If knocked down seven times, get up eight.
I must share with you a unique and humbling experience I had while training with the Seido Karate folks at the University of Buffalo (NY) this past week.
When we lined up for the start of class, a Black Belt student, Senpai Kevin, was standing against the wall, supporting himself with the bar, his wheelchair parked nearby. In our style, a student who earns a Black Belt (up to third degree) is referred to as Senpai.
I was fortunate enough to take my place beside him. As the class progressed, I could feel his energy, his spirit and his determination, in spite of his physical limitations. It motivated me to focus more and train harder. Here was a man that could very easily have resigned himself to a life bound to a wheelchair, and wallow in the perceived chains of his physical disabilities. Instead, he chose to break those chains. In doing so, he has inspired and encouraged all those around him, who can do little more than marvel at the strength of his spirit.
The article below says it all about Senpai Kevin. I am sitting here in tears after reading it. I hope you all are as inspired by this amazing man's journey as I am.
Link to story: [FightingArts.com]
When we lined up for the start of class, a Black Belt student, Senpai Kevin, was standing against the wall, supporting himself with the bar, his wheelchair parked nearby. In our style, a student who earns a Black Belt (up to third degree) is referred to as Senpai.
I was fortunate enough to take my place beside him. As the class progressed, I could feel his energy, his spirit and his determination, in spite of his physical limitations. It motivated me to focus more and train harder. Here was a man that could very easily have resigned himself to a life bound to a wheelchair, and wallow in the perceived chains of his physical disabilities. Instead, he chose to break those chains. In doing so, he has inspired and encouraged all those around him, who can do little more than marvel at the strength of his spirit.
The article below says it all about Senpai Kevin. I am sitting here in tears after reading it. I hope you all are as inspired by this amazing man's journey as I am.
Link to story: [FightingArts.com]
posted by Andrea at 20:31
11 Comments:
Osu, Andrea!
I was cruising the web looking for some information about Sensei Pat Brown, a New York City firefighter who lost his life on 9/11/01, in the WTC. Your blog came up in one of my Google searches, and I noticed that you list Seido Karate as one of your interests.
I'm curious as to what is available now in the Bay Area for Seido Karate training? I'm Shodan and live in the Seattle area. I went with my girlfriend to San Francisco a few years ago, before Sensei Liz Delgado resigned. We visited the two locations where she was teaching at the time. I met several of her students, and saw many of them at Honbu when we took our promotion tests.
Is there a venue for Seido Karate in the Bay Area now? Did Sensei Liz take all of her students with her, or did some of them remain in Seido? We may visit again in the near future, and were wondering if there was still a Seido presence there.
Bill Elston,
webmasterREPLACE_WITH_AT_SYMBOLseattleseido.org
Osu!!!
Although,I am no longer with the Seido Karate Organization, I have many close friends who are still with the organization and many who are not. Like myself they've successfully continued on with Karate and Life... I wanted to comment about Senpai Kevin's spirit. Senpai Kevin had me in tears after he performed Bo-chion kata at my 1998 Tournament Celebration,at Cornell University.
Senpai Kevin's initial training success was inspired by Shihan Chris Cale. Although, Seido spirit was present there was also the tough love from Kyokushin. Over the years Buffalo Senior students Kyoshi Scott, Sensei Jeff and Sensei Peter, further encouraged and trained Senapi Kevin to date.
More profound than Senpai's spirit and physical ability is his ability to be humble...
After completing his Bo-Kata, Senpai Kevin received a sustaining standing ovation. I personlly congratulated him on a job well down; and explained that his performance brought everyone to tears. Without any hesitation Senpai Kevin said..."Osu!
"Was my kata that bad"???
Respectfully,
Hanshi O.
Osu Sensei Hanshi ! Thank you for commenting and for renewing the inspiration. Best to you. -Andrea
Liz Delgado did NOT resign. She was kicked out of the Seido organization, formally excommunicated for unethical behavior. She beat up one of her students in class. Yuck.
Osu!
Sensei Liz was not kicked out of Seido Karate. She resigned after unethical behavior by the Seido Organization and founded Juku Karate. If you take at look at Seido's history, you will see a pattern - Senior, loyal and talented Senseis and students leaving Seido because of organization management issues.
True martial arts is about improving your character and making false statements about others is not the sincere way.
Osu. Then Sensei Liz Delgado was in fact kicked out of the Seido World Karate Organization. I witnessed her abuse of her students and her dismissal by Kaicho Nakamura.
Osu,
I want to comment about two issues I've read here: Sensei Pat Brown and Sensei Liz Delgado.
First Sensei Pat Brown.
I knew him when I was with Seido in the early 90s and trained occasionally with him during kumite classes. He was once featured on a segment of the TV show 20/20 or 60 minutes (I'm not sure which).
He apparently had a penchant for rescuing people from burning buildings and the fire department called on him when they needed someone to climb a ladder and bring a person down. He never hesitated to put his life on the line thus he was featured on the show. I was there during 9/11 and was saddened to find out that he lost his life doing what he believed in—helping other people. I miss him still.
Regarding Sensei Liz Delgado. I was not there when she resigned or was "kicked out" of Seido whichever you believe. I did know her and trained with her when she was at the Vanderbilt YMCA in New York city and at honbu on 23rd street. Even as a blue belt she was a fierce competitor. I was there when she beat the New Zealand heavyweight fighter years ago at a major Seido event. Not many Seido participants or for that matter any other karate school participants did very well against the New Zealanders. But Sensei Liz was brilliant and honored Seido by defeating the NZ champion. In fact as I was going for Shodan I fought her twice and out of 40 or so 3 minute fights she was one of my toughest opponents. I dreaded looking down the line to see her ready to go. Could she beat a student in class? I suppose but I never knew her to cause harm to anyone I knew. I do know that this organization will expel a loyal sensei or student leaving Seido because of organization and management issues. Who can forget the horrid treatment Shihan Oliver and the other dedicated Seido instructors received when they learned about the new direction this organization was going into? I was there and I left to join the newly formed organization of expelled instructors now called Kenshikai.
Although I'm no longer involved with either group I believe both have displayed good and bad behavior. No organization is perfect and to believe so is naive.
sincerely
Anonymous
Re: Liz Delgado
I was one of the students abused by Liz Delgado. She used violence to punish students she did not like. I suffered extreme injuries and saw large bruises on the bodies of others she hurt in class. People who were not there cannot deny what she did.
Osu, to all.
Wanted to make a comment about Sensei Liz Delgado. I was there when the famous incident happened. Lets cut through all the hearsay. Sensei was sticking up for her female students when a "now former" student continually used dirty fighting tactics and hurt a number of students in the class. The training environment created by Sensei Liz and her team was nothing but productive and enlightning. Truely a place where we could could practice the art form to the full extent.
The last comment summarizes Delgado philosophy.
(Language=bad. Violence=good!)
Correction: Liz Delgado did fight in the 1996 Seido World Tournament. She fought a New Zealand fighter in the Semi Finals and won, but was given a hard fight, and showed she was out of shape, and unfit. In the Finals she fought a USA fighter Angela from New York. The fight was an embarrassment. Both fighters were unfit and sloppy, falling down through the entire fight, then taking 30 seconds to get up. Videos don't lie. Sensei Liz could fight when she was fit, but that day and for most of her time at Seido she was not in good shape. She was very definitely expelled for poor behavior while teaching, but i don't know details.
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