2014 WSKC Program 10-23-2014
2014 WSKC Program 10-23-2014
2014 WSKC Program 10-23-2014
TO THE
2014
50th ANNUAL
WESTERN STATES
KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Hosted by Shojiro Koyama , The Arizona Karate Association,
and The Western States Karate Championship Association
STATE OF ARIZONA
JANICE K. BREWER EXECUTIVE OFFICE
GOVERNOR
November 2014
Greetings!
As Governor of the State of Arizona, I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone
attending the 50th Annual Western States Karate Championship Tournament. This event has
been a proud tradition of Arizona for half a century! The Arizona Karate Association and
Master Shojiro Koyama have hosted this event since 1965, making it one of the longest running
tournaments in the country.
As a charitable tournament, the Western States Karate Championships is committed to giving
back to the community. This year's tournament will again be dedicated to The 100 Club of
Arizona, which assists our state's firefighters and police officers and their families.
Hosting a successful tournament for 50 years is only possible through the hard work, passion,
and commitment of many people. Competitors, family members, and volunteers have sustained
this event for half a century, dedicated to providing a forum to promote traditional martial arts
while contributing to the community.
On behalf of the citizens of the State of Arizona, I congratulate the Western States Karate
Championships on its 50th Anniversary. Best wishes to all who have been involved in this
tournament throughout its 50 year history, and to those who are participating in this year's
event.
Sincerely,
Janice K. Brewer
Governor
November 2014
Greetings!
On behalf of the City of Phoenix, I am proud to welcome you to the Arizona Karate
Association’s 50th Annual Western States Karate Championship Tournament at Phoenix Civic
Plaza.
This year’s tournament will again benefit The 100 Club, a wonderful organization that does so
much for our brave firefighters and law enforcement officers and their families. The Western
States Karate Championship Tournament has proven to be a long-standing tradition. For close
to half a century, the tournament has supported the community through charitable contributions,
while also promoting Japanese culture, traditional martial arts, and the value of life-time
exercise.
My sincere best wishes for a successful and enjoyable tournament, where each competitor trains
hard and show the great energy and spirit that embodies martial arts.
We welcome you to Phoenix! Before and after the tournament, please enjoy our beautiful
downtown, with its many dining, sporting, shopping and leisure activities.
Sincerely,
Greg Stanton
Mayor
200 WEST WASHINGTON STREET, 11TH FLOOR, PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85003-1611 PHONE 602-262-7111 FAX 602-495-5583
TTY 602-534-5500 WWW.PHOENIX.GOV
Look to the Past to Anticipate the Future
by Masaaki Ueki
Chief Instructor of the Japan Karate Association
Reflections of Life
By Shojiro Koyama
The 2014 Western States Karate Championships this year, marks it's 50th anniversary.
This is a long time; a half century, long time! From year to year the tournament has been
successful but between each year it has not been all "Blue Skies". Sometimes there is a
"hurricane" or "disaster" so to speak that makes one's perspective more grounded about the
future.
But why continue one may ask if there is some potential for catastrophe? Because I prayed
that the Blue Skies will once again prevail each year. There is not a one special religion but
just a simple consistent asking to higher powers that we may continue to go forward and continue to find
success. We are successful each year in our Charity Tournament due to the many contributions of so many
people. I pray and they pray every day that "something great" will come and it usually does. Alexis Carrel, the
1912 Nobel Prize winner for Physiology (Medicine) wrote a book that was published in 1948, "Reflections of
Life". In it, Carrel discusses the power of prayer.
"The need of God expresses itself in prayer. Prayer is a cry of distress; a demand for help; a hymn of love. It
dues not consist in the dreary recitation of words whose sense we do not understand. Its effect is nearly always
positive. Everything happens as if God listened to us and gave us a direct answer; unexpected events occur;
mental balance is reestablished; our sense of isolation and impotence and of the uselessness of our efforts
disappears. The world ceases to be cruel and unjust and becomes friendly while a strange power develops in our
own depths.
Prayer gives us strength to bear cares and anxieties, to hope when there is no logical motive for hope, to remain
steadfast in the midst of catastrophes. These phenomena can occur in everyone but most of all in those who shut
out the tumult and confusion of modern life from their souls. The world of science is different from the world of
prayer. But it is not opposed to it any more than the rational is opposed to the nonrational. We must never forget
that spirit is composed both of logical and nonlogical activities. The results of prayer are relevant to science as
well as to religion. Prayer acts not only on our affective states but also on the psychological processes.
