The Official Matsumura Kenpo Site

Of course behave properly towards Senseis and Seniors, but also towards colleagues and juniors.

When training in Kata or Kumite, always bow in the beginning and at the end.

Kata is the base of Karate. Do not rush to a hasty conclusion. Train hard and study the Kata and the Kumite.

Waza (technique) will be ever changing, so you must give a spirited effort and strive to advance your own abilities.

When you train, you must concentrate your mind for making the waza, faster, stronger, and more correct, but do not become emotional (excited).

Do not lose the concentration of your mind and effort. Keep learning and studying the main thread of Karate. Karate training has no limits.

Always conduct yourself correctly, and always swallow your hot blood (temper).

Those who train Karate should not be conceited. It leads to easy falls and loss of correct thinking. If you become conceited, you should be conscious that progress of techniques and personal virtue will be lost. You must keep a beginner’s fresh spirit forever.

Karate is a way to discipline both the mind and body, and to keep humanitarianism for a complete character to build a great person.

The way of Karate is Budo (Martial Art). You cannot achieve the culmination of it without training properly according to these directions.

To master the way is not a race against others. Race against yourself.

It has just been confirmed today that our annual seminar will be held in Bemidji, MN 21 – 23 September this year. Exact times/schedule will be published on this site as details are ironed out. I wanted to be sure to get this information to you as soon as I had it, and will continue to post updates as necessary.

KATA NAME                                                RANK AT WHICH TAUGHT

BO KIHON NO KATA                               5 KYU

TUNFA KIHON NO KATA                      4 KYU

SAI KIHON NO KATA                              3 KYU

KAMA KIHON NO KATA                        2 KYU

BO JITSU                                                    1 KYU

KUDA NU NITANBO                                SHODAN

RENSHI NO TONFA                                 SHODAN

SAKUGAWA NO KUN                              NIDAN

KOUBUKAN NICHOGAMA                     NIDAN

SUKUGA NO SAI                                       SANDAN

KOUBUKAN EAKU                                  SANDAN

KUDA NU NICHOGAMA                        YONDAN

Some minor deviations to these guidelines are acceptable, however major deviations are not.

The following are Assn. Guidelines for teaching kata to youths.  These are optional.  A dojo/instructor can choose to follow the same guidelines as those listed for adults if they feel that to be more appropriate.  It is felt that the below guidelines are a bit easier and perhaps more fun for youth and that it may aide in the teaching/learning process and student retention.  They are offered as an alternative

MATSUMURA KENPO ASSN. KARATE NO KATA – RANK GUIDELINES – YOUTH (OPTIONAL)

KATA  NAME                                                              RANK AT WHICH TAUGHT

PINAN NIDAN                                                           9 KYU

PINAN SHODAN                                                      8 KYU

NISEIDI SHODAN                                                   7 KYU

NISEIDI NIDAN                                                       6 KYU

PINAN SANDAN                                                      6 KYU

NISEIDI SANDAN                                                    5 KYU

NAIHANCHI SHODAN                                          4 KYU

NAIHANCHI NIDAN                                               4 KYU

PAISAI SHO                                                                3 KYU

PINAN YONDAN                                                       3 KYU

PINAN GODAN                                                          2 KYU

NAIHANCHI SANDAN                                           2 KYU

NISEIDI YONDAN                                                   1 KYU

PAISAI DAI                                                                1 KYU

Below are guidelines for which kata to teach at each rank level.  Please note that the katas are listed so that the kata is to be taught to the rank listed, not for advancement to the next rank.

