UH TEAM GOES TO NATIONALS

By: Shireen Hayatghaibi

In Charlotte, North Carolina July 15-17, the Shotokan Karate-Do Club at the University of Houston competed in the 2005 USA-NKF National Championship. The team left Houston on Thursday, and though it had a rocky start, as their plane flights were delayed 2 ½ hours, they eventually landed in Charlotte. For most of the competitors this was their very first national tournament. The tournament started at 8:00am on Friday morning. Friday’s events included individual kata and team kumite, in which the team did very well against many tough competitors.

Some of the highlights included Sensei Deddy Mansyur performing “Gojushiho Sho” and winning his second national gold medal by .1 of a point. Also for the first time, team Texas led by Sensei Alex Ndem beat out Illinois and Florida for the gold, in team kumite. The University of Houston ladies also, finally met their idol, Ms. Elisa Au, 3-time WKF World Champion. It was a pleasure and an honor for them to meet such a humble World-Class Athlete.

Sensei Elisa Au (middle), 3rd Dan, Civil Engineer, 3-Time WKF World Champion and UH ladies
Right to left Jennifer, Regina, Au Sensei, Shireen and Mehreen

The second day, Saturday July 16 was just as exciting as the first; this day was reserved for individual kumite. The team did even better on Saturday than they did on Friday, in which many karateka made it to the final rounds on Sunday, July 17.

Ms. Regina Schmahl, right, in action (kumite division)

The champions are as follows:

KATA
Gold - Sensei Deddy Mansyur
Silver - Ms. Mehreen Vazir
Bronze - Mr. Paul Torres
Bronze - Ms. Shireen Hayatghaibi
Bronze - Mr. Tyler Ludden

KUMITE
Gold - Sensei Alex NdemzGold - Sensei Abdul
Gold - Mr. Jamal Bey
Gold - Ms. Jennifer Oteri
Gold - Ms. Mehreen Vazir
Silver - Mr. Tyler Ludden
Silver - Ms. Regina Schmahl
Silver - Mr. Paul Torres
Bronze - Mr. Tuoyo Oteri
Bronze - Mr. Mark Bado

All in all the team from the University of Houston did extremely well at the 2005 USA-NKF Nationals. It was a valuable experience to have the opportunity to compete and it was as equally valuable to see how experienced, world-class athletes perform kata and kumite. The whole trip was a tremendous learning experience, in which the team shall take notes for next year for the 2006 USA-NKF Nationals in Fort Lauderdale, Florida!

University of Houston and Texas Teams

Ms. Shireen Hayatghaibi, senior at UH, is majoring in political science and sociology. She is on the National Dean's List and will be graduating in the Spring 2006. Currently, she is collaborating with Sensei Deddy Mansyur in writing his book, Karate-Do My Journey.

KANAZAWA 2004 SEMINAR
University of Houston Main Campus
Recreation Center
4800 Calhoun Road
Houston, Texas, USA

You are invited to attend this great seminar
By HIROKAZU KANAZAWA KANCHO
10th DAN
World Chief Instructor and Founder
Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIF)
Over 2 Million Members in More Than 100 Countries

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS HIS SEMINAR

PLEASE REGISTER EARLY!!!!!!

Click here for "Registration Form and Waiver"

Kancho just released his latest book, "KARATE-MY LIFE"
To order his book, please contact Sensei Glenna Burleson
General Secretary, SKIF-USA, at SKIFUSA@aol.com

Kanazawa Sensei's Seminar last year in June 2003 at the University of Houston
was attended by members of the SKIF, ITKF, SKIF, SKA, Independent Shotokan, Goju Ryu, Shito Ryu
Taekwondo, Wado Ryu and others from across America

For Hilton Hotel at the University of Houston, Please go to
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=HOUUHHF

University of Houston Recreation Center
http://uhcougars.ocsn.com/trads/hou-trads-rec.html
(Beautiful $53 million-264000 square foot-building)

Direction to the University of Houston from the airports (Hobby & Bush)
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/directions.jhtml?ctyhocn=HOUUHHF

Any SKIF member who is going to take the Dan exam with Kancho, please contact
Sensei Glenna Burleson
General Secretary of the SKIF-USA
Her email: SKIFUSA@aol.com

From the bottom of our hearts, we do thank you all for your support last year

Kanazawa Sensei was very happy to be with you all who came from different karatedo organizations

As always, Kancho says, "Harmony Harmony Harmony."

