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SUMMER READING
By Keo Cavalcanti, 6th Dan Zen Judo,
hcavalca@richmond.edu
The Zen Master Taisen Deshimaru used
to say that the heart of a martial art was a combination
of wasa (technique), ki (life energy), and shin (spirit/attitude
of mind). He warned practitioners that only wasa and
ki were not enough. Practice should be infused with the
right spirit, with a deep understanding with the way
the universe (the Tao) works.
Is your practice in a rut? Has your training become old,
stale? Does it seem to be more of the same old thing?
If so, why go beyond the techniques? Use the Summer to
explore the shin side of the martial arts.
There are at least three readings that I would recommend
that range in reach from something written for someone
with a beginner's interest to something very detailed
and very rich. For beginners in the study of Zen, I would
recomend a short book by Joe Hyams, entitled "Zen
in the Martial Arts" (Bantam Books, 1982, ISBN:
0-553-27559-3). It's easy reading and right to the point.
Joe takes us on a tour of different martial arts, showing
where the Zen in each practice comes out.
For those with a bit more of time and curiosity, my suggestion
is Taisen Deshimaru's "The Zen Way to The Martial
Arts" (Arkana-Penguin books, 1982, ISBN: 0-14-019.344-8).
Master Deshimaru goes back to the ancient roots of martial
arts and of Zen. It's pure wisdom. Finally, for the stout
of heart and mind I recommend the best book I've read
in the subject so far: Winston L. King's "Zen and
the Way of the Sword: Arming the Samurai Psyche"
(Oxford University Press, 1993, ISBN: 0-19-509261-9).
King is a professor of Eastern Philosophy/Religion, who
understands deeply both the philosophy of Zen and the
development of Bushido (the code of the samurai, the
ancient martial artists). It's a slow but great reading
and I guarantee you'll take what you learn in the book
back to the tatami. May your practice be filled with
wasa, ki, and shin!
AUGUST - MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FOR
ALL AMERICAN ZEN JUDOKA
This note is for all American Zen
Judo sensei and Zen Judoka. August 31 is the deadline
to renew your annual membership in American Zen Judo.
In order to continue to hold a (belt) rank with American
Zen Judo you must renew your membership annually. By
doing so you are supporting the work of spreading Zen
Judo in America. If you do not have a membership form
please ask your Sensei for one. If you are a Sensei and
do not have membership forms, please contact us (hcavalca@richmond.edu)
and let us know how many you need. We will be glad to
provide you with them. We are also asking Zen Judo Sensei
to send us a list of all of the Zen Judo students in
their clubs with their respective promotion dates.
We are in the process of building up a national database
for American Zen Judo and we want to make sure we don't
miss anybody. The annual membership fee remains the same
as last year: $15 for all ranks. This is also a good
time to renew your students' insurances too. All Zen
Judo clubs in America are required to have liability
coverage in order to operate. Here at the Wadokan we
use the AAU insurance.
A STORY FROM A VERY PROUD MUM
By Diane Beaumont, 3rd Dan Zen Judo,
DianeEBeaumont@aol.com.
A story from a very proud mum - which
I'm sure will embarrass my son! Will started judo in
Wareham when he was just under 6. He was one of the youngest
and smallest children in his year group and was being
bullied at school. Bill (his dad) and I decided that
some form of martial art would increase his confidence
so he would no longer look the victim.
We went along to various local clubs and decided that
the Wareham Zen Judo Club was teaching the right sort
of values and which we as a family adhered to. All went
well - Will enjoyed his judo but had to work very hard.
He was certainly not "a natural". I think he
had two left feet and two left hands as well!
Gradually his judo progressed. Will met and trained occasionally
with Mac, although most of his training was in Wareham
with Brian Bagot sensei. Will was given a special award
for tenacity when he reached his 1st Dan. He has become
a very valued member of Wareham club teaching twice a
week and getting on well with adults and children alike.
He has provided a role model for many other boys and
young men in Wareham.
So why write this piece now?
Will has just been awarded his 3rd Dan by Brian Bagot.
Well done son from a very proud mum. I think I was more
nervous when he was performing his kata than any of my
gradings. Will is just about to go off to Plymouth University
so we'll all miss him. Its all because of a little boy
getting bullied at school that we now have 3 members
of the family on the mat - all Dan grades but that's
another story.
LEADER OF ZEN JUDO SPAIN AWARDED
PROMOTION
By Brian Bagot, 6th Dan Zen Judo,
BBagot@aol.com.
One of the purposes of my trip to
Spain was to assess Sensei Bartolomé Cañellas'
Judo expertise. Grading a new Sensei is like assessing
the quality of a meal in a new restaurant, after the
first mouthful you are impressed (or not), you see how
the staff (waiters/cooks/pupils) treat him/her, how eagerly
they serve/cook/conduct themselves, how the dish looks
on the plate, the environment (dojo) is arranged and
the ambience tells you a great deal.
