Spring 2010 Perfecting character way back when, and...still doing it in 2010 Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai Perfecting Character Since 1991 Winter Shiai features promotions, karateka of year By LAURA MURRAY Sho Dan bout 100 Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai students A turned out for the Winter Shiai Dec. 5 to celebrate the end of another year and watch several students earn promotions and awards. (See WINTER SHIAI, page 6) Sensei Susan Harris, upper left, busts through four blocks before being promoted to yon don while Mr. Kent Kirkpatrick, above, breaks two blocks before earning ni dan. Karateka and Black Belt of The Year were Ni Kyu Jovi Espinosa, Sensei Jeannie Rupp and Sho Dan Ho Shane Murray. Inside Shihan s Corner.2 Gasshuku update....3 Winter Classic.....4-5 Know Your Black Belts.7 Senseis Corner.....8
Page 2 SPRING 2010 Shihan s corner "We make our decisions and our decisions make us" T hink twice before you do something once so you can make a better decision. We must learn from life and others so we don't repeat our lessons or bad decisions. Say well is good. Do well is better. Make the best decisions. Kyoshi Shihan Kristensen Calendar May 4... Sensei Susan Harris Birthday May 11... Sensei Tommy Thomas Birthday May 18... Mrs. Jennifer Wiederkehr s Birthday May 21... Mr. Clement Caracciolo s Birthday May 24... Sensei Jeannie Rupp s Birthday May 30...Hanshi William H. Duessel s Birthday June 15... Mrs. Carol Gue s Birthday June 30... Mr. Shane Murray s Birthday July 22... Kyoshi Shihan Kristensen s Birthday July 23-24... Isshinryu Hall of Fame Tournament, Knoxville, Tenn. August 5... Mr. Tyler Murray s Birthday August 28... Summer Shiai, Location TBA NEW STUDENTS October 15... Ainsley Butterfield, Plano November 11... Gary T. Epps, Denton January 5... Louis Salamanca, Seguin January 5... Daniel Salamanca, Seguin January 7... Daniel Gonzalez, Nevada IKK January 12... Ken Cardona, Coppell January 14... Sean Forsyth, Nevada IKK January 14... Dominic Sanchez, Granbury January 20... Tony Harrelson, Plano January 28... Andrew Freeman, Denton February 16... Nicholas Williams, Plano February 18... Robert DuTeil, Jr., Denton February 22... Caroline Budnick, Flower Mound March 2... John Hawkins, Denton March 17... Courtney Cook, Nevada IKK March 20... Lura Cook, Nevada IKK April 5... Bruce Cook, Nevada IKK TIKK & Appreciates The Shah Family s Support Of The Newsletter!!! is published periodically by karateka of Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai, established in 1991, and is distributed to students at all the school s dojos and to others interested in TIKK activities. Publisher Kyoshi Shihan Robert Kristensen Editor Sho Dan Laura Murray Coppell Dojo (Main) 1203 Crestside, Suite 230, Coppell, TX 75019 (817)491-1130 Visit us on the web: www.txikk.com Aubrey All About Fitness (940)390-0192 Denton Brickhouse Gym (940)390-0192 Flower Mound Flower Mound Community Church (817)491-1130 Granbury Jumping Party (214)923-1924 Plano University of Gymnastics & Elite Champion Gymnastics (817)491-1130 Seguin Grace Family Bible Church (830)875-5602 Affliliated Schools located In Nevada & North Carolina
SPRING 2010 Page 3 13th Gasshuku attracts karateka from five states By LAURA MURRAY Sho Dan he 13th annual Gasshuku T may well be remembered as the year it became a national event, well, sort of. Karateka from five states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Nevada and, of course, Texas will converge on Camp Summit in Copper Canyon for this year's Gasshuku scheduled for April 23-25. Special attendees of this year's Gasshuku include Kyoshi Marvin Carmona and his wife, black belt Kelly Carmona, of New Jersey ho Dan Kyle Murray, a sophomore studying S business at Baylor University in Waco, made the Dean's List for the fall 2009 semester. He earned a 3.75 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. I really enjoy Baylor because it is a learning environment where people actually want to be in class and actually work hard toward their goals, Mr. Murray said. Purple belt Jack Pergantis, who is a seventh grader at Schimelpfenig Middle School in Plano, earned straight As for every six-weeks grading period this school year. His best class not including athletics and band is Spanish with him never getting lower than a 97. Sho Dan Ho Shane Murray, a