Komakai

In 1966, Larry Pickel, Glenn Keeney, Jerry Brown, and Larry Davenport purchased the John Chambers Judo Academy. For a short time, the then Jundokan of Indiana was known as the Anderson Gojuryu Karate Club, but soon became the Komakai Academy of Judo and Karate, after Mr. Pickel picked the name out of a Japanese dictionary. Later the judo program was dropped and the dojo became the Komakai Academy of Karate. 

Mr. Pickel joined the dojo to the USKA in 1966 and began attending tournaments.

Over the next four years, the other three sold their interest in the dojo to Mr. Keeney. Mr. Pickel was the first to sell in 1967. Mr. Pickel appointed Mr. Keeney as his successor and by 1969; Mr. Keeney became the sole owner of the Komakai.

There were several Komakai branch dojos, opened by Mr. Keeney's yudansha. I will list the dojos and their instructors, at times the instructors changed, I will also list those instructors as well.

Upland (Taylor University) Komakai (est. 1968) - Mr. Dwight Jacobes
New Jersey Komakai (est. 1970) - Mr. Dwight Jacobes
New Castle Komakai (est. 1972) - Mr. Keeney, Mr. Larry Hoyel, Mr. Alan Goff, Mr. Paul Bridges
Alexandria Komakai (est. 1974) - Mr. Keeney, Mr. Larry Davenport
Fairmount Komakai (est. 1974) - Mr. Mike Cox
Franklin Komakai (est. 1975) - Mr. John Connell, Mr. Ron Rollins, Mr. Ross Scott
Gas City Komakai (est. 1977) - Mr. Curt Jones
Marion Komakai (est. 1982) - Mr. Curt Jones, Mr. Mike Jones
Bern Komakai - Mr. Mike Cox
Atlanta Komakai - Mr. Paul Bridges, Mrs. Kim Bridges
Indianapolis Komakai (est. 1992) - Mr. Curt Jones, Mr. Mike Jones

Komakai was a powerhouse dojo in competition, with several members in hall of fames and several state, national and world champions. Despite its competitive records, the Komakai was also a traditional dojo following the old traditions.

The dojo that began as the Jundokan of Indiana and ended as the Glenn Keeney's Komakai Academy of Karate in Anderson was the oldest continuously operated dojo in Indiana. Mr. Keeney retired and sold his dojo in 2004, ending a 40 year tradition. Unfourtuneatly there were lengthy court proceedings over the Komakai name that was later settled. The result was that no one but the new owner was allowed to use the Komakai name. However, Mr. Keeney has yudansha who operate dojos under their own names with his full blessing, such as, my father (Curt Jones), myself and David Dobbs. While we may not be able to use the name, never the less we still maintain the spirit.

Jundokan of Indiana

The Jundokan of Indiana was established in 1964, by Larry Pickel. 

Mr. Larry Pickel studied gojuryu karate, under Master Eiichi Miyazato at the Jundokan dojo in Asato, Naha City Okinawa, while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was in Okinawa for a total of 13 months; he was promoted to Shodan on February 14, 1964. The certificate was issued by the Okinawan Karate Association and Signed by Shoshin Nagamine Sensei and Eiichi Miyazato Sensei. Mr. Pickel said that he would go watch cock fighting with Miyazato Sensei and that, Miyazato Sensei would always ask him to bring him some Aqua Velva and Golden Wedding Whiskey from the base. 

After his discharge from the Marines, Mr. Pickel returned to Chesterfield, Indiana. Upon his return, he began teaching; his first students were Glenn Keeney, Larry Davenport and Jerry Brown.

The dojo moved a few times over the years, but in 1966 a larger dojo was purchased, and Mr. Pickle continued to teach until late 1967. Mr. Pickle left karate for personal reasons; he sold his interest in the dojo and appointed Glenn Keeney as his successor.

In 1967 the Jundokan of Indiana became the Komakai Academy of Karate.

Jundokan

Enterance to the Jundokan

Ei'ichi Miyazato (1922-1999) opened the Jundokan in 1957, it was the first free standing building exclusively designed to teach Goju-Ryu.

The Jundokan, which means, "House in which to follow in the father's footsteps", the name reflects Miyazato Sensei's devotion for his teacher. The Jundokan has students the world over and is responsible for training some of the world's greatest Goju-Ryu practitioners.

The Jundokan originally started out as a small wooden dojo but with increasing numbers of students it was decided that a more robust, larger dojo would be needed. In the 1970’s the current dojo was constructed on the spot in which it now stands.

Over the years a number of well known Gojuryu practitioners made their start in the Jundokan under the guidance of Miyazato Sensei – among them are Teruo Chinen (Jundokan International) and Morio Higaonna (IOGKF).

