Soke Joseph Ruiz performing the ceremonial Tsuba Presentation for Renshi Shihan Robert Izzo

June 8, 2024, marked a special day for the IKKU as a Tsuba Presentation for Renshi Shihan Robert Izzo of the TKA Traditional Karate Association. After bowing in for the 37th annual IKKU Summer Camp session, Soke Ruiz performed the ceremonial act of presenting and mounting a Tsuba onto the Renshi Obi. Soke has previously mentioned his tradition of Tsuba Presentations, but here is a quick review. Soke only awards Tsuba periodically, which are generally awarded to senior-level Yudansha, 3rd Dan, and others, whom Soke considers his karate students.

This marks a humbling step in one’s martial arts journey with the IKKU. Rensei Shihan Robert Izzo is being accepted as one of Soke Ruiz’s High-Dan Students.

A few words of introduction regarding Tsuba. A tsuba is a hand guard mounted on a Katana between the blade’s cutting edge and the Tsuka (handle of the weapon). Its primary function is to keep the user’s hand from sliding up and onto the blade of the sword, to protect the hand from an opponent’s blade, to counterbalance the weight of the blade, and to some degree to communicate the social standing, beliefs, and tastes of its owner. The Ceremonial Tsuba from Soke and the IKKU represent the trust between Soke and the Students and the protection Soke provides to all his students. The Ceremonial Tsuba also represents the balance that the IKKU helps to instill in its students. Mind, Body, and Spirit, along with proper traditional foundations in all our arts, help to bring peace, protection, and balance into one’s life.

During the ceremony, Soke will remove one’s Obi from around the waist, mount a Tsuba over the Obi, and retie the Obi with the Tsuba in place. From that point forward, the Tsuba is worn in a rear-facing position. If you see someone wearing a Tsuba during class or in a clinic, then you will undoubtedly know that the Tsuba was earned and personally awarded by Soke Ruiz. This isn’t a fashion statement but a badge of honor with a rich history instilled in this time-honored tradition.

A big congratulations go out to Renshi Shihan Robert Izzo on his Tsuba Award. OSU!

The post Renshi Shihan Robert Izzo Presented with Tsuba appeared first on INTERNATIONAL KARATE KOBUDO UNION.

Soke Joseph Ruiz performing the ceremonial Tsuba Presentation for Renshi Sensei John Malcom

Tsuba Presentation for Renshi Sensei John Malcom

June 10, 2023, marked a special day for the IKKU as a Tsuba Presentation for Renshi Sensei John Malcom, Sr. Instructor of the Carolina Karate Kai took place. After bowing in for the 36th annual IKKU Summer Camp session, Soke Ruiz performed the ceremonial act of presenting and mounting a Tsuba onto the Renshi Sensei Obi. Soke has mentioned his tradition of Tsuba Presentations in the past, but here is a quick review. Soke only awards Tsuba periodically, and these generally are awarded to senior-level Yudansha, 3rd Dan and up, whom Soke considers his personal students of Karate.

This marks a humbling step in one’s martial arts journey with the IKKU. Rensei Sensei John Malcom is being accepted as one of Soke Ruiz’s High-Dan Students.

A few words of introduction regarding Tsuba. A tsuba is a hand guard that is mounted on a Katana between the cutting edge of the blade and the Tsuka (handle of the weapon). Its primary function is to keep the user’s hand from sliding up and onto the blade of the sword, to protect the hand from an opponent’s blade, to counterbalance the weight of the blade, and to some degree to communicate the social standing, beliefs, and tastes of its owner.

The Ceremonial Tsuba from Soke and the IKKU represent the trust between Soke and the Students as well as the protection that Soke provides to all his students. The Ceremonial Tsuba also represents the balance that the IKKU helps to instill in its students. Mind, Body, and Spirit along with proper traditional foundations in all our arts help to bring peace, protection, and balance into one’s life.

During the ceremony, Soke will remove one’s Obi from around the waist and then mount a Tsuba over the Obi, and then retie the Obi with the Tsuba in place. The Tsuba is then worn in a rear-facing position from that time forward. If you see someone wearing a Tsuba during class or in a clinic, then you will certainly now understand that the Tsuba was earned and awarded by Soke Ruiz himself. This isn’t a fashion statement but instead, a badge of honor with a rich history instilled in this time-honored tradition.

A big congratulations go out to Renshi Sensei John Malcom on his Tsuba Award. OSU!

Additional IKKU Information:

For information about joining the IKKU – International Karate Kobudo Union please visit our IKKU Registration Page. We welcome new members to our organization and have 6-10 scheduled events each year. This will allow you direct access to Soke Joseph Ruiz, founder of the IKKU, and other High Dan Instructors from the IKKU.

For a full listing of upcoming scheduled sessions please visit our Events Page. Here we showcase our upcoming Clinics, Camps, and other opportunities for engagement with the IKKU.

The post Renshi Sensei John Malcom Presented with Tsuba appeared first on INTERNATIONAL KARATE KOBUDO UNION.