freshman at Coppell High School, made the All-Region Band for trombone and then earned a Division I rating at the Regional Solo and Ensemble Contest and will compete at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest in May. He also was named "Newcomer of the Year" for his first cross country season in high school and is currently is competing on the junior varsity track team where he has earned several top finishes in the 800- meter dash. and Renshi Karl Sidnam of Pennsylvania. Also coming in from out-ofstate are Sho Dan Mike Cohen, who now runs North Carolina Isshinryu Karate Kai, and three of his students and Sho Dan Dennis Przybyla of Nevada Isshinryu Youth corner Karate Kai and three of his students. The Gasshuku, which will cover all aspects of Isshinryu from kata to kumite to self defense, is equivalent to about three months of training, Kyoshi Shihan Kristensen said. The Gasshuku allows senior students to focus on themselves without as many distractions from everyday life, he added. The theme for this year's Gasshuku is "Perfecting One's Character." The Spring Shiai will follow the Gasshuku on April 25 with signin beginning at 1 p.m. and the shiai to start at 2:30 p.m. Sho Dan Tyler Murray's band Amber Open Skies, a punk/indie band, is finishing up songs for its first CD entitled "Songs for Sleeping." The band has played a number of gigs in recent months, including the House of Blues in Dallas, the First United Methodist Church Coffee House, the Coppell Lion's Club fundraiser at Sam Pack's Auto Museum and the Rock The Plaza event organized by Coppell Youth Leadership. Mr. Murray said he wanted to thank his TIKK friends for all their votes in his band's quest to make it to the finals for the 2009 School Jam USA Battle of the Bands contest. The band was one of 10 bands selected as a semi -finalist in the southwest region and was attempting to be one of the top two in the region to move on to the finals. While only the names of the top two bands were announced at the end of the contest, Amber Open Skies may have just missed making it as it was in third place two days before the end of the contest. To hear some of Amber Open Skies music, visit www.myspace.com/amberopenskies.
PAGE 4 spring 2010 TIKK students earn 108 medals at Traditional Martial Arts Winter Class By LAURA MURRAY Sho Dan A bout 75 students from five north Texas martial arts schools competed in the third annual Traditional Martial Arts Winter Classic tournament Feb. 27 in Denton. Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai fared well with three black belts winning grand champion titles and the school bringing home a total of 108 medals including 42 first places, 40 second places and 26 third places. Sensei Tony Palos and Susan Harris both earned grand championship titles in kata while Sho Dan Glenn Gibbs won the men's kumite grand champion title. Following are TIKK's complete tournament results: Black Belt Divisions Kata KumiteWeapons Susan Harris 1st 2nd Tommy Thomas 2nd Tony Palos 1st Tina Palos 2nd 1st Steve Gellman 3rd Kent Kirkpatrick 2nd Clement Caracciolo 2nd Kyle Murray 1st Mark Hendrix 3rd Laura Murray 2nd 1st Glenn Gibbs 1st 1st 1st Margaret Myers 1st 2nd Tyler Murray 1st 2nd Chuck Blommaert 3rd Advanced Divisions Kata Kumite Allan Wallander 1st 1st Johannes Kroll 2nd 2nd Taylor Casale 3rd 2nd Dakota Wilson 3rd 2nd Steve Kroll Kumite Grand Champion Sho Dan G Kata Grand Champion Sensei Susan Harris
SPRING 2010 Page 5 sic tourney; three TIKK black belts take grand champion titles Glenn Gibbs Kata Grand Champion Sensei Tony Palos Yellow belt Chase Wahnautka, far left, performs his kata before taking first in kumite while brown belts Caleb Stanley and Dakota Wilson,center photo, kumite. Above, white belt Steve Sumners focuses while performing his kata. Steve Pergantis 3rd 2nd Dan Melendez 3rd Jim Wallander 1st Caleb Stanley 1st 1st Joey Marcella 3rd 3rd Garrett Marcella 3rd 3rd Jovi Espinsosa Carey Clagett 1st 3rd Ethan Tucker 2nd 3rd Mark McLaughlin Caleb Clarke 1st Kelli Kleppinger Ethan Shah 2nd 2nd Intermediate Divisions Kata Kumite Jack Pergantis Maggie Butterfield Adrian Clarke 2nd 2nd David Van Winkle 3rd 3rd Aisha Espinosa Adam Wallander 1st 1st L.B. Herbert Brandon Kirkpatrick 1st 1st Daniel Becker Nicole Van Winkle 3rd Micah Maguire 3rd Beginner Divisions Kata Kumite Albert Solares 2nd Julian Paulino 3rd Zachery Casale 2nd 3rd Luke DelRio Kaylee Bordeaux 2nd 3rd Mann-Ning Li 1st 1st Colleen Clarke 3rd 2nd Chase Wahnautka 1st Dawson Easton-Brooks Trey Dickey 3rd 3rd Steve Sumners 3rd 3rd Will Hawkins Ben Carroll 1st Brett Roth 3rd Ray Ramos Kason Chesky 2nd Other TIKK students competing in the tournament include: Jeannie Rupp, Robert Casale, Omar Akram, Joshua Wiederkehr, Ainsley Butterfield and Seth Longo.
