AKS Quarterly Newsletter

Just back from teaching and training in Germany. The seminar in Wiesmoor, was a success. I would like to thank Andreas Modl 7th Dan AKS, and Heinrich Reimer 8th Dan AKS for their hospitality. As a karateka of 45 years, I can say that I still feel like a student when I see the quality of our brother and sister karateka in Germany. I would highly recommend making a trip over next September to their annual AKS seminar.

While our annual AKS Summer Camp is not quite as large, it is just as important to our style here in the States. The level of quality of our AKS members improves every year; we just need to make it grow. I heard some of our instructors tell their students to not attend the summer camp for they would bring the information they learned back to class. While I understand that thinking, after seeing the turnout of under ranks and children at the German Seminar, I have decided that to have our summer camp be more of a success, we should invite all of our students including children to the summer camp.

Some of the benefits of attending the camp are, not only training on subjects not usually taught, but getting a chance to meet and train with high ranking black belts from around the country, as well as the opportunity of meeting some of our brother and sister karateka from Germany. The effort it takes to attend the AKS Summer Camp is really minimal for the experience, comradery and knowledge that you receive.

So start your planning for next year's camp. The date will be the 17th, 18th and 19th of July. More information will be available after the first of the year.

This year's camp was well run and the warm weather didn't deter the enthusiasm for training. There were several interesting sessions, and I would like to thank the instructors who worked to make this summer camp a success: Tom Twining 8th Degree AKS, Andy Eckhart 4th Degree AKS, Kristyn Reinecke 3rd Degree AKS, Eric Fifolt 5th Dan, Greg Robillard 4th Dan Tae Kwon Do, Jim Roy 5th Degree AKS, and Deb Roy 5th Degree AKS.

On a different theme, at our last summer camp, we talked about making an AKS library of Katas/Forms. Andrew Eckhart has volunteered to head this project. Over the next few months, we will be seeking out videos of all the forms used by our style. He will put out the information on the type of format, along with how the library will be set up, through Google. Each club will video the suggested form and place it in the library. We hope to accomplish this over the next year.

So keep training and I look forward to seeing you at future AKS events.

Sincerely,
Frederic A. Reinecke 9th Degree
Chief Instructor AKS

Muscle Memory

by Dave Thomas

Over the years, I have had new students ask why we do so many repetitions in karate. My initial explanation is always the same, "Practice makes perfect." Admittedly this is the short, open-ended answer.

What they don't yet know is the seemingly endless repetition is training not only their mind, but their muscles as well. Many of the intricacies of martial arts techniques come from years of training. To try and explain to a beginning student is time not well spent. They learn from doing not by talking about it.

What they will come to understand is the process called 'muscle memory.' When techniques are practiced over and over they become innate and auto-responsive. Students learn to execute techniques without having to think about them. This also translates into their self-defense.

At its best a self-defense response is smooth, fast and almost effortless. This comes from practicing our techniques over and over. The muscles know what to do before the brain has to consider the reaction.

If you have to think about blocking, it's already too late.

Repetition on top of repetition is paving the path for a quick, agile martial artist. The students may not understand it at the time, but as veteran instructors, we understand how important this aspect of training is.

To quote the esteemed Greek philosopher, Plato, "It is a poor teacher who gives his student all the answers." In karate there are many opportunities for our students to discover the same answers that were known to our teachers.

Dave Thomas

Karate Do, Karate Don't

by Casey Lehto

I have seen the original Karate Kid movie many times. I can tell you that the car Daniel chooses from Mr. Miyagi's collection was a 1948 Ford Super Deluxe Club convertible. That Daniel LaRusso had brown eyes and went to West Valley High School. However, after watching it again, I noticed that I had missed an important keynote from the film.

In the scene when Daniel rides his bike to Mr. Miyagi's home to begin his first "karate lesson," and after Mr. Miyagi lays out the student/teacher relationship he desires, there is a dialogue exchange that goes:

Mr. Miyagi:    Ready?

Daniel:    Uh, yeah. I guess so.

Mr. Miyagi:    Daniel Son, must talk.

    They kneel, facing each other.

Mr. Miyagi (continues):   "Walk on the road. Walk right side, safe. Walk left side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later, squish. Get squished just like grape. Here, karate same thing. Either you karate do, yes. Or you karate do, no. You karate do, guess so. Squish, just like grape. Understand?"

