An abridged look at the influence of the Crane Style on this thing that we call GoJu.

Starting our known leniage with Masters Wai XinXian and Seisho Arakaki born 1840 - died 1920, who was the original teacher of the Okinawan Master Kanryo Higashionna, born March 10,1853 51? - died December 23,1915, before he traveled to China, we later find our crane connection in the Fukien province in a city called fuzhow .







































While living in Fuzhow Higashionna trained at the Kojo Dojo at the Okinawan ghetto under Masters Kojo, Iwah, and Wai XinXian, later meeting and beginning his training with White Crane “Whooping Crane,” master Xie ZhongXiang, aka RyuRu Ko, born July 1852 - died February 1930. Ryu Ruko was a student of Pan Yuba, who's teacher was Lin SiXian.




















Ryu Ruko's office.


















Ryu Ruko's dojo.

















Ryu Ruko's Grave.













Ryu Ruko's Grand Sons.

Higashionna's top student and GoJu Ryu founder Chojun Miyagi, born April 5,1888 - died October 8, 1953 , continued to study after his teachers death.








Miyagi befriended the Chinese tea merchant Go Kenki, born 1887 - died 1940, who had relocated from China to Naha Okinawa. Go Kenki was a master of White Crane. The two masters formed a study group with other key martial artists, exchanging knowledge. Later, on two occaisions, 1915 and 1936, Go Kenki accompanied Miyagi on his trips to Fuchow as an interpeter.


Here is a clip of Crane Style San Jan The predessesor of San Chin Kata


Here are more examples of San Jan.


Can the reader spot any moves here in Bafen that may have influenced GoJu Kata?


How about here?


Various masters adapted Crane kata into their curriculum often known as Hakutsuru meaning White Crane.

Often the various versions of Crane form would go by various names.


Here is Matayoshi KoBuDo and KinGaiRyu KoDoKan Grand Master, Shinpo Matayoshi, born December 27, 1921 - died September 7, 1997, performing the kata Hakkucho that he learned from Go Kenki



Japanese GoJu Kai founder Yoshimi "Gogen" Yamaguchi composed Genkaku 玄鶴 Seen performed in this picture by his son Hirofumi "Goshi" Yamaguchi, the current head of the Japanese GoJu Kai.

Gen means "deep, profound, dark, black, mysterious, obscure" Kaku means "crane"; Gen-kaku can thus be translated as Mysterious Crane or Black Crane.







Lastly, Grand Master Peter Urban, born August 14, 1934 - died April 7, 2004,
composed Gesaku Sho and Gesaku Dai katas as the Crane forms indegenous to USA / Urban GoJu, seen here being performed by yours truly.

The Long Lost Nunti Bo!

Osu!
Coincidentally, immediately after I wrote the piece on sai in a previous post on this blog, we received a visit from one of my old students from the late 80s, George Kruckmeyer. When I closed one of my dojos years ago, some items wound up being stored at the homes of various students, often being passed on from one location to another. One of these items was my treasured Shureido Nunti Bo from Okinawa, which after being passed from Sensei Zino Salnave to George over the years due to various moves that we all had made. Being that these two students wound up going into the military, and I wound up moving out of the area, I pretty much detatched myself from the hope of ever seeing my nunti bo again.

Well, now that I began to regroup what once was, with my original people, low and behold, here came my old student, out of nowere, with a big smile on his face, nunti bo in hand!

It would appear that this is a sign of how a life, once left behind, is now reborn!

So.... with no further ado, ladies and gentleman, I give you The long lost Nunti Bo, performed with some of the movements of Arakaki No Nunti Bo, at the Highland Temple by yours truly. Special thanks goes to Uchi Deshi, Monday Salnave, for filming this clip.

The Book!

Osu!

The book that we have been waiting for is finally a reality!

It is with great pleasure that I can now announce the publishing of a book of the quality that befits the memory of Grand Master Peter Urban.

