Just a bit of housekeeping today. First, I’ve been updating “The Study of China Hand” by Itoman Morinobu so it is currently unavailable, but after it is done I will be offering it as an ebook in addition to the usual paperback.
Next, I continue to work on the translation of Nakasone and Mabuni’s ‘Introduction to Karate-do’ which I am happy to say is currently being proof-read by some very generous friends. Afterwards will be formatting and layout. In addition I am adding quite a bit of supplementary material including Mabuni’s articles from the magazine ‘Karate Studies’ (Karate no Kenkyu 空手の研究). The first is ‘Karate ni sente nashi’ which has already been translated by Mark Tankosich who is generously letting me use his translation. The second one is a short article on ‘Karate Kumite’ (also provided by Mark).
For the next few posts I have translated a series of posts from the Okinawa Den Kojo-ryu Karate-do Rinsankai blog site run by Kachinparts. He has some interesting insights which I think readers will enjoy.
Unlike my friend Fred Lohse sensei, I never got to train with Sakai Ryugo, but thanks to his introduction many years ago I was able to train with his son Sakai Ryusho sensei and the shihandai of the Ryukyukaikan, Miyagi Tatsuhiko sensei. Ryugo sensei’s Goju-ryu lineage is quite interesting (like most senior Goju-ryu teachers), but what struck me the most was the philosophy he articulated.
Like most teachers of his generation, there is an emphasis on responsibility, discipline and self-reliance that is missing in my opinion from modern Karateka. So, I decided to translate Ryugo’s sensei’s ideals and philosophy as they appear on the Ryushinkaikan website. I hope you find them as insightful as I did.
