Congratulations to Andrew Trexler

The Independent Karate School prides itself on the accomplishments of it's students.   This year, Andrew Trexler, one of our black belts graduated as the 2010 valedictorian of Cushing Academy.  

In addition to graduating at the top of his class with a 4.25 GPA (weighted for AP courses), Andrew served his school as Class Treasurer, Yearbook Editor and Head Day-Student Proctor.  He was the founder and first President of the Society Intellectus, a Cushing representative to the Critical Issues Forum of the Center for Non Proliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and recipient of the following awards:

    Freshman Year – May 2007

Bennie E. Butler Prize for excellence in Freshman English

Robert C. Hall History Prize for excellence in Social Science and History

Paul J. Heslin Plane Geometry Award for excellence in Geometry

Class of 1888 Prize for the freshman who has achieved the highest academic average

    Sophomore Year – May 2008

Classical & Modern Languages Department Prize for excellence in Intermediate Latin   

    Junior Year – May 2009

Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities and Social Sciences for that Junior who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the humanities and social sciences (sponsored by the University of Rochester)

Elmira College Key Award to that junior who has achieved academic excellence and who has also demonstrated outstanding school or community leadership

    Senior Year – May 2010

Cora Gilbert Lane 1885 Physics Prize for excellence in the study of Physics   

Josephine Veinot Cook 1933 Valedictorian Award for having the highest average in the class   

Congratulations Andrew.   We are all very proud of you.

IKS Thoughts: Calissta Rohrpasser

Editor's Note: Prior to the 30th anniversary celebration that we had, I asked people to submit to me their thoughts about the school to share with the headmasters. I have gathered these essays and will be adding them to this blog as "IKS Thoughts" over the next several months. Today's submission was made by IKS black belt Calissta Rohrpasser, who used to be Cheryl Reed. 


When I was thirteen years old I had just moved from Mass to New Hampshire and did not know anyone. I was having a hard time making friends and had this one group of girls picking on me constantly. I spent a lot of time hiding in the girls room with my feet up so no one could see me, crying. I never went into the lunch room and I used to run as fast as I could from one class to another hoping to avoid these girls. If I ran into them I would put on a good "face" and talk just as mean as they did to me back to them. Then one day one of the girls shoved me. Then another shoved me. Everyday it was slowly getting worse. I was getting worried that someday soon I was going to be beaten up by all of them. That Saturday I opened up the phone book to "Martial Arts" and started at the first one. I called and asked if they would be willing to trade lessons for me cleaning the school. Needless to say I received "No." after "No." until I reached the number for Independent Karate School. I don't know what exactly it was that I may have said differently or if it was just simply kindness but they agreed. I was so happy I told my Father what I had been doing and begged him to rush me right down. I was immediately in my first class and I LOVED it. I knew I had found a part of myself that I never knew was there. After class I was vacuuming and the instructor that had told me to come down approached me and brought me into the office. He asked me why I wanted to join so badly. I did not give the main reason but the second one...To make friends and hopefully find some place that I would fit in again.

I could go on and on but I found out that I did not need to fight these girls (which like any other after school movie could have told you was the reason I initially wanted to learn) I was lucky enough that me simply telling one of the girls I was learning was enough because I don't think I would have tried to use what I was being taught. I learned very quickly what I was being shown was a gift to me. It was a gift because of the knowledge itself and was a gift because I was there every free second I had. It was a gift because I made friends and it was a gift because I found a second home. I got confidence as well. Not by the trophies I won (which helped too hehe) but by having a whole group of people that never saw me as an outcast but as another lover of an amazing art form and lifestyle that everyone should be lucky enough to learn.

Thank you IKS for giving me that chance that day when others would not. Even though my M.S. prevents me from being as active as I was, I will always see myself as a black belt, grand champion, and blessed for being an instructor in your family.

Calissta Rohrpasser
(Formerly Cheryl Reed - N.E. Champ 1988 - Black belt since October 22, 1988)

Happy Tournament Day!

Every year I celebrate tournament day as if it's a holiday.   I get excited every tournament weekend.  This year I noticed that a few of my colleagues don't share my sentiment on the weekend, so I want to take a few moments to explain why this day is so special to me.

First of all, I do want to thank everyone who works so hard to make tournament weekend possible.  There's a lot of work that goes into putting on the school tournament, and it requires the concerted effort of a lot of volunteers.   This year things were particularly special for me (See my personal blog for more details).

Some black belts view the tournament as a purely competitive venture, and are turned off by it.   I don't see things the same way.  There is a certain amount of nostalgia to the event.   Although a lot has changed since my first tournament... most of it remains the same.   I also know how much participating in these tournaments has helped to shape my life experience.  But this is so much more than just a competitive event.   Let me explain what the tournament means to me by recapping my weekend.   And I know from talking to my fellow black belts that a lot of them have similar experiences.

Saturday morning:  I wake up early knowing that the tournament will start later in the day with black belt kata and weapons competition.   I get Jane ready for her last class before she'll be competing and we head into the dojo.   After getting Jane situated and into class, I socialize with the black belts... some of whom have taken time off of work, or traveled back to the school for the weekend just to be part of the festivities.   There are dozens of black belts present - most of whom have been with the school for more than a decade.  This is a type of homecoming for the school.

