Harrisonburg Hebi Ashi Dojo - Links to other places

The Shomen to the Harrisonburg Dojo has a superimposed picture of Kuniba Soke AND Price Soke which is very fitting as both of them are my Sensei.

It also has a hand written (rice) paper that Kuniba, Soke had written especially for the Harrisonburg Dojo on Oct 27th 1990. The writings are of what Kuniba Soke thought was important to his style during that time.

It also has the Katana, the hanjo and the Bamboo. The bamboo represents Kuniba-ha Shito-Ryu system, Kuniba Soke had written a poem comparing his style to the bamboo.

The other item is a small drum, Kuniba Soke gave me a drum like this early in my training.

Most Martial Arts in America and most in the world today do not train with Kata the way that it was intended. So most places teach you kata for the sport tournaments. You will train Kata but its only use is for promotions, demonstrations or tournaments. They will show you some meanings of the kata but in order for it to work the attacker has to be standing or doing something specific.

Here is the proof, when you Kumite (sparring, or free hand fighting) do you use the techniques that kata has taught you? Most likely no, why? Why are you being taught sparring techniques? The instructor himself was not taught Kata properly and does not fully understand kata himself. So when you Kumite, you will use what has gotten you through life up to when you started training. Some (most) American Martial Arts will have you Sparring your first night of lessons. And what are you being taught? To reinforce the things you have been doing, but what you are not doing is Martial Arts.

Kuniba, Soke was credited with being one of the first to teach Bungai (application) to the Kata. Not a stiff one dimensional way of thinking, but as it was intended. Kata is not to teach technique but principle of technique. That way it fits everyone's body and size, strength etc. By being true to kata you will learn the strengths and weaknesses of the body and your technique will be bound only by your imagination to the principle of the kata. You can find video of Kuniba Soke doing kata on youtube.com look up either Shogo Kuniba, Soke OR Action Karate #5 and you will find him doing the kata and/or bungai in a very relaxed and controlled way.

Bill Price, Sensei has carried on this tradition under the direction of Kuniba, Soke as his true successor to Kuniba-Ha Shito-Ryu and Kuniba Ryu Goshindo.

Kuniba-Ha Shito-Ryu is an authentic traditional Japanese martial art, coming to Japan from Okinawa and to Okinawa from China. The style was founded by Shogo Kuniba Soke, and emphasizes proper technique over power and strength.

We also train in Kuniba Ryu Goshin-do which is, through Shogo Kuniba, Soke a mixture of Aikido, Judo, Jiu-jutsu and Karate-Do. With Kuniba, Soke's vast knowledge on the different arts (see site titled Soke), he was able to combine the different arts where there was a weakness. In other words he made Goshin-do to fit all situations, with principle.

If you can get your hands on a copy of "KARATE INTERNATIONAL" Vol. 7 #9 1997 issue or "INSIDE KARATE" Dec. 1989 issue, or "KARATE INTERNATIONAL" May/June 1989 issue just to name a few magazines that featured Shogo Kuniba, Soke and his unique style, the articles will explain the art to you. Kuniba Ryu Goshindo is an officially accredited martial art recognized by Japan.

The organization that the Hebi Ashi Dojo belongs to is Chikubu-Kai (Bamboo Warrior). Please visit the Chikubukai.org web site that you will find in the links section to the left on this page.

The bamboo is the outside circle, which Kuniba, Soke always referred his style as the likes of the bamboo. The leaves are to represent the different levels of growth one obtains when training. The Kanji in the middle translate to:


Chiku = Bamboo	Bu = Warrior	Kai = Organization

Contact Information:

540-433-7300

sensei@harrisonburgdojo.com

171 E Neff Ave. Harrisonburg, Va. 22802