Here is the sign in form for KSK Martial Arts Demo Team. First practice this Friday ! Demo Flyer

Halloween Notes / Uniform Etiquette and Care / Homework Club / Demo Team

Halloween Notes / Uniform Etiquette and Care / Homework Club / Demo Team YOUR JUDO UNIFORM IS NOT A HALLOWEEN COSTUME ! Safety Tips For Kids! (review with your child before trick or treating) ♥ Have older kids take along two or more friends trick or treating. If your child is 12 or younger, you or another trusted adult should go along. ♥ Remind your child to stop only at houses that are well-lit and stay in neighborhoods that are familiar. ♥ Have your child carry a flashlight. ♥ Tell your child to NEVER enter a person’s home or car for a treat. ♥ Get to know the entire route trick-or-treaters intend to follow and agree with your child on a specific time to return home. ♥ Tell your child to stay on the sidewalks and only cross the street at intersections. ♥ Make sure your child’s costume is flame resistant, allows for safe walking, is easily visible at night and does not obstruct sight. Consider putting reflective tape on your child’s costume and bag to increase visibility. ♥ Tell your child not to eat any treats until they return home. Inspect all treats and dispose of anything that seems to have been tampered with. ♥ If anyone bothers or approaches your child, remind them to take 3 steps back, yell “NO!” and runaway quickly. Tell them to seek out a group of trick-or-treaters accompanied by an adult and tell what just happened. All Students Must Mark Judo uniforms and equipment. Please take all gear and uniforms home every Friday. Proper folding of judo gi Caring for your Judo uniform The manufacturers suggested care is to always wash your uniform in cold water and hang dry. Never use bleach to clean your uniform. Adhering to this method will provide you with the longest wear for your investment. Using liquid fabric softener may also reduce the life of your uniform. My favorite liquid detergent for white uniform is Tide Bleach Alternative. Soaking in Oxiclean solution will help remove stains. One cup of baking soda in your wash will help keep your uniform white and remove odors. One cup of white vinegar in the wash will help kill mold. Some of us have stains on the collar around the neck and shoulder cavity area. This maybe our body's oil due to our diet of high fat contented food. I use Spray and Wash or Shout directly on the stained area before each wash. Always wash your uniform as soon as you can after practice and your uniform will always stay clean and fresh. Washing your uniform in warm or hot water may shrink your uniform significantly unless you have a preshrunk uniform. Drying your uniform in a dryer will also shrink your uniform unless you have a preshrunk uniform. The tumbling action in the dryer will shorten the life of your uniform significantly. While the uniform is still wet coming out of the washer. You can stretch the sleeves by pulling or snapping on it before hang drying. This will help to keep the length of the sleeves close to the original lenght. This method applies to all manufacturer. Demo Team. Practice will begin Sunday, interested students should make every effort to attend.

Hale Middle School Event Tomorrow Tuesday 2-8

When Where What to Bring

We will be giving four 45 min presentations.
8:20
9:15
10:25
11:20

Where Hale Middle School,
23830 Califa St, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

We will meet on site at 8AM

DIRECTIONS FROM KSK MARTIAL ARTS TO HALE MIDDLE SCHOOL CLICK OR CUT AND PASTE http://tinyurl.com/4nrv7ft

Attached is aerial map, you will see our presentation area at the North-west end of the campus by Califa and Platt. we can park in the school parking area on Califa. Just tell them you are a part of the martial arts demo.
Also attached is an outline of the presentation. The materiel is pretty simple, our job will be to be positive and encourage good effort.

KSK Students please wear you white gi pants and a black dojo shirt. Have you gi top and belt handy for demonstrations. We will be training outside so wear your shoes.
After the last demo we are invited to participate in the rally and and eat from the gourmet food trucks.

Contact me with any questions.

GP

Here is the Curriculum for the day. Your job will be to encourage and gently correct.