The Jundokan is a traditional Gojuryu dojo and the focus on training is kata, hojo-undo, and bunkai. Sports karate is not a part of the Jundokan whose primary goal is to preserve Okinawan Gojuryu in its traditional form as passed down by Chojun Miyagi Sensei

The Jundokan served as the headquarters dojo for the Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai from the time it was founded in 1969 until after the passing Miyazato Sensei.

Koshin Iha Sensei was appointed successor to Miyazato and assumed the position of Chief Instructor of the Jundokan and second president of the Kyokai. Iha Sensei retired in 2004 and for the first time in the history of the Jundokan and OGKK, the headquarters was moved out of the Jundokan to the Hichiya Dojo, with that the Jundokan separated from the Kyokai. Miyazato Sensei son, Yashuhiro, is the current Kancho of the Jundokan and has founded the Okinawa Gojuryu Karate-do So Honbu Jundokan association. Iha Sensei while retired maintains his relationship with the Kyokai and serves as its Honorary Chairman.

Miyazato Sensei instructed several students over the years, several of which went on to found thier own associations. Some of these associations were formed with the permission of Miyazato sensei, and he acted as Honorary Chairman for them, they included:

International Traditional Gojuryu Karate Federation founded by Kuniyuki Kai Sensei

United States Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai founded by Natambu Bomani Sensei

 Tanzanian Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai founded by Natambu Bomani sensei

West Africa Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai founded by Natambu Bomani Sensei

Pan American Gojuryu Karate Federation founded by Ramon Veras Sensei

New Zealand Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai founded by Dennis May Sensei

International Gojuryu Karate Association founded by Dennis May Sensei

United Kingdom Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai founded by Bob Honniball Sensei

Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Okinawakan Kyokai founded by Kenichi Nakamoto Sensei

Okinawa Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai Europe - Ryoichi Onaga Sensei

Traditional Okinawan Karate of Great Britain Jundokan - Ken Erridge Sensei

Other associations were that were founded by former Jundokan / OGKK students;

Okinawan Gojuryu Goyukai - Anyu Shinjo Sensei (now a sub association of the OGKK)

International Okinawan Gojuryu Karate Federation founded by Morio Higaonna and Teruo Chinen

Jundokan International founded by Teruo Chinen Sensei

Okinawan Gojuryu Bujutsu Kyokai founded by Kou Uehara Sensei

O tanjō-bi omedetōgozaimasu Miyagi Sensei

Miyagi Chojun 1888-1953

I know some of you may be looking at the above title wondering what it means; it is the formal way to say Happy Birthday to Miyagi Chojun sensei in Japanese. Why I would do such a thing, you ask. Well, today marks the 132nd anniversary of his birth.

In memory of the founder of the style of karate that I practice, on the anniversary of his birth, I go to my dojo and train in front of his picture, hoping that in some way my meager performance will please him. I start by going through Junbi Undo, followed by the 13 empty hand kata, then I will train with the tools of Hojo Undo and finish with Sanchin and Tensho.

Many times I will have students with me, but today I found myself alone in the dojo. I wondered what it would have been like to train under such a great bushi? When I started my training in goju-ryu karate, I did not know anything about the history of the style other than the name of the founder, I began training and just did what my teacher (my father) told me to do, I had no idea that 34 years later, I would still be on this path, following the way. Nor did I know that I would have my own students and children that would follow me down this path.

Although I am wishing him a Happy Birthday, it is really I who has received a gift. Domo Arigato Miyagi Sensei.

Nijin Keiko

One aspect of training that I feel doesn’t get much attention is Nijin Keiko or if you prefer Futari Geiko. Most all Okinawan Gojuryu dojo include some type of two person drills, most include ude taren or kote kitai, kakie and sandan gi, some also utilize some type of yakusoku kumite. However the majority of other ryu-ha do not spend any significant amount of time on these subjects.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the practices found in the Gojuryu Kai-ha;

Seikichi Toguchi Sensei, a student of both Chojun Miyagi Sensei and Seiko Higa Sensei, developed the Kiso Kumite sets for his Shoreikan dojo. While I have trained in these some, I do not particularly like them. What I see is basically a repetitive version of Sandan Gi, with the addition of a finishing technique that changes from one form to the next.  While repetition is good, in my opinion the Kiso Kumite sets are just too repetitious and static. There is no doubt that Toguchi Sensei was an innovator and developed some nice auxiliary kata for his dojo. He also developed some two person kumite sets for the katas. I had the opportunity to train in the Shoreikan method and several of its off-shots (Kodokan, Seibukan, Kenbukan) I think it is interesting that while some of Toguchi sensei students retained his kata and kumite drills, that several of his most senior Okinawan students, have chosen not to include all or part of them.

