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Sensei
Kimura
Those who were
privileged to know and train with Shihan Shigeru Kimura knew they were
in the presence of a great man. Through his spirit, intelligence,
guidance and ability he galvanized his students to work harder and learn
more than they ever thought possible. His leadership helped create a
worldwide association that to this day remains a cogent organization
dedicated to training in the spirit of a man regarded as both a warrior
and a philosopher.
The following memories
by those who knew Sensei Kimura personally will help keep his spirit
alive in all who knew him and all who are touched by him through the
study of Kimura Shukokai Karate. (If you have memories you would like
to share on this website please e-mail to:
contact@shukokai.com
Memories of Kimura,
by his students |
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Anyone who knew Sensei Kimura,
would tell you that he was the kindest, most generous man
you'd ever meet but he could also be very tough. He had a
way of getting inside your head and seeing what you were
thinking. The tougher the person, the harder he would be on
them. If they were more timid he would be softer and
gradually toughen them up. He would always push you as hard
as you needed, in order to get the most out of you. But with
those closest to him he didn't pull any punches (verbally),
if you weren't living up to your full potential he'd let you
know. You'd better hope that you never had to fight him, his
control was impeccable but there was no doubt that you got a
beating, you usually ended up on your back looking up at
him.
There was a time back in 1981, I
was living in the dojo and training full time. We had all
been sparring one night and I didn't do so well. I felt bad
but cheered myself up by thinking that I just had an off
night and would do better next time. Well, later that night
I was over at Sensei Kimura's apartment, he was cooking and
I was cleaning. He turned to me and said, "you fight like
$@#& tonight, you think you just had a bad night. Never have
a bad night in my dojo!. You better always do your best,
what if you fight for real? You'd be dead now! I
think I have to fight you!"
You can imagine how much worse I felt after that, it's as if
he read my mind. This was his way of saying that you always
try your hardest and if things aren't going your way, you'd
better reach deep down inside yourself and find what is
needed to turn the tables. A valuable lesson, one that would
serve me well later in life.
– Gavin Armstrong
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I
started training with Sensei Kimura around 1973 or 74. Even at
that time he displayed a truly awesome technique, and I knew
almost immediately I was hooked. Over the next twenty years I
was in and out of the dojo as I was busy dealing with one’s
usual life obstacles (school, work, marriage, kids…). I always
remember Sensei saying “Gerry’s back”, and was always welcomed
back into the fold. As such, it took me many years to earn my
Shodan, but as they say, “it’s not the destination, but the
journey that counts”. Thursday nights were always spent with
additional focus on advanced technique, or a full night of
sparring, followed of course by an evening at Miyoshi’s with
Sensei and his advanced students. I remember one particular
Thursday shortly before I got my Shodan. My technique was off
and I was doing terrible. I think I even low-kicked a future
world instructor. After class I went right home feeling like
“you know what”. Around 10:00, already in bed, I get a phone
call from Sensei. He wanted me to come to Miyoshi’s. When I got
there he sat me next to him and gave me a short but effective
lecture, sort of a pep talk. Well that little talk is something
I will never forget. It’s the sum of little things like that
which forever keep Sensei’s spirit alive, and Shukokai in your
blood.
- Gerry Wollner |
I once had
a conversation with Sensei - we were discussing how hard it is to be a
leader. At that time, I was CEO of my fledgling company and was
lamenting how the future of the company depends on vision and
commitment. He said that for him, he always looked at it like mountain
climbing. Ordinary climbers struggle all their lives to try to get to
the top of the mountain. His job, as he saw it, was to make sure that
there never was a top. He had to invent a new one. This explains his
reticence to have himself captured on tape doing the katas and
techniques because he felt that it would freeze the style. He thought
Karate should be a work in progress - always adapting and changing. We
still all follow this philosophy today and it's probably the main reason
why such strong personalities gravitate to our style.