He was explaining to Daniel that he needed to commit himself, 100%, one way or another to learning karate. If he chooses to have a "guess so" attitude towards his lessons, he will eventually fail.

I thought back at how many times I, myself, have said, "I'll try that," versus the times I have said, "I will do that." If I'm honest with myself, I can draw a link to the things I succeeded at versus the things that I failed at all based on what my attitude towards it was. Also, I'm now more aware of the attitudes around me. I know that I can't change the perspectives of others, but I know I can influence them.

Casey Lehto
1st Dan AKS
West Toledo YMCA Karate & Self-Defense Program

Tell Your Story

by Sandra Gore

How many of you have ever listened to a speaker whose voice is mostly monotone, the sentences are running together, or they don't take breaths or pauses in the right places causing the information that they are trying to convey to get lost? The speaker seems to be combining words and ideas together with the only objective being just to make it through. Their reading or speaking may be unchangingly slow, or they may seem to be in a race to see how quickly they can make it to the end. It's difficult to listen to that type of speaker, let alone understand and remember what they were trying to say.

Now, compare that to listening to a dynamic speaker that creates interest and excitement by using techniques such as carefully placed pauses, phrasing, inflections, as well as changes in tempo that captivate us to want to hear what comes next. We use these techniques in everyday life, whether it be telling a joke or story, or by simply talking to our friends. A musician will use similar techniques while performing a musical piece. It's the difference between playing a bunch of notes and playing music. It's the difference between listening to a speaker that drones on and someone who makes their story interesting and keeping us on the edge of our seats waiting to hear what comes next.

You may be asking yourself, "What does all of this have to do with martial arts?" These techniques can, and should, be used when performing a kata. Remember the boring, monotone speaker? Some of us perform our katas in much the same way as if they are only a combination of techniques strung together. We might perform them slowly, or so fast it's like we are in a race to the end. Life is never like that. It is a combination of fast and slow, hard and soft, pauses and movements.

Whether you are performing your kata for a test, a competition, or just in class, your kata should be telling a story. It should have excitement. Listen to yourself the next time you are speaking. You express meaning by how loudly or softly you speak, how quickly or slowly you speak, and even by the breaths or pauses you make before continuing.

Our techniques in a kata are practiced as combinations, but we are also performing those combination of techniques as if we are actually interacting with another person. We should consider the Bunkai, the "analysis" or "disassembly," of the kata to better understand the movements and why they are put together as they are. This helps us to imagine what the result of each technique may be and, in turn, understand why certain movements should be grouped together, performed fast or slow, and why there should be pauses in specific places. It allows us to "reassemble" our kata creating excitement and interest while performing . . . helping us to tell the story of the kata.

The next time you are practicing your katas, pay attention to why certain movements and techniques are put together as they are; whether they are moving fast or slow, grouped together, or why dramatic pauses are used. Break it down, then put it back together.

Tell your story.

Sandra Gore, 3rd Dan AKS

Following are the current quarterly promotions for each club.

Attention Instructors, if you have students who have been promoted, please send this information so that we may acknowledge their accomplishments.

Bill Way
AKS 2019 Black Belt of the Year

Congratulations to Bill Way, 2nd Dan with Mountaineer Karate Club in West Virginia, for receiving the Black-Belt-of-the-Year Award at this year's AKS Summer Camp.

Bill did not start learning karate until after retiring from teaching music for 36 years in the public school system. From the beginning, Bill has always been one of the first to show up to class and one of the last to leave; rarely missing a class, seminar, or Summer Camp. As soon as he gets to class he doesn't waste any time, but starts right away by stretching and getting to work on his katas and techniques. Bill practices almost every day and supplements his training with other exercise and research. After 5 years of training, Bill physically tested and was promoted to Black Belt. Bill continued his training and learning to successfully test for his 2nd Degree Black Belt within 3 years. Bill is consistently working to improve, eager to learn something new, and is always willing to help others.

Bill is a great example of what it takes to be a black belt by showing that your accomplishments are only limited by yourself. He represents the best of the AKS by displaying respect, humility, kindness, integrity, willingness to learn, determination, and most of all a great attitude.

Congratulations Bill!

