In order to
study karate from
Shihan Nakumura (who was the number one student the great
Mas Oyama) the young
Frank Rossetti
would ride the bus every week, three hours, to New York City to train
at the Honbu.In those days work outs routinely ran overtime, with
everyone including white belts participating kumite(fighting), with out
the benefit of protective gear.During brutal training sessions, which
included beating the students fists with heavy pieces of wood to
toughen their knuckles and full contact blocking drills in which
injuries were common place, Shihan Rossetti was often worked even
harder than usual to make up for the classes he could not attend at the
Honbu. Afterwards, (many times with hands and body beat up so bad it
even hurt to drink a coke!), he would make the long three hour bus trip
back to
Troy only to repeat the whole ordeal the following week. Also let us not forget he was still practicing
Judo during much of this time. It was not long before
Shihan Rossetti realized he wanted to make
Karate his way of life.
Shihan Nakumura, knowing he had something special in this student, who trained so hard, traveled so far and had even been heard of at the
Kyokushinkai Honbu in
Japan, allowed
Shihan Rossetti to open a
dojo in Troy, NY.
(In what few people know was a one-time gambling parlor!). Though it
had three names on the door, there has always been the same man in the
office.
Shihan Rossetti taught Kyokushinkai Karate until 1976 and then became Adirondack Branch Chief of the World Seido Karate Organization until 1987. Shihan has won numerious tournaments in both
Karate and
Judo and was awarded Most Outstanding Instructor and Most Outstanding Branch Chief by the
World Seido Karate Organization.
Many who now teach Karate in Up State NY have at one time or another studied with Shihan Rossetti. This includes the heads of some Karate styles as well as many Judo players, Boxers and Wrestlers.
Shihan Rossetti a 39-year veteran of the martial arts has won many championships and has trained students to become champions.
Shihan Rossetti has said “ My proudest honor was when
Sosai Mas Oyama requested to meet me on one of his visits from Japan to New York City”.
Master Oyama stated his admiration for the dedication
Shihan Rossetti has shown to the true meaning of the
Karate Way. Shihan Rossetti still teaches
Black Belt Students each week as well as giving clinics and over seeing all promotional exams in the
Kokorokan System. Shihan Rossetti has dedicated his life to the
Kokorokan Karate Way and plans to stay with it for decades to come!
Shihan Rossetti began his formal training in 1968.
In March of 1987 Shihan Rossetti founded the Kokorokan Karate-Do Organization " The Way of the Heart".
Shihan took with him his closest and most dedicated students. These
students formed the foundation upon which he began to build a style of karate based on the principles of ; Love, Respect, Character and Determination This new style of karate was not so much a change, rather, it was a commitment to the ideals of traditional Japanese Karate.
Each of us train in our dojos because of our belief in the principles of the Way of the Heart and while training is often difficult, the benefits we all receive are well worth the effort.
In years to come as Kokorokan continues to grow, we can all look back and know that we each played a part in making a dream become a reality.
On this very special occasion, we would like to thank Shihan Rossetti for his instruction and guidance and extend our warmest wishes and most heartfelt congrtulations.
(
Written by Sempai Lynch and
Sensei Burke
(518) 235-2115
No contracts required!
Heart - Respect - Discipline - Family - Spirit- Work - Training
KOKOROKAN KARATE DO
607 2nd Avenue
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 235-2115