WINTER 1999

This news letter was first published in the winter of 1999. The contents was written by the students and therefore, the views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Kushido organization unless specifically stated.

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POSITIVE GASHUKU 99 FIRST UK BEGINNER REGIONAL WEEKEND

POSITIVE TRAINING ATTITUDES

MAINTAINING DISCIPLINE AND RESPECT IN KUSHIDO

Discipline... Respect... two words which seem to crop up repeatedly within Martial Arts circles; and paradoxically so, it would seem, for where is the respect when you are planting your big toe in your partner's ear, or your rising knee in their groin? And where is the discipline when twenty or so green belts are told "hajime!", and suddenly start bounding around the dojo floor with arms and legs flailing in all directions? Well the obvious and immediate answer is this: without any discipline or respect for out training partners then injuries would occur very quickly and very often - even relatively new students to kushido must have watched some senior randori and wondered how often noses get broken, or ribs cracked, or worse, and the answer is hardly ever... not in our system anyway! However, both of these concepts (discipline and respect) are much more far reaching, and to try to highlight this here's and extract from Hanshi Denis in Honbu dojo's summer 1995 newsletter, as there are lessons for everybody in this piece:

discipline and respect are fundamental aspects in you learning process and without them your development in the martial arts will be hampered. When we talk of discipline and respect, it relates to all aspects of your training, including your attitude towards your teachers, your fellow students, your dojo, your attendance and payment of fees. Your teachers have a very responsible and difficult task. They must have the ability to inspire, encourage and discipline their student. They also have to try to see each student as an individual and know when to be 'hard' or 'soft', as the situation demands. They must be enthusiastic no matter what personal problems they may have. Their job is to develop each and every student to their highest potential: this is no mean task. Students in turn, therefore, must show respect for their teachers. This means greeting them in a respectful manner, bowing and addressing them with their designated title. Once in the class, students are expected to train hard trying to perfect each and every technique, listening and applying what the teacher is saying, As the training program is progressive, every effort must be made not to miss a class - a minimum training of twice a week is required to gain the maximum benefit and progress. It is not good enough just to train when you 'feel like it'. Discipline yourself to this end. If something prevents you from attending your class, it would be appreciated if you phone or send a message to your teacher explaining why. Furthermore, it is important for everybody to arrive on time for class. By being late you not only show disrespect for your teacher and fellow students, but you also disrupt the class.

Another party of your discipline concerns the payment of fees - which should be paid on time, because dojos have high overheads and many expenses to meet. Remember that your teachers also have to pay to gain their knowledge

Your attitude towards your fellow students should also be one of respect, for they, as you, are undergoing the same hard training and experiencing the same frustrations in their development as you are in your. No one sails through training without experiencing many ups and downs. Remember, your technique becomes increasingly more effective the longer you train, therefore it must be controlled, especially during Randori, so as not to cause unnecessary injury. The dojo (training temple) is the place where you are learning about yourself and developing your character. It is a place where you learn about life and living - Respect it, and keep it clean and tidy.

The disciplines experienced in the martial arts should spill over into every aspect of your life. All this is perhaps easier said than done... Keep going!

Important advice for all of us, and highlights something that is all too often taken for granted. For most beginners and sadly even some long standing students all of the discipline is enforced, or put upon you - told where to stand, what to do, when to do it, even how many times to do it, and what to wear! Some of it even starts before the class! - wash your gi, iron you gi, be here on time, pay your fees, do this do that, etc, much of which may even seem petty or dictatorial at first thought. However please bear this in mind: if you would like to learn real karate, then you must first have the correct attitude and be in the right frame of mind; anyone can stand in line and go through the motions, but do you think it appropriate to learn how to strike, kick, break, dislocate, even rupture or more without having some degree of self-control, self-discipline, and respect for another' well-being? Or no interest in how to carry yourself in such a way to avoid having to use it in the first place? Of course not, not just simply for the safety of all students, but the speed at which these factors are absorbed will affect the rate of the individuals' progress. So the early versions of discipline and respect are 'externalized', i.e. they are directed outwards to others and are enforced upon you (and some individuals resent this deeply!), however, true discipline and respect must (eventually) come from the self, but must also be directed to the self as well as others - be your own disciplinarian, then you won't need someone else to put it upon you: respect yourself, and then you will find it that much easier to respect others and have them respect you. I believe that once this is understood and absorbed then it will reflect in our day-to-day dealings and relationships - this is part of the "-Do" spilling over into our every day living. Sounds simplistic, even patronizing, and as Hanshi says it's easier said than done, but sadly more often said but not done!