Sometimes it cures organic diseases in a few instants or a few days. However incomprehensible these
phenomena may be, we are forced to admit their reality. The Bureau of Medical Testimony at Lourdes has
registered more than two hundred cases of tuberculosis, blindness, or osteomyelitis, cancer and other organic
diseases whose almost instantaneous cure is undisputed. Here we are on solid ground. Man needs help: he
prays; the help comes. Whatever its future interpretation may be, the fact remains eternally true."
Prayer is like the focus of Chi. When one focuses their thoughts and energies towards a greater good,
"something great" can and will occur.
Shojiro Koyama
Chairman
Western States Karate Championships Association
WESTERN STATES KARATE CHAMPIONSHIP ASSOCIATION
AFFILIATED WITH THE ARIZONA KARATE ASSOCIATION
6326 N 7th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85014 - (602) 274-1136
http://www.arinzonakarate.com email: [email protected]
___________________________________________________________________________________________
November 2014
Greetings,
Welcome all honored guests, officials, competitors and spectators. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the
Western States Karate Championships and I would like to take this opportunity to extend a very special
congratulation to Sensei Shojiro Koyama for achieving such a monumental milestone! Your dedication,
perseverance, leadership and self-sacrifice have been exemplary and a guiding beacon for those of us who have
had the privilege of being your student.
Running an organization for half a century requires a great supporting team with dedicated members. WSKC
has the good fortune of having team members that work tirelessly year after year to continue this tradition.
Congratulations and thank you to all the volunteers who make this annual event a success. To our original
organizers, leaders and friends that have passed on, we are grateful for your vision and initiative. Your spirit
will continue to live Within us. To all our friends and supporters, thank you and best wishes for another
successful tournament! Good luck to all competitors. Happy 50th!
Sincerely,
Nariman Afkhami
President
JKA/WF America
www.jkawfamerica.org
Everett King
Past President
Western States Karate Championships
Everett King with Cystic Fibrosis Poster Child Bradley Shank in 1987
50th WESTERN STATES KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
REGISTRAR CREW MANAGERS EVENT STAGING DIRECTOR OF RINGS JUDGE COORDINATORS EVENT NARRATION
ILYA LERMA SHAWN SAMPLE JIM KEMMERIES STEPHEN PEARSON SHAWN SAMPLE JACKIE MARTINEZ
JOE QUIHUIS STEPHEN PEARSON JOE QUIHUIS ART WEINER
RING MANAGERS_________________________________
TIM PAUL DAVID SWARTZ KARIN VANDERLEE KATHY WEINER DAVID WEINER
RUSS TANITA ERIC MICELI ED VANDERLEE DARLENE MARTINEZ ROCHELLE WEINER
REGISTRATION_________________________________
LISA ANDERSON SAMANTHA HARDEN SHARI MAGNIN MALINDA HURD ALEJANDRA LODE
RICHARD SEYYFER VIRGIL ARTUZ BILL MAGNIN AJ MELELEU JAMES SCHROPP
HIDECKI KUNITADA
OPERATIONS STAFF
LISA ANDERSON SAMANTHA HARDEN MANNY LODE LAURA PEARSON DAVID SWARTZ
VIRGIL ARTUZ MALINDA HURD TERRY LODE PAMELA PEARSON RUSSELL TANITA
PAUL CLARK CARLOS ITURRIAGA ROLF LOHR STEPHEN PEARSON ERIC THOMAS
CORRIE CORDREY RON JAMISON BILL MAGNIN JIMMIE PURSELL ED VANDERLEE
CLNTON CROUGH TORU KAWANA SHARI MAGNIN BOBBY QU|HU|S KARIN VANDERLEE
HENRY CROUGH DONNA KAWANA JACKIE MARTINEZ JOE QU|HU|S CHRISTINE VILLARREAL
KEWN CROUGH JASON KUHN AJ MELELEU SMONE RAPACZ DARYN WEINER
DARIN DAWS HIDEKI KUNITADA MARLENA MERTZ DONA RULE KATHY WEINER
FRANK DAVIS GEORGE LANDRUM PETER MERTZ JAMES SCHROPP GUY DEMERS
ILYA LERMA BRIAN MC NALLY
2:00 PM
COLOR GUARD FLAG PRESENTATION
NATIONAL ANTHEM
RECOGNITION OF DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
INTRODUCTION OF JUDGES
AIKIDO DEMONSTRATION - SENSEI TOM HAINES & ARIZONA AIKIDO
KARATE DEMONSTRATION
FINAL AWARDS
TOURNAMENT GRAND CHAMPION
CLOSING CEREMONY
50th ANNUAL WESTERN STATES
KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS
HONORARY PRESIDENT
GOVERNOR JANICE K. BREWER
ARBITRATOR
SHOJIRO KOYAMA
CHIEF JUDGE
SHAWN SAMPLE
JUDGES
Martial Arts typically brings to mind technical development and this is how many
operate. But the Japanese traditional culture of "Bushido" or "Budo" follows two (2)
paths; Technique and Philosophy
The Japanese say, Bunpu Ryodo, where technique and philosophy are joined
together. Pretty soon I will turn 80 years old. Usually people pass on at 80 years old
from behind. They do not see it directly in front of themselves and it comes from
behind. Usually people look forward but one gets caught from behind. I do not know
my exact future and I too always look forward.
