AKS Quarterly Newsletter
March 2023
The Master's Edge
9th Dan
AKS Chief Instructor
March, 2023
2023 is the 50th Anniversary of the American Karate System. After discussing the date with several people, the weekend of July 21, 22, 23 will be what we are shooting for. Please check your calendars and verify these dates. If you have a conflict, please let me know by the 2nd week in January. Otherwise, we will move forward using these dates. We want to have a good turnout of existing members, along with anyone that had anything to do with our style in the past 50 years. Please contact anyone you know who might be interested in attending. We are asking that anyone who is coming to RSVP to AKS headquarters by the 1st of May.
The executive committee is still working on revising the student hand book. We are looking forward to that being finished soon.
My personal goal for this year is to work on turning some, if not all, the techniques taught in forms into usable self-defense drills. We spend a great deal of time stressing the practice of forms. We should make an effort to use these techniques. Otherwise, we could cut back on how much time we put into them. A starting place is using the book (The Way Of Kata), By Lawrence A. Kane and Kris Wilder.
Fred Reinecke
AKS Chief Instructor
231-777-1996
Farphotofred.myportfolio.com
frederic-reinecke.pixels.com
Far Karate Facebook Page
You may also check our AKS Facebook Page for information.
The DoJo
8th Dan AKS
Fifty Years and Counting
Dave Thomas
In the summer of 1973, Mr. Lieb hosted a karate summer camp at Hess Lake, Michigan with his active Black Belts and a number of respected instructors from around the midwest. Sam Chapman and Bobby Tucker brought their student, Jerry Rhome, from Greenville, South Carolina. These teachers and students from various styles had been invited to hear Mr. Lieb's vision for a new martial arts style. A style that would be uniquely American.
I was an up and coming brown belt at that summer camp. It was amazing to work with so many diverse and talented instructors. I even had the opportunity to spar with Jerry Rhome during his Black Belt testing. I made sure he looked very skilled and fast in our sparring match. (Jerry would later win karate's heavyweight world championship against Brad Hefton at the Battle of Atlanta.)
I remember the meeting where Mr. Lieb introduced the American Karate System. There were many questions and many positive comments. The idea of a truly American martial art that was assimilated from the four traditional systems was greeted with enthusiasm. A number of the visiting instructors chose to join with Mr. Lieb in building his new style.
In the beginning, I can remember walking into tournaments wearing our red, white and blue AKS uniform patches; hearing comments like, "American karate? There's no such thing." On one occasion, one of our Black Belts was scored a zero for his kata demonstration because "it wasn't a traditional form."
Our students and Black Belts quickly showed the other schools that we were a force to be reckoned with. We won many trophies and a grudging respect along the way. It also helped that Mr. Lieb was voted Black Belt Magazine's "Man of the Year" in 1973. And when our performance and skill weren't enough, Mr. Lieb offered to come out of retirement and offer first hand demonstration.
Several years later, the journal "Who's Who in Martial Arts" named Mr. Lieb the Founder of American karate. Other instructors would adopt what he had started.
The American Karate System had steady growth beyond the Midwest. Clubs were started in Germany, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Oklahoma. Talented AKS students and instructors demonstrated by their attitude and their skill that the AKS was a legitimate martial arts style.
Where we weren't accorded respect, we took it.
Here we are fifty years later. Some of the people who attended the Hess Lake beginning are still putting on the uniform and continuing what Mr. Lieb started. There have been many students and Black Belts since that early beginning, but the vision and the commitment remain the same.
In the last fifty years, the world has changed more than we could have imagined in 1973, but our values and our commitments remain steadfast. I tell students that our style is "old school;" meaning we hold respect, humility and training foremost. The years have taught the veterans that what we teach our students has life-long value. For a few hours a week on the floor, American Karate can make a momentous difference in a student's life. I have seen it many, many times.
So, thank you Mr.Lieb for what you started. Thank you for the tremendous positive influence we are capable of, from your model. Here's hoping that the next fifty years continues to enhance your legacy.
We will continue to offer our students our very best so they can be the next generation of talented American Karate System Black Belt instructors.
