September Issue of
White Crane Snow Tiger
White Crane Snow Tiger News September 2006
Southern Shaolin Temple
- Fujian, China
(See Nine Dragons China
Tour Below)
ISKKF Camp
Martial Oceans Cruise
Yamazato New Releases
Nine Dragons Martial
Art Tours-China
Just got
back from the Martial Oceans Cruise and the islands mon! Wanted to tell
you about the Summer Camp and the islands. Camp was a blast as well as
the Martial Oceans cruise! Next is the China Tour. See more below.
Enjoy. George Alexander
ISKKF
Summer Camp 2006
This years camp was no doubt one of the best ones weve ever had.
Unfortunately, Hanshi Ken Penland could not make it because of health
problems but we hope to see him next year. We started out with a class
covering basics, kata and bunkai. Later that night we continued
with that theme and then the class turned into what we called sobi
karate or play karate. While doing sobi karate we worked on
flashy techniques that while not being so combat-effective are fun to
dojumping kicks, spinning kicks, you know. That night we had Dan testing
and Randy Randolph was promoted to nidan in jujutsu and Todd
Anderson was promoted to yondan in karate. Both of these men
distinguished themselves as highly competent martial artists. It was a
pleasure to watch them go through their paces and demonstrate the
proficiency and skill that they had achieved. The next morning we
started out with jujutsu and ground fighting techniques. Sensei Randy
Randolph taught this class. He managed to produce some very sweaty
people by the end of this one and a half hour ordeal. The next class was
on the sai. It covered Kuda Sai Sho and sai/bo kumite. Its one thing to
perform kata with the sai but too actually fight [prearranged sparring]
with the weapon is all together different and requires a complete
command of the weapon. However, by the end of the class the participants
were banging sai and bo together with precision. Sensei Don Dike, 7th
Dan taught a separate weapons class and covered the bo and
ekku bo (oar). Sensei Wojo then taught aniaido session.
Incidentally, iaido is pronounced I E Doh and not aieido or worse
Aida, which is an Italian opera! His style of swordsmanship is called
Mugai Ryu. He covered ten kata and some very interesting bokken
drills including a defense against two swordsmen. After this class we
had a tameshigiri or test cutting session. Typically, we cut
bamboo, which grows wild in this area of Tennessee. We usually have to
travel some distance to obtain it. About four or five years ago I
planted some cuttings of bamboo next to the dojo. This year we were
pressed for time in organizing the event since the weekend before we
were in New York and the weekend before that we were in LA. The day of
the event was upon us and we didnt have enough time to go to our usual
spot to harvest some bamboo. So one of the black belts went over to the
bamboo grove next to the dojo and to my surprise came back with bamboo
stalks one and a half to two inches in diameter. Finally, our own bamboo
stash had grown to a size acceptable for test cutting. Joy! We then
proceeded to practice our cuts and test our swords with techniques such
as kesa giri (lapel cut) and kiri age (upward cut). The
next class was kendo. It was great to get into a set of bogu and
practice Japans number one martial art. Our sparring matches were
lightening fast and I got to do keiko with Dave Zimmer, Robert
Debyl who trains in kendo at the honbu dojo, and Randy Randolph who made
shodan in kendo last year. Our final class was in karate sparring. We
practiced various sparring techniques, pad drills and two-man
yakusoku fighting drills. Sensei Todd Anderson showed that he could
really kick and is an all around excellent marital artist. This class
got us ready for the ultimate-Full Contact Watermelon Kumite
Championships.
