blackcat wrote: Rather than model the structure on Wadokai, I would suggest a serious alternative for the Wado kokusai to consider must be the option to actually rejoin Wadokai. Some dojo have tried that individually - without success yet as it happens - but for the long term benefit of Wado I would see the group rejoining as a positive. How the integration happens is a problem of course...but some problems can be good to have to deal with. If ever there was a time to do it, it is now whilst the few remaining active generation of Otsuka students are still around to teach.
Ben
Ah bit tardy with a reply, sorry Ben,
Perhaps I first need to clarify that my previous comments were of a general nature because San no Ya doesn't have a voice in WIKF future, my comment was simply addressing the problems of the group that survives the death of a sensei. In this case He was our sensei and the WIKF sensei and in some cases has been so for almost half a century and in other cases many of them for in excess of 30 years so there is much to consider before anyone throws this unique legacy away. Suzuki sensei was a truly unique landmark figure in the growth of wado ryu in his lifetime. He was certainly a man of some considerable talent and spirit but more than this: in much the way that Ohtsuka meijin was the founder of wado in its birthplace of Japan, Suzuki Hanshi very much represented the birth of wado in the western world at least in the UK and European sector. His path was hard but much sought after by his followers. We all owe him an immense debt of gratitude and obligation and, in the case of San no Ya, a personal giri which says our future path in San no Ya must be to continue with his stand alone philosophy and work.
In any philosophy and practice flying a symbol of harmony at its masthead it should go without saying that international and internal harmony throughout the wado word should be a major consideration, but the two wado organisations continued to thrust forward on diverging paths while human frailty seemed to deny the very essence of Ohtsuka meijin’s beliefs and hopes when he outlined his thoughts on peace. The facts of the initial splinter were not in dispute but in the light of historical events an attempt at harmony could well have been the important lesson in the learning for the human seeking enlightenment but then, perhaps it is not possible to be a seeker of dreams when one is a speaker of schemes. Throwing rocks in one’s own path is only of any relevancy if the pathway is clear and pristine when one takes the first step. If we are simply adding to the rocks in situ a collective effort will be more beneficial to ease the road we wish to travel.
Those who knew Suzuki Hanshi well also knew he spent years seeking to re-unite the two major factions after the first division but eventually came to understand the founding of the wado kokusai karate do renmei was his last option if he was to balance the obligations of his life without bias.. It was with this in mind that San no Ya, as an associate member of WIKF felt it necessary to withdraw from WIKF on September 12th 2011 in the belief that our obligations were to Suzuki Hanshi and not the WIKF. This belief has not changed and our aim is to continue to practice in the manner of Suzuki’s teaching for fear that his legacy may be lost if the options are to join either of the two major groups, however we can do this best if we remain true to his path of freedom to develop as individuals within society.
Wado ryu is a strange pursuit in the 21st century with its lowest common denominator echoing the way of the individual versus the hedged bet of the stronger collective voice of the group. I think though that we can be more than this also but we need – as enzan no metsuke urges – a wider view. It is very easy and personally gratifying to follow the daily rote and ritual of dojo life without much thought but there are issues that arise if one takes that wider view. In the general melee of karate there is no doubt that the collective mantra of seeing the group holding a moral high ground, holds sway over the soto voiced integrity of the individual personality but is this a true reflection, or should it be an aim, if our aim is to release and realise the potential of each member to its fullest extent in understanding harmony as a way to producing better human beings in society? History often shows the needs of the individual as a casualty within the group process and I believe both Ohtsuka meijin and Suzuki Hanshi saw their path as diverging from their group when the committee speak grew too costly for the integrity of the group to sustain or the individual to survive without that wider view. Wado is still a work in progress for all involved and Suzuki was certainly one who spoke of this. It would be a huge mistake to toss his contribution away without some serious consideration.
My previous comments on the difficulties WIKF faces in its future in terms of its structure were entirely personal but nevertheless heartfelt. I believe the executive committee and seniors of WIKF have a big job ahead of them and a big part to play still and San no Ya have sincere hopes for its future success. Our feeling is though that all San no Ya dojo must have an open door policy to enable all wado students from all wado organisations irrespective of any other loyalties or obligation can feel welcome and feel free to visit and participate in any San no Ya Suzuki Ha dojo.
oneya