AKS Quarterly Newsletter

"The Punchline Editorial"

June 2014

The summer is officially underway and we've had yet another successful summer camp.  We were honored by the presence of an old and dear friend.  Sensei Allen Horton who was at the first AKS Summer Camp in August of 1973, and a long time close friend to Sensei Lieb. He spent the weekend with us, along with one of his students Robbie Goff of Florida.  Sensei Horton is an 8th Dan in Uichi Ryu and studied in Okinawa while stationed in that country as a US Marine.  About ten years ago Allen was with us at another summer camp where he taught one of the sessions using the Uichi Ryu method for self-defense.  That summer camp, as with this latest one, found those who trained with Master Horton to be very enlightening.

This is just one of the many aspects that highlight what we in the AKS stand for.  Mr. Lieb's desire, since his founding of the American Karate Association, has always been to include other martial artists, regardless of their style, in training and fellowship.  This past summer camp was exactly that.  Sensei Robbie Goff, who was unaware of the AKS until this past April, found his experience to be one that was both educational and enjoyable.  He shared with me his happiness in having a whole new group of martial arts friends, and is looking forward to next year's summer camp.  He's already advised his students to start a savings account for the trip.  As a side bar, I understand next year they will NOT be traveling via Greyhound bus.  The stories of their 19 plus hour one-way ordeal were very entertaining.

In addition to Sensei Horton's session, Sensei Andrew Eckhart, 3rd Dan West Toledo YMCA Karate & Self-Defense Program, shared his knowledge of MMA ground tactics, with the able assistance of newly-promoted 2nd Dan Kristyn Reinecke from the Muskegon Community College Karate Club, and who was also awarded the newly established Competitor of the Year Award.  Both Senseis, Fred Reinecke and Tom Twining, conducted classes in Kobudo.

I was joined by 2nd Dan Chad Smith, a Physician Assistant with an orthopedic surgeon and Head Instructor of the Tri-Cities Family YMCA AKS Karate Club, in teaching where to strike on an attacker's anatomy utlizing a full-sized anatomical skeleton.  All in all, this was a unique and insightful approach to teaching self-defense that everyone thoroughly enjoyed.  My thanks to Chad who is an excellent teacher and was also the recipient of this year's Black Belt of the Year Award.

This year's Student of the Year Award went to 5th Grade Green Belt, Orlando "Quino" Santiago from the Muskegon Karate Club.  Also promoted this summer to 2nd Degree Black Belt, in addition to Ms. Reinecke, were Brent Chalko and Rhonda Bailey from the Muskegon Karate Club.  A hearty "well done" to all, and congratulations to all those who were acknowledged for their hard work and dedication.

I would like to encourage all of our members to invite friends they have in other martial arts style to join us for any of our training seminars throughout the year.  We should strive to be as inclusive as possible with those who train in other systems.  When we do, everyone benefits not only from the exchange of ideas and techniques, but also from the new friendships that result.

This September, I'll be traveling to Germany where I'll be involved with the Germany AKS Training Camp in Mulhausen.  This is a city that dates back to the 700 AD time frame.  It's also close to the area where Janie and I were first stationed in that country back in the late 70's when the seeds that later resulted in the development of our German AKS counterparts grew into existence.  This was mostly based on the later efforts of 6th Dan Dr. Rob Debelak who returned to that base and re-started the original AKS club I had started in 1979.  I hope to provide more info on this trip in the September Punchline.

I want to wish each and every one of you a safe and enjoyable summer.  Continue to train and learn at every opportunity.  This is how we grow and learn in the arts.  I hope to see some of you this Fall in West Virginia.  Dates and locations for that training seminar and the one that will follow in the Spring will be forthcoming.

It's

Some advice you didn't know you wanted - from your "AKS Webmaster."   Summer is upon us so here are some ways to enjoy it!

And above all, have a wonderful and safe  everyone!

Student Resource Portfolios

Several years back, David Eric Thomas set out on a goal to produce an instructor's handbook as a teaching reference for all Black Belt Instructors in the AKS.  After several months of hard work, research and revisions the project was completed and made available to all AKS instructors.  I took my manual and added dividers with tabs so I could find the information I needed quickly.   When we come across useful information, we added it to the section it relates to.  The manuals are with us anytime we teach and are referred to quite often.

Just recently we noticed a book out in class that looked very similar to our three ring binder instructor manuals; however it had the name of one of our students on the cover.  The student gave us a quick tour of the manual.  It was filled with class handouts, seminar handouts, research from the internet, diagrams of the nervous and skeletal system, etc.  What a great idea; we wish we had thought of it.

Well, now that we have thought of it (ok, ok it wasn't our idea), why not encourage all upper level students (brown belts and up) to start their own student resource portfolios.  What would go into the portfolio would be completely up to the student.  We recently passed out an article from the last Punchline on sparring techniques by Fred Reinecke.  This would be an excellent resource to be kept and have for reference.  Here are just a few suggestions to get you started.

