ISSHIN-RYU DOJO KUN
Dojo kun serves as a set of guiding principles, that the students are expected to understand and follow and are hung in the dojo. They are intended to frame the practice within an ethical context. Tatsuo Shimabuku had these in his dojo (copied from the Tatsuo Shimabuku page on Facebook).
Article 1
The dojo is where the individual’s physical and mental condition is trained.
A Believe that there is a God and human beings are his children. (Believe in your own
faith, but respect others.)
B Military art (budo) begins with a salute and ends with the same.
C. Teachers and students bow to the protecting Goddess of Isshin-ryu (Megami) and be nice to each other.
Article 2
Devote one’s mental concentration and practice sincerely during the course of training.
Article 3
Smoking and drinking are prohibited while training.
Article 4
Take good care of equipment used in training.
Article 5
Students be respectful to their teachers and teachers be courteous to the students and guide them properly.
Article 6
Violators of the above codes will be dismissed from the dojo.
IWKA and American Isshinryu Associations
Adult Yellow belts and above you should register for your Lifetime memberships for the IWKA and American Isshinryu Associations. Each is $35.00. The American Isshinryu Association hosts a number of very good seminars during the year and there is a discount possible for participating dojos, especially if you register early. With the membership your membership cost will be paid off quickly. Tournaments sponsored by AI affiliate dojos generally have a $5.00 reduction in registration costs.
Upcoming Events
The next American Isshinryu mini seminars for adults are at Mr. Carmona’s dojo. FEBRUARY 26TH: 1 to 3 PM. You may let them know you are coming if you go to their Facebook page and respond to the appropriate link.
NJMAA welcomes Master Richard Norris and Master Brian Fitzgerald for two information packed seminars. Master Fitzgerald will be teaching the training drills, philosophies and stories of Master Don Nagle. Master Norris will be covering Bo-Bo Kumite. Please bring a JO (short bo) if you have one so we may fit as many attendees as possible.
If you may be interested in going to the IWKA Championships this June in Indianapolis, see Kyoshi.
Remember the Golden Rule Tournament at Warren Hills – Sunday, February 13th. The 27th is the Snow Date.
OUR ANNUAL TRIP TO HANSHI’S PITTSBURGH SEMINAR WILL BE SATURDAY, MARCH 5TH . WE GENERALLY LEAVE MY HOME AT 5:30 AM AND EITHER STAY IN A HOTEL THE EVENING AFTERWARD OR RETURN HOME BY 9:00 PM THE SAME DAY. THOSE GOING GENERALLY DECIDE THE CHOICE. SEE KYOSHI.
Mr. King’s Sparring Tournament for children and adults is March 13th, Sunday, at Newton High School. More information will follow.
Important Notice About Classes
BEGINNING FEBRUARY 2011 – ALL CLASSES INCLUDING SATURDAY CLASSES (FORMERLY HELD AT FIT HAPPENS) WILL BE HELD AT THE HACKETTSTOWN MAIN STREET LOCATION. Special classes may still be held at that location.
As has happened this winter already, weather conditions and thoughts about safety, have caused the closing of the dojo. If a class is cancelled that you are supposed to take, you may make the class up at your convenience. We look at a month as being four (4) weeks. At times there are five (5) weeks in a month and that extra session is a bonus for the student. REMEMBER – I call WRNJ 1510 am radio station by 2PM and they announce the class cancellation. If you call the dojo and no one answers or returns your call, especially after 3 PM, then the class is probably cancelled. You may call my cell 908.797.0087 for immediate information. I will also place closings on the dojo web page – www.Isshin-ryu.com by 2:30 PM on a day of a closing.
Thoughts on Training
We approach the study of karate with the greatest humility and deep respect for those who have gone before us in the “true way”. Karate is unique. It is the most powerful of all the martial arts. However, it is so only for the serious student who practices in the proper frame of mind… no winning or losing… no friend or foe, only training… for which there is no substitute.
Karate is a fighting art. You must train with deep seriousness from the first day. Each punch, block, or kick must be delivered with the power of the entire body in unison. No matter how much time you devote to training – months or years – if your training consists of no more than moving your arms and legs… you may as well be dancing, and you will never understand the true meaning of karate.
The spirit of Karate training is applicable to each and every aspect of our daily lives. The indomitable spirit born of bearing down and gritting your teeth against the pain of a thousand kicks, or blinking sweat from your eyes from doing kata over and over will serve you well in everyday life. One whose spirit and mental strength have been forged by hard training will face any challenge with a “can do” attitude. One who has undergone long hours of hard physical training and mental agony to learn one technique can face any task… and carry it through to a successful conclusion. When you have done this, you can truly say that you have begun to understand the true “way”. Gerard Eatman
It is good to see another instructor with similar views about the study of karate. The study of traditional martial arts is intended to be a lifetime journey to understanding the possibilities and limits of one’s capabilities- physically, mentally and emotionally. With each session in the dojo or at one’s home, there is growth of the individual. As you meet people at tournaments, joint training sessions held at the dojo or our home, talk to the newer people about their views about training, the arts and karate in general. Read information in books and on the internet about positive thought and also karate and judge the intent of the authors. Develop an open but questioning mind and evaluate what you know with what others believe. In this way you may grow in knowledge and understanding.
Lastly, please remember to stay current with dues payment at the beginning of each month.
