Tenshin Ryu Hyoho and Yoshukai Iai.

In 2014 I spent 2 hours at Mr Culbreth's residence with Soke Yamamoto to discuss Yoshukai Iai with him.

Soke showed me some bunkai for some of the waza and we also discussed the origin of Yoshukai Iai. Soke did not learn Iai from Dr Chitose but from 2 different masters from Kyushu. 

Although I was not always able to fully understand what he was trying to tell me, I understood he had been training in the 2 styles of Tenshin Ryu and Jigen Ryu, and that when one of the masters he was training with died, he quit training in that style.

In this Tenshin Ryu video, you can see where some of the Yoshukai Iai moves come from.

Although Tenshin Ryu Nodachi is much longer than the regular katana used in Yoshukai iai, the waza at 1:40 is very close to the Yoshukai Waza #8, and the next one at 2:00  is very similar to our #7. 

Also, Chiburi and Noto are the same.

Fred Lecut, Dothan Dojo

Dothan Tournament

• Saturday November 4th 
• Dothan Civic Center
• Dothan, AL

For the opening ceremony :
 

• All Black Belts please be there at 9:00 a.m. for a walk-thru.
• Shihan and up to wear your suits
• Third and Fourth degrees wear your hakama’s
• All other Black Belts wear your Gi
• Fourth degree and below please bring a Bo

After the Tournament we will be going to the Top Tai Restaurant at 6:00 for those who want to attend.

Don’t forget the National Peanut Festival will be going on at this time as well. See their website at www.nationalpeanutfestival.com for the activities.


See everyone on the 4th


Kaicho Toyama and Culbreth

Dothan Tournament

The next Dothan tournament will be held on this Saturday November 4. 

Tsutsui Sensei will be coming from Japan with 4 of his students and other guests are coming from Germany, California, Miami and Texas.

To honor the memory of Soke Yamamoto, we will leave an empty chair at the official table on the stage above the arena during the event. 

Sumi-e painting of Soke

For the opening ceremony :

• Shihan and up will be wearing their Suits.
• Third and Fourth degrees will be wearing Hakama.
• All other Black Belts wear their regular Gi.

• All Black Belts please bring a Bo.

Please encourage all your friends and fellow students to attend and compete.

Kaicho Toyama and Culbreth

Panama City Tournament

The tournament is still on and we hope to see you all down there tomorrow to compete and for the party after the event.

Sensei Culbreth and Toyama.

YAMAMOTO Cup

Mark your calendars...

ALL FIGHTERS WELCOME!

Join us on July 29th, 2017 for our 24th annual Karate "SUPERFIGHTS" Tournament, featuring international fighters and world champions. Family members and spectators are welcome as well. There will be Point Fighting, Semi-Knock-Down and Knock-Down Fighting. 

Registration begins at 9 am, and fights start at 10 am. Daytime fighters for 2 divisions will be $50 and daytime Knockdown fighters will be $65.

The Tournament will be held at the Oxford Civic Center, Oxford, AL.

 

Accomodations :  Fairfield Inn & Suites, 143 Colonial Drive, Oxford, AL - 256-831-1921 - Rate $84

 

Tensho Dai Kata

Tensho Dai, a tonfa kata, was created by Master Yuki Koda.

Tonfa were originally handles used to turn the top stone of a traditional Okinawan rice grinder.

Okinawan Rice grinder with its Tonfa wooden handle

Here the kata is demonstrated by Shihan Mike Lilley at the World Yoshukai Karate &  Kobudo organization summer camp in Eufaula, Alabama, USA on June 17, 2017.

 Enjoy and practice...

Kenjutsu & Jojutsu seminar at Yoshukai Karate Dothan

You are invited to our first Bokken Week-end at the Yoshukai Karate Dojo in Dothan, AL on April 28, 29, 30. (Last week end of this month). During this seminar we will practice Kenjutsu and Jojutsu with partners and only use wooden weapons.

Crossed Bokken ready to attack, or separate...

Some people like to brag about being “naturals” with a sword. I'm sure you've heard this before.... This is - to say the least - unfortunate. There is nothing natural about sword or stick fighting. It takes proper instruction, time and effort. Just as being an expert in Karate Kata or Heavy Breaking does not make you a fighter, practicing beautiful Iaido or Tameshigiri does not make you a swordsman. 

Shimabukuro Hanshi pressures Robin Ramirez

Short of actual fighting, paired practice is the best way to improve your distance and timing. It is also much safer... This is what we'll practice this week-end and will have fun doing it.

Programme : 

• Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Kenjutsu : Tachi Uchi no Kurai and Tsumeai no Kurai
• Kasumi Shinto Ryu Kenjutsu : First set of Kata
• Shindo Muso Ryu Jo Jutsu : Kihon and first four Kata.

Instructor : Shihan Frederic Lecut, 3rd Dan MJER, 5th Dan Yoshukai Karate.


Schedule :

Friday, April 28:  6:30 to 8:30 pm

Saturday, April 29 : 10:00 am to 5:00 pm with one hour lunch break

Sunday, April 30 : 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Location : World Yoshukai Karate Dojo : 1791 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, AL 36301

Cost : 1 Session $10.00, full week-end : $ 20.00

Shimabukuro Hanshi & Carl Long Hanshi

Contact : Frederic Lecut : (334) 798 1639, frederic.lecut@gmail.com

Master Yamamoto Day

At the Martial Arts History Museum

Saturday, August 12^th, 4 pm!

Master Yamamoto founder of Yoshukai Karate at Gerry Blancks' Dojo

You're invited to honor and celebrate the life of Katsuoh Yamamoto, Grand Master and founder of Yoshukai Karate, at the world famous Martial Arts History Museum, in Burbank, CA, on August 12th, 2017 at 4 pm!

The event will be sponsored by World Yoshukai Karate Kobudo Organization and Traditionz. There will be slide show videos and testimonies from long time friends and students.

Special Guests include WYKKO Directors Hiroaki Toyama and Mike Culbreth, (and from Japan) Minako Yamamoto (Master Yamamoto's daughter) and Shihan Hiroshi Tsutsui, Cheryl Wheeler Sanders, Baxter "the One Arm Bandit" Humby, TJ Storm, James and Don "the Dragon" Wilson, Maurice Travis with iMan TV, and special celebrity guest MC Sensei SeaDog.

This event is in conjunction with Gerry Blanck's 35th Anniversary of Yoshukai Karate in Pacific Palisades, CA, which will be preceded by the Yoshukai Summer Seminar workout in the morning, and followed by the annual party at the Pearl Dragon in Pacific Palisades at 7:30 pm for dinner followed by DJ and Dancing at 9:30 pm.

The cost for the ceremony is a $10 donation at the Museum and is by invitation only. If you plan on attending, please RSVP Gerry Blanck in a private message or email him at : gblanck458@aol.com

SPACE IS LIMITED!!!