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TRANSCRIPT
TIKK dominates world tourney, wins 49 trophies
Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai Perfecting Character Since 1991
TIKK NEWS Summer 2005
Former Air Force serviceman Sensei Don Ishmael honors the armed forces during the Spirit of Coppell 4th of July Parade. TIKK won first place for “Most Spirited Group.”
Shihan Kristensen inducted into Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame
Inside
Shihan’s Corner……………….2
Demo Team………….…….…..3
Spring Shiai……...……….……8
Gasshuku…………………......10
Senseis’ Corner…….....……...11
(See PARADE, page 4 for more pictures)
(See SHIHAN, back page)
By SENSEI DON ISHMAEL Yon Dan
TIKK wins“Most Spirited Group”
A team of 37 Texas Isshinryu
Karate Kai students domi-
nated the world championship
tournament in Akron, Ohio June
25 by bringing home 49 trophies.
The tournament, sponsored
by the Isshinryu World Karate
Association and hosted by Isshin-
ryu Karate Academy of Cuyahoga
Falls, Ohio, attracted more than
570 competitors from around the
world.
TIKK won 21 first place
trophies, 13 second place trophies
and 15 third place trophies.
TIKK’s junior demo team
’N Focus won third place for syn-
chronized kata. Team members
(See WORLD, page 6)
O n August 5, 2005, in Gatlin-
burg, Tennessee there was
an induction into the Isshin-Ryu
Hall Of Fame. This year
there were seven
Isshinryu karate
ka chosen for this
honor bringing
the total members
of the Hall Of
Fame to 67 since
its founding in
1980. There are
members from
every part of the United States, as
well as various countries through-
out the world. Among just a few
of the members are O’Sensei Ta-
tsuo Shimabuku, founder of Is-
shinryu, Hanshi Don Nagle, who
was the first American to bring
Isshinryu to the
U.S., Masters
Harold Long and
Steve Armstrong,
who also were
among the first to
teach Isshinryu in
the U.S. But what is
interesting is the
karate ka who
were inducted Shihan Robert Kristensen gives his acceptance speech.
over the years, and what they
have in common with the students
and teachers at Texas Isshinryu
Karate Kai. *Shihan Nagle (1938-1999)
inducted in 1983, was Shihan
Dale Jenkins' sensei.
*Shihan Jenkins (1946-
1984) inducted in 1990, was Kyo-
September 3……...Western Days Parade, Lewisville
September 4…….……......Mr. Tony Palos’ Birthday
September 7…………Mr.. Steve Gelman’s Birthday
September 14……...….Mrs. Crystal Asel’s Birthday
September 21………….....Mrs. Tina Palos’ Birthday
September 29…………......Mr. Trey Asel’s Birthday
October 10………..Sensei Debbie Garrett’s Birthday
October 15……..Sensei Maria Kristensen’s Birthday
December 10……….….Winter Shiai, Location TBA
Page 2 TIKK NEWS SUMMER 200 5
Shihan’s corner
TIKK NEWS
Denton Brickhouse Gym (940)390-0192
Flower Mound
Flower Mound Community Church (972)315-1358
Haslet
First Baptist Church of Haslet (972)315-1358
Richardson Dance, Etc.
(469)387-1463
TIKK NEWS is published periodically by karate ka of Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai, established in 1991, and is distributed to students at all the school’s dojos and to others interested in TIKK activities.
Publisher Shihan Robert Kristensen
Editor Ni Dan Matt Evans Assistant Editor
San Kyu Laura Murray
Coppell Dojo (Main) 1203 Crestside, Suite 230, Coppell, TX 75019
(972)315-1358 Visit us on the web: www.txikk.com
Postive Thinking...
Calendar
I f you think you can, you can.
Can’t does not live in our dojos.
Enough Said!
