MAGAZINE Karate College Clubs
SUMMER 2024
NEW JKA BLACK BELTS, RANKS AND LICENSING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
RECAP OF SUMMER 2024 4
Summer 2024 Karate Infographic
12
JKA US National Team Training
13
New Orleans Sunglass Parade
14
JKA AF Summer Camp Celebration
30 Jerry Sensei Visits Boston
SEMINARS
DEVELOPING MENTAL RESILIENCE - EDITORIAL
16
Meikyo Kata Seminar
17
Kanku Dai Kata Seminar
21
Kanku Sho Kata Seminar
22 Jion Kata Seminar 23 Bassai Dai Kata Seminar 24 Enpi Kata Seminar 30 Jerry Sensei MIT Seminar
TOURNAMENTS 37 Inter-College Tournament at MIT
PROMOTIONS TABATA SENSEI LEGACY
39 JKA Kyu Promotions 39 HDKI Kyu Promotions
ALTRUISM IN ACTION 26 MIT Batucada Pandeiros Donation 27
Benin-Africa Education Donation
28 IB Mental Health Counseling Seminar 42 Stockholm Water Prize
KARATE DIPLOMACY
7
40
Japanese Emperor Visits Oxford University
41
Bastille Day of France
NEW BLACK BELTS RANKING
MORE THAN KARATE
43
CONTACT US
44
READ OUR LATEST ISSUES
20
MIT Kendall Brazilian Music Lesson
31
Jerry Sensei MIT Karateka-Sailor
33
Hamazkayin Armenian Folk Concert
34
MIT Karateka-Sailor Program
SUMMER 2024 KARATE
INFOGRAPHIC
11
9 2
KATA SEMINARS JION KATA SEMINAR BASSAI DAI KATA SEMINAR KANKU DAI KATA SEMINAR KANKU SHO KATA SEMINAR ENPI KATA SEMINAR MEIKYO KATA SEMINAR 4 JIYU KUMITE SEMINARS JERRY SENSEI SEMINAR
NEW JKA BLACK BELT RANKS 6 NEW SHODANS 1 NEW NIDAN 1 NEW SANDAN 1 NEW YONDAN
ALTRUISM FUNDRAISERS
LAPTOPS, STARLINK, AND KARATE UNIFORMS TO BENIN PANDEIROS INSTRUMENTS FOR MIT BATUCADA
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2
INTER-COLLEGE TOURNAMENTS AT MIT
3
10
3 NEW JKA LICENSING
AMANDINE - INSTRUCTOR D, JUDGE D LORRAINE - INSTRUCTOR D, JUDGE D VAZRIK - INSTRUCTOR C, JUDGE C
MORE THAN KARATE EVENTS NEW ORLEANS SUMMER CAMP CELEBRATION BASTILLE DAY CELEBRATION VAZRIK SENSEI BIRTHDAY PAVILION CELEBRATION STOCKHOLM WATER PRIZE JERRY SENSEI BOSTON TOUR HAMAZKAYIN ARMENIAN CONCERT NEW ORLEANS SUNGLASSES PARADE BRAZILIAN BATUCADA MUSIC LESSON BENIN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES KARATEKA-SAILOR PROGRAM CELEBRATION
Editorial
Developing Mental Resilience
The aim of Karate is not just learning to punch and kick well, but to develop the mind. We have written previously about the importance of developing a strong mind, but we want to highlight the particular aspect of resilience. Many people who set goals in life, such as New Year’s resolutions to exercise more, are able to stick to the goal for a short time period. However, in the long run, they may lose sight of the goal or motivation. Resilience is the quality that enables people to persevere even when things become challenging, and the excitement of the initial goal setting wanes. When we train Karate, we train regardless of whether we feel particularly energetic or whether we feel particularly tired. The goal is to teach the body and train the mind to stick to a schedule regardless of one’s emotional state of the day. Similarly in life, when a goal is set and a desired mission needs to be done, this resilience gained from Karate training should translate to teaching one to stick to the plan, regardless of how difficult things become or how tired one feels on a given day. The things that are most enjoyable in life are major accomplishments that take years to achieve and motivation over years is difficult to maintain like in the short term, but resilience can be the capability that helps you persevere and push forward. So we encourage all of our students to practice Karate and cultivate mental resilience through training, not just physical strength.
