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NORTHWEST BUDOKAN
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Vol X1V Number 40
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Mukilteo
YMCA honors two new black belts
The Mukilteo YMCA has two new black belts with the
first test session held at the YMCA since the karate program started two years
ago. Mark Brick started in the first class as a beginner to martial arts, and is
the first student to go from white belt to black belt with the program.
Vicki Lord came into the program as a Green Belt a year later and adjusted to
the new style with ease.
During their testing, black belt contenders had to demonstrate techniques
they've learned throughout their training. These techniques included being able
to lead the class through all the basics, demonstration of all their empty hand
kata (forms) and weapons katas.
Using each other as partners, they also demonstrated a set of ten attacks and
various self defense techniques to defend themselves in the modern world in
which we live.
Instructor Sensei Jay Gravelle said he very proud of the progress of Brick and
Lord as well as the entire karate program.
“In the short two years, the program now boasts eight black belts, with more
than 40 adult students and 125 youth students registered,” he said.
About the YMCA karate program
The YMCA Karate
classes include all aspects of traditional Shorin-Ryu karate, taught by 5th
Degree black belt Jay Gravelle. Self-defense focuses on real life application.
Beginning adult classes are from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the
Mukilteo YMCA and new students are accepted the first week of every month.
Participants must be 14 years of age unless approved by the instructor. All
fitness levels welcome! No experience needed and and beginners are encouraged.
Adult classes are included at no additional charge with the YMCA membership.
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Vol X11I Number 52
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New second degree black belt at Y
The Mukilteo YMCA karate students are at it
once again. This time their trip was to New Hampshire to workout and test with
the head of their style, Grand Master Fusei Kise and his son Kaicho Isao Kise.
This trip YMCA Karate student Randy Lord, tested and received his second degree
black belt Saturday.
The weather was hot and humid and working out all three days, Lord’s hard work
paid off as his katas (pre-arranged forms), in both empty hand and weapons were
excellent. Part of his test included sparring three different Black Belts also
testing for their next rank, demonstrating his knowledge of basic techniques and
self-defense.
Lord said the challenging part was learning the different techniques of this
form of karate, having already earned a black belt in another form.
The testing board; headed by Grand Master Kise included 8th Degree Black Belt
Kaicho Isao Kise and 7th Degree Black Belt Greg Lazarus. The testing was held at
the New Hampshire Summer Camp of the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Matsumura Karate &
Kobudo Federation led by Master Fusei Kise head of the world-wide organization.
Master Kise was the model for Mr. Myagi in the Karate Kid movies. He travels
from Okinawa every year for the camps in the United States where hundreds of
students come to train with him.
About the YMCA Karate Program
The YMCA Karate classes include all aspects of traditional Shorin-Ryu karate,
taught by the Mukilteo YMCA’s Karate Instructor, 5th Degree black Belt, Jay
Gravelle. Self-defense focuses on real life application. Classes are Tuesday and
Thursday 5:50-6:50pm at the Mukilteo YMCA. Participants must be 14 years of age
unless approved by the instructor. All fitness levels welcome! No experience
needed & and beginners are encouraged. Adult classes are included at no
additional charge with the YMCA membership! Sensei Jay Gravelle also teaches the
YMCA Youth Karate/Self-defense Classes with new classes starting in the fall.
Please stop by and congratulate Randy Lord, the YMCA’s new second degree black
belt.
Have an opinion? Tell Mukilteo what you think! Send letters to the editor to editor@mukilteobeacon.com
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Vol X11I Number 51
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Tired
of running in place? Kick it into gear
Looking for something different? Take a
lesson from the 1980’s “Karate Kid” movies: head on down to the Mukilteo YMCA
and learn karate from one of the students of the original Mr. Myagi.
Remember Daniel having to polish and wax cars, sand decks and paint fences?
These seemingly mundane tasks can strengthen muscles and increase flexibility.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to use your sand blocks, paintbrushes or waxing rags
at the YMCA, but you will get the same great kind of workout.
That protégée of Mr. Myagi, Fifth Degree Black Belt Jay Gravelle, has gone from
student to instructor of the Mukilteo YMCA’s self-defense/karate program. He now
has more than 30 years studying under Karate Master Fusei Kise, who was the
model for Mr. Myagi of the Karate Kid movies.
