To register, click on 2009 Camp Registration Form at top of page.
Costs:
Full Package—$275—Cost includes all trainings, all meals, t-shirt, and camping
(Fill out the form online or print it out and mail in.)
Remit payment to:
David Campbell
500 Griffith Hill
Ferrum VA 24088
Please register by June 1. A deposit of one-half the total amount will be due at that time. The balance will be due by June 15. No registrations after June 15. A Very Limited number of spaces are available! We are scaling it down this year to allow for more individual instruction. Register as soon as possible. No registrations will be accepted without a deposit.
Any questions can be directed to:
David Campbell 540-365-9965
Randy Simpson 540-365-2777
Aoyama-dojo@hotmail.com
Other Info
TKRI-VA
The Virginia branch of the Traditional Karate Research Institute, (TKRIVA) is located at Aoyama Dojo in the Appalachian Mountain town of Ferrum. Training focuses on a multi-faceted exploration of traditional Japanese and Okinawan karate, as well as the cultivation of the benefits historically associated with the art in a non-competitive environment. Chief Instructor David Campbell emphasizes practicality and adaptability in vigorous, well-rounded instruction. Through 16 years of study begun with Shotokan, expanded and informed by a broader palette of Japanese and Okinawan methodologies, Campbell has developed an eclectic comparative knowledge of classical and modern kata and fighting techniques. Differences among versions of traditional techniques and kata are studied alongside drills designed to foster dynamic movement and harmonize response skills. Other skills, such as randori/ground fighting, falling and body conditioning are also vital to the curriculum.
Mr. Campbell has performed extensive research on the Gojushiho kata, as well as developed a set of innovative rhythmic studies based on the principles driving several kata. He is author of several articles published nationally and internationally.
Facilities
The gasshuku will take place on the pastoral, private land of a local TKRIVA supporter who has graciously invited us to train and camp there. Training sessions will be conducted in a grassy field surrounded by pine trees, facing a pond and a vista of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Access to showers will be off site, and limited, so come prepared to 'rough it.’
All meals (included in the cost of the camp) from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch will be provided by Catering by Karenza. On Saturday night, a (very) casual banquet dinner will be held “Yurtside” at a local TKRI student’s home. Catering by Karenza will provide us with top- notch, vegetarian friendly, meals on schedule.
What to Bring
-Tent, bed roll/sleeping bag, sunscreen. We will be camping at the training site, but limited space will be available at the dojo for those who wish to sleep indoors, or in case of extreme weather. Showers will be provided at nearby homes on a limited basis- be prepared to go all day before taking one.
-Any toiletries you need, along with a towel--the shower sites will not have enough for all of us. There is a nearby town equipped with a Wal-Mart in case anyone forgets an item or two.
-Versatile shoes, such as tennis shoes, for jogging, walking around the camp space, or trips into town, and sport sandals for relaxing/shower usage.
-An all-white gi, two if you have them. It will be hot and sweaty, and there is no guarantee your gi will be dry by the next training. No colored gi, designs-i.e. Joe's Bail Bonds on gis, please. Remember, we will be outside, so stains and tears may happen.
-Acoustic guitars, banjos, mandolins, books, etc… for the off-hours.
-A LAWN CHAIR of some type for meals and off-hours.
Instructor Bios
Harry Cook
The attendance of Harry Cook, one of the foremost karate researchers and practitioners of contemporary times, is a coninued special feature of the three-day training event. Cook is the author of several books, most notably the encyclopedic Shotokan Karate: A Precise History, as well as more than 100 published articles and columns in journals such as Classical Fighting Arts. In addition to a lifetime of karate training in (primarily) Shotokan and Goju-ryu, Cook holds a BA in Chinese Studies, and spent three years living and teaching in Japan. Cook has also investigated a variety of other Asian and European martial arts systems and their related histories and works.
His organization, the Seijinkai, is dedicated to the preservation, exploration and development of traditional Japanese and Okinawan karate. He will be sharing his insights into the Nijushiho and Chinte kata during training sessions and lectures throughout the weekend. Mr. Cook's visits to the U.S. are few and far between, so check your calendar now.
Robert Miller
Robert Miller envisioned and founded TKRI--a non-sport, not-for-profit karate research group, which promotes "Traditional Japanese and Okinawan karate for the serious student." Mr. Miller's unique insight into karate has developed from more than 30 years of training and investigation into the fighting arts and methodologies of Japan, Okinawa, and beyond--including karatedo, aikido, jyu jitsu and judo. A range of related fields, encompassing philosophy, educational development, history, anatomy, and kinesiology also inform his karate practice and instruction.
In 2001, Miller and TKRI organized and hosted the first Budo Symposium, which brought together several senior practitioners of the classical fighting arts of Japan and Okinawa, as well as academic experts in Asian philosophy, history, art, and sociology at University of Missouri-St. Louis. For the last 15 years, TKRI and TKRIVA have been honored to demonstrate karate in the annual Japanese Festival at the St. Louis, MO. Botanical Gardens, the largest Japanese Festival in the nation.
