THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE YOSHUKAN KARATE ASSOCIATION Summer 2014

ZANSHINChange is Constant

Our association went through a changerecently as we asked a couple of ourinstructors to leave the association. Thistype of decision is never taken lightly andonly after multiple efforts to resolvewhatever disagreements occur. We liketo think that the values we teach –respect for others; honour; dignity;perseverance; compassion would be

present in any potential conflict.Which brings us to the question ‘Are the values we teach

only for the dojo?’. In other words, do we behave one way inthe dojo and another outside the dojo? A colleague of minetold me about a seminar he once took with a budo masterwhere the master described how we behave different ways indifferent ares of our life but should be working towards beingthe same person in every area of out life:

This is no small feat. We have learned certain behavioursin different aspects of our life and can find it a challenge toreconcile all these different behaviours into one, singular wayof comporting ourselves. I know I continue to work towardsthis ideal every day of my life.

Ultimately the pursuit of martial arts mastery is not aboutdeveloping fighting or physical skills. It is about developing ourcharacters to be the best people we can be. The tool we use tohone our characters is the tool of budo training. As we all gothrough life’s various stages, it is good practice to stop and reflecton our behaviour and ask ourself – am I evolving to become thesame person wherever I am and with whomever I interact?

Food for thought....Yours in budo, Kancho

3 The History of the Yoshukan System from Okinawa to

Present Day Canada

5 A presentation of some of the origins of Martial Arts

through Okinawa

6 Karate Excellence

KANCHO CORNER

In this issue

Yoshukan Instructor Aron Sigurdsson demonstrating greatform in Yoko-Geri (Side Kick)!

Home DojoAll SocialPlay FamilyWorkHome aPl y ka rWo AllAll FamilyDojo lFamily aicSo

ZANSHIN 2

Yoshukan Karate Students with Sensei Peter Giffen, Honbu-Cho (Canadian Chief Instructor) of Ryusei Karate-do. Sensei Giffentaught Nunchaku Kumite to our Yoshukan kobudo students.

Academy Instructors Billy & Molly Reeves. The Academy is nowoffering Iaido Classes under Sempai Max Krouguerski

ZANSHIN 3

By Billy ReevesIn 2004 The Yoshukan Karate Association was founded byKancho Earl Robertson. Despite his extensive training in manydifferent forms of martial arts, the Yoshukan style of karate ismainly derived from the Chito-Ryu and Yoshukai styles ofkarate. This merging of the two styles can be seen in theYoshukan crest, displaying the cherry blossom shape ofYoshukai and the clasping hands around the rising/setting sunof Chito-Ryu. In order to trance back the lineage of thesestyles, both the evolution of karate and the progression of thedifferent masters must be examined.

In 1372 King Satto, king of one of three kingdomsformerly on the small island of Okinawa, declared allegianceto China's Ming Emperor. The trade of goods and servicesalso meant that Chinese visitors would share their knowledgeof Ch'uan-Fa, commonly known as kung-fu or gung-fu, themartial art developed by the Shaolin for self defense. Thiswas practiced alongside the indigenous Okinawans' ownmartial art called Tode and a practice of weaponry calledRyukyu kobudo. Okinawa is part of the Ryukyu archipelagowhich was invaded in 1609 by the Japanese Satsuma Clan.This ended Okinawa's independence and banned all forms ofweaponry. In order to survive under Japanese control, a unionwas formed between Tode and Kung-fu to create a unarmedstyle called Te (hand). Te was practiced in secret in threeOkinawan towns: Shuri, Naha and Tomari. Over time uniquesystems, Shuri-Te, Naha-Te and Tomari-Te, were developedand named after the town they originated in. During this timeTe was replaced by karate (empty hand). In 1875 the Satsumaoccupation of Okinawa ended and eventually in 1903 karatedo(way of the empty hand) was practiced openly. GichinFunakoshi is credited with popularizing karate in Japan whenhe travelled to Tokyo to give a demonstration to the JapaneseMinistry of Education in 1922. After the Second World WarOkinawa became a U.S. military site and servicemen wouldtrain in karate while stationed there. Finally, martial artsmovies created in the 1960s and 1970s increased thepopularity of karate globally and karate schools beganappearing around the world.

