God Bless you all for keeping this alive. I actually had the great blessing of directly training under George Coffield and Thomas LaPuppet. Those men walked, imparted and demanded form their students courage, honor, dignity, self respect and perseverance. Lessons that have served me quite well indeed. Thank you for this commemoration.
Greetings and Salutations. Great stuff here and this brought back many memories of Cofield Sensei and Lapuppet Sensei. Master Lapuppet was standing in front of the very 1st dojo i ever walked onto. He often came over on saturdays and hung with my instructor Fred (BABA) Hamilton at the Minisink Towne House in Harlem. When we moved the dojo into the Delano Village,,, oftentimes Tong dojo would (the whole dojo) would visit us. Other times Harlem Kenkojuku would travel to Brooklyn. MEMORIES..... OSU.....
We have similar stories, getting to practice and having stacks of magazines.... lol My 2 of 4 of weekly practices had a NYC Subway trip. Two hours each way, Bronx to Brooklyn and back. Those long trips reinforced ones efforts to continue training.... Osu!
I have to disagree with this being shotokan before funakoshi took it to mainland Japan for the demonstrations that made it famous. If you look at the videos of the earliest demonstrations of techniques, you will see absolutely no ground fighting. You see take downs and sweeps but no ground fighting. And you can call it traditional but lets face it, the art had been altered so much that the traditional way is only seen in Okinawa. People are notorious for adding to things when they think it will better benefit who or whatever is being changed. But then again, to me, it's the goal of karate that is what makes it traditional. The perfection of the character of its practitioners. Thank you for the video and teaching this art. Osu.
Shotokan is a very good form of karate with many katas ,and this group seem to have the traditional ways of training and practice. I like the sign about the makiwara because no real Karate Dojo would be with out one and be traditional or true.
You don't have to agree with what I'm saying, just think about it. In the immortal words of Adriano Emperado "Win the fight and go home" It's not about trying to do as much damage as you can do, in a prolonged encounter; it's get in, get out, and leave (hopefully in one piece) which is not what I'm seeing in the youth sparring session. You ALWAYS have to assume that there are multiple opponents, whether you see them or not. While you waste time pummeling your first opponent into the ground, what do you think his friends are gonna do??? Watch politely, and wait for their turn?? Probably not. What is more likely, is that you will either get struck in the back of the head (while you focus only on the guy under you) or stabbed in the back, with any thing sharp, and handy. You are teaching your students to get killed. There are no rules in an alley, or a parking lot. I appreciate the spirit of what you are trying to do; I question your teaching methods.
I know a few people who learned martial arts from books...but they did not just collect and read them ...they actually practiced and trained what was in the books.Further the fact that people have revived HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) disproves the you can not learn from books belief.🤷
Very interesting video of Tong Dojo Atlanta. I trained in the original Tong Dojo from 1965 on. I started on Fulton Street in Brownsville. I am presently writing a book about training in the Tong. I remember Sensei Vaughn whom we called "Cap" I need pictures of the old days I van include. Contact me if you want to help Sensei Alex 'Plus One' Sternberg
@@AvengingAngel179 I remember this man. He has a school called the KanKu Karate Dynasty in Queens, NY in the 70s. He would falsely advertise that he taught Kung Fu during the Bruce Lee craze. Once you inquired about learning Kung Fu he’d tell you No Kung Fu, only Karate. He even has a picture of Bruce in his window to attract customers. lol
Hello; in my opinion this could be Karate but is not. I mean, is not only movements Japanese Karate is mostly another point of view. The main problem started when the USA marines brought martial arts to USA and then the Japanese saw the money there. In this case with Black people from USA I think is even worst (I am not a racist) due to is only seeing this video and the answer just floating around. I cannot even imagine the Dojo kun there. That attitude is not from Karate but very possible from USA Karate, kempo kick boxing and now MMA Also, as mentioned by other commentator, there is no ground fighting in shotokan. No doubt that ground fighting training is pretty good and essential in many cases but is not Shotokan. Doing the Okinawa hojo undo is not about Shotokan too.
