HOSHIKI MONTHLY
February/March 2009
It’s great to see so many new faces join in both our Junior and Senior classes. There is a real positive energy around the club and the enthusiasm of all our students is pleasing and will enable us to maintain a high standard of Martial Artist. I’m looking forward to seeing all of our students progress during the year.
You may have noticed our new Kata Chart on the wall. Please take the time to read it along with all the other profound and valuable information on the walls in the dojo.
WELCOME
Welcome to our new Junior students Taylor Dykstra, Danny Raaymakers, Zac Reilly, NathanKeane, Elly Clarke & Daniel Fitzsimmons.
And welcome to our new Senior students Kate Raaymakers & Andy Bickell. Welcome to Hoshiki Kiritsu and we hope you enjoy being a part of our club.
GRADING RESULTS
Congratulations to Cassie Carson on attaining her 7th Kyu (green bars).
Congratulations to Elly Clarke & Taylor Dykstra on attaining their 9th Kyu (yellow bars).
Congratulations to Andy Bickell, Kate Raaymakers & Jane Thornton on attaining their 9th Kyu (yellow bars)
Congratulations to Chelsea & Darren Carson on attaining their 8th Kyu (yellow belt)
Congratulations to Sempai Bill Alexander. After years of dedication I am pleased to call him “Sempai”. Please use this title in class when addressing Sempai Bill. I look forward to his forthcoming 2nd Dan grading.
TYING & REMOVING BELTS
When tying and removing your belt, please remember that you must be kneeling with your left knee up and your right knee on the ground during the entire process. It is important to show respect and humility for your belt by kneeling and lowering your head.
CHANGE TO CLASS TIMES FOR JUNIOR CLASSES
As most will now be aware, there has been a changed to class times for the Junior classes. I have decided to split the junior class into two groups. Not only has this made the class sizes smaller, but this means that we can now teach only 2, perhaps 3 levels at a time rather than 4 or 5 different levels at once. I have already found that we are now able to offer better instruction and the juniors are able to receive more individual attention. The first class runs from 9.00am – 9.45 and is for our newer students and the second class runs from 10.00am – 10.45. Thankyou to everyone for their co-operation with the change.
SUNDAY TRAINING
Remember that Sunday training is on again this year. If you don’t have a Sunday training calendar please see me. It works out to be usually every 2nd Sunday. Running is at 9.30 or your can come for just training from 10.00 – 11.00am – in the dojo, casual clothes. It is usually for the Seniors but if there are Junior gradings coming up then it is good for the Juniors to do perhaps 1 or 2 Sunday classes in the lead up to a grading.
INSURANCE
Annual insurance is now due. If you have not already paid please see Sensei Maree. Seniors $75.00, Juniors $60.00.
SENIOR STUDENT PROFILE
Alicia Keane – 8th Kyu
Hello, my nameis Alicia Keane. I am
married to Stuart with three children named
Nathan (8), Blake (4) and Tiana (1). They were
all due in February! Ha Ha! I also have a
cat named Sunny and our male dog is Crunchie
(not Sunny and Cher!).
My interests include going to the gym at least
3 times a week, listening to music, ballroom
dancing, travelling and making jewellery. I am a
qualified personal trainer and have recently
completed the “Thump” boxing class basic and
advance teaching courses.
The night I joined Karate I saw Maree (ironically
who I went to Primary school with). Innocently
I asked her “how long have you been doing Karate?”
She replied “for many years and this is my house and
Matt’s the other instructor!” I only remembered Maree’s maiden name and felt foolish but breathed a sigh of relief, for I had arrived in the dark not knowing where I was going and questioning what I was doing each step I took toward the dojo! Were there weapons of mass destruction, was it filled with unfriendly people??? Not on your life!
I have always liked combat sports, however I have never a fight and had not seen an adult grading until my own and was actually quite timid doing wrestling in my first lesson. I nearly changed my mind but the thought of practising on my brothers bought a real joy to the situation. I also thought back on the previous week where I casually told two beefy guys to shift their double-parked vans in Ringwood Square so I could get through – without a thought as to how I would defend myself!! Time to enrol somewhere I thought, and work on my attitude!
From that moment on, I have been overwhelmed by how friendly the people are at the Dojo. The instructors are extremely knowledgeable and patient. Nothing is too much for them. I look forward every week to Karate because I always take something new home to think about to practice. I love getting a great workout and everything I learn is so practical to real life situations. Often we are reminded of our goals and I have always noted this quote hanging on a wall in the dojo:
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not
realise how close they were to success when they gave up”
Thomas Edison.
JUNIOR STUDENT PROFILES
Tom Dominko – 7thKyu
Hi! My name is Tom. I am in Grade 3 at Sacred HeartPrimary School in Croydon. The best thing about school is the term holidays. I have a sister Isabelle who is almost 7 and a younger brother Max who is 2 (and annoying). He always plays in my room, makes a mess that I have to clean up! Other things about me are:
Age: 8
Favorite Colour: Green.
Future Occupation: When I grow up I want to be
a professional ninja or play football for the Saints.