PAGE 6 SPRING 2010 Ethan Shah earns his brown belt. Caleb Clarke makes brown belt also. Dianne Van Winkle busts through a board before making ni kyu. Winter Shiai... (From Page 1) Sho Dan Ho Shane Murray was named Junior Karateka of the Year while shortly after being promoted to ni kyu, Jovi Espinosa was named Senior Karateka of the Year. San Dan Jeannie Rupp, who opened her own dojo in Granbury in 2009 and won first place in kata and kumite in her division at the Isshinryu World Karate Association World Championships in Pittsburgh, was named Black Belt of the Year. Sensei Susan Harris was promoted to yon dan, or fourth degree black belt, after busting through four concrete blocks. Mr. Kent Kirkpatrick earned his ni dan, or second degree black belt, after smashing through two concrete blocks. Other big promotions of the day include Dianne Van Winkle and Carey Clagett moving on to Micah Maguire makes green. ni kyu, or the second level in brown belt, and Ethan Shah, Mark McLaughlin, Kelli Kleppinger and Caleb Clarke all entering the brown rank with promotions to san kyu. Making green belt were Micah Maguire and Brandon Kirkpatrick and earning yellow belt were Andrew Timms, Dawson Easton-Brooks, Alexander Guardado, Chase Wahnautka, Luke DelRio and Zachery Casale.
SPRING 2010 Page 7 KNOW YOUR BLACK BELTS Mr. Mark Hendrix KARATE Rank: sho dan. I first started doing karate on: August 11, 2001. I first started doing karate because: I wanted to do an activity together with my youngest son Tim. The thing that has kept me doing karate has been: the challenge of always learning something new and the people of TIKK. I achieved my sho dan on: April 13, 2008. My favorite kata is: Suansu. My favorite karate drill is: Shobu kumite. My least favorite karate drill/exercise is: forearm conditioning. The one thing Shihan has taught me that has had the most impact on my life is: that you can achieve your goals with hard work and patience. To me, karate is: challenging the mind, conditioning the body and energizing the spirit. My most memorable karate experience is: sho dan testing as a part of the "Six-Pack." My goal in karate this year is: to learn and improve my weapons katas and to continue contributing as an instructor at the Plano dojo. PERSONAL Nickname: none. Birth date and place: March 5, 1960, Camden, South Carolina. Occupation (outside of karate): master's degree in mechanical engineering; engineering manager and marketing specialist for Commscope, a telecom company. Family: wife Peggy, sons Chris (20) and Tim (17.) I live in: Richardson. My favorite pastime or hobby besides karate is: golf, running, our border collies, being a part of my kids activities and being a fan of my college (Clemson) sports teams. The three words people use to describe me are: hard-working, calm, persistent. The two people I d most like to meet are: southern fiction writer Pat Conroy and Albert Einstein. I wish I knew how to: fly a plane. I m most proud of: my family. My favorite restaurant is: Besas, a small Italian restaurant in our neighborhood. I m happiest when: relaxing at home with my family. The best vacation I ve ever had was when: our annual summer vacation to the beach with my brother and his family. My goal in life this year is to: get our youngest son Tim successfully off to college and get used to an empty nest! Hendrix named chair of engineering group S ho Dan Mark Hendrix has been named this year's chairman of the north Texas section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The north Texas section of the society has approximately 1,000 members and strives to promote the professional wellbeing of local ASME members. The section provides continuing education to engineers, monthly technical presentations of important and relevant topics and scholarships to deserving college students. Nationally, ASME is a 120,000-member professional organization focused on issues of the engineering and technology communities of the world.
