The Bubishi Karate Do Organization
Editor: Katherine Loukopoulos Email: kloukopoulos2001@yahoo.com
Issue # 13 March 2013
Cover Story Laskarina Bouboulina May 1771 – 22 May 1825 Laskarina Bouboulina was a Greek naval commander, heroine of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, and posthumously, an Admiral of the Imperial Russian Navy. Support of the independence movement Allegedly Bouboulina joined the Filiki Etaireia, an underground organization that was preparing Greece for revolution against Ottoman rule. She bought arms and ammunition at her own expense and brought them secretly to Spetses Island in her ships, to fight "for the sake of my nation." Construction of the ship Agamemnon was finished in 1820. She bribed Turkish officials to ignore the ship's size and it was later one of the largest warships in the hands of Greek rebels. She also organized her own armed troops composed of men from the Spetses Island. She used most of her fortune to provide food and ammunition for the sailors and soldiers under her command. On March 13th 1821, Bouboulina raised on the mast of Agamemnon her own Greek flag based on the flag of the Comnenus dynasty of Byzantine emperors. The people of Spetses revolted on April 3rd and later joined forces with ships from other Greek islands. Bouboulina sailed with eight ships to Nafplion and began a naval blockade. Later she took part in the naval blockade and capture of Monemvasia and Pylos. After independence Bouboulina was posthumously awarded the rank of Admiral by the Russian Navy, a singular achievement for a 19th century woman. Her descendants sold the ship Agamemnon to the Greek state which renamed it Spetsai. On the island of Spetses the "Bouboulina Museum" is housed in the 300 year-old mansion of Bouboulina's second husband Bouboulis, where her descendants still live. Her statue stands in the harbor of Spetses Island. Bouboulina was depicted on the reverse of the Greek ONE drachma coin of 1988-2001.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Feature Story Keiko Fukuda 福田 敬子 Fukuda Keiko April 12, 1913 – February 9, 2013
Keiko Fukuda Sensei was a Japanese-born American martial artist. She was the highestranked female judoka in history, holding the rank of 9th Dan from the Kodokan and the United States Judo Federation (USJF), and 10th Dan from USA Judo, and was the last surviving student of Kanō Jigorō, the Founder of Judo. She was a renowned pioneer of women's judo, being the first woman promoted to 6th Dan in 1972, and later, to 9th Dan by the Kodokan in 2006. She is also the first and, so far, the only woman to have been promoted to 10th Dan in the art. After completing her formal education in Japan, Fukuda visited the United States of America to teach in the 1950s and 1960s, and eventually settled there. She continued to teach her art in the San Francisco Bay Area until her death in 2013. Early life As a youth in Tokyo, she learned the arts of calligraphy, flower arrangement, and the tea ceremony; typical pursuits for a woman in Japan at that time. Despite her conventional upbringing, Fukuda felt close to judo through memories of her grandfather, and one day went with her mother to watch a judo training session.
Fukuda's grandfather, Fukuda Hachinosuke, had been a samurai and master of Tenjin Shinyō-ryū jujutsu, and he had taught that art to Kanō Jigorō, founder of judo and head of the Kodokan. Kanō had studied under three jujutsu masters before founding judo, and Fukuda's grandfather had been the first of these men. Kanō had taught female students as early as 1893 (Sueko Ashiya), and had formally opened the joshi-bu (women's section) of the Kodokan in 1926. He personally invited the young Fukuda to study judo—an unusual gesture for that time— as a mark of respect for her grandfather. She began training in judo in 1935, as one of only 24 women training at the Kodokan. Apart from instruction by judo's founder, Fukuda also learned from Kyuzo Mifune. Judo career Fukuda, standing at only 4' 11" (150 cm) and weighing less than 100 lb. (45 kg), became a judo instructor in 1937. She also earned a degree in Japanese literature from Showa Women's University. In 1953, she was promoted to the rank of 5th Dan in judo. At the invitation of a judo club in Oakland, California, she traveled to the States, and stayed for almost two years before returning to Japan. Fukuda returned to the United States again in 1966. At that time, she was one of only four women in the world ranked at 5th Dan in judo, and was one of only two female instructors at the Kodokan (the other being Masako Noritomi, also ranked 5th Dan). In 1966, she demonstrated her art at Mills College, and the institution immediately offered her a teaching position; she accepted, and taught there from 1967 to 1978. During this time, Fukuda lived at the Noe Valley home of one of her students, Shelley Fernandez, and taught judo there in addition to her teaching at the college. When the class sizes grew, she shifted