Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2011

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 6

OCTOBER 2011

In This Issue:

Pg. 2

Message from the President

Pg. 3

SWKKF Calendar of Events

Continued..

Pg. 4

2nd

Annual National Shindo Clinic

Pg. 5

Scholarship Winners-Media

Release

Pg. 6

Scholarship Winner-Christian

Boivin

Pg. 7

Scholarship Winner-

Isabelle Fillion

Pg. 8

Letter to Students from Sensei

Ron White

Pgs. 9&10

Karate in Mexico

Pgs. 11&12

SWKKF Instructs the US Army

Pg. 13

Letter from the Editor

On The Cover:

Instructing the US

Military-Group Shot

Message From the President

Sensei Denis Labbe

I would like to welcome everybody back. Our fiscal year has

started on September 1st. Don't forget to register. See you

soon in the upcoming clinic and tournaments.

The following is the Calendar of Events for 2011-2012.

Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2011 pg. 2

SWKKF

Calendar of Events

2011-2012

Club Events

Western Canada

September 23-24th , 2011 – Dynamic Karate Association/Hokusei Karate – Clinic – Darren Humphries/Sandro Reffo November 11-12th , 2011 – Saskatoon Wado Kai – Black Belt Grading/Clinic – Crystal Johnson November 11-12th , 2011 – Glanmorgan Wado Kai (Calgary) – Clinic and Tournament - Kevin Bowes November 25-26th , 2011 – Moose Mountain Karate Club – Clinic and Tournament – Joan Adam

January 20-22nd , 2012 – Edson Wado Kai Karate – Clinic and Tournament - Chris Marler February 10-12th, 2012 – Whitecourt Wado Kai Karate – Clinic and Tournament – Shelley McGregor

Continued on pg. 3 Visit our website

www.shintani.ca

for more information

on SWKKF

Calendar of Events continued!

February 24-25th , 2012 – Virden Wado Kai Karate – Clinic and Tournament – Ron Cole

March 2-3rd, , 2012 – South Calgary Wado Kai – Clinic and Tournament – Heather Fidyk

March 23-24th , 2012 – Saskatoon/Warmen Wado Kai – Clinic and Tournament – Crystal

Johnson

May 4-5th 2012 – Alberta Black Belt Grading – Host Bushido Karate Association – James Freeman

Eastern Canada

October 14-15th, 2011 – Kawartha Lakes Wado Kai – Tournament – Kris Reynolds

November 17,18, 19th , 2011 – Delhi Wado Kai – Clinics and Tournament – Spring Kaye

December 2-3rd , 2011 – SWKKF – Senate Meeting – Denis Labbe

December 10th, 2011 – Oshawa-Whitby Wado Kai Karate – Juniors Tournament - Jose-Carlos

Garcia

January 21st , 2012 - Fort Erie Wado Kai – Tournament – Gary Bird

January 28th , 2012 – Timmins Wado Kai – Tournament – Willie Lebrun/June Lebrun

February 25th,2012 – Shindo Federation of North America – Clinic – Jim Atkinson

February 18th , 2012 – Simcoe South Wado Kai – Tournament – Tom Foster

March 3rd , 2012 – Hanmer Wado Kai – Tournament – Gilles Dupuis

March 30-31st , 2012 – Nordik (Hearst) Wado Kai – Clinic and Tournament – Michel Gosslin

March 31st , 2012 – SWOR Wado Kai – Tournament – Roger Frigault

April 14 –15th , 2012 – Michipicoten Wado Kai Karate – Clinic and Grading – Duanne Wenmann

April 28th , 2012 – Welland Wado Kai – Tournament – Anne Readhead

May 25-26th , 2012 – Clinic & National Master Shintani Memorial Tournament – Denis Labbe June 2nd, 2012 – Black Belt Grading – Host Delhi Wado Kai Karate – Jim Atkinson

Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2011 pg. 3

Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2011 pg. 4

Shintani Wado Kai Karate

Federation Scholarship

Committee

August 12, 2011

Kelsey Ross (Chairperson)

#304 10403 98 Ave

Edmonton, AB

T5K 2Y5

Media Release:

This year, the SWKKF Scholarship Committee was tasked to select two scholarship

recipients from an extraordinarily talented and well-rounded group of applicants. It was a

task the committee was proud to take on, as it displayed and demonstrated the excellence

that our karateka achieve throughout the country! We were impressed to see achievements

in athletics, tutoring, academics, volunteerism, and music. After much deliberation, it is

with great excitement that we announce this year’s recipients: Sensei Isabelle Fillion of

Hearst, Ontario, and Sensei Christian Boivin of Calgary, Alberta. Sensei Christian is mid-

way through his first degree at the University of Calgary while Sensei Isabelle will be

entering her first year at Ottawa University. We wish them luck in their studies and

congratulate them for receiving this award!

Sincerely,

Kelsey Ross

Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2011 pg. 5

SWKKF Scholarship Committee,

I would like to send my sincere thanks and convey how honored I am for being selected

as one of the successful candidates for the 2011 SWKKF Scholarship.

I am attending the University of Calgary for a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and

this scholarship will help me to maintain my karate and academic pursuits without

having to worry as much about my financial situation and for this I am very grateful.

Once again I would like to say thank you for awarding me this scholarship, I am very

honored to have received your support.

Sincerely,

Christian Boivin

South Calgary Wado Kai Karate

Calgary, AB

Christian is in his third year of a Bachelors of

Science with his major in Psychology at the

University of Calgary with hopes to add a BSc in

Mind Sciences and pursue both a semester

abroad followed by an honors thesis in his final

year. He hopes this will set him up the best to

pursue a graduate degree in Psychology.

He has been doing karate since 1995, recently

achieving his Nidan and is currently the

middleweight on the SWKKF National team.

Christian teaches kids and adults at his home

club: South Calgary Wado Kai under Sensei

Heather Fidyk; he is also Vice-President and primary karate instructor of an

inter-martial arts club at the U of C exploring martial arts such as Muay

Thai, Kung-Fu and Tae-kwon-do.

In his spare time Christian is an avid cross fitter; he also enjoys finding

time to snowboard, long board, rock climb and drink coffee.

Photo credit: Scott Knowles of Bushido Wado Kai

Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2011 pg. 6

August 17th

, 2011

SWKKF Scholarship Committee

Please accept my sincere thanks for selecting me as a recipient of the SWKKF

Scholarship Award for 2011. Your generosity will help me to continue my education at

the post-secondary level, providing me with additional financial support. I will be

attending the University of Ottawa, in the Conflict Studies and Human Rights Program

this fall.

I am very pleased to have been selected for this award. Thank you again for honoring me

with this scholarship. Your support is greatly appreciated.

With sincerest thanks,

Isabelle Fillion

Ottawa, ON

Isabelle started her first year at the

University of Ottawa this fall. She is

doing a Bachelor’s Degree Specialized in

Conflict Studies and Human Rights in

French. After this degree she might do a

Master’s Degree in Conflict Studies at the

same university.

She has been doing karate in the Nordik

Wado Kai Karate Club in Hearst with

Sensei Michel Gosselin since 2005,

where she helped teach younger kyu belts during class. She achieved

getting her Shodan at the Thunder Bay Black Belt Grading this April.

Besides karate Isabelle enjoys kickboxing, participating in humanitarian

trips to the Dominican Republic and learning new languages.

Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2011 pg. 7

Shintani Wado Kai karate students. Hi! My name is Ron White. I'm a fifth degree black belt and a member of Michipicoten Wado Kai Karate Club, which I founded in 1989 here in Wawa Ont. I joined karate in 1975 under Sensei Rick Leveille at the same time as I started my own drywall and painting business here in Wawa. In those days everything was manual labour from lifting heavy sheets of gyproc to compound application to finish painting. At 25 years old I was young and strong and stubborn and pushed myself too hard. Two years after I started the business I had a serious fall injuring my right hip. I was off work about seven months and it was during this time that I began my journey in understanding how to use karate to heal both mental and physical injuries, which go hand in hand. I had to begin by first calming my mind. This was accomplished by closing my eyes and breathing in the nose and out the mouth slowly and looking inside my body and mentally seeing the injured area. This was first real use of the Wado technique of meditation. Over the years I've learned to block pain and actually meditate on it even as I worked at my job or on the dojo floor. Recently I've had two major surgeries and am going for a third and hope final one (right shoulder replacement) in November in London Ont. Without the meditation and the proper stretching and warm up as well as our karate workout I know I would not heal as fast as I do. Karate classes begin this Thursday and I'm looking forward to preparing my mind and body for the next operation. I'm borrowing a phrase from one of my former karate students. (Karate guys don't quit) meaning don't give in to injuries. Get the right help and take the right steps and you will heal. `To the young karate students, be careful at play, work and exercise. Listen to your Sensei and work with him or her to improve your health your karate and your life. Never stop learning and please stay healthy and have a great karate season and a fantastic year! In Harmony;

Sensei Ron White, Godan

Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2011 pg. 8

KARATE IN MEXICO

I would like to report on the Bucerias Wado Kai Karate Club located at the Bungalows

Arroyo complex in Bucerias Mexico. As I have reported in the past, I teach Wado Kai Karate to

the residents of the Bungalows Arroyo during Darlene and my stay in Mexico. As always we

have an enthusiastic crowd who get right into martial arts. This year I brought down some Fort

Erie Wado Kai Karate Tee-shirts for tournaments past and gave to the members.

I also had the opportunity to again workout with Sensei Jose Luis Duenas Castaneda of the

Shotokan Club of Bucerias, Mexico. Sensei Jose is a very enthusiastic instructor who welcomed

me into his club again this year. Sensei Jose wanted me to teach him two of the Wado Kata so

that he could get his International Judging certificate. Sensei Jose is an amazing karate person,

within one hour he had almost learned Seishan and he wanted to also learn Chinto. I presented

him with a Shintani Wado Kai tee shirt and also a CD of the Black Belt Kata. I promised him that

when I return in January 2009, we would work on the other kata.

Sensei Jose wanted to know how he could join the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation

as a full member and become the official representative of SWKKF in Mexico. I made a

presentation at the Senate meeting and Sensei Jose was made an Affiliate member. When I return

in January, I will present him with his Certificate.

Left to right

Bob Borthwick, Vicki Borthwick, Cy Lindberg, Al Bachowski, Lynn Lindberg,

Sensei Peter, Sharon Clark, Bonnie Shinnan, Bill Shinnan, and Kristie Leggett.

Front: Judy Bachowski

Abs: Moe Caron, Miodrag Duric.

Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2011 pg. 9

It will be a wonderful time teaching and learning with Sensei Jose in the years to come. If

any of our members are making a trip to Puerto Vallarta in the future, Bucerias in only 20

minutes away and I know if you make contact with Sensei Jose you would be welcome to

workout with his club.

Sensei Jose Luis Duenas Castaneda has a dojo located on Obelisco No.26, Col. Buenos

Ares, Bucerias, Nayarit, Mexico C.P. 63732 phone #(01 329) 298 0874

e-mail iskf_kyokai_nay@yahoo.com.mx

BUCERIAS MEXICO 2008

SENSEI JOSE LUIS DUENAS CASTANEDA

&

SENSEI PETER RUCH

Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2011 pg. 10

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Members of The Shintani Wado Kai Karate Organization had

the distinct honor of training the US Army Special forces on

Saturday, October 1, 2011 in our style of karate, Shindo, and

Jiu Jitsu by the private invitation of First Sergeant Mike

Hammond.

