Dojocho's blog

Dan Pham has been a good friend of mine for many years. Besides being a helluva guy, he's also a pretty accomplished karateka. Unfortunately, years of kata and kumite took their toll on Dan's hip. He was all but out of training for the past couple of years.

Well that's all changed! Dan just got a new hip and evidentally....HE'S BAACCKKK!!!

Thank you to all who attended this year's seminar with Frank sensei. We had a great time hosting the event and your attendance made it a success!

Please see our Gallery for pictures from the and we look forward to seeing you next year!

On Monday, February 18th, Frank Quartieri tested for his 5th kyu. Frank has been with us for a little over a year and rarely misses a class. His test was exceptional, and he set the bar for the rest of those to follow.

Thanks to Frank for his dedication and thanks to Duff for working with him the past couple of months to get him prepared.

The article was originally posted on the Greater Good Magazine Online web site. The Power Paradox

True power requires modesty and empathy, not force and coercion, argues Dacher Keltner. But what people want from leaders—social intelligence—is what is damaged by the experience of power.

It is much safer to be feared than loved, writes Niccolò Machiavelli in The Prince, his classic 16th-century treatise advocating manipulation and occasional cruelty as the best means to power. Almost 500 years later, Robert Greene's national bestseller, The 48 Laws of Power, would have made Machiavelli's chest swell with pride. Greene's book, bedside reading of foreign policy analysts and hip-hop stars alike, is pure Machiavelli.

On February 4th, 2008, the dojo will be relocating to the American Karate Academy in Altamonte Springs.

The new address of the dojo is:

American Karate Academy
1005 Sunshine Lane
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714

(Please see the Our Dojo page for directions)

Happy New Year!

Santa was kind enough to bring me Endo sensei's new DVD this year for Christmas. I wanted to take a moment to share with you my initial thoughts on this excellent training reference.

(From the book "Flashing Steel - Mastering Eishin Ryu Swordsmanship" by Masayuki Shimabukuro and Leonard J. Pellman)

Shu Ha Ri is a term the Japanese use to describe the overall progression of martial arts training, as well as the lifelong relationship the student will enjoy with his or her instructor.

Seishiro Endo shihan visits North America
Contributed by Dan Nishina