My Life in the Art of Shorin Ryu Matsubayashi Ryu Karate

Kyoshi Anthony Ferguson

Description

In this memoir, one man shares the story of his path in the martial arts from student to master and recounts how studying karate as a teenager changed his life for the better.
Anthony Ferguson’s love of martial arts began when he was a little boy growing up in Miami, Florida. There he would go with his brother to see kung fu movies at the theater every Saturday.
As a teenager, Ferguson decided he needed to know how to defend himself from an attack after a bad experience, and fate drew him to a school that taught the style of Shorin-Ryu Matsubayashi-Ryu karate. Shortly after graduating from high school, he earned his first-degree black belt, and he has never looked back. Now he recalls his lifelong journey in practicing Shorin-Ryu karate. Using his personal narrative, he hopes to encourage others to learn about this martial art and the benefits it can bring to those who study it: discipline, focus, respect for others, self-control, and awareness.
In this memoir, one man shares the story of his path in the martial arts from student to master and recounts how studying karate as a teenager changed his life for the better.

Sujets

• Sport
• Arts martiaux
• Martial Arts
• Inspirational
• Themes
• Subjects
• Religious
• Karate
• Poetry
• Black Belt

Informations

• Publié par: Balboa Press
• Date de parution: 10 mars 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781504394802
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

MY LIFE in the Art of SHORIN RYU MATSUBAYASHI RYU KARATE
 
 
 
 
KYOSHI ANTHONY FERGUSON
 
 
 
 

 
Copyright © 2018 Kyoshi Anthony Ferguson.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
 
Balboa Press
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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
ISBN: 978-1-5043-9479-6 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-5043-9481-9 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-5043-9480-2 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017919765
 
Balboa Press rev. date: 05/25/2023
CONTENTS
Preface
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1First Lesson
Chapter 2Black Belt Promotions
Chapter 3Teaching Students
Chapter 4Tournament Competitions
Chapter 5Black Belt Hall of Fame Inductee
Chapter 6Sensei Moises and Benny Colon
Chapter 7Shorin Ryu Grand Masters
Chapter 8Shorin Ryu Matsubayashi Katas and Weapons
Chapter 9Dojo Training and Terminology
Bibliography
About the Author

