OSU SHIHAN CAMERON Exciting news for the book nice pictures from the book great memories too thanks for sharing these with us OSU

Osu...the new book looks terrific and I'm sure it will be a great success. A medical appointment kept me from catching your conversation live yesterday. When I came on near the end, you mentioned that nothing had been said that I probably didn't know already. While that may be the case, nevertheless, it's always heartening to listen to sensei who are looking beyond the obvious kicking and punching part of karate. Our view on certain aspects of karate may differ but I see this as nothing more than the different scenery each person comes across as they make their own way to the top of the budo mountain. And as you know...from the summit the view is the same for everyone. I smile a lot listening to your stories, because we have had (from the outside) significantly different experiences over the past half a century, and yet, (on the inside) we seem to have arrived a very similar view of karate. I see this often (but not often enough unfortunately) and it makes me wonder why so many give so much credence to notions such as 'style' and whether or not the karate being pursued is Okinawan or Japanese in origin. Good karate is good karate, and it is made that way by the character of the person and their relationship with their art. As Nagamine Shoshin sensei once said to me..." In karate there is something called Shin gi tai. Too many people focus on gi and tai and forget that these elements of karate are developed through shin." His view that the mind/heart/spirt of a person taking precedence over fighting prowess is an unpopular view of karate these days. Nevertheless, this is what differentiates karate (kicking and punching) from karatedo...the way of karate. As Miyazato sensei would tell me..."Anyone can learn to kick and punch." Thank you for todays conversation and reading.