JOSE

Ram N Herrero And The Legacy Of The Great Yosuke Yamashita Sensei Sensei Yosuke Yamashita

There are people whom I deeply respect and admire, people whose actions and sacrifices are worthy of praise. This is the case of José Ramón Herreros. Student of the master Yosuke Yamashita. The author of this article was also a student of Yosuke Yamashita. I recognize that the sensei was the teacher who most influenced me and I learned, at the level of teaching. He made me feel Karate like no other and that the list has been extensive, however, like other students, I left the dojo and followed my martial path. This was not the case with José Ramón, since he started training with him, he was his loyal student. When, due to real estate circumstances, Yamashita sensei's Dojo was closed, he was the one who was in charge of looking for another gym where he could continue giving classes, taking him to the doctor, helping him in the "bad moments", even, with great efforts, setting up the Dojo "Yosuke Yamashita" so that he would stop giving classes in a gym franchise... José Ramón is not a rich person, but he did not care about the sacrifices he had to make for the well-being of sensei. On the day of the master's funeral, even though he tried to stay in the background, all the people from the martial world turned to him.

At the requiem I had the opportunity to talk and meet again with many people of this art and all of them, without exception, spoke of José's dedication and loyalty. But who is José Ramón? As he tells it, "My career at the martial level is similar to that of many colleagues who have been training martial arts for years. I have practiced Kenpo, Wushu, taekwondo, Shito Ryu karate. Until I found my style or rather, the master. Currently I am 5 dan of Goyu Ryu and national trainer. I would simply define myself as one more student of the master".

There are many who are aware of what their martial art is, the difficult thing is to find that teacher who will guide you in it and make you "grow". The case of José Ramón Herreros was no exception... "I knew that karate was my path but I couldn't find the master, nor the style. My friend Javier, partner for years in our martial journey traveled to Okinawa and there he asked for a teacher in Spain who trained traditional karate, ie: What they worked in their Dojo and without hesitation they recommended a Japanese master in Okinawa (?), ie: the master Yosuke Yamashita. Following his recommendations we went to his Dojo. From the first moment there was a special chemistry and empathy difficult to describe. The master had a special character, he taught in the old Japanese way, it was not the techniques themselves that made him different, but the way of teaching, of transmitting it, he felt that this was the authentic spirit of karate, totally away from the competition and sport".

In today's times it is difficult to find so much dedication to the teacher, that dedication and gratitude to the person who guides us along the way. But what did the sensei mean to José Ramón Herreros? "For me he has been one of the most important people in my life. He has been my teacher, my mentor, my martial guide and on a personal level: a second father. If you wanted to argue with the sensei he would do it in 10 minutes, he was a samurai of the 15th century living in the 21st, his samurai genes were noticeable, but thanks to his teachings I have "grown" at all levels and I try to keep his legacy and teachings alive, training and teaching what we learned from him. In class I just repeat the same classes, without changes. I am aware that it is impossible to imitate him, but together with a group of former students, we try to transmit and train his "karate" in the hope of one day reaching his level, although that will be impossible, but at least we try, we follow the guidelines that he gave us".

When talking about the difference of Yamashita's Goyu Ryu karate it is inevitable to ask why is it different? "I think the big differences between the teachings of the master with respect to other dojos was the emphasis he put on the work of breathing (tandem) and the few Kata that are practiced in Goyu Ryu, he said that if to master a kata, it takes a lifetime, to perfect 80 .... In the school we try to follow the same line, we work the same kata over and over again in search of perfection. It is not about knowing many kata, but about working them correctly and coordinating them with the breathing. The movements and the tandem should be only one. All the students that I know of sensei work this same line but each one gives a different or personal "touch" to his teachings. The center was unquestionably him, nowadays there is no leader or head of the style. It must also be taken into consideration that it depends a lot on the time in which you trained with him. The sensei, like everything else, evolved, the karate he taught in the 70's or 80's is not the same as the karate practiced in recent years. For example, in the last period he worked a lot on the tandem, he arrived one day and said kihon is useless, after a lifetime of training it. He was referring to the fact that in a fight or street bout, the way the street is, one could not prepare and put oneself on guard, the techniques had to be executed from the point where one was. He worked very relaxed and only concentrated on the last moment, he worked a lot on the Yu".

