White
Crane Snow Tiger News – December 2006
Happy
Holidays!
www.yamazato-videos.com
www.worldbudokan.com
Action Martial Arts- Hall of Fame
More White Crane
Advanced Bo
Iron Palm!
News Notes & Yamazato New Releases
Wishing you all the best for this holiday season and a great new
year! Hope all of you are enjoying, “Tis the season to be jolly!”
Getting ready for the Alan Goldberg’s Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame
and Trade Show on January 4th, 5th & 6th
in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This is no doubt one of the best events of
the year. Yamazato will have a booth at the trade show. We will be
giving away T-Shirts and DVDs. Hey! FREE! So please stop by and see us.
Also we will be doing a seminar on White Crane Karate and pressure point
applications. The Hakutsuru So and Niseishi kata will also be taught at
this seminar. Those who attend will receive a Level I certification in
White Crane Karate (Hakutsuru Kenpo). We recently finished shooting
White Crane Speed & Evasion 3 & 4.
Volume 3 has Sochin and Tensho kata and Vol 4 has the Hakutsuru Kenpo
versions of Seisan and Sanseiryu kata, bunkai, pressure point
techniques, body conditioning from Yong Chun Village, China and fighting
techniques. Many of you have purchased these and I thank you for your
interest and support of my research in this area. We have finished
shooting White Crane Speed & Evasion 5.
This one has the final kata of the system on it namely, Niseishi and
Unsu. This final volume will be released on January 15th. For
more on this see Mastering White Crane Karate at
www.yamazato-videos.com Also, see China &
The Origins of White Crane Kenpo
www.worldbudokan.com. If any of you would like a kata
syllabus chart that lists all eleven kata on it and the rank
requirements of the system, please call me. It is very attractive and
would look good hanging in your dojo. $19.95 plus $6.00 S&H Patches are
$6.00 ea.
Okinawa Hakutsuru Kenpo
Finally Released
Chart
New! Patch
Advanced Bo Fighting Volume 2!
This DVD has the Chinen Shichayanaka no kon staff form on it along
with more information. This kata is one of Okinawa’s most advanced bo
kata. Developed in the late eighteenth century, it uses the bo in a
cutting fashion similar to a sword. Additionally, it uses large sweeping
movements and emphasizes a continuous flow to its footwork and
techniques. Further, in addition to the standard block and counter
movements for the bo, the form has a reverse-seizure movement, going to
ground to avoid an opponent’s strike and various evasion tactics. Bo
experts in Okinawa during this era were among the most formidable of
martial artists. The bo is a powerful weapon and in the hands of a true
expert its user is almost invincible. Swords were not allowed in Okinawa
at this time, therefore the bo was the premier weapon. Lord Tokumine is
known the have thwarted the attacks of a number of local law enforcement
officers who were trying to subdue him during a drunken brawl. He was
banished from Okinawa for his behavior but it shows the efficiency of
the weapon in the hands of a true master drunk or not. The Chinen
Shichiyanaka no kon kata has been used to win many international and
world kobudo competitions because of its elegant and powerful movements.
The kata was developed by Chinen Shichayanaka (1780-1841) from the older
Chatan Yara no kon. Chinen Shichayanaka was a student of Chatan
Yara (1740-1812). The kata was then passed on to Shichayanaka’s
descendant Chinen Sanda (1852-1925), also known as Chinen Yamani. This
established a genealogy or lineage for the form and a bo style known as
Yamani ryu that influenced many other Okinawa Kobudo systems.
Incidentally, Chinen Yamani developed the Shushi no Kon kata. The next
in line of the so-called genealogy was Chinen Masami (1888-1978). The
bloodline and the lineage have died for this ryu with Chinen Masami.
However, the kata was passed on to a number of other kobudo teachers and
is practiced by numerous Okinawa kobudo groups today and therefore it
has been preserved to the present day.
Famous Okinawan Bo Fighters:
Masami Chinen (1888-1978) Shinken Taira (1898-1970) (seated
left) & Moden Yabiku (1878-1945) (C) Hohan Soken (R) (1889-1982)
Akamine Eisuke (1925-1999 (L) & Shinken Taira
Finally, we’ve boxed all the Bo DVDs into one set called Mastering
the Bo. This includes four DVDs and has Eight Solo Kata and Six Two-Man
Bo fighting kata as well as basics, drills, Makiwara and more! It
includes Bo Vol I, Bo Vol II, Advanced Bo Fighting Vol I & Advanced Bo
Fighting Vol II!
On Sale Now for Only $99.00!
You save $20.00
Also, new on the DVD scene are two titles on Iron Palm.
Chinese Iron Palm 13 Stages of Training and
Iron Palm in 100 Days. These DVDs
feature Professor Thomas Keen and completely cover the subject of Iron
Palm Training. We also have the Classic BOOK available Iron Palm in 100
Days by Lee Ying-arng. $19.95.
The method of iron palm training no doubt dates
back to antiquity in Chinese martial arts culture. There is some
evidence that it can be traced back to the Shaolin monks of Henan
Province and the original Shaolin temple made famous by the monk
Bodhidharma (c.
The iron palm as a separate discipline encompasses all these type of training methods. However, what is important to keep in mind is that even though one has hands that are like iron, complete training in martial arts encompasses the practice of the basics, forms and sparring in order to be a complete and well-rounded martial artist. You’ll find this these new Iron Palm DVDs by Professor Keen include a complete training method for iron palm development including fighting techniques. The DVDs provide a one hundred day training program and if followed religiously can make you highly proficient in the technique of the iron palm. The training methods include strength and conditioning exercises, striking practice, the use of herbal medications known as dit ta jow to reduce pain and promote healing, self-defense techniques and brick breaking to test your skill in the iron palm at the end of the program. I highly recommend that serious pugilists examine this training regime, as it is a classic martial arts training methodology.