Violence Avoidance Training / Anti Bully Workshop
Class Goal: Teach avoidance of violence via martial arts. // deputize martial artists in the crowd.
Martial Arts Ancient Secrets of All Cultures: Handed only to the most trusted persons in a society.
We start with respect. Bow // we train in silence and listen carefully.
Martial Artists have a code we work very hard never to break that code.
What is a bully? Did you have an older brother or sister? You were bullied. Were you an older brother or sister chances are you did some bullying.
Bully vs. Bodyguard discussion.
Stance: Ready Stance vs Fighting Stance;
Have students mimic a fight stance, fists and war face. Explain that is exactly what the movies show.
Explain the Fist is a commitment/ agreement to fight and difficult to back down from.
Demonstrate a ready stance; show the power of STOP, by showing one hand.
Have students try ready stance. Demonstrate kiai, stop.
Striking arts, palm with kiai, single strike, one/two strike. Knee, single, double
Elbow block – High reach up and cup back of head.
Low elbow - squeeze you arm elbow down into your body
Wrist Escapes Two hand on two wrists. // Two on one.
Front Neck Choke narrow grab- wide grab -
Rear Neck Choke (just like momiji hazushi but from the rear)
We will also demo more exciting variations of the arts, we will add and subtract arts as needed.

Transported After School Martial Arts Program

Parents, do you need a supervised after school activity? Would you like to have you family evenings back without the homework hassles? Could you use an extra three or four hours a day? Then you should look into the KSK After School Homework Club. Kids are picked up from local schools (or dropped off by you.) Homework is completed with supervision, students enjoy a vigorous martial arts lesson and you have your family evenings back ! There are only a few slots available so contact us right away. If you know of someone who could benefit from our program please pass on this info.

Esoteric Teachings of Professor Henry S. Okazaki

Like a drawing in India ink of the whispering of wind in the pines, the secrets of Judo can only be suggested. Only through personal experience can one comprehend the mystic ecstasy of such secrets.

*Homework*
Adults
Youth JJ

What does this mean to YOU ?
Think and write a small paragraph. We will discuss in class.

December Holiday Schedule

Attached is the December Holiday Schedule.
Highlights Dojo Closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday December 3rd, 4th,5th. For Camp South.
Dojo Closed Christmas Eve December 24th and December 25th.
Dojo Closed December 31st and Jan 1st.

Have a safe and happy holiday season.

Sensei

Jujitsu America Sport Jujitsu

www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7XqMkDEgSk&feature=related


http://www.jujitsuamerica.org/

I would like to hear from students interested in participating.

~Sensei~

Kenshokan, Nine Years and Counting.

In 2001 a small handful of boys from my Synagogue had discovered I was a black belt. they were eager to learn and so a dream that was quietly living in the back of my head came to life. Kenshokan Martial Arts was born.

Yesterday we celebrated that birth in grand style. It was wonderful to see students of different ages and backgrounds together on the mat demonstrating the techniques of Danzan Ryu. I was very proud to introduce my very first Shodan Zachary Kauffman. He has been a member of the dojo for over 5 years and from the beginning had show a zeal for training and a determination for personal excellence. We also were privileged to elevate four new brown belts; Alejandro Stawsky, Annette Stawsky, Brian Schrock and William Werner. To blue belt we promoted Amar Patel and Alexys Odama, To Orange belt was Edward Chamourian, Damien Garcia, Ryan Gilpin, and Sannon Ismail-Zade. Eric Volk was elevated to his yellow belt. All of these students have been great additions to our dojo family and are outstanding martial artists.

We then adjourned to BJ's Pizza for our banquet and awards ceremony. For their outstanding contributions we awarded student of the year Brian Schrock and Amar Patel. Damien and Miriam Garcia were recognized for top attendance for 2010 and Tristan Schwartz was recognized as competitor of the year. This years sempai award (Given by the instructors to students who through their actions in the dojo stand out from the rest.) went to Sannan Ismail-Zade.

As 2010 winds to a close I am thankful for the many dedicated and talented students who make KSK Martial Arts a wonderful place to train and grow.

I'll see you on the mat.

Gregory Poretz
Sensei, Kenshokan Martial Arts Academy
Woodland Hills, Ca.

MY JOB

My job is not to put fighters into the ring or even make Olympic champions. My job is to allow those who want to to stand up a little straighter, to draw the line against oppression and indignity, to stand and survive any trespass,and finally to look in the mirror and love the the person they see looking back at them.
This I do with joy in my heart.

Gregory Poretz

Anatomy of a Sucker Punch

Sucker Punch

This is a good example of poor situational awareness. If the victim had made eye contact or acknowledged the thug in some way he may have appeared to be a "harder" target, or at least a more troublesome target. watch the thug look over his left shoulder and sway back just before the attack.