Meitoku Yagi Sensei, a student of Chojun Miyagi Sensei and the founder of the Meibukan dojo, had several two person drills; I was a member of the IMGKA under his son, Meitatsu Yagi Sensei for a few years. While I was training in the Meibukan method, he training drills consisted of Muchimi, Kake Te and Kote Kitei. The Yakusoku Kumite sets included: Ippon, Nipon, Sanpo, Renzoku and Kakomi Kumite. Several of the Yakusoku Kumite drills, did not look like those typically found in other goju ryu-ha, and to me had almost a Shuri-te feel to them.

Eiichi Miyazato Sensei, a student of Chojun Miyagi Sensei and the founder of the Jundokan dojo mainly taught in his dojo Sandan Gi, Ude Tanren and Kakie. Early in the Jundokan history Miyazato Sensei taught several more two person drills, Larry Pickel Sensei, who trained under Miyazato sensei in the early 1960s, returned to Indiana and brought with him a set of 7 Ippon Kumite and a set of 10 Nihon Kumite, that he said was the first thing he learned before he learned any kata.  Some Jundokan practitioners also do a Gekisai Renzoku Kumite. In recent years Jundokan senior Masaji Taira Sensei, has developed several two person kumite forms based on the 12 kata. There are also several Sandan Gi applications taught. I started my training in the Jundokan method and continue to train in it today.

Kimo Wall Sensei, a student of Seiko Higa Sensei and Seikichi Toguchi Sensei and founder of the Kodokan dojo, uses several of Toguchi Sensei kumite forms for the kata, he also uses a two person flow drill based on Tensho, which he calls Kigi Howa.

An instructor not in Gojuryu that uses several very nice two person drills is Patrick McCarthy Sensei, his Koryu Uchinadi is full of two person drills that have a heavy Naha-te flavor to them.

When I trained at the Komakai dojo, under my father (Curt Jones Sensei) and Glenn Keeney Sensei, I learned the two person drills brought back from Okinawa by Larry Pickel Sensei.

Today in my dojo (Yushikan), I utilize several two person drills. I use several sets of Sandan Uke Harai (3 level block training), I use Sandan Gi, the 7 and 10 form sets from Pickel Sensei, I also use several Sandan Gi variations from Terou Chinen Sensei, Kigi Howa from Kimo Wall Sensei, and I have developed several two person training sets of my own for use in my dojo. I personally feel that Nijin Keiko is an essential part of karate-do, I feel that it helps the student develop technique to be utilized later in actual combat.

Below is the first Sandan Uke Harai exercise that I teach in my dojo, while it is not a perfect execution, I feel it showed the technique enough that the reader could understand the set.

The Role of a Sempai

What is a Sempai. The simple meaning is to understand the definition. Sempai translates as "Senior" and can be applied in any situation where someone is senior to you. The Japanese term is used in school, business, the arts, and of course the martial ways. But the meaning for those in a traditionally run martial art group is far deeper than simply "Senior."

The history of Sempai tradition is long. The position has existed in the Japanese Samurai tradition and Okinawan Warrior society since warrior groups began. Originally Sempai was the most senior warrior in the group, under the group's commander or leader. His responsibility has always been awesome and harder than anyone else in the group. He was responsible for the development and direction of the lower warriors, and for the protection of the leader. No other position in a warrior group had these responsibilities. In the Japanese martial arts, the position remains the same.

In ancient times being Sempai meant you were personally responsible for the training of your Kohai (juniors). Upon review by Sensei, all Kohai must measure up to Sensei's standards or Sempai was directly to blame. Sempai was personally responsible for Kohai etiquette. This was most important. Any breaches in etiquette in the dojo were reprimanded by Sempai, not Sensei. If Sensei had to make the correction, it simply meant Sempai was not doing his job. If either of these situations happened more than a few times, Sempai was replaced with someone who could accomplish the duties assigned.

It was Sempai's responsibility to immediately correct any breach in etiquette toward Sensei, stop any threat toward Sensei, correct technical insufficiencies of the Kohai, and dominate in training. Those who could not fulfill these responsibilities were removed.

Today, the dojo Sempai is still tasked with the responsibility of  correcting the Kohai on matters of technique and etiquette. The position of Sempai in a traditional Karate Dojo is one of great responsibility.  Most generaly the Sempai is the best student in the dojo. The sempai maintains the relationship between Sensei and students, and he sets and maintains the attitude in the dojo.

Traditionally the sempai is the one who commands the students. When he sees Sensei ready to start class he tells the students to line up. Sempai tells the students to Bow to Sensei. He smacks them on the back of the head when they are fooling around instead of training.

Some things to keep in mind if you are the Sempai:

Seniors are generally considered those members ranked Sankyu (Brown
belt) or higher, although, anyone of higher rank is a Sempai.

Being a Sempai is an important role within the Dojo. A Sempai is a
position of trust, honor, and responsibility.

Sempai should teach students how to bow, tie their obi, proper
etiquette, and assist the Sensei with instruction.

Sempai should ensure that the Dojo remains clean.

