Tour Comments 2

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Charles san

    I have just had the good fortune of having Sempai Hoosain Narker visit me and my wife for about a week.  We discussed many things and enjoyed each others company immensely.

    Sempai, or more correctly Shihan Hoosain, (yes I know it should be Sempai but I believe that credit should be given where credit is due) reminded me that karate isn't just physical and that which is, can always be improved upon. For me it was a lesson in humility, patience and perseverance.

    Part of the time was spent on development of my school and getting me out of the closet of conservatism that was holding me back.  One of the progressive steps that we took was to go to the local paper and get some pictures and an article written about the school, the promotion and Shihan Hoosain's success in Maine's U.S. Open Knock Down Karate Championships.  The article came out today on the front page.  There were people that I didn't even know congratulating me and talking about the pictures.  The article was cut down a bit but the pictures more than made up for it and the important information was intact.

    We had a good time at the Grand Canyon and visited with a Japanese couple who were from Houston, Texas.  This was an interesting situation as they were very surprised that Foreigners to their Martial Art style such as ourselves could be so involved in it.  This was surprising to me as they themselves were not involved in it.  It was still a pleasant visit and they were interesting people.

    Shihan Hoosain talked with me about many concepts but the one that sticks the most right now is that which concerns lower levels being given the chance to run a school for their instructors.  This is an opportunity that cannot be replaced in any way.  There are some lower belts that seem to be troubled with having to go through this.  Please understand that no matter how alone you may feel your instructor is trying to give you a chance to learn and grow.  Remember that your instructor has a lot of time and energy invested in the school that you are now running.  That is a lot of responsibility.  You can do it. Your instructor wouldn't have put you there if he or she didn't think that you could do it.

    Anyway, I am very glad that Shihan Hoosain came by and spent some time with us.  It was a pleasant and enjoyable time. I pray that the remainder of his trip is without difficulty and proves to be beneficial to him and the Martial Arts.

Sensei Lance

Hoosain Narker was still awake when I went to bed, working on answering all of the messages he gets from around the world.

Hoosain Narker.  Ashihara karate.

Remember those names. They will become more and more prominent in the karate world over the next few years. Hoosain has a type of karate and a type of personality and mind that cannot help but become preeminent at anything he sets out to do. A modest man, Hoosain will not tell people that his organization has more than 30,000 members in 22 countries, that his group is far larger than the Ashihara organization in Japan, that his organization is ORGANIZED, with tapes, manuals, newsletters, etc. that make it easy for them to stay in touch and to keep learning and sharing.

You heard it here first: Hoosain Narker is going to be one of the most prominent karate leaders in the world.

The reason I am up so early on a Saturday morning is that Hoosain and I are meeting Bill Le Compte at my dojo at 8:30. We will train there until 10:30, take a break and head down to Reed and Myra Noss' dojo in Corvallis for a seminar with Shihan John Sells from noon to three p.m.

I feel like a flea amongst giants. Last night Chris Walton came to the class Hoosain was teaching even though he was jet lagged and flu-ish from long flights around the country doing Hewlett Packards data base work.

I expect that if he ever gets around to dying, Chris' funeral procession will have to stop a couple of times on the way to the cemetery so that Chris can stop and train.

Hoosain is emphatically the same way. For three nights running I've had to drag him from the dojo long after class time was past, while he waves his hands and says "and one more thing in closing".

These are the kind of people I want to be like if I ever get around to growing up.

Incredible human beings, wonderful martial artists, dedicated to making the world a better place through the practice and teaching of karate.

And later today I get to hang out with Shihan Sells, the Nooses, Todd Newton and more of my favorite people in the world.

And hope nobody laughs as I try to do sai techniques.

What a wonderful world. What wonderful people. I certainly have much to be thankful for in this Thanksgiving season.

regards,

Hank Prohm

-Myra and Reed Noss, Hayashi-ha Shito-ryu our gracious hosts and organizers of the event
-Chris Walton, Kishaba Juku Shorin Ryu
-Bill Le Comte, Shorin Ryu who made a special trip down from Washington
-Todd Newton, Wado-ryu up from Eugene
-Special guest Kaicho Hoosain Narker from Ashihara karate, South Africa
-oh, and me Hank Prohm.

The real reason for the get together was for a seminar by Shihan John Sells. John taught three segments in three hours, the first hour being devoted to bunkai applications for the Pinan kata, the second teaching the previously secret Shito-ryu kata Kenshu and the third hour teaching sai kata.

Hoosain and I started the day by meeting Bill Le Comte at my school in Salem. Hoosain gave Bill one of his patented, not to be duplicated one on one training sessions that had tangible results in Bill's ability to deliver power.  Holding the kicking pad while Bill demonstrated his roundhouse I was able to feel a huge increase in the amount of power that Bill was able to deliver into the pad.

