Gushi at March 2003 Mid-Atlantic Regional

[Bill Glasheen]

I thought I'd pass this e-mail along from Rik Lostrito. Start planning the time; they are worth it!

- Bill

Folks,

I understand a good number of you will be there this Sunday 12/15 to help Folta Sensei with the testing. Bring your calenders for 2003 and here's something to think about which we can hopefully discuss Sunday...

Gushi Sensei and his son Tsukasa Sensei (37 years old and 7th Dan) will be visiting my dojo sometime in March 2003. The exact date is pending but it will be a weekend. As with us, he and his son are both very interested in having all Uechi organizations work together. They seemed genuinely excited to learn that we have a number of Uechi organizations in our region working so well together, and that may participate in his seminar.

I offer the full Saturday as a regional event in Gaithersburg. I will rent out a local school gymnasium. I've done it before and it works out fine. As is usual with his seminars (I have attended many of them), we will start at 10:00 a.m. and go until 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. with a lunch break and 2 short rest breaks mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Afterwards, we can all go out for a group dinner.

The combination of father and son Sensei gata is quite dynamic. The father is an awesome and active instituional resource and the son compliments things very nicely with his stronger English skills and exceptional performance in his own right. In the afternoon, we may break into sections; one with each of them depending upon interests and group size. I really enjoyed our last seminar in CT on 12/07... no 2 are ever exactly the same.

Getting the both of them here is not cheap however. I am paying for roundtrip airfares, plus expenses here plus their seminar fee. So you will understand if this is a "pay per view" event.. to borrow a cable TV phrase. For a full day, the cost may be as high as $50 per person... just warnin ya... but the $ investment in our further understanding (and to to our students) will bring enormous return.

So bring your calanders and let's talk it up on Sunday as time permits!

GONBATTE!

Rik

[Raffi Derderian]

I just thought I'd stick this in as well. I am going to be teaching in the Richmond and Charlottesville area in March. I am working out the date with the UVa Club through Mike Keller. I sent Sensei Rick an e mail telling him I will be there either March 14th or 21st so if possible we can avoid any conflict of dates.
Raf

[Bill Glasheen]

And yet another great Mid-Atlantic event coming up in March, 2003.

Thanks, Raffi; you saved me an e-mail. I'll tell the gang Sunday, and we'll work this out.

- Bill

[Tom Faigle]

Glasheen Sensei, or should I say Doc Sensei!

Thanks for joining us yesterday. It was good to see you again.

I hope you had a good time. I really enjoyed watching Ross and Folta Sensei spar. That was quite a rumble. Very intense. A friend of mine who studies TKD who was at the test said that she was very impressed at our style of karate, but was gladly going back to her sport TKD. It seems that she felt that we were a little physical! But she also said she was amazed at the physical conditioning and the intensity of the students. So we must have made quite an impression. All I could say was that having a GREAT teacher does that to you. (Makes you want to turn it up a notch when folks are watching)

Anyway, I"m looking forward to the Winterfest, and Lostrito Sensei's event in March.

BTW, Did the directions I gave you work out ok?

Tom

[Bill Glasheen]

Tom

The directions you gave me (66W to 234S to 95S) worked out just fine. When I chatted with Nestor before leaving and told him how I was going, he shrugged his shoulders and said "six of one, half dozen of the other." I guess I have to agree with him. The 66E to 495 to 95S direction actually would have been faster with light traffic and the ability to step it up a notch (Sunday evening, you find people going in excess of 90mph on 95S). 234S gets kind of local in a few spots, so your speed is somewhat limited. But if there was a traffic jam, it's good to know that this is an alternate route.

Anyhow, I actually LIKE varying my travel route, so it was a welcome diversion. We got back safely and without incident.

Concerning the test, it WAS a bit fun, wasn't it. And speaking of sparring matches, how about the one between Tristan and Stanley at the last dan test? I REALLY wish I had that one on film. Between Tristan's speed and Stanley's ability to crank it up to the exact level he wanted, it was quite the adventure.

Ross and Nestor did put on quite a show, didn't they? It was fun to ref that match. We just need to work on Ross's X block in dan kumite, no? Tell him to come chat with me some time.

