WMKA Seminar Little Tokyo, Los Angeles- August 2026
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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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.
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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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Event Announcement: USA (Maine)-December 6&7, 2025
Matsubayashi-ryu Karatedo Seminar with Martin O’Malley Sensei Hosted by Rockland Matsubayashi-ryu Dojo The World Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do Association (WMKA) is pleased to announce a special seminar hosted by David Troup Sensei of Rockland Matsubayashi-ryu Dojo in Maine, USA. This event features Martin O’Malley Sensei, 5th Dan in Matsubayashi-ryu, from Helsinki.
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Event Announcement: USA (Dallas, Texas) -September 25, 2025
Event Announcement: USA (Dallas, Texas) Celebrating 60 Years of Matsubayashi-ryu: A Special Gathering Hosted by Renshi Phil Kromka The World Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do Association (WMKA) is pleased to share news of a special celebration being hosted by Renshi Phil Kromka, 6th Dan, in Dallas, Texas. September 25th, 2025, marks Renshi Kromka’s remarkable 60th anniversary as a practitioner and instructor of Matsubayashi-ryu karate.
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