The amazing thing about Hoosain and Ashihara karate is that by "tweaking" a few seemingly minor things about the way someone punches or kicks or moves, Hoosain is able to teach them how to kick harder, get more distance from their techniques and be able to stand toe to toe with someone and not get hit while making it appear that the opponent is punching the daylights out of them.

For me, Ashihara karate is another piece of the puzzle between the "pitty pat" sparring of the open and traditional tournaments and the rip shred and tear of full on self defense, a means of turning fighting into a full contact game.

Hoosain says that he has collected statistics that indicate that there are fewer injuries at Kyokushin-kai type full contact matches than there are at supposedly non contact matches.

Anyhow, I wouldn't have wanted to be down range from one of Bill's kicks before Hoosain started adjusting his delivery. Afterwards holding the kicking shield for Bill was an experience similar to standing in front of a speeding bus. With just a very few changes, Bill was rocking me back with his kicks and sending shock waves through my body even though it was protected by a foot thick kicking shield.

At 10:30 we grabbed bunches of gear and rushed down to Corvallis, getting lost only once on the way to the Timberhill Athletic Club. Myra had everything organized like clockwork and we got started right on time and John Sells proceeded to blow us all away with his depth of knowledge and skill.

I am pleased to report that I didn't drop my sais once during the session although I did feel that that the music from the dancing hippopotamus segment of the Disney film Fantasia would have been appropriate while I bounded around trying to keep straight which foot was supposed to be in front and where these foreign objects in my hands were supposed to be going.

Afterwards we went out for pizza and I wished I could hear two conversations simultaneously as my attention kept being drawn from one end of the table to the other With John, Reed and Myra in one conversation and Hoosain, Bill and Todd Newton in the other.

Tomorrow Hoosain leaves on the next leg of his journey. We are going to go down to Eugene extra early and meet Todd Newton at his school which is only a couple of blocks from the bus station and Todd and Hoosain will compare Wado-ryu tai sabaki with the methods of Ashihara.

Today is relaxation day. I plan to take Hoosain to camp Adair to wander around in the fields and woods of this former military base turned wildlife refuge and then off to dinner at a friends house.  Hoosain just got up for a moment and announced that he was going back to bed for another hour or so. I am glad to see that he does need sleep like the rest of us.

I would like to make a suggestion to some of you folks: if you want a vacation with world class karate but can't afford a trip to Japan or Okinawa, come to Oregon. Even without Hoosain, I'm sure that between the Sells, Nosses, Waltons and Newtons of our little community, we can open some doors in your mind and stimulate new thoughts about karate.

Did I mention about how thankful I feel to have access to such great people? %^)

regards,

Hank Prohm

I enjoyed tremendously learning about Ashihara Sabaki principles and getting to see the fantastic way that Ashihara kata is practiced.  My chest is tad bit sore from his enjoyment of the 1 inch punch practice. :-)

Hoosain, continue to have a safe journey and have fun training.

I would also like to thank Hank Prohm for making it possible for us in the area to have the opportunity to meet and train with Hoosain.  I feel fortunate to have such good people like Hank to sweat along side in the dojo.

Todd Newton
Wado-ryu Oregon

I just want to come out of lurk mode for just one moment to thank Hank Prohm, Hoosain, John Sells, & Reed and Myra Noss.

Myra and Reed hosted an excellent seminar! They opened their kind Shito arms for other styles to benefit from their Art. They definately are budo!

John Sells was very informative and a giving teacher. He has given me Ken shu and Annaku no sai, which is a great gift from their Shito system.

Hank Prohm for his kind invitation and open hospitality. A gracious karateka!

Oh, and Hoosain! He has given me ergonomics. May I be half as humble as he!

Thank you all again for having a Sabaki battered, traditional, garage Shorin karateka as a guest.

Osu!

May peace follow you always,

Bill LeCompte
(may my cup always stay empty)

Thank you very much for your help! You have not only shared Ashihara Karate, you also shared your humble character.

You have done well to bring honor to yourself, South Africa, and Ashihara Karate. You make an excellent representative!!

Peace,

Bill LeCompte

I was interested in a thread that recurs from time to time concerning martial arts history. I am, of course, interested in the sorts of histories put together by historians. But I'm also interested in the stories, myths, heroes, and so on, that are created through collective story telling. I think these serve a different purpose and are also important to martial arts wisdom. In alot of cultures, wisdom is passed on through oral traditions that capture important and enduring knowledge through myth and stories. The question of whether a particular protagonist really and truly lived and said and did things related in stories is a kind of interesting question. But focusing on this question and dismissing the story as unimportant because it's not in keeping with historical methodology really misses out on what oral tradition is all about.

The myths of the Shaolin, for example, are brimming with all kinds of knowledge and wisdom. Even our own dear Hoosain has become a living mythic hero here on the CD -- I love to get his posts and the posts of others as he's traveling around like a martial minstrel throughout the U.S.