—Shihan Kristensen
NEW STUDENTS
May 2……….….Dianne Van Winkle, Flower Mound
May 2……….…...David Van Winkle, Flower Mound
May 31……………...….Joshua Chowdhury, Coppell
June 1………..…...……….Mark McLaughlin, Haslet
June 1…………...………..Aaron McLaughlin, Haslet
June 1………………..………….Tracy Beck, Denton
June 1……………..………….…..Kaci Beck, Denton
June 7…………….....………Nathan Ziegler, Coppell
June 8………………....Diane Turner, Flower Mound
June 13………..………..Gwen Redd, Flower Mound
June 18…………...……...…...Rafferty Wyatt, Haslet
June 18………………….…Chancellor Wyatt, Haslet
June 21……………………...…..….Toi Mai, Coppell
SUMMER 2005 TIKK NEWS Page 3
‘N Focus
T ryouts for
Texas Isshin-
ryu Karate Kai’s
junior demo team
‘N Focus will be
held soon, after a
successful inau-
gural year.
More infor-
mation on the
tryouts will be
announced at a
later date.
The team
performed nine
demos during the first full year
and competed in the Isshinryu
World Karate Association cham-
pionship tournament, placing
third in synchronized kata – a feat
that was remarkable since the
group was one of the youngest
competing with most teams hav-
ing adults or older teen-agers.
The first year of demo team
was full of surprises, said Sho
Dan Jeff Kelley, who co-directs
team activities with Sensei Deb-
bie Garrett. The team had some
difficulty in getting demos, but
most of the demos were excellent
venues, he said.
“I learned just how enjoy-
able working with these kids can
be,” Mr. Kelley said. “I have be-
come very attached and interested
in each of the demo team mem-
bers’ karate and non-karate lives.”
Sensei Garrett said she
learned how much work and dedi-
cation is needed to take a diverse
group of kids and bring them to-
gether in a demo that was exciting
and fun to watch and participate
in. “It also was surprising how
dedicated the kids were at making
the demos look and feel real.
“We were blessed to have
the group of kids involved in the
demo team that
we did. They all
worked very hard
over the year and
made highly visi-
ble improvements
in their technique
and attitude.”
Mr. Kelley
hopes to add even
more excitement
to the demos in
the coming year
with “lots of
simulated contact,
more throws…lots more action,
maybe even some breaking for the
audience.”
Simply put, Sensei Garrett
said, “We can do more and we
can do better.”
Plans for the coming year
include expanding on the current
demo and keeping it fun for both
team members and Mr. Kelley
and Sensei Garrett.
Potential members and their
parents need to be aware of the
commitment and dedication it
takes to be on the team, Sensei
Garrett said.
Allan Wallander, Daniel Midkiff, Perry Lopez, Carson Dickey, Jo-hannes Kroll, Shane Murray and Jack Pergantis perform at the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival May 1 before a large crowd.
Perry Lopez, second from left, takes care of Allan Wallander, left and Johannes Kroll, right, while Jack Pergantis contemplates his move.
Sensei Susan Harris takes down Sensei Debbie Garrett while black belts Jeff Kelley, left, and Tony Palos, right, get ready for the next move.
Demo team finishes first year; tryout plans underway
Page 4 TIKK NEWS SUMMER 2005
A s a warm-up to the world
championships in June, a
group of 23 Texas Isshinryu Ka-
rate Kai students won 32 trophies
in the Lone Star Karate Champi-
onships on April 30.
The tournament, held in The
Colony, was sanctioned by the
United States Karate Alliance and
organized by Master Juan’s Ka-
rate Academy.
Black belts Tina Palos and
Tony Palos placed second and
third in weapons, respectively.
Other TIKK results include:
Kata Kumite
Don Ishmael 1st 3rd
Tommy Thomas 2nd 3rd
Tony Palos 3rd 3rd
Tina Palos 2nd 2nd
Jim Fairhurst 1st 2nd
Cathy Fairhurst 1st ---
Whitney Fairhurst
3rd 2nd
Alan Willis --- 3rd
Kata Kumite
Greg Midkiff 3rd ---
Johannes Kroll 3rd 3rd
Daniel Midkiff --- 3rd
Perry Lopez 1st ---
Andrew Black 2nd 3rd
Carson Dickey 1st ---
Tracy Dickey 3rd 2nd
Paula Reynolds --- 3rd
Kendall Kirkpatrick
1st 3rd
Dwayne Miller 3rd 2nd
Garrick Chavez 2nd ---
Spirit of Coppell Parade...
