Tashu Shotowa E-News
August 2008
August marks our 7th month of classes at our current location and we are very pleased with the progress the school and our students have made. September promises to be another exciting period for us, as kids go back to school and we begin to offer several new programs. These new programs and our existing ones are going to be highlighted at our first Open House, Sept. 13th. Check out all the details below.
Expanded Kid’s Classes
Due to the fantastic growth in our Karate Kids program and to better serve the needs of our students; starting Wednesday, Sept. 3rd we will be splitting the kids into two age groups. Our Tuesday/Thursday class will focus on ages 6 to 9 and our new Monday/Wednesday class will focus on ages 9 to 12. Both groups will continue to run from 6:15 to 7:00pm. We recognize that this change may present a scheduling problem for some parents. If this is the case, then please discuss it with Sensei Hunter so that we can work out a solution.
Kid’s Sparring Classes
A number of our Karate Kids are reaching the point where they are ready to begin to apply what they have been learning. To facilitate further growth and development Tashu Shotowa will begin offering a drop-in Kids Sparring class every Saturday morning starting Sept. 6th from 9:15 to 10:00am. Students will need to have earned at least two stripes before being eligible for this program. The cost for the drop-in will be $10 per session and students will be required to have all the necessary safety equipment including kicks, punches and headgear. To kick off the program we will be offering a starter package of all required gear plus four drop-ins for $159. This is a savings of over $50. Students will need to be registered by Aug. 28th to ensure we have the equipment ready for the first class. Parents may register their child at the front desk.
Next Promotion Night
Check the promotion list posted on the bulletin board. The next promotion night will be Friday, Sept. 12th at 7:00pm. Cost of the promotion is $50.
Open House
As mentioned above, Tashu Shotowa Karate and Fitness will be hosting its first Open House on Saturday, Sept. 13th from 12:00 to 5:00. Events will include demonstrations and mini-lessons in Karate, Yoga, Tai-Chi and Naginata. In addition we will be hosting the Karate Kids Olympics featuring a number of fun competitions and events that will be open to our students and their friends. A complete schedule will be posted on-line later this month and included in the September E-News. We encourage all members to attend and to invite friends and family. We welcome any thoughts or suggestions on how to make this event even more successful.
Tai Chi Program
Tashu Shotowa is proud to announce the start of our long awaited Tai Chi program. This program commences on Monday, Sept. 15th and will run Monday/Wednesday from 9:00 to 10:00am. Our instructor is Paul Tam who is recognized by China as a 6th level master. Sifu Paul will be teaching the Chen style of Tai Chi which is very adaptable for all ages and body types. Many seniors have derived great health benefits from Tai Chi training. Sifu Paul will be in attendance at our Open House to demonstrate his art and to offer a short Tai-Chi mini-lesson.
Kobudo Certification Course
Starting Friday, Sept. 19th we will begin offering a series of certification courses in Kobudo, traditional Japanese/Okinawan weapons. Each course will be four to five weeks in length and will focus on one weapon. Our first series will be on the Bo or Japanese Staff. Our October series will be on the Nunchaku. Cost of each series will be $50 plus the cost of the weapon if you do not already have one. You can register for the first series now at the front desk and place an order for a Bo. Space is limited to 8 students. Class times are from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
Coastal Open Tournament
Saturday, Sept. 27th the Tashu Shotowa Tournament team will be traveling to Port Alberni on Vancouver Island to compete in the Coastal Open. If you are interested in taking part in this event you may discuss it with either Sensei Hunter or Sensei Pruim. Students will be competing in Kata, Kumite or both. Sensei Hunter has also been asked by the tournament promoter to be the tournament director.
E-Book on-line
Those interested in the history on Shotokan Karate will be interested to note that Sensei Pruim has made his recently revised E-Book Karate-Do: A Simple Path available to students at no cost. E-mail your request for the book to info@tashushotowakarate.com and we will send it to you as a PDF file. I am sure you will find it both interesting and informative.
We’re Number One
The National Black Belt League ratings for Sport Karate have just been released and we have three Tashu Shotowa fighters rated #1 in our region. Congratulations to Anthony Moyer, Randy Hanlon and Harpal Chandi for making us proud. Extra credit goes to Sensei Randy who also achieved a National #1 rating. Awesome.
Kanazawa Seminar
A small but dedicated group of TSKF members made the trip to the “Hub” city on Vancouver Island to attend the recent seminar of Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa, a 10th Degree Black Belt in traditional Shotokan Karate. Kancho Kanazawa and his son Nobuaki Kanazawa (6th Dan) flew in from Japan to put on a three day intensive seminar on traditional Shotokan karate techniques in Nanaimo, B.C. on the July long weekend. The seminar which was attended by over 100 participants included basics training, one-step sparring as well as detailed kata training. Kancho Kanazawa, while 77 years old, was still impressive to watch and the TSKF group was able to obtain some excellent insight into traditional Shotokan karate.
Dojo Etiquette
A student manual for new students is under development and should be available soon. In the mean time it was felt that certain expectations that had been “unwritten” rules should be formalized and published to avoid any confusion. You will find that, for the most part, common courtesy is the central theme.
1. Students will make every effort to be on time for class.
2. Students will bow upon entering and leaving the Dojo.
3. No street shoes on the dojo floor.
4. The Dojo is a cell phone free environment.
5. The Dojo is a fragrance free environment.
6. Personal Cleanliness is essential. Fingernails and toenails must be kept short.
7. Students must wear a clean, all white gi in good repair.
8. No jewellery or watches may be worn during class.
9. No alcohol or a drug that might affect coordination may be taken prior to class.
10. No chewing gum or candy during class.
11. Higher belts will aid lower belts in their training and are expected to set an example in their attitude and work ethic.
12. Karate does not end at the dojo doorway. All members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner which will reflect well on the Dojo and all of its members.
13. Any incident outside of the Dojo that involves the application of Karate must be reported immediately to Sensei Hunter or Sensei Pruim.
“Karate begins and ends with respect.” G. Funakoshi