This year I was extremely happy that Shihan Horosewski was able to join us and help judge.  I've known her for 30 years.

Saturday afternoon: Then a team of hard-working, caring senior black belts start a tournament where we get to see a group of very skilled and talented martial artists put forth their best efforts.   While this is going on, another team of senior black belts is hard at work making sure that all of our bases are covered for the main competition taking place the following day.

The competition ends, and we dismiss for the day.

Saturday evening:  Our annual traditional black belt dinner.  This started years ago as a small affair where my wife and I made arrangements to have dinner with two black belts who were going to be center referees for the first time (Shihan Marsh and Sensei Giovinazzo).   The first time it was a way to answer questions about judging and make sure that they were ready for the challenge ahead.   Now it has evolved to a dinner for a couple of dozen black belts, and spouses.  

It's a nice tradition that has evolved over time, and I look forward to it every year. It's not really about gearing the judges up for the big event... now it's a social activity where we get caught up and have an opportunity to visit with people who we don't get to see as often. It's relaxing, and fun.   A lot of the attendees are adults now, some with their own kids.  We have our share of college students, and quite a few teenagers.

Then it's off to bed. Tomorrow is tournament day.

Sunday morning: It's off to the tournament venue.   It's now Bishop Guertin High School.   In the past it's been in Merrimack, but lately we've cultivated a really great relationship with BG, and are excited to have the tournament there.   I get their around 7:30... but I'm a relative latecomer.   A group of black belts have been hard at work getting things ready, and even though I'm there more than an hour before the tournament is ready to start almost all of the physical setup is complete.

I spend the early part of the morning greeting more people who I haven't seen in a long time.  Some are former students who have recently rejoined the school. Parents of students who have moved away, but stay connected with the school.

I also get a chance to talk with some of the senior black belts who for various reasons aren't as involved with the day to day operations of the school as they used to be (Shihan Scali, Shihan Susalka and the like).

As we get closer to the opening ceremony, I have the good fortune of running the black belt meeting.  The main focus has always remained the same:  how to make this event a positive experience for our students.  Our goal is to make positive memories for lots of kids. It is not about who has the best form or who can break the most boards.  It's about giving our students an experience that will help them grow - building up confidence and helping them to not be afraid of taking risks and performing in front of a crowd.   It's about participation.

The black belts in the school know how important this is because we all went through it.

After the meeting we start the events of the day.   The senior black belts are introduced.  We are treated to a few demos (this year was a really nice Enshudo demo).   We cap off the opening ceremony by presenting a $10,000 scholarship to a deserving black belt.  (This year was Kelly Ethier who has been with the school for a long time and has grown tremendously as a person over the years. We're all very proud of her)

Since Craig Hutchinson died in 1992, our school has presented more than $102,000 to 25 different recipients. It's pretty amazing really.

And all of this has happened before we've even bowed the tournament in to get things started.

From that point on, things just get better.  We watch students get the experience of performing in front of a crowd.   See them gain confidence as they break wood. Learn the joy of competition as they spar with one another. Some will win, some will lose...   and they learn how to deal with it.   It's a microcosm of reality, and a good experience for the students.

Sunday Afternoon: Then the black belts finish up the competition.  Self-defense demonstrations to showcase their skills, and put them on the spot.  They need to prove that they can think on their feet and react to an attacker.  Breaking to show thier technique and strength.   (Some of these breaks are truly amazing).   And we conclude the competition with kumite.  By now, most of the crowd has dispersed, and the black belts who remain are physically exhausted.

Sunday Evening: We clean up the gym and head out to dinner.   A nice relaxing conclusion to a wonderful weekend.

A special thank you to everyone who made it possible.

IKS Thoughts: Chris Joyal

Editor's Note: Prior to the 30th anniversary celebration that we had, I asked people to submit to me their thoughts about the school to share with the headmasters. I have gathered these essays and will be adding them to this blog as "IKS Thoughts" over the next several months. Today's submission was made by IKS black belt Chris Joyal. 

When I was a short, skinny seventh-grader at Elm Street Junior High School, I met an equally short Jason Kittredge and an equally skinny Craig Hutchinson. Both were students at Independent Karate. For Christmas in December of 1985, I received a 3-month gift certificate to try it.

Having Jason Kittredge and Craig Hutchinson as my mentors proved somewhat challenging for the headmasters of the school. Jason lived on West Hollis Street at the time, and my mother worked part-time downtown. She was always willing to let me walk over to Jason's house.

I was tested for my orange belt three weeks after I joined. Needless to say, I was also an accomplished uke by this time. Two weeks with Jason taught me three, six, and seven combination as well as the fine art of not falling and breaking open your coconut. I believe he was a green belt at the time and going for first degree brown.

Jason and Craig were often told not to teach me advanced techniques, but they never taught them to me. Not really. They just used them on me. I became a blue belt rather quickly. Purple belt is a blur.