Preempitive Strike
It looks like the guy in green wants a fight, watch how black jacket sets up distance, closes and strikes. Watch how black jacket softly controls arms at close range. he has already set up a defensive stance while keeping a non aggressive posture. Watch closely for left arm control while right fist launches.

Payback
Good defensive example. Note the street fighter "kata". Black shirt should have his hands up sooner. He waits until thug grabs his neck. Watch for the braichal stun, it doesn't work to great effect because the thug has not committed himself to the attack. Finally he sets up a low fence and finishes with a hard straight left.
PS this is not the US, or the self defense would have started much sooner.

Judo Then and Now

Kimura Documentary.

Judo Kyuzo Mifune Randori

The Modern Mess That is Judo

Koga. 'Nuf Said
Watch how he acts after the match. Very controlled.

Koga Training

So who wants to Randori ?

Sensei

Great Story on Professor Ball and the AJJF

What will you be doing at 70 years of age ?

http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/lifestyle/x1158539871/Ball-still-having-a-ball

A great read.

Good Question !

The question was posed last night before class, "Did the Samurai have and type of stretching or workout regimen ?" It was an unusual but very interesting question. I had no answer, but fortunately I have a fantastic resource, Sensei Mike Belzer a martial artist of excellent skill and reputation who was the student of Don Draeger (look him up) Draeger Sensei made a life long study of fighting systems, weapons and warriors both ancient and modern. So when I presented my question Professor Draeger had already answered it. Ancient warriors and Kroyu (Old School arts) do not have formalized warm ups. If warm ups and stretching were required they would be ineffective for combat or self defense. It was that simple, the training was the the training. You want to master the sword go out and swing a sword around. Today you can lift weights to improve your physical strength, or have a session of mat pilates to loosen your body, and that would be ok. We are not training to hold the line at Thermopylae we are training to lean the Danzan Ryu system of Jujitsu can one use this art for self defense without a warm up ? From personal experience I know the answer to be yes. That said if I am planning an evening of nage and grappling with my 20-something students you bet I am going to have a through warm up !

Further Study

http://www.danzan.com/HTML/PEOPLE/mbelzer.html

http://dogbrothers.com/phpBB2/index.php?PHPSESSID=18a585506d19ef3f79fb045c5bfb5c0f&topic=1084.0


Good Question !

~Sensei~

Junanshin 柔軟心

Junanshin as a training precept.

Keep a flexible, open mind. This requires patience, the ability to set aside your opinions, previous experiences and biases, and a passion to learn. Develop a mental state of allowing - an attitude of no resistance.

I wrote this article last year as a project for Jodo, the concepts work for a sincere student of any worthy endeavor martial or otherwise.

Defining Junanshin A.A.G. Schiebroek uses the term, “a malleable mind” looking deeper into “malleable” we find Webster’s English Dictionary defining Malleable : capable of being extended or shaped by beating with a hammer or by the pressure of rollers 2 a: capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces or influences b: having a capacity for adaptive change). For me this definition of malleable is the most to the point. Imagine the process of forging a Japanese sword, the metal heated, beaten and cooled repeatedly until the finished product is produced. Ultimately Junanshin is a state of receptivity, wherein one makes the choice to trust source of instruction and accept the lesson. Blocking out (or at least attempting to block out) everything in the mind that is not the lesson.

Application to my study of Shindo Muso Ryu.

Without Junanshin the study of SMR would be impossible or at the very least pointless. My first encounter with the ryu was actually pretty much as expected. A Spartan and serious training regimen with very little room or need for the students “input”. I was prepared to practice basic arts in a traditional setting as a total beginner. I understand the need from a safety perspective as we were working with dangerous weapons. Junanshin covers this issue by demanding the student open his mind while simultaneously shutting out outside stimulus except for the tachi in front of him and the sensei at his side. With progression in the ryu immediately after Nuymon the precept of Junanshin (and a bit of fudoshin) must be immediately and vigorously applied. In my mind I desire to be as far away from the tachi as possible. Yet sensei says go forward and scoop upward. Honestly I (my mind) has no desire to do this, but Sensei says go forward and scoop the jo upward and that’s what I must do. Occasionally I will even avoid being (symbolically) disemboweled.
Junanshin silences the mind when I start to think I know anything about the jo, and allows me to remain patient, trust my teachers, work on my humility, and maintain a supple and open mind.