In the XXI century to talk about Ki or chi and its application in the practice of karate may seem strange and incomprehensible, especially in such a competitive and materialistic society, where everything is measured by the results obtained in competition and the followers you have on the network. Is it possible to practice and apply it in karate, outside of Japan? "Apart from the sensei's classes, I have gone to Chi Kung classes. We have all seen images of people doing incredible feats, I personally do not believe most of them, but what I do know is that when I work it I feel like a special heat throughout the body, I do not know if someday I will reach the level of sensei, I do not know what degree he had in this aspect, but the truth is that despite the age and the pathologies he had, when he entered the tatami he had a special aura, that only the great masters possess. I don't know how to explain it but it is something you perceive.

At this point it is not difficult to ask: has karate changed so much as a martial art, what is the difference between traditional karate and sport karate, because for any neophyte in the practice, its techniques are the same for everyone, or not? "I remember that Sensei used to say that the fact that it was an Olympic sport was good for the publicity and promotion of karate, but he was sad because he said that the essence of karate was being lost. He worked the techniques looking for efficiency in combat, all applied for self-defense, he did not want, nor taught spectacular techniques, apart from working and putting much emphasis on breathing (tandem), meditation, Ki work, etc.. The master said that it is necessary to know how to differentiate: at the level of promotion and diffusion it is great that karate has been and can be Olympic again. But both at the level of kata and kumite it was being given a totally sporting approach, where only success in competition prevails. For him there was another facet of karate, the one that is not seen, where you work inward, without competing with anyone, only with yourself. That is the most difficult combat to win and that is the karate we practice. I know that in the times we live in all this is incomprehensible, but it is what we have lived and learned. Perhaps all this may be shocking, the master did not care about money, he never cared, first and foremost, was the style, the rest was secondary, he never pursued fame, or power at the level of organization or other strata. He only cared about perfecting his karate and teaching it in his Dojo. In class from time to time he would say "What are you doing?" because someone was doing it wrong or doing something different from the rest, he would scold him and when someone confronted him, he would say: <<If you are not interested, from here to Plaza Castilla there are many Dojos, by ironies of fate, we have ended up in Plaza Castilla. Some time ago we left the center of Madrid">>...."

The legendary Yamashita dojo is no longer in the center of Madrid, it is located in the north of the capital, however and despite the changes, his legacy endures.

Master Frisan starts a new series of DVDs on the best Kyusho points for different situations. In this first installment, of 2 volumes, we focus the study on the defense against the main arm attacks: grabs, thrusts and punches. We will analyze the solutions against grabs and thrusts to understand the basic principles of Kyusho and then we will analyze the solutions against direct fist strikes such as the Jab and the Cross, and circular strikes such as the hook. Dermatome stimuli, pressure points and various exercises are discussed in order to train and learn. The exercises are performed by M° Gianluca Frisan, and his instructors from CSEN / Kyusho Institute because, in order to master Kyusho, it is necessary to train with as many people as possible, with different bodies, and with different reactions and sensitivities.

DVD 1: Intro & Medical Informations, arm points, leg points, body points, neck and head points, Kyusho Jitsu Grab Drills Points, Conclusion Kyusho Jitsu Nerve Stimulation.

DVD 2:

Kyusho Jitsu Push Drills Points, Kyusho Jitsu Punch Informations, Kyusho Straight Punch Drills Points, Kyusho Hook Punch Drills Points, Conclusion Kyusho Jitsu Nerve Stimulation.