One Japanese businessman, Mr. Kazuo Inamori, has many excellent ideas. He is an
industry leader and he has many employees and their families in his responsibility as
a business owner. From my reading of Inamori's books, I have a very high impression
of the man and his thinking. His thinking is not different than Karate. I say, and
Inamori says, "Be a Humble Leader". If I pass away, you will study Inamori and
learn his lessons. Here is an example.
MEXICO DOJOS
Agua Prieta Universidad de Sonora
Israel Monge, Instructor Carlos Ogarrio-Perkins, Instructor
Agua Prieta, Sonora Navarrete y Reforma
Hermosillo, Son, Mex 83200
The Western States Karate Championships (WSKC) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Fifty years
ago, in 1964, Master Shojiro Koyama arrived in Arizona to teach traditional Shotokan Karate at the
Arizona Karate Association (AKA) in Phoenix. Upon his arrival, Master Koyama incorporated into his
teaching of Shotokan Basics a three-pronged set of goals:
1. To foster a Cultural Exchange between the United States and Japan, instilling and teaching the
Japanese “Bushido” to Americans to enhance Americans’ “Fighting Spirit”;
2. To make a tangible Charitable contribution to the Community and Society;
3. To take from the Dojo-kun, the underlying principles a Dojo follows, the precept of “Seek
Perfection of Character” for his students and to focus on a person’s health by emphasizing this
first precept.
To accomplish this very ambitious task, Master Koyama formed the Western States Karate
Championships. With the help of his American sponsors, Gary and Joan Abbott, and AKA Board
Member Alfred S. Cox, the WSKC’s first tournament was held at the Sportatorium on East McDowell
Road, with Governor Wesley Bolin presiding. The second tournament was held at the Shrine Temple on
Washington and 15th Avenues. Governor Bolin was the guest of honor, and Ippo Kasai, who studied
Kendo, gave a demonstration.
As the years went on, the success of the tournament grew. Other early tournaments were held in places
like the Brophy Prep Gymnasium and the Phoenix College gymnasium. In 1973, WSKC moved to the
Phoenix Civic Plaza, where it has been held ever since.
Sustaining the tournament for decades was Mr. Everett King, who served as the President of the
Western States Karate Championships from the early 1970’s until his passing in 2009. Through
those many decades, Everett spent countless hours planning and running the tournament. His
efforts ensured decades of success and the tournament’s charitable contributions to the Cystic
Fibrosis (CF) Foundation, an organization that had special meaning to Everett, since one of his
employees had a child with CF.
The tournament has continued to honor significant contributors by targeting the proceeds from the
WSKC to the 100 Club of Arizona, which provides support to the families of public safety officers and
firefighters who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty. It honors Gary Abbott’s service to the
City of Phoenix as a police officer and the many first responders that have trained at the AKA past and
present.
We are proud to honor the Key people in the history of the tournament, the numerous Sponsors of the
tournament, and all of the Volunteers, Participants, and Spectators of the WSKC.
Thank you to all for helping Master Koyama achieve his monumental vision and goals!
PHYSICIANS, MEDICAL, AND WELLNESS
www.japanesecultureclubofaz.org
[email protected]
Best Wishes
to
Sensei Koyama
and
All Competitors
Jason G. Kuhn
MARTIAL ARTS, SUPPLIES, CULTURE, AND TRIBUTES
House of Trophies
"Engraving Specialists"
Kathy Rogers
4515 North 16th Street #106 Phoenix, AZ 85016
602-285-0001 Fax 602-285-0003
email:[email protected]
MARTIAL ARTS, SUPPLIES, CULTURE, AND TRIBUTES
Thank you, Sensei Koyama, for everything you have done for me and my family. You have
taught me wisdom, patience, and the strength that comes from the pursuit of excellence.
