I am writing this newsletter and sending you all accounts early due to the fact that we are going to be away in Sweden for the next 6-weeks. Please do not pay any accounts before we return (27^th July).

The club will be open for business as usual during this time and will be run by our Instructors: these people are:

·         Dale Hutton – Co-ordinating instructor and hall key-holder

·         Leighton Archer – Instructor in charge of  Technical queries

·         Jon Hopkins – Instructor

·         Jack Akker – Instructor

·         Robert McGregor – Instructor

·         Jocelyn Scott – Instructor

·         Walter Crookes – Instructor

Only the people above have any delegated authority and all queries and enquiries should be directed to Dale Hutton: Tel. 843 4337. In the interests of safety, we expect the instructors to be obeyed completely.

I think that we will be having a whole new crop of Black belts (very exciting) in the not too distant future – how distant is up to you. Keep up the great work!

We will grade those that missed out on a grading shortly after we come back from Sweden…if you have trained hard while we are away, of course!!

Sorry to inform all juniors that there will be no end-of-term competitions this term, but we will more than make up for it next term.

Helena and I really enjoy being part of this club – we have great people and a fantastic atmosphere. I believe that we as a club are different. Firstly, because of the real self-defence orientation of the club; this is very rare. Many clubs claim to be interested in self-defence, but in reality, the majority of them are really sports orientated or what they call “traditionally orientated.”

The second reason is the fact that we have a relaxed and friendly atmosphere at our club. I believe that top quality martial arts can be practised in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere where a completely unhindered exchange if ideas, opinions and knowledge between instructors and students is encouraged.

A lot of western martial arts clubs buy in totally to the oriental culture from where their art originated (in the case of karate, this is Japan). This is typified by harsh discipline, the idea of rank, a lot of bowing and screaming “Uss!” or “Hi!” when addressed by an instructor and the strict use of titles such as Sensei, Sempai and Kohai. Many clubs also recite what is known as the Dojo Kun which is like a long poem/mission statement listing the human virtues of an ideal karate person. Some clubs recite it before training or after training or both: some clubs recite it in Japanese and some in English (or what ever country they train in).

I have seen some very nice, ordinary Kiwi blokes/women become screaming Samurai (complete with Japanese accent) as soon as they put on their Gi and wrap themselves up in a black belt – I call these people Japanophiles (worshippers of all things Japanese). I find this sort of thing not only funny, but also quite sad. Most of these Western/Japanese traditions are not practised in Japanese Karate Clubs.

Let’s tackle some of these topics: “Uss” is a phrase best translated as “Yo!” or “Choice!” and if it is ever heard in Japan, it is usually at the University Clubs where students normally teach themselves and discipline and training are usually very harsh. Belts at university clubs are given out depending on what year you are in at Uni. The discipline at normal community clubs is usually very much more lax. “Hi” is simply Japanese for yes and is normally said in response to a question or (much more seldom) an order.

Sensei is a polite title given to a senior person (could be senior in the community, could be just senior in age, could be students to a school teacher and can be to a karate instructor). It is a title that is given, but can never be demanded – and the closest equivalent that I can come up with in English is “Sir” (which makes a mockery of those instructors that put Sensei on their business cards). In Japan, karate students may call their instructor Sensei, but that instructor may then refer to a student who is older than themselves, or has a higher standing in the community (such as a doctor) as Sensei. We hate titles, please always use our names!!

A lot of western clubs think that Sempei means senior student and that Kohai means junior student. It doesn’t! The Sempei/kohai relationship in Japan is quite complicated. Anyone that takes you under their wing and shows you the ropes or takes you on as an apprentice is a Sempei and the apprentice is the Kohai. It is not a rank or a title, it is a relationship.

Reciting the Dojo Kun is a ridiculous practice (the nearest western equivalent would be reciting the Lords Prayer). Very few Japanese clubs do it but it is becoming increasingly popular in the west (as if it gives clubs some sort of authenticity). It also promotes the myth that karate (or even sillier: reciting the Dojo Kun) will make you a better person. Karate doesn’t do anything of the sort – you do it: karate may be your vehicle. Other vehicles may be just as good.

The Karate Gi (suit) itself is just an adaptation of the old Japanese underwear.

But there are things that we do do – we use Japanese names for Kata. As there are no Western translations, I think this is fine. We also use some Japanese terminology for basics – this is a little less easy to defend as there are English names for all these and perhaps we should use them – the only equivalent in sport/pastime that I can think of is the fact that they use French terminology for basics in ballet.

We also count in Japanese. For me this is purely due to 30-years of habit. What has happened recently in our club is that people are counting in their own languages – this is a wonderful idea and I would encourage this. So far, we can count in English, Maori, Japanese, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Indian and Swedish – keep it coming guys/girls – this is fun!! We do not speak Japanese and are probable doing the language a severe injustice when we try.

We also meditate before and after class as a type of ceremony. I do not believe in meditation in the paranormal sense at all. Yes, quiet time that you can call your own for reflection and thought cannot do you any harm, but this is not what we do in Mokuso. What we do is purely ceremony marking the start and finish of training and I find it very hard to justify – feedback on whether we should drop this would be most welcome.

We also bow at times (we try to minimise this), especially at sparring – this again is purely habit and I would welcome alternatives from you (like shaking hands).

Karate has its roots in Japan, Okinawa and China (and has been influenced by many other countries). Even if some of their traditions and culture are beautiful and interesting, they are not ours and they never will be – we certainly don’t need them for self defence and we shouldn’t enforce them on anyone. Let us take pride in our own cultures.

Changing the subject slightly, I have resigned my position with Mighty River Power where I worked as a Systems Analyst/Software Engineer.

I have been offered a position as Senior Lecturer at The Waikato Institute of Technology in the Information Technology Department, where I will be teaching the degree courses. This is an exciting change for me and I will be starting as soon as we get back from Sweden.

On the heath front, things continue to improve, all be it very slowly. I have more fitness and stamina than before and I intend to keep pushing my limits while on holiday.

The dated for next term are Wednesday 21^st July – Wednesday 15^th September.

Train hard and see you soon.