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Home Biography Calendar Contact Us Karate Kids Kardio Corner Kobudo History Dictionary Newsletter Guest Book	Sensei Speaks - 2008 Midwest—Okinawa Connection A Success Yes, the 2008 Midwest—Okinawa Connection was a tremendous success. It is so very unfortunate that there were not a large number of people attending the camp but those who were there got a great deal. The camp began on Friday evening as scheduled with a good kata review and some weapons review. Kyoshi Perry was our key presenter at the camp and he is always a great teacher. Most of the people attending the camp say that they could stay in his classes all day. He is a man of extensive knowledge and he has a very keen way of presenting the material to keep it interesting. We brought in Shihan Lemuel Muhammed who is well known for his Jiu Jitsu. Mr. Muhammed gave some excellent instruction and training to show correlations between our kata and various techniques in Jiu jitsu. Kyoshi Noel Smith also gave some very good classes on the Shorinkan system as we learned back in the old days when we were much younger. He also had numerous compliments on the material that he presented. Kyoshi Stolsmark introduced the next seven of twenty one yakusoku kumite that Sensei no longer teaches. That was some excitement for quite a few of those who were in his classes. Mr. Ward did a super job in the weapons training classes that he taught. He is a very impressive teacher who ensures that students are staying in touch with his teaching. These and other instructors made the camp a great success. Kyoshi Arnold Mitchell was very instrumental in the success of the camp. He worked with students on their kata performance in both weapons and empty hand. Again, our special congratulations to Kyoshi Mitchell on his recent promotion to Nanadan. Along with the responsibility for the camp, I taught several classes. There is not enough to be said for Dr. Russell and his students. For the past two years they have been a tremendous asset. Thanks Dar. Russell and GMAU for all that you do. Congratulations to Sidney Murphy, Brooke Hale, Zach Haworth, Alex Burke, to Shodan; and Dennis Anglin and James Parker, Jr. to Nidan. These individuals were tested at the camp and did excellent. Train On! Karate History — Your Sensei Eddie B Bethea, Jr. was born December 20, 1943, Eddie B Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Bethea. He is the second of eight siblings of which five girls have already passed away. As a young boy, he initially held an interest in becoming a preacher. By the time he was in high school, that interest had changed to that of becoming an airplane pilot. Upon graduation from high school he joined the United States Air Force. He had a small scholarship to a school in North Carolina but the family could not afford the cost of schooling. The first duty station was Montgomery, Alabama. During my stay there I had many life changing experiences. Just to name a few: The Bay Of Pigs; assassination of President John F Kennedy, the Selma to Montgomery march, signing of the Civil Rights Bill, driving for actors Jimmy Stewart and Rex Allen, Governor Wallace’s stand in the door of the University to prevent integration. There are quite a few more that have helped to propel me to where I am today. I left Alabama for my tour of duty on Okinawa where I began my study of karate. My first night as I rode the bus from Kadena to Naha, I saw a sign that read “karate gym” and as soon as I received my first paycheck I went back and found that sign. Ironically enough, the 14th of the month will mark 42 years since my training began. I have remained true to my Sensei and will remain loyal to his teachings regardless of my likes and dislikes. The karate that I have learned has been a great growth instrument in my life and I thank God first and Sensei. I have been many places and met lots of people of whom I would not have met had it not been for karate. There have been so many things done and seen. Most of all karate has brought our lives together and I cherish that to the utmost. I believe that my purpose is to teach you and to help you to become giants in your own way. Some of you will go further and do much more than I have done. As I live, it excites me to see you achieve your goals. Congratulations To Our Graduates Ju-Kyu Mrs Spansail Ku–Kyu Evan Collins—MM Austin Carter—MM Jon Callane, Jr.