Pictures from the June 2009 test now in the photo gallery under 'Test Photos'

Special congratulations to our new and presently youngest junior shodan, Aiden Daniels!

The 2009 Kissaki-Kai Karate camp, held in Lawrenceville NJ (USA), provided a balanced programme of Bunkai-Kumite, a focus on wrist locks, self-defence drills involving dummy weapons (guns and knives) and two cardio workouts.

Typical self-defence scenarios, in conjunction with the quintessential ‘rules of combat’, were employed as a platform to demonstrate plausible interpretations of the Bunkai of various Kata. The frequent reference to the aforementioned ‘rules of combat’ from Senseis Vince Morris (8th Dan), Steve Montgomery (7th Dan) and Matt Knorr (5th Dan) underpins its pivotal role in ensuring that the Bunkai is rendered practical and gruesomely potent, rather than being an arid, academic abstraction. For example, (Kissaki) Ippon Kumite involved an array of counters ranging from palm-hand, knife-hand, elbow and knee strikes to the various pressure/vital points, as well as hip and neck throws (with the occasional headbutt) – combinations of these were applied in quick succession and this was only the basic level, which nonetheless possessed natural flow and real-life applicability. This should be contrasted with the reverse punch (gyaku-tsuki) counter in traditional Ippon Kumite, very often executed at the Chudan level after an impractical block, and starting from wholly unrealistic Tori and Uke Kamae positions.

Sensei Bill Troy (6th Dan Jujitsu) led a very well-presented session around the theme of wrist locks (Kote Gaeshi) from a ‘small-circle’ Jujitsu perspective. While I see myself as a novice in Kissaki (in spite of my Yondan in Shotokan), and by the same token a complete beginner in Jujitsu, I felt that these two disciplines harmoniously complemented each other. The ‘Kissaki-drills’ essentially laid the groundwork for setting up the scenarios in which the wrist locks could be effectively applied. Taking the opponent down to the ground was not enough – he/she then had to be convincingly immobilized on the ground too.

The two forms practised during the camp did not belong to the standard Shotokan cannon, namely Aragaki Seisan and Kansetsu-Waza Katas. The latter represented a short sequence of apparently innocuous basic moves which could just as equally form part of a simple Kihon drill. Yet its Bunkai rendition proved to be an ingeniously realistic sequence of joint locks.

The cardio workouts served at least two main objectives. First, any lingering side effects of insobriety, as a consequence of the social events of Friday and Saturday night, were conclusively quelled. Second, the workouts also ensured muscle and joint suppleness for the brunt of the martial arts activities which ensued.

Overall, the camp proved to be a very (physically and mentally) demanding experience while at the same time paying off handsome dividends in terms of enjoyment and the enrichment of one’s martial art.

June 2009,

Maziar Kakhi, 4th dan Shotokan

For more pictures click on the photo gallery on the left.

Pictures from the March 2009 Tournament now in the photo gallery

Children's Mixed Marial Arts (MMA) class

We at Kissaki Kai are excited to offer a new opportunity for our members.  Our Children's Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Program has started.  The program will includes ground techniques from Jujutsu, wrestling and Karate. Techniques will be taught by frequent partner work and sparring.  Students will also learn techniques through skill drilling and padwork. 

This program will be a confidence builder for your child. We at Kisskai Kai will also ensure that your child’s safety comes first while learning these great new skills through rules, good supervision and protective equipment.

Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm. The first course started on February 12th and runs for 8 weeks.

You can join in for a FREE TESTER SESSION, open for everyone, Thursdays 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Just call 856 985 1311.

If you are interested in learning more about this new program or would like to register, please contact us at Kissaki Kai

( info@kissaki-usa.com ). We are willing to answer any questions that you may have regarding any of the programs that we offer. 

This was the second competition held in the dojo this year, and as back in March, around 30 enthusiastic juniors participated in the event. The categories for kata and kumite were divided according to age as well as rank. Everyone had a great time and the medals won in the course of the event were well deserved! Here are just a few snap shots.

For more pictures please click on the 'Photo Gallery' tab on the left.

Dojo member in MMA fight:

Jeff Calcagno had been training for his first fight over the summer and finally entered the ring for his debut with the New Breed Amateur MMA Fight League on Saturday October 18th in Atlantic City at the House of Blues, Showboat Casino. He came up against an experienced fighter, whose strength was on the ground. However, the strenuous training and excellent instruction by Jujutsu and wrestling experts at out dojo paid off and Jeff executed good holds, just short of making his opponent submit. The Judges' decision after a nail-biting fight was split and narrowly favoured Jeff's opponent by one overall point.

You can view the result on the New Breed Fighter's Website, under Fight #9: October 18th Results, for photos click here.

Jeff is already looking forward to his next fight in February.

If you want to join him, everyone is welcome to our MMA training. Just stop by, call or e-mail us: 856 985 1311, info@kissaki-usa.com

August 2008 - Jujitsu Club Students Win National Championships

The Pinelands Jujitsu Club, which meets and trains at the Kissaki-Kai dojo on Sundays at 10:30am, recently sent two students to San Francisco to compete in the U.S. National Sport Jujitsu Championships.

Jayden Fries and Nick Troy, both age 12, competed in their age divisions in the Sport Jujitsu sparring and freestyle self-defense events. Jayden Fries, a white belt in Jujitsu, earned a gold medal in the novice sparring division. Nick Troy, a yellow belt, took a bronze medal in the intermediate sparring division. The two then combined forces in the team freestyle self-defense division – with both taking gold medals and earning the titles of National Champions.

