From August 14 through August 15, a seminar sponsored by the WMKA was held at the Terasaki Budokan in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California USA. The event was highlighted by the presence of WMKA President Yoshitaka Taira (Kaicho), 10th Dan Hanshi, who journeyed from Okinawa to attend. Taira Sensei was accompanied and assisted by his son Mr. Satoru Taira and by the WMKA Overseas director Mr. Daichi Sakamoto. The event was organized and sponsored by Mr. Art Takashi Ishii, Renshi, 6th Dan of the Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu of Little Tokyo Dojo and assisted by Mr. Erik Matsunaga 4th dan of the Shobu Karatedo (Chicago, Illinois). The seminar coincided with the opening of the 84th annual Nisei Week Japanese Festival in Little Tokyo. Participants included many dojo owners from across the United States, along with yudansha and mudansha from the attending dojos. A wonderful Taiko performance marked the commencement of the seminar on Friday evening, August 14, followed by instruction and practice. The seminar continued throughout August 15, with Taira Kaicho (WMKA President), Mr. Satoru Taira, and Mr. Daichi Sakamoto explaining and demonstrating techniques. At the close of the seminar, several WMKA members performed kata demonstrations, both individually and in groups. The event also featured notable guests, including Ms. Sakura Kokumai, the sole U.S. women’s karate competitor at the 2020 Olympics, and actress Ms. Tamlyn Tomita, known for her role as Kumiko in The Karate Kid Part II and for appearing in the television series Cobra Kai. Ms. Kokumai also presented an […]
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Designation of Okinawa prefecture intangible cultural asset holder “Okinawan Karate and Kobudo”
We are humbled to announce that Yoshitaka Taira Kaicho (President of the World Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do Association) has been officially selected as a holder of the Okinawa Prefecture Intangible Cultural Asset for “Okinawan Karate and Kobudo.”
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Passing of Kohagura Sensei
Masaaki Kohagura Kyoshi, 8th Dan (September 13, 1940 — March 4, 2026) Born in Shuri, Okinawa in 1940, Masaaki Kohagura Sensei began his Karate journey in 1956. As a young man, he worked as a radio operator on deep-sea fishing vessels, surviving two shipwrecks before being assigned to Cuba in 1964.
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United States WMKA Seminar Los Angeles, CA USA August 14th-16th 2026
United States WMKA Seminar Featuring:YOSHITAKA TAIRA, 10TH DAN, HANSHI & GUESTSLos Angeles, CA (Little Tokyo), USAAUGUST 14th – 16th, 2026 Following our previous announcements, I am pleased to inform you that registration is now officially open for the 2026 United States WMKA Seminar in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles! Please find the registration form (PDF) attached to this post. To register, kindly fill out the attached form and submit it directly to Erik Matsunaga-san. If you have any questions or require further information regarding the seminar, please also direct your inquiries to Matsunaga-san. We highly encourage you to coordinate your schedules and participate in this wonderful event with your students. We look forward to seeing many of you there! Sincerely,Daichi SakamotoOverseas Manager World Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do Association 道場主の皆様 時下ますますご清祥のこととお慶び申し上げます。 先だってお知らせしておりましたロサンゼルス・リトルトーキョーでのセミナーにつきまして、正式に登録が開始されましたことをお知らせいたします！ 本メールに登録フォーム（PDF）を添付しております。登録にあたっては、添付ファイルにご記入の上、松永エリックさんへ直接ご送信くださいますようお願いいたします。また、セミナーに関するご質問やお問い合わせにつきましても、同様に松永さんへお願いいたします。 万障お繰り合わせの上、生徒の皆様とともにぜひ本イベントに奮ってご参加ください。多くの皆様とお会いできることを楽しみにしております！ 世界松林流空手道連盟 海外部長 坂本 大地 Please download the 2 page registration form below.Submit registration and payment as directed in the registration.
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WMKA South America Unification Seminar 2026
Activity Report: WMKA South America Unification Seminar 2026 Date: March 22, 2026 Location: Arakaki Dojo (Headquarters)Organized by: World Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do Association (WMKA) – South America
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“Opening ceremony with a small exhibition at the Dojo in Mercedes, Uruguay”
On February 14th, the official inauguration of the Matsubayashi Piñeyrúa Karate Dojo took place in the city of Mercedes, in a ceremony that brought together practitioners, their families, and martial arts leaders.
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Event Announcement: USA (Los Angeles)
Event Announcement: USA (Los Angeles) Matsubayashi-ryu Seminar with Yoshitaka Taira Kaicho Hosted by Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do of Little Tokyo The World Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do Association (WMKA) shares this special announcement from Art Takashi Ishii Sensei and the members of Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do of Little Tokyo.
Read moreNews From Okinawa February 7, 2026
Dear WMKA Dojo Owners, I hope this message finds you well and training hard. On behalf of the World Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do Association (WMKA), I would like to inform you of three important updates. 1. The 3rd Okinawa Karate World Tournament The entry deadline for the upcoming tournament is approaching. If you are planning to participate, please do not forget to register by the end of this month. 2. Dan Grading Schedule in Okinawa (2026) We have finalized the schedule for the Dan grading examinations to be held at the Headquarters in Okinawa. 3. Advance Notice: Revision of Dan Grading Rules (Effective from April) Starting in April 2025, the WMKA will implement changes to the Dan grading criteria. Key Changes: Reason for Revision: The Board of Directors has carefully deliberated on this matter, taking into account valuable feedback from our members. With the advancement of technology, the possibilities for continuous remote training and guidance have expanded significantly. Furthermore, we have exchanged views with other traditional Karate organizations that share similar training philosophies and grading standards. Based on these factors, we have decided to update our criteria to better reflect the current environment while maintaining our quality and discipline. For full details on the new criteria and required years, please refer to the new Dan requirement chart found on the “Dojo Owners Page” We appreciate your understanding and continued dedication to Matsubayashi-Ryu. Sincerely, Daichi Sakamoto Overseas Manager World Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do Association 道場主の皆様 時下ますますご清祥のこととお慶び申し上げます。 世界松林流空手道連盟（WMKA）より、3つの重要なお知らせがございます。 1. 第3回 沖縄空手世界大会について 大会のエントリー締め切りが迫っております。 参加を予定されている方は、今月末までの登録をお忘れなきようお願いいたします。 2. 沖縄での段位審査日程（2026年）について 総本部（沖縄）で行われる昇段審査の日程が以下の通り決定いたしました。 3. 段位審査規程の改定予告（4月より施行） 2026年4月より、海外向けの段位審査基準を変更いたします。 主な変更点: 改定の理由: 理事会では、会員の皆様から頂戴した貴重なご意見を踏まえ、慎重に検討を進めて参りました。 […]
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Event announcement for Norway
Event Announcement: Norway Matsubayashi Gashuku – 30th Anniversary Invitation Hosted by Oystre Slidre I.L. Karate (Norway) The World Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do Association (WMKA) shares this announcement from our Norwegian dojo, Oystre Slidre I.L. Karate.
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Event Announcement: August 8-9, 2025 at Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA.
Annual Soke Takayoshi Nagamine Memorial Weekend August 8-9, 2025 at Cocoa Beach Karate, USA “The Annual Soke Takayoshi Nagamine Memorial Weekend will be held at Cocoa Beach Karate August 8-9, 2025. The event is held in honor of Soke, his teachings and his contributions to practitioners of Matsubayashi Karate Do”.
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