Chinkai Karate Hombu

Historic interview with, "Biggie Kim".

Karate Master Richard Kim, 9th Dan. Historic Interview by Walter Bera (1977) Karate Master Richard Kim, 9th Dan. Historic Interview by Walter Bera (1977).Richard Kim (November 17, 1917 – November 8, 2001) was an American martial artis...

愿您领受神源源不断的福分！祝您福杯满溢！
May you receive G-d’s endless blessings! May your cup overflow with blessings!

新年快乐

Sending love to you each as you seek His heart during this season. May you be surrounded by His peace.
- K. Routon, Chinkai Karatedo

"How blessed are those who observe his rules, and seek him with all their heart,"
Psalms 119:2

My early days:
Over 30yrs ago, I began walking The Way under the professorship of T. Miltenberger. (Sadly, we lost him 09/22/17 at the young age of 49.)

I joined training as a challenge from my dear Brother, Master J. Bell and later by Brother T. Lelliott. Master Miltenberger did much to invest in each of us and pass The Way of his Lord and ancestors to us. He had an insatiable appetite for learning and was an amazing/patient instructor.

The following was part of his lineage:

Songahm: Master Larry Edel, Master Robert Jagger & HU Lee.

Yang style Tai Chi/ Northern Shaolin/Praying Mantis: Master Haeng Yoo Chung, Master Hyup Young, Master Won Myung Chung, See Ig Pil (who fled China when threatened by the Chinese Gov.).

(History of Haeng Yoo Chung - Tang Nan (Praying Mantis), Shaolin Long Fist, Yang Stile Tai Chi
In Hyup Yong - head Master Tai Chi, Taiwan
Won Myung Chung - Shaolin Kung Fu
Seo Ig Pil -Shaolin)

Master J. Bell and I are honored to maintain the way of Professor Miltenberger.

Bows and Blessings
K. Routon, Chinkai Karate Hombu

There are only 2 rules to Karate:

1. Don't be there
2. If you HAVE to be there, still don't be there.

This doesn't mean to adapt altruistic pacifism. It does mean, when no other means for peace can be found, use strategy. This is The Way of the life giving sword.

K. Routon, Chinkai Karate Hombu

(* photo of GM Masutatsu Oyama)

A beautiful reminder at the conclusion of Keiko today, as this beautiful cicada joined us.

Poem and reflection:
蝉赋 - Ode to the Cicada
蝉赋 by 曹植 (Cao Zhi, 192 - 232)

The cicada’s nobility is hidden in the darkest shadows;
under the dazzling sunlight of midsummer, it roams the fragrant forest.
Not seeking prestige and having few desires, humming with contentment, alone;
its calls ring out piercing, lingering, like the unwavering hearts of virtuous men.
Benevolent and kind, it does not eat, asking nothing of other creatures;
it perches high above all and looks down, only drinking the freshest dew.
Hidden among dense mulberry leaves and sheltered from the heat, it sings with joy.

But the goldfinch aims to cause harm, and it must beware the mantis’ scythe;
it hopes to fly to a far-off land, yet the venomous spider’s web awaits.
It wishes to land and hide, yet fears the attack of insects in the grass.
To escape all these dangers and avoid capture, it flees to the grand palace;
in the shade of a fruit tree’s luxuriant leaves, it relaxes on a high branch in restful quietude.

Here comes a handsome boy strolling into the garden,
with eyes as sharp as Li Zhu’s, and body more nimble than a monkey’s;
there is no leaf he cannot touch, no branch he does not climb.
Concealed, he steps lightly and moves fast, kneeling to keep out of sight.
Fearing that he may startle his quarry, he keeps his eye fixed upon it;
approaching with a wooden cage slowly, gradually until there is no escape.
It tries to take flight, but succeeds only in tightening its bonds and thus foresees its end:
body handed over to the chef to be roasted over a red-hot charcoal fire.

Autumn frost falls in the night; morning winds whip across the garden.
Sorrowful, grieving over this wretched life, it scrambles up the branch but fails and falls.
Its cries grow hoarse as death approaches; a withered husk is left behind when it passes.

To conclude:
The poets praise the cicada who sings, the sound piercing and vibrant
when the sun is at its brightest, then dying away with the coming of winter.
In purity and rectitude, it is equal to Bo Yi;
even the Emperor and his officials should aspire to such virtue.