-Vazrik & Cassiano
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JKA AF New Orleans Summer 2024 Camp
06/07/2024
This year, we sent a 15 member team to the JKA AF Summer 2024 camp in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was our largest group yet from MHKH joining the JKA summer camp to participate in training, Dan examinations, and JKA licensing examinations. This year was also unique in that the JKA US National Team trainings were being conducted during the camp to help prepare the kata and kumite competitors across the various age groups to compete in the JKA ShotoCup in Japan in October 2024. We were grateful to participate in all of the training throughout the camp. Mikami Sensei (9th Dan JKA) taught the first session on Thursday evening with a focus on fundamental kihon. On the remaining camp days, we got to enjoy trainings by both Mikami Sensei as well as the visiting guest instructor from Japan, Taniyama Sensei (7th Dan JKA). Taniyama Sensei had many kihon drills aimed at refining Shotokan fundamentals, such as the effective use of the heel and ankle in ido kihon, explosiveness of the hip flexors for kicking techniques, and proper distancing and timing in jiyu ippon kumite with an opponent. In addition, Taniyama Sensei went though a variety of different kata in the trainings, including Bassai Dai, Enpi, Jitte, Jiin, Unsu, and others in order to show students how many of the fundamentals in more advanced kata can be seen also in the basic kata as well. We thank the JKA AF organizers for putting these educational opportunities together for students to come together, train together, and be able to take new knowledge back to their dojos to share with other students.
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JKA New Shodan Students We are excited to announce that 6 students passed their black belt exam and became JKA Shodans at the JKA-AF Summer 2024 camp! Congratulations to Alina Zheng (Wellesley College), Iyit Benusia (Lesley University), Angel Chan (Lesley University), Julia Van (Boston University), Munawwar Abdulla (Harvard University), and Sasiru Pathiranage (Boston University) for achieving their JKA black belt rank. Over the past several months, we had many training sessions at MIT to help students prepare for the ido kihon, jiyu ippon kumite, and kata requirements. With each training, students refined their techniques, focused on their bottlenecks, and developed the confidence to perform as needed to achieve their black belts at the camp. Alina, Julia, and Munawwar performed Jion for their kata. Sasiru and Angel performed Enpi, and IB performed Bassai Dai. We are proud of the students’ accomplishments. Reaching black belt is a wonderful achievement, and we always remind our students that the black belt is not the end of the journey, but the start of a new phase of the Karateka’s journey.
Sasiru (BU) Munawwar (Harvard), IB (Lesley), Angel (Lesley), Julia (BU), Alina (Wellesley)
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Nikita Patil Achieves Nidan in the JKA We congratulate Nikita Patil for successfully achieving the rank of Nidan in the JKA at the June 2024 JKA-AF Summer Camp under Taniyama Sensei! Nikita worked hard to adapt to the Nidan ido kihon requirements, which test the ability to perform combinations of basic movements with kime and to transition between various kicks, blocks, and punches in sequence. Nikita used Enpi as her kata to test for the Nidan exam. We are proud of Nikita for putting in weeks of work to prepare, improving her technique and incorporating the feedback she received throughout the spring during Sunday MIT seminars. She was well prepared for the test itself in New Orleans and it showed!
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Amandine Fromont Achieves Sandan in the JKA We congratulate Amandine Fromont for successfully achieving the rank of Sandan in the JKA at the June 2024 JKA-AF Summer Camp under Taniyama Sensei! Amandine has been in DC during her three years of law school, but continued to train hard to prepare for her Sandan test. During this time, she also continued to offer her time to teach free zoom Karate lessons for our college Karate students around the world. Amandine’s training to reach Sandan focused not only on improving the power, speed, and kime in her techniques, but also on creating a smooth flow to finish a technique and effectively relaxing to shift into the next movement. Amandine performed Gojushiho Sho as her kata, and also had to answer technical questions from the examiners regarding the kata’s specific movements and applications (bunkai). We are proud of Amandine for reaching this level. She is the first of Vazrik Sensei’s students to reach Sandan! We look forward to having her continue to share her knowledge through teaching, helping the next generation of Karateka to also reach this level. PAGE 09
Vazrik Chiloyan Achieves Yondan in the JKA We could not be more proud of our Karate instructor Vazrik Sensei for successfully reaching the rank of Yondan in the JKA at the June 2024 JKA-AF Summer Camp under Taniyama Sensei! Throughout the spring semester, Vazrik Sensei devoted countless hours to helping his students prepare for their Shodan, Nidan, and Sandan exams as well as their JKA licensing tests at the JKA camp. Despite his own Yondan test coming up, he continued to teach and develop the students’ techniques so that they would be best prepared for their own exams.
Photo by Luisito Nopal PAGE 10
Vazrik Sensei still showcased his excellent understanding of JKA Karate during his test. Vazrik Sensei used Gojushiho Sho for his kata exam and also had to answer questions from Taniyama Sensei about the application of moves in the kata in a self-defense situation. When asked how Vazrik Sensei felt about his achievement, he noted that while he is proud to see his hard work pay off, he feels more proud of having brought students with him up the mountain to reach their Dan rankings in the JKA instead of climbing the mountain by himself.
