EDITORIAL - 28.10.08

Welcome to the NEW Edition of NOMICHI Shotokan Way, The Online Shotokan Karate Magazine and Research Centre – the 19th Publication of 2008.

I attended a mixed styles competition quite recently not too far from home. The standard of competitor was excellent, but the etiquette left much to be desired. As I sat in the stalls, watching bad manners, swearing at referees and vindictive fighting that got out of hand, I shook my head in complete shock and despair. The karate that I see practiced by all of my heroes is a far cry from what I saw that day. There was no humbleness, just ego from many factions of the competition. I simply thanked my good-graces that I have nothing to do with such shameful examples of karate. NO – not karate, that is unfair as their physical skill was superb – EGO. Shameful examples of ego. Some people miss the point, and more significantly, encourage others to ignore it also.

Anyways, rant over…in this edition we have an Interview with SENSEI PS THAPA, 3rd DAN BLACK BELT , JAPAN , KWF. . It was only natural therefore that Thapa would also follow suit and practice karate, excelling thoroughly under his father’s tough regime. It was at a international tournament competition however that he first met GRAnd MASter , who he would become good friends with and together began studying karate from books. Here in this very interesting interview, SENSEI PS THAPA , speaks about his early experiences in GOJURYU , helping to bring karate to all over india, specially orissa and his time in the Burla, Sambalpur Instructor Class. He shares stories of his matches with Sensei Tanaka, his training with Sensei Mahesh Kushwah, his experiences with Master of japan and his loyalty to Asai Sensei. In this excellent interview, you will gain insight into one of the pioneers of Orissa and Indian Karate.

The Article in this edition comes from www.shotokanlegend.blogspot.com . In this article, entitled ‘Nunchaku, a unique weapon and its benefits to karate’. As the title so aptly suggests, this article looks at the nunchaku and how it can be practiced hand in hand with karate to not only be its side salad, but how it can help develop the karate itself. Not only does he consider the significance of practicing the nunchaku, Yokoto places deep emphasis on the need to bring the study of kobudo back to karate-do.

Finally, this edition concludes with a review of Scott Langley’s video resource website http://www.natkd.com/shotokan_katas.htm. Read my review of this excellent resource!!!

By looking carefully at the contents of this edition, it would appear quite ideal that all of the content is based on or from members of the KWF. But while I would love to take credit for this planning, it is simply a coincidence that it has happened this way…but if people would like to credit me for it then of course I will accept J

We hope as always that you enjoy your training, and it’s a happy road that we all – as an international community of our own – can enjoy together in harmony.


SABYASACHI SAHANI
MEMBER
NOMICHI SHOTOKAN KARATE