Post by Mod on Sept 22, 2012 8:11:17 GMT -5
Subject: Newsletter Nov 2011
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:15:40 -0800
Newsletter Nov 2011
Grandmaster: Taketo Nakamura
President: N. Flores
OKINAWA TRIP ( November 7-14, 2011)
7 Nov
11 am - Departed from San Antonio
(plane ticket: $1597)
8 Nov
9 pm - Arrived in Okinawa
Got a ride from Marines, Naha airport to Shogun Inn Kadena AFB gate 2
$7. From gate, taxi to Shogun Inn. The distance was 3 blocks
$41.50 for the night
9 Nov
$5.50 Breakfast at O club
$12 at BX for deodorant and umbrella
$4.50 lunch
$117 for room Wed Thur Fri night. Paid at 2 pm
$3.95 burger at O Club supper
$2.75 Beer
10 Nov
For every $1.00 I was able to receive 71 Jap.Yen
260 Yen to get bus to camp foster gate, caught U.S.M.C. free green line bus to camp Schwab Henoko, visited Mrs. Maehara paid my respects and left to take a bus to Nago where the Grandmaster Taketo Nakamura lives.
480 Yen was the cost from Henoko to Nago.
500 Yen to get from the bus stop to The Humbo Dojo in a cab.
Yasushi Nakamura, Taketo Nakamura and myself had a meeting in Nago Humbo Dojo. What was discussed will be told to the Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kubudo Renme senseis in person only.
Yasushi son of Taketo took me back to the hotel Shogun Inn. I went to the closest Bar (Bar Gusto) to celebrate my good fortune and then had dinner at the Hoto Moto Restaurant.
11 Nov
$5.50 for breakfast
$117.00 for last 2 nights
$5.95 for lunch
$2.75 for a beer.
12 Nov
$5.50 breakfast
500 yen Namabiru (beer) at Shisai Izakaya (bar)
Yoshiko Bar tender owner and water-downed whiskey honcho
500 yen for a beer
300 yen for green tea.
300 yen for bus fare
200 yen charity
$6.45 meal supper
13 Nov
$7.95 breakfast
$7.50 lunch
14 Nov
$5.50 breakfast at 6:30 am
500 yen to Okinawan bus stop outside of Gate #2 at 7:30 am
Got to Naha Airport at 9 am. Cost 1,040 yen. Airplane leaves to Norita Airport Tokyo at 1:pm
800 yen food
Total spent $1,880.00
Questions from Orlando
Q) Describe Shigeru Nakamura
A) He was only interested in preserving Okinawan martial arts.
He understood the politics of post WWII with Gen. MacArthur in charge. Shigeru is responsible for the survival of Okinawan karate. He made the association of ancient Okinawan martial arts. So Okinawan senseis could practice their art. In Japanese it is known as Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Renme. If you were of another style you belonged to the association of ancient Okinawan martial arts. In those days, after WWII, for the Okinawan people it was anything goes -- I don't want to starve to death. When Kanbun Uechi was offered money by American soldiers to teach karate, he thought how can anyone be so stupid as to give me money? For Okinawans karate was as routine as breathing. So he agreed on 25 cents per month. So word got around that Americans would pay anything. So then it snowballed into a business where you would get promoted by paying an extra 25 cents for a belt. But not only will you get a green belt but also a certificate with my name on it for the low price of 25 cents was the norm. They sounded like the commercials that say, if you order within the next 30 seconds, not only will you get a ____ but I will throw in absolutely free an authentic _____. In those days it was either lower your standards for money or else starve to death. The good part about it was that Okinawan karate spread all over the world. Even if it was watered down. This was not the intention of Shigeru Nakamura so he instituted the Bogu for kumite to keep karate real.
Taketo Nakamura as a 13 year old child started to built the biggest dojo in Okinawa with his bare hands by himself. His father Shigeru Nakamura was the supreme instructor and dedicated his life to teaching ancient Okinawan martial arts. In 1953 he and Zenpo Shimabuko started the association or league of Okinawan fist law (empty hand and ancient martial arts). Translating those words into is Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Renme.
Q) Which did Shigeru like more? kata or kumite.
A) He was really for basic exercises, punches, blocks, and kicks. Kata and Bogu kumite were only a part of karate that depended on each other.
That is why he introduced the bogu so the effectiveness of karate would not be diluted by pulling your punches. He wanted to keep closer to realism.
Q) To Taketo Sensei: What is your favorite kata?
A) Kusari Kama, it was Shigeru's favorite also. I took time to show it to Sensei Necomedes Flores.
