Isshin - Concentration the Art

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Sherman Harrill in action 1996

Some of the adult class in 1988

And here is how we had fun.

From times Laoshi Rothrock visited Derry

From past visits of Ernest Rothrock

to Derry, NH in the late 1980's

Friday, June 11, 2021

Rick Niemira

“There are 10,000 stories in the Naked City and this is one of them.” A long time ago there was a tv show called the Naked City, and these words began each episode. I am reminded of them because a now distant memory comes to mind.

I am reminded that there are so many tales experienced by the first students of Isshinryu in America that have never been told. Explaining who the early karate was experienced by those students. Rarely told but when heard never to be forgotten.

I was a brand new beginner, which means I knew nothing, I had experienced receiving a beating by a 16 year old female green belt during my 2nd class, where she walked all over me.

Sensei Lewis was having his annual dojo summer party held at a friends house every year. I was invited as a member of the dojo. The entire school was there, and karate friends of Lewis Sensei as well. It always was a grand day

One of those attending was Rick Niemira. Rick was a senior in Bando, but had originally been a student of Don Nagle at the time he originally began teaching Isshinryu in the States. He was also a police officer nearing retirement from the force. He spent time telling us many stories about his Isshinryu, Bando and Police experiences.

All of them were fascinating.

One time he told us this story. He began his study in Isshinryu under Don Nagle in North Carolina. The way he explained it at that time Nagel Sensei had a number of schools, and spent his time rotating visits to all of them. And each time he was there he would spar with everybody. And to place that this was years before safety gear was ever a dream, so in those days it was bare knuckle sparring

One night, in NC, he sparred with everyone there, and as Rick explained it, Don put all of them in the Hospital as the same time. Not to suggest it was anything but normal for had sparring in those days. And accidents did occur.

It certainly seemed believable to me, for I started Issinryu much later and it was still in those bare knuckle days, and I had experienced my own stories about injuries during sparring.

There is likely so much that occurred all over the place in those earlier days, so much never shared.

Sunday, June 6, 2021

GHOST TECHNIQUES

(Evasion of punches,grabs,etc.by angles and circles)

1. Right Punch

A. Step 45 degrees to left with left foot then step 45 degrees with right foot towards opponent. Turn so you are facing the same direction as the opponent. With both hands, depress on shoulder and throw a left front snap kick through opponent's leg, flipping him to the ground. (Make sure hip movement is used in all moves.)

B. Step 90 degrees with left foot to the left. Step 90 degrees with right foot. Bring behind the opponent, pivot facing same direction as opponent, depress shoulder with both hand left front thrust kick through opponent's right leg.

C. Step 90 degrees with left foot to the left. Circle right arm around counterclockwise, hitting opponent in shoulder (making sure arm is kept straight) and at the same time step into a right forward stance. By continuing arm rotation will flip opponent to the ground. Hand should be in a snake-like position.

D. Step 90 degrees to left with left foot. Pivoting on left counterclockwise hitting opponent with straight arm in chest. Palm of hand should be facing upward, but in a closed fist. Same arm swings towards you catching opponent's arm and locking it at your chest. Stepping back with right swinging opponent around to face you making sure that you are in close, making sure opponent cannot hit you at same time. Kneel down and break opponent's arm. If opponent does throw a punch, you throw a right outward block and same hand grabs opponent's head and flips him.

E. Step 45 degrees with left foot to left pivot on right foot so at right angle with opponent and at same time two palms one to solar plexus and other to back.

F. Same as part B, except bring your feet together by bringing left foot up to right in a J stance position. Grab opponent with left hand at shoulder and pull down to the ground with a reeling motion of the wrist.

Attack: Right punch

Defense: Step 45 degrees left, then 45 degrees with right to the right, then step 45 degrees to the right with left foot turn and punch.

The three RyuKyu Kobudo books by Innoue Sensei.

I am not sure if this is the book, but it was the closest I could find with Bing Search.

Andreas Quast began a thread

on the three RyuKyu Kobudo books by Innoue Sensei.

I was presented a copy of the books by a friend back in 1989. More for Historical relevance than anything else. He also made a translation of the table of contents for the three volumes.

For myself I had studies in a variety of systems. I imagine more than enough to keep me busy as it was.

The current discussion got me thinking, I began to wonder how many of these kata or exercises I could find on YouTube with so much there these days.

So I did some simple searches and found something and nothing. Not sure if they are all the correct kata being referenced. But it has been fun.

Here is what I found. (just selecting one of the kata to view) good, or bad.

It does make what Innoue shared a bit more understandable.

Inoune Motokatsu

Ryukyu Kobudo Vol 1 (1972)

Shushi No Kon Sho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4n9I_jLIpE

Shushi No Kon Dai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgvUjjnYT00

Sakugawa No Kon Sho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNMpHGECabs

Sakugawa No Kon Dai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6KWi38iehk

Soeishi (Shishi) No Kon Sho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4n9I_jLIpE&t=7s

Sueyoshi No Kon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjAdlEcTNFE

Tsuken Shinsahaku No Sai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtE3s6aCvP8