2008 Karate Winter Special Training
Karate Winter Special Training started at 5am on January 2nd, 2008. This marks the 38th year that Japan Karate Association of New Jersey hosted KWST. Kisaka Sensei led the class through some vigorous stretching, kihon, kumite and kata each morning. We had a good mix of dan students and brown belts. Everyone involved demonstrated good spirit and benefited from the experience.
As is the custom, we ran outside barefoot without shirts. The temperature on two of the mornings was perfect for our routine: 18 degrees, but felt like somewhere between four and ten degrees with the wind chill.
We had some good participation this year, as almost 100% attended training every morning, on-time. This marks my fifth year with perfect attendance; but I’m sure there are others out there from prior years that achieved better records than that.
January 12th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Wow! I’m not sure why anyone would actually do that but you never cease to amaze me with your level of commitment to every single thing you decide to do. Way to go Frank and congrats on making it through another milestone!
May 3rd, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Frank, I ran across your page while conducting a google search for Katsuya Kisaka. I trained religiously at the JKA of NJ back in the early-mid 90’s. Regrettably, I moved from Trenton to California in 96. I left the JKA dojo as a 1 or 2 kyu brown belt. It’s been so long I cant remember exactly. I moved to a city where Shotokan was nowhere to be found, so I never continued my training. I have always missed it and the instructional staff at JKA. When I attended, aside from Kisaka Sensei, I was often insructed by Irwin Nadel (Not 100% on the spelling), Mr. Galdo (I think his first name was Frank, he had 3 sons), and Mary Jarosz. Are they still there? Mr. Nadel used to tell me if I ever quit he would hunt me down 🙂 . I would love to know how everyone is doing down there.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
location of Mr. K,s dojo Im old from 60s-70s Mr. K my favorite Im 54 trying to train again need old school fire Mr.K_(all respect Katsuya Kisaka is the one AKA MR.K
July 2nd, 2013 at 8:57 pm
Hi Frank !! I did 12 years perfect attendance 1987-1998. Bronchitis /Pneumonia ended my streak in 1999. Those were the times.
July 3rd, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Hi Frank —
I made 12 years perfect attendance, 1987-1998. I was laid low by bronchitis and pneumonia in 1999.
Great times !!
July 22nd, 2014 at 9:26 am
Frank, I was googling Kasaka and came across your name.
I hope you have not forgotten who I am lol.
After my first wife died I moved to Florida on the West Coast, and moved back to Jersey to get remarried in 2004, and went back to training. The marriage didn’t work out so we divorced and I moved back to Florida
I’m living in the Villages now, what a place to live, it’s a retirees dream here.
I Started training here again, this time it is Okinawan style, close to Shotokan, but different in many ways. I like Shotokan better, but there are no schools close by here.
How have you been? You have a beautiful family, I guess your boys are more grown now since the posted pictures.
I miss all the guys, not sure how many are still there. I miss Sensei a lot. It was tough for me with the second marriage, I had to leave training abruptly and I haven’t seen Sensei since. Hope he is well.
I am not sure you will every read this, but if you remember me, shoot me an email if you get a chance. rbilardo47@gmail.com
You were always a good man, and I respected you for that.
Bob