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Ateru Worldwide Association
is a melting pot and growing community of martial artists, Bounty
Hunters and Bouncers, Personal Security Experts, Military and Law
Enforcement Professionals, and MMA full contact fighters that share
techniques and knowledge on the web, in journals, at summer camps,
as well as in WORLD
MARTIAL ARTS CONFERENCES AND SYMPOSIUMS
ARNOLD CLASSIC MARTIAL
ARTS FESTIVAL RETURNS TO COLUMBUS CIVIC CENTER FEATURING NAGA
National QUALIFIER AND MORE.. (March - 07)
Soke Cullen with an amazing
young karate man! Soke Cullen was quoted as saying "I love this kid!
I have seen him before and He's tough, has a ton of heart and
competes with class and a real Samurai Spirit."
The Arnold is BACK!
and the level of competition plus the myriad of Olympic and
non-Olympic sports helped to make the Arnold Sports Festival the
largest international sporting event second only to the Olympics.
Thanks to the leadership of Tokey Hill (who shares his birth date
with our chairman) this wonderful weekend of competition ran like a
fine watch.
The three day festival
included Olympic Boxing, Sumo, Ice Skating, Archery and more great
events in addition to the world class bodybuilding, weightlifting
competitions and all of the many martial arts disciplines offered.
AWA was represented
once again by the SANRYUDO, NAGA volunteers & the USBA/WBA and their great support staff led by GM
Ralph Bergamo and Master Drew Serrano. As always, the sharing spirit
of AWA was evident as AWA directors and USBA board members Sokes
Cullen and Braff helped run/Judge all of the breaking competition.
In bringing in outside qualified judges the USBA assured the
competitors that mature, balanced and unbiased eyes make the
competition fare and fun!
Dr Braff
showed a great spirit of unity and sportsmanship by working with Dr.
Hufford and the rest of the volunteers to run smooth and
exciting padded weapon divisions. Dr. Braff's students went the extra yard
and claimed most of the top awards in both traditional sword as well
as padded weapons. Congrats to all of their hard work and
achievement.
Master Chris Benavides -
Benavides Vale Tudo
Master Chris
Benavides' troups were everywhere they needed to be helping out at
the NAGA tournament and booth (John Saylor and co.), security and
wherever else they were needed. The black shirt brigade made a big
impression and were a real tour de force.
Soke Cullen, AWA
chairman, opened each days ceremonies with his stirring rendition of
our National Anthem. Here he is pictured with an honor guard
representing all of our armed forces.
HARADA VISITS AWA HQ
(March - 07)
Soke Cullen pictured above with
the amazing Dr. Harada
Dr. Fumiko Harada, Soke Huunjin's Japanese
Language instructor from the University of Findlay paid a surprise
visit to the Hombu in April. Dr. Harada is one of the most sought
after and revered Japanese language instructors in the country and,
as Soke Cullen refers to her," truly as tough an instructor as I have
encountered in my 34 years of training in the art of Goju. She is
hugely responsible for my success in life and I am grateful to have
had her beat on me for the 4 years I studied with her."
Dr. Harada was implemental in the huge growth
of Japanese companies moving into Findlay Ohio's free trade zone- at
the time it was brought in it was one of only two in the country.
The two master teachers shared a nice visit together then took the
above picture to commemorate the occasion. Soke Cullen competed in
and was picked out of many Japanese speaking college students from
across the state to represent Ohio in a company based internship
that lasted a few month in beautiful Saitama - Ohio's sister state
in Japan! If you visit the AWA HQ in Findlay you will see maps of
Saitama as well as a variety of memorabilia placed about the
facility.
Everyone at AWA HQ would like to thank Dr.
Harada for her kind visit and wish her a very happy birthday (the
day of her visit was also her tanjobi-bday. Harada Sensei, Tanjobi
ni Omedeto Gosaimasu!
07 CAMP UPDATE CONTINUED
"This was the best camp ever!", "Phenomenal",
"Premier!": These direct quotes are indicative of the unprovoked
reactions to the WORLD CLASS training that occurred at the AWA
Summer Gasshuku this year.
