Hajime: Karate History in a U.S. Community

By Antonio (Tone) Resende

For several years, I have wanted to write the history of karate in Southeastern Massachusetts. However, there always seemed to be other priorities that distracted my focus. In 2009 I retired from my position as a police detective, and having been retired from the armed forces, I now had no legitimate reason not to devote as much time as possible to such a good karate ideawell, except for a brief period of hospitalization due to a serious surgery that kept me hospitalized for twenty-seven days and then at home for three weeks under nurses care with months of recovery.
Karate history, in general, is, in some cases, somewhat obscured, including in the United States. I am willing to bet that not many people have thought of or proceeded to put in writing any historical account of karate in specific communities of the United States other than the Armed Services Judo and Jujitsu Academy in Pensacola, Florida, and the paper Helium by Can Tran. There are a number of historical writings as to how karate was introduced to the United States; however, I have not come across any historical account that takes us from Japan to the United States and to a particular community. There are also a number of historical accounts, but only pertaining to individual organizations or instructors. For this reason, I decided that this may spark the interest of other practitioners of martial arts to write factual accounts to the best of their abilities so that other young martial artists may draw some knowledge from these written facts or events.
Even if this does not occur, at least the Shotokan practitioners can have some guidance as to the historical facts, at least in a certain US community. The reason I emphasize the Shotokan practitioners is because I have a greater involvement with the Shotokan system of karate. Perhaps this can be used as the basis of historical research or studies, especially among the college clubs and even dojos. I hope to keep your interest from beginning to end as I will cover a short history of karate in general and Shotokan karate to the history of karate in Southeastern Massachusetts. This will also be useful in recognizing specific individuals, masters, and instructors that deserve the credit and acknowledgment since karate remains a sport with less recognition compared to other sports.
As Gichin Funakoshi often reminded his students, The spirit of karate-do is lost without courtesy. Therefore, this written account expresses the acknowledgment of those who brought karate to us, beginning at the grass roots of the communities, for this is how it manifested to national participation. This is one courtesy we often forget; it is like not knowing, or forgetting, where we come from. So often I have come across karate practitioners that are black belts and instructing karate classes and they do not know much, if anything, about how and where karate began and how it spread to all parts of the world. Sure, if you should ask any person with some karate interest as to where karate originated and how it spread, they almost always give the basic knowledge that it started from Dharma in India to China to Okinawa but not a whole lot more than that. In Japan, karate is a culture, not just instructions on how to kick and punch. As to this, I quote Funakoshis writing: The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of the participant.
Through this, there are a number of dojo kun to be followed, and the five most important are the following: seek perfection of character, be faithful, endeavor to excel, respect others, and refrain from violent behavior. These are usually found posted on a wall in the dojo. Additional dojo kun will be listed at the end of the book in both Japanese and English.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483684420

Antonio (Tone) Resende

Born in Brava, Cape Verde Islands (Portugal), Shihan Tone Resende immigrated to Boston in 1963 via Lisbon, Portugal. He attended New Bedford, Massachusetts, public schools. He was a school athlete in the sports of soccer, basketball, and track. He joined the US Marines during the Vietnam War, served overseas with the marines, and graduated high school from the Department of Defense Dependents Schools at Kubasaki High School, Okinawa, Japan. He returned to the States with the marines and separated from active duty to attend college and reenlisted with the Marine Reserve till retirement. He founded the Bridgewater State University Shotokan Karate Club in 1979 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree of science in physical education and health. He worked for the Massachusetts Department of Health as an investigator and code enforcer. After thirteen years, he joined the New Bedford Police Department. He later graduated with a master of science degree in criminal justice administration from Western New England University. He was a certified Massachusetts defensive tactics and firearms instructor for police officers; after thirteen years, he retired from the New Bedford Police Department. He conducted a number of self-defense courses around the New England area and competed in many tournaments in New England—regional, national, and international. He was also awarded as the All-American Competitor and Senior Men’s National Champion by the USA Karate Federation in 1990. Born in Brava, Cape Verde Islands (Portugal), Shihan Tone Resende immigrated to Boston in 1963 via Lisbon, Portugal. He attended New Bedford, Massachusetts, public schools. He was a school athlete in the sports of soccer, basketball, and track. He joined the US Marines during the Vietnam War, served overseas with the marines, and graduated high school from the Department of Defense Dependents Schools at Kubasaki High School, Okinawa, Japan. He returned to the States with the marines and separated from active duty to attend college and reenlisted with the Marine Reserve till retirement. He founded the Bridgewater State University Shotokan Karate Club in 1979 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree of science in physical education and health. He worked for the Massachusetts Department of Health as an investigator and code enforcer. After thirteen years, he joined the New Bedford Police Department. He later graduated with a master of science degree in criminal justice administration from Western New England University. He was a certified Massachusetts defensive tactics and firearms instructor for police officers; after thirteen years, he retired from the New Bedford Police Department. He conducted a number of self-defense courses around the New England area and competed in many tournaments in New England—regional, national, and international. He was also awarded as the All-American Competitor and Senior Men’s National Champion by the USA Karate Federation in 1990.