Page 8 SPRING 2010 ometimes we find ourselves feeling sluggish and S can't seem to find the energy to keep going. Just the thought of exercising is exhausting. It may be that you need to examine what you are eating as this may be the culprit for lack of energy. If you are feeding yourself processed foods and/or junk food this may be the reason for lack of energy. Try to incorporate fresh veggies and fruit and whole grains and see for yourself the difference in how you feel. Sensei Jeannie Rupp eep a positive attitude. It is contagious. Things K will come full circle in time and in life. Keep focused... Sensei Susan Harris et your yes be yes and your no, no. How L good is your word? And, are you as good as your word? Think before you speak. Ask yourself, will I do what I am about to say? KEEP YOUR WORD! Sensei Tommy Thomas By MIKE HARPER Sho Dan here are many great benefits T of karate training. One of them, in my opinion, is gaining greater discipline. Discipline is not a bad word. In fact, I believe that those who are disciplined usually accomplish more in life than those who are not. For me, it s the focus that I get that helps me deal with the many distractions from everyday life and work. All of us today are faced with much more than I was when I was a young boy (I know many years ago.) Ever present cell phones, multiple TVs in the house, computers, DVDs, family pressures, friends, school and work. Even writing them out stresses me. Senseis corner exas Isshinryu Karate Kai T has stepped into the age of social networking and now is on facebook. White belt Steve Sumners, who owns Sleepin-Dogs.Com Website Designs, was instrumental in getting the facebook page set up. While the page content is open the public, members of the TIKK facebook group can get status updates from anyone in the group who makes a post on the page. njoy the Gasshuku!! If this is your first time or if E you are an old timer and have attended all Gasshukus, either way keep an open mind, give all you have on everything you do and the rewards will be more than you expected. This also applies to those only attending the shiai. Have fun!!! Renshi Maria Kristensen o you struggle to practice karate everyday? Did D you know that two or three short sessions have the same benefits as one longer session? If you look for opportunities during your day to run through a kata or drill, you will be surprised how easy and habit forming this can become. The benefits you will receive from consistency are definitely worth the effort! Sensei Tina Palos he days are getting longer. The weather is noticeably warmer. Spring is around the corner. T What s that big yellow thing in the sky? It s a season for new beginnings, new growth. Let that inspire you to strive for new growth in your training as well. Keep a beginner s mind! Sensei Tony Palos Karate training cultivates needed discipline in life With all of these things and more, it s important to remain focused and disciplined with our training. If nothing else, take a few minutes a day to do a kata that you re working on, practice a technique that your teacher(s) showed you during the week, or do a set of kicks, pushups or crunches. Nothing is wasted and everything adds up to make you a better karate student and person. Discipline will serve you well. TIKK gets social, goes on facebook So far the group has 37 members and 116 photos and seven videos posted have been posted. The page can be used for discussion, fun or just to inform people about things going on within the kai. For example, Sensei Tony Palos, who is an administrator of the page along with Renshi Maria Kristensen, used the page to notify students about the cancellation of classes in Coppell one day.