100 Kata Challenge
Since class night fell on Karate Day this year, we decided to do a 100 Kata Challenge.
The class was broken into three kata groups with beginners doing Seisan, Intermediate/Advanced doing Naihanchi, and Black Belts doing Kyan No Sai. After a brief warm-up, we had a little over an hour available to perform the katas.
Congratulations to our Naihanchi group on completing 100 repetitions! Kyan No Sai logged 52 repetitions for 2nd place, and Seisan 40 for 3rd. Lots of energy, sweat, and good kiais! Great job everyone!
October 25th is designated as “Karate Day” in Okinawa.
On this day in 1936, prominent Okinawan masters gathered in Naha and formally adopted the term Kara-Te 唐手 (empty hand). The masters present included Hanashiro Chomo (1869-1945), Kyan Chotoku (1870-1945), Motobu Choki (1871-1944), Miyagi Chojun (1888-1953), Kiyoda Juhatsu (1886-1967, Chibana Chosin (1885-1969), and Shinpan Shiroma (1890-1954).
*The three highlighted in bold text are Shimabuku Tatsuo’s teachers.
Large Karate demonstrations, like the following video, are held in Okinawa on October 25th to commemorate the Meeting Of The Masters and celebrate the Okinawan art of Karate.
The declaration of KARATE NO HI (空手の日) KARATE DAY
Congrats Competitors!
Congratulations to our competitors on their achievements last weekend at Young’s 2018 Fall Tournament in Bellefonte! Special congrats to Sensei Ben Katz on winning the Men’s Grand Championship Sparring.
Also, congrats Sensei Carl Denny (not pictured) for finishing 1st in both his Kata and Weapons divisions at the Isshin Ryu National Championships in Ohio last weekend!
Room 15 IM Bldg
A panoramic view of Room 15 (mat room) in IM Bldg. Our Sunday Karate classes are held in the Mat Room from 7:30-9:00PM.
Remember, you must be registered for the class to participate. You can register through the Penn State Campus Recreation website:
https://pennstatecampusrec.org/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=991e87d7-7396-433b-8fde-5c93a89e8316&semesterId=d8308e0d-18bd-4499-8762-46458e5aa083
To sign up for a free trial class, email fitness@psu.edu 48 hours in advance of the date you’d like to attend.
Try a Karate class before registering!
For those interested in trying class prior to registering:
One trial class is permitted per semester. All trials must be pre approved by the Fitwell Office. For preapproval of your free one-time-trial-class, send an email to fitness@psu.edu with the requested trial date/class 48hrs in advance. There is no charge for a trial class for current University Park students and current Campus Recreation members. Other guests and community members may try this class by emailing as stated above and registering as a Campus Recreation facility guest. There is a $10 guest charge for non student and non members.
Karate Instructor Promotions
Congratulations to Sensei Kotanchik on his promotion to 5th Dan, and to Sensei Gabel on her promotion to 4th Dan.
Karate Fitness Class begins Tuesday!
Our first class of the fall semester for Campus Recreation’s Fitness & Wellness program kicks off on Tuesday the 25th! We’ll be in Room7 of IM Building from 7:30-9PM. After entering IM Building, you will find Room7 on the lower level.
Remember to bring your PSU ID or Campus Rec Membership pass. To participate in the class, you will need to pre-register for it. Class size is limited, but space is still available.
Master Shimabuku’s 110th Birthday!
島袋龍夫
Over a century ago, in the small village of Chan, on a small island in the south pacific, a boy was born. One day he would become a Karate Master whose art would reach beyond the shores of Okinawa and spread across the globe.
“Dragon Man” of Isshin Ryu, Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei
(September 19, 1908 – May 30, 1975)
Karate Fitness Class – Registration Open
Isshin Ryu Karate will be offered at University Park campus this fall as part of the Penn State Campus Recreation’s Fitness & Wellness instructional fitness classes. Registration is now open. There is a cap of 40 students for the fall semester.
The Isshin Ryu instructional fitness class registration is open to all Penn State students, and faculty/staff/community-members with Penn State Recreation Memberships*. You must be registered for the class to participate. Remember to bring your PSU ID or Recreation Membership pass. No previous experience is required.
https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/campusrec/membership-access
This 90min class meets on in IM Bldg on Tues/Thurs/Sun. Tues 7:30-9:00pm, Thurs 8:30-10pm in Rm 7, and Sun 7:30-9:00pm in the Room15 (mat room). Tentative start date 9/25.