Thw WVU Karate Club studies the Bo with Demura-Sensei
The very moment Doc decided to study Goju-Ryu, believe it or not. This photo was not known to exist for 20 years.
At the end of the weekend training, the WVU Karate Club would be going in a new direction.
Intensive Goju training in Japan.
Izumikawa-Sensei's dojo, where Seiko Higa taught in the '40s and '50s.
Izumikawa-Sensei with his top students.
Seidokan Dojo, Saitama prefecture, Japan.
Full-time training in Goju-ryu at Nobetsu-sensei's dojo.
With the impressive Nobetsu family: Mayumi, Tadanori, and Masanori.
Recovering from training at Nobetsu-Sensei's with a hot mineral spring soak.
Nio-sama statue depicting the migration of Karate throughout the Far East.
Stone implements, not used in modern Karate, are a feature of traditional Okinawan styles.
Temple dog looks on.
When not training, temple grounds are a nice place to relax.
Organizational meeting of the WVU club to plan the new independent dojo downtown.
John Irvine, Dina Skias, Bill Merritt, and Frank Hill join in the discussion.
Dr. Perry, second in command, tells his ideas to Bill Lincoln, Tim Chasey, and Martin Bayerle.
Business blends with pleasure as refreshments keep coming.
Meeting seems to be over; fun begins.
In this time period, Saturday morning workouts for the most dedicated members were held in Doc's yard.
The makiwara and bamboo marked this particular townhouse as something different. Neighbors stayed away.
Frank Quinn practices Sanchin while Tim Chasey steadies the kaketebiki, an old Okinawan training device.
The Saturday morning practices captured the feel of old-style training.
First look at the future dojo, after carpet had been removed and the floor restored by Bill Merritt.
Believe it or not, in the early years there was glass in the partition! After training became more lively, it had to come out.
Tim Chasey applies his engineering skills to the future shoe rack, using a Japanese saw for the first time. "When I push, it doesn't do anything!"
No shoji in the window yet, but it is shaping up.
Ready for the grand opening!
With Nobetsu-Sensei's blessing, the new dojo is named SEIDOKAN, after the headquarters in Japan.
On opening day, we christened the new dojo with 108 kata performances. Frank Quinn and Mary Sue Dadisman are doing Gekisai.
Tim Chasey loves the traditional makiwara.
Yaeko serves refreshments to visitors.
Not many open house celebrations serve sushi!
Ralph McMillen, Doc Negri and Doc Perry perform Tekki as a tribute to Mr. McMillen, who traveled from Elkins to help us celebrate.
Bill Meritt gets to sweat on the floor he refinished.
Mionoru Oura polishes his kata.
Tire practice 01
Tire practice 02
Tire practice 03