Chewing Tobacco Can Cause Mouth Cancer
When I talked to my friends from Hospice, I learned about chewing or smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol, can cause mouth cancer.
My friend’s father-in-law died of mouth cancer last year. I did not know about it until I met him two weeks ago when he came back from US for visiting.
I know a friend from Norway who likes to chew tobacco. I hope he is reading this. Please stop chewing tobacco and take good care of yourself. I have seen so much people suffering from cancer. I wish you best of health.
Theme for my blog
Ever since I revamped my blog to give it a new look in October, I received quite a number of correspondence from my regular readers and fans. They asked me why “The Eccentric Logic of An Eclectic Mind”. Well, another similar representation of the theme (as portrayed in New Look), it is vicariously a random experience and non-concentric logical reasoning of my mind by which referring and/or combining various elements such as philosophy in karate and those seen through my eyes.
This theme is graphically represented by the random header images which I made from photos I took on Okinawa while I was having a walk at the ruins of Zakimi castle. I took some photos of flowers and plants, scenery and artifacts.
This is my favorite. Before I came to Okinawa, I was quite lost in karate. All my surroundings seemed to be thick stone walls. Suddenly, I found an exit, which led me to the Sky! This also signifies my understanding of “karate” as Sky Hand as Seizan Sensei told me. In Uechi-Ryu Zankai, karate-do is like the sky, without border and endless. People build walls surrounding themselves and others to restrict seeking of knowledge and truth as well as to protect their own benefits. I am glad that I have found an exit to this confinement.
These images indicate the road ahead is difficult and the woods on both sides represent challenges, confusions and distractions which can easily get lost in. Fortunately, there is a small road that leads to the destination. The road, as if Uechi-Ryu Zankai.
The gardener on the left represents Toyama Sensei. The two trees represent Seizan Sensei and Sumako Senpai (as well as other Sensei and Senpai) setting a goal for me to reach up there.
These two images are made of floral and artifacts found at Zakimi Castle site. No special significant meaning.
This is an image of some surf boards at Torii Beach. No significant meaning. Just a photography image.
Uechi-Ryu Zankai Shubukan
One month ago, on August 17 night, we went to Toyama Sensei’s Shubukan (修武館) Dojo at Zakimi (座喜味), Okinawa. Here are some photos I extracted from the video. You can read more about our training at Zakimi dojo here.
Dantai no Seichin
Dantai no Seiryu
Performing Seisan kata to Toyama Sensei
Another Sweet Reminiscence
Last night, it was a surprised to receive some photos from Sensei. They were taken at the Torri Station Beach Party more than a month ago on Okinawa.
It was a nice and sweet reminiscence of the great time there. The photos have lightened up me a bit. I have been busy with some projects including the new dojo. There were a lot of things in my head and in addition of the cold, I was a little stressed out and the photos came in just in time. 
Two love birds, Sensei and his wife, Sumako Sempai
Cold Soba
Besides karate and yoga, I learned to make Sushi rice ball and cold soba during my first trip to Okinawa. Actually, the one I ate on Okinawa was not soba. I can’t remember the name of the noddle but it was white in color. I learned to make the dishes from Sumako sempai.
Today, I prepared the two dishes for the kids and LA. They loved it so much!
Sayonara Okinawa!
Time flies. A month ago, I was stopping at Hong Kong heading to Okinawa. Today, after a month, I am at Hong Kong again heading home!
Home sweet home! Where all my loved ones are waiting for my return. I missed them so much.
During the flight, I had mixed feeling about this journey. I am longing to get home. On the other side, I wished I could stay on Okinawa longer to polish my skills. I am a little confused during the flight.
My return will be another significant milestone in both my karate life and Uechi-Ryu Zankai Malaysia. 3 years ago, I decided to come back to teaching karate. My son, Dmitry and Dietrich have motivated me. I was searching the true path to karate when I made the return. Today, I can’t believe that I have found the true karate path at Uechi-Ryu Zankai. The training on Okinawa has completely changed me. The hard work and sweat that I put in during this month together with all kinds of motivation have sped up my training.
This trip does not only fulfill my dream and the search of true karate, I have very important mission to learn this old-style Pre-WWII karate and bring it back to Malaysia, spread the art and preserve it from fading into modernization and from the corrosion of time.
I have now a heavy responsibility when I reach home. The responsibility to lead a group of adults, teenagers and children toward the true meaning of karate training.
In another 5 hours, I will step onto Malaysian soil (Home Sweet Home!) and become the first official Malaysian to have learnt Uechi-Ryu Zankai karate-do and helping the preservation of this old-style art. I believe with my students’ confidence and faith in me, Uechi-Ryu Zankai will, slowly and quietly, grow stronger each day.
Here, I would like to thank my family for their encouragement, motivation and support. I also wish to thank Seizan Sensei, Sumako Sempai and all the people I have met on Okinawa for teaching me and working me through my hard learning curve and forgetting curve. Especially Seizan Sensei for his humorous teaching method which spiced up the training with a lots of fun. He is the best karate-do teacher I have ever met.
I and on behalf of all my students would like to thank Toyama Sensei for granting me an opportunity to perform in front of his watchful eyes and granting permission to setup Okinawa Karate-do Uechi-ryu Zankai Malaysia Shibu Dojo. Can Seizan Sensei please relay our gratitude to Toyama Sensei? I could have thought about this on Friday night but this thought only surfaced during the en route.