Tolo's meal (figuratively speaking) was great. I saw
how his students, which incidentally included two senseis
of other disciplines, were in awe of him. How he treated
them and earned their respect, how he took time out to
practice with each of them at the appropriate moments
in the session, how he added his guidance when needed
and how he would not hesitate to ask questions when something
occurred he was not sure of.
It is also important to mention Tolo's support of the
Zen style, his eagerness to do things right and train
his students in the correct way. His whole demeanour
suggested a man confident within himself but willing
to alter his style to suit Zen Judo. There was not a
negative hint in his conduct. In fact I was impressed
with the whole package. It was reminiscent of my first
practice with the American Zen students way back in Nashville.
I left with the impression that we have here somebody
who will make a great ambassador for our style in the
future, and the promotion to 4th Dan seemed the only
way I could suggest to reward his dedication sufficiently.
Incidentally he has been a 3rd Dan IJF for many more
years than he should have, simply because he does not
do compete/contest.
Editor note (Sensei Cavalcanti):
Following Brian's leadership and
upon further conference with Val Churchill, we decided
collectivelly to award Sensei Bartolomé the 4th
Dan rank in Zen Judo. He received his belt and rank diploma
in mid-July. He was very honored, surprised and joyful
with the promotion and in his words promised to "re-double
his efforts and put all his energy in the promotion of
the art in Spain." We are truly proud to have him
as a member of our family.
ZEN JUDO FAMILY WEBSITE UPDATES
(UK)
By John Robertson, 1st Kyu Zen Judo
Family, 1st Dan BZJFA ,
Zen Judo Family website (UK) www.zenjudo.co.uk
john@zenjudo.co.uk
If you are a regular visitor to the
website you will have noticed that there have been some
changes, I hope that these are helpful. The main change
is a search facility on the home page which seems to
be working ok but if anyone has problems please let me
know. I should be updating the Zen Judo Family Tree in
the next week or so time permitting, this will be in
Acrobat format and I hope more accurate than the present
one.
I have noticed that there is a number of Dan grade registers
on the various websites which tend to be limited in scope,
my intention is to put a register on to my site which
will be open to all Dan grades in any country which practice
the Zen Judo style. To that end if you hold a Zen Judo
Dan grade please send your Name; Grade; Main Club and
other Dan Grades held. If you don't want your e-mail
address published please say so. Please remember to tell
me if your grade changes.
I would also like to welcome Sensei Bartolomé
Cañellas into Zen Judo Family and extend my congratulations
on being awarded his 4th Dan.
ZEN JUDO GRADINGS
Sensei Gordon Lawson is proud to
communicate to the Zen Judo families the results of the
grading for the Nottingham Area on the 1st July 2001.
After successfully testing, Josh Astley was awarded his
yellow belt; Neil Cartwright,Michelle Barratt, William
Padgett, Katherine Shaw, Ian Welch, Thomas Padgett, James
Welsh, Nicholas Brown, Ryan Welsh, Richard Brown, and
Annabel Pawlikow were awarded their orange belts; Alan
Brown, Matthew Robinson, Louise Parker, Rebecca Shaw,
Elizabeth Mead, Laura Groves,Tom Welch, Neil Warner,
Dave Bunce, Brendon Maynes, and Philip Davis were awarded
their green belt; and Lorraine Hempshall was awarded
her blue belt. Congratulations are in order to all Judoka.
Sensei Jim Dart tells us that Reading's
Dan grading proved "very successful, if somewhat
protracted!" Sensei Jo Winslow graced the club with
her presence and with Sensei Jim Dart and Sensei Tom
Williams, spent from 1pm until just after 7.30pm putting
the candidates through their paces.
Three members were up for Shodan: Stuart Edwards, Bruno
Rojas-Fisher and Daniel Jones. A further three were taking
the test for Nidan: Joe Williams, Chris Lambourn and
Andy Lambourn. The Kenshindoryu Judo syllabus includes
'combat versions' of techniques and Sensei Winslow seemed
to appreciate the added discomfort these caused, along
with the grimaces and coughing resulting from the locks
and strangles !
The second Dan candidates performed their own throws,
followed by Nage No Kata and, after a gruelling afternoon
waited with their colleagues for the results to be announced,
which confirmed unanimously:
Joe Williams, Chris Lambourn, and Andy Lambourn were
awarded Nidan. Bruno Rojas-Fisher and Stuart Edwards
were awarded Shoda, And Daniel Jones was awarded Provisional
Shodan.
Stuart was then presented with a Katana to recognise
his achievement in obtaining Dan grades in all three
arts taught at the Kenshindoryu (Wadoryu Karate, Jujitsu,
Judo), becoming the third member to achieve this feat.
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