Valuable lesson learned last night .... never train with weapons without 100 percent of your concentration!!!
Woke up this morning with a purple thumb, sore knuckle and a big toe the size of a lemon from dropping my own stick on it ..... but still, great night ... we trained ......

Last nights class was Brad, Aaron and myself, hard to believe that it turned out being one of the best classes we've had in awhile.  Even harder to believe is we spent the entire night on Kata. Ran it, broke it down and tried different Bunkai on one another.  Felt wonderful!!!!

I use to just shake my head and think how silly it was when every few years a new crop of blackbelts or old masters would start proclaiming how useless kata was as if the ultimate goal of martial arts is to fight, and then bemoan the lack of interest by the general public.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that most people don't want to fight, most people want to avoid conflict and that is exactly what martial arts teaches.  Now I pity them because their usefulness is directly tied to their youth.  You can only last so long telling stories about your glory days.  Eventually some young pup will come along who is faster and stronger, and if all you are teaching is kicks and punches you are obsolete in no time at all. 

I totally understand the business model for a successful commercial dojo has to focus on what's selling at the moment but my fear is that by doing this we constantly dilute the true nature of martial arts.  That's why The Halls Dojo is and will probably never be a successful commercial dojo.  We love what we are doing!!

Anyway ..... (rant over)

The Halls Dojo is alive, well and open to anyone interested in Traditional Isshinryu or Arnis.

Well it's been a long summer for Brad and I, tearfully watching our core group head off the college and seeing some of our old warriors drift off.  I've always said that even if nobody showed up for class I'd still be there training and sadly it's happened more than a few times this summer .... but on the bright side my kata has improved 100%. 
Monday night Arnis is still going strong ... it's hard to believe it's been 5 years since Evan and I started banging sticks in the back room at North Knox.  Big thanks to Chuck, Evan and Louie for sticking it out! (no pun intended).
Anyway, The Halls Dojo will remain a Traditional Kata based Dojo, we will continue to bend with the current but we won't be swept away by it.

Remember Mike Taylor's Battle of Cumberland Gap on Oct. 1st w/ Board Meeting to follow ....
(don't think I don't realize this was scheduled just to get me to a tournament ....)

Look for a Family Night to be scheduled soon ... it's long overdo!!!!

Seminar Flyer

On Staurday August 27 our own Master Seiber, Master Lewis and Sensei Shultz will be joining Sensi Zellner and others for a full day seminar. 

Click on the Seminar Flyer for more information and lets try to support our Instructors.

Last night while covering class for my young padawan who was up the creek (with or without a paddle is yet to be learned) I made the amazing discovery that The Halls Dojo does indeed still have students .... they just don't show up on the nights I teach!!!!

Great Class and a big thanks to all of you that showed up to train. 

Just remember, we are open thursday nights also!!!!!

AMAPS Pocono Farms Karate Club dojo in Pennsylvania attended the 16TH ANNUAL WORLD KARATE UNION HALL OF FAME tournament this past weekend – JUNE 12TH, 2011 at the Chateau Resort & Conference Center in Tannersville, Pa.

This was Sensei Papa’s first tournament as the Sensei of the Pocono Farms Karate Club and he and his student performed as expected from one of our group.  We are all very proud of Sensei Papa and Mudansha Joe Rollo.

Brown belt student of Sensei Anthony Papa, Joe Rollo competed in Empty Hand Kata and Weapons Kata placing 1^st in each division.  Sensei Papa said that Mr. Rollo normally takes 1^st in Kumite as well but due to the amount of competitors and the delays in running the event both men had to leave for work obligations and could not stay for the kumite rounds. 

SPECIAL PRESENTATION TO WKUHOF "MEN / WOMEN  OF HONOR"  LEGENDS was given to Col. Lisa McManus during this weekend as well.  As you know She was the lady that taught at the Karate 5 function earlier this year.

Photo One:  Empty hand kata – Joe Rollo

Photo Two:  Bo Kata – Joe Rollo

Photo Three:  Sensei Papa, Grandmaster Leon Wright who is a private contractor and teaches self defense to our troops overseas in Afghanistan.   Shihan Frank Williams of Universal Martial Arts Association in N.C. and teaches Isshinryu.  He is retired USMC.