New JKA Licensing Achieved 06/08/2024 The JKA-AF Summer camp provided JKA licensing exams in addition to Dan exam testing. Three of our members had the opportunity to take instructor, judge, and examiner license examinations. We congratulate Lorraine Sin (Boston University / Lesley University), Amandine Fromont (Wellesley College / Georgetown Law), and Vazrik Chiloyan (MIT) for achieving licensing within the JKA! Lorraine and Amandine achieved Instructor D and Judge D qualifications, while Vazrik Sensei achieved Instructor C and Judge C qualifications in addition to his Examiner D license. The examinations require not only a written exam which tests the Karatekas’ understanding of tournament rules, Shotokan Karate kihon, kata, and kumite fundamentals, but also a physical demonstration. In this part of the test, examinees must demonstrate an understanding of Karate fundamentals to the examiners to achieve official JKA licensing. We congratulate our MHKH members for achieving these new licensing ranks, and look forward to them utilizing these qualifications to help the next generation of Karate students learn and grow in the art of Shotokan Karate.
Lorraine Sin Instructor D, Judge D
Vazrik Chiloyan Instructor C, Judge C, Examiner D
Amandine Fromont Instructor D, Judge D
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JKA US National Team Training 06/07/2024 One unique aspect of the JKA-AF Summer 2024 camp was the JKA US National team training. In March 2024, the JKA had held team trials, selecting the US national team competitors for the JKA ShotoCup in Japan in October 2024. During the summer camp, the JKA-AF held team trainings to help US team members prepare for their kata and kumite competitions. Taniyama Sensei (7th Dan JKA) also provided feedback on students’ performances at the camp. Lorraine Sin and Sasiru Pathiranage, two MHKH students on the JKA US National team, attended the JKA-AF camp and participated in the team trainings to prepare for the JKA ShotoCup. Lorraine Sin is an alternate for the adult women’s kata division, while Sasiru Pathiranage is a kata and kumite competitor for the youth division. We wish them luck as they continue to train hard after the camp to prepare for the upcoming ShotoCup in Japan in October 2024.
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New Orleans Sunglasses 2024 Parade
06/08/2024
As we go to New Orleans, every June for the JKA-AF Karate camp, we have always been grateful for the kindness and hospitality shown to us. We get to train alongside friends, and test for new Dan and licensing levels with fellow Karateka. We did notice that one thing people at the NOLA Karate camp took seriously (especially people from Miami) was their sunglasses. Inspired by them, all of our students this year came with their own unique sunglasses to the Karate camp and social events. This not only protected our eyes from too much sun exposure, but also showed that the Boston Karate students also had style and could join in the sunglasses competition as well.
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JKA AF Summer Camp 2024 Celebration Lunch
7/7/2024
On July 7, 2024, our Karate community came together to celebrate the June 2024 JKA-AF camp experience and show appreciation for our dear Vazrik Sensei and Cassiano. We all know how much time the two of them dedicate to teaching Karate and supporting our community. In addition to teaching the college students during the spring 2024 semester, they also put extra time into preparing the next wave of black belt students that would attend the JKA-AF camp in New Orleans to test for Shodan, Nidan, and Sandan ranks, as well as JKA licensing for Instructor, Judge, and Examiner. As a demonstration of the group’s appreciation, the team organized a party with food, music, and gifts of gratitude. Vazrik Sensei and Cassiano gave a speech at the end, thanking everyone for their kindness and noting that the best way to give back is to pay it forward by helping to create the next generation of black belts, not only in Karate skill, but also in terms of character and mental resilience. Looking forward to the next set of black belts in June 2025!
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Summer Outdoor Thursday Karate Class at MIT Throughout the summer, we offer outdoor Karate lessons across from the MIT Sailing Pavilion on weekday evenings. This is an opportunity to practice outdoors, enjoying the nice Boston summer weather, while watching the sunset over the Boston skyline and the sailing boats out on the Charles. During these Karate lessons, we continue to refine the kihon, kata, and kumite skills of our experienced students, practicing the details that Vazrik Sensei introduces in the preceding Sunday Karate seminar. We also recruit new students who want to start Karate. Being outdoors, many people stop to take photos and videos of our trainings and even join us when they see how much we are enjoying the practice.
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Meikyo Kata Seminar at MIT 06/16/2024
On Sunday, June 16, 2024, we had our first Sunday seminar of the summer. To kick off the summer, we learned a kata that was new for everyone in the group: Meikyo (Polished Mirror). Vazirk Sensei decided to start the summer trainings by teaching a new kata, and specifically chose Meikyo as a kata that requires strengthening one’s basics and fundamental techniques. Students from beginner skill to advanced levels learned the kata choreography in chapters, and then learned to link the various chapters of the kata with the proper rhythm.
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Kanku Dai Kata Seminar at MIT 06/23/2024 On Sunday, June 23, 2024, Vazrik Sensei taught the kata Kanku Dai (Looking at the Sky) during an MIT Seminar. Kanku Dai is one of the longest kata in the Shotokan system, comprised of 65 moves. When students learn this kata, Vazrik Sensei explains that if they can learn 65 moves, then any other kata will seem much easier. This kata also has a very interesting set of combinations from the Heian kata as well as Tekki Shodan, and serves as a good opportunity to strengthen students’ basics.
