geelongkarate.com.au

THE JAPAN SUMMER CAMP – 1980

by

THE JAPAN SUMMER CAMP 1980

 

INTRODUCTION

 

There were approximately two hundred and eigh­ty students who started the 1980 summer camp who were taught by Japan’s top instructors including fa­mous people like Hiroshi Nanri, the chief instructor of this years camp, plus Keiji Sanpei, Sandan and se­cond in last year’s “Open World Tournament”, also “baby face” Makoto Nakamura, the present World Champion. We were very honored to have these top Japanese instructors. Everybody was also looking for­ward to being taught by Mas Oyama.

The duration of the course was eleven days, and not the previous two weeks (two, one week courses) as last year. This had to be cancelled at the last mi­mute due to Kancho leaving Japan. But this did not stop many people from not attending. The foreigners among the 280 Japanese students were;

Michael Soderkvist     (Sweden)

Charles Ecsterling       (Holland)

Kin Pangelinan            (Guam)

Jagat Gouchan             (Nepal)

Terry Simmons            (England)

Udaya Gouchan          (Nepal)

David Henwood         (England)

The summer camp started on July the 26th. The hottest time of the year in Japan. With temperatures rising to a maximum 36 degrees C. The weather on that day was quite cool.

On Saturday the 26, we assembled outside the Honbu Dojo in the park. Within thirty minutes the little park was completely overfull with nervous stu­dents.

Just standing there I could feel something was not quite right, I felt a strange quiteness which is very un­usual when 280 people are together in one place. The reason being that most people train at ‘different times, or do not recognize each other without Karate suits on. I think everybody was a little bit apprehensive of the summer camp. After our names had been called out we went to the waiting convoy of coaches after boarding, we soon departed at approximately 10 o’­clock.

The convoy of buses and excited Karate-ka star­ted the 200 kilometre journey to our destination, Shi­zuoka-ken. The trip went unhindered with only two stops on the way to relieve the water works.

There was the feeling all the time that we did not really leave Tokyo. The houses and factories never really stopped until we reached the sea. Then even in the country we were so surprised to see the roads so smooth and in immaculate condition. When we were

travelling along the coastline it was a nice feeling to know we had left the concrete jungle and the indus­trial heart of the world behind. It was truly beautiful. The sun was dancing on the waves as they crashed down onto the smooth yellow sand.

We arrived at Shizuoka-ken which was a magnifi­cent site with a lake in the back garden, which was totally surrounded by tall green trees. The gold fish in the lake were as big as Jaws. It was like suddenly wal­king into a dreamland.(Alice in Wonderland part two).

The first thing to do when we arrived was to un­load from the bus the hundreds of bags, including the training weights, wood, bricks, and the punch bag. Afterwards everybody went inside to arrange the beds and who was going to sleep where.

In a few minutes we were outside in our gi’s ready for the first training session, walking along the road for three kilometers, there was no noise from the stu­dents everybody was very excited to eventually do some training. This year the same as last year we had a guide, translater Mr. K. Morita who was invaluable to us.

As I felt the sand between my toes and looking at the ocean I felt very good inside.

On the beach we started Kihon and strengthening exercises which we also performed in the sea, with the waves crashing down on us we had little chance to breath however we enjoy it especially when one big wave washed us all away in different directions.

After training everybody was more relaxed and could not stop talking to each other. In the evening dinner was served much to everybodys delight. We were a little disappointed because Mas Oyama has not arrived.

MICHAEL SODERKVIST, Nidan from Sweden. Mi­chael is 25 years old, and has been studying Kyoku­shinkai for eight years. He enjoyed the summer camp very much. Michael is a very good technician of many kicks. He looked after the group with great attention. He will soon leave for home after being in Japan 11 months in this period he has achieved the following;

Shodan, Nidan, Branch Chief.

CHARLES ESTERLING. Charlie a Shodan from Hol­land came to Japan just for the summer camp and to meet Mas Oyama. He was very happy when Kan­cho gave him a big hug and said welcome to Tokyo. He loved all of the training, and will go back to Hol­land with a lot more ideas and ways to make his club in Holland a better one.

KIN PANGELINAN. Kin is from the island of Guam. He was graded Shodan by SANPEI and NAKAMU­RA’ This was Kins second summer camp. His persona­lity and bad jokes made everybody laughed. He has fighting spirit that all the Japanese admired, and al­ways he had the loudest “OUS” which could be heard back in Tokyo. And would-wake everybody up at 4.30 in the morning. He trained very hard and never gave up. See’ you next time.