Hanshi Moises H. Colon and Kyoshi Anthony Ferguson, Eighth Dan
Hanshi Colon has earned the rank of Kobudo, Ninth Dan; Shorin Ryu, Tenth Dan; USA Goju Ryu, Seventh Dan; Shinto Yoshin Jiujitsu, Fifth Dan; American Kenpo, Fifth Dan; and Kendo, First Dan. He is also the founder of the Taiseikan Shorin Ryu Karate System.
PREFACE
“ Karate ni sente nashi (There is no first attack in karate).”
This is a famous quote from Grand Master Gichin Funakoshi.
I dedicate this book to my mother, Ms. Olive Brown. Thank you for giving me life. My son, Anthony Ferguson Jr., is my pride and joy. My wife, Kathy Ferguson, is the first lady of my life. I love you.
To my brother and sisters—Mervin McPhee, Wanda Munroe, Deborah Cox, and Lavern Ferguson—I love you. To all family and friends, God bless you. To my instructors, Hanshi Moises Colon and Sensei Benny Colon, thank you for all your help and guidance in showing me a way of life that I love. And finally, to my heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, from which all blessings flow, thank you for your grace and mercy.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
T o my instructors, Hanshi Moises and Benny Colon, you have accepted me as your student and son. You were there for me growing up as a teenager every step of the way. I found something that I was good at to help me with every phase of my life. Martial arts taught me discipline, respect, honor, and the ability to achieve anything I set my mind on doing.
To Professor Marty Cale and Professor John Terry of the United States Black Belt Hall of Fame, thank you for inducting me as Black Belt of the Year 2017 and as one of your members. I am truly honored.
To all the grand masters I have trained with over the years, there are too many to name; however, I will name a few:
• Shihan Eihachi Ota, eighth-degree black belt and head instructor of the World Shorin Ryu Karate Do Association
• Master Rick Moore and Master Berry Gary of Columbus, Ohio, both Shorin Ryu Matsubayashi black belts.
• Master Paris Janos of Panama City, Florida, Shorin Ryu Kishaba-Ha Ryu
• Master Frank Hargrove, eighth-degree black belt of Hampton, Virginia, Shorinkan Karate
Master Ronald Frazier of Savannah, Georgia, has hosted numerous tournaments that I have competed in.
To my family and friends, thank you for all your support over the years. And finally, to my students, I hope I have impressed upon you all the values and character of a good martial artist that will allow you to become a better citizen to help all mankind.
Kyoshi Anthony Ferguson, eighth-degree black belt
CHAPTER 1 First Lesson
A s a little boy growing up in Miami, Florida, I would go with my brother to see kung fu movies at the theater every Saturday. That’s where I first became interested in martial arts. I was a big fan of Bruce Lee, and we would stay all day just watching his movies and other films from other karate and kung fu masters.
It was not until the early eighties when I was fourteen that I began to take it more seriously and started my training. I had a bad experience one day when I was coming home from school. Two older boys assaulted me in my neighborhood, and they stole my jewelry. The next day, I said to myself that I was going to learn how to defend myself from an attack.
A boxing gym was at the park a few blocks down the street, and I would watch the men work out. I thought about learning how to box like Muhammad Ali. Then one day I was on the bus going home, and it stopped in front of a karate school. Something told me to get off and see what was going on.
It was on a Saturday evening, and I saw everyone doing kicks and punches in his or her white uniforms. The instructor was directing every person’s movement, and he spoke with a strong voice. I stayed until the class was over, and then I asked the instructor how much it would cost to join the class. He told me and gave me some information. The next Monday, I joined the class.
At first I was so excited and tried to do everything right the first time. The school had a traditional Okinawan look, with a wooden floor and mirrors on the wall. Many students were enrolled in the class, and I was just a white belt starting out. The classes were four times a week, and I got to meet new friends and learn about the style of Shorin-Ryu Matsubayashi-Ryu karate.
My instructors, Hanshi Moises and Sensei Benny Colon, began to teach me the basics of karate along with the other white belt students. I would then go home and practice what I had learned so I could be ready for the next class. I also kept an eye on the advanced students. They were good, and I wanted to be like them one day.
I was very shy growing up. I did not like standing up in front of a crowd of people, but I quickly got over my fears. Hanshi Moises would individually call up students in front of the class to perform their techniques and fight. That’s how I learned how to present myself in front of people.
After three months of training, I was promoted to yellow belt. I had to perform the first kata (form), Fukyugata Ichi, in front of the class and demonstrate basic blocks and kicks. I knew at that moment that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Three months later, the next belt was the orange belt. This time, I had to perform two katas, Fukyugata Ichi and Fukyugata Ni, and demonstrate basic blocks and kicks. I also broke a board with a punch for the first time. My confidence and awareness increased.
The advanced classes were on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and Shihan Benny (Hanshi Moises’s brother) and the other black belts would be there. There were ten adult black belts and about forty students enrolled, and we had a strong school. The advanced classes would train with weapons, and I enjoyed watching them perform.
My next test was for green belt, and after nine months of training, I was ready. I had to spar with a friend for my test. He was being tested for green belt as well. The test was very hard. I demonstrated four katas—Fukyugata Ichi, Fukyugata Ni, and Pinans Shodan, and Nidan—along with the other requirements to past the test. I was awarded green belt after satisfying all the requirements. By this time, I considered myself to be a good fighter. I learned the value of karate to be used as self-defense only.
The school became like a family to me, and I worked hard at learning everything. I would watch the advanced students ask questions and train hard. I would get excited when Hanshi Moises called me up to perform in front of the class. Hanshi Moises became like a father figure to me.
We would have school parties. He would take the kids to the skating rink, or we would go camping, have a cookout at the park, and go on trips. The first tournament I competed in was in Tampa. Hanshi Moises took the school up there, and we stayed for the weekend. We had a good time at the tournament, and the class did great. After the competition, Hanshi Moises took us to Busch Gardens, and we enjoyed ourselves.
My next test was for brown belt. Each test was harder than the last one, and Hanshi pushed me to my very ends to bring out the best in me. I became str