Sempai should always be encouraging and helpful and should never
criticize or tear down their Kohai (juniors).

Sempai should train frequently and harder than other students, thus
setting an example.

Sempai should have the class lined up properly and ready for training
when the Sensei steps onto the floor.

Sempai should be positive, kind, and display respect, thus showing
proper budo.

Sempai should maintain dojo discipline and correct violations of
etiquette or policy by taking one aside and instructing him gently
and with respect. Never embarrass anyone.

Always research any question that a Kohai asks. When unsure of the
correct answer a Sempai should never guess and should refer the
question to Sensei.

Sempai should learn the names of all students.


A sempai is an important part of any traditional dojo; you are there to assist Sensei, so that he may concentrate on teaching and not worry about small minor details. You are like the older brother. Remember that you were once a new student, how did you feel, how were you treated? You should take great care to assist those junior to yourself.

The Yin and Yang of Chang-Tzu

The next important writing after the Tao-te-ching in Taoism is the Chuang-tzu, believed to have been authored by a man of the same name. Very little is known of Chuang-tzu, and what little there is, is woven into legend. His name was Chou, and he was a native of Meng, where he once served in the petty position of official of the lacquer garden. He lived in the same time as King Hui (370-319 B.C.) of Liang and King Hsuan (319-301 B.C.) of Ch'i.  Chuang-tzu was to Lao-tzu as Saint Paul was to Jesus Christ or Plato to Socrates.

The rhythm of life and its organic vision, an idea poetically put forth in the Tao-te-ching, is brought to perfect expression by the writings of Chuang-tzu.

Most other philosophers of his time (e.g. Confucius) were concerned with laying down the foundation for social norms and ideals for running a good government. Chuang-tzu was different.

Chuang-tzu transcended the illusory dust of the world (whang cheng in Chinese), thus laying down the foundations for a metaphysical state of emptiness or ego transcendence, an extremely important concept in kung-fu combat theory. With great imagination and superb weaving of fantasy, he captured the depth, glory, and color of the Chinese mind.

The essays and stories that constitute the Book of Chuang-tzu go deeper into strategy and mysticism than those found in the Tao-te-ching anthology. It is for this reason that the Chuang-tzu is required reading for kung-fu students.

The Chuang-tzu makes one very important contribution to Chinese philosophy. It clearly defines an age-old concept: the yin and yang.

In the general sense, the yin and yang is a theory of opposition. In the original meaning, it meant sunless and sunny. For example, the southern side of a mountain is yang and the northern side is yin. In time they came to mean male and female. Finally, they became general terms for fundamental and opposing forces or principles of nature.

Thus, yang is all that is good: male, strong, light, inner self, etc.; while yin is bad: female, weak, dark, outer self, etc. Now I am ducking for cover, don’t shoot the messenger lady’s, let me explain.

This is not to say that the ancient Chinese looked at the female as a dark, evil entity. They believed that all life is made up of opposing, interacting forces, giving the universe a substantive reality. Within the person there is both good and evil, consciousness and unconsciousness. The fact that for the creation of a human being you need both female and male led to the idea of these two beings as opposing forces. Thus, there is no implication of the female being evil only the categorization of her being biologically different from a man.         

The symbol of the yin-yang is a circle with two opposing tomoe (comma shaped design) or for the layman a circle with a twisted "S" in the center. The wave in the "S" represents the principle of continuous movement-finite movement, of rising-lowering. Within the symbol of the yin-yang is a representation of its philosophy. In the center of the dark area, representing light (yang) is a spot that appears to be an eye. This shows there is a grain of yin in yang. The same holds true of the light side, representing dark (yin); there is an element of yang, showing its presence. It is through the interaction of yin and yang that the universe and reality were created.

In terms of combat, yin and yang are very important. In the execution of a punch, for example, one can never be simply soft or hard. One must be both. The arm is kept soft until the moment of impact; it is then made hard for maximum power. After delivery, the arm returns to its soft state. Thus, there is an interaction of soft-hard (yin-yang) during the execution of every punch. All kung-fu techniques involve an interaction of yin and yang. It is perhaps this distinction that makes kung-fu unique in martial arts.

The Okinawan karate systems of Gojuryu and Uechiryu also utilize the concept of soft-hard, or hard-soft, within the frame work of their respected Ryu-ha, the Japanese or Okinawan equivalent in called In-Yo.

Stand By

Hello All,

I have been writting several articles and even a book, however, Friday evening, I got hit by a Trojan and it wiped out my computer. I lost the last 5 years worth of didgital pictures, several videos, and all of my karate and work files - including a few dozen articles, all my dojo manules, student menjos and my book.

While my hard drive still shows that the same amount of space is taken, all of my folders are blank and I am not smart enough to re-discover the items.

So I hope you will stand by, while I try to remember all that I wrote and re-build.