MATSUMURA KENPO ASSN. KARATE NO KATA – RANK GUIDELINES – ADULT

KATA NAME                                       RANK AT WHICH TAUGHT

NAIHANCHI SHODAN                    9 KYU

PINAN NIDAN                                    8 KYU

PINAN SHODAN                               7 KYU

NISEIDI SHODAN                            6 KYU

NAIHANCHI NIDAN                        6 KYU

NISEIDI NIDAN                                 5 KYU

PINAN SANDAN                                4 KYU

NISEIDI SANDAN                             4 KYU

PAISAI SHO                                        3 KYU

PINAN YONDAN                               3 KYU

NAIHANCHI SANDAN                    2 KYU

PINAN GODAN                                 2 KYU

PAISAI DAI                                         1 KYU

NISEIDI YONDAN                           1 KYU

NISEIDI GODAN                              SHODAN

CHINTO                                              SHODAN

GOJUSHIHO                                    NIDAN

MATSUMURA NO PAISAI            NIDAN

KUSHANKU                                     SANDAN

ROHAI                                               YONDAN

KOUBUDI                                       YONDAN

Some minor deviations to these guidelines are acceptable, however major deviations are not.

These are the official guidelines for minimum time – in – grade for promotions.  The hours listed are minimum hours spent training in an Association dojo, under the supervision of a Shidouin or higher level instructor.  It is stressed that these are minimum requirements, and that promotions should not be considered automatic once one has met these minimum hourly requirements.  The Shidouin or higher level instructor will determine when the student has met ALL requirements for advancement in rank, not only the minimum hourly training requirements:

From:

10 – 9 Kyu     40 hours

9 – 8 Kyu      40 more hours

8 – 7 Kyu      40 more hours

7 – 6 Kyu      60 more hours

6 – 5 Kyu      60 more hours

5 – 4 Kyu      60 more hours

4 – 3 Kyu      80 more hours

3 – 2 Kyu      80 more hours

2 – 1 Kyu      80 more hours

Shodan        All of the above requirements must have been met, and the individual must have at least 3 years total training time.

Nidan          At least 1 year after Shodan.

Sandan       At least 2 years after Nidan.

Yondan      At least 3 years after Nidan.

Godan        At least 4 years after Yondan.

Rokudan   At least 5 years after Godan.  Must be at least 35 years old.

Nanadan  At least 6 years after Rokudan.  Must be at least 40 years old.

Hachidan At least 7 years after Nanadan.  Must be at least 47 years old.

Kudan       At least 8 years after Hachidan.  Must be at least 56 years old.

Judan        At least 9 years after Kudan.  Must be at least 65 years old.

Some exceptions to these requirements may be made if a person is well trained in karatedo.

Shidouin, and Shidouin Hosa certificates are not automatic with rank.  These certificates will be granted only to those who are actively instructing and/or assisting in a dojo.  Shidouin Hosa is possible at Nidan, while Shidouin is possible at Sandan.

Promotions to Godan and  above must be approved by Kuda Tomosada, Kaicho, and at least one other Director who is not the Director of the individual being considered for promotion.  These promotions/evaluations will occur at annual seminars.

From 23 – 25 September, The Shorin Ryu Matsumura Kenpo Karate and Koubudo Assn. held it’s annual seminar in Bemidji, MN on the campus of beautiful Oak Hills Christian College. The three day event was headed by Kaicho Kuda Tomosada, of Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan. Members came from Germany (The Palz), New York, Texas, Washington, Illinois, several Minnesota locations, and Missouri to receive instruction, improve their skills, and participate in the tournament. The weather cooperated in spectacular fashion and hopefully the seminar was enjoyed by, and beneficial to all.  The only occurrence of a regrettable nature was the absence of a large group from the Palz, this year.  Due to the hard economic times, after taking inventory of available stock, it was discovered that there was not enough bier und brotwerscht to support more than two Palzers for a period of four days.  It is hoped that in the future the economy will improve so that we are able to host a larger group of Palzers in the style that they are accustomed to.