I really enjoyed the school. I loved that it was open on Tuesdays. And I attended all three Tuesday classes and at least three Saturday classes. Sensei Pete enjoyed calling me up in front of class and throwing roundhouse kicks near my temple because I had one of those dorky bowl cuts and a mop of really fine hair. A flurry of roundhouse kicks made it look like I had a blow dryer to my head.

Having learned from Jason and Craig and having spent my lower belts sparring with a green and brown belt, I had a different level of aggression that didn't seem to be consistent with my own ranks. Jason and Craig made contact when they sparred with me, and I made contact with them as well.

During tournament preparation (we were getting ready to spar the Tae Kwon Do Karate Club at Bishop Guertin) one Saturday, Sensei Pete had a school sparring tournament. Around the same time, Jason had introduced me to another green belt at the school named Stacy Conroy. She was an albino girl, nearly blind, and extremely fierce. I remember her as on roughly the same advancement track as Jason. She had amazing form. She also had very good control when doing jujitsu techniques. When she had to start a technique without touching you for a point of reference? Not so much.

I was a blue belt and won my matches easily, but with several warnings for contact to the midsection. After I won the purple and blue division, Sensei Pete decided on the spot that it would be fun to see if I could beat the girl's winner of the advanced division. He put me up against Stacy in a sparring match with no points.

She didn't receive any warnings for contact. I don't think I scored a point on her. I remember her running me out of the ring a few times and one particularly meaningful thrust punch to my floating rib. I also remember learning that when Sensei Pete warned you to take it easy and watch your control with students of the same rank, you listened.

Incidentally, my parents learned that when you give karate as a Christmas present in 1985, you may still be giving it in 1991. I received my black belt in 1990.

Happy Birthday, IKS, and thank you for the discipline and the memories.

Man in the Arena

We always encourage our students to compete in our annual school tournament.   We feel that it's an important part of their growth.  Nothing catches the idea of why we think it's so important as much as Teddy Roosevelt's speech The Man in the Arena:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

IKS Thoughts: Chris Guerrette

Editor's Note: Prior to the 30th anniversary celebration that we had, I asked people to submit to me their thoughts about the school to share with the headmasters. I have gathered these essays and will be adding them to this blog as "IKS Thoughts" over the next several months. Today's submission was made by IKS black belt Chris Guerrette. 

Sensei Peter Desmarais
When I was seven years old my father took me to the Independent Karate School in Merrimack to sign me up for Karate. The dojo was in a small church basement with no signs outside to indicate there was a karate school there. The only indication one needed was the loud noise coming from within. When I walked in the dojo I was immediately intimidated by the loud noise and by the number of people in the class. However, the intimidation was quickly stifled when a man wearing a red gi top, black gi pants and a black belt which looked to be falling apart, came over to both my father and I with his hand extended to greet us. This man was Sensei Peter Desmarais, and little did I know this man would become an intricate part of my life and change it forever.

The Independent Karate School became a huge part of my life growing up. The school provided me with a positive outlet for my energy and the focus and patience needed to develop my mind. Furthermore, I’m extremely grateful for the time Sensei Desmarais took out of his own life to teach me the skills needed to develop into a martial artist. In addition, I credit a lot of my personal success in life to lessons taught to me by Sensei Desmarais.

It’s nearly been 19 years since I first step foot in that dojo, and still today I practice the lessons taught to me by Sensei Desmarais. I would like to thank him for his kindness, his devotion and his great influence on my life.


Hanshi Victor Nastasia
I first met Mr. Nastasia when I was a purple belt. I had an older cousin who was enrolled at the Independent Karate School in Nashua and had asked me to come join a Saturday morning class with him. It was then I was introduced to Mr. Nastasia and I can remember thinking how nice he was when he welcomed me to the class. He had a big smile on his face and like Sensei Desmarais, he made me feel right at home.

Although I was not as close to Hanshi Nastasia and I was to Sensei Desmarais (simply because I spent more time at the Merrimack school) I always admired how he treated people and made everyone around him feel important.  It did not matter if he was talking to a high ranking black belt or a tiny white belt, he made them feel equally important.

I have always admired Hanshi Nastasia for his dedication to his students, the time he has devoted and the difference he has made in everyones’ life. He truly is an example of greatness.


O-Sensei Desmarais
I first remember meeting O-Sensei Desmarais when I was about ten years old. He had come to the Merrimack school to demonstrate his style Enshudo to our class. Once I saw his style I could not wait to learn from him.

I remember spending a lot of time in his class at the Nashua school learning all sorts of great styles, such as Jyu-Jitsu, Brazilian Jyu-Jitsu, Judo, Aikido, and Boxing. I credit O-Sensei for opening my eyes to the other styles out there and for helping me become a more well-rounded martial artist.

Like Sensei Desmarais and Hanshi Nastasia, O-Sensei has made a difference in my life and has been a positive influence to me as a martial artis and a human being. O-Sensei is an inspiration to all and I would like to thank him for being a part of my life.

Photo: Black Belts at tournament

IKS Thoughts: Sunish Oturkar

Editor's Note: Prior to the 30th anniversary celebration that we had, I asked people to submit to me their thoughts about the school to share with the headmasters. I have gathered these essays and will be adding them to this blog as "IKS Thoughts" over the next several months. Today's submission was made by IKS black belt Sunish Oturkar.