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than e r o m
karate Our students do “More Than Karate”! Shotokan Karate is a deep passion for many of our students, but as many new beginners ask us when they join our Karate group, you can have multiple passions! Many of our students do multiple activities in addition to Karate. Throughout the magazine, we will highlight some of our members and you will have a chance to get to know more about them. PAGE 18
more
than
karate
USA
BRAZIL
ROSABELLI COELHO MIT
6TH KYU JKA 7TH KYU HDKI
KARATE & PERCUSSION
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MIT Kendall Outdoor Karate Brazilian Music and Food
more
than
karate
06/30/2024 On Sunday, June 30, 2024, we had a very special Karate practice and social activity. In the first hour of class, Vazrik Sensei led a Karate class in the MIT Kendall Open Space. We got to enjoy the warm weather while going through drills focusing on hip rotation to generate power in punches. In addition, beginner students learned the choreography of Heian Shodan, while advanced students reviewed Kanku Dai. In the second hour of class, we were lucky to experience a special music lesson organized by our very own blue belt Rosa. Rosa is involved with the MIT Batucada program, where students learn Brazilian music and percussion from remarkable musician Marcos Santos. Marcos was kind enough to lead a one-hour lesson on Brazilian percussion, and taught us how the various instruments could be played and woven together to make beautiful music. He encouraged students to exercise their creativity and explore different combinations of rhythms. Lastly, after the music lesson, Rosa ordered Brazilian food from restaurant Oasis for us to enjoy together. The students got to taste Brazilian barbecue, traditional feijoada, yuca, pao de queijo, currau, brigadeiro, and guarana. We want to thank Rosa, Cassiano, and Marcos for making this special day possible. As we believe in the power of altruism, we decided to express our thanks by making a donation to the MIT Batucada team to help them buy new pandeiros (Brazilian hand drums) for the group, and we were able to raise $415! Thank you to Vazrik, Ayusha, Barkev, Julia Van, Sahit, Munawwar, Peiqi, and Amandine for donating to this cause!
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Kanku Sho Seminar at MIT 07/07/2024 On Sunday, July 7, 2024, Vazrik Sensei taught a special advanced kata seminar at MIT. Students learned the kata Kanku Sho, going through the 48 moves of this kata’s choreography. Students from beginner to advanced levels learned the choreography together as we broke down the kata into several chapters to facilitate efficient transfer of the movements sequences. The interesting aspects of the kata that Vazrik Sensei focused on included how to utilize the heels to turn fully around and create power in the double block by staying grounded and connected to the ground. In addition, with all of the work we have been doing this summer to teach students the transition between kihon and jiyu kumite, we worked on how to generate tension and then immediate relaxation as required in the first few punching techniques of the kata. This advanced kata will be the special focus of the advanced students throughout the summer!
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Jion Seminar at MIT 07/14/2024 On Sunday, July 14, 2024, we continued with one of the goals of this summer of learning all four Sentei kata (Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Jion, Enpi). We had started with Kanku Dai a couple weeks ago as the first kata of the summer, and on this Sunday, we learned Jion. Jion is a favorite Sentei kata of many of our students, as it is a powerful kata that emphasizes strong, stable stances and solid understanding of Shotokan Karate kihon. Vazrik Sensei emphasized the special sequences of sanbon zuki and otoshi uke in this kata. The sanbon zuki was to emphasize how to utilize the hips, especially with hip vibration, for generating power with oi zuki as well as with tsuki in place. The otoshi uke was to emphasize the connection between the arms and the legs in a unique posture in order to utilize gravity to generate power downward. We are excited to see more students take on this kata as the one they will utilize for their black belt test in the future!
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Bassai Dai Seminar at MIT 7/21/2024 On Sunday, July 21, 2024, we learned the third Sentei kata of the summer, Bassai Dai. Bassai Dai is one of the most well known black belt kata in the Shotokan system around the world. As with all kata, Vazrik Sensei taught the choreography by breaking the kata down into distinct chapters. With this kata, there was a particular emphasis on demonstrating the three distinct hip positions of shomen, hanmi, and gyaku-hanmi. In addition, students learned how to generate power in unique postures such as the one for yama zuki (mountain punch). After learning the choreography technique, students then learned the proper rhythm of the kata. Bassai Dai’s rhythm is particularly challenging among the four Sentei kata, given the multiple changes of directions and change of flow, so we reviewed the rhythm several times to make sure students understood how to implement the techniques in the correct flow.
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Enpi Kata Seminar at MIT 08/04/2024 On Sunday, August 4, we had a Karate class focused on learning the fourth and final Sentei kata of the summer: Enpi. Vazrik Sensei had set the goal of teaching the four Sentei kata over this summer. As we had learned Kanku Dai, Jion, Bassai Dai already, Enpi was the final kata on the list. This kata is a favorite among many of our students because of its exciting contrast of high-speed techniques and slow, controlled movements. The distinct feature of this kata is the repeating age zuki, gedan zuki, and gedan barai combination that mimics the movements of a flying swallow, after which the kata is named. We learned the kata in several chapters so that students from beginner to advanced levels could learn the choreography and understand the flow of the kata. We then learned technical details, focusing on how to generate power with the kata's first movement, how to position the body for the unique gedan barai of the kata, and how to perform the jump by watching Sasiru demonstrate it for us. Having completed learning the four Sentei kata this summer, students who will be preparing to take Dan examinations next summer 2025 can choose one and begin to refine it over the next year.