the classes to the Sokoji Zen Buddhist temple in the Japantown, San Francisco. She named her school the Soko Joshi Judo Club. Around 1972, following a letter campaign against the rule prohibiting women from being promoted higher than 5th Dan, Fukuda became the first woman promoted to 6th Dan by the Kodokan. In 1973, she published Born for the Mat: A Kodokan kata textbook for women, an instructional book for women about the kata (patterns) of Kodokan judo. In 1974, she established the annual Joshi Judo Camp to give female judo practitioners the opportunity to train together. That year, she was one of only three women in the world ranked 6th Dan in judo. In 1990, Fukuda was awarded Japan's Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th Class (Gold Rays with Rosette), and the United States Judo Incorporated (USJI) Henry Stone Lifetime Contribution to American Judo Award. In 2004, she published Ju-No-Kata: A Kodokan textbook, revised and expanded from Born for the Mat, a pictorial guide for performing Ju-nokata, one of the seven Kodokan kata. Fukuda served as a technical adviser for US Women's Judo and the USJI Kata Judges' Certification Sub-committee. She also served as a National Kata Judge, and was a faculty member of the USJI National Teachers’ Institute, a member of the USJF Promotion Committee, and a member of the USJF and USJI Women’s Sub-committee. Fukuda held the rank of 9th Dan, the second-highest in judo from two organizations, and in July 2011 received the rank of 10th Dan from a third organization. In 2001, she was awarded a rare red belt (marking 9th Dan) in judo by the USJF for her lifelong contribution to the art. On
January 8, 2006, at its annual New Year's Kagami Biraki celebration, the Kodokan promoted Fukuda to the rank of 9th Dan—the first time it had awarded this rank to a woman. On July 28, 2011, the promotion board of USA Judo awarded Fukuda the rank of 10th Dan. Later life Fukuda continued to teach judo three times each week, host the annual Fukuda Invitational Kata Championships, and to teach at the annual Joshi Judo Camp until her death, at the age of 99, in San Francisco, California. She established the Keiko Fukuda Judo Scholarship to encourage and enable women to continue their formal training in the art. Apart from teaching in the USA, she also taught in Australia, Canada, France, Norway and the Philippines. Fukuda's personal motto was: "Be gentle, kind, and beautiful, yet firm and strong, both mentally and physically.” Fukuda Sensei passed away at her home in San Francisco on February 9, 2013. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Editorial March 8th is International Woman’s Day. I selected two women, Laskarina Bouboulina from 19th Century Greece, and Keiko Fukuda from 20th Century Japan as prime examples of what can constitute the finest in bravery, devotion, perseverance and diligence for us to emulate. Booboulina and Fukuda followed their hearts during a time when women did not have access to most professional organizations. Being a minority might have been difficult but we are dazzled by their successes, and not by the difficulties they conquered. Truly magnificent role models…
Heroines in the making…
Anfisa Zaichenkina from Bella Russia is one tough lady! Working mother of two, and grandmother of five, next month she will be testing for her Sandan in Shotokan. Anfisa is already a Yon Kyu in Ryu Kyu Kobudo.
The Symbol of Universal Sound “AUM” The sound of “AUM” symbolizes all that was, all that is, and all that will be. It is the Cycle of Life! Ioanna Papaioannou, a devoted yoga practitioner and teacher, recently joined our budding Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Karate group; in our News Letter she will be represented by the Symbol “AUM”. Shy by nature, Ioanna’s inner strength flows in Fukyu Kata Ichi.
Fofie Emiri, a mother of two, executes with precision Mae Geri Tsudan Tsuki…
Nikoletta Giannopoulou has no time for nonsense! Her entire day is spent working, studying and training… ambitious, clear headed, and generous she perseveres against colossal odds… and WINS!
Okinawa Remembers!!!
Hisao Sunagawa Sensei of Jundokan and Cheng Lai Sheung of Hong Kong Cheng Lai Sheung travels to Okinawa every Chinese New Year for training at the Jundokan HQ! メール有難う 久しぶりです お元気で 稽古 頑張って ワンダフル 私も 稽古三昧です ビジネスも リタイヤ 順道館で日々 稽古してます 又 一緒に 稽古 出来る事を 祈念します 益々の Katherine先生の 活躍を祈念します。 お元気で sunagawa
Thank you for your e-mail. It's been a while. You seem to be doing well and practicing hard. Wonderful! I've been training a lot. Since I retired from work, I train almost every day at Jundokan. Hopefully we can train together again. Wish you the best of your further success. Please take care, Hisao Sunagawa March 29th, 2013
Asako san’s Healthy Kitchen Fried Rice (4 Servings / Ingredients)
6 cups of cooked short grain brown or white rice refrigerated for at least overnight, maybe a day or two. (Reduce water when preparing rice, so it doesn’t get mushy when stir fry with veggies.)