Senseis Neil Prime from St. Catharines, Peter Avino and Mark

Flaherty from Buffalo NY, Toby Wolf, Bill Sorvelli and Dan

Moore from Pennsylvania traveled to Fort Bragg, North

Carolina, one of the largest military bases in the United States.

We met Sergeant First Class, Mark Rodgers the night before to

show us the training facilities. It was hard to tell who was

more excited about the opportunity, our instructors or the

Military personnel. The dojo they had was state of the art. Walls and floors completely padded, workout

gear and pads that would completely cover the body. Just about anything a workout body would want.

Many of the people that attended the training were combat personnel that were back in the US between

tours of service. These individuals are profiled to be true alphas, strong willed individuals. A special

note - once Sensei Neil Introduced himself as a citizen of Canada, the crowd let out a unanimous eh!

Much of the day was filled with two classes running at once. The morning schedule consisted of Sensei

Peter Avino dong two hours of tai sebaki, combos and introducing Shindo, Sensei Dan Moore doing Gun

Control and takeaways, Sensei Peter doing an hour of grappling and Bill Sorvelli training Shindo, (which

was adapted to their rifle).

The afternoon was Sensei Toby Wolf instructing in strikes/block/shifting, Mark Flaherty showing ground

control, and stand up combinations, Dan Moore on Rifle and more gun control, and Neil Prime training in

how to stay up against the ground and of course… teaching them a new world of kicks. We wrapped up

with combos from Sensei Mark and two-person stretching/massage with Sensei Peter.

With all of the various techniques, different instructors and

even different subject matter everything flowed together quite

well. Each class related in some way because the core was

Wado Ryu. The thing that was prevalent throughout the day in

all of the techniques was the use of hips and body and the

explosive timing. This aspect of our training through Sensei

Shintani is why our training was more applicable and valuable

to these military elite.

The Special Forces personnel truly lived up to their legend.

These individuals are in extraordinary physical condition and

competitive drive. Their pain level was extremely high; their desire to learn at any cost was truly a new

experience as an instructor.

Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2011 pg. 11

At the end of the day our group was honored with a certificate of appreciation hats, mugs,

and something that took us completely by surprise. Each of us was given a

commemorative coin that represents the squadron. This token of appreciation carries with

it a high honor as only the Sergeant Major can hand this out. This person is the leader of

the Special Forces squadron. He is the alpha above all alphas who has survived and lead

many field combat situations.

On a personal note, for us it was an honor to be able to do this event. We worked with

hard working, respectful people of outstanding character. Everyone welcomed us with

open arms and was eager to challenge us to be better.

It was like going to a Shintani Tournament.

I‘ll leave you with the motto of their organization: “De Oppresso liber” - “To liberate the

Oppressed”

Note the US Military working with Shindo

Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2011 pg. 12

THE HARMONIZER IS PUBLISHED UNDER THE MANDATE OF THE SENATE OF THE SHINTANI WADO -KAI KARATE FEDERATION (SWKKF). THE SWKKF DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR STATE- MENTS OF FACT OR OPINION MADE BY ANY CONTRIBUTOR. STATEMENTS MADE BY INDIVIDUALS MAY NOT REFLECT THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF THE SWKKF. ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION OF ARTICLES, AD-VERTISEMENTS, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DOES NOT INDICATE ENDORSEMENT OF SAME BY THE SWKKF AND THE SWKKF ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE

ACCURACY.

Letter from the Editor As always, thanks to everyone who submitted to this issue. There are some great things happening within the organization! Please keep submitting and if you have any thoughts or ideas, email us at pbest@ntl.sympatico.ca. Have a wonderful holiday season! Jodi Personal Best Wado-Kai Karate Club www.personalbestwadokai.com

Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2011 pg. 13

From left to right: Jess Lebrun, Sensei

Moe and Carla Oreskovich of Personal Best Wado-Kai Karate Club in Timmins.