JAGAT GOUCHAN is a 1st Kyu brown belt in Honbu. When he was in Nepal he was a Mathathon runner. Runner in the Himalayas. Jajat is 23 years old. Not only can Jagat run very fast but his legs are very flexi­ble, which the Japanese admire, this enables to do beautiful kicks, and also not lacking in power. Jagat is training at Honbu and will continue to do so until he has the coverted black belt.

TERRY SIMMONS, an Englishman from London, Terry came to Japan last October, 1979 to study Kyokushinkai in Honbu, and has been graded to Brown Belt. He attended the course with great enthu­siasm and trained like a madman. He showed keen in­terest in the Sumo and singing at the sayonara party. Terry really excelled himself at the running and sprin­ting, he was also glad for the opportunity to meet the instructors outside the Dojo. Terry will also continue to stay in Japan.

UDAYA GOUCHAN. A tall well built boy from Ne­pal and attends Honbus special class for big students. Udaya is also a long distance runner like Jagat. He came to Honbu four months ago. Udaya loved the summer camp very much, being glad to get out of the polluted air of the big city.

DAVID HENWOOD. 21 years old, from England, I was very grateful to be able to attend the summer camp. I could understand the Japanese spirit a lot more. The team work and the comradeship is what I really enjoyed. Plus being a country boy it was very good to see my friend the ocean again.

Bedtime was at ten thirty sharp. We were awa­kened at flaming 4.30 am in the early morning, and commenced training with a 6 kilometer run, which was extended everyday until we did 18 kilometers. Plus 30 sprints up a hill, that was a real killer. Each day we would see more and more people drop out from the running and go onto the injured list suffer­ing from blisters, cramps, but never a lack of fighting spirit.

Jagat and Udaya with their history of running in the Himalayas in Nepal, never seized to amaze the Ja­panese with their running and sprinting capabilities, this also won Jagat 5 melons at the sayonara party.

The team of foreigners from all over the world was led by Michael Soderkvist from Sweden who tau­ght with great care showing us many new techniques, and always pushed us when we were tired.

When Mas Oyama arrived at the camp there was an air of emergency. Especially from the Uchi Deshi. Always making sure everything was perfect for ‘the master of Karate. Whenever he spoke there was abso­lute silence from the students. Mas Oyama often gave a speech at night on Kyokushinkai and other styles of Martial Arts. Although we could not understand all of his words we could understand the lesson-he was tea­ching us. By using his hole body, talking with his heart we knew what he was saying. At times it was very frustrating, because we wanted to understand everything he said.

Mas Oyama was glad to see Kin again, who came last year, this time Kin came with the strong inten­tion of taking Shodan. Last year he took I Kyu and this year Black Belt. With his fine spirit and attitude never to be defeated took the test and passed, he was the only foreigner, of this years camp to take a test.

Another foreigner who travelled a long way just for the summer camp and to train under Mas Oyama was Charles Esterling, a Shodan from Holland. Charlie was surprised at the lack of knowledge of Kata we had. For in Honbu we only learn Kata a few weeks before a test. But Charlie really enjoyed the Japanese fighting spirit and the food.

The food was delicious, there was always too much. The games on the beach were a favorite with every­body, we did really well this year, beating one Japa­nese team in the Sumo Tournament and being kno­cked in the next round by only one point. The relay race on the beach was also good fun but we never won. The games really brought everybody a little bit closer together.

Our spare time was from 7 o’clock to 10 o’clock when we had to be in bed. Much of this time was spent outside by the Lake talking, and exchanging ideas about Karate. It was also a good time to get to know each other.

We will never forget this chapter in our lives, for the Japanese were very kind to us, especially Mr. K. Morita our translater who helped to communicate, his head must still be confused.

The one thing everybody enjoyed, was each other.

The Spring Osaka Tournament – 1980

by

The Spring Osaka Tournament

 

All over the world the weight division system is used in tournaments, already for a long time. In Japan it is rather new, as in Kyokushin tournaments the open class system is applied. But last year Kancho Mas. Oyama wanted to give the weight division system a try. He argues it is always good to try something new, to have the experience, however he never liked to have a Kyokushin tournament with weight divisions. But as he called last year’s Spring Osaka Tournament a success, it was repeated this year. Kancho says it is a nice experience for the participants, especially the Uchi deshi. It should make a higher level of fighting. Kancho is very glad to have given it a try, but in November, for the All Japan Tournament, the open class system will be applied.

This tournament was held in the Osaka Chuo Taikukan Hall. The 111 participants were divided in 3 weight divisions: 48 participants in the light weight class, (up to 65 kg), same amount of fighters in the middle weight class (up to 75 kg) and only 15 in the heavy weight class. Most heavy weights weighed about 80 kg with the only big exception of the

19-year old sport Yoshitaka Nishiyama, student of world champ Makoto Nakamura.