I can personally attest to the legitimacy of iron palm training or hand conditioning. In the1960s while in Kyokushinkai karate we practiced striking the makiwara a lot. In 1967 while in the Marine Corps I received orders to Vietnam. During my service there I continued my karate training. At the end of my tour after coming out of the “bush” I was put on bunker watch at night before rotating back to the “world.” Basically, this consisted of staying up all night in a bunker made out of sandbags and waiting for “Charlie” to come. After awhile this was pretty boring, so I decided to use the time in a more productive manner. Someone told me that if you soak your hands in brine (a saline solution) or vinegar and then pound your hand on a sandbag, it would develop your striking power and hand conditioning. So I used my helmet to soak my hands in both brine and vinegar. After soaking for about fifteen minutes I would punch and chop the sandbags on my bunker for another fifteen minutes or half an hour and then repeat the process. This absolutely worked! After some time doing this I began breaking anything I could get my hands on. Mostly bricks and clay roof tiles (I actually got in trouble with my lieutenant for dismantling the roof of an abandoned Vietnamese building in order to retrieve the roof tiles for breaking). The only downside was that the vinegar stinks after awhile. Not only did I smell like vinegar all the time but also everyone else could smell me on the bunker line at night. We all knew it wasn’t Charlie [the Vietcong] sneaking up on us because he smelled like fish. Charlie used nukmam [fish] sauce on his ration of rice that he carried with him. At first, everyone said, “What the hell is that smell?” Then one of our guys said, “Oh! It’s Alexander doing some weird karate thing again.” So it might be better to use dit ta jow, which is made for that purpose. I encourage you to do your own empirical research and explore various hand conditioning methods and Iron Palm Training. Good luck!
News Notes
- Sadly Sensei Mike
Hancock, Hanshi 10th Dan has passed away. His
funeral was on December 11th. Mike was a good guy and
spent many years practicing karate. He was a police officer in
Florida for over thirty years. Unfortunately, he contracted
lymphatic cancer and did not survive it. His wife Amy is committed
to carrying on their tradition of martial arts. Our condolences go
out to Amy and the rest of her family. She can be contacted at
sokeshinmei@earthlink.net
- Yamazato will
be selling a new sword called “The
Lightening Cloud!” Look for it soon!
www.yamazato-videos.com
- Sensei Ed Wojciechowski was promoted the Rokudan 6th degree black belt in Shorin Ryu karate by the ISKKF. Ed “Wojo” operates his dojo in Oak Lawn, Illinois outside of Chicago. Wojo has been an outstanding supporter of the federation for many years! He can be contacted at edwoj@earthlink.net
- Randy Randolph
has opened a dojo in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He will be teaching
shorin ryu karate and jujitsu. He can be contacted at
r.randolph@comcast.net
- Sensei Steve Crawford
of Kansas City was promoted to Nanadan 7th dan in
jujitsu. Steve is an old timer in the Kansas City area. His email
is
crawfordsmma@gmail.com
- Hanshi Rudy Crosswell,
10th Dan in Shito Ryu karate and ISKKF board member will
be hosting a seminar with Hanshi Alexander in Phoenix, AZ on March
10th. Contact Hanshi Rudy at
rhanshi@eathlink.net
- Martial Oceans
will be promoting another great cruise this year. On July 9th
the group will depart from San Diego and head for fun on the waves
and enjoy Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. In
addition to
Great Martial Arts Training Mondo Silente Dive Team will be
there as well. Looking for more people to dive with us! For more
info Contact sensei Tony Calvino
1-877-773-2790. Register today!
- ISKKF Summer Martial
Arts Camp August 2007 – 2nd weekend. The word is
out! It will be bigger this year. Who will be the Water mellon
Kumite champion this year?
- Nine Dragons Tour
to China is scheduled for November of next year. Train at
the source! More later! Maybe we go Okinawa too!
Coming Up Soon!
Action
Martial Arts Hall of Fame and Trade Show
The
World’s Largest Martial Arts Extravaganza
January 5th,
6th & 7th
Tropicana
Casino & Resort Atlantic City, New Jersey
Contact: Alan Goldberg/Pete Ticali
WWW.THE-ACTION-ARENA.COM
WWW.ACTIONNETWORKS.NET
New Titles from Yamazato Productions: X-Mas Sale! But any two and get
the third one FREE!
Good through 12/31/06 Go to the website and enter the code # 6010 after
your name. We’ll know to deduct $29.95 from your order.
$29.95 each FREE SHIPPING! Call
1-888-299-YAMA (9262) or
www.yamazato-videos.com
Happy
Holidays! Wishing all of you the best in your martial arts
endeavors. Stay strong! Stay healthy! Finally, anyone interested in
membership in the Okinawa Hakutsuru Kenpo Association/Shorin Ryu
Karate/Jujitsu/Sword or any of our other marital disciplines check out
the new website and contact me.
www.worldbudokan.com. We’ll
also be adding more content to this site shortly. So check back
periodically.
Sincerely,
George W. Alexander, President
Okinawa Hakutsuru Kenpo Association
International Shorin Ryu Karate Kobudo Federation
Shorinji Ryu Jujitsu Federation
World Budokan Kendo Federation
Yamazato International
180 Yellow Jacket Drive
Reliance, TN USA 37369
Tel. 423-338-4972
Toll Free 1-888-299-YAMA (9262)
Fax 423-338-5651
www.yamazato-videos.com
www.worldbudokan.com
