The definitive product of untold hours of training and personal sacrifice, the USANKF team trials represents the last hurdle between America’s aspiring athletes and a spot on USA’s Tokyo-bound 2008 WKF team.
Beginning with kata Dr. Clay Morton performed what most would agree to be the strongest performance of the shotokan kata Gojushiho-sho. Clay really turned up for this event a seasoned competitor with multiple world championship medals for shotokan competitions he place 5th in the 2006 WKF Championship in Tampere. William Louie Bradford a young competitor definitely on his way to the top performed a beautiful Chantan Yara Kusanku in the finals. William a junior world gold medallist has a bright future a head of him.
Eimi Kurita of Hawaii went against Megan Cechetti in the finals Eimi who earned the bronze medal in kata at the 2006 WKF world Championship performed an amazing Chantan Yara Kusanku. Megan did a beautiful job with the shotokan kata Unsu. Eimi solidified her spot on the team as she wowed the judges and the crowd with her performance.
A special thanks to Howard High for filming and editing the video.
By Ridgely Abele
Karate bunkai can be broken up in to five different categories: Omote, Ura, Okuden or Kakushi, Henka and Sutemi. I will limit this article to the first three.
Omote means public or obvious. It is a reference to the obvious application. For example when a block in the kata is performed you can see that it is simply a block to a punch or kick. Also when kicking or punching clearly it is to a target like the solar plexus or groin and that is an effective technique.
An interview with Chad Eagan a competitor from California who is making the transition to instructor and entrepreneur.
Q: Chad you are a long time competitor and have an interesting background in that as a kata competitor you are probably one of the few to compete using both Unsu and Suparenpi? Tell us about your training and influences.
A:Yes, I am very lucky to have had a great training. Our style (Shindo Jinen Ryu) has elements of Shoto Kan, Goju Ryu, and Shito Ryu. My Sensei Yamazaki Sensei always emphasized the importance of kihon. It didn’t matter what kata I did, he made sure my kihon for that kata was correct.
by Dong Tran
U.S. GIKKF Representative
[Kurashita Eiki hanshi, 9th dan, has been the 5th generation president of the Goju-ryu Kokusai Karate Kobudo Renmei (Goju-ryu International Karate Kobudo Federation) for the past nine years. This Goju-ryu federation was formed by Seko Higa in 1957 and rarely heard about in the United States. Seko Higa (1898-1966) was a relative of Higaonna Kanryo and began training directly under him when Kanryo returned from China. When Higaonna passed away in 1916, Higa joined Miyagi Chojun’s dojo as his kohai. Miyagi was ten years older than him. When Miyagi passed away in 1954, Higa temporarily assumed leadership of the dojo until it was passed on to the most senior student, Meitoku Yagi. Higa started the Kokusai Karate Kobudo Renmei (International Karate Kobudo Federation) in 1957, then opened his dojo in 1960, called the Shodokan. Later, his son, Seikichi Higa (1927-1999) renamed the organization the Goju-ryu Kokusai Karate Kobudo Renmei in 1977. The Goju-ryu of Seko Higa is characterized by two important factors: one, it is linked to Higaonna’s karate and therefore retains many pre-war original features; two, the energetic performance of its techniques is quite singular. It utilizes soft power. As such, Higa’s Goju-ryu can be properly called “soft Goju-ryu”.]
Research indicates that the majority of instructors in our industry teach part-time. Many of these individuals can be considered small school operators; they teach between 50 and 150 students. Some keep their schools at this level by choice. Others are struggling to grow, but simply haven’t learned how to do it, yet.
NAPMA FREE OFFER
If you happen to be in the latter category, then I’m glad you’re reading this article, because you will learn five dangerous trends in our industry and the one solution to avoid them.
What is the difference between elite and developmental level training programs, of what significance is a developmental camp?
We’ve all heard the expression, “you must learn to crawl before you can walk.” Perhaps no other circumstance holds true to this philosophy more than sports training. Karate-ka are no exception to this rule, the best example being the succession of belt rankings one must endure before reaching the status of black belt.