Lindsay Jenkins

Learning is finding out what you already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know just as well as you.

You are all learners, doers, teachers.

You teach best what you most need to learn.

Richard Bach

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POSITIVE GASHUKU 99 FIRST UK BEGINNER REGIONAL WEEKEND

SWISS GASHUKU 1999

The sun streaks over the snow capped mountain tops in a most breath-taking, life giving rustic red. The few clouds in the sky seem to be laughing as if they are in paradise. A cool breeze flows like a gentle sword through the mountains, the trees, our legs, our hair; it cools and relaxes all it encounters, as the gentle waves of the lake lap unceasingly against the rocks. The deep friendly sounds of cows rumble and ring through the valley, and in the distance the magnificent birds of prey glide through the air carrying the wisdom and beauty of the natural world.

This is how I felt the day I arrived in Stansstad, whilst swimming in the lake. Little did I know then what was ahead!

A group of five English Kushidoka ventured to Switzerland this year: Eddie, John Chris, Bev and myself. We stayed in Shihan Paul's dojo for four days before Gashuku started, so we had a great chance to see the local area. Walking up beautiful mountains, eating pizza at hotel Winkelwied (a hotel/pizza restaurant/cafe right on the lake with a perfect view), swimming in the lake and training at Sensei Ruedi's dojo and at Shihan Paul's dojo. The Swiss find it very funny that they do thousands of kicks on one leg without changing. They also skip to corny music for twenty minutes and then play with a peculiar iron rod stuck in a bucket of cement. In Swizerland their dojo has a very close, caring and loving feeling.

On Sunday we drove up to Oberikkenbach and chose our rooms - (I chose one one the bloody bell side!). The first training session was held by Shihan Paul who welcomed us, put us into cooking groups and made us rather sweaty. That evening Shihan Paul gave us an evening tale, translated by Sempai Martin. Afterwards I went outside to take in the magical atmosphere Oberrickenbach. We were woken up at 6:00am on Monday morning which was a bit of a surprise, Shihan Paul led us on a brisk walk up a hill followed by an invigorating morning training session. The rest of the day was quite relaxed as we were getting used the surrounding. On Tuesday morning I was quite keen to start the morning walk but as the day went on I felt like i was disintegrating all over. To make things even more interesting it was my group's turn to cook the evening meal which was especially fun as nobody spoke English in my group. That evening the restaurant was open so most people crowded in and ordered coffee schnapps, but I preferred to gorge myself on ice-cream. Most of the people were to regret this however. Chris and I sat talking in the trees until 12:00am as we had a suspicion of midnight training. That night at 12:30am there was indeed a bonus training session. The whole hotel was like someone had disturbed a massive beehive! Wednesday was a very hard day as we were all stiff and sore and were now working on adrenaline. I tried to keep up with Shihan Paul along side Bev in the morning walk, but this was a mistake as I should have paced myself. On this desperate day they kept us going by giving us croissants for breakfast (Bev was amazed at the commotion this caused) but after this treat it was back to push-ups on the knuckles and shiko! That evening was circle dancing with Shihan Juanita, everyone completely enjoyed this, and it created such a pleasant atmosphere that from that point on I realized I was where I wanted to be - following this, Chris and company went down to the restaurant and had some more beer!

Thursday really did burn. In the morning Sempai Martin tried to start a push-rebellion. The foolish orange belts (not me!) all stood up on strike joining Sempai Martin. Shihan Paul picked up his special Kendo sword - Sempai martin laid down immediately, the orange belts however were not so smart, but they did lay down when Shihan Paul cracked them across the bottom with his sword. Shihan Paul announced that if you catch 10 flies you would be rewarded with a cup of coffee from the black belt room. The restaurant was full again and we heard a roomer of midnight training, but it a joke (amusing indeed), so John Eddie, Ingor and me, asked Sempai martin if he would do a special midnight training just for us keen beans. He agreed and it was quite intense with weapons and throws; I was hit over the head with the nunchaku (by myself). It ended with everybody rolling around wrestling. A German/South African man named Ingor kept us amused the entire Gashuku coming out with quotes like "i can't handle this, I'm a creature of luxury"

On Friday everyone had a good day but it was still a very hard day. Shihan Paul was late for one session so he had to slide across the floor in seiza (this created much laughter). In the evening plays and games were arranged and afterwards we all walked down to guess where? the restaurant. Chris and company drank much beer that night!