- Ernie DeSalvo. |
In the
first Tenafly dojo, my only chance to learn directly from Sensei Kimura
was at training sessions. (Later I've learned that he had fun teaching
kids once a month, but couldn't handle more than that.) Anyway, in
trying to come up with a good story, I've found it somewhat difficult to
separate my actual childhood memories from the countless stories others
have passed on about him. One of the few things I do clearly remember,
which unfortunately doesn't seem particularly significant, is something
he told us when working on front kick in a training session. Driving
home after a night out, he said, a cop pulled him over and, to prove he
was okay to drive, asked him to stand on one leg for a few seconds.
Obviously he passed his test. He laughed to us about it- "I can do this
all day," he said. Now while the real purpose of the story was probably
to teach some technique that went over my head, what I took away from it
at the time is that karate really is useful for more than fighting. And
of course, I was impressed by how cool he was.
- Sean Grundy |
One thing that really stuck with me
is hearing Sensei Kimura refer to Gavin as his "skin". He had
told this to people on a number of occasions some that I
witnessed and some that others told me about. Sensei and Gavin
would be together in the office in between classes and Sensei
would have Gavin duplicate the technique that he was working on,
Gavin would be able to take what Sensei said and show it, as if
Gavin was in his skin moving as he would, this made Sensei
happy. It choked me up every time I heard it. He also referred
to Gavin as the son he never had, and he referred to my son
Steele as his grandson. This meant a lot. Everyone of the guys
who spent so much time with Sensei Kimura thought of him as a
second father, and I’m sure he thought of each one of them as
his son. Oh, and I’ll add, that on the second class I ever took,
along with my friend Tara O’Leary, not knowing any better, and
having no clue about etiquette, we asked Sensei to come out
dancing with us. He told us, with a big smile on his face,
“maybe next time”.
- Linda Armstrong |
As you
mature through life you realize that certain people have had an
influence on your development. This realization may take years for these
people to be defined as "gifts". The first time I was introduced to
Sensei Kimura I immediately knew I was granted a "gift".
I began my training with Sensei Kimura in 1986. I was determined to
become a black belt, something I had dreamed of for years. Sensei
Kimura always preached that if you really want to pursue anything in
life you must have the courage of total commitment. I still can remember
him telling me "Carl you have to want it".
That day came to me in 1989. We had a training session for an upcoming
weekend. That prior Thursday I was talking to Orlando in front of the
office in the Hackensack Dojo. Orlando asked me if I was going for the
promotion test for black belt. Without having the time to answer Sensei
Kimura looked at me and said, "yes go for it". Those four words gave me
all the confidence I would need. I received the black belt on the Sunday
training session. I still have a vivid image of Sensei Kimura looking at
me with his grading tablet in his hands telling me "you pass - you black
belt".
- Carl Gulino
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I was young
between the ages of 4 and 15 training with Kimura. Even as a child, I
knew that I was in the presence of a great man. He had an all
encompassing passion for his art and a supreme love for those that
struggled with him to recapture the essence of Budo. Some say the
samurai era came and went in the 1800's but being with Kimura you knew
it was still very much alive. To me, he was the true last samurai. He
lives on at our world tournaments and gashuku's and will be forever an
inspiration to all of us as we pursue his fine art.
- Justin DeSalvo |
I took
Sensei trap shooting back in the early 90's. His nephew was here from
Japan and so desperately wanted to shoot a firearm. We went shooting and
Sensei's nephew shot very well considering he never shot a firearm
before. However, Sensei did not hit one single target!
Afterwards, we went to my house for dinner. My wife Donna cooked a big
meal complete with lasagna and fried chicken. Sensei was so happy to sit
down to such a great meal. However, in commenting on the chicken, he
mistakenly asked Donna how she made the chicken to come out so "dry".
Without question, Sensei's translation from Japanese to English caused
him to use the wrong term. Immediately, Sensei realized he should have
said "crispy" instead of dry. Sensei's face was that of horror when he
realized his unintended slip. He must have said "crispy"
ten times in a row after the slip. We all got a good laugh out of that
one. Sensei asked if he could take some fried chicken home to his wife.
- Jeff Grabowski |
I
remember one thursday night after class he asked Sensei Gavin to
invite me to join the black belts after class and join him and
them for a beer the traditional thursday which we still try to
carry on. But I had another engagement to attend so I didn’t go.
Sensei Kimura passed away that July. I just think back about
that from time to time.
- Paul Manchess |
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