Many of you are familiar with the works that Master Don Warrener has produced in the past, but for those who are not, let me explain myself. Master Warrener is a class act. He has been a student and teacher of the GoJu system for many years, having trained under the direction of such notable masters as Master Bob Dalgleish "Father of Canadian GoJu," and Hanshi Richard Kim. He has been associated in various ways with Grand Master Urban, with the production of seminars and various video tape releases throughout the past, and has never been a disappointment to us.

The products that Don Warrener's company, Rising Sun Productions, puts out are always of high quality, and judging from the last publication I personally saw of his, done on Hanshi Richard Kim, I can only believe that this book on Grand Master Urban will be the best media that has ever been done on our late great teacher.

In collaboration with Hanshi Manny Saavedra, I contributed many photos and old peices from my personal collection, to this book's publication. This along with all of the other hunting for Urban treasures that I know Don Warrener did, not to mention the use of the graphic arts mastery of Sensei Angel Lemus "Editor of BuGeiSha Magazine," is a recipe for a "can't lose," production.

The book will be about 400 pages in length, hard cover, laminated dust jacket, certificate of authenticity, there will also be a CD of the book so that it can be played in all computers and a DVD of all the rare photos set to music and including an exceptional interview and demonstration of the Maestro doing kata in the 1960's, then placed inside a special box and each one will be signed and number by the author.


For more information on how to order your copy of this historical compilation, go to: http://www.risingsunproductions.net/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1495

A Composition on Composition and Conduction.

Years ago, Maestro Urban wrote a story that he published in his Urban Speaks News Letter entitled The Maestro and the Organ Grinder. This, like many of the stories he wrote, was food for thought. I strongly encourage the reader, to not just skim the surface of this vignette, but to look down deep into it, and to your self, and perhaps to those around you.

The story went something like this:
A man, accompanied by a trained monkey, would play music in the streets in order to make a living. The monkey would hold out a cup in order to collect money, as the man would feebly play a well known tune. Unfortunately, people would just walk by, laughing and shaking their heads, instead of contributing any donations into the monkey’s cup.

One day, the famous Maestro so and so, dressed in his customary top hat and tails, who was the composer of the song the man played, happened by. The Maestro stopped and told the man that he was playing the song incorrectly. He explained to the man that if he were to slow down the tempo a bit, and adjust certain notes, he would be much closer to playing the opus as it was meant to be played.

The next day, the man and his monkey returned to the street, both dressed out in top hat and tails. He began once again to play the music, but this time heeding the Maestro’s musical advice. There was also a sign in front of them that said “Student of The Great Maestro So and So.” From then on, instead of mocking the man as they walked past, the people would drop coins into the monkey’s cup and actually pay them both some more respectful attention.













Here is an extrapolation / sophistication of my own, based on the previous premise.

The Conductor

As we view the dynamics of kata / knowledge perpetuation, we must recognize the rolls that the various Maestros play.


Where the composer establishes the original opus, which must be mastered intact as was meant to be, the Conductor will either act as a compass pointing to Magnetic North / True North, hence pointing in the original direction of the composers intent, or extrapolate and or sophisticate the opus with his own learned or supposed learned Nuance = his Satori.

The nuance of the conductor is reflected in the motion plus emotion that he leads his orchestra through.

This can either be a positive thing………………..

Or a negative thing………………..

THE END?

Sensei, Gary Gascoyne, RokuDan.

Osu!
It is my pleasure to announce that Sensei Gary Gascoyne of Massachusetts, seen here goofing around at the John Jay College Of Criminal Justice with the webmaster of the Official Urban Website Hanshi Price and I, has been promoted by his teacher Hanshi, Walter Parks, to the rank of 6th Dan.


Sensei Gascoyne is seen here in a pic taken years ago with Hanshi Parks in white towel, and of course The Sensei = Urban, receiving a previous promotion.

Sensei Gascoyne was one of the few folks, who at the end of Sensei Urban's life, actually went way above and beyond the call of duty. His and his teacher's support of Sensei Urban, when he needed it the most, will never be forgotten.

