Post by Mod on Sept 22, 2012 7:42:26 GMT -5
June news letter 2011
Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Renme
Taketo Nakamura Grandmaster
Sensei Nick Flores President ( nfdojo@yahoo.com )
Why do Okinawa Kenpo at all? For the survival of man? your country? your community? your family? yourself? Or your environment? The answer is all the above.
The survival of man, 13,000 to 38,000 years ago man was created evolved, or came from outer space, whatever you want to believe -- we are called homo sapiens. We have the same biological structure as when the first homo sapiens were born with the same skeleton, muscles, heart lung legs arms etc. We haven't changed physically we only learned to adapt. Since about 1950, and back to day one, the majority of people were using most of their muscles and organs as did our early ancestors, I am talking modern man. Homo sapiens, from the 1950's and back, we the majority of humanity, would use the muscles we were born with, washing dishes by hand, chopping wood on a daily basis for cooking and in every thing we take for granted, for example, electrical tools and appliances when carpenters used a drill , it would be a hand drill, you would push down and with your strength you would turn the hand drill, and saws were a back and forth motion, in welding you would use what you call a forge, again manual labor, women doing simple house work like washing clothes, this was an outside job, chopping wood to light the fire, boiling water in a pot and then putting the clothes in the pot, and hanging the laundry ... even the soap was handmade. Of course there were modern washers, drills, tractors, etc, but they were just archaic/primitive and only the rich had them.
Forward from the 1950s to the present 2011, generally speaking, everybody on the planet was mechanized with motor vehicles and electrical tools that made life easier and the common man was doing less hard labor that required less use of his muscles. As technology grew, fewer and fewer of the muscles were used, and now in the present, with cell phones, internet and other things I can't even pronounce, much less spell, we are totally reliant on machinery and technology, except the poor, they are about 50 percent reliant on modern technology. Then the other muscles they use like walking everywhere, is an exercise they have to do. However; they also abuse their lives with smoking, drinking, overeating, and generally bad abusive habits that turn into addictions or obsessions.
The key is good diet and exercise. This is where Okinawa Kenpo (okinawan martial arts) comes in, Okinawa Kenpo was not invented by Shigeru Nakamura, it was brought into the public eye by him and other great Okinawan karate masters of his era that decided to preserve the old ways of okinawan martial arts.
But why Okinawa Kenpo? Because it is pure Okinawan martial art. I repeat OKINAWAN. There are other arts in Okinawa and a lot of them are incomplete due to politics, youthful innovations and the few senseis that are of the old warrior ways ("ko" means old ... "budo" means warrior ways). These old school senseis are mostly shunned by the outside world. Even in Okinawa they are old fashioned and superstitious. I myself love old fashioned, superstitions, and legends. There are other arts throughout the world, such as voodo, which is not a martial art, but never the less an art. This art is particular to some areas such as in the Caribbean. But still, an art treasured and respected by many people.
In Okinawa, the Okinawa Kenpo system is particular to the Ryukyu islands. Theirs is a lineage that links the ancient past to the present in an unbroken chain. It's called KOBUDO, or KOBU JUTSU, in English translation, ancient warrior arts. Okinawan karate is based on Sanchin. In china it's sometimes referred to as iron shirt chi kung. This is the physical link to the past. Through Sanchin you link the spiritual physical and mental energy to act as one in unison. Chi ( energy in Chinese) in Uchinachu, the Okinawan language, it is "chin" ... in Japanese it is "ki" ... in English "will power", in Texas it is "sakate el dedo".
Sanchin is the basis of all Okinawan martial arts which links one to the old warrior ways of the past. Once you get this link (Sanchin) you have to have a knowledge of the ancient ways. You do not have to understand ... you just have to perform.
The knowledge you have to know and perform is called kata. In Okinawa Kenpo, kata is done in a prescribed way, direction, and fashion. The way is to face to the north and while facing the shrine. The flow of Chi or energy flows north, north of the equator. South, south of the equator. This is called feng shui.
Taketo is not only the grand master of Okinawa Kenpo, but a link to the past in the spirit (kame) world of ancient Okinawan martial arts, otherwise known as Okinawa Kenpo karate kobudo. Again remember the words, Okinawa Kenpo Karate Ko Budo renme and what they mean a word at a time.
Okinawa - is an island 300 miles south of Japan in the south china sea on the west and the pacific ocean on the east
Kenpo - means fist law,
Karate - means empty hand, before 1920 karate it meant China hand.
Ko - means old or ancient
Budo - means warrior ways
Renme - means association
or organization
On The Lighter Side
Traditional Chinese Medicine
By Kristi Rowlett, L.Ac.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can trace it’s origins to the Shamans of ancient China. Its methods, including moxibustion, herbal medicine, and acupuncture, have served living creatures in times of peace and times of war since long before mankind's recorded history. TCM and the general practice of martial arts share a common ancestry in the practice of Daoism, or the study of the working harmony of everything in the universe.