Part of what I miss is the magic of the arts in these discussions, the larger than life characters based more or less on someone that really lived. When we get into the gritty details of their lives maybe they weren't people that lived up to the stories, but it's the stories and not the real people that contain knowledge about how to be a hero, how to be courageous, or even outrageous. And maybe some of the story tellers didn't really and truly drink sake in Okinawa with these heros, but if they can add a neat twist to the myth, well, that can be interesting. I'm not advocating fraud, but just good storytelling.

In fact, if I didn't have to get back to work right now, I would have loved to tell you about having bumped into Hoosain on Spadina Avenue here in Toronto (imagine my surprise! I didn't even know Toronto was included in his itinerary)-- he was buying some traditional Chinese medicines for Hank Prohn after having accidently sent Hank flying through a dojo wall during a particularly lively demonstration. But maybe for another time!

take care,

Jamie-Lynn Magnusson,
student goju ryu

<snip of a great post!>

Jamie, this is soooo mean.. leaving us in the lurch here!!  Come on.. tell more! :-))))) I love Hoosain stories!
 

Sara

Hoosain Senseis's seminar for this weekend will be held on Saturday the 11th of December at UMC
Health and Fitness in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Starting time 9am, ending at noon. There is a nominal fee of
$20 for participants, but I can assure you that the training you'll receive is worth far more than the
money.

This seminar will focus on a number of principles of Ashihara Karate, and  clearly explain what is meant by the concept of Sabaki. Hoosain Sensei is able to teach and demonstrate his ideas in such a way that anyone, regardless of experience, is able to make huge gains. As an example, we had a 1st time karateka in the dojo last night, and he was absolutely enthralled with the teaching.

I urge all list-ka and friends in Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and Utah that  can, to make use of the opportunity that Hoosain Sensei is presenting to us. If you would like to come up the night before, we have plenty of floor space, both here and with other dojo members.

Best wishes, and hoping to hear from you.

Chris de Wet

Here in the second third of my life, I am slowly learning humility.

Six months ago, if you'd asked my opinion of several styles of karate, I'd have said that they were weak because they have little or no hip movement or obvious koshi useage in their techniques.

Now, after five days of working with and watching Hoosain Narker teach, I am very aware of the fact that it is possible to generate a great deal of power with little or no discernible hip rotation.

I am going to have to learn to make obversations using the following caveat:

"From the perspective of where I am now in my training and learning, it seems to me that....."

Of course, that will keep me out of a bunch of trouble as well as help me look less foolish (notice I said less).

Oh, Jamie-Lynn: when you are making up legendary stories, tell the one where Hoosain, John Sells and Chris Walton used Hank Prohm as a four square ball, bouncing him back and forth amongst them.

regards,

Hank Prohm

Sensei Hoosain left 36 hours ago, and I'm just getting around to answering e-mail, and feeling a little less like "the Non-Stop Top". Between going to bed at 2AM every morning, trying to comprehend new concepts (and try to practice them while no-one was looking), and looking after my 2 year old, I started feeling like an extra in Night of the Living Dead.

The time that Sensei Hoosain spent with us was quite phenomenal, and those that attended either the regular classes or the seminars that he gave came away with a whole new perspective of what is possible through the correct use of Biokinetics, body motion and a little faith in oneself. Being endowed with all the grace on an angry Hippo, I have for the first time done a real jumping kick, and I wouldn't have wanted to be on the other end. (For illustration, imagine Fantasia :-)

For those who have not yet had the opportunity to train with him, please make every effort to do so. You won't be disappointed.

Wishing Hoosain was still here

Chris de Wet

OSU

Although we have never met or spoken, I am a member of the cyberdojo and a shodan in Kyokushin. I have visited your Ashihara site, and am always fascinated in styles that are similar to Kyokushin.

As I understand that you may plan to visit Canada on your tour, I would like to extend an invitation for  you to visit Toronto. It is Canada's largest city and very beautiful. The dojo that I train in is small (about 20 students) but I am sure that you would enjoy our hospitality and any time spent here. We would definitely be pleased to put you up during your stay.

From your announced itinerary, I did not originally think that you would be passing close enough for a detour, but if your plans have changed...., Toronto is 2 hours north of Buffalo and 1.5 hours from Niagara Falls, which being one of the wonders of the world, may be enough to tempt you to visit.

Either way I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely

Darren Lenkorn

If you ever get to Tennessee, let's hook up, you are more than welcome at my humble dojo. I'll treat you to some southern hospitality, and my wife is an incredible cook! I'm just outside (20 miles)of Nashville. Domo.