On Saturday we packed our bags and had one last session of fun (handstands and other things that no-one can do apart from Shihan Paul), Bev however, kindly demonstrated a British handstand. That lunchtime people were in high spirits and it was quite difficult to say goodbye. For the last few days in Switzerland we cycled to Lucerne, had a few more trainings, attended a completely wild pig farming party, and swam in the lakes as a it was perfect weather. After the gashuku Chris slept every night with fists clenched in his sleep. On the last day Shihans Paul and Juanita took us to a cafe by the lake which was one of the most beautiful evenings with a fantastic sunset. That evening summed up the whole experience for me, a perfect setting with such a special feeling of a family that the Swiss create.

I keep remembering clippets of the good times that seem to get stronger and stronger. A gashuku is a wonderful experience and should be experienced by all - I can't wait to do another gashuku and so I will see you all on Gashuku 2000.

Phillip Ansell.

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POSITIVE GASHUKU 99 FIRST UK BEGINNER REGIONAL WEEKEND

MY FIRST YEAR OF KUSHIDO

I began Kushido in October '98 when my husband Chris and I Moved out of London to Camberley. We had enough of living in London, and Camberley seemed like a good place to stay as it would enable Chris to pursue his Kushido in a more committed manner. I had heard a great deal about Kushido from Chris and realised that the move to Camberley would give me the opportunity to take up Kushido and form my own opinion about it.

I arrived at my first class, rather apprehensive. I have always been a competitive perfectionist and was anxious about how I would cope with learning something new and thus not being able to do stances etc 100% correctly first time. However, Sempai Laura, who taught me for my first month, helped to put me at ease. Her encouraging and patient manner kept me going, especially during times of grat frustration when I felt that it might be easier just to give up. During my first year of Kushido I was fortunate enough to be able to attend 3 gashukus in 3 different countries. I had only been training for 1 week when I attended the English weekend gashuku, which was most beneficial. As well as giving me the basic grounding it was also a chance to get to know my fellow students better. I also went on a week's gashuku in South Africa. This was a special experience for me - training in my home country and getting to spend time at the Institute, meeitng O'Sensei and other respected teachers. The Swiss gashuku was also very worthwhile. The Swiss have a rather physically tough way of training, but I survived it and came away both mentally and physically stronger. A big thank you to the Swiss who are incredibly hospitable and go out of their way to make you fell welcome. When I first started Kushido I used to train twice a week but after a few months also began attending classes once a week at Sensei Lindsay's dojo in Windsor. Although his dojo is relatively new it has a number of very keen, committed students (which is not surprising given Sensei Lindsay's infectious enthusiasm). All in all, my first year of Kushido has been very positive in a number of way. That's not to say it's all been easy I still have some 'bad' classes where I get impatient and frustrated. However, I am slowly learning how to change my attitude and response to these frustrating moments. Kushido is also helping me deal with issues in the rest of my life in a more constructive way. For example, it has taught me how to deal with criticism and not to compare myself with others. It has given me greater confidence and awareness of my self and my relationship with other people and my environment. Through Kushido I have also developed some special friendships. Thank you to all the Sensei and Sempai who have taught me during my tear in England I thoroughly enjoyed being taught by you and it was very refreshing to experience the various, different teaching approaches. Despite enjoying my time in the UK I am obviously excited about returning to South Africa, and we are hoping to live near a dojo so that we can continue training. It looks like the 2000 is going to be another good year on the kushido front, what with the UK gashuku in April and the Swiss gashuku later int the year

Keep training and have fun!

Bev Gomersall

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POSITIVE GASHUKU 99 FIRST UK BEGINNER REGIONAL WEEKEND

10 YEARS OF KUSHIDO UK?

Before the next issue of this newsletter is out, Kushido will have been running in the UK main land for ten years. A tenth anniversary is quite an achievement for any organization, and we seem to have done it with some style! But our British origins go back further than that here, to the early nineteen seventies, when Sensei Dennis Martin and his students wore the Karate-do badge up north. Readers of Terry O'Neill's "Fighting Arts" will know him as the VIP protection expert and columnist. He maintained links with what is now the Kushido Institute for many years, until international politics intervened. But by the mid eighties, Sensei Sue Allen had established a Dojo on the Channel Island of Alderney, and so our presence in the UK was maintained. Alderney still has a small Kushido centre, now run by Sensei's Mike and Angie Carr. In Parallel, Sensei Hans Cleton had returned to his native Netherlands, and Koshi's (now Shihan) Juanita and Paul Baumann had returned to his home in Switzerland to establish Kushido there.