A Chinese martial artist named Kushanku or Kusanku isthought to have had an influence on all styles of karate. He is

The History of the Yoshukan System from Okinawa to Present Day Canada

believed to be born around 1670 in the Fukien province wherehe learned the art of Ch'uan-Fa from a Shaolin monk. In 1756Kusanku was sent to Okinawa as a Qing Dynasty ambassadorwhere he lived near Naha city. In 1750 Sakagawa Kangabegan his training with an Okinawan monk. After six years hewent to train with Kusanku. Sakagawa spent another six yearswith Kusanku then went to spread what he had learned tovarious pupils. In 1806 he began teaching his own style ofkarate in the city of Shuri where one of his students wasSokon Matsumura. In the 1820s, Matsumura went on todevelop the Shorin-Ryu style which was a combination ofShuri-Te, Tomari-Te and Shaolin Kung-Fu. In 1881 HigaonnaKanryo returned to Okinawa from his studying in China tofound the Shorei-Ryu style of karate. Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose,grandson of Matsumura, studied both Shorin-Ryu and Shorei-Ryu throughout most of his early life. In 1921 he moved tomainland Japan to study medicine. Then in 1946 he foundedthe Chito-Ryu style as a combination of Shorin-Ryu, Shorei-Ryu and his knowledge of the human body gained from hismedical training. In 1953, at the age of 15, MamoruYamamoto began training in Chito-Ryu under Dr. Chitose.Then in 1959 him and his wife opened their own dojo inKitakyushu Japan. In the early 1960s Yamamoto was givenpermission from Chitose to start his own branch of karatecalled Yoshukan. In 1963 the third kanji was changed from -kan (to stand alone) to -kai (association). In 1957 Mike Fosterwas stationed at Ituzuke Air Force Base in Japan. There hefirst studied judo then Goju-Ryu style karate under Watanabe.Watanabe later suggested that Foster study under Yamamoto.Foster returned to the U.S. as a 4th degree black belt. In 1980Foster founded his own Yoshukai International KarateAssociation.

Kancho Earl Robertson has over 40 years of martial artsstudy in many different styles of karate. These includeJikkishin-Ryu, Yoshukai and Chito-Ryu. It is a combination ofthese styles, his philosophy of the true goal of martial artsbeing character development and his training in Judo, Iaidoand Kobudo that forms the basis for his curriculum inYoshukan Karate.

ZANSHIN 4

Shihan Provencher passed her Karate Canada 5th Dan (Godan) examination with the Senior Technical Committee in Canada.

Sempai Bauernberger with Hochelaga Dojo JuniorChampions!

Sensei Kalinowicz teaching juniors at Gadbois dojo whileparents look on

Kancho with Montreal Juniors at NDG Dojo!

Yoshukan Training in Quebec

ZANSHIN 5

By Alain Denis, San DanOver 150 different martial arts forms have been documentedworldwide, more may be developed. All of these martial artsremain a link between mankind beyond their culturaldifferences. From India, through China and Japan as well as allthe continents of the globe, of all the origins of these fightingsystems, Okinawa has what is the most remarkable history forit has had a unique and influential resonance on all continents.Myths and legends abound from this very small area of theOrient, however this short essay will focus on facts andsequences of events from the ‘Southern Island’, and attempt toresume the sequences in history of the martial arts from Todeonward to the traditional karate systems of recent times.

The culture of Okinawa and the Ryukyus archipelago isdifferent from that of mainland Japan. A long history as anindependent and peaceful Kingdom and the influence of ancientChina has created a unique culture.