Although our membership may be seen as partial
to AWA events, the mere fact that our membership is so diverse and
not beholding to AWA in any way brings home the reality of those
comments. Instead of spending tons of money to train with one big
name pompous traditionalist who runs the same sophomoric beginner
katas or endless Kihons that teach you nothing, you were introduced
to bona fide unsung masters of traditional arts who enabled you to
learn more than just superficial tactics or training tools. And for
that opportunity you were grateful. WELL... we are grateful for the
many traditional practitioners who traveled far to train so
diligently. We know that we will see you next year.
SATURDAYS TEACHING
Saturday's training started with the
traditional "Run to the Rez". Different variations of training have
occurred over the past half decade with this years run focusing on
speed to the hill and back. Participants included representatives
from the Green Springs Center for Martial Arts, The Academy of
Martial Arts Studies and the Davis School of Martial Arts, which won
the award for the camps most supportive school. The run is optional,
early and grueling ergo the segmented participation. Congrats to
those who ran especially 6th Dan Mark Robinson and Sho Dan Mike
Martin who
actually ran the thing TWICE in a row!
Regular class teaching began at 8 am with
Marcus Rollie teaching Goju kata bunkai that was well received by
all. Then he instructed the group on two-man bunkai katas that pit
two kararteka versus each other in kata based Yakusoku
(pre-arranged) Kumite.
10 till Noon: Master Jim Thompson Uechi Ryu.
This seminar was a Knock Out! Sensei Thompson's quiet delivery was
not representative of his impact. All who trained learnt much and
the depth of his presentation was truly appreciated. His first time
at the AWA Region 1 Gasshuku will hopefully not be his last. We are
so honored to have had him share his wisdom with us all.
Noon till One Lunch
1pm- 2pm Master Nikya Yamashita Shotokan.
Sensei Yamashita gave a high energy presentation that fired up the
participants. One would think that after lunch people would be
sluggish.. Not so.. he instead supercharged them and their knowledge
of striking force, hip rotation and winning kumite techniques that
all of our campers took home with them.
2pm-3 pm Next on tap was Master Chris
Benavides. Mr. Benavides worked on in close trapping (he is well
known for this) and striking combinations. This is always one of the
best attended seminars we offer.
3pm-5pm Master Carl Davis Aiki Jujutsu This
segment had a packed house who were led through a variety of combat
scenarios. His adaptations were an eye opener for many of the
excited campers.
5pm-6 pm was taught by Sensei Charles Shupman.
He covered the Bo, its use and a well received Bo kata. This class
was held in the a grove of shade trees and reminiscent of
traditional outdoor training camps of old.
6pm -7 pm session was brought to life by Sensei
Virgil Goodwine, Judo expert. Virgil's class was fun yet strongly
presented with hard throws and mat work. It was a great way to end
the days training.
FREE FOOD!!!! One of the traditions of our camp
is to feed all campers for free on Saturday evening and this year
was no different. Over a hundred dogs and burgers were grilled and
served with mac salad and chips. Our chairman handed out the
chairman's award to Mr. Thompson, Devorah Dometrich, Chris Benavides
and Carl Davis for their contributions to AWA this year. He also
awarded Directorships which are listed in the following article. The
training was very fierce on Saturday so black belt tent city closed
early to no ones surprise.
SUNDAY...
Sunday a non-denominational religious service
was held and well attended in the morning. Afterwards most of the
campers decided to take advantage of the one hour break before
training to pull up their tent stakes and prepare vehicles for their
return home.
Sensei Cullen then ran a revisit of his
seminars on the 5 hand systems and his Suparuinpei seminar that
lasted about an hour. After that, Renshi Mark Robinson taught an
hour long Goju combat seminar. Both were appreciated and well
attended.
COMING SOON
AWA STORE FEATURES
GREAT DEALS ON WORLD CLASS TRAINING TOOLS FROM OUR DIRECTORS
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