(Nice shirt Sensei Papa!!!  Wear it with pride!!!!!.)

  

Fundraiser Event Seminar

Date: Thursday June 9^th 2011

Location: Lewis School of Isshinryu Karate

Address: Mill Branch Lane Knoxville, TN. 37938

Time 6:30PM until 8:30 PM

 

To participate in the seminar we ask for a Donation of $10.00

(We ask that you speak to your family and friends and see if they wish to help by making donations that you or they can bring to the seminar.)

 

 

Purpose of the fundraiser is to provide financial support for the grandchild of one of our “Isshin-Ryu Family” members, Jim McDonald.

 

Cooper McDonald is Autistic and in need of Sensory Integration Therapy treatments. This treatment actually helps to create new connections in the brain; however, the family’s insurance does not cover this treatment.  Therefore, the family has to bear the full burden of the costs.  Please come out to support this seminar and help us raise funds to donate to the Cooper McDonald Treatment fund.

 

The family will appreciate any amount you can donate

We hope to provide as much funding as possible to help Cooper McDonald and his family.

100% of the funds go to the Cooper McDonald fund!!!

Thank you for your Support

Renshi Doyle L. Seiber 7^th Dan Isshin-Ryu Karate

 

Seminar Presenters:

 

Master Mike Allan 6^th Dan:

Sanchin Kata - Form Movements and Breathing techniques

 

Master Sonny Newman 6^th Dan:

Internal Energy – Fire Walking

 

Associate Master Mike Taylor 5^th Dan:

Wansu Kata - Form Movements and Bunkai

 

Associate Master Scottie Shultz 5^th Dan:

American Sport Karate Kumite – Theory Review and Footwork Drills

Sensei Mike Taylor of the Boone Trail Isshin-Ryu Dojo in Middlesboro, Ky took First Place in the Black Belt Executive Kata Division at the Kelly's Heroes Tournament in Rogersville, TN.

Congratulations!!

Great Kata Class last night!!!!  Wait .. weren't we grappling?

If you haven't guessed already, Master Seiber dropped by to workout with us and it was really to noones surprise that "the old fat man can roll"     It was pretty amazing watching him grapple with our two top wrestlers while giving color commentary and although all my training and every fiber of my being is telling me not to go to the ground, we do see the benefit and will be adding it to our training schedule.

Big thanks to Master Seiber for the instruction and of course his friendship.

And Special thanks to Christian Marlow for leading the way for grappling at The Halls Dojo.

Brad and I had the pleasure of attending the Military Arnis Seminar hosted by Karate Five Dojo in Morristown this past weekend and all I can say is we were impressed.

Impressed with the knowledge of Colonel Lisa McManus and Grandmaster Jeff Delaney. Impressed with the quality and dedication to training.  Impressed with the group of youth in attendance.  Impressed with the way the Karate Five went out of there way to make us feel welcome and a part of their family. And very impressed with the Scruggs Barbecue!!!! 

It's going to take Brad and I months to process all of the great concepts and knowledge thrown at us in two days. Everything from sticks, knives, empty hand, grappling and ground work but we both left excited with all of the new training possibilities.

It's tough to describe what a great experience we had without going through a minute by minute account so let me just list a few highlights that Brad and I discussed on our drive home ....

Scruggs Barbecue ... if you haven't had it you're missing out!!!!

All the one on one time we had with Colonel McManus, Grandmaster Delaney, Grandmaster Wilson and Grandmaster Lee  .... with a hundred plus in attendance we were amazed with the time and attention they gave us.

Grandmaster Ogle working with the youth on break falls ... As most of you know James Ogle doesn't raise his voice, so to see 50 kids working breakfalls in unison with dead silence was impressive.

Master Lee Jr. on the mat ... Amazing!!!  If you have never had the opportunity to see his demonstration you have missed out on something special...

Thanks so much to the Karate Five for allowing us to be a part of there family and to Master Sieber for making it possible for us to attend in the first place.