In the beginning we did not expect such a high turn out, as the rec center apparently did a poor job of advertising for the dojo.  The original goal was to increase beginner enrollment for the dojo by utilizing the large customer base from the rec center.  As time continued and enrollment looked small for our summer camp, a few families of the students and some of the instructors began to advertise at the dojo and to friends.  By the time the summer camp began, 19 students had enrolled.

Material covered during the summer camp was similar to the material taught during regular classes.  Classes began with junbi undo (warm ups) and hojo undo (techniques).  Our 4 – 6 year old students did a great job following along, and received a good introduction to what will come as they get older.  Beginners and yellow belts worked on new material including sanchin, pre-arranged kumite 1 and 2 with partners.  Advanced students got to work on dan kumite, their kata, and bunkai.  Some of the sessions were set aside for students to work on basic Aikido drills such as falling, rolling forward, and rolling backward.

One of the days we were able to have an arts and crafts day.  Sensei Richard was able to find mostly everyone’s name in Japanese and had them write it out in hopes that everyone would be able to memorize it at one point.  We also decorated what was hopefully something resembling a picture frame so that pictures of themselves could be placed in them as a way to remember their time at the summer camp.  We also worked on origami cranes, which Kaety Jackowski helped everyone with, however, many of us were not able to finish in time.

The final day was a review day, but also a demonstration to the parents as to what everyone had learned and what we were all working on.  This last day was also our testing day, which replaced our monthly test for August.

Congratulations to everyone that passed their test!

Since the interest was so high from existing students, Bennetts Karate plans on having a second summer camp in 2011. The format will be different, and should be able to accommodate all of our students, regardless of age or rank.  We also plan on having special guests and specialty classes available.  The Summer Camp next year will most likely be at the Bennetts Karate dojo but will incorporate all of the recreational centers.

Thank you for your interest and we will continue to grow!

Daniel Sher started Uechi Ryu Karate in October 2005 at the Frederick Carbon Valley Recreation Center.  Originally he trained under Kyoshi Allen Bennett and Sensei Amanda Bennett, but later became a student of Sensei Richard Bennett after the Frederick school was left to him in 2008.  At 14 yrs old, and 4 years later, Daniel Sher received his junior 1st degree black belt.  Full black belts are only awarded at the minimum age of 16, so Daniel will have to test again for his full black belt in 2 years.

The black belt test was scheduled to be on November 16th, but had to be rescheduled to November 30th instead because of weather complications and various black belt testing board members becoming ill.  The test began at approximately 2pm and lasted about 40 minutes.  The black belt testing board members included:

Sensei Richard Bennett
Kyoshi Allen Bennett
Sensei Ethan Bennett
Sensei Bill Haggard

Special thanks also to David Tieben for helping us score the test, and to Aaron Haggard for being Daniel’s partner on various testing items.

Karate used to have techniques similar to Aikido practiced all the time.  As Okinawan karate became more influenced by Japanese culture, these kinds of techniques were changed or removed from its core.  I have heard many different names for these old forms like Tuite, but Uechi Ryu in its entirety no longer practices these techniques in a formailized manner.  Systems like Goju Ryu still practice Tuite techniques.  In Uechi Ryu Karate-Do Kokusai Kyokai under Master Thompson, we ptracice Aikido as a way to go back to the roots of Okinawan karate, and learn techniques that would be lost to us otherwise.

Where is the Aikido in Uechi Ryu?
In Uechi Ryu, Aikido is all around us – in just about every technique that we do – and has applications on every circle block, cat stance, or wauke strike – plus on every sanchin step that we take in our kata.  Circle block to Ikkyo is something I have seen pictures of Goju Ryu masters such as Morio Higaonna demonstrating at the Budokan, and something I’ve seen at practically all Uechi Ryu seminars that I participated in.  The technique similar to Ikkyo traces it’s origin back to the Kung Fu systems in China – like Tiger.  And as we know, Five Ancestor Fist and all related systems such as Pangainoon, Uechi Ryu, and Goju Ryu contain Tiger Kung Fu in it’s lineage.  Kyoshi Allen Bennett, my father, met the great great grandson of Shuu Shiwa (forgive me if I do not know the exact amount of “greats” to use), quite a few years ago.  His great great grandson specializes in Tiger Kung Fu, and demonstrated many techniques on Kyoshi Bennett during their time together such as – Ikkyo from a circle block.

