The head of our style, Sakamoto-Sensei, is an 8th dan, and he decided that Ryusei Karate-Do would be an eight-dan system. So we have no ninth or 10th dans. The fewer black belt ranks didn’t mean much to us 24 years ago when Ryusei Karate came to Canada. We were all far from reaching his…
When Sakamoto-Sensei came to Canada in 2000, he did a demonstration and for the first time I got to see the koryu kata being performed. These are old style or ancient kata once performed in Okinawa and often with Chinese roots. I was really impressed by his performance. I had never seen anyone move like…
Most martial artists train to learn how to protect themselves and others. Eventually they ask themselves how well their training is preparing them for this task. After all, there are many styles and systems and not all really teach adequate self-defence skills. This oversight, in my opinion, could have grave consequences. Since I am a…
It’s a well-known fact that more than 100 years ago karate was referred to as “te.” I understand te to be a means of self-defense, an unbeatable martial art, and also a martial art that can transform into dance. However, I continue to question why karate was referred to as te (hand), why not bujitsu…
A true fight is one where one or more of the fighters has the potential to sustain grievous bodily harm or even death. When a fighter understands this possibility, a whole range of physiological and psychological changes will occur, to different degrees. I will try to explain the process so that a person can train…
Sakamoto-Sensei once told me to stop worrying about hitting my opponent. After time and practice, I think I finally understand why. When you stop worrying about hitting your opponent and just do it, your body flows more naturally. As you make contact, the power is released more spontaneously and powerfully than when you force your…
Are “warming up” and “stretching” the same thing? Often people equate the two. But “warming up” and “long-term flexibility development” are really quite different concepts that have evolved over time. And our practice should reflect that. Faced with some sport or physical endeavour, most people want to jump right into it, but then that little…
Many years ago, I studied percussion under a world-renowned teacher. One of the most important things I learned was to practise slowly – as slowly as I could possibly go. In his words, “If you can’t play it right when you play slowly, how can you expect to play anything other than rubbish when you…
For purposes of the following, the attacker can use either right gyaku-zuki or oizuki (reverse or lunge punch). However, as your practice of Henshuho advances, you should be able to deal with any kind of attack, from either side of the body. 1. Defender starts from right hangetsu-dachi (half-moon – the Ryusei front stance). As the…
When I travelled to Japan last fall, it was my third trip there and my first time back since 2004. Things in my life have changed since then. I now have a beautiful daughter. I’m out of my 20s and in my early 30s, and lots of training has left me with some wear and…
Tsuyoshi Chitose (1898 to1984) left a legacy in a karate method that he named Chito-Ryu. The name itself implies O-Sensei’s own historical view of the origins of Okinawan karate being rooted in Chinese kempo. The most notable feature of this karate method, though, is its claim to be a synthesis of the two main foundation…
On February 11, 2009, I traveled to Orlando, Florida, to visit James Acampora, an old friend and student of the late Chito-Ryu shihan Art Rott. In order to teach Chito-ryu karate, James has continued the dreams of his instructor by building a dojo and staying true to the way he was taught. I have always…