2011 Seminar Participants

Below are tournament results:

Green Belt, Karate No Kata:

1st Place:  Jordan Newman – DeSoto (Texas) Karate

2nd Place:  Shawn Holmes – Olympia (Washington) Koubukan

3rd Place:  Deuce Bennett – DeSoto Karate

Brown Belt, Karate No Kata:

1st Place:  Alyssa Labrum – Texas Koubukan

2nd Place:  Jonathan Labrum – Texas Koubukan

3rd Place:  Michele Roberts – DeSoto Karate

Shodan/Nidan, Karate No Kata:

1st Place:  Rick Labrum – Texas Koubukan

2nd Place:  William Glynn – Texas Koubukan

3rd Place:  Megan Shepard – Crow Wing (Minnesota) Koubukan

Sandan/Yondan, Karate No Kata:

1st Place:  John Schmidt – Bemidji Koubukan

2nd Place:  Peg Rickert – Bemidji Koubukan

3rd Place:  Fred Stinar – Bemidji Koubukan

Shodan/Nidan Koubudo No Kata:

1st Place:  Rick Labrum – Texas Koubukan

2nd Place:  Flora Labrum – Texas Koubukan

3rd Place:  Megan Shepard – Crow Wing Koubukan

Sandan/Yondan Koubudo No Kata:

1st Place:  Peg Rickert – Bemidji Koubukan

2nd Place:  Fred Stinar – Bemidji Koubukan

3rd Place:  Keith Pelusi – DeSoto Karate

Planning has begun for The Assn.’s seminar in 2012.  Details will be posted on this site as they are decided upon.  All members are, as always, urged to train hard throughout the year to improve themselves, and to build upon what was learned at this year’s seminar, so we can continue to move on to different subject matter while retaining and refining skills previously learned.

*All Photos courtesy of Bob Finley, Texas Koubukan

Below are images of the official Matsumura Kenpo Association T-Shirts.  To order, make check payable to Fred Ettish, and mail to 1004 E 23rd Ave, N. Kansas City, MO  64116.  Cost is $24 per shirt, and this includes shipping to your location.  Must be an Association Member in good standing.  Please be sure to indicate size, and belt rank of wearer along with the address to which you want the shirt shipped.  Adult sizes are Men’s S/M/L/XL/XXL, and youth sizes are also available.  Above XXL can be ordered if needed.  These shirts tend to run a bit on the large side, and should not shrink very much with washing and drying.

All Association members are authorized, with permission of their Instructor, to wear these T – Shirts (and no gi jacket) with gi pants and belt while training in hot weather.  Training this way is very common in Okinawa during hot weather, and is acceptable here in the U.S., also.

I am now ready to take orders for the Official Matsumura Kenpo T – Shirts. If you were at last year’s seminar, you may remember that the Directors wore black T – Shirts with the Kuda Family Mon above the Matsumura Kenpo kanji in gold over the left breast. These will now be the Official Matsumura Kenpo Member T – Shirts, and are available only to members in good standing of the Matsumura Kenpo Assn. To keep things somewhat simple, if you want to order a T – Shirt, submit your order to your Regional Director or Dojo Shinshi, and the Director/Shinshi will order from me.  Only shirts that are paid for in advance will be ordered and shipped.

These T – Shirts will be of high quality, and the Mon/Kanji will be embroidered directly onto the T – Shirt vs. having them silk screened. All kyu rank shirts will be grey, with yellow belts having the kanji in yellow, green belts in green, and brown belts in brown. Black Belts will have the black shirts w/gold kanji.

The cost for these shirts will be $24 per shirt, which will include shipping costs. The profits from these shirts will be used to purchase equipment for future Matsumura Kenpo tournaments, such as mats and safety gear.

I anticipate getting prototypes of the shirts soon, and when this happens, I will try to post pictures on this site.

The Annual Seminar of the Shorin Ryu Matsumura Kenpo Karate and Kobudo Assn. was held in Bemidji, MN over the weekend of 17 – 19 September on the campus of Oak Hills Christian College in beautiful Bemidji, MN.

