Post by Mod on Sept 22, 2012 7:01:22 GMT -5
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 15:01:29 -0800
From: nfdojo@yahoo.com
Subject: Nfdojo Feb newsletter
To: crys4me@aol.com; arnoldos@msn.com; tanksnam@hotmail.com; kristi.d.rowlett@gmail.com; dpbrutus4444@yahoo.com; edhershman@hotmail.com; karate.colon@hotmail.com; gonzo.groundspring@gmail.com; accjtraining@aol.com; mrs.taliesinmccall@gmail.com; hanshilg@yahoo.com; maraxon@gmail.com; plwhaley@gci.net; patmcgale@yahoo.com; qistdy@yahoo.com; universalkara07@att.net; roertbattle@live.com; kobudomei@cebridge.net; coleman@eztechvids.com
NFDOJO News letter Feb 2011
Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Assn.
Taketo Nakamura grand master
N Flores president
Twitter nfdojo
The pioneers of Okinawan karate, the service men who brought it to the USA and from there it was spread to the rest of the world. A lot of these men are still around and active. Their story has to be told.
One such service man was Marine Flores from Las Cabras Rio San Antonio where me and my brothers were born ... all 14 of us. He was in the battle of Okinawa in 1945. After the japanese surrender he had to stay in Okinawa as occupation troops until 1948. I remember the day he came home to the farm, I was 5 yrs old at the time, my father said to him, "teach this little whimp how to fight like a jap," that was the language in the 40's that was used. So my brother proceeded to teach us karate. In those days there were no labels on Okinawan karate, it was just "ti" or pronounced tea, like a cup of tea. The only thing he taught me was San Chin. There were no gi's in those days not even in Okinawa. Then he was turned in to the law because of dancing around with a kid like some weirdo. Actually he was teaching the kata San Chin . He was taken to the state hospital as a mentally ill shell shocked vet (things haven't changed ... have they?). Then Korea came along and he reinlisted, and then my brother got killed in Korea. Then I grew up and went to Okinawa as a Marine in 1964 and joined Uechi Ryu, where the first kata was Sanchin, lord and behold it was the same thing I was taught by my brother in 1948. 40 years later I performed that kata in Houston Texas. There are thousands of stories like this ... I will only dwell on those who I personally have known.
Next pioneer, me 40 yrs later, I went to Houston to a seminar of several karate masters making a world tour, Go Ju Ryu, Uechi Ryu, Shoryn Ryu, Ishin Ryu, and Motobo Ryu. The attendants went from one room to another where a master was giving a seminar on his own style. When we got to Uechi Ryu, the master said, "our system is based on Sanchin and kotekitae ... is there anyone here that knows Sanchin? Those that do stand up and do Sanchin" A Uechi Ryu dojo stood up and me and a student of mine. We did Sanchin and then the master proceeded to continue with his lecture and then we took a break. At that time I was approached by the Uechi Ryu dojo sensei from Houston and he asked me from where did I learn that kata Sanchin, in a condescending manner. I responded "In Okinawa from my first sensei Kanei Uechi. He and some of his students acted like they didn't believe me. So we went back from the break to the Uechi Ryu master. He continued and said "Now is there anyone who can do kotekitae?, those who know how stand up and do it!" So we stood up and did it. A question was asked by the Uechi Ryu sensei from Houston, presumably to embarrass me and my student "How come Mr. Flores and his student did it different?" The Uechi Ryu master said, that is the old way to do it ... the original version.
There are other senseis. From Nakamura, Larry Gradoloh. From Tatus, Shimibuku Bart Barnachevtes. From Seikichi Odo, Paul Andrews, George Colon, and there are many more. These are senseis that I know personally who are the true pioneers of karate throughout the globe. Not only that but they are combat veterans ... 90% of them are former marines who were in Okinawa before and after the Vietnam war 1965-1975, we take karate seriously, to us it is a serious endeaver, they don't talk much about themselves, but I do. They get all my credit and respect ... they are true martial artists ... I know there are thousands more, but they keep quiet like real Budo.
I am talking about people who were American service men and women.
One of the first women taking karate was my wife Elodia beginning karate under me in 1965 when I got back from Vietnam. She didn't take karate from sensei Odo until 1976 to 1980 when we got an accompanied tour in Okinawa where we lived on top of sensei Odo's dojo with my two sons Gonzalo and Juan.
Elodia was one of the first female full contact fighters ever. In those days all she had to kumite with was marines. She only knocked out one marine, the rest of the fights were okay. She is the first female I know of that was in karate in those days. A recent photo is attached of her and a few students.
I wish some other people would come forward with their own stories. I know there were hundreds before me, from Okinawa Kenpo ... and, of course, from other dojos.