Your single-minded passion and devotion to the art of Shotokan Karate is an inspiration to
us all.
David and Judy Swartz and Family
Advantage Inspection Service
Thank You Master Koyama
for the wisdom you have taught
and the serenity we have learned
through training and
attempting to live up to the ideals
of the Dojo Kun
You have taught us to live life to its fullest, to set goals and pursue dreams. Thank you
for 50 years of dedication to the art of Karate, and for a lifetime of devotion to martial
arts and its positive effects on life, health and happiness.
We here at Arizona Aikido seek to continue this legacy and are honored to join with
Koyama Sensei and Shotokan Karate to create a more humane and harmonious world.
Best Wishes to
Koyama Sensei and
all the competitors
on the 50th anniversary
of the Western States Karate
Championships!
Arizona Aikido
318 N. Fifth Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85003
http://www.azaikido.com
GREEN FREAK, LLC
4801 Feather River Boulevard, Suite 29
Oroville, CA 95965
www.gfrecycle.com
[email protected]
[email protected]
Karate as Life-Time
Commitment
Respectfully,
Martina, Rolf and
Kevin
CONGRATULATIONS
FOR GOAL REACHED “If things were easy to do, anybody would do them”.
Antoni Quinn
Say 50 years is easy,
Perform this tournament
without interruption requires
a temple, perseverance and Life time Karate
discipline I dare say that only We won’t forget all the things Sensei Koyama says about benefits of
few people in the world have Karate training. Sensei Koyama is a live sample of Karate dayly
the skills to do it. training, it’s amazing how he moves and his brain lucidity with his
almost 80 years. And the most amazing thing is that he stills “hungry”
But I think even a bigger for more learnig. We are so lucky we met Sensei Koyama.
achievement is the legacy you
have left and the seed sown JKA MEXICO
by every corner of the world In name of my Sensei Hector Suarez president of JKA
you have stepped. Mexico, and all my friends at the Dojo I would like to thank you
for all this years teaching us the real tradidional Karate. You
have been an enormus sample of life to us. With your teachings
we have understood the true karate, and we are aware that all
life will take us to learn karate, but the seed is already planted
and the road is marked.
Steve Jobs quoted the Good Earth’s signoff greeting of their last catalogue during his speech at
Stanford University commencement. “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish”.
This year’s Western Region Summer Camp in Payson included our Zen training like we have done in
previous years. This training is optional and some people participate and some do not. Normal people
do not participate; only the hungry and foolish people participate. Explaining the reason why these
people participate is very difficult. What beauty will they see or feel? When the morning sunshine
dawns, we see and feel something great.
Normal intelligent people understand that this morning training is very difficult. But foolish people
understand that this training leads to something great. We gather at about 4:30am, and we go up a
mountain in order to get a clear view of the sunrise. We spend about one hour there.
Many people might think that after rising so early, that those who participate would be tired for the
next training at 6:30am. But one of the benefits of early morning Zen training is that it is energizing.
Instead of being tired, people who participate in Zen gain energy from the sun and from the earth. In
Sedona, not far from where we hold our Payson camp, the local American Indian people say that
there are vortexes or places of special energy. This is now very popular; it is even popular in Japan,
and many Japanese people come here to experience it.
This year, I went myself to Sedona and enjoyed it. Some people, in the years between 65 and 75,
develop some kind of disease or illness such as type2 diabetes, kidney stones, etc. At this age, they
can go to the hospital for treatment and recover. After age 80, this same kind of disease or illness may
instead lead to someone passing away. I believe that because of my regular morning training, I have
not developed an illness or needed to be hospitalized. Of course, I also train every day. You may not
know or be able to appreciate what a great force the sun is. Consider, though, if the sun does not rise
in the morning, it would be difficult to survive. Your heart beat is the same. You do not make your
heart beat consciously, just like you do not make the sun rise in the morning, but both are Something
Great!
Congratulations to Sensei Koyama & Western States
Karate Championships on your 50th Anniversary!!
Wishing the competitors the best of luck for the 50th Annual Western
States Karate Championships!!
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