Shotokan Symposium - Part 1

Every year the American JKA-International holds an international training camp in Carlsbad, CA.  The training camp is, simply called Camp Shotokan.  This year, unfortunately, the location we utilize is under construction and our usual training areas are currently compromised without guarantee of being ready for the summer rush when the organization comes together.  The executive committee instead decided to take the AJKA-I on the road, with several separate training camps being held across the country at different times of the year.  The first one coming up is the Shotokan Symposium (1/18/13 - 1/20/13), in Buckingham, PA at the Solebury Club.

The Symposium is being run by Sensei Rob DeAngelis, 6th Dan, Director of the AJKA-I East Coast Instructor Training Program.  The camp will be taught by three primary instructors, all members of the AJKA-I Executive Committee and several guest instructors.  The primary camp instructors are: Sensei Edmond Otis, 8th Dan, AJKA-I Chairman and North American Chief Instructor; Sensei Avi Azoulay, 7th Dan, AJKA-I Technical Committee from New York; and Sensei Rob DeAngelis.

Sensei Edmond Otis, 8th Dan
Otis Sensei is well known in all parts of the world, he travels extensively between the US and New Zealand, where he currently lives, and also teaches annually in Europe at the AJKA-I International Instructor's Camp. He began training 1967 under Nishiyama Sensei in Los Angeles, and continued training under Nishiyama's senior student Sensei Ray Dalke in Riverside.  While there, Otis Sensei trained extensively under Dalke Sensei, and Sensei Frank Smith (long considered the greatest American JKA fighter of his generation).  Otis Sensei brings years of teaching, coaching and judging to the dojo floor and provides amazing insights into the most basic of karate's techniques.  He is well known for saying, "Karate is very simple."

Otis Sensei coaching competitors at Camp Shotokan:

Sensei Avi Azoulay, 7th Dan
Azoulay Sensei has been training continuously since 1971 in his native Israel under the guidance of Sensei Satoshi Miyazaki (JKA Belgium), after championing the Israel Open two years in a row, Azoulay Sensei made the move to the US to train under Sensei Alex Sternberg.  In the early 90's, Sensei made the move to join the AJKA-I while training under Dalke Sensei at Camp Shotokan in Colorado.  Azoulay Sensei has been on the US Maccabiah Team three times, and was the captain for the team in 1993 to the World Maccabiah Games in Israel.  In his competition days, Sensei has medaled in various national and international competitions including silver and gold medals at the World Maccabiah Games.  He is well known for his technical mastery and for making every class both enertaining and instructive.

Sensei Rob DeAngelis 6th Dan
DeAngelis Sensei is without a doubt one of the fiercest fighters and competitors I have ever met, with an incredible blitz attack and phenomenal judo, he is a scary individual to meet on the street or on the competition floor.  DeAngelis Sensei began his training under John McClary in New Jersey and then continued his training under Sensei Leslie Safar, 9th Dan, AJKA-I Technical Director and Chief Instructor for Europe.  DeAngelis Sensei has an incredible knowledge and intuitive knack for employing superior body dynamics and breathing to create destructive power.  His many competitive accolades include: 2nd Place - Kumite 2007 World Cup in Spain; 2nd Place - Kumite 1997 World Cup in Los Angeles; 1st Place - Team Kumite 2004 & 2006 Euro Cup in Hungary.

This will be without a doubt an incredibly instructive and exciting weekend full of karate.  There will be classes for all kyu levels, black belts and competitors of all levels.  Furthermore, camp participants will get the chance to train with past and present AJKA-I US Team members, who are preparing for the Ippon Cup in Berlin, Germany in September 2013.

I can't wait for training to start!