Q) Which kata do you practice more?
A) Kusari Kama.
Q) What do you think about kata and kobudo?
A) Kata, kobudo, and basics have to be done, you can't do one with out the other. They are like 2 wheels on an ox cart -- the cart can't move on one wheel -- it needs 2 wheels. Then you ask "Is the right wheel more important than the left wheel?" The wheels are like hand kata and kobudo kata. Then there is the axle and the cart bed to carry all the things that you need to have ( basics, respect, hard training, a good heart and never give up). This is what kata and kobudo carry (metaphorically speaking).
Questions from Soto
Q) What position does Tasushi hold?.
A) He is my oldest and some day will be in charge (I hope)
Q) What kind of person was Kina
A) Of all the Sensei's, Sensei Odo was the best, the rest have quit, died or disappeared. I don't know where Kina is at or what he is doing. Odo Sensei was true to the teachings of Shigeru Nakamura to the end of his life ... he truly was a great master.
Q) Is it true Kina did not do?
A) Yes it's true
Q) How does Kina view karate?
A) I do not know ... I have no contact with him
Q) How should karate be practiced?
A) By doing as sensei Odo was taught by my father Shigeru Nakamura which are basics, kata, kobudo, and bogu kumite. Odo sensei practiced karate until his death. Do like Sensei Necomedes Flores and you do correct way.
Q) How does Okinawa Kenpo compare to Okinawa Kenpo outside of Okinawa?
A) Sensei Flores can answer this question because I have no contact with Okinawa Kenpo outside of Okinawa. Just with Sensei Flores and his son Sensei Gonzo Flores.
Q) How did you get into karate?
A) My father was the supreme instructor so by birthright I had to follow in his footsteps ... this is Okinawa tradition.
Q) Does Kina Practice Okinawa Kenpo?
A) He quit as far as I know
Questions from Hector Rivera
Q) How do peace, love, spirit, and harmony fit into Okinawa Kenpo?
A) Doing sanchin affects mind, body, and spirit along with basics, kata, kobudo, and bogu kumite, develops the things that you ask.
Questions from Rey Bosques
Q) What do you think about Orlando and his struggle?
A) Flores Sensei told me about Orlando ... he sounds like he is very dedicated.
Q) What do you think about politics?
A) That is just bullshit
Q) Did we jump the gun in training the way we did?
A) You did your best and your best is always correct.
Q) Were we wrong in promoting Orlando?
A) Like I said you did your best, but these type of titles like Hanchi, etcetera, do not exist in real Okinawan martial arts ... those are Japanese sword ranks.
Questions from
Nestor Adames
Q) How many Okinawa Kenpo schools are in Okinawa?
A) None. Sensei Flores has the only schools in the USA that follows Shigeru Nakamura's way.
Questions from kids
Q) Do you train any kids my age 6 Yrs old?
A) No more
Q) What is the youngest black belt?
A) 36 Yrs old Sensei Flores started him at 10 Yrs old
Q) Do women and kids train separately or together?
A) All train the same way -- together
End of questions
I had wonderful time -- Sensei Flores
-- There will be an Okinawa Kenpo meeting the weekend of the 21-22 of January 2012 --
From Gonzo Flores:
Karate Update
Dear friends,
Wow! It's almost Turkey Day here and our classes are ongoing! There are a couple of things to mention since there has been a lot happening in the martial arts world with your teacher.
Announcements
Nick Flores, my father, returned from Okinawa Japan last week visiting some karate masters. He was promoted to the level of "red belt" by the most senior member living practitioner of Okinawan karate, Taketo Nakamura. The red belt signifies a promotion that is beyond rank, (red belt technically is beyond the highest rank anyone can achieve from the "dan"/belt system). It is a great honor to know that 50+ years of training and service gets recognition by the karate masters in Okinawa. For a non-Okinawan to receive this is also a unique event as well. Very few people have ever achieved this level of karate and weapons mastery in modern history. I feel very lucky.
