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Gentle Ways 2003 Index:
Kangeiko
2003 This year 54 people celebrated Gentle Ways' 8th annual Winter Training Festival in early February, just a few days following the Chinese New Year. Kangeiko 2003, celebrating the Year of the Sheep, was held on the stage of the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse on North Dakota State University Campus. While it is traditional to get up very early, for most of us, getting up early on a Saturday morning translates to beginning training at 9:00 a.m.. The training this Saturday was provided by Sensei Vern Borgen, Timothy Cruff, and special guests Urban Kiernan and Clyde Lewis. Urban Kiernan lives in Arizona and while going to college at Moorhead State University, was a member of the NDSU Judo Club. In addition to judo, Urban trains in several styles of grappling, jujitsu and Sambo and several years ago placed in the US National Sambo Tournament. Clyde Lewis is from the St. Cloud Judo club and has multiple black belts in Chinese and Japanese martial arts, his presentation was on combat grappling. We trained until 5:00 p.m., the time of another annual event that to many seems strange, "The Annual Snow Between the Toes Outdoor Run." The run every year is one lap around the Old Fieldhouse without any foot protection - that is correct, in your bare feet. And yes, it is a might chilly, but everyone who attempts it makes it and most people do the run year after year after year. Afterwards the participants, along with family and friends, meet at Smokey's Steak House for food, libation and good fellowship. Kangeiko 2004, will be held on the 7th of February 2004, at the new Aka Gawa Dojo. Join us in celebrating the Year of the Monkey, the new dojo and the 20th anniversary of Gentle Ways, Inc. The training is set up so as to appeal to advanced students as well as those just beginning their journey so mark your calendar and plan to attend. * * * The
New Red River Dojo Tuesday and Thursday evening practices were added in May once classes were over at NDSU and MSUM. Over the summer there were typically a dozen people on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and half a dozen on Friday evenings. When school resumed in the fall, the NDSU Judo Club moved permanently to the new location. One evening we had a record 24 people on the mat. While Vern Borgen teaches the Judo Class at NDSU on Tuesday evenings, David Scott and Erik Jones have been leading the Tuesday evening practices at the Aka-Gawa Dojo. Vern Borgen leads the practices on Thursday evenings at the dojo and Jana Seaborn teaches on Friday evenings. This November, Vern Borgen signed a contract with NDSU to teach the HPER 117 class, "Introduction to Judo", at the Aka-Gawa Dojo, starting in the Fall of 2004 on Tuesday evenings. The mat condition at NDSU has deteriorated significantly in the last few years so the switch to the Aka-Gawa Dojo could not have come at a better time. Aka-Gawa
Dojo schedule: * * * Sensei Bueno Seminar Sensei Bueno's Seminar in March was the first seminar at the new Aka-Gawa Dojo. The seminar started for a small number of people on Friday evening at the Aka-Gawa Dojo. Sensei showed some kneelocks in matwork. At the seminar on Saturday Sensei Bueno presented a wide range of techniques including Arnis, joint locks, takes downs and matwork. The forty or so people in attendance had a great time. After lunch Steve Zerr and Russell Sorenson demonstrated the Nage no Kata, a requirement for Black Belt Rank. Congratulations to Steve Zerr, promoted to Shodan, 1st degree black belt, and to Russell Sorenson, to Nidan, 2nd degree black belt. That evening we gathered at Smokey's Steak House for an evening meal and an opportunity to socialize. This is Sensei Bueno's fourth trip to North Dakota. * * * U.S. Judo Nationals Making his first appearance at US Judo Nationals, Dane Ankeny competed in the regular shiai (contest). The shiai matching system is called repecharge and is essentially a singe elimination event. In his first match, against Chay Chinsethagid (OK), Dane used a move that Sensei Cunningham introduced to us last year -
In the second match Dane lost to the eventual silver medallist, Ryan Reser (CO).
However, Dane's loss to Reser moved him to the repecharge round where he beat Aaron Okura (HI) with a hold down. In his fourth match he lost to Guy Webster (TX).
