SUIGETSU RYU KARATE JUTSU

NEWSLETTER

JULY 2017

VOL 1 ISSUE 1

WELCOME The year has started off nicely for us. Our membership, once again, remains very stable. This is a group of dedicated people, looking to improve themselves through training. Overcoming the challenges. Enjoying the comradeship. Developing together. Individually, seeing longevity and growth. With our Chief Instructor overseas for one month recently, a big thank you is extended to Simon Smith for keeping weekly sessions open during that time. It was great to see this kind of genuine contribution to our group. Equally fantastic was the level of support shown to Simon from our other members. That is what our dojo is about! Our biggest event for the year so far has without doubt been the brilliant training session lead by Achusai Ikeda Sensei. With supreme skill, experience, a depth of knowledge, and breadth of bujutsu competency rarely seen in one person, Ikeda Sensei led us through a diverse session of karate/kempo, taijutsu, hassun hishigijutsu, and bojutsu. Our Chief Instructor was proud to be able to offer this extremely unique session, after many years in planning. Feedback from our members pleasantly confirmed that this was one of the most memorable events in many of their training lives. Goju Ryu Karatedo Seiwakai President, Seiichi Fujiwara Shihan, was also in Australia earlier this year, to coincide with the annual Japan Karatedo Federation Goju Kai championships and masters kata seminar, held in Wollongong. Once again, both Fujiwara Shihan, and the Federation sensei, put on several thoroughly worthwhile events.

We did not have any testing in our dojo for the first half of the year. Nor did any of our members test externally. Many of our members are yudansha, so, naturally, there can be many years between tests. While not our primary objective in training, the year is certainly not over from a testing perspective! It is worth making special mention to Amanda Moore Sensei and Nick Naudy Sensei, for training regularly with us – for many years now. While they both run their own dojo in Capalaba and the Gold Coast respectively, it is always encouraging when they bring their energy, passion and karate ability into our dojo. The mutual benefits for all of us are acknowledged and we look forward to this continued interaction. Finally, several of us will be returning to Japan to train again shortly. While the individual experience cannot be understated, the result is that our dojo continues to connect directly with Japan, including Mugen Juku, Goju Ryu Karatedo Seiwakai and the Japan Karatedo Federation Goju Kai.

“A CARPENTAR CAN PASS ON TO ANOTHER THE RULES OF HIS CRAFT, BUT HE CANNOT MAKE HIM SKILFUL.” - MENCIUS CHINESE PHILOSOPHER

Training with Achusai Ikeda Sensei at our dojo – bojutsu embu

SUIGETSU RYU KARATE JUTSU

OUR GUESTS - KORYU KEMPO JULY 2017

VOL 1 ISSUE 1

ACHUSAI IKEDA - HANSHI After many years in planning, we finally hosted Achusai Ikeda Sensei this year. Our Chief Instructor has known and trained with Ikeda Sensei and his brother, Yuji Ikeda Sensei, for over 10 years, originally meeting through the Dai Nihon Iaido Renmei, in Japan. While both brothers are respectfully referred to as Sensei, they hold the titles of Hanshi and Kiyoshi respectively. It was great to have Dai Nihon Iaido Renmei Deputy Chair, Aseisai Teguchi (9th dan) Hanshi also there. Teguchi Sensei had a fantastic time, and commented on our passion for training, dedication to Japanese bujutsu, and ‘open hearts and minds’ for learning. The night started with our members’ embu, which included performances of Saifa, Sanseru and Shisochin kata. Ikeda Sensei then demonstrated a koryu kempo kata, Unryu Sho. We then worked some brilliant taijutsu escape, takedown and ground pinning drills. This was followed by a good dose of tanbojutsu, including interception and wrist control techniques. Finally, Ikeda Sensei demonstrated all bojutsu kata from his family’s form of Kukishin Ryu. This was quite an honour, as he is very selective about who sees these. Overall, this training was by far one of the best sessions our dojo has experienced. Many people train with Japanese sensei from various styles, but it was clear to everyone that Ikeda Sensei has a breadth and level of knowledge and skill, and understanding of bujutsu history, that goes well beyond what most people get to experience. Fingers crossed we do it again in a few years!

Our members with Ikeda Sensei (grey keiko gi) and Teguchi Sensei

“RESOLUTE IN THEIR LOYALTY, THEIR SPIRTS ARE LIKE IRON. ” - SAIGO TAKAMORI SAMURAI

Achusai Ikeda Sensei performing Unryu Sho kata at a Mugen Juku hombu embu

SUIGETSU RYU KARATE JUTSU

WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY

JULY 2017

VOL 1 ISSUE 1

MEMORIES OF CHOJUN MIYAGI SENSEI Note: this article has been sourced from Fighting Arts International (Issue 79). As the memories strike a familiar cord with the underlying sentiment of our dojo, it is considered an interesting commentary Seikichi Toguchi recalls what training with Chojun Miyagi was like: "There was no such thing as a karate gi - we just wore pants and bare tops and practiced in a back yard. Miyagi was a very hard and traditional teacher. You had to become proficient in one technique before he would teach you another one. He did not charge any money and was only concerned in developing good students. Because of the strict methods many students dropped out. It was almost totally Sanchin training. We started with warming up exercises then went into Sanchin. We did also a lot of exercises to strengthen the body using training equipment and that is when most people started quitting.

His teaching principle is that he didn't want many students, he would rather have one good student.” Seikichi Toguchi is the founder of the Shoreikan. He was a senior student of Seiko Higa and Chojun Miyagi, who themselves were students of Kanryo Higashionna. “IN THE WORLD THERE IS

NOTHING MORE SUBMISSIVE AND WEAK THAN WATER. YET FOR ATTACKING THAT WHICH IS HARD AND STRONG NOTHING CAN SURPASS IT. THIS IS BECAUSE THERE IS NOTING THAT CAN TAKE ITS PLACE.” - LAO TZU CHINESE PHILOSOPHER

Seikichi Toguchi Sensei

Chojun Miyagi Sensei

JULY 2017

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IAIDO – THE WAY OF MEETING LIFE Our Chief Instructor trains variously in Japanese bujutsu. In March 2017, he passed a Musou Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido 5th dan test. Leading the Dai Nihon Iaido Renmei panel was the Deputy Chair, Aseisai Teguchi Hanshi (9th dan) and Achusai Ikeda Hanshi (8th dan). Godan is the highest rank that can be tested for outside of Japan with the Renmei. Our dojo is fortunate to have this insight readily available for students in every lesson. Equally satisfying, is the benefits our students receive via the relationships that our Chief Instructor has forged through iaido. Our friendship with Ikeda Hanshi’s own dojo, Mugen Juku, is one great example of this.

WHERE TO FIND US

“WHAT THE GENTLEMAN SEEKS, HE SEEKS WITHIN HIMSELF; WHAT THE SMALL MAN SEEKS, HE SEEKS IN OTHERS.” - CONFUCIUS CHINESE PHILOSOPHER

Doujou Street Location Presbyterian Church (rear hall) 28 Macgregor Street, Wilston, Brisbane

CONTACT US Email: suigetsuryukaratejutsu@hotmail.com Internet: www.suigesturyu.com © Suigetsyu Ryu Karate Jutsu 2017 All rights reserved.