American Samurai

Elastic Band and Elastic Tubing:

Equipment of Choice for Karate Students and Karate Athletes

INTRODUCTION: There are many stories and some border with legends that speak about origin of karate. All agree that original karate was developed as a martial art on island of Okinawa with strong influence of martial art from main land of China. There are number of karate Masters credited with developing particular martial art system. Some of these systems late become specific karate styles. Karate was developed in stages were after certain period of time karate will undergo change and “jump”  to the next level. Regardless how much karate was changed in those distant times karate’s main objective to find the most effective form of self defense remain unchanged. Karate was going in this way perfecting self defense skills untill 1908 when one of the prominent Okinawan Master of Shoryn-ryu karate style, Master Anko Itosu (1831-1915), “change-soften” karate’s self defense core in order that he can introduced karate into public school system to be practiced by children as a part of physical education curriculum. This was first out of four steps that begin to change karate from what it was originally on the road were karate is tody. If there are those die hard traditional karate practitioners that believed that Master Itosu did not change traditional karate in 1908 they need to ask themselves are the children capable of deadly self defense same as adults are? An answer to this question is double NO: NO mentally and NO physically.

Remembering 9-11 where were you?

  For me I was on a plane sitting with my friend John where we were returning from a world karate championship in Prague. Traveling with the US team an announcement came that the US airspace had been closed as the United States was under attack. We were headed to Chicago but found ourselves with many other landing in Canada, in our case Montreal. One of the team was in contact with his brother in NYC by phone and shared the news that a plane had crashed into the trade center, then another and we were getting an eye witness reports by phone as events unfolded. As a former Ironworker this was really hitting home knowing the construction of the towers I had a pretty good visual in my mind’s eye. After a night in Mt. Blanc and as soon as the borders opened a friend Doug and I headed south on I 87 via taxi to meet with his brother coming up from NYC. Doug was very helpful to me with logistics, a true friend.  We had seen the clips on the news in Canada but once in NY it was time for me to head south. I knew that many of my brother Ironworkers would be at the scene and thought if I would be able to help with my skills from local 40 but chose to head south to my original destination Raleigh NC. Traveling down the turnpike in NJ the song played for every season turn, turn, turn, as I looked to the left the smoke billowed from where once stood the two towers. At this point in my life I was working as a photographer, driving with my camera on the seat next to me.   I refused to take a photo having covered a war I was just too angry to consider taking images as I felt violated and wanted to strike someone. 10 years later friends are building again on this site. I am back living in NY and will always remember those days. At that time I put away my passport not to travel abroad now for me it is time to travel again. It is great to see the Freedom tower rise, yet we will never forget this solemn day, a great loss to so many families.

How Age Influence Flexibility and How Flexibility Influence Age

INTRODUCTION: If we take moment to look at young children two things will be obvious: they love to play and they exhibit great deal of flexibility. While desire to play and to have fun is real, exhibited flexibility is real, but somewhat exaggerate by the disproportionately smaller size of the children’s lower extremities in respect to torso. Full body proportions will be broth to bare at the skeletal maturation when peak body height will be reached. This situation stated for children will hold truth also for the babies in the animal world. Only difference will be that human in spite of the most advanced brain among all Earthly creatures will continue to be immature both physically and intellectually longer than offspring of any other species. Human brain will continue to display characteristics of “immaturity” which result in love for play and flexibility well into teen age.

 2011 USA Open Caesars Palace Las Vegas Nevada

By Bill Bly

According to Roger Jarrett the 2011 USA Open was the largest ever. Now in its 11th year an event that debuted in West Virginia in 2000 under Jarrett’s direction with the goal of bringing the best athletes in the world to compete in the United States.

With more than 2000 competitors, an event that consists of two tournaments, the USA Open and the Junior Olympics again had something for everyone. With this many competitors the event is undoubtedly the largest WKF supported event and likely the largest karate tournament of its kind.

Friday the event begins with the Jr. Olympics competition minus several divisions in an effort to complete the event in one day. The venue a new location recently built as an extension of Caesars Palace that consists of multiple floors of ballrooms.

Slideshow Galleries and Video finals now available