At the end of the camp we have a little fun tournament. Basically, the
way it works is we strap watermelons to ourselves and then fight to the
death! Actually, it looks like pregnant women fighting to the death. The
first one to get his watermelon smashed is the loser of the match. This
year we improved the technology used for the event. In the past we used
rope braided in such as way as to hold the bulky melon in place in front
of the competitors body. The problem with this is that the melon had a
tendency to slip out of the contraption and prematurely smash as it hit
the deck. The next evolution was to use nylon straps, which worked
better but was still not the best system. Finally, this year we used
mesh backpacks that worked very well. We just put the backpacks on
backwards so that they mounted in front of the competitors chest. With
this system in place we started the tournament in our outside training
area. As the first competitors began their matches their watermelons
were smashed with powerful kicks and fists of fury [knees and elbows are
allowed]. With each match bloody ooze quickly dripped to the ground as
each competitor was forced out of the competition. Sensei Randy Randolph
was the defending champion. But to everyones surprise he was quickly
eliminated. Someone said, Youre bleeding! and the match was over. Todd
Anderson, also a favorite, was eliminated in short order. Shawn Miller,
a shodan from Kansas who had never done watermelon kumite before, did
very well in his matches. Interestingly, watermelon kumite like kendo is
not a defensive art. The one who lands the first decisive blow [that
will smash a watermelon] wins. This creates a very aggressive
environment. Those who dance and dash about defensively and hold their
watermelon like a mother protecting their young will succumb to those
with a close and kill philosophy. After many exciting matches Charles
Riedmiller of Ohio emerged as the champion of this contest. We all had a
great time and later gorged ourselves on fresh watermelon. We invited
the neighbors over for some fresh watermelon as well but they were
afraid to come over! Huh?
The following day we all headed for the Ocoee River and the site of the
1996 Olympics. Our mantra was Paddle or die! as we boarded our raft and
headed for white water. Soon we hit the first rapid. The cool water felt
refreshing as it cascaded over our bodies. Further down the river we
encountered more rapids. We made it through Slingshot and Diamond
splitter screaming like little girls all the way. Finally, the last
rapid was Hells Hole. No fooling around on this one as this rapid has
eight-foot waves and hydraulics that will hold you under and drown you
if you go out of the raft. In any case, we all made it and finished our
martial arts camp with adrenaline pumping and the experience of another
great adventure.
This years camp was fast-paced and tiring. It took some resolve on the
part of the campers to train in every class but we all [almost all] did
it. A tenet of the martial arts is to cultivate an indomitable spirit
and one of self-denial although you dont hear much of that philosophy
lately in the literature. Perseverance in the face of adversity builds
character. As I often like to quote the expression from ancient Greece,
One man is much the same as another. Those who are best come from the
severest school. Thucydides 450 B.C. In any case, the campers left tired
but thoroughly elated with new knowledge and a sense of accomplishment
from their training. Well do it all again next year. Maybe some of those
who missed this years camp will join us next year.
Martial
Oceans
Adventure on the High Seas!
Martial arts training and the adventure of the Caribbean Islands was the
highlight of this event. What a blast! This was Sensei Tony Calvinos
first attempt at creating a world class fun adventure on the high seas
and it was a total success. We flew into Miami on Thursday afternoon and
met the other instructors on the cruise, which included Michael
DePasquale, Dana Abbott, Tony Ravens, Dr. Kam Yuen, Kevin Cullen and
Chip Townsend. The next day we boarded the Imagination, one of Carnival
Cruise lines best ships. We had a great time exploring the ship but then
became seduced by Fun Ship Drinks. The ship sailed that afternoon for
Grand Cayman. The next day while at sea, Sensei Kevin Cullen taught a
goju ryu karate class that included a spirited warm up, basics and kata.
He led the class through seiunchin kata and explained the
applications of the form. Later Michael DePasquale taught a martial arts
action film class. At the end of the cruise his people put together a
skit that was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Chip Townsend demonstrated his
skill at kicking and great athletic ability. Ah to be young again! Dr.
