During the spring semester of my senior year at William and Mary, our club was honored to have Okazaki Shihan visit and conduct a kyu examination. At a special training before the examination, Steve Pohle Sensei introduced me to Okazaki Shihan and informed him that I was attending the University of Pennsylvania. At this point, Okazaki Shihan asked me to start a club at the University. What else could I say but absolutely.
When I arrived at Penn in the fall of 2007 I began my PhD program in physics and started my appointment as a Graduate Associate in Stouffer College House. I was in charge of B-section of Stouffer and required to hold hall programs to facilitate community among students. My students were mostly freshmen and when I mentioned that I practiced Shotokan Karate, many were interested. So, one of my first programs was a trip to ISKF Headquarters, the Philadelphia Shotokan Karate Club. There the students participated in a beginner training and afterwards asked if we could have these trainings at Penn and start our own club. The fact that UPSKC came into existence is solely due to the enthusiasm of the founding students; Evan Benshetler, Michael Ro, David Ma, Eileen Harper, Aaron, and Ali.
I began holding informal trainings for these students whenever I could and wherever I could. This included random meetings on grass, concrete, in my room, and Stouffer lounges / hallways. The times were also equally random. The students were often so excited about training that I would frequently get knocks on my door at 11pm or later with questions about certain techniques. UPSKC now informally existed, but needed to grow. I discussed our situation with ISKF headquarters; Lois Luzi Sempai, Takamichi Maeshima Sempai, Hiroyoshi Okazaki Sempai, and Okazaki Shihan. Hiroyoshi Sempai offered to hold a demonstration to attract new members for our club. He and many other excellent karate-ka came to the UPenn bookstore in the fall and held a demo for us on the upper level. The club owes Nicole Maloy a huge debt of gratitude for facilitating the demonstration. Later in that same semester, we began holding regular trainings at Du Bois College House, again facilitated by Nicole Maloy. In return, we agreed to hold a demonstration for Du Bois College House and again members of PSKC donated their time to put on a great demonstration.
Gradually, the club grew in membership. We now had our own training space and were in the process of drafting a constitution so that we could become an official member of the Organization of Student Life. Lindsay Belano, in the midst of Veterinary School, gave her time and became an instructor of UPSKC. Again the members of PSKC helped our club grow by allowing our students to test at ISKF HQ and helping us prepare legal forms which allowed students to safely participate in the club. Our students got their first gis and had their first kyu examination, becoming yellow belts at the end of the fall semester.
The rest, as they say, is history. Our students trained diligently throughout the spring and were tested by Takamichi Maeshima Sensei on Penn's campus. During the fall of 2008 our club gained new training space in Vance hall and a new instructor, Katrin Sproesser. Faces changed, but the club continued growing. The club graduated it's first black belts, Michael Ro and Charles Addo-Yobo, in the spring of 2010. We gained two more excellent instructors in the fall of 2010, Jon Wallis and Scott Nieh. In January of 2011, I stepped down as the Chief Instructor of UPSKC and Katrin Sproesser became the chief instructor.
My time with UPSKC has been some of the most rewarding of my life. It has been an honor to watch my students grow and become stronger both mentally and physically. Seeing that occur is the greatest joy any teacher can have. I am grateful for the privilege of being allowed to contribute to the lives of my students in some small way. I hope that their time in UPSKC has made their lives better and will help them in the future. I am also thankful for all that my students have taught me about being a better karateka, it's truly amazing how the teacher learns just as much as the students during a class. There are a few people who merit special thanks.
First and foremost, UPSKC expresses it's gratitude to Teruyuki Okazaki Shihan. The driving force behind the formation of UPSKC, Okazaki Shihan actively supported and guided our club in it's infancy. UPSKC is incredibly lucky to be in close proximity to ISKF headquarters; we have the opportunity to continue to lean from Shihan. Okazaki Shihan provides a perfect example of a martial artist and is an inspiration for our club and it's members. Thank you Okazaki Shihan.
To the entire ISKF organization, but especially to Lois Luzi, Takamichi Maeshima, Hiroyoshi Okazaki, and all the members of PSKC. To Steve Pohle Sensei who frequently advised me on how to be a good instructor.
To Nicole Maloy, Lindsay Belano, Jon Berardino, Katrin Sproesser, Jon Wallis, and Scott Nieh for donating their time free of charge.
To Stouffer College House and in particular to Alison Laylond Wyant who allowed us to operate under the Stouffer umbrella for the first two years of our existence, again for no charge.
To Michael Ro who deserves special recognition for performing the tasks of all five UPSKC officers during the 2008 - 2009 academic year. Our club was still in it's infancy at this point and so performing these tasks was an unbelievably large amount of work, but Mike did all of it without a single complaint. He also did an exceptional job and without these efforts the club would not exist today.
Finally, to the members of UPSKC. Our members think beyond their own training and consider the well-being of their fellow karateka and the organization as a whole. Without their diligent training, devotion to the true spirit of karate, and the respect and courtesy to think beyond themselves, this club could not endure.