At 37 year old Eric Rossini of Massachusetts is excited about karate inspiring a team of youths and adults with nearly 30 competitors to compete at this year’s USA-NKF National Championship in Houston Texas. We wanted to find out what is his motivation and how he is getting students involved.
Background
Rossini says he really got exited about karate when he worked with Pete Timoch a talented veteran that came to the dojo and taught him techniques that Timoch told him this is special stuff. Rossini learned sweeps throws and combinations that gave his sport a new look and feel.
By Bill Bly
At age six Alejandro Cepero of Florida told his father that he wanted to be a World Champion in Karate. I saw this youngster compete at the Florida Citrus Cup in 2007 and his kata performance was excellent. I later found out that his instructor is Sensei Robert Young, a friend of mine. When I asked about the boy, Sensei Young told me that despite his success in Karate, Alejandro remains amicable, humble and hard working. Sensei Young suggested we highlight him in a young athlete profile.
By Bill Bly
Introduction
Antonio Diaz one of the top kata competitors in the world shares insight on his training and experience as a competitor. Recently he has been spending time here in the US training and taking classes. He won this year’s USA Open then traveled to France to perform in Paris at Bercy where they hold a martial arts extravaganza then on to the Italian Open.
From April 4th to 5th, FISU hosts a seminar for its new committee members. Not less than 70 persons registered for the seminar which is staged at the FISU Headquarters ‘Château de la Solitude' in Brussels, Belgium.
April 4th, 2008, on the first day of the seminar the new members learned about the General Structure of FISU.
Congratulations to Tokey Hill Committee Technical Chair of Karate for Fisu. Hill a Karate World Champion and US Coach is the 2007-08 CT for Karate. He hosted the 2006 World University Karate Championships in New York City.
Dear Friends,
I sent this out to a number of instructors whose names came up on my e-mail list. I had a very good response with answers I think may be useful to those who are interested in being involved with the sport of karate and the Olympic movement.
I have been doing what I can to promote this effort along with other aspects of martial arts through our news articles and travels. We get to take a lot of good photos and meet many nice people.
Having shared quite a bit of time with many of you I thought I might ask the favor of you to weigh in on this subject. I think this is a critical time for the sport of karate and the more involvement we have with the National Governing Body - USA-NKF the better we will be seen through the USOC and IOC.
Columbus Ohio
This year’s Arnold Martial Arts Festival was a celebrity event for Martial Artist pulling together National Governing Bodies from the United States Olympic Committee along with many different disciplines movie stars and some of the top names in the business.
JKF Northwest
Portland Oregon – Members of the JKF NW hosted their 22nd Annual Ryobu-Kai Northwest Classic and as can be expected put on a first class event. Host Junki Yoshida and the hombu dojo provided an excellent venue for seminars taught by Kunio Miyake on the kata Pakiu and Seipai, Eugene Tibon taught Saifa, and Kiyoshi Yamzaki taught Gojushihosho, Roger Jarrett taught a business seminar and Cleve Baxter gave a USA-NKF Referee clinic. Sensei Miyake filled in for Baxter who was to teach Sepai but was delayed due to weather.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.
Above photo - USA-NKF interim president Eric Parthens speaks about the role of the NGB and the importance of the task to achieve competitive sustained excellence in an effort to support our athletes like National Champion Bill Finegan.
– Leaders of the USA National Karate-Do Federation are optimistic about the future of the sport following a strategic planning retreat with 22 of the top leaders of the sport of karate, February 1-3 at the United States Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs, Colo. The goal of the retreat was to bring together representatives from the USA National Karate-Do Federation, AAU Karate and the USA Karate Federation to work together to chart the future of the sport in the United States. The USA National Karate-Do Federation is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of Karate in the United States. The USA National Karate-Do Federation is headquartered in Colorado Springs.