Someone once asked me, "If you relocated, what would you miss most?" Without a thought, I immediately responded, "The Independent Karate School." This says a lot considering I was born and raised in the area, having lived there for upwards of two decades. The IKS has played an enormous role in my life. I often tell people that if it were not for the school, there is no doubt in my mind that I would be a completely different person. True, whether for better or worse is uncertain, but I can confidently attribute my ability to carry out many of my accomplishments to the lifelong development acquired in the dojo. 


I have seen how much the misguided Western perception of the martial arts has infiltrated other schools in the area, and I am very proud to be apart of a dojo that never lets go the art's original intentions of self improvement in all aspects of life. I am constantly trying to find ways to better who I am as a person, either physically, mentally, or emotionally, and that motivation comes directly from my time at the IKS. When I note the receipt of my first degree black belt as being one of my life's greatest achievements, I refer not to belt itself, but my decision to a lifelong commitment of exhibiting all of the core values the school is founded on: responsibility, respect, perseverance, and the refusal to settle for anything less than my best.


Along with my own self improvement, there are few things in my life that can compare to the feeling of paying it forward at the IKS. Much of my time at the dojo has been dedicated to working with my colleagues, all of whom walked the same path I did, to impart our knowledge to the current students of the school. As time passes, the worst influences in our society continues to push its way further into the lives of children, reaching them at an earlier age each year. More communities need a force such as the IKS to counterbalance these influences, giving kids the tools they need to steer clear of choosing the wrong path. Knowing how effective the school has been for me, it is great to be a part of that experience for today's youth.


The dojo is my second home, the people my second family. I'd be lost without the Independent Karate School. Its a place I can come to and leave all my troubles behind. Its a place like no other, and I am forever in its debt.

Breaking Classes

Breaking class will be held at the Nashua school on Feb 20th at 9am,  March 2nd at 5:10pm and March 13th at 9am. Boards will be sold at the school for $1.30 each.


Students are not required to break wood in our system.  However, it is a great training tool that helps build confidence, and can help students to refine their technique.  Our school tournament does include a breaking event.


For safety reasons, we discourage students from practicing breaking without proper supervision.  These classes are intended as an opportunity for students to try breaking, and practice for the upcoming tournament.  

Commercial

We are very excited to announce that we are making a commercial to try to boost our school enrollment.  For the past 30 years, we have successfully relied on word of mouth to attract new students and run what we consider to be a very important resource in the lives of our students.  After doing some research, and looking at resources that we have at our disposal we are planning on gathering footage at the school on Saturday February 13th to use in a commercial.

We are asking everyone to come and participate.  If you're available to come into class this Saturday, please do so.

IKS Thoughts: Andrew Trexler

Editor's Note: Prior to the 30th anniversary celebration that we had, I asked people to submit to me their thoughts about the school to share with the headmasters. I have gathered these essays and will be adding them to this blog as "IKS Thoughts" over the next several months. Today's submission was made by IKS black belt Andrew Trexler.



I attribute my character to only two major influences: my parents and the Independent Karate Schools. The IKS is a cornerstone of my life, has shaped my personality, and has defined my philosophy. I cannot possibly express how meaningful and important the school is to me; the words necessary have not been invented yet. In a single decade, a relatively short period of time despite being more than half of my lifetime, I have learned things at the IKS, both martial and otherwise, that will serve me for many more decades to come. Throughout my years here I have developed trusted friends and attained living heroes. I am honored to simply be in such an audience as the ones I find every time I walk in the door. The IKS has trained me, and is training me, to face challenges in all paths of life. To me, and to many, the school is more than simply a means of learning self defense; it is a lifestyle. The IKS is truly a candle illuminating the darkness. 

IKS Participates in TD Bank Fundraiser

The Scholarship foundation has an exciting and easy new way for you to support it.  If you have an existing bank account with TDBank, or are planning to set one up in the near future, here’s what you can do:

• Go to your local branch and say you want to support the Independent Karate School Scholarship Foundation through the TDBank Affinity program (ID Number A1280)
• THAT’S IT! 

At the end of the year, TDBank will take the average of all supporting accounts and a percentage of that balance will go directly to the scholarship as a donation!  There is no extra obligation from you, except to spread the word about the program to your friends and family.  TDBank will not disclose any individual or business financial information to the IKSSF so all information will stay confidential.  If you are thinking of opening anew bank account, TDBank offers several great incentives to do so.  They will be promoting their programs through the school on a semi-regular basis and their representatives would be happy to answer any and all questions you may have. 

We hope you can help us with this effort by affiliating your account today, and spreading the word to your family, friends, colleagues and businesses.  Thank You!

IKS Thoughts: John Diggins

Editor's Note: Prior to the 30th anniversary celebration that we had, I asked people to submit to me their thoughts about the school to share with the headmasters. I have gathered these essays and will be adding them to this blog as "IKS Thoughts" over the next several months. Today's submission was made by black belt John Patrick Diggins IV. 


