Helping to Build a New Honbu.
You may know that the spiritual home and principle dojo of Seido Karate is based in New York, and is called Honbu. The building was sold recently by the landlord and must be vacated by the end of 2019. So for the first time in more than 40 years, Seido will need a new home. Honbu History Sei Shihan Roger outside our current HQ at West 23rd Street NYC In 1976, Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura established Seido Juku and the World Seido Karate Honbu at 61 West 23rd Street in New York City. In “The Human Face of Karate,” Kaicho wrote, “Seido Juku was literally built on the understanding and cooperation of the pupils.” In the more than four decades since, thousands of karateka from around the world have come to…
Beach Training 2019
Seido Micklefield and Seido Bucks had a fantastic day at Shell Bay near Bournemouth on Saturday 13th July 2019. With an early start, the coach picked up the majority of students and their parents at 6.00 am! The weather was amazing, and as in life, with every misfortune comes opportunity. The chain ferry which links Bournemouth to shell bay was broken, meaning an extra 25 minutes journey around Poole harbour. The upside – the beach was empty and we had probably the most beautiful beach in England all to ourselves. An advance party had set up the beach with Seido banners, cordoned off with a large rope (which was later to be used for tug of war). The beach was raked and looked pristine, just in time for the coach…
Training New York June 2019
Located in Briarcliff Manor, New York, just 45 minutes from Manhattan, Edith Macy Center is situated among 405 wooded acres on a mountainside in the heart of Westchester County. Together with 80 other students and instructors we gathered on Friday 28 June to begin a weekend of intensive karate training under our Grand-master, Kaicho Nakamura, 9th degree black belt and one of the top traditional Japanese karate instructors in the world today. Our day started at 4.00 a.m. We met on the hill behind the conference centre and meditated until sunrise. It was a wonderful opportunity to become one with nature. Sitting still rarely happens in our hectic lives and for some is very hard to do. You must concentrate on deep breathing which we call Ibuki and clear your…
Seido UK Gashaku November 2018
UK came together at Jun Shihan Brandt’s new dojo in Putney to train and enjoy meeting old friends and making new ones. At 9 a.m. sharp Sei Shihan Roger opened the event in a packed dojo including all ages of Seido. General training lasted an hour before the students split into groups and worked on Seido drills under their instructors. There was great energy in the dojo as the kiais resounded around the the roof in the spacious training hall. Jun Shihan Brandt then led a session on close in fighting and the students got the chance to put their skills to the test . It was almost over too soon as Seido Shihan Roger closed the event by presenting embroidered belts to Kari Shodan black belts having been confirmed…
Seido UK Tournament 2017
With nearly 250 competitors over a two day event and 400 spectators we were hard pushed to cope on two of the hottest days of year but our referees, judges and officials did a first class job at the High Wycombe Judo Centre on the weekend of the 17 and 18 June. Nearly 30 supporters and competitors joined us from Seido Poland and although this was not an international event, we had over 20 nationalities competing. [caption id="attachment_397" align="aligncenter" width="776"] Seido Bucks Team[/caption] Day one was for the adults and junior black belts and not only included point fighting but full contact events. We saw a great display of skills and there were no incidents for the medical team to cope with other than the odd bruise. Day two was…
Seido Israel Summer Camp 2014
WHAT AN AMAZING TRIP. We arrived on Sunday evening and were met at the airport by Shuseki Shihan, Sensei Hagai, Sensei Erez and Senpai David and then taken on a tour of Tel Aviv before going to the dojo located in Ra'anana, about 25 minutes away. We then drove down to the Summer Camp located in the Kibbutz and had dinner and a walk before going to bed. We had been up since 4.00 am that morning. The weather was bright and hot and our training started at 10.00 a.m the next day when the 50 students arrived by coach from Tel Aviv. We were lucky to be able to use a purpose built martial arts centre which was only 2 months old. Shuskei Shihan warmly welcomed us and was…
Black Belt Promotions 2014
What a great day for new Shodans, Dave Austin, David Bryant, James Hallam, Thessa Van Der Kyup and new Sandans, Mark Cartlidge, Brian Massey and Dario Crispini. The dojo was packed with supporters. The Sandan grading started at 6.30 am under examiners Jun Shihans Roger Thyer-Jones and Brandt Letich, Kyoshi Mike Knight and observer, Kyoshi Stephen Fincham. The candidates all agreed that it was a most positive experience for them. [caption id="attachment_401" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Sandan Grading Group 2014[/caption] At 10.00 am the Shodan candidates started their grading under Kyoshi Matt Sherratt and Kyoshi Aaron Mackintosh finally completing their 40 fights at the end of the 3 hour promotion. Said Jun Shihan Roger, " I was really pleased with the standard of preparation, technique and spirit shown by all candidates on…
Senior Promotions 2014
Wow! What an amazingly inspirational experience. I am filled with a sense of gratitude to my family, my friends, my husband, Seido and of course Jun Shihan Roger, without whom I would not have been a part of this. [caption id="attachment_487" align="alignleft" width="200"] Sensei Karen[/caption] I was nervous, but then I always am. I felt overwhelmed at times but I worked through it, and everyone was in the same boat. The grading is a marathon, a test of endurance. It is not about being the strongest or the fittest. It is designed so that you do battle with yourself. A time to reflect upon your strengths and weaknesses. By the time I returned home I had had had 4 hours sleep in 48 hours. Nidaime told us we would need…
Black Belt Promotions 2013
What a great day we had on Sunday at our Fulham Dojo. It started at 10.00 when Nidan candidates Peter Grant and Shinya Nishitani prepared to take their promotion without their colleague, Daphne Yao who had suffered a severe injury to her knee. Daphne had come along with all our Seido black belts to support them. She had reconciled herself to having to wait until next year to complete her grading. Jun Shihan Roger, however, clearly had other ideas. He decided that it was our job to ensure that Daphne participated safely in her circumstances and participate she did. She completed her kata with her limited mobility both standing and lying on the floor. Every time a new demand was thrown at the candidates Daphne completed her own in a…