News
Home Yakusoku Kumite Kata Requirements Vocabulary
Black Belts Affiliation News Web Sites Contact Us

Web Changes

This is where we'll announce the most recent additions to our web site. If you've visited us before and want to know what's changed, take a look here first.

April 28, 2009

Added new black belt photos Members

Uploaded hi-res black photos to Yahoo groups site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ambler-GKK/photos/album/937535828/pic/list

April 16, 2009

Changed times of classes for Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30 pm to 7:15 pm. Added Advanced class times of 10:30 am on Saturdays.

Modify black belt profile for Helen Muth to include Nidan in May 2003

Modify black belt profile for Paul Stetsko to include Nidan in May 2008

Modify black belt profile for Howard Blum to include Nidan in May 2008

Add black belt profile for Gerry Henderson for Shodan in April 2009

Add black belt profile for Steven Rusche for Shodan in April 2009

Add black belt profile for Stephen Muth IV for Shodan in April 2009

Moved Tom Berkoff’s name to the visiting blackbelts section

March - April 2006

Reorganization and remodeling of the site.

March 2, 2003

Replaced pictures on Members page of some instructors with available pictures from Yamakura visit

Added picture of Shihan Yamakura on Events page

January 19, 2003

Revised all kata to be consistent with formatting and presentation.

Added Saifa and Suparunpai

Organized Events page and added Notes page from Shihan Yamakura visit to PA and Notes from Brad and Zak's visit to Nancy's dojo in Maine

November 18, 2002

Notice of Kyu testing on December 13, 2002

Added pictures from Shihan Yamakura's visit in September. See Events page

Dan promotions of Vic Lim, Landon, and John Henderson. See Promotions page. Also updated the biographies on the Members page due to the promotions.

Pictures from Kyu testing on August 23.  See Promotions page.

Revised Seipai  Kata 

September 5, 2002

More details on Master Yamakura visit September 22-27, 2002.  See Events page

Added pictures of instructors.  See Members page.

August 9, 2002

Master Yamakura will running a seminar in the Philadelphia area for both the Ambler and Salfordville dojos.  He will be here the week of September 23.  In addition to black belt seminars, he will be holding seminars for other colored belts during his stay. Please be sure to clear your calendars for that week.  It is sure to be an exciting event. Details on Events page.

Sensei Bill Kane photo with his Renshi belt shown on the Promotions page.

June 21, 2002

Congratulations to Sensei Bill Kane.  He received his Renshi award as of June 1, 2002.  Renshi is a special instructor award for exceptional sensei within the GKK.  In order to receive Renshi status a written test and oral examination must be passed.

April 4, 2002

Removed reference to Japanese Goju Ryu.  Corrected typos.

January 15, 2002

Added new Web Sites page.  Moved links to other Martial Arts sites here.

December 18, 2001

Re-added link to Kata write-up for Seipai

December 17, 2001

Added Kata write-ups for Seisan and Kururunfa.  Thanks to Vic Lim for the writeups.

November 11, 2001

Ric Kimball & Lisa Toombs were promoted on October 29, 2001 at Mr. Henderson's Upper Salford dojo.  See the Promotions page for more details

Wednesday afternoon class dropped starting September 2001.

Kyoshi Brad Smith held Goju-Ryu seminars the weekend of August 25, 2001.

Ambler GKK Black Belt Reunion was held at Sensei Kane's house on August 18.  See Events page for pictures.

Pictures from training with Master Yamakura in Tulsa, OK in June 2001.  See Events

June 11, 2001

Update Promotions page with new pictures from Feb 01 Testing

Update Requirements page to clarify One-Steps requirements

August 14, 2000

Updated Kata and Requirements page to add new Uke No Kata

Added Seipai kata writeup . 

Added notes for Seiunchin, Sanseiru and Shisochin katas.

General notes from the trip can be found on Oklahoma Notes, 2000 page

All of the new and modified katas were editted by Vic Lim with input from Matt Davis, Ric Kimble and Sensei Bill Kane from their visit to Oklahoma in June 2000.