To the instructors of Independent Karate:

Twenty years ago, at the age of six, my father signed me up for classes at Independent Karate, in the basement of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Merrimack, NH, after I was bullied by some older boys.  My parents hoped that sending me to learn karate would provide me with both the skills and the confidence to defend myself in the often turbulent times of my childhood.  This hope was realized many times over; however, self defense was only a small part of what I learned at IKS.  My parents were surprised, and pleased, to find that the men and women who teach at IKS don’t just teach kids how to punch and kick and block.  IKS teaches children respect for ones self and ones elders, honor, discipline, courage, and the importance of education.  These were all values that my parents worked diligently to instill in their children, and having them repeated outside the home was invaluable to them.  They were so impressed that my father, John Diggins, would later join IKS.

Receiving my black belt from IKS was one of the most formative experiences of my childhood.  Working toward, and earning that belt, taught me that success can be achieved, but only through hard work.  That message still reverberates in my adult life, and the achievement is still something I feel a measured amount of pride for.   It has been many years since I studied at IKS and while my karate skills have unfortunately lapsed, the larger values of hard work respect and discipline instilled in me at IKS are as vibrant as ever.   I have used them as a runner, a youth leader in school, and most importantly as a student.  Having recently completed my masters degree I now use those skills in my career.

I believe that the most important aspect of the IKS curriculum is the incredible attention paid to education.  A quality education is undoubtedly the most important thing a child can obtain.  I still remember being urged by Sensei Pete to do well in school and listen to and respect my teachers.  I’m confident that there have been many kids, like me, who were in need of that motivation outside of the home.  I commend you all for your efforts!

I feel that I owe a great deal to IKS for all the valuable experiences I obtained there as a child.  Thank you all for your patience, kindness, and attentiveness.  Mr. Nastasia, Mr. Desmarais, and Sensei Pete: You are great men and I still hold you all in the highest regard.  Generations of children have learned, and continue to learn invaluable life lessons from the three of you.  You have helped turn children into better adults and better citizens. Congratulations on the 30th year anniversary of your school!  I hope that someday I too can bring my six year old son to learn the important life lessons you teach.

IKS Thoughts: Gerry Tanguay

Editor's Note: Prior to the 30th anniversary celebration that we had, I asked people to submit to me their thoughts about the school to share with the headmasters. I have gathered these essays and will be adding them to this blog as "IKS Thoughts" over the next several months. Today's submission was made by black belt Gerry Tanguay. 

I have studied the martial arts for nearly twenty years and it has been one of the most fulfilling experiences and activities throughout my life - holding prominence above nearly everything else while sharing a twin throne in my life with the visual arts.

The Independent Karate School has given me fond memories of the martial arts, however one man in particular is responsible in helping me establish the most basic concepts and skills that I now possess.
Meijin Victor Nastasia, whom I still habitually refer to as Hanshi.

When I first began to study the martial arts with Hanshi I most likely did not realize how much he would teach me, both in regards to the martial arts as well as many other facets of daily life. Looking back now I am able to see that his lessons helped in providing the foundation necessary to become a confident and capable adult with the ability to take control of a situation and work through it successfully.  At this point in my early years of studying kenpo with Hanshi my views on the martial arts were rooted mainly in The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Karate Kid.

Every week I would go to class, Monday afternoon at four o’clock, excited about practicing kenpo and excited to see Hanshi again. Eventually I was asked to help instruct, a responsibility which I took very seriously as I assisted on Tuesday nights. As a result of instructing I became more aware of how to speak and how to present myself to others through body language and precision. I had begun to truly understand the position of a role model and why it was important to be responsible not just inside the dojo while practicing or instructing but also outside of the dojo in everyday life. It is impossible to teach a student respect if you do not actively show respect yourself.

On Saturday, October 19th 1996 my outlook on the martial arts and instructing would be elevated to a new level after one of the longest and most intense experiences of my life. That afternoon I received my first degree black belt, finally accomplishing a goal that I had set for myself many years before. The excitement lingered for quite some time, however, I noticed that there was something even more powerful overshadowing my joy. I realized that my responsibility had easily doubled and that I would now need to work even harder on my own material so that my teaching skills could also progress to the next level.

I looked to Hanshi at this point more than I had before. I looked to his experience in helping me to overcome new challenges and to find tricks to improve my instructing. I also began to notice that I was more self-reliant. I had begun to form my own methods for dealing with large groups or in teaching small classes. I had more experiences to pull from and I found that I was now able to share not only Hanshi’s lessons but also my own. The man that I am had emerged from a young martial artist.

As time progressed I began to realize the true responsibility of a martial artist. Our responsibility is to become the best possible person that we are capable of and in doing this to commit ourselves to an ideal in all aspects of our lives. We do not simply put all of ourselves into practicing the martial arts, we put all of ourselves into any project or task that is set by us or for us. We do not stand by while others do work; instead we are the first to begin working. We take the initiative in life so that we may become an example to everyone else of how a person should live and act. We show respect to everyone, we exemplify discipline and courtesy, we teach the way of peace.

Around this time I watched The Karate Kid for the first time since I was a young boy. I was surprised to notice how well the film portrayed the principles of budo through Mr. Miyagi. I noticed that many of the ways which Mr. Miyagi described the martial arts were consistent with the ways that I had come to view them through my training at the Independent Karate School.