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U I S R M T L A
I
N
ACT
N IO
Karate is not just about punching and kicking. It is about developing a resilient mind, one that can achieve success both inside the dojo but also in one’s academic and professional career. One of the lessons we try to impart to our students is the power of altruism. Altruism is about paying it forward. It is about giving opportunities to people who otherwise would not have access to it. Throughout the magazine, we highlight a few examples of altruism in action that our students demonstrated around the world. We consider 3 ways in which people can offer help to others in the world:
In the pages ahead, you will see examples of each one, but sometimes cases where a combination of time, money, and skills were offered to help people. The most important is that our students find a way to give back to their communities, and to empower people to pay it forward themselves to help the next generation and help make the world a better place one act of kindness at a time. PAGE 25
Karate Donation to MIT Batucada THROUGH TIME
THROUGH MONEY
THROUGH SKILLS
The Brazilian music outdoor event we had on June 30, 2024, thanks to Marcus and Rosa was so inspiring. Our team had the opportunity to learn about Brazilian music and the origins of this unique aspect of Brazilian culture. Our team was inspired to make a donation to the MIT Batucada group, helping them to buy new pandeiros. Our team fundraised a total of $415 with the help of Ayusha Ariana, Barkev Chaghlasian, Julia Van, Sahit Chintalapudi, Munawwar Abdulla, Peiqi Chen, Amandine Fromont, and Vazrik Chiloyan.
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MHKH Donates 3D Printer, Starlink Modem, and New Laptops to Benin for Youth Education THROUGH TIME
THROUGH MONEY
For Vazrik Sensei’s birthday this year, our team planned an education-themed donation to Benin. Our very own Karateka, Emile Giovannie Zounon, has been working with students from his home country of Benin to help them learn coding and basic computer science skills. A recent graduate of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Diplomacy, Emile is passionate about contributing to youth education in Benin. While he was offering lessons, he shared that his students’ education was limited by the number of laptops available to the class. Using Vazrik Sensei’s birthday as a fundraiser opportunity for our Karate community, we donated a 3D printer, a Starlink modem, 5 new laptops, and 4 USB Drives to help with the students’ education in Benin. Emile was kind enough to transport all of these gifts with him to personally deliver to the youth and encourage them to continue to pursue their education dreams. In addition, to add on to the coding lessons that Emile was providing over zoom to the students, we had Cassiano and Amandine also volunteer to offer lectures. Cassiano gave a lecture about dreaming big and using education to create better opportunities for the future. Amandine gave a lecture in French about her law career to inspire students to take an interest in this field. Lastly, we also donated 23 new Karate uniforms for the Karate students in Benin. Embrace the power of altruism!
THROUGH SKILLS
Amandine giving a lecture in French about law career
Cassiano giving a lecture about dreaming big and using education to create opportunities
Emile gifting the uniforms that we fundraised for to students in Benin
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Iyit Benusia Provides Introduction To Mental Health Counseling Field 08/11/2024 THROUGH TIME
THROUGH MONEY
THROUGH SKILLS
On Sunday, August 11, 2024, we had the pleasure to receive an introduction to the mental health counseling profession by Iyit Benusia (IB). IB gave an exciting lecture at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard about her career choice and how dance movement therapy, mental health counseling, and altruism have things in common. IB had studied dance in school growing up, and she wanted to connect her passion for dance with a possible career option. At Lesley University, she studied mental health counseling with a specific focus on dance movement therapy and understanding how physical movement can help with improving people’s mental health and their lives. IB also provided an explanation of the different types of personalities in the world and how the different personalities see the world in different ways. All the karate students took a personality test to be able to categorize our personality types, and IB led us through an exercise that helped us vocalize what we value in the world and how we see ourselves contributing to the world. IB also described the importance of altruism, and how being involved in a community and contributing to it rather than only focusing on oneself can have huge benefits for mental health especially in the long term. We are grateful for IB being willing to share her professional experience and life story with us!