Mr. Brad Smith is scheduled to visit our dojo on Sept 22-23, 2000. Kyu testing will take place on Friday evening, Blackbelt testing Saturday morning. Training Seminars will be scheduled for Saturday afternoon with a banquet later that evening. Details to follow-.  Same information also on Promotions page.

June 28, 2000

On June 19th-23rd, Ric Kimball, Victor Lim, Matt Davis, & Bill Kane traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma for advanced training under Shihan M. Yamakura. They were accompanied by 4 other advanced belts from the Fremont/Finlay Ohio area. Pictures will soon be posted on the web. Uke-no kata will also soon be posted on the web site and will become a shodan requirement. Mr. Brad Smith is scheduled to visit our dojo on Sept 23-25, 2000. Kyu testing will take place on Friday evening, Blackbelt testing Saturday morning. Training Seminars will be scheduled for Saturday afternoon with a banquet later that evening. Details to follow-.  Same information also on Promotions page.

Separated forms and information  from GKK Application page.  Added order form for Karate equipment to page

Added Dojo Maxims (From Shihan Yamakura) to GKK Application page.  Added GKK Application to page.

June 27, 2000

Updated Home page with new introduction to Ambler GKK dojo.

Moved Sensei, Black Belt and member profiles to Members page

Added navigation links on each page for use by non Internet Explorer users.

March 28, 2000

Identify current GKK members on Home page. Please note the Ambler GKK will not "promote" anyone above 7th kyu (green belt) that is not a member of the GKK.

March 22, 2000

Promotion now scheduled for April 28 at 7:00 PM at the Ambler YMCA.

Please give all GKK applications to a blackbelt ASAP. They should place the applications into the locker before Monday 3/27. The GKK applications will then be forwarded A list of GKK members will be complied and posted on this web site.

Please note the GKK will not "promote" anyone above 7th kyu (green belt) that is not a member of the GKK.

Same Information also shown on Promotions page

March 7, 2000

Next planned promotion testing in April 2000.  Details to follow..

See  update for Sensei John Henderson on Home  page

Order GKK equipment (shirts, sweats, gym bags) on Merchandise, etc. page.  This page used to be called GKK Membership & Rules.

October 15, 1999

Promotion testing on Nov 19, 1999 at 7pm.  Saturday class and seminar with Kyoshi Brad Smith on Nov 20.  See Promotions for more details.

September 14, 1999

Revised Sanseiru kata (Revisions provided by Jon Rook)

September 14, 1999

Added Seiunchin Kata. Thanks to Jon Rook

Added Kihon kata. Thanks to Sensei Kane.  This kata was developed by Mr. Yamakura.  It should be learned before the Gekisai katas.  See the Requirements page for guidance.

Noted Allen "Zak" Zaklad promotion to Nidan on August 13, 1999

Added Steve Yarnell as Black Belt.  He received Shodan in May/June 1998. See Home page

Modified Brian Jo to show his Nidan rank in Home page

July 15, 1999

Advanced Training Seminar

Mr. Kane & Mr. Zaklad attended a (June 21-25, 1999) week-long advanced training seminar in Tulsa, Oklahoma, presided over by Mr. Yamakura.This is a yearly seminar that is open to advanced students of GKK; it is a great honor to be invited to attend.

Corrected typos

July 8, 1999

Added Kata write-up for GEKISAI SAN (Thanks to Charles) Gekisai San.

Added pictures of Allen "Zak" Zaklad's promotion to Shodan in August 1996 promotion.htm

June 2, 1999

Corrected Vocabulary columns versus headings

May 25, 1999

Added kata write-up for Gekisai Ichi.  Thanks to Mark

Added kata write-up for Shisoshin. Thanks to Vic.

May 5, 1999

Added a testing schedule for promotions promotio.htm

March 12, 1999

Added a Promotions page, showing recent promotions with pictures!  Will add more info as a I get it. promotio.htm

Added biography for Mr. Zaklad. index.htm

March 10, 1999

Added Yakusoku Kumite Chudan.  yakusoku.htm

Added bio for Mike Wert.  Corrected typos on Black Belt names (sorry about that ...) index.htm

March 9, 1999 It's ALL new!

Copyright © 2009 Amber Area YMCA Goju-Ryu Karate