Resolutions for Karate Students for 2012
January 4th, 2012
Here are some Resolutions for Karate Students for 2012:
- Practice Karate because you enjoy it. If you do so, your happiness will be attainment of the goal you seek.
- Focus on skill and conditioning, rather than rank and titles.
- Try to get a little better every day.
- Ask your Sensei if there is anything you can do to help him (or her).
- Arrive at class early to help set up. Stay late to help put things away.
- Try hard to get better at just one thing this year. If you can do that, you can apply what you learn to other aspects of Karate.
- If you haven’t already done so, begin the serious study of body dynamics.
- Pick one junior student at the dojo and make it your mission to help him (or her).
- Be a positive influence in the dojo.
- Be humble.
- Be respectful of and kind to other people (whether they study Karate or not).
- There is no end to improvement in Karate. Remember: not yet, not yet. Mada, mada, mada.
- Try to win a tournament (just joking, unless you view daily life as a tournament).
- Seek to dig deeper rather than climbing higher. The keys are inside you.
- Learn something about other styles of Karate. At a certain point, styles become irrelevant.
- Try to remain calm and focused the next time you are in a dangerous situation, like an earthquake, a hurricane, or a car accident. Be prepared.
- Read a book about Okinawan history and culture.
- If you can afford it, plan a vacation or stopover in Okinawa.
- Don’t forget to spend time with and pay attention to your family.
- Apply the principles of Karate in your daily life.
- Enjoy Karate in 2012.
Thank you for reading this blog and for your kind words and support. I continue to work on myself.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
http://karatejutsu.blogspot.com/
Eiichi Miyazato (宮里 栄一 Miyazato Eiichi, July 5, 1922 – December 11, 1999)
December 11th, 2011
Miyazato Sensei was a very simple man. He did not seek out covers of magazines, make huge sums of money, or want the power of running a large karate organization. He truly practiced the teachings of Chojun Miyagi. Simple, Direct, and Uncomplicated. Just have fun training and just do it. That’s what Miyazato Sensei did every day at his dojo in Okinawa until he passed away.
Staying on the path – Mission Statements
September 29th, 2011
Every few months I read the Mission Statement for the Jundokan New Zealand, and the Timaru Dojo.
Why? I get distracted. I might think we need to add more exercises to training, some fancy bunkai (I saw on youtube), more drills, ground fighting, grappling, the list goes on, and on. Or maybe no one turn up to the dojo that night to train, and I trained alone thinking that I should do some marketing and grow the dojo. Often it is an inconsequential thought, a comment or conversation, or simple self doubt. At times all these things lead to distraction.
Why is a mission statement important? A Mission statement provides a path. Be it for a company, an organization, or a person. Yes, we can have personal mission statements. A mission statement helps to guide our actions, and aids in our decision making. A mission statement provides a path for us to follow to prevent us becoming lost.
Since the beginning the size and number of Jundokan New Zealand have never been important. We have a saying; “train honestly, or leave…”.
What this means to me: It is the quality of people I train with, not the quantity of people. It’s not the physical ability I/they posses, but one’s effort, sincerity, honesty and integrity that is important. In and out of the dojo.
We train and teach traditional Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do in the same way as it is taught at the Jundokan So Honbu Dojo in Naha Okinawa.
What this means to me: ‘just do it’, Karate training begins with jundi undo (preparation exercises), followed by hojo undo (strengthening exercises), then kata (prearranged strategy training in thin air), and finally bunkai (the fighting application of the kata’s strategy on a training partner). It’s that simple. No sport, no tournaments, no flashy Jodan Kicks, no ground fighting, just Goju Ryu as it is supposed to be, where the only competition you face is yourself.
The mission statement along with the dojo kun help remind me the direction I am heading with my Karate. Simple, Direct, and Uncomplicated.
Tig@jundokannz.org.nz
Training Timaru Dojo Saturday 17 September
August 14th, 2011
Hi Everyone
I am returning to Timaru for the Weekend on Friday 16 September and would like to train with anyone who is interested on the Saturday morning?
It would be interesting for me to see your progress and to catch up for a coffee afterwards.
Paul Sensei
SUNDAY 7th August TRAINING:
August 3rd, 2011
Training is open to anyone that wants to train, regardless of affiliation or style. Just bring your Okinawian Spirit.
Timaru Dojo, Gleniti School, Timaru.
10am – Goju-Ryu.
1pm – Kobudo – Please bring a Bo along.
For those that would like to join us for Kobudo you are welcome to attend.
See you Sunday.
PS: There is no charge for training.