The scene was set for a major growth in the Kushido world, namely the eventual setting up when Renshi (now Hanshi) Denis st, John Thomson arrived in Camberley for six months to start the Dojo that has now become the Central Dojo for Kushido UK Hanshi has been in the International organization from the start and, as Chief Instructor, he supplied the ingredients essential for the ten year growth that followed. Officially, we regard this as the starting point of Kushido UK, because the mainland line has been unbroken since. I was fortunate enough to have been Hanshi's student in South Africa for eight years before Leila and I immigrated into Britain In December 1990. He had now returned to Cape Town, and my taking over Camberley Dojo was the natural next step.

The school was fledgling, only Juniors and white belts (some now not so junior, or with belts quite so white!), but we had the basics in place. These things take time to nurture, and it was almost five years before we saw our first Shodans. The second half of the nineties saw more Dan grades issued, about ten all told, and with immigration and travel, we now usually have at least a dozen Black belts in the country at once. We've enjoyed many international visits from top Kushido Teachers over the years, and 1998 saw the first UK contingent of students going to the Institute in South Africa for a three week "Bushi" course. We've also enjoyed regular contact with Switzerland, the Netherlands and Australia, which has shown that UK kushido sets as high a standard as anywhere. "kushido Europe" is now a major influence on the international Kushido scene. It's led by the National Heads of Kushido in Britain, Netherlands and Switzerland (myself, Sensei Hans and Shihans Paul and Juanita). Shihan Paul is considered to be one of the top Teachers in the organization below the Hanshi's, and so we're very well-placed for senior-level teaching of a very high standard. Everyone involved in Camberley dojo has contributed to our growth, and for that I thank all of you. There have been ups and downs in our history, like in any organization, but the proof of our efforts is plain to see. AT last count, we had three Dojos (Camberley, Windsor and Alderney) and well over a hundred students. We have a strong core of Black Belts, and plenty of Shodan-frenzied colour-belts following. Our links in Europe are firm, and growing firmer. We have all the qualifications and experience of a mature teaching organization, and I'm looking forward to immense growth in the Third Millennium!

In the meantime train well, focus whole-heartedly in basics, and never forget that good strong, fundamental groundwork lays the foundation for the success that will then inevitably follow.

Sensei John

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POSITIVE GASHUKU 99 FIRST UK BEGINNER REGIONAL WEEKEND

HE'S PROBABLY A BEGINNER FROM WINDSOR

After a total of about eight years now, first training in the kid's class, and then with the adults, it was until about two months ago I thought I'd seen everything. I was there when we spent half an hour walking searching for the boundaries of our partner's "energy egg". I was there for the last Friday of the Month classes when Sensei John enlightened us on the subject of the many, deeply buried, "interconnections" around us, of which most of the population have no idea, and that the Powers That Be prefer you don't ask. But the lead-up to the Millennium has been a very interesting time for Kushido UK. The adult class has blossomed, with at least 25 students attending each evening; a far cry from the much smaller numbers here just two years ago, as many seniors can vouch for. We have also benefited from several visits from overseas instructors, especially Kancho Hugh. I had never seen him before the first time he visited this year, and as I wasn't wearing my glasses I couldn't make out that he was wearing a white rope instead of a white belt, and when asked who he was I replied, quite knowledgeably, that "he's probably a beginner from Windsor". I sincerely hope that a copy of this newsletter will not be sent over to the Farm. The last month has also been an interesting time for me personally with my grading for brown belt and the advent of the Monday night class (Thunderclap and evil laughing off stage). I had been warned that the grading for brown belt " may be a little tough" - to say that would be slight understatement. I have also been told however that having gone through it myself, the next brown belt grading would give me great satisfaction to watch! In respect to the Monday night class it's difficult to put a finger on the difference between it and the normal class. In some ways it is a more relaxed atmosphere as there is a small group and every one knows each other well, but it is also quite frightening how the focus can literally switch on and off instantly - I've been caught out on several occasions by lightning techniques that landed even before I realised they were coming. But some of the things I've done in the last month are quite unprecedented: for example imagine knife Randori, floor Randori and even stadium Randori. Confused? I still am.