"The strategic planning retreat was a huge step forward for the sport of karate in the United States," said Luke St. Onge, Chief Executive Officer of the USA National Karate-Do Federation. "It is important for the future of the sport that leaders and experts in the sport are on the same page and striving for a shared and common goal. The strategic planning retreat that concluded Sunday, gave the opportunity to gather, discuss and develop very meaningful and worthwhile goals and relationships. We are very optimistic about the future, given the collaboration we accomplished over the course of the retreat."
The 22 attendees worked together through the retreat environment to develop very specific recommendations for the USA National Karate-Do Federation to carry forward to unify and develop the sport in the U.S. with the goal of becoming a medal contender on the world stage. Areas covered during the retreat ranged from Athlete Development, Unified Athlete Selection Process, Fundraising, Grassroots Development, Membership Development, Television, Marketing and Media.
For more information, please contact the Luke St. Onge, the Chief Executive Officer of the USA National Karate-Do Federation at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling 719-477-6925. This press release is also available on the USOC’s media specific website at www.usocpressbox.org.
The White Tiger
Intro
In Cary North Carolina you will find what has now become know as a Martial Arts SUPERSCHOOL thanks to an article published in Martial Arts Professional Magazine. The Changs are also gaining notoriety again when featured in the Debut edition of Masters Magazine. However those in the know have been paying attention you only need mention Cary NC and most will reply - “ do you know they have the largest school in the world there with nearly 3,000 students?
It is no accident this purpose built facility is the brainchild of Master Rondy and her husband Master Chang however how it came to be is a success story most will envy and understand simply based on hard work and persistence. The kind of stuff you see in a great movie or when you think of the American Dream. However this dream came by way of Korea, why a young lady in pursuit of her dream, went for it and while chasing her dream developed the skills and perseverance that martial artist bandy about regularly. I guess the difference here is that some talk and some do. This article is about those that have done and continue to do so.
Atlantic City
The Tropicana hotel in Atlantic City NJ was the venue for the Action Martial Arts Event hosted by Al Goldberg. We had stopped by to visit with Tokey Hill who was there as a guest and promoting the Arnold Martial Arts Festival. This is celebrity gathering where martial arts legends as well as film stars are on hand for you to meet. The day begins with a program of ongoing seminars in the ballroom, while the celebrities are stationed throughout the corridor where you can visit with them. It is a short day as they wrap up early in the afternoon to prepare for the gala banquet where guest are honored.
Queens NY
Sensei Herb Wiles “ Liberty Classic” kicked off the karate season and was the inaugural event for the New York Traditional Karate League. According to sensei Wiles this was a very good event and he was pleased with the progress the attendance was up for the third straight year and the quality is improving. The event ran quite efficiently.
February 6, 2008
Top Leaders in Traditional Karate Meet in Colorado Springs, Colo. to Chart Future Course for the Sport
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Leaders of the USA National Karate-Do Federation are optimistic about the future of the sport following a strategic planning retreat with 22 of the top leaders of the sport of karate, February 1-3 at the United States Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs, Colo. The goal of the retreat was to bring together representatives from the USA National Karate-Do Federation, AAU Karate and the USA Karate Federation to work together to chart the future of the sport in the United States. The USA National Karate-Do Federation is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of Karate in the United States. The USA National Karate-Do Federation is headquartered in Colorado Springs.
“The strategic planning retreat was a huge step forward for the sport of karate in the United States,” said Luke St. Onge, Chief Executive Officer of the USA National Karate-Do Federation. “It is important for the future of the sport that leaders and experts in the sport are on the same page and striving for a shared and common goal. The strategic planning retreat that concluded Sunday, gave the opportunity to gather, discuss and develop very meaningful and worthwhile goals and relationships. We are very optimistic about the future given the collaboration we accomplished over the course of the retreat.”
The 22 attendees worked together through the retreat environment to develop very specific recommendations for the USA National Karate-Do Federation to carry forward to unify and develop the sport in the U.S. with the goal of becoming a medal contender on the world stage. Areas covered during the retreat ranged from Athlete Development, Unified Athlete Selection Process, Fundraising, Grassroots Development, Membership Development, Television, Marketing and Media.
