Matsumura Kenpo Dojo Kun as Authored by Kuda Yuichi No Tanmei (10 Oct. 1928 – 27 April 1999)
January 23rd, 2011
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.
Preliminary Info On 2013 Kuda Shinshi Seminar
January 20th, 2013
The 2013 Seminar with Kuda Tomosada Shinshi will be held 20 – 22 September in Bemidji, MN. The site for this year will be the same as it has been for some time now, the campus of Oak Hills Christian College. There will be a kata tournament again this year on Saturday the 21st. This will likely be the last kata tournament for some time.
As more information becomes available and/or confirmed, it will be provided on this site.
Typhoon Update
October 2nd, 2012
As many of you are aware, Okinawa has had several strong typhoons this year. Although Okinawa is targeted by typhoons every year, this year there were more very strong ones than usual, the last just hitting this past weekend. I just wanted to let you all know that the Kuda Family is okay, and as far as I know the only damage was a little bit to Tomosada Shinshi’s factory/dojo.
Omedeto Gozaimasu to Nifedebiru
September 29th, 2012
Congratulations and thank you to all who participated and worked hard in the 2012 Annual Matsumura Kenpo Karate and Koubudo Seminar and Tournament. Your hard work, sacrifice, and dedication to the Association is always noted and appreciated.
Although last year was going to be the last year for the tournament portion, plans have changed (obviously) and there will be at least one more tournament next year. Because of an increase in the higher ranks and per request from the visiting Germans, next year’s tournament will include a division for Godans and Rokudans. Plans are also still being made for a kumite division at some point in the future.
As with every year after the seminar with Kuda Shinshi, we now have more things to work and improve upon. Good health and hard training to all.
Matsumura Kenpo Assn. Koubudo No Kata Rank Guidelines
October 9th, 2011
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.
Matsumura Kenpo Assn. Karate No Kata – Optional Youth Guidelines
October 9th, 2011
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
Matsumura Kenpo Karate and Koubudo Assn. Karate No Kata -Rank Guidelines
October 9th, 2011
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.
Shorin Ryu Matsumura Kenpo Karate and Koubudo Assn. Promotion Guidelines
October 9th, 2011
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.
2011 Seminar and Tournament Wrap Up
October 9th, 2011
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
Matsumura Kenpo Association T-Shirts
July 20th, 2011
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.
Matsumura Kenpo Assn. Member Official T – Shirts
May 15th, 2011
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.