I think that members of the United States Chito-kai will agree that this year has been a constructive one. It has passed all too quickly. We, as usual, had our "Kangeiko" winter training then participated in the Kentucky, Ohio, Regional and National AAU karate tournaments. In between the AAU Regional and National tournaments several of us found time to fly to Kyoto, Japan to participate in the Second World Dai Nippon Butoku Sai. There we were furnished with a chance to train and learn from some of the greatest martial artists of that country, and to demonstrate Chito-ryu before members of the Japanese Imperial Family and the Hanshi Board of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. A special thanks is due to Hamada Hanshi, International representative for the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, for allowing us to travel with him and to participate in this historic venture.

Now we are rapidly approaching our annual Fall/Winter National testing. This test marks two historic occasions. First, the October test and banquet are scheduled to celebrate the birth month of Doctor Chitose, the founder of our style of karate. Second, it marks the fiftieth year since Doctor Chitose named his style of karate "Chito-ryu". All of us should give thanks to Doctor Chitose for his views of karate and his gift of Chito-ryu to us.

Most of us will not be here to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of our style, but a few of our younger students might make it. What will Chito-ryu be like when it celebrates it's one-hundredth anniversary? No one knows. If we, the current students and instructors, practice with a good heart and train with the right goals in mind, we need not worry, Chito-ryu will be well.

You might he thinking, "What is a good heart? What are the right goals?" A person with a good heart is willing to give more, to the organization or school, than take. A person with a good heart, through dedicated practice, seeks self-perfection. A student with a good heart is always courteous and respectful. A person with a good heart trains to serve the sensei and the students will lead by example.

The"right goals" means that the students develop an adult, well rounded view of karate, the karate school, and the organization to which they belong. Students with the "right goals" in mind are more interested in promoting the organization than themselves.

Do you have a good heart? Do you have the right goals in mind?

Happy Birthday O-Sensei!