Last but not least, I would like to thank Scott from Canada for introducing me to Seizan Sensei. Without his introduction, I could have been searching endlessly and still stuck in the mess of modern karate.
This departure has also made me understand 一期一会 (ichi go ichi e). A meeting has to come to an end to allow another to happen. I also gain better understanding, from this philosophy, the techniques of old-style Uechi-Ryu techniques in kata. Movement comes to an end and another will begin. It is endless, like the ocean wave, rolling and cycling endlessly with enormous energy and power. The energy and power will fade to effect another cycle to begin.
I am stepping in the shallow water of Uechi sea, the water is barely a foot deep. I am beginning to see the ocean waves ahead.
Ganbatte kudasai!
Farewell Dinner
Aleksander and I will be going home tomorrow. After the last training in this afternoon, Sensei and Sumako sempai took us to an Italian restaurant, Marcaroni & Grill, at Camp Foster. Together were Sumako’s friend and her daughter. The food there was really great! My tummy was really expanded. What a dinner! Thanks to Sensei and Sumako sempai.
“一期一会” (ichi go ichi e), one meeting in one life time. This is our first meeting in our entire life time. Every meeting has to come to an end. To an end so that another can begin. We will meet again.
Certificate Ceremony
Today is the last day of my training on Okinawa. Aleksander from Norway had his grading test today. He has done well in a week too. After the test, Seizan Sensei awarded certificates to us. It is me, Aaron, Jessica and Aleksander from top to bottom.
Congratulations! Ganbatte kudasai. Renshu, renshu. Till we meet again in near future. When? “Whenever!”, said Jessica. It was great to work with them. I really enjoy the sweat, laughter and seriousness of their training. The best training I ever have in my life!
A diamond in the rough?
Today, only Hikaru came for the training. We practiced a few kata together and before he left, he suddenly asked me to check and correct his Seiunchin and Seisan kata. I was a little surprised. Of course, I did point out a few mistakes in his kata. He was very happy.
Hikaru sprained his left ankle 2 weeks after I arrived. We used to practiced in the morning together with Jessica. One day he came with his left ankle bandaged. I really missed training with him. He is the boy I like to work with.
When he asked me to correct his kata, I saw no ego in his eyes. Only sincerity. I like to work with people with sincerity. That’s why I love to work with him so much.
When I arrived, I learned from him. Today, he learned from me. There is always learning between us no matter what rank we have. I guess today is another happiest day I have on Okinawa.
My best wishes to Hikaru. I hope he will become a great master one day!
Human Complexity
The complexity in the human world is simplicity that has failed. The human is the only animal that needs to be taught how to become animal again.
My training in Uechi-ryu Zankai karate has opened up a whole new dimension of knowledge about bio-mechanism in the human body which in turn to simulate animal movement. Uechi-ryu Zankai, an old style karate, teaches the forms of 7 animals: Dragon, Tiger, Crane being the 3 basic and mostly practiced as in postures together with Leopard, Snake, Cobra, and Mantis.
In the forms of these 7 animals, human can be taught to become primitive again where powerful movement and postures come from the animal instinct of the primitive homosapiens.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. – Leonardo DaVinci
Uechi-ryu is teaching the simplicity of the animals which is so complicated for a complex human. The simplicity in the Uechi-ryu Zankai karate is the hardest to understand and to perfection compares to complexity of any other sports karate.
My understanding of Uechi-ryu Zankai has just begun and it is so shallow which I can only write so little about its simplicity versus the complexity of modern humanization.
Test Day
Test day! Well, I woke up at usual time but slightly early. Everything seems fine. Last night, I watched a movie to relax and to get my mind into another dimension away from training. After the movie, I did some mental training. So I guess (don’t I tell you that I guess?) I have enough good mental preparedness. This evening will be the test of myself, an ultimate test, from Jukyu to Ikkyu before qualifying for Shodan test.
Uechi-ryu Zankai has a very strict protocol for students from other style. It is simply because a completely different style or system.One has to unlearn everything to be able to absorb the knowledge of Uechi-ryu. One also needs to sublimate ego. It is especially for people, a yudansha (dan holder), and with many years of training which their minds have been so adapted to the system(s) they have been training into, to begin from Jukyu (white belt).
I will be wearing white belt during the test tonight and able to feel wearing a white belt again after 22 years of training in other style.
Protected: Where is the power of wa-uke?
Protected: 十六 – Seirui
Severe Training
Time to be serious! Test week. I will be tested for appropriate rank this Wednesday. So, tonight, everyone was burning real hard. I was no exception. I burned in Kanshiwa bunkai, rensoku kumite, Seisan, kote kitae, koriashi kitae and yoriashi kitae. Everyone was wearing sweat. A few sempai and kids were there to help. Spirit was good.
After performing Seisan, Sensei taught me Seirui. Seirui is the nidan qualifying kata and is the dragon kata which completes Seichin. Seichin is also a dragon kata.
Seirui teaches antekan or stability. The flow of the techniques is fluid and swift and as powerful as the dragon. Comparing to Seisan (which is a dragon, crane and tiger kata), it is easier to learn. Of course, some techniques need a while to be familiar with.
I have learnt Sanchin, Kanshiwa, Kanshuu, Seichin, Seiunchin, Seiryuchin, Seisan, and Seirui.
Earthquake on Okinawa
There was an earthquake this morning. Buildings were shaking according to Sensei. But I did not feel anything because I was still sleeping. I missed the chance to experience earthquake again. I am fine and everyone on Okinawa is fine too.
Typhoon is heading towards Taiwan so no worry.
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