AKS Quarterly Newsletter

"The Punchline"

Editorial - June 2012

Summer has begun in earnest here in south Texas, and I understand some of your in our northern states have already experienced temps in the upper 80s and lower 90s. Of course your weather got back to normal while we’re having temps in the upper 90s with high humidity. Fortunately I’m northern bound on the 9th of June and will be once again working at Culver Military Academy for their annual summer camp. It’s always good to return to my state of birth and enjoy weather that’s not quite as brutal.

Our May training seminar in West Virginia was well attended and very enjoyable. We had some great view of AKS requirements, lead by the ubiquitous Fred Reinecke with the assistance of a student handbook. It’s always reassuring for me to see how closely we are in our execution of AKS techniques, even though we come from a number of different states. I know Sensei Lieb would be proud of how well we’ve jelled as an organization. Much of this solidarity has been the result of us having two additional training seminars each year.

Looking back on the years, we only met during the annual summer camp. I can see how we’ve benefited from more frequent training opportunities and fellowships. The AKS is stronger than it has ever been. Each of you who’ve participated and made an effort to remain involved should be proud of what you’ve accomplished as a group and as an organization. I can truly say I’m proud to be associated with you as both your chief instructor and your friend.

While enjoying an evening of good food and friendship at the Jude’s after the Saturday training sessions, both Jude Gore and Rand (Skip) Palmer were advised they were to be promoted to 6th Dan as Master Level Black Belts at this year’s summer camp. Since we will have four brown belts testing for 1st Dan, and three 3rd Dans testing for 4th, we’re limited on the amount of time we’ll have during the examination session on the afternoon of the 13th. Therefore both Skip and Jude were advised their portion of the examination will be a special demo chosen by them and presented to the testing board.

I’ve been both a friend and fellow practitioner with both Jude and Skip and can attest to their skill, knowledge, professionalism and dedication, both to the AKS and to their respective schools and students. It is truly a pleasure and an honor to be a part of their pending promotions to the master level. I hope as many of you as possible will be able to join us and provide your congratulations to all those who are advanced in rank this summer. After the training is complete on Saturday we’ll be hosted by Jim and Deb Roy at their home for food and fellowship. This will be the second time they have opened their lovely home to us. I sincerely appreciate their warmth and generosity. I know the last time we were there everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

At this year’s summer camp, we will also have the pleasure of Sensei’s Reimer and Carmichael from Germany. They will be accompanied by another gentleman who I’m not at present familiar with. I hope you will help us to make their visit both enjoyable and memorable.

Regardless of where you are this summer, please be safe in your travels and activities. I look forward to seeing many of you in Muskegon the weekend of July 13th.

Mike Sullenger
AKS Chief Instructor

2012 AKS Spring Seminar

The AKS Spring seminar was held on Saturday, May 19th 2012 in Clarksburg, West Virginia.  This year's seminar was co-hosted by the Salem Karate Club under the direction of John Folsom, and by the Mountaineer Karate Club under the direction of Brian Greynolds and Jude Gore.

Instructors for this year's event were:  AKS Chief Instructor Mike Sullenger, AKS Assistant Chief Instructor Fred Reinecke, AKS Assistant Chief Instructor Dave Thomas, Mr. David Eric Thomas, and Mr. Andrew Eckhart.

Saturday morning opened with a presentation to Mr. John Folsom for having been a dedicated and loyal member and student for the past 45 years.  The award recognized Sensei Folsom as being one of two remaining founding members of the American Karate System, and the only surviving original student of Mr. Ernest Lieb. Mr. Folsom's club was one of the original 13 that formed the AKS in 1973 and is still in operation today. Presenting the certificate to Mr. Folsom are, left to right: Fred Reinecke, Mike Sullenger, and Dave Thomas.

Around 30 participants from West Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan attended Saturday's event.  AKS Assistant Chief Instructor Mr. Fred Reinecke led the morning session. It started off with the review of AKS techniques. As participants moved up and down the floor, members of the AKS leadership walked among the group making corrections as needed. The next session was Mr. Reinecke's approach to kata and its Application (Bunkai). After a discussion, Mr. Reinecke passed out a Kata application evaluation checklist, and participants broke into groups and worked on different applications.

After breaking for lunch, the group was divided into four and rotated between four sessions. Sensei Sullenger taught disarming an attacker with a weapon and controlling techniques.
Sensei Reinecke gave instruction in Kobudo and presented a “give & take” drill that can be used with any weapon.
Sensei Eckhart taught MMA techniques on how they can be applied to street defense.
Sensei David Eric Thomas taught practical sparring techniques and combinations.
The seminar concluded Saturday evening with a social gathering and dinner at Mr. and Mrs. Gore's house, where Sensei Gore showed off his mastering of the grill, and grilling techniques.   It was a great time with great people.   Thanks to all the instructors for sharing your martial arts knowledge, and to Mr. and Mrs. Gore for all the hard work they did to make the event possible.

Three Generations

Last summer, a very nice young man named Alex Near started class with The American Karate Club at Ross Park School.  He has worked hard and is presently a 7th Grade Yellow Belt.