Kam Yuen then gave a lecture on his new approach to ancient healing
methods. Many people felt instant relief of aches and pains with merely
a touch or in some cases without even a touch. The next day the ship
docked at Grand Cayman and we were amazed at the blueness of the water
as we gazed over the side of the ship. As most of the martial artists
and passengers headed for the Island to experience Stingray City and
other tours a select group of us chanted the mantra Mondo Silente
Mondo SilenteSilent World Silent World! This is the chant we adopted
for the initial adventure of our new elite group, Martial Oceans Dive
Team. Our founding members include Joker (Tony Calvino),
Speedo (Kevin Cullen), Blood (Dana Abbott) and Nitrox
(George Alexander). Everybody has to have a nickname. Sort of like the
Fantastic Four. We soon headed for the dive shop after arriving on the
island. After checking in and spending a few minutes getting our dive
gear organized we were soon on a forty-two foot custom jet boat headed
for one of the Caribbeans most exotic dive locationsThe Wall! As we
approached Neptunes reef we moored our boat and we were soon in the
water. As we descended, the clear blue water and the amazing display of
tropical fish mesmerized us all. Our dive profile was to descend slowly
to a depth of one hundred feet, observe The Wall and then gradually
ascend to a depth of seventy feet and explore the reef. The Wall is
basically a trench that drops off to a depth of over three thousand
feet. It has been reported by many divers that a feeling of vertigo is
experienced as one clears the reef and swims over the edge. Sort of like
skydiving only wetter. I didnt know what I was in for. Perhaps I would
see a prehistoric fish with strange things growing out of its head. Once
at a depth of one hundred feet we soon came upon Neptunes Gate, a
cave-like arch that we all swam through. Once on the other side of
Neptunes Gate we had finally arrived at The Wall. The reef at that point
simply drops off into an abyss. I swam a little deeper to get a closer
look and realized I was at the limit of a Nitrox dive of one hundred and
ten feet. Nitrox is a mix with a higher percentage of oxygen then
regular air and going too deep can cause oxygen toxicity. If you get too
much oxygen in your blood stream at depth you get goofy [convulsive] and
you die. I must admit even through I found the The Wall quite intriguing
and a real adventure it wasnt the startling vertigo feeling I had heard
about for so long. We soon surfaced and were on our way to the next reef
Seventeen Trees.
The next reef was quite beautiful and varied in depth from fifty to
seventy feet. We experienced lots of marine life and the beauty of the
underwater world in the tropics. I guess someone thought it was time for
the masters demo. Joker soon started doing underwater kata and
Speedo was right there with him doing sanchin. I joined in with a
kata of my own while Blood shot some cool underwater photos. The
one thing I can tell you is kata at the bottom of the ocean doesnt look
as good as on dry land. Later that night we raised our glasses and
toasted our adventure and newfound camaraderie as members of Mondo
Silente and Martial Oceans Dive Team. Arrgh!
The following day we started seminars again and I had the first group
from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. We worked on Hakutsuru kata such as
sanchin, sochin, etc. This system of karate has become very popular
lately. It is a complete system derived from Chinese forms and
techniques brought to Okinawa and further developed there. It includes
forms, prearranged sparring, pressure points, body conditioning and
grappling. The class also practiced white crane twoman fighting drills.
In addition the class members practiced pressure point and knockout
techniques that are part of the white crane system. Then we switched to
jujutsu and practiced the kata from the Shorinji Ryu Jujutsu system.
These kata start standing up incorporating wristlocks, armbars and
throws and then go all the way to the ground and conclude with a
submission technique. The training session was concluded with some
ippon kumite or one-step sparring drills. Everyone worked up a good
sweat and learned some new if not esoteric techniques.
Next up was Sensei Dana Abbott. His class on the sword included
traditional postures, footwork and cutting. He emphasized the use of
proper stance, posture, hips and fumikomi (stamping with lead
foot) when cutting. Then helmets and soft swords were dispensed and the
kendo-like sparring of chambara (lit. The sound of clashing
steel) began. It was a physically demanding and grueling session and all
students got a terrific workout. Sensei Dana is definitely a world-class
swordsman. Finally, the days training was capped off with a judo class
taught by Hanshi Tony Ravens. His class included throwing techniques and
ground fighting as well as strangulation techniques. He is a great
teacher and with sixtyfive years of training under his belt is a true
master of judo. All in all it was a complete day of martial arts
starting at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. Needless to say, everyone
slept well that evening.
