Hosting the 2007 ISKF National Tournament
2007 was an incredible year for the NW Region. We took on the challenge of hosting the ISKF National Tournament, in an abbreviated time frame, working from two different cities - Bellevue and San Francisco! Since San Francisco was the tournament venue, and Bellevue is the regional headquarters, it took a lot of coordination. Our lead in this exercise was Beckie Brocies, who had just hosted the Nationals in the Alaska Region in 2006! Luckily she agreed to make it happen again for her new “home” region. Ms. Brocies has also taken over the role of club treasurer for the WWSKC, which is a huge help to me.
Details, details and more details, Beckie had them all figured out and kept Joji and I apprised of everything. Sensei Yaguchi and Sensei Okazaki were well taken care of and the NW Region walked away with a sense of pride and accomplishment. We scheduled training sessions for both competitors and non-competitors with Masters Rielly and Field; and we offered an Instructor Trainee class with Master Okazaki.
Separating From JKA
The ISKF, along with all the NW Region clubs, decided to separate from the JKA and become a worldwide organization. This was a big step, and a big challenge psychologically, as many of us considered ourselves ‘offspring’ of the Mother Organization. However, when the umbrella organization does not allow positive growth and expansion, then it is time to make a change.
We expect to become an even closer family as we now openly embrace clubs from outside the western hemisphere. Since we still have our Organizational Chief Instructor - Master Okazaki, and our Western US Chief Instructor - Sensei Yaguchi, the separation does not affect us directly. We look forward to training with these Masters throughout the new year.
Spring Visit by Sensei and Mrs. Yaguchi
We were incredibly honored to have both Sensei and his wife join us April of 2007 for a weekend of training, sightseeing and watching Ichiro play center at Safeco Field. There was time to see Pike’s Place Market and witness the fish toss, stroll past a booth where Sensei marveled at sheets of Mango, rolled paper-thin and ready for consumption, take lunch at one of the cafes overlooking the Market, and stroll around Lincoln Square in Bellevue.
Sensei’s classes kept us challenged both mentally and physically, and we were able to fit an Instructor Trainee class into the schedule as well. He has the ability to break down and explain techniques in a very basic and memorable way. It is a lasting experience to be in one of his classes.
New Kumite Class
Riding the wave of enthusiasm that followed the Nationals in San Francisco, Kris Haight began a monthly kumite class at the dojo the first Sunday of each month. This comes on the heels of a successful tournament last October where the NW Region had a wonderful record of wins in both kata and kumite. Kris, having been a kumite champion in a past ISKF Nationals, was excited about starting this new class. We are happy to offer this to the competitive, spirited black belts!
New Yoga Class
Last fall we realized that many of us need to balance the “hard style” of karate with a softer style of stretching and breathing. We found the perfect balance with our new yoga instructor, Margretta Murnane. She has a wonderful teaching style, has picture perfect technique, and has brought people back to the dojo who do not train, but who we like to see! Her class is on Tuesday evening from 6-7 pm.
In 2007 WWSKC earned many new black belts:
| Matt Anderson | Shodan |
| Sal Celis | Shodan |
| Andrew Lovett | Shodan |
| Jaclyn Eruhow-Hagen | Nidan |
| Lisa Kluth Luthi | Nidan |
| Kerri Sun | Nidan |
| Della Wolfe | Nidan |
| Mark Luthi | Sandan |
| Stephanie Raffetto | Sandan |
| Chee Chew | Yondan |
| Jeffrey Pearce | Yondan |
Congratulations - keep pressing forward to your next goals.
New WWSKC Members in 2007 – WELCOME!
Cheyenne Culich
Oscar Galvez
Deby Harvey
Donn Harvey
Andrew Ho
Nathan Ho
Bradley Kagle
Rebecca Leuck
Leah Marshall
Carlos Nunez
Cathy Palermo
Alexander Raffetto
Amy Vasquez
Joseph Vasquez
We are pleased to have family members training together like husband/wife teams– Deby & Don, Amy & Joseph, Oscar and Rebecca; brothers – Andrew & Nathan (Ho and Lovett); kids of parents that train – Cheyenne (Tom’s girl), Leah (Rhonda’s girl), Alexander (Steph’s boy); not to mention Cathy, Carlos and Bradley who train – just because! This is how we keep on.
We are also very pleased to welcome returning members:
Tom Hudson*
Rhonda Marshall
* Tom Hudson, at 8-years old, was a member of my first karate club in Bellevue. He was also my first student to receive a black belt and now, almost 20 years later, he is back! What a great joy for me – except I have somehow become 20 years older too….
100 Club Members: (Attendance in 2007)
| Cele Wolman | 165 |
| Bryan Krische | 157 |
| Mark Luthi | 148 |
| John Lane | 137 |
| Stephanie Raffetto | 130 |
| Rick Hagenbaugh | 120 |
| Lisa Kluth-Luthi | 119 |
| Beth Fournier | 106 |
| Allen Oh | 100 |
I’m sure everyone knows these guys – an amazing cadre, eight adults and one junior….
Special Awards:
** Best Attendance : Cele Wolman – she manages to make it to class, even when she is darting in and out for play rehearsals and productions. Touche Cele.
** Youth Attendance: Allen Oh - Oh, Allen, how does a busy senior make this prestigious list? We commend you.
** Woman Of the Year: Beckie Brocies – none other than, the woman who made it possible for the NW Region to pull off a Nationals in half the time, with barely a hitch, and with amazing organizational skills. To seize the opportunity, and time it on the 30th anniversary was perfect! Thank you Beckie.
** WWSKC Instructors: All instructors – Kris and Mark on Monday; Chris Moller on Wednesday; Beth and Stephan on Thursday; my every-other –Friday fill-ins; and the Saturday group of Ed, Kevin & Chee: Thank you all for the wonderful role you fill and the incredible and different talents that each of you bring to the dojo. Our students must be happy because they have great staying power!
** Webmaster Herrera: What a joy to have students and instructors from around the country comment on our website – thank you Bulmaro.
So - Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous ’08 ……….
YSF,
Cathy