Author Archive: Fred Schlesinger

The 2nd Okinawa Karate World Tournament

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News from Okinawa                                                                        November 15, 2022 The 2nd OKINAWA KARATE WORLD TOURNAMENT Report Dear WMKA members around the World,We want to inform you about the 2nd Okinawa Karate World Tournament. The following statement was made by the governor of Okinawa (prior to the event) and is borrowed from in the 2nd Okinawa Karate World Tournament 2022 catalog:“This year Okinawa marks the 50th year anniversary since its reversion to Japan from U.S. rule, and we believe that this tournament, held at such a milestone, will attract a general deal of attention from both within and outside of Japan.  About 800 karate enthusiasts from 27 countries and regions around the world will participate in general tournament, along with about 1,400 boys and girls in the 1st OKINAWA KARATE WORLD JUNIOR TOURNAMENT.” In addition, about 800 individuals will participate in Okinawa Karate Seminars.” The participants in the “The 2nd OKINAWA KARATE WORLD TOURNAMENT 2022” were fewer compared to “The 1st OKINAWA KARATE INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT 2018” because of the Covid-19 Pandemic throughout the world. WMKA Okinawa Headquarters sent 12 personnel including president Taira and vice president Arakaki to the “Expert Committees” as seminar instructors and judges or staff. WMKA members participated in the opening ceremony, a group demonstration and in the kata tournament. WMKA participants included 30 members from Okinawa, 5 from mainland Japan, 15 from Australia (as led by Mr. Reece Cummings) and Mr. Kugan Sundarmurthy from India. We performed Fukyugata 1 & Wankan for the group demonstration. Mr. Reece Cummings also demonstrated […]

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WMKA Seminar in Belleville, Illinois USA with WMKA Vice President Toshimitsu Arakaki

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More than seventy Matsubayashi-Ryu practitioners attended the 2022 WMKA Belleville, Illinois USA seminar on September 9th and 10th, 2022. The seminar featured WMKA Vice President Toshimitsu Arakaki, Hanshi,10th Dan and was hosted by Ed French 6th Dan and members of the Nagamine Lineage Dojo in Swansea Illinois. The seminar included over twenty dojo owner’s as well as ten six dan ranks and above as well as their yudansha, mudansha. and several guests from the WSKF from around the USA attended.  The seminar was held in gym belonging to the Belleville Union United Methodist Church. The agenda included an opening on Friday evening with attendees singing “Karate-Do Sanka” written by Grand Master Shoshin Nagamine. A summary of the seminar was given by Ed French indicating that the seminar will center on katas and bunkai as suggested by some of the senior ranks. Participants enjoyed a social gathering after the Friday training and Saturday’s training was followed by the banquet.  A short welcoming and opening address was made by Arakaki Sensei. On Friday night as well as throughout the day on Saturday, Arakaki Sensei gave instruction to participants on Kihon drills, kata and kata bunkai practice. He was assisted by various dojo owners in the demonstration of techniques as well as instruction of the general group.   Participants were able to practice partner drills and bunkai while developing connections and renewing friendships with other Matsubayashi practitioners from around the USA.  A special thanks to Scott Schnell Sensei who translated for both Arakaki […]

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Soke Takayoshi Nagamine Annual Memorial Weekend

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The annual memorial Matsubayashi karate weekend to remember and honor Soke Takayoshi Nagamine was held August 12th (Soke’s birthday) and 13th at the WMKA Cocoa Beach Karate Dojo. Karate practitioners came form all over to honor Soke T. Nagaminre and train together for the weekend. There was also a dan testing for Cocoa Beach Karate yudansha Lisa Miller who earned her 2nd dan. The WMKA Board of judges were: Angel Mazza, Kyoshi 7th Dan, Curtis Anderson Renshi 6th Dan, Des Chaskelson Renshi 6th Dan and Marsha Lauka 5th Dan. Soke held several seminars in Florida, the last one at Cocoa Beach Karate Dojo on 2011. The memorial in his honor has been held every year since then.

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WMKA/EMKA September, 2022 Seminar Featuring Toshimitsu Arakaki Hanshi, 10th Dan

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We are pleased to announce a WMKA/EMKA seminar With Arakaki Sensei, 10th Dan, Hanshi on September 9th and 10th, 2022 in Belleville, Illinois, USA. The seminar will begin on the evening of Friday, September 9th and will continue as a full day event on September 10th. On Saturday evening, September 10th, there will be a Banquet and on Sunday morning, September 11 a breakfast meal. Registration for the seminar is open to WMKA and EMKA members. Options for days of attendance and for the banquet food choices as well as attendance for breakfast can be found on the registration forms below.Several hotel options and suggestions are also listed on the registrations, but there are many hotels to choose from in the area. Please register soon as attendance numbers are limited.(Note: Prior notification of this seminar was sent to all dojo owners in May and the registration form became available on June 5, 2022.)Please click on the link below to open the registration form:https://matsubayashi-ryu.com/220605-sept22-seminar-registration-final/ *For more information, please contact Ed French, 6th Dan of the Nagamine Matsubayashi-Ryu Lineage Dojo and host of the seminar by email at edfrench@pobox.com, or by phone at (618) 830-8192. Thank you and we look forward to seeing many WMKA/EMKA members at the seminar!