Dave Thomas
8th Dan
Black Belt Promotions
Fred Reinecke
9th Dan
Chief Instructor
John Folsom
8th Dan
Chief Instructor
Dave Thomas
8th Dan
Chief Instructor
E. Jude Gore
7th Dan
Chief Instructor
Rand (Skip) Palmer
6th Dan
Chief Instructor
& Self-Defense Program
Mark Soderstrom
4th Dan
Chief Instructor
John Billie
2nd Dan
Chief Instructor
CONGRATULATIONS to all students who have been promoted this past quarter, and to those we've missed in prior newsletters.
Best wishes in your continued training!
Attention Instructors, if you have students who have been promoted, please send this information so that we may acknowledge their accomplishments.
Website Updates
So far so good. Lots of work but our webpages are rendering very nicely on smaller screens. Still much to do, but will eventually cover all pages.
As always, if you have problems with the new design, or have requests or comments, please don't hesitate to email me at AKS Webmaster
Let's keep the recovery going by adhering to our (un)social-distancing practices. Be diligent in keeping our 6 foot perimeters, washing hands, covering a cough or sneeze, washing hands, staying positive, washing hands, catching up on reading, movies and board games with "also bored" family members, washing hands, wear your masks to the grocery store - and IN the grocery store, washing hands, DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE - or anyone else's! Oh! and WASH YOUR HANDS!! If we are vigilent, we CAN prevent a re-lapse. Let's work together (from 6 feet). We CAN do this!
Laura Werner
AKS Webmaster
✨2023 AKS Summer Camp 50th Anniversary
Let's make this a very special event. All past AKS members - please let us know if you would be interested in attending this event. We promise not to disappoint! You may contact any of our board advisors, instructors, or the AKS Webmaster.
Tournament News
No tournament news this quarter.
Black Belt Membership Dues
Please contact Dave Thomas.
Do You Have Member News ?
Please send news (weddings, births, graduations, etc.) so that we may share with our members and friends. Accompanying pictures are most welcome!
If you have a concern, question or suggestion, please let us know and we will address it here in the Punchline.
Please send your information to the AKS Webmaster. We look forward to hearing from you!
Available Clubs and Schedules:
Tom Twining 8th Dan
231-736-3205
Schedule a phone call and I'll get in touch
AKS Karate Muskegon
Cassel Training Center
AKS is conducting classes for AGES 8 + up at Cassell Training Center, 710 Alberta Street, Muskegon, MI.
Classes are Tuesdays & Fridays from 6:30p - 8:00p
Cost for individuals - $50.00 a month
Cost for family (immediate) - $75.00 a month
Chief Instructor - Dave Thomas, 8th Dan Black Belt AKS
Guest Instructor - Robert Essenberg, 3rd Dan AKS who was awarded 2009 Instructor of the Year by the Black Belt Hall of Fame
Assistant Instructors: Jim Roy 6th Dan AKS Debra Roy, 6th Dan AKS Robert Roy, 1st Dan AKS.
Call Dave for more information: 231-206-3279
Attention Club Instructors. Please send your club/class schedule to me so that I can include your class schedules here.
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Contact Info
Fred Reinecke
far.photo.fred@gmail.com
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John Folsom (304) 782-3756
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Jude Gore / Chairperson
jgore@citynet.net
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Debra Roy
mr.mrsblackbelt@netzero.net
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Andrew Eckhart
aeckhart77@gmail.com
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Kristyn Reinecke
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Mike Sullenger
kick2aks@yahoo.com
The AKS Executive Board is currently working on updating the AKS Student Handbook and The AKS Rules and Regulations. This also includes techniques and requirements. If you find errors in the handbook, please let us know. We would love to hear your ideas and suggestions to grow and improve the AKS.
A.K.S. FACEBOOK PAGES AT
AKS Facebook Fan Page
AKS Karate Headquarters FB
West Virginia AKS FB
AKS Facebook Group
You will need to have a FaceBook Login for the 'Group' link.Our Official Web Address:
www.aks-usa.comIn addition: www.aks-usa.org or www.aks-usa.net will direct you to our website as well.
You can type in www.aks-usa.info and you will be taken directly to our "About Us" web page. Please check us out!!
For Questions or CommentsMike Sullenger - Chief Instructor Emeritus
Se habla EspaƱol
AKS Webmaster