Compatibility with a modern lifestyle.
In the modern world I have noticed a vast dearth of junanshin. In fact the standard is quite the opposite. Sadly this pervades the modern martial arts world. Imagine this scenario, several junior and senior yudansha at a seminar devoted to quelling differences within different organizations of the ryu. A senior instructor gives a long speech about keeping an open mind and demonstrates an art. The first words uttered, before uke even had gotten up from the mat were, “That’s not the way I learned it.” Behold the absolute counter to junanshin. Is junanshin incompatible with a modern lifestyle? I think not, but is a modern lifestyle compatible with junanshin? Soldiers in training are in a constant state of junanshin, but only after several weeks of breaking down the ego. Budoka in koryu systems are taught junanshin from the first lesion. Alternatively school children are taught to express themselves and question authority. Junanshin is more than a training mindset it’s a choice one makes. Junanshin is a magnifying glass we hold over the roadmap we are using. It allows us to follow directions when we are not sure of the path. Using Junanshin we can choose to trust the mapmaker.

As an Instructor the role is both reversed and enhanced. I need to encourage my students to do the kata as instructed and to trust the training, to be patient and accept that their abilities will increase in time. At the same time I need to transmit the kata as I was instructed and trust my training.
Guiding students to quiet the mind and practice with a good spirit also requires a little junanshin. I have to try and accept that each student is coming from a different place and may face different challenges learning the art. I endeavor to trust in my abilities and transmit what was taught to me as clearly as possible.





Source Cited (1)
“http://web.inter.nl.net/users/A.A.G.Schiebroek/budo.html#junashin”

“http://www.rembuden.com/OCT%2007.pdf”

Dojo Kun, A Study.

"The Oath was always chanted with strength, never mumbled in insincerity. Just as movements would become automatic and reflexes conditioned, the simple truths of the oath would also penetrate the mind of the participant."

DOJO KUN

1. Jinkaku kansei ni tsutomeru koto.
Work to perfect your character.

2. Makoto no michi o mamoru koto.
Have fidelity in seeking a true way.

3. Doryoku no seishin o yashinau koto.
Cultivate a spirit of endeavor and perseverance.

4. Reigi o omonjiru koto.
Always act with good manners.

5. Kekki no yu o imashimeru koto.
Refrain from violent and uncontrolled behavior.

Follow the link for the full article.

http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Dtimes/Pages/articleb1.htm

Are You Seeking Rank or Knowledge?

