"Traditional and Authentic Training for all ages"

As promised we are back with our monthly newsletter. It's February already and hopefully everyone is back into their regular training schedules. High School exams are over (or almost) and our first grading of the year has taken place! Congratulations to the following people who were successful on January 16^th.

RED:		Brodie, Sarah, Patrick
YELLOW:		Mitchell, Nick H., Nick D.
ORANGE:		Brooks, Nigel, Thomas
GREEN:		Connor, Foster, Tyler, Meaghan
BLUE:		Donovan
BLUE(stripe):		Colleen
BROWN(stripe):		Lee, Cameron, Joel B, Gabriel, Shelby, Chelsea, Graham & Scott

Each student should be clear on where improvements need to be made. This will help form your goals for the next few months of training. Remember - if you have questions or concerns please ask your seniors or Sensei as they will be pleased to help you! Also remember to use your journal.

Special mention should be made of Brodie, Sarah, Nigel and Donovan who at junior levels are setting wonderful standards all students can emulate - great spirit, hard studying, and a humble attitude. Great Job!

BIRTHDAYS:		January 23 - Sensei James
		February 11 - Chelsea Mahon

** Don't forget Valentine's Day is February 14^th

This month Dojo ETIQUETTE is the featured subject. Sensei James and Sempais Russell, Joel and Laurie will be looking for improvements in this important area of our training. Be sure to read or have your parents read to you, the article on REISHIKI. Check out the Karate crossword and Picture puzzle and book reviews too. If you have ideas or questions regarding submissions for future newsletters please see Sempai Laurie or Student News Liason Tyler Valiquette. Remember you have class reps. too - Junior class - Nigel Wilson, Youth class - Gabriel Weekes and Adult class - Sempai Russell. If you would like to be considered for a Student of the month Profile in upcoming newsletters please ask Sensei for a questionnaire. In future issues we hope to include health information, Seminar reviews and updates, Kanji lessons and an advice column! Next month the focus will be on Breathing.

******IMPORTANT - Deadline for EMAC dues is January 31^st - In order to receive your free Budo Pass and EMAC Crest the fees and registration forms must be in!

Book Review: 'SENSEI' by John Donahue (fiction)
This is a martial arts thriller/murder mystery. It did get mixed reviews in the literary world. I found it to be an enjoyable read and although it had a rather predictable climax and ending, it did have some wonderful parts that a modern day kareteka can relate to. I look forward to reading its sequel 'Deshi'. Our "Dojo Library" will have a soon have a paperback copy available to sign out! It is also available at the Perth Public Library in hardcover.

ETIQUETTE IN THE DOJO presented by Sempai Laurie
By now every student should know that the symbolic meaning of RED belt is Etiquette. Each time that you come to train, every student from white belt and up should be practicing as much dojo etiquette as they can.

The following information has been taken and condensed from an article by Robert W Dillon Jr.

It may be possible that REISHIKI may be of more importance than KEIKO. Reishiki includes the rituals, manners and etiquette practiced in a dab and Keiko refers to training, "Simply put - reishiki is more than just a courtesy and far beyond the act of merely bowing. Keep in mind though that a tiny bow can mean a great deal"~ Each student bows as they enter the dojo signifying that they are leaving the outside world behind. A bow also serves several other important purposes in our training:

1. SAFETY - A bow makes the intentions clear and creates focus between training partners. This results in a sale encounter where there are no surprise attacks and fewer technical mistakes.
2. FOCUS - Your bow as you enter the dojo is an act of courtesy to your place of training. It displays your willingness to give full attention to the school until you leave the school with another bow. The first bow symbolizes the giving up of oneself The bow as you leave serves to open you up once more to the outside world.
3. SELFLESSNESS - When we bow to each other it is saying "Please allow me to share in your training while you share in mine,"
4. COOPERATION - We do not think of our training partner as an enemy. Reishiki reinforces cooperation and training intended to be done in a safe, non-injurous manner.
5. SELF-CONFIDENCE - Reishiki forces the student to behave in a self-confident manner. Seff-confidence, humility; and self-control are developed by daily practice.
6. TRADITION - Our observance of reishiki helps maintain the link with the traditions of our past. There are thousands of bows in Japanese culture, so by bowing in the dojo we continue that stream of tradition - We keep it alive.

Reishiki is very important at Sakura Martial Arts Academy. It should be practiced with same respect, energy and intensity as every other part of our keiko. In a very traditional dojo - every word said every move made will be part of a fixed pattern. You will know how, where and when to sit; how you move about the dojo; how you fold and wear your Gi; how you address and acknowledge your juniors and seniors; how you hold your weapons when they are not in use and the way in which you enter and leave the training hell.

At the beginning and end of our training sessions we have 3 formal bows.

The first acknowleges our past This is done facing the kamiza and the pictures of our founders. The second bow is facing Sensei (or Sempai in his absence) showing our respect to him. This represents the present as he continues the traditions by teaching

Our final bow is directed at our fellow students who represent the future. Without them our tradtions would die. Juniors learn reishiki from their seniors by observing and copying them. It is vitally important that our seniors demonstrate reishiki in an exacting manner so that our juniors learn welL

"To have the arts of peace but not the arts of war is to lack courage. To have the arts of war but not the arts of peace is to lack wisdom."

Hayaski Razan (1583-1657)

How to Bow The feet should be in Musubi Dachi (knot stance) with the heels together and the feet pointed in opposite directions at a 45° angle. The arms hang straight by the sides with the palms facing the fronts of your thighs. As you bow, the body bends at the waist and the hands slide down the fronts of your legs. The gaze is to the front but not directly at the subject to show respect.

KARATE CROSSWORD Across: 2. strike prevention 3. yes 5. stance 6. a new beginning 9. no      limit to training Down 1. birthplace of karate 4. founders name 6. rei 7. spirit shout 8. kick