Sensei Gravelle teaches Shorin-ryu Matsumura Seito Karate and Kubudo styles.
This is an old street fighting martial art that originated on the island of
Okinawa. Unique features of this style are the natural stances instead of the
long, low stances of other styles and change body, a way of avoiding an attack
or seemingly increasing your reach to an attacker.
One thing you won’t see is the high flashy kicks seen in the movies and
tournaments. All kicks are at or below the belt. If you cut even the biggest
tree at the base it will fall.
The style teaches an equal amount of kicks and hand techniques along with
practical applications including tuite (self-defense and joint locks).
The lesser known Kubudo is the weapons part of training. Although you might not
have one of these with you, a common broom, mop, rake or any long stick will
easily take the place of the 6 foot staff used in class of which these students
handle with the greatest of ease.
As Sensei Gravelle says, “There’s no magic in karate, just body physics”. The
simplest of techniques come to light and you’ll wonder, “Why didn’t I ever think
of doing that.
The Mukilteo YMCA’s Youth Self-defense/karate program just finished the first
year and the results were impressive. For anyone that saw the very first lesson
you might wonder how any of these kids would look anything like the karate kid.
That only puts a big smile on Sensei Gravelle. He knows the potential of these
young students.
Here it is nine months later at the parents’ demo and this cute little innocent
girl has been grabbed and executes a perfect escape, kick and loud kai (the
karate yell). After showing the audience how they learned punches, blocks and
kicks, several students performed various other self-defense techniques
including single hand grabs, two hand grabs and front and rear chokes.
The final performance was the senior students performing the complete katas
(prearranged forms). After the demo every student received their certificate and
new belt that they had tested for and earned. Everyone is excited and looking
forward to the next session.
And someday, just someday you’ll see some of these kids with their black belts.
After all, this isn’t just an exercise program, but a lifestyle change as well.
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Vol XIII Number 24
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Exercise takes
on a new meaning for the hard-working karate-ka (students of karate) in
the Mukilteo YMCA karate class. Rather then running in place these
students work up a sweat running through the basics of self-defense.
They leave not only great exercise, but a feeling of being able to
defend themselves in the modern world in which we live.
Students Bernadette, June Gravelle and Liam Yore traveled to Athens,
Texas to test and receive their First Degree Black Belts. Their hard
work paid off Nov. 19 as they all were in great form and ready for their
testing. The testing board, headed by Master Kise included
seventh-degree black belts Greg Lazarus John Shipes and Jeff Ader.
Mukilteo Y’s karate instructor Sensei Jay Gravelle also tested and
received his fifth degree black belt.
Their testing included demonstrating their knowledge of basic
techniques, self-defense and katas (pre-arranged forms) both empty-hand
and with weapons.
Master Fusei Kise, head of the world-wide organization, led the testing
at the Winter Camp of the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Matsumura Karate and Kobudo
Federation. Master Kise was the model for Mr. Myagi in the Karate Kid
movies.
He travels from Okinawa every year for the camps in the United States
where hundreds of students come to train with him. The annual winter
camp stresses Tuite (self-defense using joint locks).
The Y’s classes include all aspects of traditional Shorin-Ryu karate
taught by fifth degree black belt Jay Gravelle. Self-defense focuses on
real life application.
Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:50 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. at the
Mukilteo YMCA. Participants must be 14 years of age unless approved by
the instructor. All fitness levels welcome! No experience needed and
beginners are encouraged. Adult classes are included at no additional
charge with the YMCA membership.
Gravelle also teaches the YMCA Youth Karate/Self-defense Classes. Please
stop by and congratulate the YMCA’s new black belts.
Published: Thursday, November 25, 2004
Our Towns
Karate students earn black belts
Mukilteo YMCA karate students Bernadette, June Gravelle and Liam Yore recently traveled to Athens, Texas, to earn their first-degree black belts.
The YMCA's karate instructor, Jay Gravelle, also tested for and received his fifth-degree black belt.
Testing included demonstrating knowledge of basic techniques, self-defense and katas (prearranged forms, both empty-handed and with weapons.
Copyright © 2003 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, Wash.
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