We wish all of our subscribers and followers well during this Coronavirus pandemic.
Our own Sensei John has started a journal sharing his daily techniques, kata and mediations he is using to manage his own “Coronapause” experience. Here is a summary of articles posted to date:
Today marks the anniversary since Sensei Paul Recchia was taken from us on April 10th, 2003. Please join us in performing Sanchin Kata, or a kata of your choice, at sunset in memory of Sensei Paul and all whom we have lost.
The following Hatsu Bon Poem, together with the above training, are offered to his spirit.
May Sensei’s spirit find our training and poem worthy.
Sensei Paul, age 60
HATSU BON POEM
Please don’t cry before my grave That’s not where I am Nor am I sleeping for eternity SEE!! I am already part of the breezes numbering a thousand I am part of the light that brightens this world Like a diamond glittering in the snow Like the sun that coaxes seeds to sprout And in the Fall I become the gentle rain that nurtures all. When you open the window in the morning I am the breeze That causes your hair to flutter; And at night, I am the star That watches over your sleep. So, please . . . don’t cry before my grave That’s not where I am. I am not dead. I have been born anew.
The last time Sensei Paul (in wheelchair) was at the Issho Dojo (January, 2000) with (L-R), Sensei Walter Byrne, Sensei Kim Szmitkowski, Sensei John Szmitkowski, Sensei Jimmy DiMicelli, Sensei Bobbie Gumowski. I will never forget that this was the first time in almost eighteen months that Sensei Paul, confined to his in home hospital bed, left the comfort of his home to honor all who were elevated that day in the black belt promotion ceremony.
Sincerity in sweat, you are not forgotten, Sensei.
We just learned important information about Sensei John’s groundbreaking Kata-RX For Wellness online school. We can’t believe its true, but it is!
Sensei John is so pleased with the enrollment in his online Kata-RX For Wellness courses that he has decided for a limited time to make his first course available for – ready – FREE. That’s right completely FREE – no further obligation – you can learn Sensei John’s innovative “1 Day / 1 Lifetime” Kata for wellness and mindfulness! Enroll today in the first course for FREE.
For those students that already purchased the first course, Sensei will provide a promo code for credit towards the purchase of the second course.
The second course is available to all students who complete the first course. It is reasonably priced at $ 55. for a one-time payment or a two payment option of $ 30 for two months. Either way there’s a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. Sensei is so confident you will benefit from his kata that if you are not completely satisfied in the 30 day period you get a full refund.
Here’s a compilation of Sensei’s Kata filmed September 2019 in various locations on Cape Cod, MA, some locations include Wellfleet, North Truro, Light houses and of course, Provincetown (and a mystery locations)! See how easy Sensei’s Kata is to do daly and the beautiful natural beauty of Cape Cod.
MORE 9-25-19: Update: Sensei John is toying with a new video series to enrich your Kata-RX experience!The videos combine Kata-RX with thought provoking commentary to facilitate your wellness and mindfulness experience. Here’s a sample video. For more info please visithttps://senseijohn.me/2019/09/25/kata-koan-preview-sea-monsters-in-your-ocean/
More news from Sensei John’s Online Kata-RX For Wellness & Mindfulness classes! We’ll let Sensei John tell you himself. For a limited time, the first course in the Kata-RX For Wellness series is FREE,that’s right due to an overwhelming enrollment, Sensei John has made this first course absolutely FREE!
Let’s take a quick peak at my innovative, groundbreaking kata, filmed on a beautiful summer day in Asbury Park, NJ:
The second course is available to all students that have completed the first course. For a limited time the second course is available for a one payment option of $ 55. or a monthly two payment option for $ 30. each. As always, if you are not completely satisfied, there is a 30 day money back guarantee.
You can view the course description and full curriculum using this convenient link: https://kata-rx.teachable.com/p/full-kata-rx-for-wellness-mindfulness
***** Attention New Students ***** FREE FIRST COURSE: Please remember you MUST start with the first course. For a limited time you can enroll in the first course for FREE, yes that’s right, due to an overwhelming response Sensei John has made the first course entirely FREE! You can use this link to view the full curriculum and get your FREE first course! https://kata-rx.teachable.com/p/preview-kata-as-moving-meditation
Here’s a few more screen shots from the most recent videos filmed at Ringwood Manor, NJ.
Sensei John’s next course (number two) in his three part Kata-RX: Kata For Wellness & Mindfulness Online school will open in July. We’ll let Sensei John tell you how the course is progressing.
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My three part Kata For Wellness and Mindfulness online course takes the next step with course number two.
The first course has already opened for enrollment. https://kata-rx.teachable.com/p/preview-kata-as-moving-meditation
The second course is well underway to opening in the next ten days. This second course will teach the full, enhanced movements of the three kata presented in the first course. More significantly this course will teach more of the internal processes found within the kata. The Ghost Hand Gaze, Ghost Hand perception, Mushin state of mind, contracting and expanding bio-energy and Nenjuushin (the everyday mind) to name a few of the internal processes.
To date all that remains is editing and final tweaking. So, it looks like the second course will launch around July 4th. In the meantime, here’s a few screen shots from the class videos. I hope you enjoy them.
Sensei John explains Mushin-No-Shin Mindset
Sensei John explains the Ghost Hand Gaze
Sensei John’s Practice Together Class On The Ghost Hand Kata
Practicing Your Sanchin using Mushin-No-Shin with Sensei John
Please remember that new students must start with the first course. The second course builds on the core techniques and internal principles taught in the first course. This course has already opened for enrollment. Welcome to all the new students!
