Several years ago the discussion about regular meetings in the USA was initiated by some dojo owners. In September of 2022, at the WMKA seminar in Bellville, Illinois featuring Toshimitsu Arakaki, Hanshi, a serious discussion about having regular USA dojo owner events began. After several zoom meetings to discuss the how, where, and when, the first “WMKA USA Dojo Owners Meeting” was held in March of 2023.
On Friday and Saturday, March 23 and 24, 2023 the WMKA US Dojo owners participated in their very first organized meeting and training session. Hosted by Tony Roberts sensei, 4th dan, at the Columbus Shorinryu Karate Dojo, in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, the event saw the participation of 14 dojo owners from around the United States, plus advanced yudansha that were invited to join in the training. The sessions were facilitated by Fred Schlesinger, Renshi, 6th dan, and Scott Mastin, Kyoshi 7th dan.
The training portions of the meeting took place on Friday evening, from 5-8 p.m., followed by an all-day session on Saturday. The sessions focused on Matsubayashi-ryu Kata, the traditional bunkai of the Pinan Katas, the seven Yakusoku Kumite, continuous Yakusoku, and Shiromatsu no Kun with some practical associated applications.
The event was a complete success, not only through the structured training—which focused on ensuring that all US WMKA dojos are teaching the Kata, Yakusoku, and Bunkai in the proper manner, but also in the camaraderie as many of the Dojo owners met each other in person for the first time. After each day’s training, the group met together for dinner, drinks, and conversation.
This first meeting was followed up by a second WMKA US Dojo owners meeting, on January 19 and 20, 2024, hosted by Des Chaskelton sensei Renshi, Rokudan, at the Cocoa Beach Shorin-Ryu Karate Dojo, in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The training sessions were facilitated by Don Seiler sensei, Godan, and again saw the participation of multiple Dojo Owners from throughout the U.S. as well as some advanced Yudansha.
The training portions took place on Friday evening, from 5-8 p.m., in the dojo, followed by a Saturday morning session on the beach, and an afternoon session in the dojo.
Sessions focused on Kata, Kata Bunkai, San bon kumite, the continuous Yakusoku kumite and Tonfa no Kata. Many specific questions and explanations were shared including some of the corrections and specifics received by those that had recently visited and trained with the senior sensei in Okinawa.
The Florida meeting was once again an unmitigated success with opportunities to both train and commune together at various locations in Cocoa Beach.
Including both meetings, participants came from dojos of California, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Ohio,Texas and Virginia.
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