The Newsletter is sent to members every quarter and is packed full of news and information such as course updates, club nights, how to purchase merchandise and vacancies within the Foundation as well as some interesting stories from our members and the 5th Dans.
We would like to e mail your copy to you. To ensure you receive your copy by e mail each quarter, please drop an e mail to Margaret McGibbon to ensure she has your up to date e mail address.
So to begin – a competition!!! We need a new name for the Newsletter and we want to invite our members to come up with it. Send your ideas to Ali Spence and the winner will be chosen by the 5th Dans. The prize for the chosen name will be a £10 Book voucher.
WAY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR by Dan Millman
One of the most thought provoking books I read as I wandered through the early part of my journey in karate. This book made me stop and re-evaluate why I practiced karate. Below is a short passage from the book followed by the précis of the book written on the back cover. I don’t want to tell you what my conclusions were after reading it – read it for yourself and form your own.
'You've learned body control and even some mind control, but your heart has not yet opened. Your goal should not be invulnerability, but vulnerability - to the world, to life, and therefore, to the Presence you felt.
I've tried to show you by example that a warrior's life is not about imagined perfection or victory; it is about love. Love is the warrior's sword; wherever it cuts, it gives life, not death'.
This novel, which has been a constant bestseller since it was first published in 1980, tells the story of Dan Millman, a young athletics student who, haunted by nightmares and unable to sleep one night, goes out for a walk and wanders into a petrol station. There he meets an old pump attendant who seems strangely familiar, even though Dan has never met him before. The pump attendant - or Socrates, as Dan calls him - seems to know a great deal about the hidden side of life and, after a bit of persuasion, agrees to pass on what he can of his wisdom to Dan. And thus Dan sets out on the way of the peaceful warrior.... Rich in insight, there is much in this entertaining story that can help you to change your life for the better.
[John Henderson, 5th Dan].
In each edition of the Newsletter, we will publish a Top Tip or Idea from you on anything that you would like to share with your fellow members. It doesn’t matter what it is, whether it be helpful hint on a practice or marketing idea for your clubs or a top tip on health and safety for example for you and your members.
To start us off, Katrina McDonald who is a Podiatrist has very kindly given us an extensive and very useful guide on caring for your feet:-
As a result of barefoot Karate practice, most of us suffer at one time or another from various foot problems. The tips below will hopefully provide you with useful information on how to treat common problems, and how to prevent them. If you are concerned about any foot problems, seek the advice of an HPC registered podiatrist/chiropodist. Also, take a look at feetforlife.org.
(Send your Top Tip or Idea to Ali Spence again and if its published, there will be a prize of a £10 Book Voucher so don’t hang about because the more you send, the more prizes you can win!!!)
Shotokai Foundation Website
If you have any ideas or suggestions for the Foundation Website or indeed, if you would like a Website set up for your club, please contact John Henderson or Neil McDonald
Shotokai Foundation Members Handbook
This document will include lots of information regarding Shotokai Foundation which will be given to all existing and new members joining the Foundation.
Shotokai Foundation Club Secretaries Handbook & Club Instructors Handbook
We are also in the process of developing Handbooks available to those who wish to open and run a club of their own. The ‘Club Secretaries Handbook’ will provide extensive information on all the administrative process and the ‘Instructors Handbook’ will simply provide advice and information on coaching and practices.
Shotokai Foundation Merchandise
We are in the process of developing a range of Shotokai Foundation Branded Merchanidise available to all members to purchase. This will include items such as Tracksuits, T Shirts and DVD’s. Full information and order forms will be available soon from your Club Secretary and also posted soon on the Website.
Do you have any Ad Hoc news you would like to share in the next edition? If you do, please drop an e mail to Ali Spence
Peter Doyle from Carfin Shotokai recently achieved 1st Dan Black Belt at the National Course held at Tulliallan in November 2006. We asked him a few questions to find a little out about his journey from Novice to 1st Dan.
More from another member in the next edition of the Newsletter – it could be you!!!!
We have some fantastic new venues for 2007 with some exciting new facilities! You should have already received full details and information of all the courses in 2007 from Ali Spence together with Booking Forms etc. See 'events' page for full details
We are also offering some great savings for those who pay on time and attend all three National Courses in 2007. If you haven’t details of the 2007 National Courses and Booking Forms, please get in touch with Ali to receive your copy as soon as possible.
We have some new gradings to report from recent Courses.
Some Senior gradings from the regional course in Horton
and some new Junior Black Belts graded at Winter School in Bellshill
Congratulations to you all and keep up the great efforts.
Do you have a skill, trade, art or an ability to do something well perhaps through experience or training?
Do you have a natural enthusiasm and willingness to help?
Do you have a little free time on your hands and want to fill it?
If so, we are interested in hearing from you. We would like to build a database of members with skills or talents etc they feel they could offer to the Foundation. For example, do you have the skill to help us Edit the Newsletter?
Over the forthcoming months, we will be advertising a number of roles available within the Foundation. Whilst the majority of these will be of a voluntary nature, we will of course offer rewards for your time and efforts.
If you think you have something to offer the Foundation - we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with Ali Spence with your details.
We currently have a vacancy for a Newsletter Editor and Junior Newsletter Editor.
Next Newsletter will be published and with you in April. If you have any suggestions or ideas for the next edition, please e mail Ali Spence as soon as possible.