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THE S.C.O.K.D.A. FLAG BANNER

(WHERE OUR KARATE-DO COMES FROM)

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AFRICAN FLAG

EXCERPT FROM

THE AFRICAN PRESENCE IN INDIA: A PHOTO ESSAY

By RUNOKO RASHIDI

One of the foremost tasks for contemporary African centered scholars is to provide an historical overview of the global African community. This is a critical task that must be completed in its entirety. This includes the history, culture and present condition of African people both at home and abroad. We are already aware, it should be pointed out, based on recent scientific studies of DNA, that modern humanity originated in Africa, that African people are the world's aboriginal people and that all modern humans can ultimately trace their ancestral roots back to Africa. If not for the primordial migrations of early African people, humanity would have remained physically Africoid, and the rest of the world outside of the African continent absent of human life. This is our starting point.

Since the first modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) were of African birth, the African presence globally can be demonstrated through the history of the Black populations that have inhabited the world within the span of recent humanity. Not only are African people the aboriginal people of the planet, however, there is abundant evidence to show that Black people created and sustained many of the world's earliest and most enduring civilizations. Such was the case in India.

The questions we pose here are simply these: Who are the African people of India? What is their significance in the annals of history? Precisely what have they done and what are they doing now? These are extremely serious questions that warrant serious and fundamental answers. This series of articles, "The African Presence in India: An Historical Overview," is designed to provide some of those answers.

 

 

 

INDIAN FLAG

The historical Bodhidharma was an Indian sage who lived sometime in the fifth or sixth century AD. He is the undisputed founder of Zen Buddhism, and credited with Zen's introduction to China (Shaolin Temple) during his travels to the Middle Kingdom. It was Daruma who taught the Shaolin monks the famed “:muscle change classic”.  (Note: Zen Buddhism is the term used in Japan, but Daruma's philosophy arrived first in China, where it flowered and was called Chan Buddhism. Only centuries later does it bloom in Japan, where it is called Zen).

 

CHINESE FLAG

It is well documented that many of the Okinawan kata were learned from Chinese military personnel traveling throughout Okinawa, and Okinawans traveling to China.  Many of the names of the kata lean toward the Shaolin Temple of Hounan Province.

 

OKINAWAN FLAG

The system of Japanese Shotokan has extremely deep roots in Okinawan Karate-do.

Indeed all of its kata are slighted variants of the Okinawan originals.

 

JAPANESE FLAG

The nineteen kata contained in KARATE-DO KYOHAN are the required learning kata of S.C.O.K.D.A as was intended by Funakoshi Gichin Sensei.  This is Japanese Shotokan as it was given to mainland Japan.  All other kata executed by many o today's traditional martial artist are in fact "not" part of the original Japanese shotokan karate system of Funakoshi Gichin Sensei.  The "other" kata that didn't make it into the Kohan text were not ment to be in to Kohan thus, not meant to be part of japanesse shotokan as presented by "Karatedo Kohan." 

 

S.C.O.K.D.A. EMBLEM AND AMERICAN FLAG

The South Carolina Original Karate Dojo Association was officially birthed and solidified as a non-profit corporation  in August of 2004. 

S.C.O.K.D.A. was founded and spearheaded by Raymond A. McRinna. 

Shihan McRinna is a martial arts instructor who migrated to South Carolina in December of 1999 from his birthplace of New York City.  It was in New York that McRinna learned the art of Japanese Shotokan Karate-do from his instructor, Master Frederick J. Hamilton.  S.C.O.K.D.A. is USA born however its karate-do is directly patterned from Gichin Funakoshi’s “KARATE-DO KYOHAN.

 

 

 


STRUCTURE

 

Shihan/Chief Instructor

At present the holder of this title is:


 

With rank and position comes responsibility.  Sempai is simply one who is the first recipient of yudansha rank in the dojo and/or is senior to you in (time and grade).    No other black belt in the dojo should be addressed by this title (this is directly dis-respectful to sempai) regardless of age, size, ability or capability.  The title of Sempai is not a position of privilege but of resposnibility.    

 

If you are found with the dilemma of having a younger Sempai than yourself, as an adult black belt or underbelt your position is to advise and support the younger Sempai at all times (lead by not being the leader).  

 

Many Hanshi, Kyoshi, Shihan's and Sensei have made mistakes and have had brief lapses in "right thinking" so be assured that our young Sempai will follow the same trail.  When these mistakes or lapses occurr, the sempai is not to be over-ridden, ridiculed, or discounted.  It is correct for any Kohai to assist the Sempai in recovering from an error of some kind.

 

We must remember that in what ever position we hold, "the way" is designed to bestow different trials and tribulations upon us - - - - - - - - - can you walk the path.

 

Shihan

 

 

 

 

        

KENKOJUKU
 
A method of training / associating with others to learn the way of humbleness through the practice of karate-do.
 
The ability to continously and effortlessly execute  the movements of karate-do, and  a superior condition of health go hand in hand.  This would be a near impossibility if the body, mind, and spirit were in poor condition.  The above statement implies that the one who achieves this combination can be said to the posessor of both considerable confidence and strength.  With the body, mind, and spirit in a clear and elevated state the attribute of modesty naturally attaches itself, thus continously stomping on the ever-surfacing ego.  It is a natural thing to have an ego, however as the possessor of considerable strength and ability through the practices of karate-do we must continously train, channel and nurture ourselves to hold the ego at bay.
Raymond McRinna 
 
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CANDIDATES FOR RANK ADVANCEMENT
 
Regular and consistant ATTENDANCE is required.
Continous lateness and or absenteeism will prolong the advancement / promotion process.
 
The LENGTH OF TIME AT THE PREVIOUS RANK is a factor in being considered for candicacy for promotion.  This length of time forces the student to "LIVE" each step, learn each kata well, and understand the way of karate-do.
 
TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE OF KATA AT PREVIOUS RANK ensures a solid foundation in the system. 
All Previous rank kata
(complete with S.C.O.K.D.A. bunkai)
must be well known to the candidate. 
the candidate must be able to explain and execute the bunkai movements.
 
PERFORMANCE encompasses executing technique with meaning, executing previously known kata with authorative vibrancy and precision.
 
The act of participating in martial events
(weapons / kata / kumite),
TOURNAMENT PARTICIPATION 
allows the instructor (as well as yourself) to see just how you function in a semi-hostile competitive environment.
Each event at the tournament level produces different types of pressure at different levels.  Students often become comfortable in the dojo setting, going through the motions of the event at hand.  By viewing students under the above conditions an Instructor can more accurately evaluate potential candidates.