The beginning of Sanchin – double nukite strikes (spear hand) forward grab and pull upward to the guard position, or twist upward into the guard position depending on your background.  This is also an Aikido technique from a double arm or single arm grab.  The same kind of attack can be defended by a circle block among others.

The two handed movement into the low stance at the end of Seisan, right before the jump back, is also an Aikdo throw.  This throw is practiced in the Aikido warm up exercise sai0-undo.

The take down in Dan Kumite uses an Aikido technique similar to the cat stance in Seichin kata.  The twisting of the forearm with one hand in a circular motion, while rolling the shoulder with the other hand acting as the fulcrum is similar to a variety of joint and jo techniques practiced in Aikido.  Manipulating the leg joints for the take down is just as important and the arm joints for the take down if it comes down to that – because it is possible to do the take down effectively with just the arm or just the leg.

Relationship Between Aikido and Uechi Ryu
Many, if not all, Uechi Ryu students have a hard time separating hard from soft in karate.  They want to strike the person as hard as they can, or block as hard as they can.  Sometimes they act like robots, without any fluidity.  Student’s move back and forth like a two dimensional video game characters rather than using 3 dimensions, moving side to side or in circles.

Aikido brings the natural movement of the body into the spot light more than conventional karate practices can.  Students lose themselves in the opponent and react in the heat of the moment rather than as they would naturally, as if nothing were wrong – or as if anyone was trying to harm them.  Circle blocking is easy, it flows into the opponents attack to become one and the counter attack moves together with the block to create one solid movement.  This kind of philosophy is the essence of Aikido, but is also an intricate part of what karate teaches as well.

What Does Aikido Teach for You?
Aikido teaches a lot of practical real life applications to their techniques, which is probably why many law enforcement agencies end up learning Aikido or forms of it like Koga.  Aikido also teaches ways of falling and rolling which can help us on a daily basis while playing sports or slipping on rollerblades.  Aikido is also a non-violent way to defend yourself, in case you do not want to hurt your opponent or are required not to hurt individuals by your profession.

Our Aikido classes are currently Saturdays from 1 – 215pm, but will most likely change in January 2010 – so keep updated on the website for that information.

Friday 11-13-2009 @6pm, Westminster MHK
Bokken, Jo kata, Two man Jo routines, Jo take away and throws

I saw a group doing this at the Budokan in Naha, Okinawa and it was pretty cool.  Jo is a requirement for black belt in a lot of Aikido organizations, so this might be one of the only times to learn such a thing first hand from an expert.  I think Jo, and Bokken defenses and attacks are pretty awesome and I suggest everyone to at least be able to see this.  This is one of the seminars that I will try not to miss.

Saturday 11-14-2009 @1pm, Erie at Bennetts Karate
Aikido basics, techniques, and Aikido with connection

This will take the place of our regularly scheduled class for Aikido on Saturday.

Sunday 11-15-2009 @2pm, Erie at Bennetts Karate
Aikido techniques, martial movement.

This seminar will take place after our bi-annual black belt test.

Monday 11-16-2009 @6pm, Westminster MHK
Aikido sensing and feeling, Martial arts with no mind, Movement for center.

All seminars should last a few hours, and costs $20.00 per person, per event, to participate.  Students and parents can show up and watch for free.  Steve Kellum was here a few years ago and helped us out with the black belt test for Joe Murrah.  He also did Randori with me and a few of the other black belts.  Randori, in terms of an Aikido setting, is when a group of individuals attack someone however they want, while the goal of the Aikido student (or teacher) is to use their knowledge of Aikido to parry, dodge, or subdue their assailants.  Its bad to kick, because you will definately get knocked down!

Steve Kellum is a 4th degree black belt in Uechi Ryu and was one of my teachers when I was growing up.  He was also one of the senpai students at my father’s dojo in Grand Rapids Michigan.  I tested for my 2nd Dan with him at Master Thompon’s dojo when he tested for his 4th Dan.

Shihan Allen Bennett will continue teaching classes at this facility until the end of 2009.  By the start of the next year, Sensei Richard Bennett will hopefully be able to take over their classes.  At the moment, we are still working with the rec center on the times and days but we hope them to be a Tues/Fri or Wed/Fri combination.  I know that with the creation of these classes at the Hyland Hills facility, there will be a few old students in that area that could now sign up, but previously could not.

http://www.hylandhills.org/