*  The IKKF Newsletter is beginning volume XX!  That means 20 years folks, so Newsletter Kudos to all.  Some of you will be amused to know that among the promotions listed in Volume 1, Number 1 of the Newsletter was one for Junior Green Belt awarded to Colin Lawrence.
*  Once again, Mr. Terry Gearey has just returned from yet another extended stay in Costa Rica.  His endeavors in Central America include managing a new coffee export business, teaching Kojosho classes,  mastering the Spanish language, and quaffing an occasional cerveza (stirred not shaken).  Ms. Rachelle Endean vacationed there this spring, as did Mr. Gary Vaughn.  Mr. Miguel Sarria has spent some serious time in Costa Rica as well.  Mr. Sergio Albonico is a Costa Rican native (Tico), so be sure to ask him what to see if you are planning a trip.  Seems like a popular place for vacationers in general and Kojoshoteka in particular.
*  Those of you with a weakness for Martial Arts books should know that Ed Erler's Albuquerque Shorin-Ryu Karate Dojo, located at 533 Louisiana SE, tops the Page One bookstore, located at the SW corner of Montgomery and Juan Tabo in Albuquerque, in having the most comprehensive collection of Martial Arts books in any bookstore in the state.  It takes steely self-control to leave without buying several.
*   Mr. Mike Somoza, the IKKF representative for Spain, has started a newsletter especially for licensed Kojosho Instructors.  The new newsletter welcomes all contributions.  Mike hopes that it will provide an informal, open forum to exchange ideas and questions about teaching Kojosho classes.   For a copy of the newletter and/or additional information contact:    Michael Somoza
          1079 San Pablo Ave, Apt 4
          Albany, CA  94706
  email: somoza@sunspot.ssl.berkeley.edu
*  Annual Black Belt dues are a part of the responsibility of being a Black Belt in all traditional systems.  All Kojosho System Black Belts share this tradition.   Kojosho Black Belt dues are quite modest compared to the amounts required in most other organizations.  In recent years the income from these annual dues has been used to fund improvements at the IKKF World Headquarters, and to help support  System tournaments and special classes.  All Black Belts please note that annual Black Belt dues for 2003 are now due.  Dues can be sent to Ms. Nancy Renna, Printer's Press, 3831 Hawkins NE, Albuquerque, NM  87109.

     An interesting way to look at leadership in general and individual leaders in particular is to ask the question "servant first or leader first"?  The servant-leader begins with the natural feeling that he or she wants to serve.  Then conscious choice brings them to aspire to lead.  In this sense the servant-leader is a servant first.  That person is sharply different from one who is a leader first, perhaps because of the need to satisfy an unusually strong power drive or to acquire material possessions.  The difference expresses itself in the care taken by the servant-first leader to make sure that other people's highest priority needs are being addressed.  The best test, although difficult to administer, is : Do those served grow as persons? Do they, as a consequence of being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, and more likely themselves to become servant-leaders?       
     A leader should be a servant leader and a self-actualizer.  The leader must lead by example, be a good role model to emulate, be empathetic, be intuitive and creative, and ultimately be willing to let go and lose control.  The leader must have perceived competence, which implies material, cognitive, and subjective competencies to solve problems in the present and into the future.  Material competence is having access to the required resources.  Cognitive competence implies that the leader has the knowledge, intelligence, and creativity to apply these resources effectively.  Subjective competence means that the leader is confident in himself/herself to solve the problem at hand.
     But most important, leaders must always generate enthusiasm if they wish to bring out the best in themselves and those under their supervision.  In essence, we are depending upon creating an energy producing, positive self-fulfilling prophecy based upon a person's passions to enable personal growth, individual creativity, self-actualization, and transcendence that spirals upwardly out of our control in the form of an energized, enthusiastic individual.

        from Collective Groups and Teams by Rush Robinett




True karate-do is this:   that in daily life, one's mind and body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility; and
that in critical times, one be devoted utterly to the cause of justice.
                                                         Funakoshi Gichin

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