"The Beisho Family wishes all the fathers a Happy Father's Day"
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a day set aside for all Americans to remember and honor those who have sacrificed for our country. As you enjoy your time off and recreational activities, family get-togethers, and free time, I hope you will take a minute to remember those men and women who have sacrificed their time, their health, and sometimes their lives at the call of their country. We may not all agree that our government has always made the right decisions in sending our young men and women to war over the past 250 years, but we all still owe a debt of gratitude to those willing to drop what they were doing and answer the country's call. Please join me in taking a few minutes out of your day to remember, honor, and thank them for their service.
The Beisho family extends its sincere condolences to Sempai Jo McCulty and her family on the recent passing of her father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
"THAT'S the Beisho Spirit! Happy St. Patrick's Day!"
6th Annual Awards Banquet 2010, Shorin-Ryu Karate Academy, Waltham, MA
The Shorin-Ryu Karate Academy of Waltham held it's 6th annual awards banquet on Feb 6, 2010. Over two hundred people were in attendance to take part in games, face painting, musical chairs, a raffle, dinner, awards, and a demonstration. The raffle helped raise four hundred dollars for the Waltham soup kitchen which was this year's chosen recipient. Over one hundred awards were given out to children, adults, family and civic leaders. Congratulations to all who attended, received awards and helped make the event a great success. To see the names of the award winners, please click here.
Happy Asian Year of the Tiger
("Gongxi Facai" or in Cantonese "Kung Hei Fa Choi" Means "Happy Chinese New Year")
Chinese New Year (or the Asian Spring Festival) began on February 14, 2010, ushering in the Year of the Tiger. Celebrations generally continue for more than two weeks, though public holidays in some Asian countries are usually limited to between three and seven days. The tiger is associated with the element wood, and those born in the year of the tiger are generally considered to be unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, and generous. They can also be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive, unpredictable, and moody. "Tiger" people tend to enjoy risk and danger. Other "tiger" years include 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, and 2022. Next year will be the "Year of The Rabbit," beginning on February 3, 2011.
According to traditional zodiacal theory, "tiger" years can be explosive, sometimes beginning with a bang and ending with a whimper. Everything , good and bad, can and may be carried to extremes, sometimes resulting in disagreement, war, and disasters of all kinds. Fortunes can be made and lost. If you take a chance, gamble for high stakes, but understand that the odds are stacked against you. Tempers may flare, and it could be a trying time for diplomacy. Like the Tiger, we will tend to charge without thinking and end up regretting our rashness. The tiger year can be used to inject new life and vitality into lost causes, sinking ventures, and drab or failing industries. It will likewise be a time for massive change, for the introduction of new and bold, especially highly controversial ideas. Although the tiger year can be volatile, it could have a cleansing effect. Just as intense heat is necessary to extract precious metals from their ores, so the Tiger year can bring out the best in us. The best advice for this unpredictable year? "Hang on to your sense of humor and let things sizzle out!"
For more information and fun activities, see the Children's section.
The Beisho family wishes to send our heart-felt condolences to Jeanne McDonald (Sandan, Shorin-ryu Karate Academy, Waltham, MA) and her family for the recent loss of her brother, Chuck. In 2005, Jeanne selflessly donated a kidney to Chuck, which allowed him to live his life more freely. Chuck was Jeanne's older, jocular, yet spiritual brother. She also has a twin, Jim, who along with his children, Jim and Livi, trained under Sensei Mike Pepe. Jeanne advises that "If you are given an opportunity to help someone with an organ donation, I can tell you that it is worth it. It did not hurt me and it helped my brother."
