End of Winter Grading at Ligo Dojo
and Other Winter News
February, 2009

We have lots of news here to present on one page. (Sorry to have fallen behind in our web updates this winter!) News item #1 would be our Winter Grading. 26 students participated and there are lots of photos here, and video clips of the fights (will be added over the next couple days).

Video clips at bottom of page!

News item #2. We would like to express a special word of thanks and welcome to Nathan Ligo's first teacher, Master Seong Soo Choi (right), who came to visit Ligo Dojo to watch this grading. Dr. Choi is currently working at a university in Korea as Professor of Physcis having left the US 12 years ago. Master Choi was Nathan Ligo's teacher from ages 13 to 19 (25 until 19 years ago) at which time he sent now-Sensei Ligo to Japan to train under his uncle, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, Mas Oyama. Master Choi is seen here with Shihan Jacques Sandulescu, lifetime friend of Mas Oyama, Kyokushin-kan International Committee member, and friend and advisor to Ligo Dojo.

A special thanks, too, to Chris (white belt, above left) who took most of the photos at the grading!

Students warming up for the grading (above) and more News below.

Calisthinics above and kata below.

Students performing Yantsu, above.

News item #3. Three Ligo Dojo students, Paul K, Amy K, and Amy W (front line below) traveled to Japan this February to train with Kancho Royama at Honbu's Annual International Instructors' Seminar. Special thanks to Ligo Dojo students who helped out by paying for half of Sensei Ligo's airfare so that all members could attend. All Ligo Dojo students are invited to participate in overseas competitions and seminars, and those who are interested can inquire as to cost (Save some money each month and join us next year to train with Kancho!)

The participants of the Japan Seminar, above, and News Item #4, below.

Nathan Ligo traveled to Budapest in January on a special invitation from his 3rd teacher in Hungary, Sandor Brezovai, to attend an organizational meeting and press conference regarding this October's All-Kyokushin World Tournament sponsored by Kyokushin-kan. (Nathan Ligo was invited, and his plane ticket paid for, because he lived in Hungary for two years, and speaks some Hungarian and, of course, Japanese. Nathan Ligo was responsible for bringing his former teacher, Sandor Brezovai, into the Kyokushin-kan organization, after he left Matsui's "KyokushinKAIkan" two years ago.) Seen here, below, are delegation members surveying the largest sports arena in Eastern Europe where the 3-day event will be held.

Sensei Ligo's 3rd teacher, Sandor Brezovai, is seen here (center) beside Kancho Royama, Chairman of Kyokushin-kan. Also seen here are Shihan Seiji Kanemura, and Hanshi Steve Arneil.

(It might be here important to note the importance of "family" in Kyokushin karate. On this one page we see all four of the teachers of Nathan Ligo's 24 years of karate training. 1st there was Master Choi, who sent him to his uncle in Japan, 2nd, Mas Oyama (who died in 1994). Next Nathan Ligo trained, 3rd, for two years with Sensei Sandor Brezovai in Hungary, and finally, now, 4th, with Kancho Royama and instructors of Kyokushin-kan. The important point to make is that all of them are "family," i.e. Nathan Ligo never left one teacher, in a negative way, in order to join another.

The American "free enterprise" system allows us to take from one teacher, throw him away, and then go take from other. The key point, however, is that if we want to learn true karate, we have to honor our teachers, all of them, in good times and in bad, and only move on in an honorable way when life takes us there. In the long run, nobody cares about tough guys. Who cares in life about somebody who can just beat another guy up? Who cares about someone who just takes what he wants, and then moves on to take from another? More important is life decisions and realtionships between individuals. We all make mistakes; proper karate training teaches us how to behave better, and avoid making the same mistakes again. )

Sensei Brezovai (below) with his wife Adel.

News Item #5. After deciding NOT to invite additional members into our residential program
during the economic downturn over concerns that we would not be able to support them (we have temporarily suspended our advertising for residential students), we did accept Kenneth Dunn (blue belt above), as a special request of his instructor, Kyokushin-kan branch chief Marty Petrovich of Maine. Kenny plans on remaining at Ligo dojo for the full 1000-day program (Paul Kaminski graduates in June!), and understands that his participation is dependent on his ability to find and keep a part-time job while he's here to support his training and overseas travel. (Note to intrested parties: We WILL continue the residential program, but as stated before, it is so incredibly costly to the program when guys come here "for a free ride", use us, and then quit, that we will increase our dormitory numbers only after the dojo student body increases to where the residential guys who fail are not such a burden.)

Kaminski and Amy.

Raymond and Ray.

Bo staff training was introduced by Kyokushin-kan six years ago to enhance our kata, and our understanding of the origin of karate.

Colored belts performing kata "Yantsu" above.

White belts can be seen here at their first promotion test.

Annie Gottlieb, Jacques's wife, (far left) has been practicing Kyokushin Karate for 37 years without interruption. Six orange belts, below, test for blue (orange is the first belt after white).

Sensei Ligo.

Assistant Instructor, Paul Kaminski. 4 months from becomming the first to graduate (from over 60 who've tried) from Budo Karate House residential program.

Amy K.

Nick.

Raymond.

Amy W.

Ray.

Bajon.

"Zeus"

Erin.

Crystal.

Greg, who will be leaving us for 6 months to hike the Appalachain Trail. Best of luck, Greg! Your yellow belt will be waiting for you here when you return!!

Kumite . . . better to watch the video clips. Amy vs. Amy above, and Amy vs. Woodrina below.

The fights:

Amy K. vs Amy W.
Amy K. vs. Crystal
Amy K. vs. Samantha
Amy W. vs Woodrina
Bajon vs. Devay
Bajon vs. Shervon
Bajon vs. Steeve
Camissi vs. Carter
Camissi vs. Leonardo
Devon vs. Philippe
Erin vs. Crystal
Kamnski vs. Stratten
Kenny vs. Zeus
Montreal vs. Jose
Nick vs. Chris
Nick vs. Greg
Raymond vs. Antoine
Raymond vs. Devon
Ray vs. Erin
Ray vs. Woodrina
Zeus vs. Stratten