Elmar Schmeisser
I was born in 1950, and began my Karate training in the summer of 1968 at Tracy's Kempo Karate in San Mateo, CA. That fall, I went to college (UCSD) and began training under Mr. Hidetaka Nishiyama (Shotokan/JKA); summer training was continued in Stanford University. Three and a half years later, I was ranked at shodan.
Upon graduation in 1972, I went to the University of Massachusetts for 2 years to earn my master's degree, and exchanged teaching Karate for learning Judo from Mr. Noriyasu Kudo, earning sankyu (Kodokan style) in 1973. Mr. Kudo also taught Shukokai (Tani-ha Shito-ryu) Karate under the guidance of Mr. Shigeru Kimura (New Jersey). The following year was spent in Stanford University working, training Karate and learning Omote-Senke Japanese tea ceremony. In 1975 I earned nidan from Mr. Nishiyama, and started to train with Mr. Chuck Okimura (Shotokan of Hawaii) and Mr. Isao Wada (Renshinkai). Through them I met Mr. Leroy Rodrigues (Shotokan/Shorinjiryu). In 1976, I went to the University of Florida for the doctorate degree, taught Karate at the University Shotokan dojo, and trained in Aikido, eventually earning sankyu (Yamada style) in 1980. In January of 1981, with a newly earned Ph.D., I entered the Army (Captain, Medical Service Corps) and was stationed in San Francisco, CA. For the next 4 years, I trained with (and taught for) Mr. Rodrigues, earning my sandan and my senior instructor's certificate in the American Teacher's Association of the Martial Arts in 1984. I was then assigned to the School of Aerospace Medicine in San Antonio, and taught Karate for the YWCA, as well getting introduced to Kendo and Kyudo.
In 1987, I left active duty to accept a faculty position as Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Kentucky . Here, after verbal promotion to yondan by Mr. Rodrigues, I trained in Aikido for a further year (receiving nikyu, Saotome style in 1988) and in the Fall of 1988, started a Karate P.E. class. At this time I was registered as a level C examiner by the America JKA Karate Association (Mr. Ray Dalke, Chairman). In 1992, I was promoted to godan by Mr. Rodrigues; this rank as later recognized by the International Society of Okinawan/Japanese Karate-Do (ISOK) in 1994 prior to an early administrative promotion to the grade of rokudan in 1995 by ISOK's co-founder, Dr. Weiss, based on the rokudan granted by Mr. Rodrigues.
In 1997, I left the University to accept a position at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. Here I restricted my Karate practice to training with selected senior students in an apprenticeship mode, and in 1998, was awarded the title of Renshi by ISOK, and was appointed to head the administration of ISOK a year later. I resumed training in Aikido (Nishio style,) with Mr. Bill Weaver at the ShoAnJuku Dojo (Mr. Masakazu Tazaki, supervising) to further deepen my understanding of the grappling techniques hidden in the kata of Karate-do. In addition, I started training in Iaido (Soshoryu) to complement my aikido training. Further, I resumed kendo training and started training in koryu Kenjutsu (Gomokawa Kaishin Ryu) and Iaijutsu (a variant of Tamiya Ryu), both under the guidance of Mr Tetsuzan Kuroda (Japan) to expand my knowledge of the older martial methods. Mr. Tazaki promoted me in Aikido to ikkyu in 2000 and to shodan in 2001, as well as to sankyu in Iaido. In late 2001, I moved from Texas to accept a new position at the Army Research Office in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Here I found a dojo for karate-do, and also located a Kyudo dojo to work on the internal aspects of budo (currently ranked ikkyu). In 2004, I transferred the executive operating authority of ISOK to Mr. Craig Hargis, and happily reverted to teaching, giving seminars and rank examinations for ISOK when asked, while continuing to teach locally Shotokan karate, and as ancillary classes for my advanced karate students, Nishio-style Aikido and Japanese sword methods (Kendo kata and Soshoryu Iaido). On July 19th of 2004, I received recognition from ISOK for 7th Dan based on Mr Rodrigues recommendation and the service title of Kyoshi. Lately, with an expansion and reorganization of ISOK, I have again assumed some duties in its adminstration.
Over the past 35+ years of training and teaching, I have been ranked in Karate-do, Aikido, Judo, Iaido and Kyudo; been awarded Instructor, Senior Instructor and Master Instructor's licenses by the American Teachers Association of the Martial Arts (ATAMA), and currently hold the grade of Nanadan and the title of Kyoshi (ISOK). Finally, I maintain my Aikido, Kendo and Iaido kata as well as my koryu sword practice and continue Kyudo and Cha-no-yu to maintain a balance between the active and meditative arts.
