News from Okinawa　　January 1,2021 New Year’s Greeting from the President Dear WMKA members around the world, Hysai gusu-yo Ａratama nu simi tu ku-bu kajyati kukuru kara shigata wakaku naimi sochi iisho-guwachide-biru! A Happy New Year！ I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to all of you for the glorious and hopeful New Year. I think last year was a really turbulent year for Okinawa and throughout the world. The current Covid-19 corona virus was a disaster, and the news media focused mostly on it. The Tokyo Olympics and National Sports Events & Festivals including many other events had been postponed or reduced in order to prevent the new coronavirus infection. The Memorial Monument Unveiling and Celebration for Founder Shoshin Nagamine was postponed to this year. We don’t have any sure prospect for the eradication of the coronavirus pandemic. However, we were able to hold the “ WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual Event and Tribute to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine” on November 1st which confirmed the bond and solidarity of WMKA . Unfortunately, many people are still forced to live in tension and fear every day without any reasonable information to feel safe in their mind. We expect that 2021 will be a year of glorious vibrancy, overcoming the influence of the new Coronavirus. “There is no night that doesn’t dawn”, and we believe that today’s step by step approach will lead to the bright future. I strongly look forward to reuniting with many of you in November in Okinawa at The […]

Commemorative Video of the WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual Event and Memorial Tribute to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine  Because of the  global COVID-19 pandemic upon us, we as members of the WMKA were not able to meet in Okinawa in 2020 for our planned event “The Memorial Monument Unveiling and Celebration for founder Shoshin Nagamine and Karate-do International Seminar & Exchange Martial Arts 2020”.  However, thanks to the cooperation of WMKA senior instructors and WMKA members throughout the world, the “WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual Event and Memorial Tribute to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine” was a huge success. The two session occuring at 8 am and 8 pm Okinawa time on November 1st, 2020 were meant to accommodate members in the many time zones throughout the world and included over 250 Zoom participant connections. Please enjoy the following video of our virtual event. In the credits, you will find a list of WMKA members that organized and contributed to this event making it both possible and successful. (Video production, courtesy of Mr. Joel Castasus)

October 20, 2020: News Notification from Okinawa Important Reminder: WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual Event and Memorial Tribute to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine   Dear WMKA members,  We have less than two weeks before the “WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual Event and Memorial Tribute to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine” event which will be held twice on November 1st at 8:00 am and 8:00 pm Okinawa local time. November 1st was the originally scheduled date for “The Memorial Monument Unveiling & Celebration for Founder Shoshin Nagamine” in Okinawa. All Events in Okinawa were postponed to 2021.  Please know that all WMKA dojo owners and their students may register for one or both of these events: First Zoom Online Workout: November 1st  8:00 am Okinawa time The 8 am event will feature a speech and special karate instruction by WMKA president Yoshitaka Taira (Hanshi 10th dan). Second Zoom Online Workout: November 1st 8:00 pm Okinawa time The 8 pm event will feature a speech and special Karate instruction by Vice-president Toshimitsu Arakaki (Hanshi 10th dan). Remember to refer to your time zone and select your convenient time to participate for the 8 am and/or the 8 pm event according to your country’s location (you may participate in both events if convenient for you!). If you are affected by Daylight Savings Time and you register for the 8PM session, please note that you will need to log into the Zoom session an hour earlier due to the time change early morning of November 1. If you are a […]

September 27, 2020: News Notification from Okinawa WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual Event and Memorial Tribute to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine   Dear WMKA members, The COVID-19 disease (Coronavirus) is still hurting many people around the world. I hope all of you and the people around you are not affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.   We are glad to announce the “WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual Event and Memorial Tribute to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine” which will be held twice on November 1st at 8:00 am and 8:00 pm Okinawa local time. November 1st was the originally scheduled date for “The Memorial Monument Unveiling & Celebration for Founder Shoshin Nagamine” in Okinawa. All Events were postponed to 2021.  We are very thankful for all WMKA members around the world because “WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual Event and Memorial Tribute to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine “was proposed by overseas members not from Okinawa.  First Zoom Online Workout: November 1st  8:00 am Okinawa time The 8 am event will feature a speech and special karate instruction by WMKA president Yoshitaka Taira (Hanshi 10th dan). Second Zoom Online Workout: November 1st 8:00 pm Okinawa time. The 8 pm event will feature a speech and special Karate instruction by Vice-president Toshimitsu Arakaki (Hanshi 10th dan). Please refer to your time zone and select your convenient time to participate for either the 8 am or the 8 pm event according to your country’s location. You may participate in both events if convenient for you! All dojo owners will be mailed registration information and […]

May 1, 2020 The Announcement from president Yoshitaka Taira  The COVID-19 and the postponement of the Memorial Events for founder Shoshin Nagamine in Okinawa Dear WMKA members around the world,  The COVID-19 is still spreading and is on a rampage around the world. We are forced to know the tragic up-to-date conditions around the world on both TV and Newspaper every day and night. The world still seems like it is under a GLOBAL COVID-19 LOCKDOWN. Japan is under a nationwide state of emergency and Okinawa is listed as the 14th worst area among 47 prefectures in Japan based on the positive infection rate per capita. What is worse, it seems nobody including pandemic specialists around the world can predict when this COVID-19 PANDEMIC will become quiet and we will be back to the previous normal daily life again.  Considering the current heartbreaking condition and the unknown virus activity, we have decided to postpone “The Memorial Monument Unveiling & Celebration for founder Shoshin Nagamine and Karate-Do International Seminar & Exchange Martial Arts 2020” until 2021. We value the most, our policy “Nuchi-du Takara” which means “Life is a Treasure”. We considered and reconsidered in order to reach this decision. We believe it is the best way to protect WMKA members around the world and to help everyone who are wondering about the trip to Okinawa, spiritually, physically and economically to fight with COVID-19. Please cancel your travel arrangements. To all those who have already booked the trip to Okinawa and […]