@@TheReverb1 no I am not confused.Okinawan karate combined punches,strikes blocks kicks and grappling which included some ground fighting.if you want to know why Japanese karate is a punch kick art watch Jesse Enkamps video How Boxing Destroyed Karate
@@josephperkins4080 What I said is that Shotokan is not originally form Okinawa. Even the initial Shotokan that was different of what is now (based on Gigo Funakoshi ideas after Ken do) was not from Okinawa.
I hate to tell you this, but you do sound racist and your grammar could use some work. @TheReverb1 When these folks talk about "restoring the tradition", they appear to be talking about "Tong Dojo" not Shotokan itself. I'm a student of Sensei Cofield, who did receive traditional training in Japan. As did many of Tongs instructors. He did not just "bring it home from the military" like a bag of dope. Nothing about this school reminds me of Tong Dojo BUT I DO appreciate the sentiment. Osu Tong Dojo operated in the inner city and gave refuge, training and understanding to the youth of those neighborhoods. It also produced champions. I assume that is part of their mission. When training at Tong we were often introduced to different systems and styles. We had guest instructors such as Senseis Van Clief, LaPuppet, Tiger Kim and more. There was no ground fighting at Tong but these are different times. Tong Dojo hand an aura...one which I doubt, will ever be matched. If this NEW Tong Dojo serves their community honorably, God Bless Them! OSU!
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I admired Thomas as a teenager growing up in Brooklyn he was a firefighter in Brooklyn and a local hero for the martial art community.
God Bless you all for keeping this alive. I actually had the great blessing of directly training under George Coffield and Thomas LaPuppet. Those men walked, imparted and demanded form their students courage, honor, dignity, self respect and perseverance. Lessons that have served me quite well indeed. Thank you for this commemoration.
Greetings and Salutations. Great stuff here and this brought back many memories of Cofield Sensei and Lapuppet Sensei. Master Lapuppet was standing in front of the very 1st dojo i ever walked onto. He often came over on saturdays and hung with my instructor Fred (BABA) Hamilton at the Minisink Towne House in Harlem. When we moved the dojo into the Delano Village,,, oftentimes Tong dojo would (the whole dojo) would visit us. Other times Harlem Kenkojuku would travel to Brooklyn. MEMORIES..... OSU.....
I remember my visits when I was young.
My teacher came out of the Tong Dojo. His name was Monroe Morrow aka Abdu Musawwe.
We have similar stories, getting to practice and having stacks of magazines.... lol
My 2 of 4 of weekly practices had a NYC Subway trip. Two hours each way, Bronx to Brooklyn and back.
Those long trips reinforced ones efforts to continue training.... Osu!
I remember Dwayne Von Sensei. Very smooth kumite.
I have to disagree with this being shotokan before funakoshi took it to mainland Japan for the demonstrations that made it famous. If you look at the videos of the earliest demonstrations of techniques, you will see absolutely no ground fighting. You see take downs and sweeps but no ground fighting. And you can call it traditional but lets face it, the art had been altered so much that the traditional way is only seen in Okinawa. People are notorious for adding to things when they think it will better benefit who or whatever is being changed. But then again, to me, it's the goal of karate that is what makes it traditional. The perfection of the character of its practitioners. Thank you for the video and teaching this art. Osu.
A person would be better of getting Sensel Gichin Funakoshi's books and reconstruct Shotokan
There is no ground fighting because the Japanese had that in judo and jujistu
Shotokan is a very good form of karate with many katas ,and this group seem to have the traditional ways of training and practice. I like the sign about the makiwara because no real Karate Dojo would be with out one and be traditional or true.
My Sensei Hawk Frazier studied at the original Tong Dojo!!
I used to read about Thomas Lapuppet fights in karate mag back in the 60s. Also George too. keep up the real karate !
You don't have to agree with what I'm saying, just think about it.
