Bulletin Sep & Oct 2002 - Bushido-Kai

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2 BUSHIDO-KAI BULLETIN EXPERIENCE Effective, Efficient, Always Interesting “MARTIAL ARTS for MIND as well as MUSCLE.” *** Not sure of the overwhelming quality of our instruction? Try a video first. Go to our WEBsite for educational products drawn from our in-house seminars. Poli, Jr. (aiki yondan and karate sandan, head instructor of Renrikan Dojo in South Boston) received Outstanding Instructor Award at The World Head Family Soke-ship Council’s formal dinner. Framingham, Mass., <strong>Sep</strong>tember 5— Bridget J. Gassner, aiki and karate shodan, received a special framed certificate signed by both Shihan Annesi and Sensei Poli for Loyalty and Service to BUSHIDO-KAI. WHFSC Meeting and Awards Dinner Orlando, Florida, August 31 to <strong>Sep</strong>tember 1— Shihan Tony Annesi and Sensei Jim Poli arrived in Orlando 2 days early to get a little R&R before the World Head Family event. On Thursday and Friday, they attended Universal Studio’s two theme parks as well as Cirque de Soleil at Downtown Disney. On Friday evening, theirs was the second minidemonstration for the WHFSC. Shihan Annesi emphasized the theme of “all martial arts have elements of others.” He explained that martial artists can practice a broader spectrum of skills if they learn how to interpret their art. He performed part of Uechi Seisan and then used movements form the kata to show how both karate and aiki could be discovered within an art that most were unfamiliar with. Numerous other masters performed or taught that evening as well as the following morning and afternoon. Among them were: Grandmaster Vincent Marchetti, Master Robert Castro, Professor John Casarez, Grandmaster Ron Van Many other titles are available, as well. Clief, Grandmaster Ernesto Presas, Sensei Ric Pascetta, Professsor John Denora, Hanshi Bruce Juchnik, Kwang Jang Nim Ian A. Cyrus, Professor Dan Anderson, Grandmaster Gary Alexander, Grandmaster Chaka Zulu, and Grandmaster Bobby Toboada. The Dojo Files The second volume of Tales of the Dojo has been titled The Dojo Files. Here is another selection from that new book by Shihan Annesi.
BUSHIDO-KAI BULLETIN 3 TESTING THE TOURNAMENT TROPHY To refuse awards is another way of accepting them with more noise than is normal. — Peter Ustinov People with honorary awards are looked upon with disfavor. Would you let an honorary mechanic fix your brand-new Mercedes? — Neil Simon My career with martial arts competition began with sport judo during the 1964- 65 school year. I don’t even remember entering the tournament but I recall that it was a “given”—all students must compete. The rah-rah high school part of me was all for that; the rebellious college part of me didn’t like the dictatorial sound of “must.” Of course, no one really said, “must.” Rather they implied that your promotion would be positively effected by your entering competition regularly. “Regularly” meant as often as once a month. How I was going to juggle mid-terms with judo competitions, I did not consider. My first match took place on Mat One of Tohoku judo club in Somerville, a converted church with dojo upstairs and down. The upstairs dojo had a large canvascovered mat built on truck springs and divided into two competition areas. My mom, dad and aunt had driven me from my dorm to spectate. In my six years of junior high and high school football and my three years of gymnastics, this was only the third event my parents had witnessed. Of course, I wanted to look good. The referee called “Hajime!” and I approached my U. Mass. adversary. Upon our mutual touch, I threw a right sasae-tsuki-komi-ashi and my foe fell at my feet. The referee called “Ippon! De-ashi-barai!” and I was victorious in my first five seconds of play. The reason he identified the technique incorrectly was not because of my form but because I had hit my opponent’s ankle just before he had put weight on it and sent his legs out from under him as in a sweep (de-ashi-barai) rather than tilting him over his own forward foot as in a prop (sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi). Understandable. But it was also my first experience with a judge’s imprecision. As quick as my first match was, my next two were horrifically slow. I had drawn a larger, older, more experienced competitor from Massasoit Judo Club. We were both white belts but he had undergone at least a year of this competition stuff. At the end of regulation time we were tied, waza-ari to waza-ari (a half-point each). Then we went into overtime. No further points. Second overtime. Still hikiwake (a draw). The referee asked for a corner judge’s decision and the match went to the older guy. Okay. A judgment call. I could handle that. I suppose that if the edge was to go to someone, it should be the senior. Why they couldn’t simply write down “tied,” on the score sheet, I did not understand but did not question. After about fifteen minutes, my third match was called. Evidently, I had made it to the quarter-finals. Another Massasoit guy named Jimmy Pedro. Years later he and his son were both to make names for themselves in sport judo. But today he just seemed like another tall, more experienced white belt. By the end of regulation time, my hands could barely grip his gi jacket and my arms felt like they were carrying wet laundry. Hikiwake (Tie)! Overtime was announced. If this was what they meant by sudden death, why was it taking so long? Another draw! Then, near the end of the second overtime, Jimmy threw me for his second half-point. No, said the referee, not clean enough. Ten seconds to go. One attempt at harai goshi (sweeping hip). One failure. Another attempt. No Luck. “Soremade! It’s over! Judges
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Bulletin Sep & Oct 2002 - Bushido-Kai

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