Although overall attendance was down a bit from previous years, the content, participation, and quality more than made up for the slightly lower numbers. The three day gathering included Karate and Kobudo Kata training, application of footwork and techniques from kata, conditioning drills, and a karate and kobudo tournament.

The Chief Instructor for this seminar was President of the Association, Grand Master Kuda Tomosada of Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan. Also in attendance were students from Texas, Illinois, Wisconson, Washington (State), Minnesota, and Missouri. This year, we missed the participation from our German family members who had their own seminar/tournament in their home country. We look forward to the return of Team Palz to the U.S. next year. In preparation for their return, it is highly encouraged that stocks of meat and beer be increased to maximum capacity, and hide the women and children until they have departed the area.

Tournament winners were:
Karate Kata; Green Belt Division

1. 1st Place – Gabriel Churchill, Brainerd, MN
2. 2nd Place – Kaitlyn Reynolds, Bemidji, MN
3. 3rd Place – Madison Reynolds, Bemidji, MN

Karate Kata; Brown Belt Division

1. 1st Place – Alyssa Labrum, Duncanville, TX
2. 2nd Place – Jonathan Labrum, Duncanville, TX
3. 3rd Place – Bronwyn McNully, DeSoto, TX

Karate Kata; Shodan/Nidan Division

1. 1st Place – Rick Labrum, Duncanville, TX
2. 2nd Place – Meggan Shepard, Brainerd, MN
3. 3rd Place – William Glynn, DeSoto, TX

Karate Kata; Sandan/Yondan Division

1. 1st Place – Peg Rickert, Bemidji, MN
2. 2nd Place – J. Reed Anderson, Quiring, MN
3. 3rd Place – Harry Aylesworth, Bemidji, MN

Kobudo Kata; Shodan/Nidan Division

1. 1st Place – Meggan Shepard, Brainerd, MN
2. 2nd Place – Rick Labrum, Duncanville, TX
3. 3rd Place – Flora Labrum, Duncanville, TX

Kobudo Kata; Sandan/Yondan Division

1. 1st Place – Peg Rickert, Bemidji, MN
2. 2nd Place – J. Reed Anderson, Quiring, MN
3. 3rd Place – Brian Swedburg, Hackensack, MN

All Medalists

Coming within the next few years will be divisions for kumite at the tournament. All dojos who are not already doing so should place emphasis in this area, not only for tournament competition, but to increase the realism and knowledge of technique application in a lesser controlled environment. It is highly encouraged that this be done on a step by step basis, that is, to begin lower ranking students in ippon kumite and from there, as skill, comfort level, and experience increases, to add offense/defense drills, and move up to free sparring as appropriate for the student.

The kumite divisions will have differing rules, with the children and lower ranking students doing only striking to limited targets, and from there moving up to lesser restrictions on targets, adding sweeps, grabs, throws, and takedowns, and then adding ground fighting/submissions into the equation for the high ranking divisions. Dojo Shinshis should keep this in mind when training/teaching techniques and conditioning. Safety equipment will be worn and the competition will take place on a matted surface.

Also coming (in the much nearer future), will be Official Matsumura Kenpo Assn. T – Shirts. If you were at the seminar and saw the T – Shirts being worn by the Directors, then you have an idea of what the T – Shirts will look like. The design will have the Matsumura Kenpo Kanji with the Kuda Family Mon (Crest) directly over the top of the kanji. For colored belt ranks, the shirts will be gray with the kanji/mon being green in color for White/Yellow/Green Belts, and Brown for Brown Belts. Black Belts will have Black Shirts with gold for the kanji/mon. The shirts will be of high quality, and the kanji/mon will be embroidered onto the shirts. All profits from the sale of these shirts will go towards purchasing equipment for the kumite divisions in the tournament as described above. Prices for the shirts should be available shortly.

For further information on all pertinent matters related to the Association and pictures from this year’s tournament, please continue to check in on this website periodically.