After a long wait, we made it happen again. From April 15th to April 29th, 2023, WolfgangBackes, Leon Engels, and I from the karate department of BWC – Viersen, Germany, visitedthe island of Okinawa. The first week was packed with three training sessions daily, from 10 to 11:30 am, 3 to 4:30 pm, and either 7:30 or 8 pm to 9 or 9:30 pm. We had the opportunity to train with all Senseis: Taira Yoshitaka Sensei, Arakaki Toshimitsu Sensei, Tome Iwao Sensei, Shinzato Masao Sensei, and Makishi Tetsuo Sensei. On Sunday, April 16th, we also had the opportunity to participate in a seminar with Arakaki Sensei at the Asato Dojo, which was broadcast live online worldwide. At first we had a physical challenge, as jetlag and temperatures affected us. Before that, we took a little first trip to the North of the island to the large aquarium (Churaumi Aquarium) and also explored the Motobu region. It was a perfect first day on Okinawa. Monday began regular training at the first session with Sensei Tome. Those familiar withthe dojo know that it is an extra pleasure to train there in the sunshine and feels like 30degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit)!!  At noon, we trained with Shinzato Sensei, and in the evening, with Taira Sensei. The week was scheduled so that we trained either with Tome or Arakaki Sensei in themorning, with Shinzato Sensei at noon, and alternatively with Taira Sensei, Makishi Sensei,and Arakaki Sensei in the evening. Between the sessions, we […]

Toshimitsu Arakaki sensei’s fifth visit to Australia brings practitioners from around Australia together to develop mind, technique and body [shin-gi-tai]. From 17-25 February 2023, Toshimitsu Arakaki sensei visited Australia for the fifth time to conduct training and seminars at dojo throughout the country. The visit was sponsored by the Matsubayashi-ryu Karate Association of Australia (MKAA), the Kodokan Cummings Karate Dojo, and the Australasian Federation of Traditional Karate and Kobudo (AFTK). Canberra (ACT)Arriving on Friday 17 February, accompanied by John Carlyle sensei, Arakaki sensei’s first leg of the tour began in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, at Reece Cummings sensei’s dojo, the Kodokan Cummings Karate Dojo.  Day one began with a pleasant cruise on Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, where attendees were able to see and hear about important landmarks of Australia’s capital city, and had a chance to enjoy the warm weather (around 30 degrees celsius). Afterwards, the yudansha [black belts] of the MKAA – with local students from Canberra, interstate students from New South Wales (7 hours drive), and Western Australia (30 hours drive/10 hours flight)  – were instructed for two and a half hours by Arakaki sensei. In addition, students received lessons in karate (kata, kata bunkai and a strong focus on body mechanics), bojutsu, and saijutsu. In the evening, 40 attendees, including guests from other dojo(s), joined the Welcome Dinner to celebrate the start of Arakaki sensei’s Australia tour. In addition to great food and company, everyone was treated to Arakaki-sensei playing the sanshin (an Okinawan […]

The New Overseas Manager in OkinawaApril 1, 2023 Dear WMKA Dojo owners around the world, We are announcing the New overseas manager, Mr. Daichi Sakamoto from the Taira dojo under president Yoshitaka Taira.  He will start to work as New overseas manager starting April 1, the date for Japanese Fiscal year 2023.  Please communicate with Mr. Daichi Sakamoto instead of Mr. Riki Nomura starting April 1st. We hope you will cooperate and support him the same as you did for his predecessor. The information for the New overseas manager is as below. (WMKA dojo owners, please log into the secure section of this website regarding more specific contact information for Mr. Sakamoto). Name : Daichi Sakamoto  E-mail Address : okinawa@sti-network.com Quote from Mr. Daichi Sakamoto; Dear Dojo Owners! My name is Daichi SAKAMOTO, 1st Dan trainee at Taira Dojo. During my 4 years at Taira dojo, I learned a lot… not only techniques, but also mentality, philosophy, and way of life. In order to support lessons for WMKA members at Taira Dojo, I studied Karate-do, human anatomy and sports science in English. Those experiences made me discover a new horizon. Then, I considered that I would like to contribute something back to WMKA. Thus, It’s my honor to receive the offer. At the same time, I have confirmed and recognized Mr.Nomura’s great achievements over the past 7 years. So… I will struggle as well as possible. If you have any advice or opinions, please inform me. Those will make me improve […]

 WMKA/MKAA/AFTK SEMINAR FEATURING TOSHIMITSU ARAKAKI SENSEI HANSH, 10TH DAN  February 18th to 20thCummings Karate Dojo, CanberraFebruary 21st to 24thMatsubayashi-ryu Karate Assoc. of Aust. Dojo, Wingham, New South Wales.  All WMKA/EMKA members are most welcome to attend.  The seminar is sponsored by the Matsubayashi-ryu Karate Association of Australia, Cummings Karate Dojo – Canberra, and the AustralianFederation of Traditional Karate.  Enquiries – John Carlyle (Chief Instructor, MKAA), if you require a comprehensiveagenda of the seminar. jcarlyle5@bigpond.com or message the Facebook Dojo Pages of the MKAA   

Due to the covid pandemic, it had been three years since students were able to visit Okinawa and receive corrections and instructions from their seniors.  In November this year, however, I was able to undertake the journey along with my wife, Sally Woolston.  We run a small dojo in the South-East of England and in the past have travelled regularly to Okinawa; this would be my 11th trip since first visiting in 2010. It’s been a difficult couple of years for us, as it has been for everyone, but at last the restrictions were slowly lifted and we were able to spend 10 days on ‘the Island of karate’ once more.  Flying out of London Heathrow Airport on Saturday, the 12th of November, we were looking forward to arriving and checking into our hotel in the center of Naha, located near to the bus terminal.  Plans, however, always seem to have a way of keeping you on your toes and we missed the connecting flight from Tokyo Haneda to Naha due to being stuck in a massive queue for immigration processing.  The result of this was us having to frantically try to book a hotel in Tokyo, somewhere near to the airport, at 9 pm at night!  Anyway, we did it and flew out from Tokyo bound for Naha at 7:30 am the following morning. Thankfully, we didn’t miss any of the training sessions that we had arranged in advance, as the first of these was on Monday evening with […]