His father, Chris Near, often brought Alex to class and would stay and watch, ask questions, and expressed an interest that one day he would possibly join.  Well that day was last Fall when he joined his son in class and began training right next to Alex.  They have worked hard together and have even been competing in some local tournaments together.  It has been very gratifying to watch a new bond grow between father and son.

Then this past March Alex's younger brother, Nathan, joined class and recently made his 8th grade Yellow Belt.  Nathan is following closely in Alex's footsteps.  When Nathan came to class, he brought his Grandfather, Burt Wachter, who began training that same night with the other members of his family.  Burt has the advantage of prior training.  When Burt lived in Texas, he trained at a Tae Kwon Do school earning his Green Belt.  Though there have been a number of intervening years, he brings a lot of experience and the "old-school" attitude from his previous training.

We have always promoted our school as family oriented and have even had the three generations of instructors and students on the floor.  Presently, Jim and Debra Roy bring their grandchildren to class.  But with the Near Family and Grandpa Burt, this is the first time we have had three generations on the floor at the same time; training and enjoying the American Karate System.

Congratulations to Chris, Alex, Nathan and Grandpa Burt.  Well done gentlemen!

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We invite you to send in your questions regarding karate and the A.K.S. so that we may respond here in our newsletter. If you have a concern, question or suggestion, please let us know and we will address it here in the Punchline.

If you don't want your name published, please let us know and we will be happy to withhold that information from print. However, please be respectful when submitting your queries or suggestions to us by including your name so that we may understand your questions and/or circumstances.

Please send your questions to Laura Werner, and I will forward them to the person who can provide the appropriate response.

We look forward to hearing from you!

PROMOTIONS!!

Muskegon Community College Karate Club
Muskegon, Michigan 49442

American Karate Club
Ross Park Elementary - Muskegon, Michigan

Salem Karate Club
Salem Park Barn - Moore Street - Salem, West Virginia

Mountaineer Karate Club
Lumberport, West Virginia

Tri-Cities Family YMCA AKS Karate Club
Grand Haven, Michigan 49417

All-Star Karate Club
Livonia, Michigan

Mustang, Oklahoma A.K.S.
Mustang, Oklahoma

This is the 6th in a series of articles by Sensei George Kirby. Sensei Kirby is a 10th dan in Budoshin Ju-Jitsu Yudanshakai and has become friends with Sensei Mike Sullenger. Mr. Sullenger has had an article that he wrote published on the Budoshin website. Feel free to browse  this site  to become more familiar with who George Kirby is and his style.

LEARNING FOR THE SAKE OF LEARNING |  [BJJY KOKORO 9/12]
AND TRADITIONAL VS. MODERN BELT PROMOTION CRITERIA

Note: A couple of sensei have asked me to start a series on how to improve teaching skills and student learning—as it applies to the dojo. So I’ve decided to launch this idea, with the hope of seeing it become a regular item in future issues of Kokoro.

All of my promotions were based upon other higher ranking people promoting me because they felt that I was worthy of the promotion — in their eyes. I never “went after” a rank. I, and most of my blackbelts, can subjectively conclude whether or not a student is ready for a promotion [without a specific skills test] or by the time they have done 3-4 techniques on the actual exam.

So why do we have specific belt rank skill requirements for all belt ranks from 6th kyu through 5th dan? There’s no simple answer here. One explanation is that by having common criteria you’re students, and sensei, are assured that certain common skill requirements are met. Objective requirements can also be fairer because all students know what the criteria are and how they will be scored. It’s very difficult [and becomes obvious to everyone] if a sensei scores a particular student in a prejudicial manner. A third advantage is that it allows a student to show what he knows and his skill level to other members of the dojo.

There is something to be said for the “old-fashioned” / traditional method of promotions though. This approach does save time because the sensei makes the decision, and the promotion is offered, and you better accept it if you have a traditional sensei. It also allows the sensei to make accommodations for students with physical limitations, or who display exceptional commitment. As a public school teacher there were times I gave a student a higher grade than they earned as encouragement — and they usually came up to the standard because they saw I had faith in them to do better. Parents and good coaches do this all the time as a confidence builder even though there are risks involved.

The traditional type of promotion is also more oriented toward students who learn for the sake of learning. Learning for the sake of learning is difficult for mudansha because they’re trying to master basic skills. But, by the time a student gets into the yudansha [black belt grades], learning for the sake of learning usually leads to greater success than going for one specific black belt promotion - and then the next - and the next, etc.

How does all of this affect me as a sensei?  It creates some securities and some conflicts. Having specific criteria does make it easier to test students at all levels. Black belts who are learning for the sake of learning sometimes have to be given a sense of direction for promotion consideration; following the criteria in the Black Belt Handbook. Interestingly enough, the Black Belt Handbook is a representation of “modern belt promotional criteria.” Yet, all the black belts sitting on the promotional examination board will sense, within the first few minutes, as to whether or not the person being tested will make it or not. In a sense, the “traditional” criteria are still in play, if not in the forefront of the decision-making process.

It’s an interesting dichotomy.

PS: Thank you Michael Langewisch for the interesting discussion we had after Thursday’s class which led to this expression of my thoughts on this subject.

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