Academy of World Champion Nestor Folta

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AWCNF Visits Okinawa - October 2011

The AWCNF visited Okinawa in October for the 5^th Grand Reunion of the People of Okinawa (5^th Uchinanchu Seikai Taikai), and event held every 5 years. One-half million people participated in the 4-day event sponsored by the Government of Okinawa.

It was a Mecca of cultural diversity with 5,000 people coming in from 25 different countries and a focus to promote and preserve Okinawa arts and culture. Karate, dance, song, musical instruments, pottery, lacquer ware, textiles, and Okinawa kokuro (heart) were staples at multiple venues across the island.

Six members of the AWCNF made the tutelage to Okinawa. Members of the AWCNF participated and performed at the 2-day Karate and Kobudo Exchange Festival at the Budokan (Martial Arts Training Hall) in Naha City, performing Kata Sanchin and Sanseiryu with 100 other Uechi Ryu practitioners from Okinawa and around the world.

Master Folta demonstrated Kata and Tameshiwari at a separate venue with Okinawa’s famous TV and Sanshin (Okinawa Banjo) talent Byron Jones, and with Sam Andrews of Big Brother and the Holding Company (Janis Joplin’s Band) and other prestigious musicians of Okinawa (including AWCNF Black Belt Mark Mandel).

Two members of the AWCNF participated as security guards in the Guinness World Book of Records famous and largest Tug of War Naha Rope Tow with more than 25,000 people in the tug-of-war.

The AWCNF members visited Uechi Kanmei Sensei’s home and the World Headquarters Uechi Ryu Dojo in Futenma, snorkeled Maeda Point, golfed Taiyo GC, visited friends and toured Tokyo (Tokyo Tower, Asakusa, Imperial Palace, Ginza, Roppongi, Shinagawa, and Narita town).

AWCNF Mentoring Program

Dear Students and Parents:

My name is Sam Fountain and Master Folta has asked me to coordinate the AWCNF Mentoring Program! All documents, requests, changes (assignments, terminations, etc.), and any exceptions to the guidelines below will be submitted to me as the program coordinator at email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Electronic submissions are preferred.

What is Mentoring? It is when a student of a higher rank instructs and guides a student of lesser rank outside of class. There is usually no charge and a mentoring session usually happens once a week at a place agreed upon. Students striving to achieve the ranks of 1 Kyu (Brown Belt) and higher are required to Mentor.

If you are interested in becoming or are currently a Mentor or Mentee, please download the AWCNF Mentoring Program Application form on AWCNF’s website (www.geniuspoints.com) and submit the completed form to the program coordinator at email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

There may be a limited number Mentors available. When a Mentor becomes available, assignments will be established on a first come, first serve bases!

Below are the guidelines for the program:

The Mentor and Mentee’s (or their parent) will arrange the place and time for their mentoring sessions.

Mentor’s and/or Mentee’s under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all sessions – no exceptions.

A Mentor will have not more than two Mentees at any one time.

The AWCNF Mentoring Program will not award credit for mentoring family members.

Mentors will download and maintain an up-to-date logsheet (www.geniuspoints.com) signed by the Mentee/Parent after every session and signed by the Mentor/Parent before submitting the logsheet to the program coordinator at email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at the end of the month.

Any exceptions to the above will be submitted to me for approval and approved by Master Folta in advance of mentoring.

Thanks You,

Sam Fountain Jr.

Master Folta visits Okinawa June 2011

Master Folta reports on his recent visit to Okinawa. Uechi Kanmei Sensei is in good health at the World Headquarters dojo in Futenma. Nakama Sensei in Ginowan has two of his students winning All Okinawa sparring championships - 17 year old and an adult. Geiseck Sensei in Gushikawa is teaching AWCNF's John Ostrowski now stationed on Okinawa and promoted him to 1 Kyu Brown Belt. AWCNF Virginia Tech Uechi Ryu Club's Collin O'Kane is training a various dojo from Jun thru Aug. AWNCF Nestor Koichi & Naomi are practicing karate on island during Jul & Aug. Higa Tsukasa (Scott) is in great shape and now married to Uchinanchu! A farewell party for Master Folta counted 6 All Okinawa Sparing champions in the room - quite an elite group!

Mark-chode is still the best!

