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GALLERY — DECEMBER 2007, NEW YORK
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忘年会
Bōnenkai
End of year Party
After the last class of 2007, we had our "Bōnenkai", which is a Japanese tradition to say goodbye to the old year with a big party. However, in Okinawan martial arts culture, a Dōjō party is more than just eating and drinking. The Shinjinbukan school prides itself in preserving these traditions. So, it was a great opportunity for my students at the Shinjinbukan New York Dōjō to learn to apply our martial arts ettiquette.
SHINJINBUKAN UTA — THE SHINJINBUKAN SONG
NAIFUANCHI SHO DAN — PRESTON FLAMMANG
KAKIE — SENSEI JIMMY MORA & PRESTON FLAMMANG
TSUKI DRILLS AND MORE — JULIAN DOVE & PRESTON FLAMMANG
CHISHI — SENSEI JIMMY MORA & PRESTON FLAMMANG
SHINJINBUKAN UTA — THE SHINJINBUKAN SONG
We started our bonenkai by singing the Shinjinbukan Song, written by Onaga Yoshimitsu Kaichō.
To read the lyrics and listen to a sample audio file, see SHINJINBUKAN UTA
According to the Ryūkyū (Okinawan) martial arts ettiquette, during special ocassions and gatherings the Sensei (teacher) always offered a kanpai or ceremonial toast. This toast was always made with awamori (the typical Okinawan sake). And there were many rules and meaning with the way the awamori was served, the seating positions at the table and many more details. In order to teach these traditions to the children, we used APPLE JUICE.
Next, it was the children's favorite moment: "gifts". Vassily and Sofia presented gifts to their Senpai (seniors): Preston Flammang and Julian Dove. And the adults exchanged gifts, including a nice bottle of Bordeaux for me. And in the tradition of Shinjinbukan, in the middle of the party, the teacher starts showing the most important secrets of our art. So, I started teaching my students.
NAIFUANCHI SHO DAN — PRESTON FLAMMANG
Our celebration continued with my student Preston Flammang demonstrating a kata: Naifuanchi Sho Dan.
KAKIE — SENSEI JIMMY MORA & PRESTON FLAMMANG
My student Preston and I demonstrated a few basic moves of "Kakie". This is one of the traditions of Ti, the ancient Okinawan Martial Art, which preceded modern Karate. Our Kakie is part of the art that has been preserved and passed down through the Shinjinbukan School by our founder, Onaga Yoshimitsu Kaichō. Nowadays, most instructors do not understand how to use it.
TSUKI DRILLS AND MORE — JULIAN DOVE & PRESTON FLAMMANG
Julian Dove, my student currently living in Amterdam, Netherlands, demonstrated a few basic tsuki drills with Preston Flammang. During the tsuki drills, one of the main points is to check the correct porition of the arms and different muscles. Next, I checked Julian's Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) and his Naifuanchi Sho Dan Kata.
"Machiwara" is a striking wooden pole that has been used in Okinawan martial arts for centuries. And it is probably the most misunderstood training tool in Okinawan Karate. Nowadays, most karate instructors do not use it. And the few who do, do not understand it. In all human activities, the incorrect use of body mechanics, could cause severe injuries. This specially true with striking a machiwara for hours at a time. Below, you can see Preston Flammang applying some basic techniques...
CHISHI — SENSEI JIMMY MORA & PRESTON FLAMMANG
Another important tool in Okinawan Karate is the "chishi", which is a small one-sided weight used to train the stabilizing muscles, breathing control, body alignment and balance.
Another year of hard work at the Shinjinbukan New York Dōjō...
明けましておめでとうございます！！
Akemashite Omedetō Gozaimasu!!
Happy New Year!!
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