Quarterly Board Members Meeting
Saturday, October 11th, 2003

Foundation for Peace and Education through Martial Arts (FPEMA)
Shotokan Karate-Do Club at the University of Houston

At our quarterly board meeting Saturday our members in attendance discussed upcoming events and various issues. Some highlights included the possibility of recordkeeping for attendance to weekly practice, assessment of Kanazawa Kancho's seminar, and next summer's Gasshuku in Galveston. Discussion on Gasshuku and the seminar are ongoing, although likely weekend dates for training with Kanazawa include either the 18, 19, and 20th or 25, 26, and 27th of June 2004. An election process also followed and the board came up with new members along with incumbents; the results are as follows:

President- Deddy Mansyur
Vice President- Carter White
Treasurer- Kenny Williams
Secretary- Ngamy Hoang

Advisor- Ken Sax
Advisor- Tetsuo McFall
Advisor- Gabriel Veloz
Advisor- Chris Doynov

Club Celebrated Dojo's Founder Birthday

Saturday, Oct. 8th, 2003 the Shotokan Club celebrated the birthday of the dojo's founder and sensei, Deddy Mansyur. Students were able to surprise him with the cake after another good workout in the UC's World Affairs lounge Wednesday night.

The group was all in cheerful spirits as cohai and sempai belted out an off key rendition of "Happy Birthday" to which Sensei Deddy responded "hey, it's just like at Bennigan's!" When playfully asked about his age, Sensei answered with the obvious. "Twenty six," he reported happily, which, of course, we could all agree is true. Colorful red and blue squares of the sweet were passed around as the group enjoyed the small celebration. Mmmm... plenty of kata, kumite, and....cake! For photos of this occasion click here.

25th Anniversary Celebration (click for more photos)

The Shotokan Karate Club recently celebrated 25 years since its humble beginnings in 1978 with founder Deddy Mansyur. The group's silver anniversary was held at the university over the summer on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd of June. Suitably, the momentous occasion was celebrated with Taiko drummers, belly dancing, performances by the Bushiban, and demonstrations from the children's karate group. Most significantly, however, the club had the honor of hosting seminars with the legendary Kanazawa Kancho from Japan.

The seminars were held Friday through Sunday in the early morning and afternoon to an array of students, with white belts to black belts, children and adults. Karatekas from all walks of life gathered together in the Recreation and Wellness Center to learn from the world's only surviving 10th dan instructor. Kanazawa taught many fundamental movements and forms and went through katas that even a majority of black belts were unfamiliar with. The experience was truly unique and awe inspiring, as the 72 year old Kanazawa circulated energetically around his eager pupils.

After the second day of training the mood relaxed from the workout and sweat for a comfortable evening of dining in the UC's Cougar Den. It was there that all of the aforementioned performances took place. The children offered a comical performance as they "beat up the bad guy" (as demonstrated by Sensei Zulfi Ahmed) with their karate techniques and the ever impressive Bushiban Karate executed a multiplicity of impressive feats incorporating weapons with absolute martial artistry. All of that along with the relentless, energetic beats of the drummers and the sultry movements of an exotic belly dancer set the vibes for an entertaining evening. Following the dinner and shows, Shotokan members presented Sensei Kanazawa with a cake and song in celebration of his 72nd birthday before designating the rest of the evening to more dancing and high spirits. After all, it was fitting for the group to get into the festivities before returning for another workout the next morning.

Winter Shotokan Karate-Do Tournament News

This past Saturday, Feb.23, 2002 the club participated in the "Houston Shotokan Karate-Do Tournament" and the club members did an outstanding job.

• Dr. Kris Doynov: first place in kata and second place in kumite
• Dr. Anguel Grigorov: third place in kata and third place in kumite
• Stefi Grigorova: third place in kata and third place in kumite
• Pavl Muradov: first place in kata and second place in kumite
• Simon Teame: second place in kata and second place in kumite
• Julian Mansyur: second place in kata and second place in kumite

Other members of who came to the tournament to support the team to compete despite their busy schedule.

Ms. Simona Gatto, M.D.
Mr. Joseph Brock
Mr. Kenneth Williams
Mr. Dennis Grimo
Mr. Nicolas DeDobbeleer
Mr. Scott Tran
Dr. William Leler, Julian's uncle
Dr. Hazel Leler, Julian's grandma

Last but not least, Mr. Richard Lutz came to the tournament by riding his bicycle from the University of Houston dorm and the distance is about 14 miles one way. Wow, what a bicyclist! He does not have a car and he was able to support our team.

The UH Shotokan Karate-Do Club & Kobudo is about promoting, educating and showing our community the way how to use high energy and positive & healthy mind through our higher education and true karate-do spirit to do the right things in our daily life. Our club is the place where the scholars can throw their blocks, kicks and punches and have the good time at the same time.

The club has been very excited to share the good news of our national karate champions who participated in various competition events at the National USA-NKF 2001 National Karate tournament that was held on Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17, 2001 here in downtown Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

• USA-NKF 2001 National Championship
• USA-NKF National Competitors from the Dojo
• View the USA-NKF 2001 National Championship Results