Start with a three ring binder at least one-inch thick.  Use one that has the clear vinyl sheet on the front so that you can insert your name and whatever other information or graphic you like.  Use divider tabs.  This will help organize your information and make it easier to find something in particular you are looking for.  We would suggest the following for some of the tabs: Kata, Sparring, Self-Defense, Skeletal " Nervous System, History, Test Questions (like the questions black belts need to know), Kobudo, Class Handouts, Exercises " Stretching, Photos, Other Styles, and First Aid.  These, of course, are only a few suggestions and it would be up to the student to decide what would be best.  You might also include a list of books you have read, and any notes or quotes you would like to remember in the future.  You might want to include a section on testing.  It could contain the date and place you tested, who was on your testing board, and what went well on your test, as well as what you may want to work on and improve before your next test.

This could be a wonderful "go-to" resource for students, as well as encouraging them to continue their matial arts studies outside of the dojo.  The possibilities are endless.

Do You Have a Question ?

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!!

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!

Rank in the Martial Arts and Ego:
Some Extend Beyond the Bounds of Common Sense

In June 2011, I traveled back to Germany with my family after being absent for 23 years.  The occasion of our last visit all those years ago was our departure upon completion of a three year tour for the U. S. Air Force.  This trip was to promote and honor a true European martial arts legend.

Back in 1979, I found myself stationed in northern Germany during my second assignment to Europe.  It was this tour that sowed the seeds of the American Karate System.  After my departure in late 1981, the Hessisch-Oldendorf Karate Club was turned over to my senior student, Dr. Rob Debelak.  Back then Rob was a young two stripe airman who worked at the Air Station as a Chaplin's Assistant.  Rob met and began competing in German martial arts tournaments with impressive wins in both kata and fighting.  As a result he acquired several German Wado Ryu students who wanted to train under him and learn our AKS style of karate.  The rest is history, which you can read on both the German and American AKS websites.

Over the years, the AKS in Germany grew in both numbers and importance within the German Karate Union, or DKV as it's referred to in Europe.  The key person behind this growth was Andreas Modl, and subsequently his Wado Ryu Sensei, Herr Heinrich Reimer.

Heinrich has over [37] years of study, training and competition in Europe.  He became the heavy weight champion in sparring and was named the Team Captain of the German National Karate Team.  Later, in his middle 50's, he was ask to rejoin the team and won his weight division yet again.  Through both Heinrich's and Andreas' efforts the AKS is a respected organization and the only non oriental style recognized by the DKV.

On several occasions both Andreas and Heinrich have traveled to the US to attend our annual summer camps and participate as guest instructors.  Several of our senior AKS sensei have traveled to Germany to participate in seminars and teach their members in turn.  Now that I've built you a watch in order to set the stage for this article, I want to explain the view that many of the dedicated European martial arts practitioners have about their American counterparts regarding rank.  That view basically depicts many of our martial artists as not serious; wearing uniforms that look more like a clown's outfit, and claiming rank that is clearly beyond their age and years of practice.   Add to this the fact that some of these questionable people claim to have black belt ranks that surpass 10th Dan, and you can easily see why the Germans and others in Europe have developed this opinion.  Having said that, they readily acknowledge the talent and skill of those who've come over to Europe to compete against their best fighters and walked away as the winners.

Another reason for this [guarded] view is the difference between truly traditional training and the more sport dedicated approach many karate schools in American have taken.  European karateka are, first and foremost, traditionalists, and sport competitors secondly.  They also remain in their respective ranks far longer than their American counterparts.

I recently received a request from a guy who is 42 years old, had been studying for 34 years, and claimed to be a 10th Dan [as well as] varying ranks below in several different styles (6-10th Dans, 3-9th Dans, 5-8th Dans, 1-6th Dan, 6-5th Dans, 7-4th Dans, 4-3rd Dans, 4-2nd Dans, and 6-1st Dans).  He was also the founder of one organization, president and head of a number of other martial arts organizations (42 by my count).  I sent the request to the two assistant chief instructors for the AKS here in the USA, both 8th Dans, for their thoughts on this guy.  One of them commented that by his calculations the guy would have to be at least 186 years old to have done all he was claiming in studies, rank, and organizations he either started and/or was the head of.

This is just one example of many that exist.  Every serious student of the martial arts who has trained and studied for at least ten years can cite examples from their own experience.  Is this the way we want to be seen by martial artists in other countries?  Do we want to be compared to these pretenders and clowns?  I for one do not.  I've put in far too many years of sweat and blood to be painted by the same brush as these fools.  I'm sure most of you share these same sentiments.

The question we must ask is how can we fix this problem?  I can tell you that question has been asked for decades.  I can also tell you from my 54 years in the arts that we have far too many fiefdoms out there with people not interested in helping fix the problem, only in buttering their own bread.  Therefore the situation will continue unabated.

At close to 67 years of age, I'm coming to the point where it really won't matter anymore.  I know there will be others who will come along and see the same problems and wish to fix them.  They'll start up yet another organization with this goal in mind only to continue the same cycle.  Traditional martial artists in America are doomed to be saddled with these clowns and pretenders as long as we fail to unite and bring into being an orderly process for validating peoples rank; regardless of style or system.  We must be able to legitimize ourselves in order to eliminate the imposters and establish American Martial Artists as a truly serious group on the world stage.  Otherwise, we will forever be seen by those in other countries as a group of martial artists who are more concerned with rank and status than the legitimacy of our respective styles.

Michael A. Sullenger 9th Dan
AKS Chief Instructor
Major, USAF Retired