Sunday, November 24, 2013

¡VIVA MEXICO!




Seiwakai of Mexico hosted their 2nd Seiwakai International Training Seminar on November 8 - 10 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.  Sensei Eusubio Montes of Guadalajara was the local host and Shihan Antonio Madrid, President of Seiwakai - Mexico, was the country host.

I had the pleasure of attending the 1st Seiwakai Mexico Seminar in November, 2010 in Morelia and was so inspired by the strong karate, the spirit, and the warm hospitality there was no way I would miss attending again.  And, of course, this one lived up to everyone's expectations.

Seiichi Fujiwara Shihan, President and Head Instructor of Seiwakai was the lead instructor.  He was joined by Leo Lipinski Shihan, Vice-President and Head Instructor of Europe and Vassie Naidoo Shihan, President and Head Instructor of the USA.  Tak Hamabata Shihan, Head Instructor of Goju-Ryu Eibukan USA was a guest instructor.  Mexico, Canada, and the US were all well-represented.  Each day consisted of training sessions of moving basics, kumite drills, and Goju-Ryu kata.  Katas were further broken down brilliantly into effective application exercises.  All training sessions were held at the Hotel, so everything was easy to get to.  From some of  the photos you can see the amount of sweat!

As always, the time spent outside of training -- catching up with international friends, being taken care of by our generous hosts, and all the fun and laughter -- was almost as much the highlight as the training itself -- in accord with the spirit of GO-JU ... balance!

The Fiesta on Saturday night on the hotel roof deck was an event to remember.  We had dinner, Jalisco beer and Tequila, a belly dancing troupe, which included one of the Guadalajara karateka, a fantastic mariachi band, and of course, karaoke!

Seiwakai members pride ourselves not only on our kumite abilities, but also our singing prowess...
So desu.


 Shihan Antonio Madrid, President of Seiwakai Mexico, on Right.
 Sensei Joe Palminteri, Chicago.
 Sweat and more sweat!!!
 More sweat!


 Antonio Madrid, James Pounds, Seiichi Fujiwara, Vassie Naidoo
 Sensei Eusubio Montes and Huguette Barreto, our local hosts



 Johnpaul, doing some currency conversion calculations.





 Photo by Desmond Tuck.
 Photo by Gaby Velasco.
 Photo by Desmond Tuck.
 Photo by Desmond Tuck.
Photo by Desmond Tuck.
 Photo by Desmond Tuck.
 Photo by Desmond Tuck.
 Photo by Desmond Tuck.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Seiwakai of Texas Training Seminar - October 4 - 6, 2013
























Vassie Naidoo Shihan, 7th dan and President of Goju-Ryu Seiwakai USA, traveled to Austin to be head instructor of our training seminar and yudansha grading.  As always, the training and level of instruction was amazing.  The sessions were Friday, 6 - 8 pm.  Saturday, 9 - 4:30 pm, and Sunday from 9 - 11 am, with yudansha grading right after.

Naidoo Shihan concentrated on moving basics, kata from Sanchin through Seipai, and practical bunkai application from the kata.  He focused on Sanchin, Gekki Sai dai Ichi and dai Ni, and Saifa as these kata are the grading kata for Shodan ranking.  Even as a 6th dan, I learned a great deal, which is both humbling and exciting.

Shihan Rusty McMains and two of his students from Uchinadi Kan Seiwakai of Houston also attended, and McMains Shihan's insights into karate applications are invaluable.

On Saturday night, we had a get-together at Jim and Theresa Pounds Senseis home for Texas barbecue and all the trimmings.

Sunday, after the training session four Shodan candidates were graded and all passed into the Yudansha ranks:
  • Sharla Kew 
  • Ami Pedahzur
  • Chris Gallegos
  • Aaron Luckevich
Congatulations to all of you, and thanks to all who attended.  Special thanks to Vassie Naidoo Shihan and Rusty McMains Shihan for instructing.