Thank you Sensei Gascoyne, and congratulations on your promotion, and on a job well done!

Happy New Year!

Osu!
2008 is the year of the rat.

It's not like I pay much attention to zodiac details, but since I was born in a previous year of the rat, 1960, it seems appropriate.

We at That's My Satori, would like to wish all of you, a happy and healthy New Year.

The following video is of a song called Year Of The Rat done by a band called Badly Drawn Boy. It has a great message for the start of this new year. Check out the Christ like character with K-9 accompaniment.

Sai

Osu!
I thought that it would be interesting to post some rather unique bits on the sai for a change, starting with the old favorite of Yamaguchi and Urban Sensei's discussing the use of it.



Known as a symbol of police authority in Okinawa, the police would hold the sai up in front of them when arriving at a crime scene, just as modern officers do with their badges. The sai was originally introduced to the RyuKyu Islands probably by pirates. Definately not as some mistakenly beleive, as a farm implement but as an obvious weapon.




What we know as the sai is actually indeginous to the Indonesian archepelago, and called tjabang or cabang.




From Malaysia, here we have the trisula.






















Here are tekpi, from a display at the Sultanate Palace in Melaka.





Yours truly in a posture from the kata Arakaki No Sai that I learned while living in Okinawa.











Here is something that you don't see every day = a Southern Chinese Sai Form.




Another early version called nunti was formed in the shape of a buddhist talisman, with one prong up and another down. It also has pointed shafts on both ends as seen here in this picture of yours truly, and Dai Sensei, Kow Loon Ong.












The nunti is also often seen attatched to the end of a staff. This is known as a nunti bo.

Old Old Old...................

Osu!
This picture of yours truly, with Bill "Super Foot" Wallace and Sensei, Zino Salnave as a skinny young green belt, was taken at a tournament in Atlantic City, New Jersey over 20 years ago.

It seems like it was taken last week.

Man! I'm getting old!


Thank God I'm still good lookin!

And Now For Something Completely Different........

More on the topic of the use, or misuse of Japanese terminology:

Here is another pedantic Malanoski rant on the misuse of Japanese terminology. This one is really not your fault, if Nihon Go is not your or your instructor’s first language. I blame the folks who write books dealing with the instruction of martial arts, and those who blindly use such books for the perpetuation of misinformation on the non suspecting student.

This micro treatise will deal with the Japanese word Uke.

In the striking arts uke is often incorrectly translated as block.

In the throwing / grappling arts, uke is often incorrectly translated as partner.

Then there is the compound word ukemi, which is most often incorrectly translated as break falls.

I have even been asked at a karate get together, by an instructor from another dojo, to get one of my ukes to make a run to the store for us……………….

The fact of the matter is that uke literally means to receive / accept.

Ukemi Waza = methods of acceptance.

When used in reference to a blocking technique, uke actually refers to a method of accepting an on coming strike or attack without being hit.

When used in reference to a person, uke actually refers to the person receiving a technique.


When used in reference to a break fall, ukemi actually refers to a method of receiving a throw or joint locking technique, allowing one to go with the flow of the technique while avoiding injury.

By observing the word uke in its proper context, we, in my opinion, can better understand the concepts of blocking and break falling.

For an interesting article, written by Dave Lowery, on the kanji for uke, go to:

http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=181

Gangster lean.

Osu!
Here is a pic of GMstr. Peter Urban in a group shot with Sosai Masutatsu Oyama and company. He is standing at left, next to the pillar in trench coat. This pic appeared in Oyama's book "What Is Karate?" many years ago.

Was in another life time, but it seems like yesterday.......

Osu! Here is a shot of Sensei Urban, with my team that I brought up from Florida that year, and I, at Shihan Al Gotay's All GoJu Invitational at The John Jay Collage Of Criminal Justice.

GMstr. Urban's katsu revisited.

Osu!
Here is a short video of a fight between the famous tournament stars, Joe Lewis and Skipper Mullins, in which Maestro Urban not only referees, but also performs katsu resuscitation on Mullins after he "Mullins," receives a vicious Lewis side kick. Circa 1960's.