TIKK students win 32 trophies at local karate tournament
1st Place
“Most Spirited Group”
4th Of
July
SUMMER 2005 TIKK NEWS Page 5
K arate training goes beyond
the physical and mental con-
ditioning of the body in the dojo.
The training we receive makes us
all stronger individuals. This, in
turn, is applied to our daily lives.
When we are faced with difficult
times, our training helps keep us
focused to reach a resolution to
our problems.
Shihan Kristensen is always
telling us important information
even if we don’t understand it or
use it right then. It was all those
days of training and little quotes
that helped me through some dif-
ficult years. For those who don’t
know me, now might be a good
time to introduce myself.
My name is Michael Strick-
land and I began my training in
Taekwondo when I was 10. After
a year I felt I was missing some-
thing more structured and practi-
cal. It wasn’t until I was 17 that I
was introduced to Isshinryu by an
organization called the Arizona
Karate Kickboxing Association
that had a satellite dojo in Gar-
land, Texas.
I immediately loved the
close-in fighting and quick mov-
ing stances. I trained for two years
(1993-1995), reaching blue belt. I
felt I was being held back because
our instructor would not do pro-
motions unless several students
were ready.
I began searching again and
found Shihan Kristensen in Cop-
pell. I liked how the dojo was run
and Shihan always would say,
“You make the belt.”
Unfortunately, after a year
and a half with Shihan, my work
got in the way when I was pro-
moted to a manager for the South-
land Corp. and I began working
Monday through Saturday with an
average of 10 to 12 hours a day.
Two years later, I decided to
finish my Bachelor’s degree at
University of North Texas and
resume my Isshinryu training.
It was about six months,
things were going pretty well and
then I suffered a serious car acci-
dent plowing myself into the
steering column (no air bags on
this ‘87 Dodge truck.) It left my
neck injured and after eight
months I was feeling better until I
Experience proves karate training goes beyond dojo tried a front roll fall and set my-
self back on the road to recovery.
This is when I met my wife
to be and got married. I felt better
and was about to re-enter the dojo
when my wife’s father fell and
broke his neck and required 24-
hour care.
I gave up all my interest to
take care of her father by taking a
job that worked me Monday
through Saturday again, and I am
not even going to mention the
horrible hours. My wife’s father
passed away recently and that is
why I am writing this.
It was during those hard
times that I would think back to
Shihan’s short lectures in class. I
didn’t see how they applied nec-
essarily at the time, but later,
when in time of need, there they
were for me.
So even if you can’t be in
the dojo, the dojo is with you. The
training you get will always be
with you and it will be a life-
changing experience.
—Michael Strickland
San Kyu
Locks of Love… Karen Cole, right, gives Ni Dan Tony Palos a haircut with the help of Shihan Kristensen.
Mr. Palos has 13 inches of hair for Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hair pros-thetics to financially disadvantaged children suf-fering from long-term medical hair loss.
Page 6 TIKK NEWS SUMMER 2005
(From Page 1)
World...
competing at the world championship included
Johannes Kroll, Allan Wallander, Daniel Midkiff,
Carson Dickey and Jack Pergantis.