This marks a humbling step in one’s martial arts journey with the IKKU. Rensei Sensei Duncan Quint is being accepted into Soke Ruiz’s High-Dan circle.

June 7, 2019, marked a special day for the IKKU as a Tsuba Presentation for Renshi Sensei Duncan Quint of the Family Karate Center of Tavares associated with the TKA Traditional Karate Association. After bowing in for the 32nd annual IKKU Summer Camp session, Soke Ruiz performed the ceremonial act of presenting and mounting a Tsuba onto the Renshi Obi. Soke has previously mentioned his tradition of Tsuba Presentations, but here is a quick review. Soke only awards Tsuba periodically, which are generally awarded to senior-level Yudansha, 3rd Dan, and others, whom Soke considers his karate students.

A few words of introduction regarding Tsuba. A tsuba is a hand guard mounted on a Katana between the blade’s cutting edge and the Tsuka (handle of the weapon). Its primary function is to keep the user’s hand from sliding up and onto the blade of the sword, to protect the hand from an opponent’s blade, to counterbalance the weight of the blade, and to some degree to communicate the social standing, beliefs, and tastes of its owner. The Ceremonial Tsuba from Soke and the IKKU represent the trust between Soke and the Students and the protection Soke provides to all his students. The Ceremonial Tsuba also represents the balance that the IKKU helps to instill in its students. Mind, Body, and Spirit, along with proper traditional foundations in all our arts, help to bring peace, protection, and balance into one’s life.

Renshi Sensei Duncan Quint receiving his Tsuba from Soke Joseph Ruiz

During the ceremony, Soke will remove one’s Obi from around the waist, mount a Tsuba over the Obi, and retie the Obi with the Tsuba in place. From that point forward, the Tsuba is worn in a rear-facing position. If you see someone wearing a Tsuba during class or in a clinic, then you will undoubtedly know that the Tsuba was earned and personally awarded by Soke Ruiz. This isn’t a fashion statement but a badge of honor with a rich history instilled in this time-honored tradition.

A big congratulations go out to Renshi Sensei Duncan Quint on his Tsuba Award. OSU!

The post Renshi Sensei Duncan Quint Presented with Tsuba appeared first on INTERNATIONAL KARATE KOBUDO UNION.

Soke Joseph Ruiz performing the ceremonial Tsuba Presentation for Shihan Dai Billie Robinson

This marked a special day for the IKKU as Tsuba Presentations for Shihan Dai Billie and Larry Robinson of Robinson Karate Dojo took place. After bowing in for our annual IKKU Weapons of Choice Clinic, Soke Ruiz performed the ceremonial act of presenting and mounting Tsubas onto the Shihan Dai Obis. Soke has mentioned his tradition of Tsuba Presentations in the past, but here is a quick review. Soke only awards Tsuba periodically, and these generally are awarded to senior level Yudansha, 3rd Dan and up, that Soke considers his personal students of Karate.

A few words of introduction regarding Tsuba. A tsuba is a hand guard that is mounted on a Katana between the cutting edge of the blade and the Tsuka (handle of the weapon). Its primary function is to keep the user’s hand from sliding up and onto the blade of the sword, to protect the hand from an opponent’s blade, to counterbalance the weight of the blade, and to some degree to communicate the social standing, beliefs, and tastes of its owner.

Soke Joseph Ruiz performing the ceremonial Tsuba Presentation with Shihan Dai Larry Robinson

The Ceremonial Tsuba from Soke and the IKKU represents the trust between Soke and the Student as well as the protection that Soke provides to all his students. The Ceremonial Tsuba also represents the balance that the IKKU helps to instill into its students. Mind, Body, and Spirit along proper traditional foundations in all our arts help to bring peace, protection, and balance into one’s life.

During the ceremony, Soke will remove ones Obi from around the waist and then mount a Tsuba over the Obi and then retie the Obi with the Tsuba in place. The Tsuba is then worn in a rear-facing position from that time forward. If you see someone wearing a Tsuba during class or in a clinic, then you will certainly now understand that the Tsuba was earned and awarded by Soke Ruiz himself. This isn’t a fashion statement but instead, a badge of honor with a rich history instilled in this time-honored tradition.

A big congratulations go out to Shian Dai Billie and Larry Robinson on their Tsuba Award. OSU!

Additional IKKU Information:

For information about joining the IKKU – International Karate Kobudo Union then please visit our IKKU Registration Page. We welcome new members to our organization and have 6-10 scheduled events each year. This will allow you direct access to Soke Joseph Ruiz, founder of the IKKU and other High Dan Instructors from the IKKU.

For a full listing of upcoming scheduled sessions please visit our Events Page. Here we showcase our upcoming Clinics, Camps and other opportunities for engagement with the IKKU.

The post Tsuba Presentations for Shihan Dai Billie and Larry Robinson appeared first on INTERNATIONAL KARATE KOBUDO UNION.