Thanks for everything, Tom. It's always fun seeing what others are doing.

- Bill

[Tom Faigle]

Glasheen Sensei,

Well haven't you heard NEVER get directions from a BIKER?

BTW, I find guys who ride know ALL of the roads. So you'll get to your destination, it just might be the senic way. And yes Folta Sensei was right, it's about 50/50 and really just depends on conditions and the cars in front of you. I hate the Beltway and the mixing bowl so I usually go around them. Add Springfield Mall at the mixing bowl at Christmas and it's almost certain mess. Plus I love the country out in PW county!

I think Ross mentioned that he messed that up when we were chatting afterwards (Ross, Mike and myself). BTW, Ross truely amazes me. But again, we have an incredible teacher.

Where was the match you were referring to? Was that in Baltimore? If not, I probably wasn't there.

Tom

[Bill Glasheen]

Yes, Tom, the match was in Baltimore. Tristan was the tall, skinny, scruffy-looking guy that had his first sparring match with Stanley before then having a go with Rich. If you recall, Tristan had a (annoying) tendency to keep his hands down - presumably to bait his opponent. I think Stanley was actually (pleasantly) surprised at Tristan's leg speed, and was able to handle the hits and still keep good composure. That's the sign of a true champion. Stanley's scores remained completely composed, and dead-on vulnerable targets.

[Tom Faigle]

Ahhhhhhh. OK. Sorry they say the mind is the first thing to go and I don't remember......


Tom

[Don R]

Is there any further information on this Mid-Atlantic workout?

[AlanL]

I was also wondering if this was still on. I'm sure some will make the trip down from PA.

[Bill Glasheen]

I'm awaiting a reply from Rik Lostrito. Stay tuned.

[KerryM]

Hey- You gentlemen ride? How awesome- should think about coming to the New England area for "Bike Weekend" at Wiers beach. We go every year. REally fun. Beautiful bikes- "interesting" characters. We'll have a get together for karate if we get a bunch to come up here 'round then. Though I don't know what all that would entail.

Mr. Faigle- got your letter- thank you- beautifully written. I'm very close to having a new publisher. Still fighting with the old- they wrote to me today explaining some new "pricing" which I promptly with- excuse me, this is a "fix the problem" return exchange deal here. LOL-

Also- are there any video's available of the testing/sparring thing you all did? I'd love to be able to watch also.

K

[Bill Glasheen]

Hi, Folks!

Sorry to announce the following

Hi Folks,

I just got back from Okinawa a few hours ago and am checking some e-mails. It
was a wonderful trip!! Stan and Ed came with me... details will follow. I
dropped planning the Gushi Seminar becasue of too many schedual conflicts
with folks throughout the region in March... just a busy month. Gushi Sensei
is booked through June. Then we have the Connecticut Koshulkai in June (see
www.koshukai.2003.com) and we'll need another rest from travel. I'm
thinking more like September for Gushi if he is available. Stay tuned for
pictures from Okinawa... I have some video too... but first some rest.

Rik

Oh well. But...but...Raffi is coming!!!

- Bill

[Tom Faigle]

Kerry,

I (almost) missed your post. Glad to here that the letter was ok. And hope that it helps with your search for a new publisher. Since I didn't hear back from you I was going to send you an e-mail, later this week. Work has been crazy, and I've been taking a bunch home with me so I really haven't been following the forums very closely. Getting ready for my son's rank promotion test as well as mine (which we had on Sunday) took up the remainder of my "free time".

My son looked really good, and passed his 8 Kyu test!
I on the other hand had a "brain fart" while doing Kanshiwa and had to redo it, but otherwise had a very good test. So I also passed and am now 5 Kyu! I enjoyed the test since it shows me how far I've come in the last 1 1/2 years when I see the beginners and how far I have to go watching the more senior students. Also I'm extremely proud of my son and watching him put on his new belt is priceless.

As for going to New England this spring. I don't think I'll be able to ride up this year, but if things change I'll send you an e-mail. Right now I'm not sure if I'm going to Daytona in October, Summerfest, or something else.

Tom