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CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

General Karate History

Martial Arts In Usa

Shotokan History In The Usa

Karate In The World

Historical Account In Massachusetts

Historical Account In A Massachusetts Community (New Bedford)

Dojo Kun

Shoto Niju Kun

Photo Gallery

Japan Karate Association List Of Instructors And Year Of Graduation

Appendix

References

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Standing at left is Sensei Robert Gomes, seating at center is Hanshi Wind Song Blake, and Center standing is Hanshi John Almeida, and right is Shihan Tone Resende

To the late David Shuster.

I also wish to dedicate this book to Master Wind Song Blake,

also known as Alden Blake.

In Memory of David Shuster

It was early summer of 1968 at 979 Pleasant Street in the whaling city of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Here I stood by the parlor windows facing the front, with a street view. As I looked out through the window, I saw a man pedaling a ten-speed bike, a memory that had been etched in my mind, even to this day. As he pedaled the bike, an image of a strong, durable man emerged with every foot of the street gained on his way. He wore shorts that showed the outline of his muscular quadriceps; this was my cue to follow him to Paul Poirier’s house.

Paul and his sister (the late) Jacquie Pike and I would train in the attic with (the late) David Shuster. David Shuster was the spirit behind my training in karate. I have not forgotten when Paul (who became a former New England boxing champion and fought the former three-time world champion Larry Holmes) and I were practicing boxing and David Shuster would have to tell me to keep my feet down. It was through this training that David Shuster said, It may be better for you to stay away from boxing and stick with karate. Hence, I pursued karate training with Mr. Shuster and subsequently with his former instructor Master Wind Song Blake.

I continue to train and safeguard the fond memories of my youth. These memories would serve me well as I traveled around the world and to Okinawa, Japan, while enlisted with the US Marines. To this end, therefore, I dedicate this book to the late David Shuster—a promise I keep to both his mom, Rose Shuster (may she rest in peace), and also his brother, Paul Shuster, who is residing near Miami. I only wish I could have written it before Mrs. Shuster had passed. May the heavens keep your kime balanced and strong.

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David Shuster at twenty-six (1968 photo).

Photo courtesy of Robert Gomes.

To a True Sensei in All Regards:

Hanshi Wind Song Blake

The word sensei means teacher, elder and, in some instances, doctor, spiritual guide, mentor, or person who is born before. These paraphrases are ones most closely attributed to one of my best friends, Wind Song Blake.

I have known Alden since 1970 when he was instructing karate classes at the YWCA in New Bedford. I joined the YWCA karate classes along with Paul Poirier, Jacquie Poirier (before marriage), and my late sister, Maria. I continued my training with Alden Blake for less than eight months. Due to the karate program at the YWCA coming to end, we had to find another instructor. Alden suggested that we train with Robert Gomes at 279 Dartmouth Street. My sister Maria, my cousin Maria, and I began training with Sensei Robert Gomes, who had joined with Sensei Kazumi Tabata. Within less than a year, I joined the marines, and this experience would go with me and all to my benefit.

Wind Song has been like a father, a brother, and a friend when needed. He always has a kind word; in a gentle way, he deals with whatever issue is at hand. I recall what he said to me one day as we talked of certain personal issues that he himself experienced, and what he said was I forgive. Meaning, even when someone did something less than kind to him, he was willing to forgive. I have now learned that the stronger we are, the more we are willing to forgive, and for all that I have learned from a dear friend and hanshi,