In the immortal words of Adriano Emperado "Win the fight and go home" It's not about trying to do as much damage as you can do, in a prolonged encounter; it's get in, get out, and leave (hopefully in one piece) which is not what I'm seeing in the youth sparring session. You ALWAYS have to assume that there are multiple opponents, whether you see them or not. While you waste time pummeling your first opponent into the ground, what do you think his friends are gonna do??? Watch politely, and wait for their turn?? Probably not. What is more likely, is that you will either get struck in the back of the head (while you focus only on the guy under you) or stabbed in the back, with any thing sharp, and handy. You are teaching your students to get killed. There are no rules in an alley, or a parking lot. I appreciate the spirit of what you are trying to do; I question your teaching methods.
Good to continue the tradition of a famous NY.doyo but a Shotokan school with Gojuryu weight training and ground fighting like BJJ?
Yup, that's real stuff.
I trained with Les Safar, Jim Phillips, Sal Lopresti early 70s.
Gus Fring teaches Shotokan!
ARTURO DIABLO WAS MY STEP DAD. HE WAS THERE IN THE 70'S .
I know a few people who learned martial arts from books...but they did not just collect and read them ...they actually practiced and trained what was in the books.Further the fact that people have revived HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) disproves the you can not learn from books belief.🤷
Very interesting video of Tong Dojo Atlanta. I trained in the original Tong Dojo from 1965 on. I started on Fulton Street in Brownsville. I am presently writing a book about training in the Tong. I remember Sensei Vaughn whom we called "Cap" I need pictures of the old days I van include. Contact me if you want to help Sensei Alex 'Plus One' Sternberg
Hope you discuss the fallout between you and your once father figure Sensei Cofield.
@@AvengingAngel179 I remember this man. He has a school called the KanKu Karate Dynasty in Queens, NY in the 70s. He would falsely advertise that he taught Kung Fu during the Bruce Lee craze. Once you inquired about learning Kung Fu he’d tell you No Kung Fu, only Karate. He even has a picture of Bruce in his window to attract customers. lol
🤔🤔if it was Funakoshi's original Shotokan kicks would be low
Shotokan karate?🤔
why doing all stances and dramatic movments if real fighting needs skills of boxing mma?
Hello; in my opinion this could be Karate but is not. I mean, is not only movements Japanese Karate is mostly another point of view. The main problem started when the USA marines brought martial arts to USA and then the Japanese saw the money there.
In this case with Black people from USA I think is even worst (I am not a racist) due to is only seeing this video and the answer just floating around. I cannot even imagine the Dojo kun there. That attitude is not from Karate but very possible from USA Karate, kempo kick boxing and now MMA
Also, as mentioned by other commentator, there is no ground fighting in shotokan. No doubt that ground fighting training is pretty good and essential in many cases but is not Shotokan. Doing the Okinawa hojo undo is not about Shotokan too.
Shotokan was originally from Okinawa
@@josephperkins4080 Of course all the Karate came from Okinawa; but seems you are confused.
@@TheReverb1 no I am not confused.Okinawan karate combined punches,strikes blocks kicks and grappling which included some ground fighting.if you want to know why Japanese karate is a punch kick art watch Jesse Enkamps video How Boxing Destroyed Karate
@@josephperkins4080 What I said is that Shotokan is not originally form Okinawa. Even the initial Shotokan that was different of what is now (based on Gigo Funakoshi ideas after Ken do) was not from Okinawa.
I hate to tell you this, but you do sound racist and your grammar could use some work. @TheReverb1
When these folks talk about "restoring the tradition", they appear to be talking about "Tong Dojo" not Shotokan itself. I'm a student of Sensei Cofield, who did receive traditional training in Japan. As did many of Tongs instructors. He did not just "bring it home from the military" like a bag of dope. Nothing about this school reminds me of Tong Dojo BUT I DO appreciate the sentiment. Osu
Tong Dojo operated in the inner city and gave refuge, training and understanding to the youth of those neighborhoods. It also produced champions. I assume that is part of their mission. When training at Tong we were often introduced to different systems and styles. We had guest instructors such as Senseis Van Clief, LaPuppet, Tiger Kim and more. There was no ground fighting at Tong but these are different times. Tong Dojo hand an aura...one which I doubt, will ever be matched. If this NEW Tong Dojo serves their community honorably, God Bless Them! OSU!