Put rice in a large bowl, separate the grains with fingers so there is no lump.
2 scrambled eggs (Mix 2 eggs and 2 table spoons of milk, make scrambled eggs with 1 table spoon of vegetable oil)
1 cup of diced bell paper (any color)
1 cup of diced onion
1 cup of diced celery
1 cup of diced mushrooms
1 cup of diced ham (cooked shrimp, chicken, or pork if you prefer)
3 table spoons of vegetable oil
1 table spoon of soy (preferably Kikkoman brand)
1 table spoon of pork or chicken bouillon granules
1/4 tea spoon of salt
White pepper
Directions: Heat up a large skillet (larger surface is recommended, so water coming out of veggies would evaporate better) and put vegetable oil. Stir-fry harder vegetable first, so cook pepper, diced onion, celery, mushrooms, cooked meat such as ham and rice. Cook it thoroughly, and add bouillon granules, salt, white pepper, and soy sauce. Turn off heat and mix in scrambled eggs.
Enjoy!
Friends from Abroad… Matayoshi Kobudo and Ryu Kyu Kobudo got together for one night of training when Lisa Skrypichayko and husband of 20 years Warren Hope came to Athens for a few days. Lisa and Warren hail from Australia. They decided to take a six month trip around the world and enjoy the different cultures through the eyes of karate and kobudo. Here is Lisa’s and Warren’s Introduction:
We are with Goju Ryu Ryusyokai under Shigatoshi Seneha, Hanshi, whose hombu dojo is in Naha, Okinawa. Here is a link to the Ryusyokai website: http://www.ryusyokai.org/
Our national head of style is Sal Ebanez, Shihan, and his website for Goju Ryu Australia is: http://gojuryukarate.com.au/Home.aspx
We are both Shodan, and train under our own sensei Bob Allen, Renshi at his dojo in Midland (near Perth) Western Australia. We've been training with Sensei Bob since 2004. This is a page from his website: http://www.swanhillsgojuryu.com.au/
We also train in Matayoshi Kobudo with Sensei Bob and Sansei Sal, under Takehiro Gaja Sensei in Okinawa.
Nikos Theodorou (left) was the host of tonight’s training. Lisa (center) and Warren (right) explained how it was possible to leave everything behind, and to just take off for six months. For most people this is just a dream!
Lisa and Warren were introduced to Matsubayashi Ryu’s Bo Kata Haku Sho no Kun. Nevertheless, we found time to discuss and to show some of the stylistic differences between Matayoshi and Ryu Kyu Kobudo. Lisa and Warren had a warrior’s spirit; they were a breath of fresh air!
We had fun!
Left to Right: Panos, Anna, Dimitris, Petros and Alexandros Five bright Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Karate stars destined for greatness!
Rest and relaxation is what Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu’s practitioner Panagiotis Aligizakis needed, and for two weeks he found solace in Budapest and Chechnya.
Like mother-like son, 30 years earlier I was in the same place for a European Karate Cup held in Budapest… WUKO World Kata Champion, Suzuko san, wished me success…
Left: WUKO World Kumite Champion and I share a KODAK moment… March, 1983
Some of the USA National Karate Team Members before boarding the bus‌ Don Madden, Kumite Coach, is second from right. Immediately next to Don Madden is Michal Sledge who later found the Sledge Foundation; it is a foundation of hope and assistance to the less privileged members of New York City.
Signatures of some members of the delegation to Budapest‌ March, 1983
Rest in Peace! Arakaki Isamu Sensei December 2nd, 1941 – March 29th, 2013
The president of the Okinawa Prefecture Karate Do Rengokai, Arakaki Isamu Sensei, passed away on March 29th, 2013. The president of the Naha Tug of War Association was also an English teacher at the Okinawa Shogaku Senior High School before founding his own company Arakaki Tsusho in 1980. Arakaki sensei started karate with Higa Yuchoku sensei when he was 12 years old, and he became the president of the Rengokai in 2007. In 2010 Arakaki Sensei was awarded 10th Dan.
Photo Courtesy: The Neighborhood Karate and Judo Club
Photo Courtesy: Buddy Govender, South Africa
Chart Contribution: Asako Sudo "In order to bow well physically We must first learn how to bow well in our mind." Sensei Peter Lindsay, Canada