Individual tournament results include:
Black Belt Divisions
Kata Kumite Weapons
Don Ishmael 1st --- 1st
Debbie Garrett 2nd --- 1st
Susan Harris 1st 2nd 1st
Tommy Thomas --- 1st ---
Matt Evans 1st 1st 1st
Tony Palos 1st --- 1st
Carol Gue 3rd 2nd ---
Tina Palos --- --- 3rd
Byron Richter 3rd --- ---
Advanced Divisions
Kata Kumite
Mike Cohen 1st 1st
Jim Fairhurst 1st ---
Cathy Fairhurst 3rd ---
Kent Kirkpatrick--- 1st
Tyler Murray 2nd ---
Whitney
Fairhurst 3rd 2nd
Mike Harper --- 2nd
Margaret Myers 1st 2nd
Intermediate Divisions
Kata Kumite
Laura Murray 2nd ---
Glenn Gibbs 2nd ---
Garrett Molsbee 2nd 3rd
Steve Kroll --- 3rd
Greg Midkiff 1st ---
Shane Murray 2nd 2nd
Allan Wallander 1st 3rd
Daniel Midkiff 3rd ---
Jim Wallander --- 2nd
Carson Dickey 1st 1st
Tracy Dickey 1st 3rd
Other TIKK students com-
peting in the world champion-
ships were: Sensei Chuck May-
nard, Steve Gellman, Kyle
Murray, Mark Hendrix, Alan
Willis, Cody Davenport and Tim
Hendrix.
A team of 37 TIKK students competed in the world champion-ships. In front is Hanshi William Duessel and Shihan Robert Kristensen. Bot-tom left is Mr. Tommy Thomas. Below on left is Glenn Gibbs and below right is Sensei Susan Harris.
SUMMER 2005 TIKK NEWS PAGE 7
Above, Margaret Myers, left, kumites while Sensei Don Ismael in middle left photo competes in weapons. Bottom center is junior demo team members Jack Pergantis, Carson Dickey, Daniel Mid-
kiff, Johannes Kroll and Allan Wallander doing synchronized kata. Mr. Matt Evans, bottom photo, does his kata, while Mr. Tony Palos performs his kata in the lower right photo.
Spring Shiai & Gasshuku
Record turn-out watches TIKK gain another sensei
By LAURA MURRAY San Kyu
PAGE 8 TIKK NEWS SUMMER 2005
I t was a different kind of
Gasshuku.
Of course, each Gasshuku
has its own flavor that makes it
special.
Shihan Robert Kristensen
told Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai
students to “Expect Nothing, Be
Ready for Anything.” He wanted
to take the routine out of the
Gasshuku (at least for those who
have been to several), but defi-
nitely not the Gasshuku out of the
routine.
There aren’t any stories to
tell about the weather. No tornado
warnings or freezing tempera-
tures. It was beautiful.
There aren’t any stories to
tell about a kyu rank being tested
for Sho Dan. There weren’t any.
This Gasshuku (April 15-
17) was only the second in eight
years in which someone did not
test for black belt. The 2002
Gasshuku also did not bring an-
other Sho Dan to the TIKK ranks,
but only because Mr. Tony Palos
was injured and not able to con-
tinue testing until summer.
Shihan tried to change the
schedule up some, making Friday
night a complete tournament
night instead of dividing kata and
kumite between Friday and Satur-
day nights.
But probably the one activ-
ity that stands out the most, the
one that makes this Gasshuku
different was when each and
every person got to look at each
and every person in the eye and
shake his or her hand. Everyone
got a chance to connect – how-
ever, briefly it was – with the
other 60 people attending the
Gasshuku.
For some, just the mere eye-
to-eye contact brought tears, with
San Dan Susan Harris smashes three blocks.
Ni Dan Tony Palos shutos two blocks.
San Kyu Mark Hendrix busts a board.
(See SHIAI, next page)
Susan Harris was promoted to San
Dan after training for more than 10
years with Shihan.
Sensei Harris joins Yon Dans
Maria Kristensen, Don Ishmael
and Debbie Garrett and San Dan
Don Bizzell in carrying the pres-
tigious sensei title. Sensei Adam
Masur recently moved back to the
East coast with his family and Sen-
sei Vince Olivier is no longer ac-
tive with TIKK.
Sho Dan Tony Palos earned
his Ni Dan rank after smashing
through two blocks.
Cole Richter became only the
second junior in TIKK history to
become an Ik Kyu, the highest
rank in brown belt. He follows
brother Mr. Byron Richter, who
earned his Sho Dan Ho in April
2004. Tyler Murray also moved up
people remembering just how
much someone meant to them.