T’ai Chi, Qi Gong, and Okinawan San Chin are not only formidable martial arts who trace their roots to this study of harmony. They are exercises for the internal organs. Through these techniques we develop and keep our organs healthy and protect them from physical attack. When qi (pronounced “chee”, “kee”, or “kie”) is flowing richly and smoothly, the organs will nourish and strengthen our exterior bodies and the body will be free from pain. The skin becomes as metal armor. The muscles become as rocks. The tendons become as flexible as the limbs of a willow tree.
Acupuncture, herbal medicine, and moxibustion provide treatment for disease or injury of the organs. An experienced acupuncturist, trained in TCM, can observe the complexion, the tongue, and the pulses to determine the cause and location of disease or injury in the body. The ancient practitioners of TCM encouraged their patients to use diet, exercise, and sensible lifestyle to avoid disease and injury. Living a proper lifestyle allowed their patients to evade all but the strongest pathogens and extend their healthy lives to their fullest potentials.
It is easy when we practice martial arts to get pumped, or to stand up to the bullies in life, to forget how important our physical well-being is to attaining our goals. Focusing on external physical fitness, and cheating with hormone treatments to get there, will result in flat, injured muscles and a damaged heart. This can be a fatal oversight. Likewise, it is harder to defend one’s self when one’s back bones have deteriorated due to improper diet and a neglect of regular physical exercise.
Living a proper lifestyle can be accomplished in three easy steps: 1. Eat and drink in moderation. Stop eating before you feel full. Stop drinking alcohol while you can still feel your lips. 2. Remember to breathe. Breathe especially when you are feeling strong emotions (anxiety, fear, anger, grief, or excitement). Deep even breaths practiced for 15 minutes or more daily can cure hypertension (high blood pressure) and improve metabolism. Only stop breathing while you are swallowing (happens automatically) or submerged in water. In a toxic environment, one in which you don’t want to breathe the air or the particles in the air, wear an appropriate mask. 3. Exercise at least three days per week for at least 45 minutes each time. Use a combination of weight/ resistance exercise with cardiovascular exercise (exercises that quicken your heartbeat and your breathing). Martial arts practice provides a fabulous opportunity for you to engage in both types of exercise.
Have fun, learn lots, and remember to breathe!
Sifu Rowlett
kristi.d.rowlett@gmail.com
2011 June Newsletter.
Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Renme
Taketo Nakamura Grandmaster
Sensei Nick Flores President ( nfdojo@yahoo.com )
Why do Okinawa Kenpo at all? For the survival of man? your country? your community? your family? yourself? Or your environment? The answer is all the above.
The survival of man, 13,000 to 38,000 years ago man was created evolved, or came from outer space, whatever you want to believe -- we are called homo sapiens. We have the same biological structure as when the first homo sapiens were born with the same skeleton, muscles, heart lung legs arms etc. We haven't changed physically we only learned to adapt. Since about 1950, and back to day one, the majority of people were using most of their muscles and organs as did our early ancestors, I am talking modern man. Homo sapiens, from the 1950's and back, we the majority of humanity, would use the muscles we were born with, washing dishes by hand, chopping wood on a daily basis for cooking and in every thing we take for granted, for example, electrical tools and appliances when carpenters used a drill , it would be a hand drill, you would push down and with your strength you would turn the hand drill, and saws were a back and forth motion, in welding you would use what you call a forge, again manual labor, women doing simple house work like washing clothes, this was an outside job, chopping wood to light the fire, boiling water in a pot and then putting the clothes in the pot, and hanging the laundry ... even the soap was handmade. Of course there were modern washers, drills, tractors, etc, but they were just archaic/primitive and only the rich had them.
Forward from the 1950s to the present 2011, generally speaking, everybody on the planet was mechanized with motor vehicles and electrical tools that made life easier and the common man was doing less hard labor that required less use of his muscles. As technology grew, fewer and fewer of the muscles were used, and now in the present, with cell phones, internet and other things I can't even pronounce, much less spell, we are totally reliant on machinery and technology, except the poor, they are about 50 percent reliant on modern technology. Then the other muscles they use like walking everywhere, is an exercise they have to do. However; they also abuse their lives with smoking, drinking, overeating, and generally bad abusive habits that turn into addictions or obsessions.
The key is good diet and exercise. This is where Okinawa Kenpo (okinawan martial arts) comes in, Okinawa Kenpo was not invented by Shigeru Nakamura, it was brought into the public eye by him and other great Okinawan karate masters of his era that decided to preserve the old ways of okinawan martial arts.