By Prof. Ron Jennings
Prof Jennings is a 7 dan who is active across the Danzan Ryu spectrum. I hope you enjoy this article as much as I did ~Sensei~
After some recent serious health issues, I began reflecting on my many years as a martial artist and my early
years in DanzanRyu. I thought some of those memories were worth sharing with our members.
It was in the spring of 1962 when I went to a DanzanRyu dojo to sign up for lessons. I had just bought my own
car and could now drive to an adjoining city where the dojo was located. The first class I watched included a
promotional ceremony which included two really old guys who were getting their first promotion. One was in midfifties
and one was mid-sixties. To a teenager, they were beyond old; they were ancient. I was so impressed by these
“old guys” getting their first rank I resolved to join and catch up with them. It was a challenge I never met.
Classes at the dojo were very structured and focused on learning a few techniques very well before being
introduced to others. You weren’t shown much above your rank level until Sensei felt you were ready. As a green belt
I remember going with my Sensei and others on a visit to a town about 30 miles away where someone had a workout
room in his house. When asked what he would like to cover, he said “Oku”. Sensei said “No” because they had a
green belt with them (me). At our dojo you didn’t get to work Oku until you were brown belt. I was so disappointed. As
it turned out, Sensei finally relented and we actually got to work the first three techniques. It was six months after I
got to third brown before I saw Oku again. As it turned out there were not enough people at my rank and a Police
Class the dojo was presenting to city police interfered with continuing the colored belt only classes. There were a
couple of new green belts and Sensei said I needed to help them get to brown so we could practice together. What
I thought as a real delay in my training turned out for the best as my Shime became pretty good as well as my Nage
really improved. It seemed however that I was not learning as much as I wanted and I had yet to catch up with those
old guys. I was getting anxious about moving up. But, there was a lesson I still needed to learn about rank consciousness.
One night there was a visitor to the dojo who was very interested and as a new brown belt I felt I had a lot to say.
He attended a couple of classes then disappeared. Shortly after receiving my second brown this young man showed
up again, this time wearing a Black Belt. I was stunned. How could he possibly have made it to Black Belt in that
short of a time period? I had gone from Sankyu to Nikyu in the same time period it took him to go from white belt to
Shodan. He then told me about another dojo in a nearby city. That was enough for me. I am not sure what I told
Sensei but I quit my lessons at his dojo and went to that other dojo. It wasn’t long however before I realized the depth
of knowledge, or should I say lack of it at this dojo. They had some outstanding instructors but I didn’t get to work with
them and instead got to work closely with one of their Nidans. In a few weeks’ time it was obvious I knew more about
training, technique, and execution than one of their second degree Black Belts. Sure he knew a few more moves but
that was it. I felt he only mimicked the arts without understanding the real intent. I knew I had made a big mistake.
I returned to my original dojo with a sincere apology. Sensei accepted me back and told me that my desire for
rank had been one of the things that had been keeping me back.
I finally realized what I had been told many times. Your belt holds your gi
together. It is the knowledge gained from hard work and dedication to learning that
is important, not the color of the belt. It was a lesson I never forgot.
By the time I got to Shodan those two old men made Sandan, but rank was no longer an issue.
In 1968 I left the dojo and moved to another city and opened my own dojo. I have been a school head and
continually active in DanzanRyu ever since. As a school head and still seeking that knowledge, I expanded my cross
training efforts. By keeping an open mind as well as open eyes, I found there was more to DanzanRyu than one
single organization. I now belong to several national DanzanRyu organizations. I’ve trained with a great number of
exceptional instructors and based on my lesson from Sensei, never asked for rank or recognition. However, over the
years I have received both rank and recognition from hard work and dedication to the art.
When I first received recognition as a Professor of DanzanRyu, Professor Imi Okazaki Mullins, youngest daughter
of Professor Henry Okazaki, bowed to me as she handed me a red and white belt and said, “My father would be
proud.” I would have not been so honored without the foundation training and early lessons I received from my
Sensei.

Take a Bow. New Yellow Belts !

Congratulations go out to the following students. Alex L, Amar P, Alexis O. Al of you have worked hard from day one, I am proud to see your progress. Way to go guys !

Parents Night Out A Sucess !

Last Saturday we held our quarterly "Ninja Night" sleepover. While the dojo parents were out painting the town red or just catching up on some sleep in their very quiet house, we were having some great times at the dojo. We had a great time learning some sword basics and then a fantastic time sparring with the padded swords. We enjoyed some pizza and watched "The Princess Bride" a movie known for some amazing fencing scenes. James K. gave an impromptu Japanese lesson and a few of the kids got to take home their names in Japanese Katakana. In the morning we cleaned up and experimented to see who was more ticklish Rosa or Zack, this is good info to know in case you are doing a little grappling (it's Rosa).

Our next event is the kata contest in August we are preparing now.

Here are a couple of good examples of kata and a good primer on dojo bowing. You will find that there are many varations of dojo etikette within the ryu, every dojo will have its own customs and traditions.

Today & Yesterday

I am told that Okazaki Sensei often held Sumo competitions at his dojo, and even sponsored larger events. I have often wondered of all the various forms of martial arts competition available, why train in Sumo ? I think after the last few days of practicing Sumo I may have an idea. If you have ever watched a Sumo shai (tournament) you would be blown away by the speed and intensity of the matches. Sumotori (practitioners of Sumo) spend several minutes trying to mentally upset their opponent before getting into the ring. Contestants square off and, bang its over. Sumo in one of the oldest known combat sports and is highly ritualistic but it seem so real when you get down to it. Hajime, bang, its over. Very much like a real fight. The opponent tried to get into your head to put you off balance and then attacks. Real fights are very immediate, and over very quick. No 45 minute chess match like our BJJ cousins, not even the several moments spent jockeying for position like Judo, its just bang and its over, 20 seconds is a long match.
Juxtapose that with a violent assault, and you have an amazing set of similarities.
After an evening of Sumo training, the class did some simple self defense material, I noticed it was easier to stay focused on the incoming punch after a few rounds in the Sumo ring. Lets keep out eyes out for the next big craze in martial arts, Sumo Self Defense !
I have attached some photos of tonight's Sumo matches for you enjoyment.