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.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
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.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
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.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
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 40th 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’ 30th 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
Sunday, January 3, 2010
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
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
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