The following day we docked at Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Once ashore we were
greeted with, Ya mon! This is Jamaica. No problem. You dont have to
fasten your seatbelt. Everything is irei (alright). Ya mon! We
climbed Dunns River falls and later did some snorkeling and visited the
shops of colorful and vibrant Jamaica. Later that day, we boarded the
ship and got ready for a final dinner with martial artists and newfound
friends. The next morning we arrived back at Miami. We were all a little
tired but euphoric from yet another great martial art experience. My hat
is off to Tony Calvino and Rebecca Greenbrough for putting together such
a great event. The instructor corps was very cohesive and provided the
attendees with a good cross-section of marital arts. The martial arts
training was fantastic and yet there was enough time to spend with the
family, do some sightseeing and enjoy the cruising experience. Gotta do
it again next year! Peace to all my
martial arts brothers and sisters.
George Alexander
p.s. Got White Crane Speed & Evasion 3 done (see below). Tensho & Sochin
kata. This is the third DVD in the series covering the Hakutsuru Kenpo
kata.
Photo Galley:
Summer Camp 2006
Randy Randolph Promoted to Nidan in Jujutsu
Hanshi Alexander & Todd Anderson
SweatyKendoPeopleOh!Shi...
Ahhh! Gulp!
Cruise
Carnival ship The Imagination Martial Oceans
Pirates!
Tony Calvino, Dana Abbott, Kevin Cullen & The
Girls!
Martial Oceans - Mondo Silente Dive Team
Left to right: Kevin Cullen, George
Alexander, Dana Abbott & Tony Calvino
New Titles from Yamazato Productions:
$29.95 each FREE SHIPPING!
Call 1-888-299-YAMA (9262) or
www.yamazato-videos.com
Nine Dragons China Tour
- Nov 7th
Nov. 15th,
2006
Join us for the martial arts
adventure of a lifetime! Training, Excitement & Fun. You will train in
China with masters and Shaolin monks and experience the real martial
arts firsthand.
>>more
Nine Dragons
China Tour 2006
Day 1&2: Tuesday, November 7 & Wednesday November 8, 2006
Travel from Los Angeles via Hong Kong to Quanzhou, China
Day 3: Thursday, November 9
Conference Begins:
Tour of Luoyang Bridge (Bridge of Security)
Kaiyuan Temple Quanzhous largest Buddhist
Temple. Also
known as the Nine Dragons Temple and home of
the Southern
Shaolin monks. Temple dates back to 636 A.D. Demonstration
and training with monks.
Day 4: Friday, November 10th
Conference and Competition
Day 5: November 11th
Conference and Competition
Day 6: Sunday, November 12th
Morning Training with Monk Yao Fun National
Southern
Shaolin Champion
Day 7: Monday, November 13th
Morning training with head Monk Tai (aka The
Smiling
Monk) at mountain top temple.
Visit Qingyuan Mountain. Scenic mountain park with
waterfalls and caves. Former home of mountain
recluses and
Taoist priests.
Lao Tse stone statue. Chinas oldest Taoist
sculpture.
Day 8: Tuesday, November 14th
Tour Mazhu Island. Beautiful and intriguing
island
paradise. Many Buddhist temples, etc. Wear
tennis shoes
and be prepared for a full day excursion.
Day 9: November 15th
Depart for USA.
For more on
China Tour: contact:
Nine Dragons Martial Art
Tours.
alexyama@mindspring.com
The nine-day trip of a lifetime! Cost $3,500. Covers Airfare, Food,
Lodging, transportation, interpreter and training in China with the
Shaolin monks.
Anyone interested in membership in the
Okinawa Hakutsuru Kenpo Association as well as seminars and training
please email me and I will send you an Instructors Guidebook, etc.
Presently, we have DVDs with many of the kata and explanations on them.
For more on this see Mastering White Crane Karate at
www.yamazato-videos.com
Sincerely,
George W. Alexander, President
Okinawa Hakutsuru Kenpo Association
International Shorin Ryu Karate Kobudo
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
alexyama@mindspring.com