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MIT August Kumite Training TABATA SENSEI LEGACY
Throughout the month of August, we increased our focus on free sparring (jiyu kumite) for advanced students. Having previously learned how to take basic kihon techniques and adapt them into a form useful for jiyu kumite, we used August to take students to the next level in sparring, with a particular focus on kizami zuki, gyaku zuki, and oi zuki. This set of kumite seminars in August were dedicated to the legacy of Tabata Sensei as he was passionate about kumite. First, Vazrik Sensei emphasized the importance of maintaining the fundamental elements of a technique intact when transitioning from kihon to jiyu Kumite, including hand-foot timing, hand-hip timing, and shoulder expansion. He also taught students how to free the constraints of the kihon movement to enable a longer range attack. Having practiced this transition with partners, we then trained the techniques with rounds of free sparring. Practicing free sparring together encouraged students to improve their understanding of timing, distancing, and attack targeting. Students also learned to adapt to different opponents, practicing how to successfully throw kumite techniques against opponents who may not match their stance, and where their typical targets may not be available in the same way. Last but not least, Vazrik Sensei taught students how to practice their control. While training with their peers taught the students how to apply techniques at the right distance for success in tournaments, Vazrik Sensei also introduced line drills, where students learned how to make proper impact and generate power from the ground to deliver it to the opponent. PAGE 29
Jerry Kattawar Sensei JKA AF President Visits MIT On Sunday, July 28, we had the pleasure of hosting Jerry Kattawar Sensei (7th Dan and JKA-AF President) at MIT for a Karate seminar, along with JKA US National team members Andre Fialhos (5th Dan) and Rachel Kattawar (4th Dan). We first met Jerry Sensei when we visited New Orleans in June of 2021 to participate in our first JKA-AF summer camp and take Dan examinations. After our fourth visit to NOLA this summer 2024, we wanted to host Jerry Sensei to allow more MHKH students to learn from his decades of Karate training and return his kindness in our trips to New Orleans. We humbly requested for him to teach technical details on Kanku Dai, a kata that he used many times in his own Dan examinations, and he delivered that and much more. Jerry Sensei gave a remarkable kata master class, during which he helped students from white belt through black belt understand fundamental details of the five Heian kata, Tekki Shodan, and Kanku Dai. He explained how the fundamentals of kata transition to kumite, and encouraged students to focus on the key principles of targeting, distancing, and timing. Andre Sensei and Rachel Sensei also provided individualized guidance for students who were less familiar with particular kata fundamentals, and helped demonstrate the body mechanics required to perform certain movements, such as the first slow movements of Heian Yondan. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn and train together in Boston, and are excited to see our Karate friends again in the near future, either in New Orleans, Miami, or Boston!
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Jerry Sensei Becomes A MIT Karateka-Sailor Considered the birthplace of college sailing the US since 1936, the MIT Sailing Pavilion is a very historical place. It is the largest college sailing program in the world, producing around 3,000 new sailors every year. Of note, former American president JFK learned how to sail at MIT in 1937, despite studying at Harvard. During Jerry Sensei’s visit to Boston, we brought him to the Pavilion to learn how to sail, in tech dinghy boats following the same historical blueprint as those of 1936. Jerry Sensei is now an honorary perpetual member of MIT Sailing Pavilion, and can sail on the Charles any time he comes back to Boston!
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Jerry Sensei, Rachel Sensei, and Andre Sensei Tour Boston 07/29/2024 During the couple days that Jerry Sensei, Andre Sensei, and Rachel Sensei were in Boston, we got to enjoy not only Karate training together, but also visits around Boston and Cambridge, sailing on the Charles River, and meals at some of our favorite restaurants! Our Boston area college Karate community is not just about learning Karate to be better at punching and kicking. We aim to help students become more mentally resilient while developing connections between people from different walks of life. During some of our meals with our guests, several of our students shared the impact that training Karate has had on their lives, both during their college years and after they entered the workforce. They explained how they witnessed altruism change the lives of both people in our Karate community and people in the many communities we come from around the world. Cassiano had organized a special sailing day for our guests, illustrating how our Karate teaching methodologies and principles can apply to teach sailing. In less than 30 minutes, they were sailing on their own in the MIT Tech dinghies! We also walked around Boston to show our guests portions of the Freedom Trail, Paul Revere's house, the Italian North End, Beacon Hill and the Boston Commons, and the MA State House. In Cambridge, we toured through Harvard University campus, got a private tour of the technology development center at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard led by our very own Ricardo Harripaul, and visited the various facilities in the MIT Zesiger Center. Looking forward to more Karate adventures! PAGE 32
08/02/2024
Hamazkayin Armenian Folk Concert in Watertown
more
than
karate
On Friday, August 2, some of our MHKH students joined a special concert in the Armenian community of Watertown featuring Miqayel Voskanyan and his MVF Boston band. Vazrik Sensei, an active member of the Armenian Hamazkayin organization that co-sponsored the event, encouraged us to attend and enjoy the artists’ blend of Armenian folk and contemporary music. Miqayel Voskanyan plays an Armenian string instrument called “tar.” With his band mates, he took the audience on a musical journey through Armenian history. Accompanying Miqayel were: Maxim Lubarsky on keyboard, Shahan Nercessian on bass, Martin Haroutunian on “Shvi” (wind instrument), and Alek Surenian on percussion. A renowned Armenian musician, Miqayel was visiting Boston for a seminar originally initiated by Yo-Yo Ma at the New England Conservatory, and graciously agreed to perform a concert at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center in Watertown. Through such social activities, we hope to expose our Karate students to the diverse cultures among our Karateka, and share the beauty of each other’s music and cultural traditions. We are excited to see Miqayel and his MVF band again in Boston in the near future!