For others, it was that sincere
glance that made them know that
they were exactly where they
should be – that this is one special
group.
Following the very emo-
tional hand-shaking and Sunday
morning work-out, a record 135
students gathered for the shiai.
While the number was high, Shi-
han still hopes that one day he’ll
have 100 percent participation
from his 170 TIKK students.
Several pre-school-aged
students attending their first shiai
got to see their teacher stomp
through three cinder blocks and
become a sensei when Ni Dan
SUMMER 2005 TIKK NEWS Page 9
the with his promotion to Ni Kyu.
Beefing up and rounding out
the 15-member brown belt ranks
include Mark Hendrix, Laura
Murray, Glenn Gibbs and Marga-
ret Myers, all of whom were pro-
moted to San Kyu.
Since the shiai, former
TIKK San Kyus Michael Strick-
land and Erin Garrett have re-
sumed their training, bringing the
brown belt ranks to 17.
Belt changes include:
Purple belt with a solid black
stripe: Jacob Cobb
Alan Willis
Garrett Molsbee
Purple belt:
Steve Kroll
Anthony Petrusky
Dan Melendez
Greg Midkiff
Larry Rupp
Jennifer Wiederkehr
Green belt with a solid black
stripe:
Tony Cacheria
Jim Wallander
Tina Mootz
David Mootz
Green belt
Paula Sue Reynolds
Peter Gonzales
Miranda Banales
Teresa Hulsey
Juan Cantu
Alexander Fitzgerald
Miguel Cantu
Gerardo Cantu
Yellow/Green belt :
Steve Pergantis
Yellow belt:
Jessica Keeton
Austin Gillham
Brian Gomez
Jaime Deleon
Jared Dickoff
Garrick Chavez
Adam Gomez
Matthew Mills
Jaime Deleon was chosen
outstanding Gasshuku participant.
Shiai...
Above, Shihan and TIKK karate ka at the shiai. Below, Sho Dan Ho Byron Richter congratulates brother Cole on making Ik Kyu while Ni Dan Tony Palos bows to Paula Reynolds as she makes green belt.
(From Page 8)
We had two big bad wolfs, and six little piggies,
Guys multi-tasking smoking fake ciggies. Willy and Waylon, pickin’ their strings,
Rotating palms blowing whistler things. Some funny things walking into a bar,
Some post-kumpai students going home in a car. But it wasn’t all laughs and joking around,
We spent much time with our face in the ground. We got sweaty and dirty, we got battered and bruised,
We got shown so much stuff, we got really confused. Our cup is now full, full of many new things,
A new look at life, is what the Gasshuku brings. This was the Gasshuku of 2005,
We were all born, to be alive.
—Jim Fairhurst
Ik Kyu
A pril 15th, before sun-up
We arrive at the Gasshuku, with an empty cup. The pushup ladder, now that’s always fun,
With a boom-shak-a-lak-a during the run. We’re given some insight to Rule number 9,
And the reason we stand where we do in our line. First we learn walking, then learn to crawl,
Then we learn running, but that is not all. We may learn to crawl before learning to walk,
But we also should listen before starting to talk. From unloading the trucks to the final kumpai
I look back at the weekend, and how it flew by. Each year it gets quicker, or so it appears,
Filled with good feelings and maybe some tears. We sang and we danced and told some jokes,
We toasted marshmallows and drank some cokes.
Gasshuku brings fellowship for first-timer
By BENJAMIN COLLINS Yellow Belt
M y favorite part of the Gasshuku was when we
all shook hands. The Gasshuku’s fellowship
was so, so wonderful…Shihan is really a blessed man.
You may remember me saying at the kumpai that I
did not want to talk about the Gasshuku and then eve-
ryone laughed. I actually said that in a most serious
way, but I guess it turned out funny. It was not like I
was too tired to talk about it. I wanted to talk, but if I
started to talk about my favorite part, I’d start to cry,
and I did not want to cry that very moment.