The main Island of the RyuKyus is Okinawa, and in 1187the ruler was Shunten, son of exiled Japanese SamuraiMinamoto No Tametomo. By union of his father with a nativewoman, Shunten became anji (Uchinanchu noble: Okinawanborn). By uniting a very important number of followers, heproclaimed himself King (Shunten Dynasty 1186-1253),overthrowing Ryiu, 25th King of the Tenson Dynasty. Around1300, the peaceful kingdom became the theatre of feudalevents, forming fiefs, and rivalries became common. Nospecific form of hand to hand fighting in that period has beenrecorded as far as researchers know today, but did exist askumi-uchi. Bo, Sickle and Sai were, however, definitely present.

Many rulers came after Shunten. Eventually, threeKingdoms took hold of the large southern island. The years1400 to 1469 (First Sho Dynasty) saw several upheavals andrevolts of discord. In the Second Sho Dynasty (1470-1879 ) ShoShin I succeeded in uniting all of Uchinan (Okinawa). The ShoMonarchy ruled from the capital at SHURI city, their successiveKings controlling the RyuKyu Archilepago, extending fromJapan to Taiwan to the Chinese Fujian coast, from 1477through 1606. The fighting methods of these people was notyet literally structured however referred to as unante and waspersonal defense rather than battlefield technique. In the1500’s, Akahachi Oyakei, Chief of the Yaeyama Islands, hadbeen submitted to King ShoShin. He is the earliest alledgedbujutsu Okinawan specialist to have developed structuredsingle person training bujutsu routines with Bo (kata). Modernkarate great master and one of Chinen Gua’s (Dr. TyuhoshiChitose 1898-1984) mentors by the name of Kyan (Chan)Chotoku spent many years training at the Yaeyama Islands.

Some Key Events.Previously, around 1372, through kinship and diplomatic

A presentation of some of the origins of Martial Arts through Okinawa

envoys, one of the three petty Kingdoms of Okinawa,CHUZAN, had developed a prestigious and influentialrelationship with China’s Fujian region along the coast of theChina Sea. Okinawa gained recognition as a Chinese vassal.Paying royalties to the Chinese, exchanges of culture and artswere more and more common. Chuzan received manyofficials and military attachés to the extent of forming apermanent Chinese colony of skilled craftspeople, merchantsand their families (36 families-BinBun) taking residence inKuminda at Naha, Okinawa’s major port. This was the Chineseemperor’s (Zhu Yuanzhang) way of providing teachers toOkinawan people. Within these groups were Buddhist monks,occupational specialists and security specialists. Through the14th to the mid 17th century, Okinawan dance depictedmartial arts movements (folk art of te) as they witnessed theentrenchment of Chinese culture. Chinen Gua (TsyuhoshiChitose 1898-1984) was born and raised in Kumochi,neighborhood to Kuminda (Japanese called Kumemura). Beingin constant contact with this Chinese community, Chinen Guawould be obviously inspired as in his formative years cameunto knowledge of TE (TODE) through those people and hisgrandfather Matsumura Sokon (circa 1797-1903).

During the Sho Monarchy, a weapons prohibition wasordered but was unsuccessful. In the latter years, KingShoShin III had succeeded in acquiring enough support in allthe countryside and Uchinanchu Nobles under his rulesucceeded in enforcing weapons prohibition in order tosecure his reign. The Middle Kingdom was secured. The longstaff or Bo, a commonplace weapon as early as the 14thcentury as well as Kyudo, Katana , and Yari were applied tothe prohibition. The Sai was however excluded from the ban.