In other news, Okinawa Kenpo family of styles lost an old friend and karate member recently. His name is Jim Logue, an ex-marine who served in Vietnam and was a counterpart to my dad in the pantheon of Okinawa Kenpo. Sensei Logue was instrumental in bringing over Seiyu Oyata to the states where he introduced Ryukyu Kempo outside of Okinawa to the world in the late 1960s. He will be missed by all of us.
related web links:
okkkw.webs.com/
okkkr.webs.com/
okkkre.webs.com/
email: nfdojo@yahoo.com
twitter: nfdojo
November 2011 newsletter
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:15:40 -0800
Newsletter Nov 2011
Grandmaster: Taketo Nakamura
President: N. Flores
OKINAWA TRIP ( November 7-14, 2011)
7 Nov
11 am - Departed from San Antonio
(plane ticket: $1597)
8 Nov
9 pm - Arrived in Okinawa
Got a ride from Marines, Naha airport to Shogun Inn Kadena AFB gate 2
$7. From gate, taxi to Shogun Inn. The distance was 3 blocks
$41.50 for the night
9 Nov
$5.50 Breakfast at O club
$12 at BX for deodorant and umbrella
$4.50 lunch
$117 for room Wed Thur Fri night. Paid at 2 pm
$3.95 burger at O Club supper
$2.75 Beer
10 Nov
For every $1.00 I was able to receive 71 Jap.Yen
260 Yen to get bus to camp foster gate, caught U.S.M.C. free green line bus to camp Schwab Henoko, visited Mrs. Maehara paid my respects and left to take a bus to Nago where the Grandmaster Taketo Nakamura lives.
480 Yen was the cost from Henoko to Nago.
500 Yen to get from the bus stop to The Humbo Dojo in a cab.
Yasushi Nakamura, Taketo Nakamura and myself had a meeting in Nago Humbo Dojo. What was discussed will be told to the Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kubudo Renme senseis in person only.
Yasushi son of Taketo took me back to the hotel Shogun Inn. I went to the closest Bar (Bar Gusto) to celebrate my good fortune and then had dinner at the Hoto Moto Restaurant.
11 Nov
$5.50 for breakfast
$117.00 for last 2 nights
$5.95 for lunch
$2.75 for a beer.
12 Nov
$5.50 breakfast
500 yen Namabiru (beer) at Shisai Izakaya (bar)
Yoshiko Bar tender owner and water-downed whiskey honcho
500 yen for a beer
300 yen for green tea.
300 yen for bus fare
200 yen charity
$6.45 meal supper
13 Nov
$7.95 breakfast
$7.50 lunch
14 Nov
$5.50 breakfast at 6:30 am
500 yen to Okinawan bus stop outside of Gate #2 at 7:30 am
Got to Naha Airport at 9 am. Cost 1,040 yen. Airplane leaves to Norita Airport Tokyo at 1:pm
800 yen food
Total spent $1,880.00
Questions from Orlando
Q) Describe Shigeru Nakamura
A) He was only interested in preserving Okinawan martial arts.
He understood the politics of post WWII with Gen. MacArthur in charge. Shigeru is responsible for the survival of Okinawan karate. He made the association of ancient Okinawan martial arts. So Okinawan senseis could practice their art. In Japanese it is known as Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Renme. If you were of another style you belonged to the association of ancient Okinawan martial arts. In those days, after WWII, for the Okinawan people it was anything goes -- I don't want to starve to death. When Kanbun Uechi was offered money by American soldiers to teach karate, he thought how can anyone be so stupid as to give me money? For Okinawans karate was as routine as breathing. So he agreed on 25 cents per month. So word got around that Americans would pay anything. So then it snowballed into a business where you would get promoted by paying an extra 25 cents for a belt. But not only will you get a green belt but also a certificate with my name on it for the low price of 25 cents was the norm. They sounded like the commercials that say, if you order within the next 30 seconds, not only will you get a ____ but I will throw in absolutely free an authentic _____. In those days it was either lower your standards for money or else starve to death. The good part about it was that Okinawan karate spread all over the world. Even if it was watered down. This was not the intention of Shigeru Nakamura so he instituted the Bogu for kumite to keep karate real.
Taketo Nakamura as a 13 year old child started to built the biggest dojo in Okinawa with his bare hands by himself. His father Shigeru Nakamura was the supreme instructor and dedicated his life to teaching ancient Okinawan martial arts. In 1953 he and Zenpo Shimabuko started the association or league of Okinawan fist law (empty hand and ancient martial arts). Translating those words into is Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Renme.
Q) Which did Shigeru like more? kata or kumite.
A) He was really for basic exercises, punches, blocks, and kicks. Kata and Bogu kumite were only a part of karate that depended on each other.
That is why he introduced the bogu so the effectiveness of karate would not be diluted by pulling your punches. He wanted to keep closer to realism.
Q) To Taketo Sensei: What is your favorite kata?
A) Kusari Kama, it was Shigeru's favorite also. I took time to show it to Sensei Necomedes Flores.