After the shiai when I went up to my aunt and
mom, I said something like “oh yeah, it was too good
to be true, there’s too much to say. We had a very
funny time and then the next day we aa-aaa-l-l…”
Then I started to weep silently at the thought of shak-
ing hands because it was sooo kind. It really is emo-
tional.
After we left Camp Summit, I cried my eyes out.
I told my parents that the Gasshuku was “passionate
and magical.” It really is something that could be-
come a book, I’d say. I’m actually a very shy person,
but when I get to know somebody, I really like to talk
a lot. I really, really want get to know the whole kai
even though I don’t have the guts. But when we all
Gasshuku 2005
Page 10 TIKK NEWS sUMMER 2005
shook hands it was one step for me, and it really was
pretty much a dream come true.
At one point when I was talking to Mrs. Palos
about it and I said something like “well, it’s all over, I
guess. Do you know what? Being here was almost
like…like…like…” I was happy-sad once more, and
then I went on saying “like being adopted into a new
family.” Mrs. Palos totally understood.
The exercises were the most dreadfully difficult
I’ve ever gone through in my life! I almost planned
not to go back next year. It gave me the feeling that
my strength was at total zero! It was the achiest and
weakest I’ve ever seen myself. Maybe I even had, just
once, the thought of myself dying away, but I did sur-
vive. I really actually liked the exercises, such as part-
nering up with new people and doing things I haven’t
done in my own dojo. I really liked the Gasshuku
tournament even though I did not win anything. The
food was not really that good, but I had no appetite
since I was sick. The beds at night were actually
promising when you were extra exhausted, but proved
to be very uncomfortable and hot in the middle of the
night. Actually my cold sometimes got the best of me,
but totally took over the day after the shiai.
So the whole Gasshuku was pure torture some-
times, but at the end proved to be a come-back-next-
year thing with its God-blessed shaking hands fellow-
ship.
W OW, SENSEI...Anything is possible through
self-discipline and consistency. You must be
consistent with everything in life to experience
change and growth.
Being a healthy, loving parent. Being emotion-
ally present with your spouse. Giving enough time for
yourself. Prioritizing
these things would
be first giving
enough time and
effort for yourself,
and then you have
more of yourself to
give to others.
If perfecting
your character through karate is your goal, you need
consistency to grow. You must come to class to learn
if you want to grow in your training. Becoming Sen-
sei on April 17 this year took 10 years of giving my-
self time to obtain my goals, which took self-
discipline and consistency. Give yourself the gift of
time and everyone in your life will benefit.
—Sensei Harris
I n class we learn that karate is for self defense
only...
Self Defense = Self Discipline
Self Control
Self Esteem
—Sensei Garrett
SUMMER 2005 TIKK NEWS Page 11
Senseis’ corner
F ellow TIKK Karate Ka, I would like to begin this area of the newsletter
with a very heartfelt, sincere, and deepest rei to my
sensei...Kyoshi Sensei Kristensen. Kyoshi was inducted into the International Is-
shinryu Karate Association Hall Of Fame. I was so
pleased, as well as honored to be there with him, as
well as with all of the others who attended. It was a
once in a lifetime event. And as I've said in the past,
“you are only first...once.” Some of you know, and others do not, that Kyo-
shi Sensei Kristensen’s first Isshinryu sensei was also
inducted into the same Hall Of Fame. Shihan Jenkins, 1946-1984, was inducted in
1990 to the Hall Of Fame. Shihan Jenkins had 140
black belts under his direction, of which Kyoshi Sen-
sei Kristensen was one. But, of all the various black belts whom Shihan
Jenkins taught, no matter what rank they attained, no
matter where they were/are...Kyoshi Sensei Kris-
tensen is the first of Shihan Jenkins’s students to be
inducted to this Hall Of Fame. I think that's a Black Belt Test question...what do
you think?