But why Okinawa Kenpo? Because it is pure Okinawan martial art. I repeat OKINAWAN. There are other arts in Okinawa and a lot of them are incomplete due to politics, youthful innovations and the few senseis that are of the old warrior ways ("ko" means old ... "budo" means warrior ways). These old school senseis are mostly shunned by the outside world. Even in Okinawa they are old fashioned and superstitious. I myself love old fashioned, superstitions, and legends. There are other arts throughout the world, such as voodo, which is not a martial art, but never the less an art. This art is particular to some areas such as in the Caribbean. But still, an art treasured and respected by many people.
In Okinawa, the Okinawa Kenpo system is particular to the Ryukyu islands. Theirs is a lineage that links the ancient past to the present in an unbroken chain. It's called KOBUDO, or KOBU JUTSU, in English translation, ancient warrior arts. Okinawan karate is based on Sanchin. In china it's sometimes referred to as iron shirt chi kung. This is the physical link to the past. Through Sanchin you link the spiritual physical and mental energy to act as one in unison. Chi ( energy in Chinese) in Uchinachu, the Okinawan language, it is "chin" ... in Japanese it is "ki" ... in English "will power", in Texas it is "sakate el dedo".
Sanchin is the basis of all Okinawan martial arts which links one to the old warrior ways of the past. Once you get this link (Sanchin) you have to have a knowledge of the ancient ways. You do not have to understand ... you just have to perform.
The knowledge you have to know and perform is called kata. In Okinawa Kenpo, kata is done in a prescribed way, direction, and fashion. The way is to face to the north and while facing the shrine. The flow of Chi or energy flows north, north of the equator. South, south of the equator. This is called feng shui.
Taketo is not only the grand master of Okinawa Kenpo, but a link to the past in the spirit (kame) world of ancient Okinawan martial arts, otherwise known as Okinawa Kenpo karate kobudo. Again remember the words, Okinawa Kenpo Karate Ko Budo renme and what they mean a word at a time.
Okinawa - is an island 300 miles south of Japan in the south china sea on the west and the pacific ocean on the east
Kenpo - means fist law,
Karate - means empty hand, before 1920 karate it meant China hand.
Ko - means old or ancient
Budo - means warrior ways
Renme - means association
or organization
On The Lighter Side
Traditional Chinese Medicine
By Kristi Rowlett, L.Ac.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can trace it’s origins to the Shamans of ancient China. Its methods, including moxibustion, herbal medicine, and acupuncture, have served living creatures in times of peace and times of war since long before mankind's recorded history. TCM and the general practice of martial arts share a common ancestry in the practice of Daoism, or the study of the working harmony of everything in the universe.
T’ai Chi, Qi Gong, and Okinawan San Chin are not only formidable martial arts who trace their roots to this study of harmony. They are exercises for the internal organs. Through these techniques we develop and keep our organs healthy and protect them from physical attack. When qi (pronounced “chee”, “kee”, or “kie”) is flowing richly and smoothly, the organs will nourish and strengthen our exterior bodies and the body will be free from pain. The skin becomes as metal armor. The muscles become as rocks. The tendons become as flexible as the limbs of a willow tree.
Acupuncture, herbal medicine, and moxibustion provide treatment for disease or injury of the organs. An experienced acupuncturist, trained in TCM, can observe the complexion, the tongue, and the pulses to determine the cause and location of disease or injury in the body. The ancient practitioners of TCM encouraged their patients to use diet, exercise, and sensible lifestyle to avoid disease and injury. Living a proper lifestyle allowed their patients to evade all but the strongest pathogens and extend their healthy lives to their fullest potentials.
It is easy when we practice martial arts to get pumped, or to stand up to the bullies in life, to forget how important our physical well-being is to attaining our goals. Focusing on external physical fitness, and cheating with hormone treatments to get there, will result in flat, injured muscles and a damaged heart. This can be a fatal oversight. Likewise, it is harder to defend one’s self when one’s back bones have deteriorated due to improper diet and a neglect of regular physical exercise.
Living a proper lifestyle can be accomplished in three easy steps: 1. Eat and drink in moderation. Stop eating before you feel full. Stop drinking alcohol while you can still feel your lips. 2. Remember to breathe. Breathe especially when you are feeling strong emotions (anxiety, fear, anger, grief, or excitement). Deep even breaths practiced for 15 minutes or more daily can cure hypertension (high blood pressure) and improve metabolism. Only stop breathing while you are swallowing (happens automatically) or submerged in water. In a toxic environment, one in which you don’t want to breathe the air or the particles in the air, wear an appropriate mask. 3. Exercise at least three days per week for at least 45 minutes each time. Use a combination of weight/ resistance exercise with cardiovascular exercise (exercises that quicken your heartbeat and your breathing). Martial arts practice provides a fabulous opportunity for you to engage in both types of exercise.
Have fun, learn lots, and remember to breathe!
Sifu Rowlett
kristi.d.rowlett@gmail.com
2011 June Newsletter.