The following is a re posting of an article written about Sensei Urban's katsu, circa 1969.

Click on pics below in order to view at full size:

Pedantic Malanoski Rant on the misspelling of Osu!

Osu!

OK, here it is. I’m not going to win some people's popularity contest with this one. But I figure that since I’m already listed as Public Enemy # “fill in the blank,” this can’t hurt any. Add sarcastic chuckle………..

Being a practitioner of a westernized version of an oriental art co notates enough scrutiny and arduous self justification already, without adding fuel to the fire by acting in one of the following categories when it comes to the use of Japanese terminology:
UNLETTERED implies ignorance of the knowledge gained by reading . UNTUTORED may imply lack of schooling in the arts and ways of civilization . UNLEARNED suggests ignorance of advanced subjects .

The Nihon Go = Japanese language, word Osu!, that we see so often used in the martial arts, literally translates as “Push On.”, as seen on the doors of grocery stores in Okinawa. It is used by some practitioners of martial arts as a reminder or promise to keep on pushing on through adversity. It is also used as a greeting between males. Although in the west, chauvinism is not as popular as in the east, so females are not out of place to use it. Osu!, is often used like a verbal bow or salute, or a slang word for yes, or understood, or like the Hawaiian Aloha, meaning hello and or good bye.

Other translations of the phonetic sound of osu are:

To infer / to conclude / support

To apply pressure from above.

To stamp, “as in stamp a passport.”

Sensei Urban used phonetic spelling in order for the westerners who were not acquainted with the vowels of Nihon Go = Ahh Ehh Eeee Oh Oooo, to be able to pronounce the words. However much time has elapsed since the martial arts were first introduced to the west, and the time has already come for everyone to jump on the band wagon, and come in for the big win, so to speak.

The following misspellings used by many mistakenly for osu have the following meanings.

Oss is not a word. Although it is however an Urban ism, so in respect for The Sensei, I suppose it’s ok, but don’t say that you were not warned that it is not a word in Nihon Go!
Osui means filthy water, or sewage.
Ousu means weak.
Ush is not a word.
Ushi means cattle, cow, beef, ox “Chinese Zodiac,” barb of a feather, tooth decay.

If you think that this rant is bad, try going to the following site: http://www.24fightingchickens.com/2005/08/29/appropriate-usage-of-osu/

I also highly suggest that the reader uses the Japanese to English dictionary site, found in our links section on the lower right hand corner of this page.

Have you ever heard of Joe White?

Osu!
For years, I have wondered why a man that was responsible for so many US Marines being introduced to the GoJu system has basically fallen into obscurity when it comes to GoJu history. Up until recently, the only time I ever saw his name was in a caption under the picture that you see here, circa 1957. He is the black gentleman sitting in the front row, along with Seiko Higa Sensei and Seikichi Toguchi Sensei, which was published in one of Grand Master Seikichi Toguchi's books.

I would like to take this time to introduce you all to him.

Unfortunately, this picture was taken at his going away party. Where did he go, you may ask? He went to Viet Nam and never came back.........

Can you spell HERO???????????????


Here is another pic of Joe White receiving his ShoDan from Toguchi Sensei.

Thank you Sensei White. For what you unknowingly contributed to the GoJu style, and for the ultimate sacrifice that you made in the name of freedom.






Special thanks to Shihan John Roseberry for giving me permission to use this picture, which came from his website http://www.shoreishobukan.org/srsk-homepage.htm

Some unsung personalities in our lineage.

I realize that many of you aficionados out there have already heard of these folks. But it has come to my attention that a great deal of those who would be interested, have not. So, with no further ado, I give you something that you may not already know.


Ryu Ko Arakaki who was responsible for Chojun Miyagi’s initial training, and introduced him to Kanryo Higashionna. If the reader plays around with the name, he may come up with an interesting historical perspective.


