Ryusei Karate is a traditional style of Okinawan martial art.
On the weekend of July 16, 2016, we held the annual Canadian Ryusei Summer Camp, arranged by Rick Going and Kam Miranbigi in the Calabogie resort area, outside Ottawa.
This year, 17 karateka participated: Ryusei member from four Ontario dojo and Sherbrooke in Quebec, as well as Koshin-ha Chito-Ryu members from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The instruction for the clinic was handled by Terry Valentino, a 7th dan from Koshin-ha Chito-Ryu, and me.
Last July, Ryusei Karate-Do Canada was happy to host Ken Sakamoto-Sensei for a series of clinics. During the visit, Sakamoto-Sensei freely shared the results of his hard practice and study, combining his own insights with what he learned from O-Sensei and, more recently, from Katsuhiko Shinzato-Sensei, head of Shōrin-ryū Kishaba Juku in Okinawa.
On his previous visit to Canada, Sakamoto-Sensei shared his shime-goshi hip technique, with the sideways vibration derived from Naihanchi kata. With his recent clinics, he expanded on this concept and added what he calls ‘hakama-goshi.’
On Thursday, July 10, Sakamoto-Sensei will teach clinics at Barrie Ryusei Karate dojo. The clinics will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (kids) and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. (adults) and are open to all Barrie Ryusei karate members and Ryusei members from other dojos.
The clinics will have a nominal charge of $10 for kids and $20 for adults. Sakamoto-Sensei is the leading authority of Ryusei karate and the son-in-law and former live-in student of Tsuyoshi Chitose, the founder of Chito-Ryu karate. This is a rare opportunity to learn from a true expert.
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In July, Ken Sakamoto, the head of Ryusei Karate-Do, will be coming to Canada to teach a series of clinics.
His first clinic will be an open seminar held Sunday, July 6, at Jennings School of Karate in Bradford.
Called “Three Ways to Emptiness,” the clinic will feature three sessions geared at teaching some of the higher principles of the martial arts.
In early February, Barrie Ryusei Karate black belt Carminha Caneira gave an introductory tai chi clinic, open to members and anyone interested among their family and friends.
Caneira-sempai has been practising Yang stele tai chi for six years now. Tai chi, as she explains, is an internal martial art, practised for hundreds of years in the East as “medicine in motion,” promoting overall health and wellness, healing, energy, and disease prevention.
Tai chi is a sequence of specific movements performed at a slow pace, aided by replenishing breaths and a feeling of calm focus. By moving through the tai chi form, we cultivate vital “qi” or “chi” (life energy) and encourage its proper flow through the meridians (pathways) in the body, promoting a state of “homeostasis” – optimum equilibrium for health.
Published medical studies worldwide have produced quite a list of ailments that tai chi has been proven to have positive healing effects upon, ranging from degenerative joint diseases to high blood pressure. Given tai chi’s wonderful relaxation and meditative qualities, it is no surprise that the exercise is also being recommended to help treat rampant modern day psychological conditions, such as depression and stress.
We held the 2013 summer camp, with another beautiful weekend. Although we had lots of fun, and learned much, we were challenged by a Friday storm that knocked out the power. So we had no electricity or running water for the entire weekend.
Even so, we made do. We bought instant coffee from a local story and then boiled water on the gas fireplace. Kam and Nell made food at their house and brought it over. Rick finally got a portable generator going – enough to power on the fridge now and then to keep the perishables from perishing. Unfortunately the property well was wired directly into the home’s electric panel, so we couldn’t shower at all. Somehow the descent into skunkiness made us all come closer together.
Terry Valentino came up again from Pittsburgh to serve as a guess instructor (with students Brian and Ashley). He had a lot to show from his studies of bunkai and the Chinese martial arts.
On Saturday night we had our usual party, with lots of alcohol, sushi made by Brian Buirge, good things barbecued by Rick and Kam, and a crowd-pleasing music performance by La Bamba (Zsolt Sepa).
On Sunday, we woke woozy but happy. After the Pittsburgh contingent started their long journey home, the rest of us did one more workout, concentrating on kata and understanding no. 10 from Henshuho.
Fun was had by all.