This realization had come over the course of many years and as I began to live my life by the principles that I had learned through kenpo I found myself about to embark on a new journey, one that would take me away from the Independent Karate School for what seemed like an eternity.

I left for Montserrat College of Art in the fall of 2001, excited for what was ahead but wary of some of the things that I left behind. Although my college was relatively close to the karate school, my class schedule made it difficult to make my way back except during some summer breaks. Despite my guilt over being absent from the dojo I knew that I needed to focus on my college work.

I graduated from Montserrat College of Art in 2005 with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Illustration. I remained at the school for one extra semester in order to complete the art education program which would leave me certified to teach the visual arts.

As I finished this program participating in a full-time practicum I once again found that Hanshi’s lessons remained ingrained in my being. I used the skills that I had developed in the martial arts and adjusted them to fit perfectly into the world of elementary art education. My supervising practitioner often commented that my public speaking skills, classroom management skills and ability to connect with the students on their level without changing who I am or how I speak to them was far above average for even first year teachers. I told her that I would not have had nearly as much experience in teaching if not for the Independent Karate School and Hanshi Nastasia.

The completion of my practicum brought an end to my time at Montserrat. I left prepared to enter the ‘real world’ as so many often call it. After settling back into life outside of college I found that there was something missing in my day to day life. I had continued to practice the martial arts throughout my time at college; however there was still the fact that I had been away from the school itself and all of the people who make it the home that it is.

I walked into the dojo one afternoon in order to rectify this absence in my life. As I entered I saw the man who is present in ninety percent of my childhood memories, a smile spread across his face as he walked over to me and we spoke for some time. That afternoon I fell back into the school as though I had not been gone, it was truly a feeling equivalent to that of returning home from an extended journey. The feeling that something was missing subsided and I came to feel complete once again. I am no longer simply the man that had emerged from a young martial artist; I bring to the school my experiences in kenpo and in teaching, I bring my knowledge of the visual arts and an ability to relate it to what we practice in the dojo. I am an instructor. I am an IKS black belt.

I take great pride in my responsibility as an instructor and uchi-deshi for the Independent Karate School because I have spent most of my life learning, sharing and instructing here. The school has been built as a home for all of us who attend, for all of us who share a common interest and belief in the principles of the martial arts. This would not have been possible if not for the inception of the Independent Karate School thirty years ago.

Enshudo News - January 2010

On December 15, 2009 David DiGregorio an Enshudo Uchi Deshi was promoted to yondan (4th degree black belt). David is an accomplished black belt in both enshudo and kenpo.

The school would like to extend a special thank you to the Horn family for hosting our annual holiday party this year.

O-Sensei has agreed to incorporate arnis de mano (Filipino stick fighting) into the enshudo program.  We currently include the bo and the cane.  Many thanks to the highly skilled black belts in enshudo who are responsible for the incorporation of arnis into our system, particularly Gerry Tanguay who created a professional quality illustrated guide.

IKS Thoughts: Jeff Maistrosky

Editor's Note: Prior to the 30th anniversary celebration that we had, I asked people to submit to me their thoughts about the school to share with the headmasters. I have gathered these essays and will be adding them to this blog as "IKS Thoughts" over the next several months. Today's submission was made by Shihan Jeff Maistrosky. 

As I started pondering what to say in this essay, I couldn’t escape the truth that no matter what I wrote, many other minds, vastly superior to me in intellectual prowess, would have already written it.  It seems impossible to write praises to the Independent Karate School without repeating others.  However, the more I think about it, I am comforted and pleased by that fact.  If one person, group or organization can inspire people to write praises about them in similar veins, it stands as a testament to their mission and goals, now having been realized by the very people they hoped to impact. 

One thing about the school that always amazes me is how much it is preceded by its reputation.  Although I have been exposed to this fact several times throughout our history, I continue to be reminded of it today.  In June 2009, I had the distinction of attending an awards dinner for our most recent scholarship recipient.  Whenever someone was introduced to us and learned that we were representing the IKS, they began to get all starry eyed and awestruck.  Not only that, but our charity was the only one to get a distinct crowd reaction of “murmurs of amazement” as we presented.  No doubt, the size of our award contributed to those reactions, but the greater victory (aside from helping a young lady go to Nursing school) was the fact that our reputation continued to spread far and wide that night.  It did the exact same thing at the 2009 Rockin Ribfest, when more people, Rotarians included, recognized us for the values that we have been instilling in our students since the day they started at the school.  I cannot recall how many people told us that the dependable and energetic work of our students was an indispensable resource to the event.  The fact that we have presented an image of what Karate should develop in a person, and we continue to practice what we preach throughout the years, is a legacy in and of itself.

The IKS has also become one of the ‘great enablers’ of our community, instilling all of its students with two skills, among several others, that enable them to excel in life: discipline and courtesy.  It is not easy for many to maintain their drive to see tasks and problems through to completion. This stresses how important discipline in the dojo, as well as outside of it, is today.  Hand in hand with that, the virtue of courtesy exemplifies a greater goal for the school: promoting tolerance and understanding amongst people, allowing peace to triumph over war in a world that is in dire need of peaceful solutions.