The first course teaches the core movements of three kata: my Ghost Hand Kata (Yurei-Te Kata), the Sanchin Kata and the 1 Day / 1 Lifetime Kata (“Ichi-Nichi / Issho” Kata). It is the starting point for all students. For a limited time you can still enroll for only $ 10. (that’s a savings of $ 15 off the regular price) & there’s a 30 day money back guarantee if not completely satisfied. You may view the entire curriculum and enroll, if you choose to do so here: https://kata-rx.teachable.com/p/preview-kata-as-moving-meditation
I look forward to seeing you in class. My best to all,
Don’t read this unless, you realize you need a means of maintaining physical, mental and spiritual well-being in an increasingly hostile world – – – – and – – – – you’re are ready to be solely responsible for your own such well-being. With that being said, here’s a sneak peak into my latest project.
The start of a very exciting summer heralds the start of a new project. This project will continue my Jiriki Kata-Do (self-wellness through kata) dynamic ideology. Jiriki Kata-Do was launched in 2009 with my Sanchin Kata manual, “Sanchin Kata: Gateway To The Plateau Of Serenity” and DVD.
Now, almost a decade later and tens of thousands of hours “Thinking, Sweating and Experimenting” ™ with kata, a second, updated installment is underway.
My concept of Jiriki Kata-Do (“JK-D”) brings the benefits of select karate kata to the general public, without the need to study a full karate curriculum. The kata are practiced not from a martial perspective but from a moving meditation perspective. By undertaking the practice of JK-D, the average person can experience not only the physical health benefits of dynamic, moving meditative rituals (called “kata”) but also realize the mental, emotional benefits of such meditative rituals. Additionally, the practitioner begins to understand and appreciate the manner in which the world, one’s external environment, affects and interacts with these physical and mental processes and vice-versa.
JK-D differs from other non-active forms of mediation called zazen, or seated mediation, in that, well, you are physically active during the JK-D meditative process. Unlike other endeavors, such as yoga and tai-chi, which have not only lost their meditative aspects in favor of physical exercise but also become commercialized though fashion, JK-D only requires the use of your own body and mind. There are no special clothes, accessories, classroom and the like. JK-D remains within you at all times, wherever you are. The benefits of JK-D are , therefore, available to you anyplace and anytime.
Sanchin footprints in the sand, Cape Cod, MA 2016
At present, I am preparing the manuscript and scripting the videos. It is my hope that both will be finished by the end of summer. The plan is then to film photos for the manuscript and video for the DVD in Cape Cod. MA in early September. The release date would then be mid-November for this long awaited continuation of the JK-D project.
Scouting video locations – its a “dirty-job”
Check back often for more information, and maybe a few teasers from the manuscript and test videos.
“Think – sweat – experiment with Kata” and “Life is a kata” are trademark protected.
For a refreshing and innovative discourse on kata and bunkai, please feel free to visit Sensei John’s Kata Laboratory and “THINK * SWEAT * EXPERIMENT” using this convenient link: http://senseijohn.me/kata-lab/
Today marks the ten year anniversary since Sensei Paul Recchia was taken from us. Please join us in performing Sanchin Kata, or a kata of your choice, at sunset in memory of Sensei Paul and all whom we have lost.
The following Hatsu Bon Poem, together with the above training, are offered to his spirit.
May Sensei’s spirit find our training and poem worthy.
Sensei Paul, age 60
HATSU BON POEM
Please don’t cry before my grave That’s not where I am Nor am I sleeping for eternity SEE!! I am already part of the breezes numbering a thousand I am part of the light that brightens this world Like a diamond glittering in the snow Like the sun that coaxes seeds to sprout And in the Fall I become the gentle rain that nurtures all. When you open the window in the morning I am the breeze That causes your hair to flutter; And at night, I am the star That watches over your sleep. So, please . . . don’t cry before my grave That’s not where I am. I am not dead. I have been born anew.
The last time Sensei Paul (in wheelchair) was at the Issho Dojo (January, 2000) with (L-R), Sensei Walter Byrne, Sensei Kim Szmitkowski, Sensei John Szmitkowski, Sensei Jimmy DiMicelli, Sensei Bobbie Gumowski. I will never forget that this was the first time in almost eighteen months that Sensei Paul, confined to his in home hospital bed, left the comfort of his home to honor all who were elevated that day in the black belt promotion ceremony.
Sincerity in sweat, you are not forgotten, Sensei.
From one of my favorite tales (See Endnote # 1), a poem for your contemplation.
When Heaven is about to confer A great office upon a man, It first exercises his mind with suffering, And his sinew and bones with toil; It exposes him to poverty And confounds his undertakings. Then it is seen if he is ready.
Respectfully submitted,
Sensei John Szmitkowski
When Life decides to verify that I am “ready” for what lays ahead, I find that the Shobu variation of Sanchin Kata prepares me for Life’s tests. To view an EXCITING & UNIQUE short video filmed amongst a few Arizona vultures, please click this convenient link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf8dlXsBnoI
ENDNOTES:
1. The poem is attributed to “Moshi” and is from the preface to: Jennings, William Dale, The Ronin ( Charles E. Tuttle Co, Tokyo, Japan, 1968)
Goshin-Do Karate DeFelice-Ryu 
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