All DVDs, wichi is produced by Budo International, si provided and alone in the formats DVD-5 or MPEG-2, in VCD, DivX or the like is however neves offered with a special holograma sticker. Besides our DVD is characteristed coverings by the hig quality in pressure and material. If this DVD and/or the DVD covering do not corespond to the requirements specified above, it concerns illegal pirat copy.

Master Frisan starts a new series of DVDs on the best Kyusho points for different situations. In this first installment, of 2 volumes, we focus the study on the defense against the main arm attacks: grabs, thrusts and punches. We will analyze the solutions against grabs and thrusts to understand the basic principles of Kyusho and then we will analyze the solutions against direct fist strikes such as the Jab and the Cross, and circular strikes such as the hook. Dermatome stimuli, pressure points and various exercises are discussed in order to train and learn. The exercises are performed by M° Gianluca Frisan, and his instructors from CSEN / Kyusho Institute because, in order to master Kyusho, it is necessary to train with as many people as possible, with different bodies, and with different reactions and sensitivities.

DVD 1: Intro & Medical Informations, arm points, leg points, body points, neck and head points, Kyusho Jitsu Grab Drills Points, Conclusion Kyusho Jitsu Nerve Stimulation.

DVD 2:

Kyusho Jitsu Push Drills Points, Kyusho Jitsu Punch Informations, Kyusho Straight Punch Drills Points, Kyusho Hook Punch Drills Points, Conclusion Kyusho Jitsu Nerve Stimulation.

All DVDs, wichi is produced by Budo International, si provided and alone in the formats DVD-5 or MPEG-2, in VCD, DivX or the like is however neves offered with a special holograma sticker. Besides our DVD is characteristed coverings by the hig quality in pressure and material. If this DVD and/or the DVD covering do not corespond to the requirements specified above, it concerns illegal pirat copy.

Guro Ariel Flores Mosses introduces for the first time, how the fighting arts of Punong Guro Edgar G. Sulite of Lameco, GM Christopher N. Ricketts of Ilustrisimo and GM Conrad A. Manaois of Manaois Eskrima transitions to Firearms combat training. Guro Mosses shares the Importance of footwork such as Retirada Ilustrisimo, Retirada Caballero and Hakbang Paiwas and the effectiveness of footwork to create the distances and angles you need to pull off your arsenal.

Long, Medium and Close range drills are shown to understand where to place yourself against an opponet(s). In addition, Guro Mosses covers the transitional techniques thru various firearm drills including LIVE FIRE exercises and for the first time on DVD shares the "MG-5" gun retention technique against any attacker attempting to seize your gun. These training drills are a must for any level or discipline and reveals the practicality of the Fighting Arts of the Philippines.

All DVDs, wichi is produced by Budo International, si provided and alone in the formats DVD-5 or MPEG-2, in VCD, DivX or the like is however neves offered with a special holograma sticker. Besides our DVD is characteristed coverings by the hig quality in pressure and material. If this DVD and/or the DVD covering do not corespond to the requirements specified above, it concerns illegal pirat copy.

Tests And Initiation Rites

"Today one is courageous without love, one is generous without sobriety, one is the first without placing oneself behind; this is death."

Lao Tse

In this accelerated, competitive and formalistic society in which we live, the tests to access higher grades are the only initiatory resource left to the Martial Arts to be able to verify, even if not with sufficient clarity and formative effectiveness for the practitioner, the degree of convergence between his feeling, his intention and the correctness of his action. The competitive stimulus with which we are educated ends up putting us on the verge of having to submit, "reluctantly", to the test of access to another higher grade or to take the karategui and leave the dojo.

Our narcissism, hand in hand with our insecurity: its twin and inseparable companion of misfortunes, is torn between the imposition of passing the test so as not to be left behind those who started with us, and even later, and the fear of not measuring up to the respectable. The balance oscillates between the load deposited on the saucer of our insecurities and fears, and the one piled on the saucer of our expectations and fantasies.