Comments:
Ron Robles - Nick Sensei. I just wanted to add some input to your newsletter of Jan '11. If Okinawa Kenpo is to unite under GM T Nakamura. He should plan on visiting the various dojo's (not at his expense). I hope you remember in Portland at dinner with Odo Sensei, you announce that Susumu would take over at Sensei's passing. I talked with Sensei, Gonzo Sensei and yourself that it would be wise if Susumu would come with Sensei at his next visit. That way the dojo's would get to know him. It was sad that Odo Sensei would pass away before that could happen. The Federation that Sensei headed fell apart due to reasons you stated in your newsletter. GM T Nakamura should undertake a plan to visit and train with us and let everyone know that Okinawa Kenpo is alive and well. Well, my friend that's my two cent (I'm most likely wrong about this). Always your friend. Ron Robles. Kent, Wa
From: nfdojo@yahoo.com
Subject: Nfdojo Feb newsletter
To: crys4me@aol.com; arnoldos@msn.com; tanksnam@hotmail.com; kristi.d.rowlett@gmail.com; dpbrutus4444@yahoo.com; edhershman@hotmail.com; karate.colon@hotmail.com; gonzo.groundspring@gmail.com; accjtraining@aol.com; mrs.taliesinmccall@gmail.com; hanshilg@yahoo.com; maraxon@gmail.com; plwhaley@gci.net; patmcgale@yahoo.com; qistdy@yahoo.com; universalkara07@att.net; roertbattle@live.com; kobudomei@cebridge.net; coleman@eztechvids.com
NFDOJO News letter Feb 2011
Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Assn.
Taketo Nakamura grand master
N Flores president
Twitter nfdojo
The pioneers of Okinawan karate, the service men who brought it to the USA and from there it was spread to the rest of the world. A lot of these men are still around and active. Their story has to be told.
One such service man was Marine Flores from Las Cabras Rio San Antonio where me and my brothers were born ... all 14 of us. He was in the battle of Okinawa in 1945. After the japanese surrender he had to stay in Okinawa as occupation troops until 1948. I remember the day he came home to the farm, I was 5 yrs old at the time, my father said to him, "teach this little whimp how to fight like a jap," that was the language in the 40's that was used. So my brother proceeded to teach us karate. In those days there were no labels on Okinawan karate, it was just "ti" or pronounced tea, like a cup of tea. The only thing he taught me was San Chin. There were no gi's in those days not even in Okinawa. Then he was turned in to the law because of dancing around with a kid like some weirdo. Actually he was teaching the kata San Chin . He was taken to the state hospital as a mentally ill shell shocked vet (things haven't changed ... have they?). Then Korea came along and he reinlisted, and then my brother got killed in Korea. Then I grew up and went to Okinawa as a Marine in 1964 and joined Uechi Ryu, where the first kata was Sanchin, lord and behold it was the same thing I was taught by my brother in 1948. 40 years later I performed that kata in Houston Texas. There are thousands of stories like this ... I will only dwell on those who I personally have known.
Next pioneer, me 40 yrs later, I went to Houston to a seminar of several karate masters making a world tour, Go Ju Ryu, Uechi Ryu, Shoryn Ryu, Ishin Ryu, and Motobo Ryu. The attendants went from one room to another where a master was giving a seminar on his own style. When we got to Uechi Ryu, the master said, "our system is based on Sanchin and kotekitae ... is there anyone here that knows Sanchin? Those that do stand up and do Sanchin" A Uechi Ryu dojo stood up and me and a student of mine. We did Sanchin and then the master proceeded to continue with his lecture and then we took a break. At that time I was approached by the Uechi Ryu dojo sensei from Houston and he asked me from where did I learn that kata Sanchin, in a condescending manner. I responded "In Okinawa from my first sensei Kanei Uechi. He and some of his students acted like they didn't believe me. So we went back from the break to the Uechi Ryu master. He continued and said "Now is there anyone who can do kotekitae?, those who know how stand up and do it!" So we stood up and did it. A question was asked by the Uechi Ryu sensei from Houston, presumably to embarrass me and my student "How come Mr. Flores and his student did it different?" The Uechi Ryu master said, that is the old way to do it ... the original version.
There are other senseis. From Nakamura, Larry Gradoloh. From Tatus, Shimibuku Bart Barnachevtes. From Seikichi Odo, Paul Andrews, George Colon, and there are many more. These are senseis that I know personally who are the true pioneers of karate throughout the globe. Not only that but they are combat veterans ... 90% of them are former marines who were in Okinawa before and after the Vietnam war 1965-1975, we take karate seriously, to us it is a serious endeaver, they don't talk much about themselves, but I do. They get all my credit and respect ... they are true martial artists ... I know there are thousands more, but they keep quiet like real Budo.
I am talking about people who were American service men and women.
One of the first women taking karate was my wife Elodia beginning karate under me in 1965 when I got back from Vietnam. She didn't take karate from sensei Odo until 1976 to 1980 when we got an accompanied tour in Okinawa where we lived on top of sensei Odo's dojo with my two sons Gonzalo and Juan.
Elodia was one of the first female full contact fighters ever. In those days all she had to kumite with was marines. She only knocked out one marine, the rest of the fights were okay. She is the first female I know of that was in karate in those days. A recent photo is attached of her and a few students.
I wish some other people would come forward with their own stories. I know there were hundreds before me, from Okinawa Kenpo ... and, of course, from other dojos.
Comments:
Ron Robles - Nick Sensei. I just wanted to add some input to your newsletter of Jan '11. If Okinawa Kenpo is to unite under GM T Nakamura. He should plan on visiting the various dojo's (not at his expense). I hope you remember in Portland at dinner with Odo Sensei, you announce that Susumu would take over at Sensei's passing. I talked with Sensei, Gonzo Sensei and yourself that it would be wise if Susumu would come with Sensei at his next visit. That way the dojo's would get to know him. It was sad that Odo Sensei would pass away before that could happen. The Federation that Sensei headed fell apart due to reasons you stated in your newsletter. GM T Nakamura should undertake a plan to visit and train with us and let everyone know that Okinawa Kenpo is alive and well. Well, my friend that's my two cent (I'm most likely wrong about this). Always your friend. Ron Robles. Kent, Wa