Q) Which kata do you practice more?
A) Kusari Kama.
Q) What do you think about kata and kobudo?
A) Kata, kobudo, and basics have to be done, you can't do one with out the other. They are like 2 wheels on an ox cart -- the cart can't move on one wheel -- it needs 2 wheels. Then you ask "Is the right wheel more important than the left wheel?" The wheels are like hand kata and kobudo kata. Then there is the axle and the cart bed to carry all the things that you need to have ( basics, respect, hard training, a good heart and never give up). This is what kata and kobudo carry (metaphorically speaking).
Questions from Soto
Q) What position does Tasushi hold?.
A) He is my oldest and some day will be in charge (I hope)
Q) What kind of person was Kina
A) Of all the Sensei's, Sensei Odo was the best, the rest have quit, died or disappeared. I don't know where Kina is at or what he is doing. Odo Sensei was true to the teachings of Shigeru Nakamura to the end of his life ... he truly was a great master.
Q) Is it true Kina did not do?
A) Yes it's true
Q) How does Kina view karate?
A) I do not know ... I have no contact with him
Q) How should karate be practiced?
A) By doing as sensei Odo was taught by my father Shigeru Nakamura which are basics, kata, kobudo, and bogu kumite. Odo sensei practiced karate until his death. Do like Sensei Necomedes Flores and you do correct way.
Q) How does Okinawa Kenpo compare to Okinawa Kenpo outside of Okinawa?
A) Sensei Flores can answer this question because I have no contact with Okinawa Kenpo outside of Okinawa. Just with Sensei Flores and his son Sensei Gonzo Flores.
Q) How did you get into karate?
A) My father was the supreme instructor so by birthright I had to follow in his footsteps ... this is Okinawa tradition.
Q) Does Kina Practice Okinawa Kenpo?
A) He quit as far as I know
Questions from Hector Rivera
Q) How do peace, love, spirit, and harmony fit into Okinawa Kenpo?
A) Doing sanchin affects mind, body, and spirit along with basics, kata, kobudo, and bogu kumite, develops the things that you ask.
Questions from Rey Bosques
Q) What do you think about Orlando and his struggle?
A) Flores Sensei told me about Orlando ... he sounds like he is very dedicated.
Q) What do you think about politics?
A) That is just bullshit
Q) Did we jump the gun in training the way we did?
A) You did your best and your best is always correct.
Q) Were we wrong in promoting Orlando?
A) Like I said you did your best, but these type of titles like Hanchi, etcetera, do not exist in real Okinawan martial arts ... those are Japanese sword ranks.
Questions from
Nestor Adames
Q) How many Okinawa Kenpo schools are in Okinawa?
A) None. Sensei Flores has the only schools in the USA that follows Shigeru Nakamura's way.
Questions from kids
Q) Do you train any kids my age 6 Yrs old?
A) No more
Q) What is the youngest black belt?
A) 36 Yrs old Sensei Flores started him at 10 Yrs old
Q) Do women and kids train separately or together?
A) All train the same way -- together
End of questions
I had wonderful time -- Sensei Flores
-- There will be an Okinawa Kenpo meeting the weekend of the 21-22 of January 2012 --
From Gonzo Flores:
Karate Update
Dear friends,
Wow! It's almost Turkey Day here and our classes are ongoing! There are a couple of things to mention since there has been a lot happening in the martial arts world with your teacher.
Announcements
Nick Flores, my father, returned from Okinawa Japan last week visiting some karate masters. He was promoted to the level of "red belt" by the most senior member living practitioner of Okinawan karate, Taketo Nakamura. The red belt signifies a promotion that is beyond rank, (red belt technically is beyond the highest rank anyone can achieve from the "dan"/belt system). It is a great honor to know that 50+ years of training and service gets recognition by the karate masters in Okinawa. For a non-Okinawan to receive this is also a unique event as well. Very few people have ever achieved this level of karate and weapons mastery in modern history. I feel very lucky.
In other news, Okinawa Kenpo family of styles lost an old friend and karate member recently. His name is Jim Logue, an ex-marine who served in Vietnam and was a counterpart to my dad in the pantheon of Okinawa Kenpo. Sensei Logue was instrumental in bringing over Seiyu Oyata to the states where he introduced Ryukyu Kempo outside of Okinawa to the world in the late 1960s. He will be missed by all of us.
related web links:
okkkw.webs.com/
okkkr.webs.com/
okkkre.webs.com/
email: nfdojo@yahoo.com
twitter: nfdojo
November 2011 newsletter