PERSONAL BLOG OF KAICHO RICKY ADAMS

December 5, 2009

Encounter With a Master

IN 1974 I was introduced to Motobu-Ha Shito-Ryu Karate-do by the late Soke Richard P. Baillargeon, then USA Honbucho for the Seishin Kai Karate Union,(SKKU) headquartered in Osaka, Japan. My Sensei, Thomas L. Bentley had nominated me for "Outstanding Student of the Year" and I won. Being the 1974 Seishin Kai Karate Union Outstanding Student of the Year entitled me to a Free Summer Camp and $100.00 spending money to get there. Soke Baillargeon had started the US Branch of SKKU and had over 5000 member students.

Camp was held in Kezeltown, Virginia deep in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Soke Baillargeon had arranged for Soke Shogo Kuniba to visit from Japan. We were instructed not to talk to Soke and not look directly into his eyes. That we should look at a 45 degree angle.

Our dojo had a zeal about our style and had "SHITO RYU" in kanji embroidered down the center of our backs. We were also told to stop if Soke was coming by and bow, which I did, and he saw the Japanese on my back to which he grabbed hold of my arm, lifted me from the Bow and began walking and talking with me. I didn't speak a word of Japanese and after about a minute of him talking to me, and me saying, "I'm sorry Soke, I don't understand a word you're saying!" He nodded his head  in agreement with our lack of communication and walked on. After lunch, he called me in front of him and spoke through an interpreter, he said, "It is VERY commendable that I would like so highly of my style that I would have it embroidered on my back, however, it should read MOTOBU HA Shito Ryu." and he laughed in a joking way.

Soke Kuniba taught everyone the five Heian kata, Bunkai Oyo, Seisan, Seipai....Everyone would perform kata for Soke Kuniba and he would turn his head and laugh. He would then proceed to demonstrate the "correct method" with flawless, lightening precise speed, and control. He was Kara Te! A Meijin, someone who's technique and ability far transcend conscious thought and was mere correct precise reaction.  I was selected to perform Chinto for his inspection. I performed my best exactly the way I was taught. His reaction, "Daijobu!" and a slight nod of approval.. I had remembered it correctly and passed his scrutiny!

Camp was very physical, Soke Baillargeon was a marathon runner and usually averaged between 5 - 10 miles/day. The first day we went for a morning run. This was in the side of a Valley and still dawn was breaking. Soke Baillargeon was about 10 people in front of me when he went down. Someone had strung barbed wire about shin high. When I saw the first 5 runners in front of  me go down, I jumped as high as I could and cleared the wire.

Soke Kuniba publicly promotes Soke R. P. Baillargeon to Nanadan and Soke Baillargeon turned it down, saying, "Not me Soke, No not me."

Soke Kuniba was performing demonstrations during each practice session and on one occasion Soke Kuniba asked Soke Joe Ruiz to perform a hip throw on him. Soke Ruiz was about 165 lbs, Soke Kuniba about 110 lbs, Soke Ruiz grabbed Soke Kuniba and executed a flawless hip throw, in the middle of which Soke Kuniba grabbed Soke Ruiz and threw him while he was in mid air.

Many other interesting things happened at this camp, which will be subject to future blogs. On the very last day of this camp, Soke Kuniba was standing on the mountain ridge and someone brought him 5 "Shaken" (8 pointed throwing stars) Soke Kuniba took the five stars and threw them with such accuracy that a line could have been drawn through the points at impact from a distance of about 25 feet.

And so at my initial meeting of Soke Shogo Kuniba, I learned the five Heian kata, Seisan, Seipai, and gained insight as to the master Soke Kuniba was. He was 38 years old, Hachidan, and certainly a true Master of Martial Arts.