Delta County Budokan

With 2012 approaching a new year presents itself for the vast majority of us in the budo arts to make decisions regarding goals and how we shall choose to attempt to meet them.  What does that have to do with the above picture you ask with your head tilted in confusion. I think the devil is in the details regarding karate and pragmatic solutions regarding self defense. If the last several years teaching the budo arts have taught me anything it has taught that every person comes to the table of the martial arts seeking their own fix that will fill a void.

This is where things tend to get confusing and often times down right unfriendly. If I could ease any of you in a direction as to spending time on the web it would be to go to Bullshido.com to involve yourself with a realistic web blog. The problem with spending too much time on lien is that not enough time is spent on the Dojo, enough said regarding that point.

Hopefully 2012 will be a more peaceful year regarding our society, though I think that hope is naive indeed. In calendar 2011 more than 160 police officers were killed in the line of duty serving the public good, There is a definite reason why this number is far greater than the amount of military officers killed in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  More cops were killed domestically than in a war zone because our society is loosing its middle class and is now slipping into a war zone right in front of our very eyes.

Enter the average karate dojo and the average karate teacher and karate student. Go to google and type in “karate tourney” and see what comes up, then ask yourself if these loudly clad performers would be the kind of person you might want defending your home during the severe time that will face our society in the next several years. My question is simple. do people really seek effective self defense training?

The Budokan will offer free mother/daughter self defense starting on January 10th 2012 for four weeks. This is a free community service and will allow moms and their daughters to learn self defense as well as maybe get in shape for the new year as per any resolutions that might have been made. People who graduate the class with four consecutive attendances will be given a beginners certificate as well as the “Budokan Challenge” pass that offers one free month of martial arts training to the bearer.

Please invite anyone who wishes to come to this event as it is free, the classes will be held on Wednesdays from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. I am looking forward to meeting new people and seeing what budo training can do to help them in their lives. My guess is that this event will have an echo effect with the other dojo and you will probably see it offered in other communities as well.

This event is set for Feb 11th 2012 at Carney High School in Carney Michigan and is run by Jason Niemi Sensei of Michigan Shukukai. This event is an invitational tourney and members of the Budokan are welcome to compete information is displayed on the flyer. The judging will be as close to usual as to what you have come to expect at a traditional shiai. The AAU states are set for March 24th and this event would be a required tourney as a warm up if anyone is thinking about competing at the states this year . The events are traditional and shall be judged accordingly.

This event is in May of 2012 and is at the local YMCA. I can’t think of a better organization to support than the YAP program, it does a great deal for kids in this area. I got this from Fuller Sensei of Black Dragon Martial arts. The fact that they are giving money to the YAP program is why I have put this flyer up. Budokan students are welcome to compete at this event with my blessing. I will not attend the event because I really do not feel welcome at this event but I will not stop any one who really wants to attend. My suggestion is that you go if you want to and see how you are treated. I have discussed this with Flores Sensei of Bushido and he has taken a similar position on this event. It is my truest hope that this can generate support for the YAP program in our area.

The 2012 AAU state tourney flyer has yet to be generated and will be posted as soon as it is available.

There will be a tournament set for the 2nd weekend in February 2012 The event is being sponsored by Michigan Shukyukai Dojo out of Stevenson and will feature the normal traditional venue of kata kobudo and kunite. What is different about this event is the fact that there will be trophies for 1st and possibly second places as opposed to just medals. The three major traditional dojo will be in attendance and we will welcome others who wish to come if they contact Neimi Sensei from Stevenson.

Please drop me a line on the blog if you have any questions regarding this event. Additionally Doorlag Sensei has indicated he will again host the 2012 AAU state championships in Kalamazoo this year. With the AAU nationals in Chichago I think its a great chance to compete at a national level with out breaking the bank.

The above kanji means dedication, that concept explains itself if one wants any real level of difficulty in competition. Competing at small local events is great and it gives one a chance to hone ones skills and develop new waza for bigger events. Beware of becoming a large fish in a small pond because it can happen if one never chooses to place ones self in a venue that challenges ones skills or level of comfort.

Be the first budoka to tell me what this kanji says and I will give you a new special print edition of the Budokan T Shirts hot off the press. There are three words here and I want them exact!

I have to thank those of you who have sponsored new members this fall. We have really been blessed to see a lot of new faces at the Dojo which during these trying economic times can really be difficult. As a thanks for your efforts we are holding a budo buddy bash on Saturday November 19th. Its a free party to our members just as a way to say thanks for being aa good student. No GI is necessary and you may bring a friend if you wish to. Also the dojo Christmas party is going to be Friday December 16th. It will be my plan to invite Bushido Karate down for a joint workout then have a pot luck dinner afterward.

There will be a kyu shiai or under belt test this Thursday starting at %:45 p.m. Remember to seek recommendations and have your testing fees in prior to the day of your test. For those of you in the kids class please remember that you need at least one half of your student creed for your orange belt test.

Hello people, it has been some time since I have given the blog any consideration, things are starting to get busy again so I thought I would fill you in on several things that will be coming up. Michigan ShukyuKai has decided to throw an invitational tourney in Carney on 2/11/12. Niemi Sensei contacted me about this over the past week and I am delighted to tell those of you who have been asking about shiai. Additionally Doorlag Sensei has announced that he will again this year be hosting the Michigan AAU State Championships in Kalamazoo sometime in late March or early April. This may fit rather well for some of your plans to attend the AAU nationals to be held in Chicago  during the summer of 2012.

The shiai is traditional by all standards and will feature the regular kata, kunite as well as kobudo. the amount is $30 for 1 event and 35 for 2 or more. Interested persons can contact Neimi Sensei at the Stephenson Dojo and get additional information from him. The event is being called “The Zanchien Invitational” He has also indicated that trophies will be the awards this year rather than medals.

On August 20th members from both dojo came to the open Dan testing of Brandi Highlund and Aaron Porath. Both members of the budokan, though Highlund is claimed by both dojo as an active member. Both students tested for their dan rank after extended time in study. The national average for black belt is around 2.5 years. For Highlund it took almost eight, and for Porath it was nearly 7.5. This is something I am very proud of, with so many karate schools cranking out black belts like they were nothing I am proud of these two fine young people.

The kanji above is for Sho Dan and represents a beginning in the martial arts and nothing more. Good going Brandi and Aaron you have a great deal to be proud of.

The All Japanese Iaido Association announced that three Budokan students have earned the rank of Go Dan or 5th Dan in MJER Iaido. James Flores and his wife Cathy as well as their son Matthew have been honored with the rank of 5th dan. This is a huge accomplishment said Dave Moyle who is the Budokan’s head teacher. The Flores family teaches at Bushido Karate in Manistique and also had one of their students promoted to Ni Dan. Additionally another Budokan student was promoted to the rank of San Dan. Congrats to everyone to trained and tested in MJER Iaido.