Generally speaking, the fighting of all 3 weight classes seems to become a stereo type, there is too much concentrating on low kicks and all variants. This does not satisfy Kancho that much, he only praised the fighting style of some light weights, their highly finished techniques. Kancho had nothing but negative critiques on the thrashing of the heavy weights. It was clear that instructions were given to limit extensions to a strict minimum.

In the first round of the light weights Toyoda Nobukuni did not show what we are used to see from him, but his opponent was only 1,55 m tall and had prettily adopted his fighting style to this fact. The later winner of this weight class, Midori Kenji produced a beautiful mawashi and ushiro mawashi resulting in an ippon gachi.

In the 2nd round Toyoda got a well-deserved ippon for his ushiro geri. Midori Kenji delivered again a beautiful fight. Minami from Honbu had to take a terrible kinte geri, I should state the boys here do not wear any kind of protection. The 3rd round was of a higher level, the atmosphere was better. In Japan rare or seldom you will see a wild enthusiastic audience. But now one started to scan names, shout advices and the time which was still to do. Midori Kenji won with an ippon for his jodan mawashi. At first Toyoda played a waiting game, but he sure made the tall Nakae (1,82m) fall into oblivion. Unluckily Toyoda lost in the quarter finals, just like last year. Midori Kenji got an applause for winning the fight with Tsuda Hisayoshi. It was a technical and spirited fight. This in contrast with the panicky fight of Suzuki, he lost from Sadamoto Hiroyuki.

The final between Miwa Hirayuki and Midori Kenji was beautiful. The referees decided it was Midori to win.

First and 2nd round of the middle weights mainly low kicks were given. Low kicks which were worth ippon, as some people could not get on their feet again! Some competitors were eliminated as they did not have enough stamina. Hashizume Hidehiko got a ganmen punch which arranged his lip terribly. And because of the bursting open of the doer’s fist, it became a bloody affair. 3 extensions were necessary to point out that the “lipvictim” won. In the 3rd round we admired the timing of Miwa Jan and the good tai sabaki of Shibata Mireki. Ireki Takehisa won after an extension, his opponent did not have enough stamina to continue. Hashizume won this round as well, notwithstanding his ugly injury, he performed some beautiful combinations. Next round Miwa Jan finished his opponent with a perfect mae geri. Ireki had a vicious fight with Shibata which he eventually won.

The semi final was of a good standard. Miwa Jan and Ireki equaled, but the nice combinations of the latter made the referees decide to his victory. The crowd was cheering when Mitsuishi Konichi lost from right Hashizume. It was a fight of faints and dangerous hiza geri.

In the final the exhausted Hashizume received a lot of punches and had to content himself being the runner up.

The heavy weights were few in number. It were mainly low kick fights. In first round Mori Yoshinichi won because of his spirit. Kaneyama Hirufuni got a waza ari for his shita tsuki. Nishiyama Yoshitaka finished his opponent with low kick. Even during the fights he listens carefully to the advices shouted by his ‘club mates.

In the 2nd round Shichinohe Yasuhiro set at work only slowly, he won the fight after an extension. Koi Yoshiharu won this round thanks to his strong left punch and powerful low kick. Nishiyama simply browbeaten his opponent with his mawashi and Shita tsuki.

Because of the few participants in this weight class, things proceeded quickly. Shichinohe and Koi both got a warning because of holding. The punching duel that needed 2 extensions ended in Shichinohe’s favor. Nishiyama was strikingly stronger than Kaneyama, he won with a waza ari for his low kick. This made that the final had to be fought between Shichinohe and Nishiyama. Last year as well they had to face each other in the final. The only difference was that Nishiyama gained another 5 kg, so that the weight gap of the competitors went up from 10 kg to 15. Things of last year were repeated. The crowd was very excited, people were cheering, and both parties were encouraged. The competitors themselves were as determined as last year to win this hard and vicious typical heavy weight fight. Two extensions full of suspense; punch versus low kick. Shichinohe eventual­ly could retain his title.

Karate Tameshiwari

by

TAMESHIWARI – 1980

 

TAMESHIWARI (breaking) cannot be separated from Karate as a whole. When speaking of Karate, people generally associate Karate with Tameshiwari, believing that the value of Karate exists in Tameshi­wari skill and expertise. However, actually Karate’s true value exists in technique, the arts, and spirit, not in Tameshiwari. Breaking is only a part of Karate and the biggest error is to set a high value on it. In keeping with this, Karate-Ka must not give a wrong impression of Kara­te by centering too much on it.

I have travelled extensively throughout the world and many times I have felt quite strongly that there is too much emphasis place on Tameshiwari, and that therefore the misconceptions that Karate skill is in breaking things is too widely accepted. This is particularly so in USA where the word “Karate” immediately conjures up the now famous “Karate Chop”.