For our motivated and innovative student minds, the school’s vision for them is clear: Allow the instructors to tell them what to do in class so that they can, eventually, tell themselves what to do in their lives.  The examples set by the past & present role models provide continued support to the school’s legacy and provide inspiration for today’s students to establish their own paths.  Even now, after having been at the school for over 20 years, I still find ways to contribute to and develop an entity that has done so much for my own development.  I have applied the discipline of the dojo to my various dealings in the professional world and the many volunteer projects that the IKS and I engage in.  Those skills have served me well, as I know they will continue to do as I grow into my role with the Scholarship Foundation.

Recommended Reading List

One would think that a subject so steeped in history as the Martial Arts would have a vast array of good books on the subject, and it does. Sadly, there’s a dearth of quality books on the subject. The Martial Arts also attracts a lot of people who are more interested in ego than in knowledge. That being said, I’ve compiled a starter list of books that I recommend. These books range in availability from “any Barnes and Noble” to “out of print and good luck”. There are a few authors that I would recommend that are only partially represented here; Dave Lowry, Ueshiba, Funakoshi, Kano, John Stevens to name a few. If you find a book and think it’s worth mentioning, please send me an e-mail at shihanmarsh@gmail.com. Good reading!

The Martial Arts, by Susan Ribner and Dr. Richard Chin: In the 1980s O-Sensei recommended this book so highly that we actually sold it through the school. This book is an excellent overview of the martial arts in general. It’s written with an eye towards kids being able to read it, but the information is accurate and poignant. Sadly it’s out of print, but Amazon.com typically has at least a few used books for sale. It’s a great introduction to the art, and I recommend letting your kids read it too.

Karate-Do: My Way of Life, by Gichen Funakoshi: This is an autobiography that most of the senior black belts have read numerous times. Gichen Funakoshi is one of the people responsible for the propagation of oriental martial arts to the world at large. While our own style of Kenpo takes a different path, the contributions that Gichen Funakoshi has made are a major component to the karate school. It’s an excellent historical perspective on the life and mores of the culture that formed our vision of the martial arts.

Karate-Do: Nyumon, by Gichin Funakoshi: This book focuses less on history and more on bringing the martial arts down to earth with its simple philosophy. The word “nyumon” means “to pass through a gate” and Master Funakoshi means to use it as an introduction to the art itself. This book is in wide circulation, and the precepts he puts forward are very much a part of the IKS philosophy.

The Three Budo Masters, by John Stevens: This book contains three mini-biographies, one for each of the major figures in shaping the modern martial arts; Jigoro Kano, Gichin Funakoshi, and Morihei Ueshiba. The biographies are short, and there are plenty of full length biographies on each of them, but this is a good précis. It is interesting to note that the IKS curriculum has grouped these three pioneers together since the early 1980s as part of O-Sensei’s teachings. This book, however, was not printed until 1995.

The Book of Five Rings, by Miyamoto Musashi: Musashi was one of the greatest strategists who ever lived, and he practiced what he preached as a duelist in the 17th century. This book is often touted as a major piece of reading in negotiation and business training, but few have actually read the book. The book is a treatise on strategy, though there are some parts specific to his time and place. It’s a very short and simple read, though the lessons to be learned are hard to access at first. This book is a must for any serious-minded martial artist, though there are numerous translations, and not all of them are good. I recommend the Shambala Classic edition as an easy to find version with a good translation.

Martial Arts: Traditions, History, People, by Emil Farkas and John Corcoran: This is really an encyclopedia, and not a book for casual reading. It’s extremely well done and contains hundreds of quality pictures of martial arts of all kinds. It features history, style dossiers, and biographies. We have a copy in the office at the Nashua School. It’s worth flipping through if for no other reason than looking at the vast array of pictures. It’s a hefty book, but you can buy it from Amazon.com used. This is the first book the senior black belts tend to go to when looking something up.

Autumn Lightning: The Education of an American Samurai, by Dave Lowry: Dave Lowry is a talented author and this book is only partly an autobiography. Many of the lessons he learns in this book are paired up with historical anecdotes. The stories he presents range form famous to obscure, and the focus on swordplay, but the bigger picture is educational.

Zen and the Martial Arts, by Joe Hyams: This book is a series of anecdotes by the author. The title is misleading, as it is not a treatise on Zen, but rather poignant stories of insight and philosophy. It steers clear of esoteric meandering that many martial arts books fall prey to, and simply presents a series of stories that demonstrate basic wisdom. This book is easy to find, and one that I’d recommend that beginners read – to help set the mindset that the Martial Arts strives to achieve.

Secrets of the Samurai: a Survey of the Martial Arts of Feudal Japan, by Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook. This book is a textbook. It’s written like a textbook and it reads like a textbook. That being said, a lot of senior black belts like reading textbooks. This book has amazing artwork and clear writing. It’s easy to find, so flip through and see if you’re interested in this level of detail. While the title explains the book well, it does talk a lot about the modern day derivatives of these feudal era arts.

