2008 Taigi Winners
Dear Students, Head Instructors,
Once again we are looking forward to our annual Taigi Competition. This year, as you know, it will be held on the island of Maui at the Shunshinkan Dojo. I greatly hope that all dojo in HKF will give their utmost to participate, including under 18 division, adult, and group taigi. remember, everyone with rank of Yondan or below is eligible to participate.
In addition, this year marks that one year anniversary of Suzuki Sensei’s passing. Appropriately we will be having a special “mystery unveiling” in the dojo, as well as an opportunity at the banquet for some personal reminiscences, including visits from Suzuki Sensei’s brother and son.
Please click here: TAIGI SEMINAR FLYER to download the flyer for this seminar, which includes your registration form.
We look forward to seeing everyone this year on Maui!
Sincere Aloha,
Chris Curtis
Chief Instructor
Curtis Sensei will be leading the Taigi Intensive seminar on Hilo, Hawaii on March 20 and 21, 2010.
Completed registration forms with signed waivers and checks are due by March 5th: registration form
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you here in Hilo.
On September 26th, 2009 Curtis Sensei recorded this Q & A in Bubenreuth, Germany. What transpired was a very open and honest lecture and discussion on training and the world we live in. Sensei always loves teaching in Europe and this is your opportunity to listen in while he discusses an email he received from a student on Maui.
Please note that Curtis Sensei is confidential with all correspondence written and verbal, however, he did receive permission for use of this email in his teaching.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Right click to download podcast: “Is everyone as fake as me?”
Click to download: .pdf
Please feel free to ask a question or add a comment.
aloha,
The Moderator
On August 14, 2009 Curtis Sensei led a 5 hour meditation class at the Shunshinkan dojo. This maybe helpful to listen to this prior to the lecture and transcript of Ch. 7 of Letting Go. Please find the attached transcript and podcast.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Right click to download the podcast here: Intro to 5 hour meditation
Download transcript here: Intro to 5 hour meditation
Please feel free to post your questions or comments for Curtis Sensei.
aloha,
The Moderator
Please join us for the HKF – Omiki seminar that will be hosted by the Hilo Ki Aikido club.
We will be updating this post soon to provide you with the registration form and more information.
Curtis Sensei, Suzuki Sensei and Tracy Reasoner - August 1998
Dear Members,
Thursday was a very big day for us, as it was Suzuki Sensei’s funeral in Kahului, Maui. Many people from far off places gathered together to celebrate his life and teachings.
I was honored by the Suzuki Family to speak at his funeral and for those who were unable to come please find the attached speech. Suzuki Sensei Eulogy – .pdf
Sincerely,
Chris Curtis
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago at 12:00 pm.
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Curtis Sensei and Jeff Baldwin Sensei in Germany 2009
The seminar dates for this fall in Europe will be:
Holland: Sat. & Sun. Sept. 19 & 20, 2009
Southern Germany: Sat. & Sun. Sept. 26 & 27, 2009
Standby for registration forms that will be available in August 2009.
by
Suzuki Sensei March 22, 1917 - May 22, 2009
WAILUKU – Aikido pioneer and Maui police “legend” Shinichi Suzuki died Friday at Maui Memorial Medical Center. He was 92.
A 32-year veteran of the Maui Police Department, who trained a generation of police recruits in self-defense techniques, Suzuki was one of only four people in the world to hold the rank of ninth-degree black belt in the discipline of ki-aikido. He was chosen to help introduce the Japanese martial art to the United States in the 1950s, and became its most pre-eminent teacher in the west.
“Hawaii became the mecca of aikido outside Japan,” said Christopher Curtis, chief instructor of the Hawaii Ki Federation. “Everyone made trips here to meet him and train with him.”
Incoming Maui Police Chief Gary Yabuta called Suzuki “a true legend.”
“This is a sad day for the Maui Police Department,” Yabuta said, adding that “those of us that were fortunate enough to be a recipient of his training not only learned self-defense but also self-confidence. He walked with confidence and would tell us that was the most important skill as a police officer, to have that
appearance of confidence.”
Services are scheduled for June 4, with visitation starting at 4 p.m. at Ballard Family Mortuary and a service at 5 p.m. The family requests no ko-
den (monetary gifts), but donations may be made to the Shinichi Suzuki Sensei Youth Award, which provides scholarships to young students of Maui Ki-Aikido to train at Shinshin Toitsu Aikido Kai, ki society headquarters in Japan.
Donations for the award can be sent to Maui Ki-Aikido, P.O. Box 724, Wailuku 96793.