Favorite TV Show: Ben 10, WWE wrestling
(Smackdown not Raw) and The Simpsons
Favorite Sport: Football and Karate
Favorite Food: Sheppard’s Pie, Meat Pie, Chips
and McDonald’s Nuggets. Please do not serve
me Quiche. I do not like Quiche.
My dream is: To fly.
I want to know why…. Every time I go out to
kick the football it is flat.
Favorite Book: The OK Team
Favorite Video Game: Little Big Planet on PS3
Cassie Carson - 7th Kyu
Hi, my name is Cassie Carson. I am 6 years
old and in Grade 1 at RingwoodHeights
Primary School. My hobbies are playing with
my dogs Dozer and Misty. I also love running
a lot. I am looking forward to playing Netball
at my school this year as I am great at shooting
goals. I am also going to be starting keyboard
lessons soon too. My dad (Darren) and sister
(Chelsea) do karate in the Seniors class. We
are trying to get mum to join by haven’t had
any luck yet! I love Karate because I’m on a
higher belt than my dad and sister, that’s
pretty cool. I also have a holiday place in
Waranga and I get to pat horses and catch
yabbies and sometimes leaches too. I love to
go in our blow up boat on our dam, it’s soooo fun.
The Adventures of Hosh & Yoko Geri
Episode 13
Master Hosh and Yoko tentatively followed the tribeswomen along the river. As they brushed back two deliberately placed tree branches they saw a small community of seemingly happy natives. Master Hosh immediately marvelled at the intricate yet humble array of adjoining mud brick houses. (Yoko was interested in the whereabouts of the young man who had confiscated their weapons).
Slowly but surely they gathered around our two travellers, looking and wondering at their seemingly spectacular Hakamas and neat fitting hesion tops. Finally another young man motioned for them to come forward. He led them each to a single mud brick and motioned for them to sit. The ever-increasing crowd of natives then sat around. There was a short silence and then from behind them the young man brought forward their sai’s. He was holding them, quizzically looking – obviously not knowing what they were or how they were made. It was obvious that no one in the tribe had ever seen metal before. As he placed the weapons at their feet there was an awe-inspired gasp from the children.
“Master, I think they want to know what our sai’s are for.”
“Your right Yoko, I will demonstrate for them.”
With that Master Hosh picked up his sai and began to dig a hole in the ground. He then found a small branch and placed it in the hole.
“Master, what are you doing?” Yoko begged in disbelief. “Our sai’s are spectacular and deadly weapons – not farming tools!”
“I know that Yoko, but we are here to learn – if all we can teach to these peaceful people is a lesson of violence then I would rather pass on nothing!”
Episode 14
The tribe gathered around the newly planted branch and began pointing. There was obvious approval within the group; Master Hosh assumed that the harvesting and sowing of plants and vegetables was a difficult task for the group. The young man once again motioned for the sai’s – Master Hosh handed them over motioning for him to try one in the soil. The young man immediately dug a small hole and then another and another. He was immeasurably pleased with the speed and accuracy of the metal. Master Hosh and Yoko looked at each other – Master Hosh pleased and proud to pass on knowledge without verbal communication, Yoko still considering how he would get his sais back.
“Yoko, we will eave tomorrow, and we will leave one of your sais with the tribe.”
“But Master, you know how they must be used as a pair! I will be unbalanced!”
“Nonsense Yoko! You will simply have a hand free to either strike with or use another weapon. Who knows, maybe two sais at once was not as practical as we thought. We will never know until you try Yoko – for I never new a sai could provide a means for food until I thought beyond the confines of what I have been taught.”
****
GOOD LUCK
Good luck to Daniel Dinneen who has just begun his Special Operations Group training course with the Police Force. We wish him all the best.
TRAINING TIP
When training for endurance whether it is sparring rounds, equipment rounds or wrestling- try to conserve energy when not actively engaged in striking or defending. The loss of nervous energy will dramatically reduce your ability to perform at 100% in the later rounds. This means being relaxed but alert for the entire round.
JUNIOR GRADING
Congratulations to Danny Raaymakers who attained his 9th Kyu (yellow bars) in a grading conducted during a Senior grading.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Shell Carroll, Mel Frost and Sensei Maree who along with another friend Shelley, completed the Oxfam Trail walk. It is a team endurance event where they walked 100km together in 28 hrs and have so far raised over $4,000. Well done on embarking on such a difficult event and raising money for such a worthy cause – the money goes towards some of the poorest families in the world.
Here are the Hoshiki Chicks as they cross the finish line. Shell Carroll & Mia, Sensei Maree & Mandy & Mel Frost & Samuel. (Shelley Beach wasn’t in photo range). I was considering asking the 4 girls if they could stand together for a group shot but then realised that they had all just sat down. (So in the interests of my own safety I observed the vow of silence!)
QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
Persistence & Determination
“Nothing in the world can take place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
Calvin Coolidge – President of the US, 1923 - 1929
(Submitted by Andy Bickell – thankyou)
See you at training,
SENSEI MATT