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Classes in Full Swing - 7 Tips

Yes, all of our classes are back in full swing! Here are 7 lucky tips to help you get back on track with our classes:

1. Please update your Goal Sheets and remember to bring them with you to each class so the Instructor can review your progress and grade them. Goal Sheets are required in order to test for Rank Promotion. If you miss submitting your Goal Sheets more than 3 times during this summer session, the Instructors are prohibited from inviting you to the Rank Promotion Test which will be held at Oak Marr RECenter on Aug 28.

2. Parents of youth students in the newbee class on Sunday's at 4 PM at Oak Marr (and parents of all newbee youth students) are encouraged to sit in the classroom and take some notes from the instruction. Although the moves and combinations are complex, they are very repetitive. Your notes will be valuable when you are watching your youth practicing stretches, Sanchin Kata (pre-arranged sequence of moves), and Hojo Undo (technique exercises) at home as required by the Goal Sheet. We give out awards to students who learn the Student Creed. LEARN THE STUDENT CREED THRU ITEM NUMBER 2.

3. All students remember to bring a notebook to class. You'll write down at least 2 or 3 items that you learned during that class. This will be helpful reference when you are practicing during the week. Instructors will review and grade the notebooks periodically.

4. Remember to practice the specific homework drills the instructor has asked for you to work on. Repetitions at a slow pace will lead to development of good technique and muscle memory enabling a faster technique in the future.

5. Senior ranks get in shape. We like to do quite a bit of sparring during our summer session. You'll perform much better when you've been doing exercises to help get you in shape for drills in the classroom.

6. Students can order a uniform by sending me you height and weight. Uniforms have high quality embroidery on the chest and shoulder of the Karate Jacket. If we have your size in stock, we'll bring it to you at the next class. We have limited stock, so order soon by sending me an email with your height and weight today!

7. Master Folta will be visiting Okinawa, Japan later this month. I have already received some requests for high quality Shureido merchandise (Uniforms, Belts, Makiwara). You will need to be measured for your custom fit Shureido Uniform and Obi. Email me your request for Shureido merchandise promplty.

If you are going to miss a class, remember to notify your instructor in advance (even if it's the same day last minute notification). We expect you in class and worry that an accident may have occurred when you are not there and we are not notified in advance.

Thank you.

Rank Promotion Test June 12, 2011

Dear Students and Parents,

1. We will have 2 separate RPTs at Oak Marr RECenter on Sunday Jun 12.

- The Senior Rank test starts at 10 AM.

- The Junior Rank test starts at 2:30 PM.

Read below for details. Please remember that all family members and friends are welcome to come to watch the RPTs.

Students not testing are encouraged to come and watch and to help with set-up and running the RPT.

2. All volunteers will get credit hours from Master Folta. Set-up starts on Sat Jun 11 at 5 PM at Oak Marr RECenter. Just show up ready to work and we will help direct you on how you can help us at Oak Marr. Set-up should be done by 6:30 PM.

We will look for folks to bring and shoot their HD DVD cameras and digital photography to the RPT. All videos and photos taken at the RPT must be shared with Master Folta for unlimited and unrestricted use by Master Folta and the AWCNF. Thank you. Please let me know if you can do this. Videography/photography unauthorized by Master Folta is not permitted. Please be sure to contact Master Folta on this.

3. The senior rank student test (testing for 4 Kyu and higher ranks) will start at 10:00 AM.

The senior rank student test (testing for 4 Kyu Green Belt and higher ranks-thru 1 Dan or 1^st Degree Black Belt) will start at 10:00 AM.

The warm-up racquetball court is available at 8:30 AM. This test will demonstrate some of the higher levels of meditation, breathing techniques, and mental discipline as well as physical control. There will be almost 45 minutes straight for sparring (Kumite) starting about 1 PM. The Test Board consist of 9 senior ranks (all Black Belts up to 7^th Degree Black Belt). If you want to see a good test, this is one to watch!

4. The junior rank student test (testing for 10 Kyu thru 5 Kyu) will start between 2:30 PM and 3 PM.

The junior rank student test will start about 2:30 PM (although test candidates need to be ready to start by 2 PM). The junior rank test should be over in 3 hours. The warm-up racquetball court is available starting at 1 PM. We will have individuals warm up students for this test. Bring you family and friends to the RPT.

Come to one or both RPT's.

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