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The 2nd Okinawa Karate World Tournament 2022

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News from Okinawa May 18, 2022 Dear WMKA members around the World, The Covid-19 pandemic is still hurting many people around the world. I hope you are not affected by it too much and doing OK in your daily life where you live. I will post “Okinawa Karate World Tournament 2022” as news from Okinawa. Okinawa is holding the Karate Events from August 1st to 9th. The two main contents of the event are “Karate Tournament (Kata/form)” and “Karate Seminar”. The contents of the Karate event may be changed, or it may be cancelled or postponed based on the COVID-19 situation. The Okinawa Governor is the president of the Karate Events Executive Committee. President Yoshitaka Taira is one of six-Vice presidents from all Okinawa karate and Kobudo organizations. WMKA Okinawa Headquarters will send 12 personnel including president Taira and vice president Arakaki to the Expert Committees as Seminar instructors, Judges or staff. Accountant Ms. Mayumi Horikawa Renshi 6th Dan won the Okinawan Preliminary Rounds and will attend the Main Tournament as one of three participants from the Okinawa Adult Female Senior in August.  The Karate Tournament (Kata/form) consists of Preliminary Rounds and Main Tournament. You can choose any Category you like based on your Karate-kei (Ryuha) and your age.  Karate-kei (Ryuha) is classified into five groups:  ① Shuri-te kei /Tomari-te kei ② Naha-te kei ③ Uechi-ryu kei ④ Kobudo (Bo) ⑤ Kobudo（Sai）. Age is classified into four groups for male and female:  ➀Juniors Male (15 to 17) ② Adults Male Ⅰ (18 to 39) ③ Adults […]

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New Year’s Greeting From Okinawa

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News from Okinawa　　January 1, 2022 Dear WMKA members around the world, A Happy New Year 2022 ! Ａratama nu Tushi Muke-ti Gusu-yo-  Waka Waka tu Tushi Tuimiso-chi Sai !  I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to all of you for the glorious and hopeful New Year.  It was a “Dream come true ! ” for all WMKA members around the world that we could erect the Memorial Monument for Founder Shoshin Nagamine last year. The monument is located in Tomari district of Naha City where he was born on July 15,1907. On top of that, his Monument stands side by side with the Monument for Matsumora Kosaku who is known as “Restorer of Tumai-di” within Tomari Shinyashiki park in Naha City.    Though “Okinawa, “Birth Place of Karate” is small island, we had an indigenous self-defense and peaceful martial art called “Te” which means “Hand” . It gradually evolved & spread to the whole world, regardless of age, gender, nationality, race, thoughts or religion.  Karate was officially authorized as one of the Olympic sports at Tokyo 2020 and recognized as world Karate. Mr. Kiyuna Ryo, an athlete from Okinawa won the Karate Kata competition and brought back the first Karate Gold Medal to Okinawa.  The Covid-19 virus is still hurting many people around the world since last year.  Many WMKA members  also are affected, not only in your daily life and jobs but also your Karate life. I assume many of you have closed your dojos and don’t know […]

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News From Okinawa: New Payment Method for Dojo Owners

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November 26,2021 Good news for WMKA Dojo Owners! You can now submit payments directly to the WMKA/ President Taira Bank account through PayPal.The PayPal link is listed on the secure ‘Dojo Owner’s” page under payment options.You can use the Paypal method to submit fees for dojo licenses, yudansha certificates or any other WMKA fees that need to be submitted to Okinawa. If you don’t have a Paypal account you can easily start one for no fee. Follow direction to enroll in PayPal. Once you have logged into PayPal you can click on the link or scan the QR barcode on the Dojo Owners page. The cost of sending money directly through PayPal is considerably less than a “Bank wire transfer fee”(See the “Dojo Owners Page” for other options to submit fees). https://paypal.me/WMKA1/ Use “Send” Option, then on payment screen, please include a note/message with following information included:a) From whom (Dojo Owner’s name)b) What the payment is for (ex. Dan certificates, license renewal, etc.) We hope this will make payment much more simple for our members. (Click Read More to see entire post if image not seen)

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