—MM Rok-Kyu Ms. Ferguson Go-Kyu Mr. Miller, Landon San-Kyu Ms. Stephens Mr. Kemper Mr. Miller Ik-Kyu Ms. Perkins Ni-Dan Mr. Anglin Mr. Parker You can see that the month of May was a good month for graduations. Again, I am really proud of the way that the students have performed during their graduations. It very interesting to watch the little guys as they are learning the Kihons, the punches, the kicks, and the blocks. They are quite a bit more absorbent than all of us who are older. My special congratulations to all of you because you have all done well. Train Hard! Student Of The Month The selection for Student Of The Month has come easy this time around. Our youth S.O.M. is Michael Etherington. Mr. Etherington has distinguished himself through his attendance to class and his determination to work for what he gets. He has been very accepting of all that he has been asked to do and he continually works at getting it done. He has adapted to the discipline of the Dojo and that has been the catalyst for his change. Timothy Kemper is our adult S.O.M. He has worked hard to find a balance in his karate training and other responsibilities that he has taken on. He has been very supportive of the Dojo and a loyal student. Mr. Kemper recently graduated to brown belt and has accepted his role as a senior. Both students have beenvery competitive and have represented the Dojo well. Kick-A-Thon Success The Kick-A-Thon has been over for a month and we still need to get monies in. It has really been fantastic at the amount that has been collected in view of the fact that things are tight right now. However, we have some students who have gotten out and done an excellent job in collecting. I want to especially recognize a couple of our little students who collected over $200. Specifically, I am speaking of Mr. Joshua Ferguson and Mr. Riley Stone. As a matter of fact, Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson told me a heart warming story about Mr. Ferguson being distraught because he had not collected very much money for those “sick children”. So, Mr. Ferguson had to take him down through the neighborhood to try and collect more money. That is a story well worth telling and I know that God smiles when the children have hearts like that. We are in the process of calling all of those people who have not turned their money in. Yes, we are below our usual amounts for Kick-A-Thons but that does not matter. What matters is that we should do all that we can to help the less fortunate. No one has any idea of what lives those people live until it hits close to home. Otherwise, we live a very blessed life. Thanks to all of you. The Camp This year’s camp was not a very large camp but it was one exciting camp. The camp is to compared to a Shorinkan 101 class at the Karate University. The instruction at the camp was of highest quality that anyone could ever ask to have. The student base was also one of the best that you could want to have. From the beginning of classes on Friday until the end of testing on Sunday it was obvious that everyone was well pleased with what they were getting. Our instructional staff consisted of Kyoshi Doug Perry from North Carolina, Kyoshi Noel Smith from Virginia, Kyoshi Neil Stolsmark from Wisconsin, Kyoshi Arnold Mitchell from Maryland, Shihan Lemuel Muhammed from Illinois, Renshi Mike Bandy From Kokomo, Renshi Tom Ward form Crawfordsville, Kyoshi Eddie Bethea. We had students come in from Arizona, Michigan, Virginia, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Missouri, and Indiana. I don’t believe that anyone left the camp without having learned something that they did not know. Special Events June 2 — Graduation 5-7 June 3 — Mr. Gruel’s Dojo 5-7 June 6, 7, 8 — Wisconsin Camp June 11 — Brn/Blk Belt Class Night June 12, 14, 15 — USKK Grand Nationals Peoria, Il June 14 — Flag Day June 15 — Father’s Day June 21 — Kobayashi National Karate Championships June 21 — Summer Begins June 25 — Brn/Blk Belt Class Night Your Karate Again, the question is what does your karate mean to you? This is a question that must be answered again and again. The only way to answer this question honestly is to look at the amount of time that you are spending with karate. Karate is a great vessel for change if you really want change. I would be honest in saying that most people who enter karate need some change. That does not mean that people are bad but it does say that everyone could stand a change in their life. My own testimony is of great changes in my life and there are some changes that I still have to make. My quest is always to help others to overcome obstacles in their lives. So, your karate is there for you. Are you interested in taking advantage of it? Train regular and train hard and you will suddenly recognize a change in your self. Karate Morality Code The ideal of Karate is to cultivate noble character and conducts, the virtues of modesty and courtesy. No forestalling in Karate. Karate is the military art of self-defense to protect and preserve your life and never to attack others on your own initiative. Perseverance is the root of all the conducts. True patience lies in bearing what is unbearable. Put back your hands when you are full of fight and retract your fight when your hands itch to deal a blow. Softness is unity, Strength is unity. The ultimate object of human beings should be co-existence and co-prosperity in peace. All human actions, softness, and strength, should be united into peace. Avoid the fights and quarrels even if you were dared to. From The Kokomo School of Self Defense Training Manual By living the Karate Morality Code you will never fail in life. It will make you wise, confident, courageous, patient, a leader, modest, courteous, independent, and in control of your life.