Shogiki

I have loosely been following your travels on the CD...wow what a traveler! Must be great getting to meet and train with everyone as you have!  I noticed (from your website) that you are planning on meeting up with Tim Watkins in Tallahassee sometime in December.  I live in Tallahassee too, and would really enjoy getting to meet you, hear all about your travels and trade some training.  I read your post about your meeting with George Donahue.  If the timing is right, perhaps instead of Tallahassee we could all meet in Panama City and train at Paris Janos' Dojo (Paris is George's Brother in Law).

Only problem is I'll be in Pennsylvania for vacation from 12/18-12/27.  When were you planning to be in these parts?

When this is all over, you should write a book.  I think it's great what you're getting to do. I'm quite envious!!!

Take care and good training!

Bill Lucas
http://www.nettally.com/blucas/index.htm
"Nichijo, Kore Dojo!"

Hoosian,

Just two thoughts as you travel around.

1. Your REALLY should put this all together in a book...kind of like "on the dojo road" with Hoosian "Kerouac" Narker.  I can think of 1500 copies that would get sold pretty quick(at least I think 1500 is our current enrollment on the CD).  After all, you do know a book editor ;-)

2. I'm located  in south central Pa...about 2 hours north of Baltimore/Tom Swiss.  I think you mentioned that you were heading back this way toward the end of the trip.  Please keep the itinerary on the CD and I will try to get together with you whereever the stop may be.   (We also have a soft  bed if you are in need of sleep, but our dojo is VERY small...myself, Alan Sclafani and his brother Len when he can get down, so it may not be a good "karate" stop with all these good folks who have invited you nearby...but know that you are welcome).

Keep having fun...

Richard

There are a good half dozen of us CD'rs down here in Huntsville just an hour and a half from Bob's so I'm sure we could have a good size get together if you swing back down this way.  Can't let the west coast guys have all the fun can we?  I'll keep in touch with Bob so see what your plans are.
 

Dan Bartley

Anthony and I greatly appreciate the time you spent  with us. We hope to train some more in the future with you. Your style of teaching is very effective. I saw things I would not have believed, but became much more convinced after your teaching.

We will certainly take your suggestion to get together with George and Sunit once a month or so to train if they are amenable to that idea.

Thanks again.

Brian

Hoosain, I am very excited about having you visit us and train with us.  My teacher, John Roseberry, Hanshi, is also very excited about having you train with us.  You will find us to be very open and hope we can  learn from you.  If you want me to line other things up--email me, or feel free to call on the toll-free line 800-755-0024.

Best Regards,

Gary Gabelhouse

I really enjoyed the time we spent together in Boulder, Colorado and in Cheyenne Wyoming.  Your methods, as you preluded to, work well with all martial arts.  I have and will continue to implement your methods in my training.  Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.  I will show my appreciation by continuing my effort in Karate and by speaking highly of you to whom I encounter.  You are a wonderful instructor and a genuine human as well.

Sincerely,

Rob (Chris' friend who spent the night before the seminar)

It was a great pleasure to meet you face to face. I am impressed by your hard work and dedication to sharing and promoting martial knowledge.
I hope that I can offer you a better stay if you are my area again. Happy Holidays! and all the best on your future ventures around the globe!

Brian Wright
Eastern Sun Academy

From New Hampshire I and my family also extend our warmest greeting to you  and your family too. I've been following your travels on the CD and it sure sounds like you've been having an exciting trip.

Victor Smith

And to you....Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Your room is ready at our new house.  Come as soon as you can.

Fraternally,

T. Cauley

Any plans on heading back this way before you leave the country. I can tell by the Sabaki listings that you are quite a hot commodity. Everyone is looking to invite you back.  In the event that you can make it back through, it would be a great pleasure to have you. If not, then we will understand.

Stay safe and keep in touch.

Scott

Ok ... have fun and hopefully will see you when you are back in town sometime.  I love reading your journals ... you should put them in a small book and let us purchase it.  I would love to read more on your travels.

Warm Regards and much Respect,
 

Illona

I feel bad that you had such time with Canadian Immigration. Just think, they have a way better sense of humour (and are a million timesmore polite) than US Customs/Immigration officers!  As for your transportation troubles and stress level, trust me. That will all change once you get to Vancouver. This is a pretty relaxed city.  WARNING: If you are coming by bus/car through either Peace ARch crossing (Blaine) or Bellingham, there are HUGE border waits, due to some moron trying to smuggle no-no stuff across. So now, there are huge waits either side. Just thought I'd warn you. You may want to consider, if possible, flying into Vancouver and if you are given flack, please don't take it personal...!

As for the buses around here. just ask me. I know just about every route, and besides there aren't that many anyway!!! Our dojo is very easy to get to and I give great directions and I'll even pick you up in Burnaby if you want.!just let me know.

As for me, I'm really jealous that Hossain is able to meet so many CD members on this trip. I hope he finds his visit to our dojo worthwhile.! merry belated Christmas to the rest of you

Christine, vancouver

Updated by Hoosain Narker