Tate KoJo operated the KoJo DoJo at the Okinawan Ghetto in the city of Fuchow in the Fukien province of China. The KoJo DoJo is where such luminaries as Miyagi and Uechi among others, did their initial training when visiting China. It seems that the KoJo DoJo was a gathering place for various Chinese boxers.












Juhatsu Kiyoda was a senior student of Kanryo Higashionna. He founded a style called Toon Ryu after the death of Higashionna...




Miyagi, Kiyoda, and Shinzato







Jinan Shinzato was Miyagi’s top student. He would have been the heir apparent, had he not been killed early in World War 2.













Seiko Higa was a junior classmate of Miyagi’s in Higashionna’s dojo. Becoming a student of Miyagi, after Higashionna’s death, he was the only person that Miyagi ever granted permission to teach GoJu Ryu. Miyagi petitioned the BuTokuKai to issue him the Renshi menkyo. He later attained the Hanshi menkyo from BuTokuKai after Miyagi’s death. (Incidentally, Miyagi was the first karateka to be issued the Kyoshi menkyo from BuTokuKai.)






Takeo Maruta was a student of Miyagi who moved to Kyushu in Mainland Japan. He was a carpenter by trade, and also operated a dojo. He was Gogen Yamaguchi’s first Sensei, and was responsible for Miyagi’s being invited to visit Ritsumeikan University, which is how Yamaguchi met Miyagi.





Nei Chu So, originally of Korean decent, but living in Japan as a citizen, was a junior dojo mate of Gogen Yamaguchi, who like Yamaguchi, also trained with Miyagi during his visit to RitsumeiKan . He later became a member of Yamaguchi’s Japanese GoJu Kai. He was Masutatsu Oyama's GoJu Ryu instructor.

KaraTe Do Sanka

The music that you can start by clicking on the audio start button at top right of this site, under the about me section, is called the KaraTe Do Sanka. That is Nihon Go = Japanese language, for the karate song. It was written by the late Grand Master, Soshin Nagamine who founded the MatsuBayashi ShoRin Ryu style. An interesting note on Nagamine, is that he, along with GoJu Ryu founder Grand Master Chojun Miyagi, created the GekiSai kata. The two of them were in the process of introducing KaraTe into the Okinawa public school system, and developed the form in order for the young students to have an initial rudimentary set of moves that they could easily understand. Of course Miyagi later developed the GekiSai Dai Ni kata, and much later began developing the GekiSai Dai San, which he unfortunately passed away before completing. Fortunately, GekiSai Dai San was completed by his student, the late Grand Master, Seikichi Toguchi, founder of ShoreiKan GoJu Ryu. We practice Gekisai Dai San in my ShobuDo GoJu Jitsu system, as taught to me by Dai Sensei, Kow Loon "Kayo" Ong, founder of Chi I Do.

THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE SONG:

Ah, beautiful islands of sunlight,

And the color of the sea,

The proud fighting spirit of the Islanders

and the empty handed Sword of Justice.

Training spirit and training body

Ah, this is Okinawan Karate-do!

O, but if an enemy should happen to attack us,

and the method of courtesy prove to no avail,

if he should cut our flesh with his iron weapon,

even then we will punch through to his bones.

Courtesy and defense together

This is Okinawan Karate-do!

O! Ever since the mythical ancestry of Japan,

the bell of peace has been ringing continually in Okinawa.

The way of courtesy and the five bodily weapons of Karate together,

to make a straight character and good Etiquette,

This is Okinawan Karate-do!

The Sensei

Osu! I am sure that most of you have seen this before, but for those who have not, here is some footage of The Maestro = Urban. You will see a very short piece here of the famouse fight between The Maestro and GMstr. Don Nagle. This will have to suffice, until I get the miles of footage that I have of him, converted for use here on My Satori.

The 3 Mentors Of The Maestro.

Osu!

Now that we have the technology, I thought it apropriate to post footage of our family tree three. That is to say, the grand fathers so to speak, of what we know as GoJuLandia Americanus. Here are GMstr. Urban's three teachers.