The Black Belt Manager, by Robert Pater: Business applications of Martial Arts principles are a favorite topic of authors. Sadly this is an area where it’s hard to find quality books. The adaptation of martial arts ranks to six sigma make finding good ones even harder. If you can find this, it’s worth a read if you’re looking to read about managerial skills.

Sword and Brush: The Spirit of the Martial Arts, by Dave Lowry: This book takes beautiful works of Japanese calligraphy, and explains some of the deeper concepts in the martial arts. For example, we translate the suffix “-do” as “the Way of” but it carries so much more meaning, meaning that this book does a good job of conveying. It’s a great book for people who are very interested in the philosophy of the art itself.

Code of the Warrior, Exploring Warrior Values Past and Present, by Shannon E. French: This book was written by a professor of Ethics at Annapolis. It deals with Codes of Honor from numerous cultures from Spartans to Samurai. It’s written with the intent to illuminate the mindset that developed in various parts of human civilization. This book has little to do with karate, and much more to do with martial arts as a world wide human endeavor.

Living the Martial Way, by Forrest Morgan: This book is written by a retired USAF Major. Its intent is to take the philosophy of the martial arts and expand it to all aspects of normal life in the modern age. You’ll find that many of the concepts taught in class are mirrored in this book.


There are plenty of other books on the Martial Arts, but this is enough of a beginning to last for some time. I tried to include a wide variety of the type of book, ranging from child accessible to college textbook.

IKS Thoughts: Jeff Therrien

Editor's Note: Prior to the 30th anniversary celebration that we had, I asked people to submit to me their thoughts about the school to share with the headmasters. I have gathered these essays and will be adding them to this blog as "IKS Thoughts" over the next several months. Today's submission was made by IKS parent and Enshudo shihan Jeff Therrien.

On a mild spring night, I sat in the chairs in the basement of Our Lady of Mercy church in Merrimack to observe the children’s Kenpo class. I was there at the invitation of a friend whose son was a young black belt. My son was terribly shy, hesitant, with no self confidence and I was looking for an activity for him that would help him come out of his shell. At the end of the class, Sensei Pete opened the floor for questions. A tiny child asked a question that was obvious even to me, someone who knew nothing about the martial arts. Peter answered that question as if it were the most important topic in the world, taking two steps back as he did so, encompassing the entire class with his answer. I decided Independent Karate was the right school at that moment.

So, I enrolled my son in the class, and his first night was a disaster. He changed his mind about wanting to do it, and cried and hid behind my leg. A young black belt named Adam Burpee got on his knees to talk with Jacob, and invited him out on the floor, with me tagging along for support, to at least give it a try. Adam’s kindness and patience became a pivotal moment in Jake’s life.

I personally came to the school by way of my 40^th birthday, when I received a cane as an “over the hill” gift. The same person who had invited me to the Kenpo class told me O’Sensei could teach me to use it as a weapon. I found this intriguing and tried an En Shu Do class. I was immediately hooked, not as much by the prospect of learning a self defense, but more by the fun everyone was having doing it.

The years have passed, with the increase in knowledge that time spent studying will bring. My life hasn’t turned out the way I thought it would, but through it all, the Independent Karate School has been an anchor when things are not going too well. The friends I have made are never judgmental, only supportive. It has become a place of refuge for me, a few hours a week where I am focused, finding an inner peace that eludes me the rest of the time.

Jacob is now a young man getting ready to attend college. As I watch him teach, behind his good humor, I see the quiet confidence and patience I had observed in Adam so many years ago and I can’t help but feel it has come full circle.

What does the Independent Karate School mean to me? Something that is only trivialized by words, made stronger by the purpose of the school. As the school celebrates its’ 30^th year, I can honor it only by struggling to achieve the same purpose in my daily life, to always be honest, humble, and to do the right thing while helping others to do the same.

Thank you for all you have done.

Jeff Therrien

Happy New Year!

It's a tradition for people to make New Years Resolutions... usually about shedding unwanted pounds, or being healthier.  My father had an annual tradition where he would give up smoking.  The celebration of a new year is a perfect time to reflect on our lives and decide how to make things better.

I'd like to encourage students of the IKS to think about what they can do to make their journey into the martial arts better.  Is it possible to commit yourself to going to one more class a week?   Or maybe setting aside 15 minutes every morning for stretching?  

If you pledged to learn one new kenpo technique every week, at the end of the year, you would have 52 more kenpo techniques in your knowledgebase.  

I suggest that all students evaluate what they can do to improve themselves, pick a modest goal, and strive to achieve it.

The power here is learning to change your habits.   If you want to get better at kata, set aside 15 minutes a day to run through your katas at home.   If you need to become more flexible, ask Sensei Pete or another senior instructor to advise you on what you can try at home to reach your goal, and set a schedule to follow up on it.   Want to become an expert on martial arts history?  Talk to the history buffs in the school, like Shihan Marsh and find sources he recommends for you to study from.

The journey through the martial arts can be an exciting one, but you will only get out of it what you put into it.  Take this new year to ask yourself if you want to get more out of your experience, and if you do, then figure out how.

Yours in kenpo,

- Shihan Kittredge