May Promotional Results

CONGRATULATIONS is in order to 15 students from our group of affiliate dojo’s in Massachusetts who received promotion this past Sunday.  On May 17 2009, ranks ranging from  Shodan to Renshi / Rokudan were awarded to well deserving candidates.  Scoring was notably on the high side for several, showing an exceptional responsibility for self training taken …a key factor in staying focused and making progress  in a lifetime endeavor.   Karate is not simply a goal of achievement .

All must be commended for A TON of hard work and self discipline.   Improvement from the March pretest was significant across the board.  Work is never done of course.  There will be much to comment on when back on the dojo floors this week.   However, it was a standard setting test, successful in many ways;   Spirit was very, very high in all present   … hard work was evident in all …concern for technique even had some long time students on edge who were truly desiring to show improvement (4 candidates for 6th Dan over 50 years old!).  The testing Board was also again overwhelmed by contributing teachers, giving rise to my thought this group has come a long way in solidifying a family approach to passing along the oral tradition of  Shohei Ryu, our many esteemed instructors at Okikukai in Okinawa and the legacy of Master Uechi.

All should be congratulated.  Thank you to all the students from every dojo involved with this particular promotion for truly making teaching easy and the group of schools look  great.   Thank you to Gary as well for capturing one of the better post-promotion photo’s in a while, and for his hard work in putting together a video about Jack Summer’s lifetime of teaching (40 years since his Shodan Test!)  that we all can’t wait to get a peak at!

-Billy G. / Quincy

Jack Summers 40 Years in Karate

Sensei Jack just passed a milestone having held his Black Belt in Uechi Karate for 40 years.  Certificate number 368,  May 4 1969.  Signed by Kanei Uechi.

Thanks to Sensei Steve for the info.

IOK on Facebook

For those of you who like to use facebook I’ve just created a group to help people keep in touch.  Check it out at IOK.

SPRING 2009 Pre-test & Promotional

Spring Promotional Update…

Pre-test

Sunday March 22nd @ 9:00 AM / Quincy

Promotional

Sunday May 17th @ 9:00 AM / Quincy

Testing Candidates…

Marshfield

(1) Sandan
Norwell  A

(1) nidan
Norwell B

(1) yondan
Stoughton

(1) Shodan
Brockton

(2) nidan
Quincy

(5) Rokudan

(1) Sandan

(2) Nidan

(3) Shodan

Hanover

(0)

Spring 2009 Testing

The pre-test will be on Sunday March 22nd and the promotional will be on Sunday May 17th.  Your instructor will have the latest details.

We are excited and anticipate a large turnout.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

A big congrats go out to all who were promoted at the Fall Promotional Test this past Sunday!   This was a great promotional.   Daniel Barber, Tania Vieira, Brendan Kelly and Glenn Kaplan, all of affiliate dojo’s  rose to the occasion in very good form.  In addition, Chip Quimby (Salem Dojo Owner) and Wayne Greenside (one of the Marshfield’s great Instructors) personified great spirit and technique.

The younger guys (teenagers) in particular showed notable perseverance and character.   And, congratulations to Tania who was promoted to Nidan.  It should be noted she not only held her own with fire and fortitude, but was one of the strongest showings of the day.

A special congratulations to both Adult Instructors Chip and Wayne.  These instructors passed their 6th Degree test with Renshi (Advanced Teacher Certification) status.  These two guys are known to work hard, and their years of studying and teaching in the Shohei / Uechi system deserve this recognition.

This was one of the better recent promotionals.  Not only were the candidates well prepared, hard working and deserving but there were also almost 20 instructors from 5 different schools present to vote and contribute on the promotions board.  Consensus is this was a very successful promotion.  All involved should be inspired.

-Billy G. / IOK

P.S.

We now look forward to the spring promotionals, where we may have as many as 12 possible candidates from IOK’s own Dojo alone.  More to come on those dates and dates for special workouts in 2009!

Nutmeg State Nationals

Keith, David and I just came back from an exciting tounament put on by Bashta’s Martial Arts called the Nutmeg State Nationals.  It was a very well run tournament with a large and highly competitive group of martial artists, particularly those in the continuous contact divisions.

Keith and I took second in our continuous contact weight divisions.  David won second in continuous, second in kata and first in weapons kata.   We would like to thank all the nice people we met there and greatly look forward to participating again next year.

Senior American Instructors Promoted in Overseas Training Trip

Following is a letter we just received from Sensi Steve Banchik (Stoughton Dojo) relaying the details of what sounds like was a fantastic trip to Okinawa.

A Special Congratulations goes out to all those senior instructors making such an effort to capture the art we all work so hard to perfect!  They go in order that they may continue to provide authentic karate knowledge to all of their students.   We can’t wait to hear first-hand, the “nuggets” of information these guys surely took back with them from Karate’s “Home Country”.

Sensi Banchik’s Letter:

Hi all,

I am writing to let everyone know about Joe Montanino’s successful examination for 7th dan in Okinawa on July 4, 2008.

After a grueling intensive training schedule,  (2 hour classes morning and evening every day for 2 weeks) in the intense Okinawa heat and humidity the test was scheduled for 5 in the afternoon, during the hottest time of the day. All of the candidates did exceptionally well before a test board made up of Nakahodo sensei, Takara sensei, Yonamine sensei, Higa sensei, Tamayose sensei, Okuhama sensei, Yamashiro sensei, Toburu sensei. Ryuko Tomoyose  was present but did not sit on the board. This was a test board that all who tested can be proud of testing in front of. Many positive comments were made of their technical understanding and kata performance.

Also testing were Dan Rinchuse, 7 dan from Pennsylvania and Bob Otto, 7 dan and Jeff Salsbach 3 dan from Florida.

After the test a congratulations / sionara  party was held and attended by the test board members as well as other Okinawan instructors who came for the party. The candidates were awarded their rank certificates and all members of the trip received intensive training certificates for 15 days of training.

Members of the Okinawa trip included,

Steve Banchick, Joe Montanino, Dan Rinchuse PA, Bob Otto FL, Larry Stinchula PA, Jeff Salsbach FL.

Mel Kukich PA.

Congratulations to all,

Steve Banchick

Dual First Place Finishes at New England Open

David Chan and I went down to compete at the New England Open yesterday and had a great time.  There was a very large turnout and it was interesting to meet people from other organizations.  The best part of the day was this:

David took first place in kata and I in sparring.  On the drive to the tournament David was was very serious about both of us winning first place.  The desire to do his best really came through as he nailed a perfect Seisan.  I did well against my opponent in continuous contact sparring and feel our training at IOK was great preparation.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations for IOK’s newest Black Belt, Brandon Wencek!  Brandon passed his Shodan Test this past Sunday.  The concensus is he really stepped it up for the big day with great execution.   Brandon has been with IOK for many years, through the kids classes and into the adult classes as a young teenager.  At almost 16 years old, he joins the ranks of a limited number of others before him. (including his sister Elyse) as one of the youngest to achieve the Shodan promotion.   Now we can shift our focus to their Dad, Steve!

Congratulations go out as well to Annie Cavanaugh in attaining the rank of Rokudan!   Annie has endured countless classes with Jackie Dowd over the years to get this far, showing her mettle and perseverance.   Her tirelss efforts to teach the children discipline truly demonstrates a karate spirit. 

Congratulations to all the Students from our various afiliates who solidly achieved their next rank last Sunday.    Your hard work and dedication is recognized and appreciated!  Special thanks goes out to those who took the time volunteering as a partners.