For more information, please contact the Luke St. Onge, the Chief Executive Officer of the USA National Karate-Do Federation at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by calling 719-477-6925. This press release is also available on the USOC’s media specific website at www.usocpressbox.org.
Jimmy Smith and Doug Anderson
While visiting the Alan Goldberg’s 2008 Action Martial Arts Convention event in Atlantic City NJ we had a chance to meet with Doug and Jimmy of the TV show Fight Quest. They had come by the event and were networking, we met while doing some PR work for the Arnold Martial Arts Festivl with Tokey Hill.
About the show
A blend of cultural immersion and good old-fashioned smackdown, the series follows seasoned mixed martial arts fighter Jimmy Smith and 25-year-old rookie Doug Anderson as they travel the globe, adding fight styles from Kali to kickboxing to their repertoire.
In each episode, Jimmy and Doug will explore a new location identified with a style of fighting, such as kung fu in Dengfeng, China, and boxing in Mexico City, Mexico. There, after first immersing themselves in the sounds, smells and tastes of the local scene, the two guys will separate to train with local masters of that method -- sometimes an ancient art of combat, and other times a modern form of butt-kicking. After several days of intense instruction, Jimmy and Doug will each face off against a local in a no-holds-barred test of skill.
The fighting is real. The injuries are real. In the end, only the best will win.
Don't miss out on your chance to tour the world through the lens of some of the earliest forms of combat. Join Jimmy and Doug in their Fight Quest every Friday at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
American Samurai is arranging to interview Doug and Jimmy, to learn more about the show, Jimmy Smith and Doug Anderson visit the Discovery Channel site here
2008 Disneyland Martial Arts Festival February 15 & 16, 2008
Classical Japanese Okinawa Karate & Kobudo
A part of
Disneyland® Martial Arts Festival
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California
February 15 & 16, 2008
President's Day Weekend
Friday February 15 - Tiger Claw Elite National Championship Qualifier
Saturday February 16 - Competition and Expo in the
Sunday February 17 - Magical Martial Arts Day in Disney's California Adventure® Park
PRE-REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN:
Disneyland® Martial Arts Festival pre-registration is now open. Take advantage of the specially-priced registration fee which ends January 8, 2008. You may register by going to www.disneylandmartialartsfestival.com and clicking on the Register link or click on your specific discipline. The registration fee will increase after January 8, 2008.
Photos from 2006 World Karate Federation Championship held in Finland
Photography by Ryan Bly and Samantha Hostettler for American Samurai ©
Try listening to some of the music below then enjoy the photos - Bill Bly
Photos from 2006 World Karate Federation Championship held in Finland
Photography by Ryan Bly and Samantha Hostettler for American Samurai ©
Try listening to some of the music below then enjoy the photos - Bill Bly
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Photos from 2006 World Karate Federation Championship held in Finland
Photography by Ryan Bly and Samantha Hostettler for American Samurai ©
Try listening to some of the music below then enjoy the photos - Bill Bly
Photos from 2006 World Karate Federation Championship in Tampere Finland
Photography by Ryan Bly and Samantha Hostettler for American Samurai ©
Try listening to some of the music below then enjoy the photos - Bill Bly
Click on the photo to view the gallery
Q: John you looked in great shape at USA-NKF Nationals. It has been a couple of years since we have seen you compete. You have been busy give us an update on yourself?