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Summer 2024 Karatekas Sailors [Chiloyan-Gibber Program] THROUGH TIME
THROUGH MONEY
THROUGH SKILLS
This summer, as he has done in previous summers, Cassiano generously offered our Karate students free sailing lessons through a 4-week program. One of Cassiano’s passions outside of Karate is sailing at the MIT Sailing Pavilion. He loves showing students that the methodologies of teaching, which we successfully employ to help students grow in Karate, can also apply to sailing. Students who joined the 4-week program learned how to tie essential sailing knots, rig and de-rig the boats, take off from and return to the dock, recover from capsizing, tack and jibe maneuvers, and how to read the wind and navigate when other sailboats and kayaks are out on the water. Students who completed the 4-week course gained the skills necessary to take their provisional MIT Tech Dinghy sailing license. We thank Cassiano for his altruism, and for providing a fun, educational opportunity for our Karateka. Many students are excited for the opportunity to learn sailing, and there are often many more students on the waiting list than there are licensed sailors to teach them. Cassiano likes to share his knowledge, and this is an inspiring characteristic that we hope our Karate students can learn from and emulate.
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Karateka-Sailor Program: Honoring Altruism and Sailing Tradition at MIT Sailing Pavilion The MIT Sailing Pavilion, established in 1936, stands as the birthplace of collegiate sailing in the United States and hosts the largest college sailing program in the world. Every season, it introduces approximately 3,000 new sailors to the sport. Among its many initiatives, the Karateka-Sailors program shines as a beacon of community, learning, and tradition during the summer months. A Tribute to Inspiring Leaders The name CHILOYAN-GIBBER is more than just a title; it is a homage to two remarkable individuals who have significantly impacted the MIT community until today: - Vazrik Chiloyan: A dedicated martial arts instructor known for his selflessness and commitment to teaching. His approach to martial arts emphasizes discipline, respect, and personal growth. - Eric Gibber: The head volunteer sailing instructor at MIT, Eric embodies the spirit of generosity and passion for sailing. His guidance has helped countless students navigate both the waters and the complexities of sailing. By naming the program after Chiloyan and Gibber, Cassiano, founder of the program celebrates their altruism and dedication, inspiring participants to carry forward these values in their own lives. Sailing into New Horizons This year's Karateka-Sailors program welcomed students of all levels—beginners, intermediates, and advanced sailors. The curriculum was designed to provide a comprehensive sailing education, tailored to each skill level. Beginners learned the fundamentals:
Intermediate students expanded their horizons: - Gaining experience on different boats such as the Lynx Catboat, 420, and Laser. - Enhancing their sailing techniques and strategies. - Learning to adapt to various sailing conditions and boat types.
- Setting up the Tech Dinghy, MIT's signature training boat. - Understanding sail mechanics and wind directions. - Managing capsize situations safely and effectively. - Developing focus and cultivating the intuitive feel necessary for sailing. Throughout the program, students engaged in hands-on learning, fostering teamwork and building confidence on the water. The instructors emphasized not just the technical aspects of sailing but also the joy and freedom that comes with it. PAGE 35
Culmination and Celebration The program reached its peak with the final regatta, where participants had the opportunity to showcase their skills in a friendly competition. This event was more than a race; it was a celebration of the progress each student made and the camaraderie developed over the summer. Following the regatta, the group embarked on traditional zip code travels, exploring different sailing routes and appreciating the scenic beauty surrounding the MIT Sailing Pavilion. These journeys allowed students to apply their learned skills in new environments, further enriching their sailing experience. Unveiling the Chiloyan-Gibber Trophy At the end of August, a celebratory event was held at Lucky Strike in Somerville. Amidst laughter and shared stories, the program unveiled the legendary Chiloyan-Gibber Trophy. This trophy symbolizes excellence, dedication, and the enduring spirit of the Karateka-Sailors program. The trophy will be displayed permanently at the MIT Sailing Pavilion. It features QR codes that, when scanned, allow visitors to relive the best moments of the program since its inception. This interactive element connects past, present, and future participants, creating a living history of the community's journey. A Tradition Continues Since 2018, Cassiano has been the driving force behind the Karateka-Sailors program. His leadership and vision have cultivated an environment where learning and passion for sailing flourish. Under his guidance, the program not only teaches sailing but also instills values of perseverance, teamwork, and respect. For more information, visit the MIT Sailing Pavilion in Cambridge USA and explore the rich history and exciting opportunities that await. Scan the QR codes on the ChiloyanGibber Trophy to dive into the memories and see firsthand the impact of this extraordinary program.