The competition was sanctioned by Jujitsu America. Jujitsu America, in association with Disney World of Sports, has developed a sports-oriented format for Jujitsu competitors. Although there are many different styles of Jujitsu – and just as many different formats and rule variations for competitions – the Jujitsu America Sport Jujitsu events are geared toward spirited and physical competition, but focusing on sportsmanship and safety.

Sport Jujitsu sparring matches are fought in three, continuously moving and very physical stages. Stage 1 starts with the standing competitors delivering punches and kicks to restricted, legal target areas. Strikes to the legs, or strikes with knees or elbows are prohibited. Strikes to the head are limited for adult competitors and prohibited in youth divisions (ages 13 and under). Competitors score points for solid but controlled strikes to legal target areas. Referees score points on a continuous-flow basis to avoid breaks the action. At some point in the match the competitors grab one another – leading to Stage 2. Once Stage 2 begins, no striking is allowed. The action transitions into a judo-style take-down contest. Competitors maneuver to off-balance and sweep or throw their opponent to the mat. Points are awarded based on the quality and results of the particular technique. Stage 3 begins as soon as the competitors hit the mat. It is a battle of pinning and submission. Points are awarded for various achievements such as pinning for 10 or 20 seconds, escaping pins, or gaining submissions by applying legal chokes or joint-locks. Youth divisions prohibit submission techniques. After a pin or submission, or in the event of inactivity, competitors are brought back to their feet to begin a new Stage 1 – and it continues. Matches are comprised of two two-minute rounds with a one-minute break. The competitor with the highest point total

at the end of the match is the winner.

In the freestyle self-defense division – competitors team-up to perform a cooperative exhibition of Jujitsu self-defense techniques. The team is judged on criteria such as technical ability, creativity, practicality and degree of difficulty. The two competitors must perform a minimum of six techniques each in under three minutes.

Sprots Jujitsu National Champions: Jayden Fries (left) and Nick Troy

The medalists train under Sensei Bill Troy. Sensei Troy holds the rank of 6th Degree Black Belt in Jujitsu and has over 30 years experience in the martial arts. Sensei Troy teaches Street Self-Defense Jujitsu and Sport Jujitsu classes to adults and youth out of the Kissaki-Kai dojo in Marlton.

                                                                                                                                                                                               August 2008

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A Night to Remember
May 6, 2005 - Shugyo Training at Kissaki-Kai

We knew there would be six visitors from Belgium staying at the Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do Honbu Dojo the week of May 1. We also knew many of us should be at the special night: many black and brown belt members of Kissaki-Kai had been mailed words to the effect that the shugyo training the night of May 6, 2005 should be considered mandatory, especially if we were planning to take tests for rank advancement during the following month’s summer camp at Ryder University. What we didn’t know was what shugyo training actually meant, nor did we know the stunning surprise that would conclude the unforgettable event for
twenty-five excited karate-ka.

Shugyo is a Japanese term that means, essentially, a very disciplined study of an art. It means that whatever discipline or study is being undertaken, the student or practitioner will undergo a complete immersion, without outside distractions, for a certain period of time. It is a period devoted to concentrated study to test or to find one’s true self, a test, in a sense, of spirit and endurance. While centuries ago the term applied to many arts in Japan, it has been applied to martial practice from the sixteenth century through the present.

For Kissaki-Kai upper ranks, training at the Honbu dojo in Marlton, New Jersey, USA, it meant three intense hours of training under the guidance of Sensei Vince Morris and Sensei Steve Montgomery.

After warming up and being given cautionary remarks by Sensei Vince about pacing ourselves and listening to our bodies through the training, we entered an intense night of dramatically rigorous karate. The night included basics, combinations, various drills with partners (emphasizing many leg techniques), bunkai and, of course, kata. For much of the night, nothing else existed as we concentrated with great spirit on the challenging yet inspiring work that left us exhausted, yes, but wonderfully involved in the moment.

Puzzling to most of us, in the second half of the training was the appearance of a table and chairs for the honbu dojo sensei. We were asked to demonstrate with a partner, bunkai from our favorite kata. It seemed like the setting for testing, but none of us thought much about that possibility as we focused on the demonstrations of bunkai.
After the demonstrations, both serious and unintentionally amusing, we lined up in three lines facing shomen and our teachers. Now 10:00 P.M., Sensei Steve and Vince spoke gratefully of our consistent efforts during the previous three hours and Sensei Vince informed us that there would be dan promotions. Mysteriously, certificates appeared on the table and we were all still and silent as names and new dan ranks were announced. While we were surprised, it certainly made sense to have dan promotion for the karate-ka and sensei from Belgium as our common sensei would not see them again for a while. However, many of us were stunned and deeply moved as dan promotions followed, one after the other. In fact, three shocked karate-ka were advanced from brown belt to shodan, each of them profoundly moved to receive the black belt, including this grateful reporter.
Those receiving dan advancements that night:

Following another surprise–a bit of refreshment–many words and embraces of congratulations were traded and a bond that extended from the Marlton dojo to the other side of the Atlantic was cemented and enjoyed. It was a night none who were there will ever forget. Watch out for the announcement of the next shugyo night. It should not be missed.

Dave Murphy, May 2006

The above article was also published in American Samurai Magazine in 2005

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