Mark Lee

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POSITIVE GASHUKU 99 FIRST UK BEGINNER REGIONAL WEEKEND

REGIONAL GASHUKU

As most of you know, the annual Kushido UK regional gashuku was held over the 1st weekend of October. Gashuku always has many facets, and this was no exception! Technical training and "re-calibration" is always extremely important and this gashuku was no exception. Lots of time was spent on movement and technique in kata and basics. We ended a long Saturday with some good physical exercise and many of the participants ended up having the obligatory dinner and assessment of the day over some liquid refreshment that evening! We were very fortunate to have the able assistance of Shihan Juanita from Switzerland and Sensei John and I believe everyone learned a tremendous amount from the varied classes. Sunday started with the usual groans and moans during the warm-up, buy we soon got underway and did some excellent randori training as well as kata. All too soon the day ended at around lunchtime and everyone left for a well deserved Sunday afternoon nap. This gashuku was different to previous ones, due to the "large" South African contingent (S. Mai'lin, Leonard, Graham, Mandy) and I believe I speak for all of them when I say that we enjoyed it immensely and were very impressed by the level of commitment and dedication in the UK dojos. It felt like home to us and we might just as well have been training back in South Africa.

I believe that this weekend was also very important within the context of the current climate in Kushido. Many changes are happening and there was opportunity to discuss this over the weekend. As with all change, it is not always easy and things take time to get used to. The most important learning for us all and the single most important thing to remember going forward is that each and every one of us had a voice in the system. It cannot exist without every individual. If you have questions or suggestions or concerns, no matter whether you are white or black belt, it is your right actually your obligation to address them with the relevant people in the system. In this way we all resolve our individual issues and ensure the long term future of out system. It is a brilliant system that works extremely well but it exists because of its members. Fill your space!

Leonard Mead

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POSITIVE GASHUKU 99 FIRST UK BEGINNER REGIONAL WEEKEND

GASHUKU WEEKEND - OCT 99

The throng in the corridor before Friday night's session was very impressive with nearly 30 students from both Camberley and Windsor dojos (oh all right... only 3 from Windsor!) eagerly anticipating the nights training; the only glitches I could see were one or two disapproving looks from various people as passing members of the public would ask "Ooh!... are you with the TaeKwonDo?"

With the weekend being led by Shihan Juanita and Sensei John, this opening session was quite demanding, with (as always) the emphasis firmly on basics, posture, technique... and of course repetition. I'm sure that most students slept well that night. Saturday saw all the students have a variety of classes and teachers, and throughout the day would have been taught by Shihan Juanita, Sensei John, Leonard, and Graham. Having consolidated what was achieved and improved the night before, the secret ingredient of correct movement was added to the techniques in a variety of practices, and built upon throughout the day for Ippon Kumite - a massively important exercise, which although doesn't really change in format as you progress up through the grades, becomes increasingly more intense, quick, varied in attack and response, and will teach the student a huge amount about timing, distancing and control. With Kata for all grades to finish, and some excellent Randori for the black belts, it was an excellent day's training. One of the most critical aspects of any gashuku is the of course the Saturday night social! Very nice eating and drinking, but the social was mixed with business as discussions went on about many Kushido related topics as well as all students' progress and of course what ~~tortures~~, er, treats were in store for Sunday.

The Sunday morning warm-up is always a slow and painful one but soon everybody was fired up again. As most of the group went into kata practice, we in the black belt group (and this was something of a landmark for Kushido UK as through the development and progress of the last 1-2 years, we actually have enough Yudansha to require separate trainings), were fortunate enough to be taken by Shihan Juanita for kata, but mainly Randori practice. Assuming that technique and posture were ok, then the emphasis was on correct body positioning, distancing, appropriate response and timing, and perfectly controlled techniques (light but focussed tough). With some exercises that were new to all of us, Shihan Juanita built the tempo and intensity to almost full-on Randori Kumite - quite breathtaking, and as we heard Shihan call "Yame!" we suddenly noticed most other students had already stopped and were now watching! All too soon then it was over again, but always time for many of us to share a drink and a few hours post-gashuku discussion, jokes and the forging of new friendships.

As always it seemed the course was over far too quickly, but the lessons learnt will stay with us hopefully much longer. For all levels, however, some of the lessons won't become apparent for weeks, months, possibly even years!! But rest assured, if you were listening, and practice hard, then as it all went in it must eventually come out. For me the weekend was summed up by my young student Ian, who as arriving for class the following Tuesday burst into the changing rooms to shout: "Fantastic weekend Sensei, but when will I stop grinning like and idiot?"

Lindsay Jenkins

POSITIVE GASHUKU 99 FIRST UK BEGINNER REGIONAL WEEKEND