I continue

For the record, I am still defined as having  Paraneoplastic Neuromyopathy & Neuropathy. Still no clue to the cause. After all the tests and all the Doctors my condition is still a mystery.

 

I have come through Colan  Cancer, Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy and I am told there is no cancer now.

 

It would be easy to stop and abandon karate.

 

Among the symptoms are my speech is affected, my central nervous system (such as affecting balance) general weakness, etc. I do not drive for others safety, taking walks outdoors I use a walker to prevent fall.

 

I practice daily, but have rarely more energy to do 3 kata. My Yang tai chi after 35 years of practice is impossible to practice as I was taught. I spent a year to work up a different version to work within my current abilities.

 

I still help teach the beginners, with some assistance from Devin VanCurren. I still run the adult group.

 

I studied with so many people there are still lessons to share.

 

With so much free time, I still research for clues I can find what karate is. For example in the past year I am still finding more clues. There are few secrets anymore. But each new bit located still shows how much isn’t shown.

 

I am constantly reviewing my notes from my studies, with many instructors. Both to verify those portions in my curriculum, and to review the many parts I didn’t include to seek usefulness for the instructors. I still share some of them with the group..

 

I attempt to share some of what I have seen on this blog, should any student of mine want to join that search, And those practices are not lost to them.

 

I continue in my larger product, to understand more and more about the application potential of the Isshinryu system. I just completed a two month study into 32 application potentials of a kamae within Isshinryu SunNuSu Kata.

 

Karate posseses both hard and soft. With my current weakness I spend much time looking at the softer use of Isshinryu technique. While trining to use the hard is logical We all ageor are weaker than others. Teaching youth makes that more clear. I have many studies from other systems that use softer power, and continur to find uses within Isshinryu,

 

The Way of Inhaling and Exhaling is Softness and Hardness.

 

I started the studies for myself. Not fame or acknowledgement of others.

 

I competed to push myself, None noticed for the most part. I was lucky for some of the best were there, and make me work  better to compete against them. I did have some success, but that was a secondary event. I realized 1 second after the event, it was gone, Judges might well have a different opinion a second later. I was never seeking a judges approval. My university deabate coach made that clear, Quoting him “The logical answer, is to think of the judge as an idiot.  You compete to strengthen your case. If the judges are idiots, then gaining their approval just means idiots agreed with your performance. Hardly what you need in the long run.” I never forgot that. The logic applies at the tournament for karate too.

 

To work towards that understanding I have competed at one time or another with Isshinryu, Nothern Shaolin, Shotokan, Tai Chi,Northers Preying Mantis, Bando Staff. Each effort was instructive.

I have one rule for myself, to work to double my understanding what karate is each year. I am still committed to that principle.

 

I have long maintained it I ended up in the desert I would end up teaching rocks to do Isshinryu.

 

The beat goes on, and on, and on

Tozan’s Sixty Blows

 

Tozan went to Ummon and Ummon asked him where he had come from.

Tozan answered, “From Sato!”

Then Ummon asked, “Where were you then during the Summer?”

Tozan answered, “At Hoji Temple in Konan Province.”

 Ummon further asked Tozan, “When did you leave there?”

 Tozan replied, “I left on August 25.”

Un-mon told Tozan, “You deserve 60 blows, but I will forgive you today!”

The next day Tozan knelt and deeply bowed to Ummon and said, “Yesterday you forgave me the 60 blows, but I still do not understand in what respect I was wrong.”

Then Un mon told Tozan, “You are really a good-for-nothing rice eater! No wonder you wandered around Konan and Kosei for nothing!”

 At this very moment, Tozan was awakened.

A Taste of Banzo’s Sword

 

Matajuro Yogyu was a son of a famous swordsman. But his father disowned him because he failed to learn.

 

So Matajuro went to Mount Futata where he found the famous swordsman Banzo.

So the Master said to him, “So you wish to learn swordsmanship under my guidance. But you cannot fulfill the requirements.”

 

“But if I work hard, How many years will it take me to become a Master?” the youth persisted.

 

“The rest of your life,” relied Banzo.

 

“I cannot wait that long,” argued Matajuro, “I am willing to undergo any hardship if only you will teach me. If I became your servant, how long might it be.”

 

“Oh, maybe, ten years,” Banzo relented.

 

“ If I work far more intensively, How long would it take?”

 

“Oh, maybe thirty years.” Said Banzo.

 

“Why is that?”  asked Manatjuro. “First you said ten years, they you say thirty years. I will under go anything to master this art in the shortest time!”

 

“Well,” said Banzo, “In that case you will have to stay with me at least seventy years.”

 

“Very well,” declared the youth, understanding at last that he was being rebuked for impatience, “I agree.”

 

 

Matajuro was told never to speak of fencing and never to touch a sword. He cooked for his master, washed the dishes, made his bed, cleaned the yard, cared for the garden, all without a word of swordsmanship.

 

Three years passed. Still Matajuro labored on. Thinking of his future, he was sad. He had not even begun to learn the art to which he had devoted his life. But one day Banzo crept up behind him and gave him a terrific blow with a wooden sword.

The following day, when Matajuro was cooking rice, Banzo again sprang upon him unexpectedly. After that, day and night, Matajuro had to defend himself from unexpected thrusts. Not a moment passed in any day that he did not have to think of the taste of Banzo’s sword.

 

He learned so rapidly he brought smiles to the face of his master.

 

 Matajuro became the greatest swordsman in the land.

 

From Zen Koans.  1973 page 80 

 

 

When Meeting a Rock

Upon meeting a Rock,

The River flow around it.

Then change begins it's Path.

Very good drills notes from 4/4/87

4/4/87

 

This set of drlls is more difficult than they look,because when learning them both hemixpheres of the brain are involved, making it easy to get mixed up. However when acclimated to them, speed improves. They also have interesting applications.

 

1.     Left Foot  Forward  Left Low Block

          Right Punch

          Left Low Block

 

2.     Left Foot Forward Left Outside Block

Right Punch

Left Outside Block

 

3.     Left Foot Forward Left High Block

Right Punch

Left High Block

 

4.     Left Foot forward Left High Block

Left Inside Block

Right Low Block

 

5.     Left Foot Forward Right High Punch

Left Middle Punch

Right Low Punch

 

6.      # 5  and # 6 together

 

LFF L. High Block

L Inside Block

L Low Block

R High Punch

L Middle Punch

R Low Punch

 

7.     Left Foot  Forward Left Rising Empi

L Descending Empi

Shift to Left (Or Cat) Stance

Left Rear Empi

 

8.  Right Foot Forward Right Inside Shuto To Neck

     Right Outside Shoto To Neck

     Right Ridge Hand to Neck

     Right Hand Circles Back and then Spear Into Neck