There is also another part to this event...Kyoshi
Sensei Kristensen’s current sensei was also inducted
to the same Hall Of Fame in 2000. Hanshi Duessel
(9th Dan), is the highest ranking student of Soke' Shi-
mabuku Kichiro (10th Dan). Hanshi Duessel has been
to the dojo here in Texas many times over the years,
giving seminars, on all aspects of Isshinryu karate. His
knowledge is such that Soke’ Shimabuku has named
him “Mr. Isshinryu.” So, whenever you are in class with Kyoshi, just
remember that the knowledge, training, the art of Is-
shinryu karate itself is being taught by a sensei, who I
believe to be one of the “Greats” that will truly be
spoken about as long as the art of Isshinryu karate is
taught, as well as trained in. I am very blessed, and lucky to have not only
great students, black belts with whom I train with, that
are second-to-none in the art, but a person who I know
is truly a sensei...in the greatest meaning of the title. Thank You...Kyoshi Sensei Kristensen. I’m hon-
ored to call you...Sensei...My Teacher. With Deepest Respect,
Lowest Rei, —Sensei Ishmael
T ime flies. The steady march of time never fails to
amaze me. Everything else comes and goes, is
fast or slow, but time marches on unstoppable. When
you think things are bad, or tough, do not worry for
time marches on until they are good again. When
things are good, enjoy them for this time passes, too.
“So much to do so little time” we have all felt
it. However, our karate teaches us that little by little,
step by step, we can do anything. A little time spent
accomplishing your goals will add up to great things,
as time marches on.
—Sensei Bizzell
Page 12 TIKK NEWS SUMMER 2005
SponsorS
TIKK NeWS Wishes to Thank
Clay Cooley
Of Clay Cooley Isuzu I-35 & Walnut Hill
(214)357-5700
For Supporting The Newsletter
TIKK
&
TIKK NEWS Thank
Karen Cole
Of K&C Productions
(972)724-0085
For Outstanding
Photography Contributions
shi Robert Kristensen’s sensei.
*Hanshi William Duessel
inducted in 2000 is Kyoshi Kris-
ten’s current sensei. *Sensei James Chapman
(1938-1971) inducted in 1989,
was Sensei Raymond Gallegos'
sensei.
*Sensei Gallegos (1928-
2004) was Sensei Don Ishmael’s
sensei.
*Kyoshi John Lennox (1918
-1998) inducted in 1999, was Sen-
sei Garrett’s sensei. Karate ka who were in-
ducted along with Kyoshi Shihan
were: Kyoshi Chester Holubecki,
Kyoshi Scott Shamblin, Hanshi
Steve Young, Kyoshi Jerry Smith,
Kyoshi Reese Rigby and Hanshi
Dennis Wright. During the induction, many
of the inductees had speeches
prepared and read them. But, the one that I thought
was interesting, as well as from
the heart was Kyoshi Sensei Kris-
tensen’s acceptance speech. He
told about walking into the U.S.O.
area, and thanking the various
military men and women there,
for their service to our country.
He spoke about Shihan Jen-
kins...with tears in his eyes.
And...with a little lump in his
throat...and tears also in his eyes...
he thanked his wife...Sempai
Maria Kristensen. He was given a standing
ovation... “You are only...first...once.”
time for me because I get to see how much the indi-
vidual students have progressed. And, sometimes,
there are lots of changes in the students.
Thank you for taking time to care for me and
thank you for encouraging me. Shihan, please tell
your students that I had a wonderful time. Please
thank them for helping me feel at home. I am looking
forward to seeing many of you in Ohio.
Arigato Goziamasta,
—Sensei Maynard
Thank you for helping me with my training
Shihan... (From Page 1)
I t is nice to travel 1700 miles and be with people
who make you feel so comfortable it is as though
you never left home. Whether I was helping someone
with math, reminiscing with Shihan Kristensen about
times we shared in New Jersey, stumbling through Bo
-Bo Kumite, reviewing weapons kata, acting silly on
the stage, doing pushups in the dirt or sharing the joy
of making rank with students that I barely know, I had
a great time.
The Gasshuku is a lot of work, but it is a fun