The day I became the Karate Kid

I'm baaack! I've been away from blogging since returning to the Americas and I'm not even sure if anyone is reading anymore, but I will continue to share thoughts and things I find amusing and exciting at any rate.

This past weekend, I had an amazing experience. I'm actually still reeling from the excitement of it all and replaying everything in my mind and going... "uuh!" As most of you know, I practice Shorinji Kempo and I returned to my home NYC dojo just in time to represent at the First North American Taikai (Tournament) held in San Jose, CA (more pics). It was the first Taikai held in the US so it was exciting for all of us. Just before leaving Japan, I was fortunate enough to be a part of my first Taikai representing Shimabara dojo in Nagasaki, and did a pair embu (choreographed fight) with a lovely high school student named Yoko. This was also a wonderful experience, to see the spirit and skills of Shorinji Kempo dojos in Nagasaki prefecture. Just about everyone from our dojo performed an embu and the elementary school kids were excellent. In class they're usually running around like madmen, but they turn into real kenshi when they do embu! I don't think I ever blogged about that experience, but let me just say it was a long bus ride with 30 kids hopped up on candy and soda. On the way back, the bus driver was bright enough to turn on videos of DragonBallZ and whoa, the kids became zombies. Amazing.


So back to the US Taikai... we had been training very hard on our embus, including a group embu which was a rather new concept for us. We had an amazing coach in Kumiko-san, who is a 5th Dan (5th degree black belt) and a former Taikai champion. We certainly didn't want to let her down, not to mention Ohashi Sensei (our Branch Master). This being the first North American Taikai, the President of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO) and daughter of the Founder of Shorinji Kempo was also in attendance, and other dignitaries. No pressure!




The day was action-packed and our nerves were shot from the excitement and nervousness. I had more excited nervousness just to be able to have the opportunity to finally show our NYC spirit and also see how we measure up with other dojos in our homeland. I'd also been told just days before that I had been chosen to make a speech. Speech?!? Some background, all participants were asked to submit an essay about how Shorinji Kempo has changed their lives. This was a very important part of the event because Shorinji Kempo is not just a physical martial art, we emphasize a balance of mind, spirit, and body training, if not more emphasis on mind and spirit, ultimately aiming to become a better, stronger person who can be relied upon to lead and help others. Since we would have a variety of spectators, the organizers wanted to be sure we include a speech to show this side of Shorinji Kempo. So... on top of trying to remember my pair embu, group embu, demonstration self-defense embu (thankfully I didn't sign up to spar), I also had to prepare myself mentally for a speech in front of hundreds of spectators! I was actually more nervous about speaking in front of the President. It could've been a room of 5 people and the President and I would've been just as nervous.

Since my experience in Japan, I have been on the receiving end of many a Japanese speech. They usually stick to what's on the paper and are a bit robotic in delivery. It's a very specific, respectable style, but I wanted the President to see that we express ourselves differently on the West, but hopefully just as respectably. This was such an unbelievable honor to be chosen to speak and represent the US and Canadian dojos. Usually, all the speeches are by dignitaries and WKSO representatives. I'm sorry I keep repeating myself, but this really was an honor, I still can't believe it happened!

So, I started my speech by thanking everyone for organizing such a great event and for the WSKO President and representatives for coming all the way from Japan to be here. Meanwhile, my voice was all shaky and I totally had dry throat, I had to ask for water just before because I started coughing and my throat closed up. Oh man, I felt like Sarah Palin preparing for a Katie Couric interview! I felt myself starting to calm down a bit as I read the title of my essay to everyone. The title of my essay is "Friendship, Confidence, and The Karate Kid". Luckily this seemed to get the audience and myself in a relaxed mode. (I actually heard these guys referencing the crane kick from the Karate Kid earlier in the day so I knew I had my audience).



Before I knew it I was talking with my hands, addressing the audience, smiling a lot, and hardly looking down at my papers, ad libbing a ton, so much that I started to get a little concerned about staying on point, but somehow I managed to include everything I wanted to. I totally poked fun at my first Sensei in San Diego who I said was scary at first and made me think to myself, "Who is this man!" and kept looking over at him and saying his name. I also mentioned how awkward and frustrating it was in the beginning, but that every little accomplishment I made was what kept me going and made it all worthwhile. Then I went on to say how I began to realize how special Shorinji Kempo is because it gives everyone the opportunity to develop themselves and create relationships and think about the world more openly. I also majorly ad libbed and made a PSA for people to vote in this very important election in November. I really took the opportunity to add it all in!


I concluded saying that Shorinji Kempo sometimes makes me feel like the Karate Kid, especially at the end of the movie when he wins and is lifted up in the air by everyone, and that I feel lifted up by all the wonderful kenshi I've been lucky to be around.

Man, I couldn't believe it was over and I'd done it. I heard that the President, who probably didn't understand my babbling English, was smiling the whole time so that made me really happy. I also did Gassho Rei (our greeting) to her right on my way up to the speech and she smiled and said "Gambate ne!", which was so sweet and casual in such a lovely way. I felt really good about her getting to see an "American" speech and I hope I represented well.

My parents and sister were also able to attend so that made everything even more special. In the end, the NYC dojo won medals for our pair embus and demonstration embu. While we sat at the ceremony, I was just so happy about how well I felt we all did. Sure I was bummed when I didn't hear our names at the beginning thinking we didn't win, but I was telling myself, that's ok, we did our best and people will remember the NYC dojo as a good dojo. Then they called our names back to back for medals and certificates! Whoo! Of course I took one opportunity to receive mine from the President and she kind of gave me a little wink.



The night before at the dinner, Kumiko-san encouraged us to speak to the President because it was such a rare opportunity. We nervously spoke to her, expressing our thoughts and asking her questions (I had to do it in Japanese! ack!) and I got so excited that I ended up telling her I had hopes to open my own dojo someday. What the **** Jessica! She got all excited telling me outside of Japan, there is only one woman who is a Branch Master and that I would be number 2! And she made the number 2 with her fingers and was thrusting them towards my face with glee when she said it. Oh man, I really have to do it now! But I really meant it and I will strive towards it. You can call me on it.

Note: I wanted to add that when I got home from my trip, I saw lying on the bookshelf, a brand new DVD copy of The Karate Kid courtesy of my beloved Scott. How sweet is he?! I watched it from beginning to end immediately and the special features (Ralph hasn't aged so well, but still seemed sweet. Pat Morita's comments made me teary) and damnit, it's still got it!