A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our members and friends across the world.
The following promotions were announced at the Hombu dojo this week:
• Sue Rose - Nidan (2nd)
• Glenn Donnelly - Nidan (2 Dan)
At last nights class at the Hombu dojo, we unveiled our '35th Anniversary' banner, celebrating 35 years of Shindo-Ryu Karate-Do.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us during this time. We will be holding various events this year to celebrate, culminating at this years 'Kodosai Cultural Event' in October 2019.
The teachers of Shindo-Ryu Karate are looking forward to joining the Maru Karate Kai students for their End of Year Seminar, raising money for the Polly Parrot Appeal at Basildon Hospital.
The seminar takes place on December 15th. Contact your teacher for further details.
All of the teachers, staff and volunteers at Shindo-Ryu Karate are saddened to learn of the passing of Santo Salvatore Castoro-meijin 10 Dan, Sicily, Italy.
He was the pioneer of Ju-Jitsu on the island of Sicily and was the Vice-President of Kodo Butoku Renmei for many years.
He has left an indellible legacy in the martial arts world and he will be remembered fondly.
On September 13th, Shindo-Ryu Karate-Do celebrates it's 34th anniversary. Celebrations will be taking place at classes during the month of September.
This weekend a contingent from Shindo-Ryu Karate-Do will be attending the 5th Taikai event in Marsala, Sicily. The event is being organised by the Italian branch of Kodo Butoku Renmei and a group of 14 of us from Shindo-Ryu will be attending.
We would also like to thank the Jack Petchey Foundation who have provided three of our young students with Individual Volunteering Grants for the event. Look out for social media updates from Chloe C, Chloe M and Cameron C this weekend!
Today I learned of the passing of one of my finest black belts: Robert Fagg-kyōshi 7 Dan. He was admired by many, loved by his family and friends, and respected highly by his teacher. He was an excellent teacher himself and achieved great work with Hinode Karate Kai, and indeed at our honbu dōjo. I will miss him greatly and my thoughts are with his wife and family at this very sad time.
Congartulations to Owen Farrant who received his RENSHI award last night and Ryan Farrant who received the award of TASSHI. Very well deserved - thank you for your continued support of Shindo-Ryu Karate-Do!
Many congratulations to Owen Farrant-tasshi and Ryan Farrant-sensei as Kuro Mizu Karate Kai in Coggleshall, Essex celebrates ten years of their club being open!
The teachers and students of Shindo-Ryu are counting down to the 33rd anniversary of the system, with special demonstrations and displays being given at the 10th Kodosai Cultural Event to be held in Basildon, Essex.
In the last few weeks, we have changed the honbu dōjo address - please see your master/teacher for details.
Very proud of today's (16th April 2016) Dan Shinsa applicats, who ranged from Shodan to Yondan.
Well done!
おめでとうございます CONGRATULATIONS!
Sincere congratulations to:
- Mark Shelley-hanshi
- Marc Grayston-hanshi
- Brad Grayston-hanshi
- James Waddoups-renshi
from all the Board Members of Shindō-Ryū Karate-Dō on their recent promotions. You are an example to us all.
9th Kodōsai International Martial Arts Course & Japanese Cultural Event
It appers by figures released that Shindō-Ryū Karate-Dō members may again form the largest group to attend the 9th Kodōsai International Martial Arts Course & Japanese Cultural Event. Cox-hanshi said, "It is not surprising as many of the Grayston family are organising the event, however the increase in numbers from our ry
FOUNDER RECEIVES AWARD
The Founder of Shindō-Ryū Karate-Dō (Stephen Grayston-meijin) received a 'Special Award' from the Mayor of Basildon on 6th March 2015 at a Charity Black Tie Ball that was held at Stock Brook Country Club, Stock, Essex.
Grayston-meijin said, "I am greatly honored and thankful to receive the award. It is my passion to help in a community where I live.
審査 Shinsa
The term 審査 Shinsa can be translated as many things: judging; inspection; examination; investigation; or review, but in general in the West it is looked on as meaning examination/test.
In the early days of budō in Japan and Okinawa, the teacher would simply say what level you were at and that was that so to speak, no formal examination or test... And, that is fine when it concerns 3-7 students training closely with the teacher. How
I am often asked about the title 'Soke' and its meaning...
It really should be written as 'Souke' or 'Sōke' as the 'o' is a Japanese long vowel.
Sou 宗 シュウ ソウ むね かず し そ そお たか とし のり ひろ むな もと よし origin; essence.
Ke 家 カ ケ いえ や うち あり え く つか べ house; home.
The kanji gives the idea that the 'Sōke' comes from the origin of the house. Meaning that the 'Sōke' comes from the 'origin' or founder of the system.
I am often asked if we do MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) training in our schools, and whilst we regularly attend multi-martial art events throughout Europe, and I do encourage our students to experience other martial arts and different styles of karate — I do not teach MMA or advocate it for our students.
Firstly, I need to explain that we are a traditional karate organisation that believes the movements we practise are only really a vehicle for the students to improve themselv
Modern Street Attack and Assumptions
Having read many articles on the process of a violent attack, it strikes me that many of the writers have probably never experienced any real street violence and their work is largely an assumption of what they 'presume' will or does occur.
This isn't to much of a problem until you realise that there are readers of their work who are basing their defensive strategy on the writer's 'assumptions'..
- 分解 Bunkai (Disassembly)
This could also be called analysis, but I want you to think of it as breaking down 'sections' for analysis. Each movement in a kata has a purpose (even transitional movements). Don't take a simply glance at movements. Be analytical in your approach, try to notice every detail.
- 分析 Bunseki (Analysis)
Once we have a sequence of say, two to five movements, we study what they are used for and why? After disassemb