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MIT Karate Tournament Summer 2024
08/18/2024
This summer, we hosted a tournament at MIT for our Karate students on August 18, 2024. The goal was to expose students to the pressures of competing in a safe, familiar environment to help them prepare for upcoming tournaments in the fall semester. The tournament featured kata, kihon ippon kumite, and jiyu kumite events. Vazrik Sensei emphasized that beyond technique, it was critical to demonstrate a strong spirit through demonstrated focus and powerful kiais in both kata and kumite. This was an excellent opportunity for students to see what they did well and what they can work on next for their kata and kumite. Below are the results from the different events at the different rank levels. Congratulations to all of the students who participated! We are proud of their spirit, technique, and control.
Beginner Kata (Heian Shodan)
Intermediate Kata (individual Heian kata)
1st place - Varak Mouradian 2nd place - Peiqi Chen
1st place - Carol Cuesta (Heian Godan) 2nd place - Jane Josefowicz (Heian Yondan)
Beginner Kumite (Gohon kumite)
Intermediate Kumite (Kihon ippon kumite)
1st place - Peiqi Chen 2nd place - Varak Mouradian
1st place - Carol Cuesta 2nd place - Jane Josefowicz
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Advanced Kata (Sentei kata) 1st place - Iyit Benusia (Jion) 2nd place - Bruce Hou (Jion) 3rd place - Nikita Patil (Jion)
Advanced Kumite (Jiyu kumite) 1st place - Emile Giovanni 2nd place - Nikita Patil 3rd place - Angel Chan
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Summer 2024 Kyu Belt Promotions at MIT
09/01/2024
On September 1, 2024, we hosted kyu belt promotions for the students training with us throughout the summer. While we have taught advanced kata and kumite lessons throughout the summer, we have also been building both new beginner students as well as intermediate students to learn their respective kihon, kata, and kumite requirements for testing. The emphasis at this level for students is on demonstrating a strong spirit, powerful kiai, deep stances, and an understanding of hip mechanics. We congratulate the students on their new ranks in the JKA and the HDKI!
Peiqi Chen Barkev Chaghlasian Varak Mouradian Daniel Nehrbass Jane Josefowicz Carolina Cuesta
7th kyu 7th kyu 6th kyu 6th kyu 5th kyu 2nd kyu
Peiqi Chen Barkev Chaghlasian Varak Mouradian Daniel Nehrbass
8th kyu 8th kyu 7th kyu 7th kyu
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Japanese Emperor Visits Oxford University
07/02/2024
The Emperor and Empress of Japan visited Oxford this summer on July 2. Both were Oxford alumni and Emperor Naruhito was the honorary president of the Oxford University Karate Club (OUKC) back in the 1980s!
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Source: Facebook Page of Oxford University Karate Club (OUKC)
Karate Diplomacy Bastille Day of France
7/14/2024
On July 14, we held a special practice celebrating French Bastille Day. The 14th of July is an important holiday in France. Every year on that date, France commemorates the Fall of the Bastille of July 14, 1789, which marked the start of the French Revolution. The Bastille, a famous prison in Paris, was viewed at the time as a symbol of royal tyranny. Its fall was a demonstration that the French people would no longer tolerate the oppressive feudal system that had previously been in place. Within a few months, this event led to the signing of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, a foundational document recognizing the liberty and equality of all people. The French Revolution ultimately led to the end of the country’s monarchy and the advent of the French Republic.
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6/20/2024
ANSELMO CASSIANO REFLECTS ON HIS TIME VOLUNTEERING FOR THE WORLD'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS WATER AWARD THROUGH TIME
THROUGH MONEY
I had the incredible honor of serving another year as a water judge for the USA Junior Stockholm Water Prize (since 2018), the most prestigious award for high school students focused on water-related projects worldwide. Representing MIT and MIT Water organization at such a globally recognized event was a privilege and a deeply inspiring experience. This competition showcases the brightest young scientists across the U.S., who bring innovative ideas and cutting-edge technology to solve pressing water issues in their communities. What stood out to me this year were the creative approaches students took to improve water quality, blending simplicity with technological sophistication. I saw prototypes that ranged from 3D-printed solutions to drones and autonomous vehicles designed to monitor and enhance water quality in lakes and other community water systems. These innovations have the potential to be scaled globally, offering a new generation of solutions for water challenges worldwide. Judging this competition is always one of the best weeks of my year, not just for the innovation but for the sense of hope it instills. Being surrounded by the Colorado mountains, I felt reinvigorated and motivated to continue working toward a better, more sustainable future for all. The passion and ingenuity these young scientists demonstrated reaffirmed my belief in the power of science and technology to transform the world. Stockholm Junior Water Prize created by Stockholm International Water Institute is the world’s most prestigious Water award. H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is the Patron of the prize.
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THROUGH SKILLS
CONNECT WITH US Vazrik Chiloyan vazrik@mit.edu
Anselmo Cassiano Alves anselmoc@mit.edu
Amandine Fromont afromont@wellesley.edu
Lorraine Sin lsin@bu.edu
Nikita Patil patilnp@utexas.edu
Iyit Benusia ibenusia@lesley.edu
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