Category: Karate kids

Hello all! 

Some things that interested me this week, and I hope will be of interest to you too.

Here are my five items, links, or suggestions that should get you some inspiration and information.

Newsletter 15

1. I have been listening to Rodrigo y Gabriella and their new offering, nominated for a Grammy, Mettavolution – check it on youtube. My first exposure to this duo was on Ted Talks, and since that time I have been a fan.

Another artist in the same category; and I noticed he is getting more airplay this week, Theo Croker, an excellent trumpeter and bandleader. He’s been nominated in the best contemporary instrumental album category for Star People Nation, competition for Rodrigo y Gabriella. 

I enjoy watching NPR Tiny Desk Concerts and it’s where I first came to hear Anderson Paak. He’s another Grammy nominee in the Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Come Home” featuring André 3000. Check out this fun 2006 musical movie, Idlewild for a good idea of what André 3000 is all about.

2. Yakumo Koizumi is the adopted Japanese name of author Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904). In his 54 years, he wrote 29 books in many different genres. “Kwaidan; Stories and Studies of Strange Things” is one of his books on Japanese myths and I started reading it this week. What piqued my interest is the number of listings with his English name on the gutenberg.org site under the heading: Japan. When you google this gentleman, a fascinating individual comes to life. My search brought me to this article in the Japan Times.

While searching that amazing Gutenberg site I happened upon another book I couldn’t resist “Bushido, The Soul of Japan” by Inuzo Nitobe (1862 – 1933). A book that explores the way of the Samurai spirit. 

3. You may have noticed a strong Japanese thread runs through many of my newsletters, it’s true I have a great passion for all things Japanese. I have been studying Japanese on my own for many years. I recently started a new program to learn Japanese writing, Hiragana at a site named Tofugu.com, I feel encouraged to jump back into my studies.

The owner of the Shingikan dojo, where I teach Karate lived in Japan for 25 years. He is fluent in Japanese, both written and spoken. There is no excuse for me to not make the effort to communicate with him in Japanese.

4. Most of my instructing jobs are winding down now and I have only a couple of classes left, one is going to be a  children’s karate grading – coming up this Saturday afternoon in Stouffville, Ontario.

The Shingikan dojo will stay open until December 16th and as with all my classes, will be resuming in January 2020. So much fun sharing my knowledge of martial arts and learning from the children.

“Spare no effort when you teach. You advance as your students advance. Perseverance is important in teaching, as are patience, kindness, and the ability to put yourself in your students’ place.” (Koichi Tohei 1920 – 2011.)

5. Reading to children, how long should you read to your children? This resource says as long as there is interest. Reading to children at age 4 – 5 every day has a significant positive effect on their reading skills and cognitive skills (i.e., language and literacy, numeracy, and cognition) later in life.

I found this reference at Scholastic Canada on the state of kids and reading. As someone who is soon to self-publish a children’s book, I need to know who my target audience is. 

Thanks for reading. If you like what you’ve read forward this to someone you think will enjoy it.

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Copyright © 2019 Paul Yanuziello, All rights reserved.