I cannot stress strongly enough that Tameshiwari is merely a part of Karate, not the whole of it. The essential idea and spirit of Karate is to develop and

complete ones personality, ones body, skill, mind and spirit. Tameshiwari is only one element used in seeking and completing the perfecting of these skills.

However, when considering the Karate boom around the world, I am forced to admit that Tameshiwari has played a large part in making Karate popular, as Tameshiwari generally seems very attractive to people. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, a Karate exhibition was held to which many foreign personal of the Armed Forces were invited. They were not at all interested in Kata and Kumite demonstrations but when Tameshiwari was performed, the hall became as quite as still water. They were fascinated by the per­formances, and thunder this applause arose over the hall.

There was a similar reaction in USA when I visi­ted 32 of that country’s States between the March and November of 1952. Kata, Kumite and Kihon, were also not welcomed. But, as soon as Tameshiwari began, even a noisy crowd of thousands were silenced in amazement, and later gave a thunderous applause.

However, regardless of Tameshiwari popularity, true Karate has not progressed greatly because of the impossibility of holding satisfactory fighting matches. No Martial Arts can properly develop without fight­ing matches. In the past all Martial Arts have develo­ped and progressed by means of fighting, whether in true battle or merely by competition. However, Karate has no true match and has thus been slow to truly develop in a unified way. Kata and Kumite without true battle or merely by competitions. However, Ka­rate has no true match and has thus been slow to truly developing in a unified way. Kata and Kumite without true fighting conditions is merely a sort of dance or physical exercise; it loses its Martial aspect styles that do not advocate full contact, it must be nearly impossible.

A Karate-Ka with speed does not always have strong power and grip, the Karate-Ka with strength does not always have speed, and the Karate-Ka with both is a rarity indeed.

For this reason, it is difficult to judge matches without contact. Judo can be judged by a fall, and Boxing by a knockout, but non-contact Karate has no such exact standard of judgment, matches usually being decided on superiority or inferiority. I believe this obscure judgment prevents Karate from develop­ment.

This is why contact and Tameshiwari have been entered in Kyokushinkaikan tournaments as a mea­sure of ability. It is true that tameshiwari  is a part of Karate, it is a barometer for Karate-Ka to judge abi­lity. A true Karate-Ka-should have three things; spirit, body and arts perfectly harmonious, and I look up to any Karate-Ka with such abilities.

Of course man is not God. However, I consider it man’s duty to engage in Martial Arts in order to make an effort to approach God. It is true indeed that man has sordid habits, but I think the value of man’s exis­tence is in the efforts and studies he makes to accom­plish his “way”.

Recently there have been many Championships in Karate, however, if a Champion could not break three 2 inch boards I would laugh at him. I claim that any Champion must have enough ability to kill a bull with a single blow. If he cannot do so, it would be doubt­ful if his punch is effective regardless of what ability he has to perform Kata and Kumite beautifully. A Karate-Ka must have more than just beautiful Kata and Kumite – he must have power.

Of course it isn’t the purpose of Karate to fight wild animals, but it is one way to develop Karate ability and test it, if there are no adequate matches

Speaking of Tameshiwari, there are more than 30 kinds, divided roughly into several divisions. Kumite and Tameshiwari are two sides of a coin, or the front and back covers of a book. Supposing that Kihon, Kumite and Kata are the parents, then Tameshiwari is the child.

It is as incorrect for a Karate-Ka to get caught in Kumite, Kihon and Kata and to neglect Tameshiwari as it is to neglect all in favour of Tameshiwari.

People equate Karate with Tameshiwari, and to, be sure, Tameshiwari is the greatest interest in Karate. Without Tameshiwari, Karate would not have progres­sed throughout the world. –

I should like to tell our readers that, Kihon, Ku- mite and Kata make 7 points out of a possible ten, Tameshiwari make ‘up the remaining three, and that all Karate-Ka should have all 4 abilities, plus spirit.

 

By Kancho Oyama

NATIONAL FULL CONTACT RESULTS 1980

by

 

AUSTRALIAN KYOKUSHIN OPEN FULL CONTACT
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

1980 SURFERS PARADISE

LIGHTWEIGHT
1.M.Varker VIC
2. Michael ManebeIci SA
3. Cori Kakatsos NSW
Yasualci Tortotoki NSW

MIDDLEWEIGHT
1. James Philips NSW
2. Brian Ellison OLD
3. Clinton McIntyre VIC
Cameron Quinn OLD

                                                                        HEAVYWEIGHT
                                                                  1. Tony Bowden OLD
                                                                   2. Nick Cujic NSW
                                                                 3. Graham Geary NSW 
                                                                   Luke Grgurevic VIC

OPEN CHAMPION

Tony Bowden OLD