ryu under my tutelage. He has also invited me to be a guest instructor at his dojo in Vail, on several occasions. I have found him and his students to be kind people and an excellent spirit for karate and training. His name is Sensei James Lee, and he has been a regular and successful competitor within the United States Karate Alliance

October 26, 2001, I will begin teaching adults Okinawan Goju Ryu, at Sensei James’s dojo in Eagle, where I live.

Last February, I was fortunate enough to train five days, with a 90 year old Okinawan, Jin’an Matsumura Sensei, who was a direct student of Miyagi Chojun Sensei, the founder of Goju Ryu. Unfortunately, Matsumura Sensei passed away at the end of April. Fortunately, fate brought us together, and hopefully through me, Matsumura Sensei’s teachings will live on. During our training, he taught me the original open-hand version of Sanchin, and Suparinpei Ni, which is a very difficult and advanced kata, in which the White Crane influence is obvious.

Slowly but surely, the OGRKK and Goju Ryu is taking a hold in Colorado, and will one day expand our family of students and instructors. All of you are always welcome to come and train with me. Just ask your instructor to contact me. All OGRKK members are welcome. You can even do some snow skiing while you are here!

Each March I will return to Bakersfield to attend the annual gasshuku. I will return another time each year to instruct Kobudo. Kobudo students of the OGRKK are also welcome to come and train with me here in Colorado.



The Kata of Naha-Te

GEKISAI DAI ICHIN AND NI:

In 1940, Miyagi Chojun Sensei, and Nagamine Shoshin Sensei of Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu, developed the Gekisai Kata together.

Today, Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu calls these kata Fukyugata 1 & 2. Fukyugata 1 in no way resembles Gekisai Dai Ichi, and Fukyugata 2 is almost exactly like our Gekisai Dai Ichi. The only difference being their stances are a little shorter, and near the end of the kata just prior to the awase zuki (double punch), they have both fists facing palm up in preparation for the zuki techniques, and we have one fist facing downward and one fist facing upward. The kata is however, completely recognizable as Gekisai.

OTHER KATA OF NAHA:

Kenwa Mabuni Sensei, the founder of Shito Ryu Karate, formulated a kata called Shisei, in which he combined Gekisai Dai Ichi and Ni. In reviewing the kata, I can discover no benefit that this kata adds to the curriculum.

The Kata of Naha Okinawa include:

Sanchin, Tensho, Seiyunchin, Saifa, Sochin, Shisochin, Sepai, Sesan, Kururunfa, Unsu, Niseishi, Suparinpei 1 & 2, Sanseiru and Nipaipo. Higaonna Kanryo Sensei is the founder of Naha-Te, and was Miyagi Chojun Sensei’s teacher. Miyagi Chojun Sensei created Tensho kata, based on the Chinese Kata Rokishu. Therefore, Tensho and the Gekisai Kata were not practiced during Higaonna Kanryo Sensei’s lifetime.

In Goju Ryu, we do not practice Sochin, Unsu, Niseishi, or Nipaipo. All of the other kata listed above are part of the Goju Ryu curriculum.

Meitoku Yagi Sensei, the founder of Meibukan Goju Ryu, was a direct student of Miyagi Sensei. He formulated the kata Tenshi, Seiryu, Byakko, Shujaku, and Genbu.

Seikichi Toguchi Sensei, was a direct student of Miyagi Sensei, and founded Shorei Kan Goju Ryu. He formulated the kata Hookiyu 1 & 2, Gekiha 1 & 2, and Kakuha 1 & 2.

Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei, was a direct student of Miyagi Chojun Sensei and Meitoku Yagi Sensei, and formed the Japanese Goju Kai. Yamaguchi Sensei added ten Taikyoku kata. The Yamaguchi system also practices two White Crane kata and the unique Sanchin-Tensho kata.

This totals 41 kata either directly from Naha, Okinawa, or created by Naha practitioners.




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