Chito-Ryu: The Next Generation

December 16, 2013 By Peter

Senior practitioners of Chito-ryu karate live under long shadows. First there is enormous shadow cast by founder Tsuyoshi Chitose, a martial arts virtuoso who studied under many masters and synthesized what he learned into his remarkable art.

Then there are the shadows cast by the pioneers who introduced Chito-ryu to their countries and amassed impressive organizations. In North America these larger-than-life figures include Masami Tsuruoka, the Father of Canadian Karate; Shane Y. Higashi, head of the Canadian Chito-ryu Karate Association; and the late William Dometrich, founder of the United States Chito-ryu Karate Federation.

As longtime adherents of this karate style, most of ask ourselves at some point, What we should learn and emulate from these impressive examples?

Summer Camp 2013: Who Needs Showers Anyway?

July 28, 2013 By Peter

The group shot after our Saturday training session.

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.

Poster for Summer Camp 2013

March 23, 2013 By Peter

Here is the poster for the 2013 Ryusei Summer Camp, hosted by Rick Going and Kam Miranbigi, the instructors of Ottawa Ryusei Karate-Do. The summer camp will run the weekend of July 20 to 21, with guest instruction supplied again by Terry Valentino of Koshin-Ha Chito-ryu, in the U.S. The camp is always a great experience, held on the outdoor platform (enclosed with screens to keep out the bugs) built on Rick and Basia Going’s beautiful country property in the Gatineau. It’s always great training with a Saturday night celebration of music, campfire and, often, sushi. Download a copy of the flyer here. Sign up soon. We can only accommodate up to 30 participants. First come, first serve.

The Chinese Basis for Seisan?

October 23, 2012 By Peter

This is a link passed on by Terry Valentino of Koshin-ha Chito-ryu. The above video is footage of the San Zheng of Luohan Quan performed by Master Liang Shou Zhong in the 1980s.

The YouTube description says: “In Fujian, there are over 5 different lineages of Luohan Quan recognized (three of which are in Fuzhou, one is Yong Tai Fang Guang Cliff Luohanquan, then there is Fuzhou Luohan Quan (which actually originated in Kai Yuan Temple, Quanzhou in the south) and finally Xiang Dian Quan.

“This Luohan Quan which is performed originates in Yong Tai County at the Fang Guang Cliff where it was passed by Monk Bao Kong. 4th Generation Master Chen Dong Guan (who was Liang Shou Zhong’s teacher) was one of its most recognized inheritors and taught the boxing in Fuzhou.”

Terry writes in his email: “I found this on my you-tube wanderings and the relationship between Fujain Lohan Quan and Okinawan karate seems very clear. This form in my eyes could have very well been the original inspiration for Seisan. What do you think?”

I think Terry may be right, that there is some connection between the Chinese form and our Seisan kata. The punching and scoop actions are similar to the beginning of Seisan, and the open-hand block pulling down motion also correspond to moves in our kata.

What do you think?

2012 Ottawa Summer Camp

September 10, 2012 By Peter

The 2012 Ottawa Summer Camp ran at the end of August, held in rural Quebec, near the Gatineau. Again the event was hosted by Ottawa Ryusei instructors Rick Going and Kambiz Miranbigi. As usual Rick and Kam were great hosts, and the location, on an enclosed platform, in the middle of the woods, on Rick’s property was spectacular.

I led the morning session on Saturday. First, I had an optional mediation session before breakfast, attended by a few brave souls. Then for the regular session we picked up Naihanchi kata, and Sakamoto-Sensei’s lessons of the previous summer, concentrating on ‘shime-goshi’ hip technique. This led into an investigation of using ‘soft’ power in our techniques. We closed the morning session with some selected kaisetsu or bunkai from Niseishi kata, using sen-no-sen timing to do more advanced variations.

Terry Valentino is the guest instructor at the 2012 Ryusei Summer Camp

August 13, 2012 By Peter

When the Ryusei Summer Camp runs in the Ottawa area on the weekend of August 25, the guest instructor will be Terry Valentino, a 7th Dan with the Koshin-ha Chito-Ryu Karate Federation, who will come to the camp with students from Pittsburgh. Valentino-Sensei also brings with him a wealth of experience. His bio:

With over 40 years of experience in the martial arts, Kyoshi Valentino holds a 7th-degree black belt in Chito-ryu Karate and a 2nd-degree black belt in Koseido-ryu Jiu-Jitsu.

Kyoshi Valentino’s training began informally under the guidance or his father Anthony “Val” Valentino who was both a student of Koseido-ryu Jiu-Jitsu founder Dewey Deavers and a hand-to-hand combat instructor for the U. S. Navy during World War II.

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