Yamash-ita Dai-Sensei Seminar

[sirdarksol]

Woo Hoo! Another Yamash-ita Seminar. I got to Hales Corners tonight and got the watch the majority of the empty hand seminar. The man is absolutely amazing. I cannot tell you how old he is, but he's got to be pretty old, yet he moves with the speed and grace of a much younger man.
At one point tonight, he was demonstrating a block and follow-up attack. I saw each of his arms swoop down, but I heard six or so thumps from his impacts.
Tomorrow morning I get to take part in the bokken seminar. This is going to be awesome!

[disgruntled]

take part in? is he going to beat on you? that does sound like an amazing seminar! does he travel or just do them in your home town?

[sirdarksol]

He's probably not going to pound on a little white belt such as myself, though I did get to watch him just pound on a black belt last night during some examples.

Yamash-ita Sensei almost never holds still. I guess he only spends a month or two in his home in Okinawa. The rest of the time, he's traveling for these seminars. He has students who have opened dojos in the US, Greece, the Ukraine, Japan, India, etc... There are dozens of places he travels to over the course of a year. He usually makes the circuit twice a year.

[disgruntled]

it would be awesome for the members of this site if you could post when and where he is travelling in case they would like to watch a seminar.

[sirdarksol]

I can try. Unfortunately, it's difficult to keep track of the man, except for regarding the time that he is going to be at a dojo you're part of. At least with East West Connection and it's "child" dojos, you've got to be part of Matayoshi Kobudo or Yamashita-style Kobayashi Shorin Ryu Karate to take part in the seminars.
I'm not sure, however, if all dojos have the same requirement.
Also, I'm hoping to develop more personal correspondence with him. I don't hope for much, but I would really like to get to know more about him, and about certain of his arts.

The weapon seminar was awesome. I screwed up and got yelled at, but at least I wasn't threatened with physical pain, as another student was.

[sirdarling]

Young man! Why you have girly long hair?!

PS... from: http://www.usadojo.com/biographies/t...-yamashits.htm

Tadashi Yamashita was born in Japan in 1942, but he considers himself an Okinawan. His father died when he was three, and his mother moved to Okinawa when Tadashi was eight years old. He lived in Okinawa until, at the age of 24, he came to the U.S.A. where he became a citizen. Sensei Yamashita's experience of more than 4 decades in the martial arts began at age 11. He was the roughest kid in school, and picked fights with other students, as well as the teachers.

This was brought to the attention of the PTA, which realized they could not handle him. The PTA president, who was also a karate instructor, stopped by to pick up Tadashi after school. Always the warrior, Tadashi tried to fight him. The instructor grabbed the rebellious youngster and dragged him off to the dojo where he was taught the elements of kicking, punching, and, most important of all, discipline. Tadashi found his probation period very interesting. His destructive energy was channeled into a hidden talent. The young man had found an art form, a religion, and a way of life. Sensei was awarded his black belt at the age of 16, in 1960.

He captured the All-Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Free Sparring Grand Championship Title. In 1968, he visited Japan and tested before his Sensei, Shugoro Nakazato, 9th Degree Black Belt. Also on the panel was the famous Grand Master Chosin Chibana, 10th Degree Black Belt. Sensei Yamashita became the youngest 7th Degree in the history of Japan. Sensei Yamashita moved to California in 1972 where many top artists, such as Mike Stone and Ed Parker noticed his talent and skill. The Pro-Am Tournament in Los Angeles in 1973 was the first of many in which he would demonstrate that talent. He brought 7,000 spectators to their feet for a standing ovation and from that moment on the magic of his karate weapons genius spread throughout the martial arts world. Sensei Yamashita is also known for teaching the late Bruce Lee the use of the nunchucku. Sensei is the foremost Karate and Kobudo expert in the United States today and the Head Instructor of Shorin Ryu in the United States. Sensei Yamashita has made many movies over the past 20 years. His first was "The Karate" in 1973. He then went on to do The Octagon, The Shinobi Ninja, American Ninja, and The Sword of Heaven and has appeared in and choreographed many others. Sensei is planning to publish a series of books on all facets of Martial Arts training, philosophy, and health studies. A unique individual, who practices a classic art form, he continues to generate excitement in students all over the world. Master Yamashita in effort to come to Hampton Roads, Va. at least once a year (sometimes more often). Renshi Bateman and his students have the distinct honor of working out with him on these occasions. I am so truly honored and happy to have such a close connection with Master Yamashita.

Sensei Tadashi Yamashita has dedicated over 40 years of his life to the practice Okinawan Karatedo and Kobudo. A highly respected man in all circles of the martial arts, Yamashita-Sensei is sought after for karatedo and kobudo seminars from all over the world. He currently retains the rank of ninth degree black belt in both karatedo and kobudo. Sensei is also the President and Director of U.S. Shorin-Ryu Karate Association, and U.S.A. President of the Zen Okinawan Kobudo Association.

Yamashita-sensei has traveled as far as South America and regularly visits Greece. Sensei also keeps a close connection with his birthplace of Japan and Okinawa. Not only is Yamashita-Sensei recognized as a leading aurthority in the martial arts, but his accomplishments also include his study with several notable high ranking masters. These masters include the late Chibana Chosin of Shorin Ryu, and Shuguro Nakazato founder of the Shorin Ryu Shorin Kan. As well as trained directly under the late Shinpo Matayoshi, founder of the Zen Okinawan Kobudo Renmei.

Well known for his explosive open hand techniques, Sensei combines many progressive fighting tactics with traditional aspects of karatedo, thus resulting in a devastating fighting system. Sensei's dynamic fighting system known as "Suikendo," translates to, "fist flowing like water." This non stopping flowing system of fighting, allows the karateka to simultaneously block and strike his opponent with blinding speed and accuracy.

Yamashita-Sensei is also a world renowned weapons master. During the 1973 Pro-Am Karate Tournament, Sensei brought over 7,000 spectators to their feet in a standing ovation after demonstrating his mastery and skill of ancient kobudo weaponry.

[sirdarksol]

Thank you, sirdarling, for that wonderful bit of cutting and pasting.

An update on tracking Yamashita-Sensei's showings, it's not going to happen, at least not immediately. I found a website that was supposed to let people know about each event and seminar, but it only had a couple listed, and it hasn't been updated since 2005.

[sirdarling]

Someone asked how old he was. It says when he was born in the first line... that is what I had googled. The rest of the article was so compelling I decided to post it.

So Dai-sensei is about 65.