Guido Engels Recent Trip to Okinawa
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 […]
Read moreToshimitsu Arakaki Sensei’s Fifth Visit to Australia
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 […]
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Connectivity of a Community
Okinawa is the birthplace of Karate, and many people travel from around the globe to practice with the Sensei of the current time. Many come for their kata to be corrected, a better understanding of waza, the practice of Kobudo and for authentic rank promotion within their organizations and groups. In 2019, a year before Covid changed the world, I too traveled to Okinawa for some of the same reasons and met some terrific people and people who practiced many different styles of Karate, Judo, Kendo and Aikido. I have been practicing forms of Karate since 1984 and Matsubayashi Ryu since 1991, but it was that trip in May that pulled me close to the World Matsubayashi Karate-Do Association (WMKA). I then returned to the United States and studied with Scott Mastin Sensei to understand the differences of what I have practiced and what is practiced in the WMKA. Today I am a member of the WMKA as a yudansha under Mastin Sensei, and as a WMKA Dojo owner. I recently traveled to Okinawa from February 22, 2023, through March 10, 2023, with one of my students to study with the leaders of the WMKA. We stayed in the Kadena area close to a dear friend so we could experience more of the island. Mr, Riki Nomura arranged a wonderful and well-rounded practice schedule that would allow us to experience five different Sensei dojos. On February 24th Mr. Riki Nomura sent me an email notifying me that Taira Sensei welcomed […]
Read moreThe New Overseas Manager in Okinawa
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 […]
Read moreWMKA/MKAA/AFTK SEMINAR TOSHIMITSU ARAKAKI SENSEI, HANSHI, 10TH DAN
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
Read moreSteve Woolston’s Visit to Okinawa in November, 2022
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 […]
Read moreSally Woolston’s Visit to Okinawa in November, 2022
Wow what a trip!!I haven’t had the chance to return to Okinawa since 2016. Usually every second year is my year to travel there, but in 2018 I forewent my ticket and let my eldest son go in my place so he could have the experience before he set off to University. Then boom, Covid struck in 2020 and as we all know, life was never to be the same and the delay for my next chance to visit was excruciatingly long. So as you can probably imagine I was both nervous and excited with the trip looming and the prospect of being able to attempt my 5th Dan promotion. On occasion I was unable to understand why I was putting myself through it and doubting that I knew anything. Thank goodness I didn’t listen to myself as this was a trip over all other trips for me. Training twice a day was exhausting and exhilarating for me and my companions that visited at the same time. The enthusiasm that we had between ourselves was immense and just what we all needed to keep us going. We all worked well together and got to know each other’s training ways and could tweak whilst we were in the different dojos learning from the very best. The chats on the way back from each session was what you might call intense and we even made an online chat group so we could share and remind each other of any tips. Being a […]
Read moreNew Year’s Greeting from the President
News from Okinawa January 1,2023 Dear WMKA members around the world, Ａratama nu tushi ni simi tu ku-bu kajyati kukuru kara shigata wakaku naimi sochi ii-sho-guwachi de-biru! I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to all of you for the glorious and hopeful New Year! In August last year, as Okinawa marked the 50th anniversary since its reversion to Japan from U.S. rule, “The 2nd Okinawa Karate World Tournament” and “The 1st Okinawa Karate Boys and Girls World Tournament” were grandly held by Okinawa Prefecture. Okinawa karate enthusiasts from 24 countries around the world gathered in Okinawa. WMKA Okinawa Headquarters welcomed participants from Australia, India and the mainland of Japan and deepened our bonds & friendship for future. The mass media in Okinawa also published many special featured articles about the Karate events, and anticipation & potential of Okinawa karate’s future was greatly felt. The 2nd Okinawa Karate World Tournament 2022 Farewell Party was originally planned at a hotel but the event was changed to a Farewell Ceremony at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan to prevent the spread of Covid-19 corona virus infection. My closing address at the Farewell Ceremony on behalf of all Okinawa karate & Kobudo organizations is shown below. The 2nd Okinawa Karate World Tournament Farwell Ceremony Closing Address:“Gusu-yo chu- uganabira! Good evening, fellow Karate fans. We were able […]
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David Troup’s Visit to Okinawa
From November 7 through the 20th, and after years of delays due to Covid-19 restrictions, I had the chance to visit Okinawa once again. This was my third trip to the island, and I was grateful for another opportunity to explore some of the key karate-related sites in Naha, partake in my favorite delicious and traditional foods, and most importantly, to train with Taira Yoshitaka Sensei, Arakaki Toshimitsu Sensei, Tome Iwao Sensei, and Makishi Tetsuo Sensei. I stayed near the Tsubogama monorail station, and because I was in walking distance to the central Naha Bus Station, I enjoyed exploring the city through public transportation which also allowed me to try and practice my extremely poor Japanese. With training sessions each morning at 10 am, and each evening at 8 pm, I not only took the bus, but often walked across the city to the various dojos, getting to know the city much better in that way. Each day, for lunch, I tried to find a new Soba, Ramen, or Sushi restaurant, while also exploring the many shops and markets on my way. In the second week, I was joined by four European members of the WMKA, Steve and Sally Woolston, Heinz Tessner, and Joel Castasus. We all trained together at the dojos of Taira Sensei, Arakaki Sensei, Tome Sensei and Makishi Sensei in the mornings and evenings. Together, we explored the Karate Kaikan, the Budokan, and the recently unveiled memorial monument to Osensei Shoshin Nagamine. The training was fascinating, and […]
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My visit to the land of Karate in 2022
by Joel Castasus In October 2022, Japan opened its border to tourists. This was fantastic news for anyone who wanted to visit Japan. To me as a karate practitioner, it was a chance to visit and train in Okinawa, the birthplace of karate. Thus in November 2022, this is what did, plus more… There were a few amusing incidents along the way, such as missed flights, but the extremely helpful Japan Airlines staff quickly resolved these minor issues, and I arrived in Okinawa that afternoon. Perfect timing, as I had a few hours to sort out my hotel, have a bit of food, shower, and rest. I was then ready for my first training session at the Makishi Dojo. At the Makishi Dojo, I joined the group of Steve Woolston Sensei, Sally Woolston Sensei, (both from Eastbourne, England Dojo), David Troup Sensei (Maine, USA), and Heinz Tessner Sensei (Grossefehn, Germany). We all trained together with Tetsuo Makishi Sensei, 6th Dan, and his own students. Although I was tired from a long flight, this had not affected my experience at all. I still remember how much I enjoyed Makishi Sensei’s teaching, and his innovative approach to Kihon and this is something I planned on taking back to Bristol to share. Training Sessions:The days that followed were a routine of three training sessions per day. Typically, a morning session began with Iwao Tome Sensei, 9th Dan, then an afternoon session with Masao Shinzato Sensei, 8th Dan, and finally an evening with either […]
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