* * * 3rd Annual Rock Climbing Trip In May, judo club members and friends gathered in the Black Hills of South Dakota for a weekend of rock climbing, camping and partying - there were over 20 people at this years trip and the weather was beautiful for camping and being outside. We camped out in the beautiful Mount Rushmore KOA. This is a very nice campground with a lot of great amenities like hot showers. The trip is open to everyone. This trip is geared around beginning climbers and is a great opportunity to try your hand (and feet) on the steep rock. There were even a few people who did not climb - the Black Hills are beautiful so just being there is enough reason. * * * Guy
Hagen Seminar This past June, the Bismarck Gentle Ways Judo dojo hosted an Aikido Seminar with Guy Hagen. Guy is a former student of Judo, under Sensei Vern Borgen. He has studied a variety of martial arts, but has always credited Gentle Ways' dojo and Sensei Borgen's teaching as a benchmark for all other dojo's and teachers. Since moving to Florida in 1992, he has studied Aikido under Sensei John Messores in both the St. Petersburg Aikikai and Jihon Juku Dojo's (Aikido Schools of Ueshiba), achieving the rank of Sandan. Aikido Seminars typically last several days, and Guy only had a few hours of time to present material at this one. He gave a general "overview" of the art of Aikido to a crowd of Judo, Karate and Ju-jitsu students who turned out for the seminar. Coming from a martial art background which covers judo, karate and tai-chi, amongst others, Guy is well suited not only to present aikido, but to relate it to people from different martial disciplines with their perspective in mind. His Dojo places particular emphasis on the practical use of Aikido in everyday life, and much of his teaching starts from that point. Aikido covers not only falling, movement and throwing, but also the use of weapons such as Jo and Bokken. During Guy's condensed seminar, everyone got a little taste of this, and a longer seminar would include many of these aspects in greater detail. If you are interested in cross-training in a different art, which will open new avenues of learning within your own discipline, this is the sort of seminar to attend. There was something familiar to everyone there from all different martial arts, and many things new. While everyone walked away hungry for more Aikido, most also walked away with greater insight into their own techniques and style. This coming fall of 2004, Guy will return for that longer seminar, with his Sensei, John Messores (Rokkudan - 6th degree black belt). Specific times and location have yet to be decided, but it is certain that they will have a lot of wonderful information to present. Watch for it! * * * Joshi
Camp 2003 In October of 2002, Keiko Fukuda sensei asked Frances Glaze to take over the organization of Joshi Judo Camp (Women's Judo Camp). Frances got me involved in November and together we put together the 2003 Joshi Judo Camp. This past year's camp was held on the campus of San Jose State University. Judo has a long tradition at SJSU, known for producing many national and international competitors. The building that housed the dojo is Uchida Hall. Uchida sensei has been the head of the judo program at SJSU for over 30 years. As is the tradition at Joshi Judo Camp, an instructor from the host dojo taught some sessions. Due to Uchida Sensei's failing health, Keith Nakasone taught in his stead. Nakasone sensei was on the Olympic team in 1980. (the US boycotted the Olympics that year.) His favorite technique is sankaku juji jime (triangle strangle) so we spent quite a bit of time on that coming into it from all angles. Though ground work is clearly his preference, we also did tachi waza (standing techniques.) The rest of the camp was primarily focused on kata (forms) with senseis Fukuda, Shepherd and Lee instructing. We did Nage no Kata (forms of throwing), Kime no Kata (forms of decision), Joshi Goshin Ho (women's self defense) and Ju no Kata (forms of gentleness). For Ju no Kata, I worked out with Diana Justice from Ohio. We strategically positioned ourselves as close to Miss Fukuda as we could get, with surprisingly little competition for this piece of real estate. Many people are intimidated by her direct approach to criticism, which is exactly what Diana and I were looking for. Fukuda Sensei picked out details in every technique that we did, sometimes getting out of her wheel chair to demonstrate the correct form. I believe that her favorite phrase must be "Do again, please." (Sensei Fukuda is a 9th degree black belt in judo, the highest ranked woman in the world.) At the conclusion of camp, Senseis Fukuda and Shepherd surprised me with a gift. As a thank you for the work that I had done for the Joshi Judo Camp, as well as USJF kata committee and the Fukuda Scholarship committee, I was awarded a beautiful shodo (Japanese brush calligraphy) painting done by Fukuda Sensei. I was very touched that my small contribution was so appreciated. The feedback from the camp was very positive and we are already making plans for next year. We are planning to hold Joshi Camp 2004 at the San Jose Hyatt during the first weekend in August. * * * Darrell Craig Seminar Noted
author and martial artist Darrell Craig put on a seminar in Fargo
in July. This is the 3rd trip that Sensei Craig has made to this