April 9, 2020 A Message from WMKA president Yoshitaka Taira: The COVID-19 and The Memorial Events for founder Shoshin Nagamine in Okinawa Dear WMKA members around the world, The Covid-19 is hurting and killing many people around the world. We can see the up-to-date conditions around the world on TV every day and night. It makes us very sad to know that so many people are losing their precious lives every day and are still in fear of an invisible, colorless and odorless virus. Under this heartbreaking situation, I hope all of you and the people around you are not affected and remain healthy. We have a proverb in Okinawa, “Nuchi-du Takara” which means “Life is a Treasure”. Please stay at home and protect yourself and the people around you. Karate can be practiced any time and any place. Please exercise at home to keep your health, but not too hard to affect your health because you may not be able to get enough food under the current circumstances. We pray from the bottom of our hearts that the Covid-19 will be wiped out around the world and that peaceful everyday life will return as soon as possible. In Japan, Prime minister Shinzo Abe announced an official “Declaration of a State of Emergency” to the 7-urban areas, Tokyo,Osaka,Saitama,Kanagawa,Chiba, Hyogo & Fukuoka on April 7,2020. The whole of Japan is struggling to fight with Covid-19. A wide range of commercial businesses and facilities were closed or have postponed their schedule. The schools […]

My name is Steve Woolston, and I am a 5th Dan and dojo owner from England.  I recently visited Okinawa and stayed for a total of eight days.   During my short trip I had the opportunity to train on a number of  occasions with my teacher Arakaki Toshimitsu, Hanshi and also visited many  places around the Island, even taking a day out to visit the island of  Kume-jima. The part of the trip that was most enjoyable to me, aside from the karate  studies of course, was having the chance to further my knowledge and understanding of the warm culture that seems to be found everywhere on  Okinawa. I have been lucky enough to have visited Okinawa now on ten  occasions since first travelling over in 2010, and each time there is  seemingly more and more to learn about its people, history and traditions.   As a dojo, we are already making plans for our trip in October/November  next year, and we are looking forward to it immensely. It is always  difficult to convey the gratitude that we have for the generosity of our  teachers and seniors in Matsubayashi-ryu, but perhaps the best way we can  show it is by continuing to work hard and by spreading the great work that  the WMKA are doing in supporting our efforts in following the  Matsubayashi-ryu tradition. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Ms. Becka Tedder for her  kindness and hospitality during my recent stay.  

John Hamric returns to Okinawa Five years have passed since my last trip to Okinawa. Past trips have been to attend seminars. This trip was to attend one on one sessions with Sensei’s. A special thanks to Mr. Riki Nomura for the arrangements of training times with Arakaki Sensei and Tome Sensei. My week began with training in Arakaki Sensei’s dojo. Although I have attended seminars in the US in the past taught by Sensei, this was my first opportunity to train with him as the only student. The one on one sessions allow for direct observations of all techniques which in turn in my case lead to many suggestions for improvement. For anyone who has not had the opportunity to experience this type of instruction, I would highly recommend that you do so. The second day of training, Sensei introduced me to bo kata Shiromatsu. After a brief instruction of this kata, he allowed me to attend a training session at his original dojo. Words cannot express the gratitude for having experienced this session. To be allowed the opportunity to train with some of Sensei’s students was unbelievable. During this session, I also met a fellow US country man, Jason Christian, from the Cocoa Beach Shorin-Ryu dojo. This was Jason’s last night of training of a three month stay. I envy anyone being able to spend this much time in this beautiful area learning about the art of karate. My third day of training was devoted to continuing the […]

News from Okinawa　　January 1,2020 New Year’s Greeting from the President　　　 Dear WMKA members around the world, Shiratama nu simi tu ku-bu kajyati  kukuru kara shigata wakaku naimisochi  iisho-guwachi de-biru ! A Happy New Year !  I congratulate you all in welcoming bright and hopeful New Year ! . 2019 was a historical year for Japan ! The name of the Japanese Imperial era was changed from Heisei to Reiwa. Please visit the Japanese imperial transition on the Website for detailed information.  2020 will be an Olympic year for the whole world and especially for Japan. An Okinawan karate athlete is very close to the Gold medal in “Karate Kata” competition in Tokyo 2020. We believe it is not just a dream that he will win the first gold medal for Okinawa. Karate and Okinawa will be more recognized in every corner of the world. The symbol of Okinawan culture and history, the emotional foundation of the heart and identity of Okinawan, Shuri-castle was burned down on October 31, 2019. It is not only a sad and big loss to Okinawa but also to the people around the world who know Okinawa.  Shuri castle and related properties of the Kindom of Ryukyu were registered under UNESCO World Heritage site as one of the 11 registered sites in all of Japan in 2000. We pray for the quick restoration of Shuri castle. Both the Okinawam & Japanese government have started to work together for its realization. On top of that, many enterprises […]