Suzuki was born March 22, 1917, in Wailuku.
He joined the Maui Police Department in 1940 and was introduced to aikido 13 years later, when the founder of ki-aikido, Koichi Tohei, arrived in Hawaii to teach aikido to police.
Suzuki was assigned to tend to Tohei during his visit, and because he had studied judo, the Japanese sensei chose him as a throwing partner. The next day, Tohei asked Suzuki to become chief instructor of aikido for Maui. Suzuki trained intensely with Tohei for the next month, and continued to receive regular training from him as he began leading instruction of Maui police officers in self-defense, and founded the Maui Ki-Aikido dojo in Wailuku.
After he retired from MPD as a major in 1972, Suzuki spent two years in Japan to train with Tohei full time.
Aikido is a defensive art based on throwing techniques. Practitioners learn to channel or redirect an opponent’s momentum and energy to resolve a conflict. The ki-aikido branch of the art has an additional focus on spiritual training and developing a sense of “nondissention” and inner calm.
Curtis said Suzuki was known for his dedication to his art. He once was instructed by Tohei to spend a month sitting for one hour each day in a very painful, difficult meditation position. It took 18 months of practice before he could endure the position for a full hour.
“Once he achieved it, he said, ‘to heck with one month, I’m going to do it for a year,’” Curtis said. “Not many people would put that kind of effort into their practice.”
Suzuki was a very strict and even “scary” teacher, expecting complete discipline from his students, but he also was known for being lighthearted, selfless and kind.
As a beginning student, Curtis asked how the sensei had achieved such a powerful combination of intensity and relaxation. Suzuki told him he spent an hour each day sitting and breathing.
“If he couldn’t do it, like if he was traveling or sick, then the next day he did two hours,” Curtis said.
Suzuki’s many honors over the years included being named a “living treasure” by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii; being named to Black Belt magazine’s hall of fame; a lifetime achievement award from the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii; and the Nihon Bunka Award of the Japanese Cultural Center of Maui.
In 2007, the Maui Police Department dedicated and named its training dojo at the Wailuku Police Station for Suzuki. While the dojo Suzuki founded in Wailuku had provided training to Maui police officers and recruits for decades, MPD last year replaced the aikido instruction with training in more specialized self-defense tactics required in modern policing.
Yabuta said MPD wanted to name the dojo for him, “to show him the impact he had on us, and the impact he’ll continue to have after he’s gone.”
More than the throwing and restraint techniques he shared with police recruits in his training, Suzuki taught “a philosophy of respect for yourself and respect for others,” Yabuta said.
“His philosophy of life was probably the most valuable lesson for any of us,” he said. “It made us all better people, not just better police officers.”
Suzuki is survived by a son, Mike (Ann) Suzuki; five brothers, Frank Suzuki, Robert Suzuki, Donald Suzuki, Arthur Suzuki and Ralph Suzuki; two sisters, Gene Hee and Alice Agena; and two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Written by Ilima Loomis Excerpted from the Maui News
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago at 12:16 pm.
1 comment
45th anniversary of aikido on Maui held in August of 1998
An HKF Dan Testing Day will be hosted by Lokahi dojo at 10 am on Oahu June 27, 2009. Please click on the link for the amended schedule for Curtis Sensei – 2009 .pdf
Curtis Sensei receives omiki from Suzuki Sensei
The Hawaii Ki Federation held its 1st annual Shugyo Tassei Kigan Shiki Seminar at the Shunshinkan dojo on January 23, 24 and 25, 2009. Curtis Sensei performed the Ki-ire, Ki-barai (dojo blessing) and provided Omiki to the members of Hawaii Ki Federation and visiting students.
The seminar has 2 transcripts and 3 podcasts. The Transcripts cover friday nights lecture on Ki Breathing and Ki Meditation along with the Question and Answer session. Part 1 of the Podcasts covers friday nights class, Part 2 covers a segment of Saturdays class while Part 3 covers the question and answer session.
Right click to download the podcast:
Shugyo Tassei Kigan Shiki part 1a
Shugyo Tassei Kigan Shiki part 1b
Shugyo Tassei Kigan Shiki part 2
Shugyo Tassei Kigan Shiki Q & A
Download the transcript here:
STKS Seminar Ki Breathing & Ki Meditation
STKS Seminar Q & A
Please feel free to provide your questions or comments below.
aloha,
The Moderator
Posted 1 year, 5 months ago at 3:05 pm.
1 comment