The Fight of A Martial Artist

By Rhonda Bailey

Most of you have heard of our Student-of-the-Year, Nicole Austin, but few know why she was so deserving of this honor.

Nicole was a healthy, qualified brown belt looking forward to testing for her Black Belt at summer camp in 2018. She was active in the tournament circuit and took first place every time she competed. She was a force to be reckoned with and encompassed everything a Black Belt should be.

A week before Thanksgiving of 2017, the unimaginable happened. Nicole contracted spinal meningitis and within days she was in a coma. Over the next five weeks, the infection ravaged her body and brain. Nicole was left fighting for her life.

Right before Christmas, she was showing signs of wakefulness. It was a slow process. She was in and out of consciousness most of the next month and showed little interaction. January 2018 brought some reassuring news as she was starting to keep her eyes open. Her fighting spirit was paying off.

By Valentine's Day 2018 she was fully awake and responsive. Unfortunately, she was left with severe damage from the infection. She was paralyzed on her right side, had memory loss, was unable to hear or taste and had auditory issues. Upon my visit, she had little resemblance to the young woman a few months prior. But in true Nicole form, she smiled as I walked in. My friend was back.

During the next three months, she endured multiple types of therapy, often painful. Even though she was frustrated with her progress and prognosis, she never complained. She was not willing to accept anything less than what she once was and asked if she could return to karate class.

By May 2018, Nicole was back in the Dojo. Her brown belt was now a way to support her vertically while she tried to walk and was used as a tool for relearning balance. She stumbled but never quit. She was tenacious!

Week by week, month by month, that brown belt reverted to its original purpose. The progress was amazing to watch with visible improvements every week. She was exceeding all expectations.

Twenty-two months later I am thrilled to report that Nicole has surpassed her doctor's prognosis. Her memory has returned, walks without issue and she is back to teaching grade ranks. Her muscle memory is firing, she is implementing mat work techniques, and performing the Kata she competed with before her illness. Those that have not met Nicole, would be hard-pressed to notice any residual issues. She is a true inspiration showing insistence, humility, and strength. Nicole's love for karate helped to restore her body and continuously feed her spirit.

Admitted, she has not reached her personal goal. She attends every class and works harder than ever before. Nicole is a shining example of what being a true martial artist is and Student-of-The-Year was a small way to recognize that. I am proud to have her in class and even prouder to call her my friend.


Rhonda Bailey
2nd Dan
Shores Community Karate Class

A.K.S. News

Website Updates

Greetings! . . . from the AKS Webmaster. I thought I'd give a status report with regards to requests to update the current website so that it would be more "user-friendly" to those who want to view it on a screen size that is smaller than a normal desk-top computer screen. I am currently in the process of trying to do this.

It is a major change as the site will have to be completely re-designed as the programing is done around the "mobile-first" design - and from there is resized to larger screens. So, I'm learning, doing, testing, re-doing, learning more, more testing, more re-doing . . . So, short story - it's a process and will take some time to figure out. But now that I have been challenged to do this, I am determined to see it through!

That being said, I am also in the process of recovering the "past-Punchlines" that are not currently available to see. The problem is these older issues have to be re-designed as well and go all the way back to 2003. There are about 9 years of newsletters that are currently not available to view, and that's 9 X 4 = 36 punchline issues of re-doing - just for the Punchline pages. So rather than do everything twice, I will be including these old Punchline pages with the total redesign. If anyone has a request for a certain past newsletter, please let me know and I will work on that first.

Hopefully, the December "Punchline" will be in the new format and most of the website pages will have been updated as well.

Thank you all for your patience, and support.


Laura Werner
AKS Webmaster

AKS Summer Camp

2020 Summer Camp is scheduled for July 17, 18 and 19. Let's make this one a B.I.G. event . . . plan now.

Tournament News

No news for this quarter . . .

Recognitions

Please take a moment to view our website and visit the A.K.S. Recognitions page.   We are proud of all of our A.K.S. members who have been honored and recognized for their accomplishments and dedication to the American Karate System.  It is only fitting that we honor them and thank them for their dedication and service to our organization.   Ernie would be proud!

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!

Please send your information to the AKS Webmaster.  We look forward to hearing from you !

Our "Official" web address is:  www.aks-usa.com

In 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!!