Japan looks towards the RyuKyus and Okinawa.Several intrusive visits to Japan from Westerner andEuropean ships had brought Japan to close its ports totravelers. Upheavals from within due to this began in the 16thcentury. Okinawa’s strategic location was too important to beneglected in the south and, in dealing with intrusions fromEuropean and Western travelers, Japan revived a 7th centuryclaim they had over Okinawa. In this era of the 16th century,Japan had approached Okinawans for assistance to invadeChina and Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia. Okinawans refused,being a trades-people of luxury goods and crafts, mostlymotivated towards a peaceful existence. Japan alsorequested tributary payments be re-established. Okinawarefused. Japan had by then been taken rule by the Shogunate(military authority) who now possessed firearms introduced

Continued on Page 6

ZANSHIN 6

Yoshukan DVDs – White Belt to 5th DanAll Kata; Bunkai; Kumite; Ukemi; Kobudo and Goshin Jutsudemonstrated by Kancho Robertson from beginner to 5th Degree Black Belt in the Yoshukan System.

$25 each or both for $45. Please add $15 for shipping & handling charges. Payments can be made by creditcard or check at the Mississauga dojo.

ZANSHIN2355 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 9Mississauga, ON L5J 4S8Phone: 905.919.1919Email: iaito@rogers.comWebsite: www.yoshukankarate.com

Sandra Coffey brought 11 students to a competitionhosted by Sensei Denis Cordeiro and they all competed inkata. Five students placed and all were great representativesof Yoshukan Karate. Thank you to Simon and Maryève foraccompanying Sandra and coaching/supporting the students.Their help was invaluable as 6 competitor categories wererunning simultaneously.

Sempai Sandra Coffey isbuilding a ChampionshipDojo (Karate ExcellenceDojo) in Montreal

by the Portuguese.In 1606, Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (military ruler of Japan,

subject only to the emperor Go-Y�zei) ordered the SatsumaSamurai Clan to invade Okinawa. The Uchinanchu (Okinawan)people were nearly helpless. Tokugawa forced King SHo III tosign an oath bringing Okinawa to be a vassal of Japan. Acounselor to the King raised his voice of dissent, and wasdecapitated by a samurai katana. From that time, The Kingbecame a puppet and his magistrate subjugated. The Satsumatook charge of all local and trade affairs. Being the King wasnow nothing more than a ‘’job’’, and could be replaced uponorder of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Tokugawa’s influence resonateseven today in the way we open and close karate classes as hehad dictated rank and file to the Samurai. The Satsumacontrolled Okinawa until 1879. After the Japanese abolition ofTokugawanate, the Meiji restoration moved to democracy.

The defining of TEDuring this period of Satsuma Samurai control, a Chinesemanual of martial technique was circulation amongst a fewselect individuals. The Satsuma had confiscated all weaponseven amongst the King’s closest servants and body guards.

A presentation of some of the origins ofMartial Arts through OkinawaContinued from page 5

This manual covered battlefield warfare as well as individualmartial combat. Titled Wu Pei Chi, (Bu Bi Shi in Japanese, orBuBiShi) , the BuBiShi (of some 240 articles relating to asmany combat forms and systems, health, medicine, nutrition,etc.) would have a very strong impact on what was tobecome karate-do. Chinese Shaolin (Shorin in Japanese)White Crane fighting was present. In the BuBishi we find the14th article dedicated to pugilistic fighting in defensive nature.Quan (kata) is explained in this manuscript for the first timeand Sanchin (3 conflicts-Chinese form Happoren) is detailed inits teachings.

In the latter years of this empire, King Sho III seekedbetter protection and re-defined his security needs. He namedthe extraordinary Matsumura Sokon (grandfather of ChinenGua) as ‘’Bushi’, a first in Okinawan history as Bushi werenormally promoted through Royal Family protocol. In 1822,Matsumura had thus become Head of Security and ChiefMagistrate responsible for all activities at Shuri Castle and allactivities surrounding the King. He was 22 years old and anexpert in Martial arts, his knowledge acquired, as of age 14,mostly through ‘Peichin’ (servant to the King) SakugawaChikodun Kanga (born Teruya Kisei 1733-1815) andSakugawa’s son Kangi (1762-1843).

Continues in next issue of Zanshin