written by sensei Brian George (3rd Dan)
VOLUME 2: Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 4 Issue 5 Issue 6 Issue 7 Issue 8 Issue 9
If we take the name of our ryu and brek it down there is a meaning to the name, Seishin-do.
When we decided to change the name from Meadowfield karate club there was a prfound reason why, this was because the 'club' was diminishing in numbers and nothing was attracting new students to pusue the art of Shotokan.
This could have been for many reasons and looking back is irrelevant, the only thing that did matter was it was time to change.
The first thing that was done was to change the name. This was not done without thought, we needed a name that was to be traditional and one that represented what we as your teaches were going to base our standard of training on. As Keith and myself were trained
Seeing that we set out to give students the chance to practice a traditional martial art it is now time that we insist that the student give their spirit of Budo to their teachers with the respect and dedication it deserves.
This you will do through the way Funakoshi Sensei intended all his disciples of Shotokan karate to do, through the respect of yourself, your fellow students, your dojo and most important your sensei. Your sensei is only passing the knowledge on that he/she has gained through hard work, respect and discipline to the art he/she now passes on to others.
Overall this grading wasn't to bad and the majority of faults were down to 'Basics'
Basics as you all get reminded on many occasions are very important to the art of Shotokan. This style of martial art was built around basic methods of self defence. If you do not learn the method of basic training the foundations of your martial art study's will be flawed and you will surely be unsuccessful in your studies.
Let me congratulate Daniel Ross for gaining the 'Best grade' award.
Also congratulations from all the students and your sensei's go to; Lisa Hope, Peter Hope, Luke Donahue. On gaining their SHODAN.
ISSUE 5
Newsletter date January 2001
A statement by Funakoshi Sensei.
The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of it's participants.
A statement as profound as that must have come from a person of great character himself as well as the intense feeling he muset have had for the art he introduced to the whole world. Thuse I'm sure that Funakoshi sensei ment that any and all could if they put there soul into the art of Shotokan could benefit a grat deal from what was at hand from the training that the person was to receive through the years of dedication that the individual would have to put him/herself through to achieve their goal.