area. The following morning, Tim told me that Sensei Craig had asked him questions about the judo syllabus that I was teaching on Friday evening. When we had a break I spoke to Sensei Craig about the Zen Judo syllabus. He was very interested in the Zen syllabus because of its flowing style. He told me that it reminded him of Aikido. I took his comments and interest to be a compliment. That evening I found an article about the origins of Zen Judo written by Dr. Cavalcanti and gave it to Sensei Craig on Sunday morning. We spent the day working on self defense techniques and learned a new kata of self defense. We finished up that day with supper at Smokey's Steak House. On Sunday morning we had another training session. Sensei Claudia Smith shared her knowledge of the Nage no Kata (forms of throwing) with interested judo players and Sensei Craig taught karate to those more interested in atemi. * * * Vern Borgen visits Bueno and Robinson in California In July, while in California for a wedding, I had an opportunity to drop by and visit Charlie Robinson and Jose Bueno. Charlie and Jose live a few miles apart in Yuba City, California, and as I was in Sacramento only a couple of hours drive away it was a good opportunity to visit my old friends and teachers. Every summer for many years Charlie Robinson has been putting on a judo camp called Camp Bushido West in Strawberry Valley, north and west of Lake Tahoe. It has been a very popular camp and many of us in Gentle Ways have been to the camp on several occasions and have many good stories to tell. I met Charlie, or Coach, as he likes to be called, back in 1984 at Camp Bushido judo camp in Colorado Springs at the USJA National Training Camp. I was still new to teaching judo and Charlie put his wing over me and made sure that I got the education that I needed. I saw him several more times at Camp Bushido and then in 1991 Charlie put on a one week summer judo camp in Fargo, North Dakota. Camp was in session when Carol and I dropped by and while Charlie was not scheduled to be teaching we found him at the side of the mat. At first I didn't recognize him as I was looking for the characteristic long hair and beard, which has been Charlie's trademark, which had now been replaced with a new look, short hair and a short beard. He is looking very well and still quite active for a man of 75 years old. We had a very pleasant visit and Charlie sent best greetings to all his "Nodakian Friends." Several days later, we met Sensei Bueno in Yuba City at the Mall, he had been on the road teaching when we drove through Yuba City the first time. Joe looks great too and is teaching classes in 4 locations and travels several hundred miles a week to teach - I just hope I have that kind of energy when I get to be 75 years old. Joe told us that he is enjoying his home in the country and that we will have to plan to visit him in the country the next time we visit. Sensei Bueno also sent along greetings to all. I met Sensei Bueno in a round-about way. Students from the NDSU Judo Club attending Camp Bushido West one summer returned all abuzz about a new teacher at camp, Sensei Bueno and a martial art called Arnis. Sensei Bueno, a friend of Charlie's, was at camp to teach Jujitsu and Arnis, a Philippine martial art. The students were so excited that soon everyone in our judo club was practicing Arnis. It was evident from the beginning that Arnis would blend into the judo we were doing in a positive way and so we invited Sensei Bueno to North Dakota to put on a seminar. We have had Sensei Bueno here for 4 seminars since then. It was good to see my teachers again. * * * Taking
in Strays
in Bismarck In September 2003 we were pleased to open our dojo and welcome a guest that looked like the "cold weather" was getting to him. A very polite blond man named Greg DiFranza walked in and asked if he could join our workout. Greg hails from Jacksonville Florida and was in town to instruct weapons and special tactics to North Dakota law enforcement officers. He is a retired special drug task force officer from the Jacksonville Police Department. He has opened a consulting firm and travels the country teaching urban warfare and raid tactics for drug busts. Greg is a second degree black belt that is currently competing at an international level. He has competed in a number of national and international tournaments. Please visit www.judojax.com to see Greg's home dojo and the many pictures of him wearing medals and honors. Greg competes in the heavyweight and open divisions and is quite successful even though he gives up 100+ lbs. Greg worked out with us two evenings. The first night he was very interested in the classical direction our judo has taken and we spent our time showing him the not so known throws and our syllabus. He was impressed with our smoothness and the maximum effect with minimum effort. The next night he showed us his tournament setups and how he is able to take advantage on such large strong men. The two styles and techniques approaches were surprisingly similar. After our workout, Greg and his business partner met us for BeerDo and much fun was had telling stories and jokes. Shortly after his visit, we received a video tape of some spectacular competition Ippons that Greg filmed set to the tune BOOM. If you are in the Bismarck Dojo please ask us to play it for you. If Greg shows up at your dojo on his travels, please welcome him in and make him instruct. He was way too humble with the impressive judo he brought to our collective knowledge. * * * New
Dojo in Dickinson The
Linear Expansion of Gentle Ways Judo continues it's march along
I-94! Due to the sparse population, we already have people driving 75 miles to get to Dickinson to join Judo. Indeed, that is part of what sparked the need for the dojo to open there in the first place. We are receiving great technical support and instructive oversight from Senseis Ken Nysether, Russ Sorenson, Steve Zerr and Chuck Jeep all from the Bismarck dojo. Nick and I are continuing to participate at the Bismarck Dojo as often as we can, as well. Now, people are traveling the 100 miles both ways between Bismarck and Dickinson! Dickinson
Dojo schedule: * * * Bismarck
Gentle Ways Judo News We were approached by a local news women about featuring our Bismarck State College beginner class on the news. With the recent abduction in Grand Forks there is a renewed interest in self defense, especially for women. Whitney Ward is an evening reporter with NBC and will be participating in the class this semester. She is going to film every week and do a running story on the class and progress of the students. There will be 2-3 edited stories aired showing the beginning, progress, and final class and what she learned. It should be fun and we are looking forward to bringing Judo into the spot light. Bismarck
Gentle Ways Judo schedule: * * * Promotions
Shodan - 1st degree black belt
Ikkyu
- 1st rank - brown belt
Gokyu - 5th rank - orange belt
Rokkyu - 6th rank - yellow belt
Congratulations to everyone for their efforts and achievements! Except at noted written and edited by Vern Borgen |