The last three years I have been focused on teaching, running the dojo, and traveling to do seminars. I thought I was finished with competition, and felt it was time to put that energy into other aspects of my life. I have always loved working out, but training recreationally is very different than preparing for competition, which requires a much deeper commitment and a lot more sacrifice. However, when I started helping my friends and teammates prepare for the last World Championships, I got bit by the competition bug again. It’s definitely different at 31 versus 18, but if my friend and training partner Jack Pressman is still competing at 45 and running successful businesses, then I think I will compete as long as I still feel that rush in the ring
Vince Morris 8th Dan © 2006
Kissaki-Kai Chief Instructor, Vince Morris 8th Dan, a former regular contributor to Traditional Karate, a leading pioneer in the introduction of the study of Kata bunkai and Kyusho-Jutsu recently returned to the UK to hold a series of seminars for his Kissaki Dojos. Often outspoken, with a reputation for direct speaking, Vince moved the Honbu Dojo to the USA following the tragedy of 9 /11 where he bases his teaching of realistic karate and Law Enforcement Training services.
The following article exemplifies both the depth and intensity of his commitment to spreading the truth about Karate, as well as his forthright style.
UNITED STATES NATIONAL KARATE FEDERATION
by George Edward Anderson
Our consensus is that most problems within the USA-NKF arise from the dan grade Hieratical structure, and its reflection in junior/senior relationships, student/teacher relationships, and athlete/traditional student relationships. The different styles of karate as found in the USA-NKF are stressed by conflicts inherent in the above stated relationships.
We feel that the Dan Grading system should be left up to the member dojos. The argument over which style is superior and which style should predominate in the standards should depend on the competition needs, and stay clear of any outside federation’s search for dominance in the marketplace.
The following essays are a reporting of extensive conversations with senior karate leaders and are an overview of the problems facing karate in the USOC. Accordingly, they represent a unique consensus regarding the problems facing Traditional Karate as a competitive sport federation of the USOC.
As they were written by me, they are obviously consistent with my ideas.
"If I have hit any sore points, just put linament on them."
We are pleased to announce that a Karate Instructor Program is being offered beginning in November of 2007. Persons interested in participating or hosting should apply now.
Thank you for visiting our new site. We are very excited about the opportunities availabe to us here. We will be linking to much of our old sites through an archive link. You can look forward to seeing many of the great images we have collected over the years plus new ones as they come in. With this site you can expect to hear more from our contributors. We have alot of content to upload.There will be a forum and a blogging feature. Please check back frequently and make sure you subscribe to our newsletter.



USA-NKF Nationals Posed Gallery
We would like to congratulate all the participants from this year’s Nationals and invite everyone to view the posed photos that w...
Laura Doyle to receive award
Background:
Laura established a karate program for women and children who are involved with “New Beginnings”, a protection pr...
SANBON
An interview with Chad Eagan a competitor from California who is making the transition to instructor and entrepreneur.
Q: Chad you are a long time competitor and...
By Bill Bly
Eimi Kurita of Hawaii has an amazing goal to be a World Champion in both Kata and Kumite. Some may say this is an impossible. Having earned a bronze medal fo...
Tokey Hill
What is the difference between elite and developmental level training programs, of what significance is a developmental camp?
We’ve all heard the...
9TH DAN, PRESIDENT OF GOJU-RYU KOKUSAI KARATE KOBUDO RENMEI
by Dong Tran
U.S. GIKKF Representative
[Kurashita Eiki hanshi, 9th dan, has been the 5th generation preside...
Karate Referee Blogg
Karate Referee - WKF Referee Alex Miladi's Blogg offers great content and information for officials...
Sochin
Dr. Clay Morton
I will be explaining how I have trained the middle section of Sochin, which consists of the two yoko keage geris. In explaining the moves, I wi...
David Avarbock
Name: David Avarbock
Address: New York, New York
Team: Senior Team 1993-Present
Newspaper: New York Times
Results
2008 Team Tri...
By Rob Colasanti
Research indicates that the majority of instructors in our industry teach part-time. Many of these individuals can be considered small school operators;...
By Dave Domer
“How many times do I have to tell you, Wilbur, to keep your hands off the other students?!! Will you quit looking around ...
Video Highlights
Special thanks to our friends at Masters Magazine for providing us with these gr...
The Complete Martial Artist
By Roger Jarrett
In the modern martial arts world, it is almost impossible to survive without some amount of cross training in more ... 

