User:Kokorokankarate/sandbox

Kaicho Rossetti was actually studying Judo, when in 1969 he first witnessed a demonstration by Kaicho Tadashi Nakumura, then North American Chairman of the Kyokushinkai Karate Organization. Never before had the young Frank Rossetti seen such power and Karate technique, and it was then at that moment that his feet were first set upon that “road less traveled”. A road that would take over two decades and lead from Nakumura’s dojo in New York City, where he would become one of the top students, to the Branch Chief of one of the largest branches in the World Seido Organization, and finally, to the hardest decision of his life. In order to study Karate from Kaicho Nakumura (who was the number one student of 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 in 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. Kaicho Rossetti was often worked even harder then usual to make up for the classes he could not attend at the Honbu. After, (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 thole ordeal the following week. Also let us not forget he was still practicing Judo during much of this time. It was not long before Kaicho Rossetti realized he wanted to make karate his way of life. Kaicho 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 Kaicho Rossetti to ope a dojo in Troy, NY. Thought it has had three names on the door, there has there has always been the same man in the office. Kaicho Rossetti taught Kyokushinkai Karate until 1976 and then became Adirondack Branch Chief of the World Seido Karate Organization until 1987. Kaicho Rossetti has won numerous tournaments in both Karate and Judo and was awarded Most Outstanding Instructor and Most Outstanding Branch Chief by the World Seido Karate Organization. In March of 1987 Kaicho Rossetti founded the Kokorokan karate-do Organization “The Way of the Heart”. Kaicho took with him his closest and most dedicated students. These students formed the foundation upon which be 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. Many who teach Karate in Upstate NY have at one time or another studied with Kaicho Rossetti. This includes the heads of some Karate styles as well as many Judo players, Boxers and Wrestlers. Kaicho Rossetti a 45 year veteran of the martial arts has won many championships and has trained students to become champions. Kaicho 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 Kaicho Rossetti has shown to the true meaning of the Karate Way. Kaicho Rossetti still teaches Black Belts students each week as well as giving clinics and over seeing all promotional exams in the Kokorokan System. Kaicho has dedicated his life to the Kokorokan Karate Way and plans to stay with it for decades to come! Kaicho Frank Rossetti began his formal training in 1969, founding Kokorokan Karate in 1987.