Okinawa Budo Sai Blog July 2008
This page was originally hand coded (Slow work!) in Okinawa daily but now I am back I have cleaned things up! Hopefully there will be some articles coming from people to give different perspectives on the trip. All images and video are from my mobile phone.
Saturday 19th
Sorry if there are any mistakes but this page is being coded by hand
Just about all the OTGKA contingent have arrived on Saturday, bleary eyed but happy to see one another. We all met up on Saturday night and went out for a meal and a few beers, those grading on Tuesday excluded!
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Sunday 20th
The first day of training, 3rd dan and above were taken for the first hour by Higaonna Sensei and covered Sanchin. Nidan and Shodan had Bakkies Sensei for the first hour and covered basics. They then swapped and had Terauchi Sensei for kata and applications.
Bakkies Sensei then took the seniors for advanced basics combinations. We all went to the beach for a swim and to dry our Gi's!
Tonight was also the Welcome Party, fantastic food and too much beer! A 9am start tomorrow so we are up at 7am for our breakfast to beat the rush...hopefully
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Monday 21st
The first full days training session. 5th dan and up had Higaonna Sensei for Sanchin, Tensho and Seiunchin. Bakkies Sensei for advanced kakie and Terauchi Sensei for Sesan Kata. Other groups of individual levels had the same instructors as they rotated around the various groups
It was also Sensei Georges birthday and we went out to celebrate with a great meal followed by our own karaoke session much to the mirth of the local bar owner. We were also serenaded by the owner and one of her customers with an Okinawan song. The highlight of the evening was seeing her face when one of the Aussies brought in his digeridoo, she could not understand where all the strange sounds were coming from
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Tuesday 22nd
Grading day today so no training, so sightseeing for most, but not for Sensei Jason Smallwood who was taking his 5th dan exam. Many took the opportunity to go to the beach, with sun screen this time, unlike at the last Budosai when there were some very red OTGKA karate-ka!
We all went to out usual spot, a local Okinawan bar and were joined by several 'Kiwi's'. The bar owner brought out some masks and coercered Sensei Joe Tait into joining her in perfoming a folk dance. Joe was amazed, after 12 years in Japan he has never seen anything like it before...a great experience. Click below to see the video of Joe in action
Wednesday 23rd
All OTGKA senior grades had in rotation, Sensei George, Sensei Ernie and Sensei Larsen (Denmark)Sensei George covered three different types of blocking
Sensei Ernie explored Yakusoku Kumite taken from kata techniques while Sensei Larsen had us looking at elbow combinations. We had a lecture in the early evening from Aragaki Sensei, he regaled us with stories of the life and times of Miyagi Chojun Sensei. A few people are starting to complain about aching muscles by now!
In the evening the OTGKA met up with Nakamura Sensei and the Canadians at @The Beerodrome' all you can eat and drink for twelve pounds or so, I bet they lost their shirts with the English and Canadians there!
Thursday 24th
The penultimate day's training today. Again in rotation the dan grades were taught in their groups with the instructors being Sensei Nunez (Spain) covered Ipoon Kumite and reation training drills. Sensei Yamashiro taught kata relevant to the level of the group he was teaching, in the case of 5th dan and up Suparimpei Kata in very close detail.
When Nakamura Sensei came into the dojo to teach the 5th dan and upwards he brought a a special guest with him. We were so lucky to be taught by Aragaki Sensei, 10th Dan and an original student of Miyagi Chojun Sensei. He demonstrated several times on Nakamura Sensei and despite him reaching his 80th birthday this year his speed and power are very evident. I for one felt so honoured and privileged to be in his company
Friday 25th
The last day of training has come around so quickly. Bakkies Sensei took the junbi undo today that we all do together before we split off into our groups. All the basics he did in the class were various combinations taken from Gekisai Dai Ichi kata.
We had just two class rotations today as the last class of the day was to be the traditional class of us all training together. Fifth dan and up were lucky to have for their last two classes, Higaonna Sensei who covered Suparimpei Kata and Bakkies Sensei with close in fighting techniques.
Saturday is a day of demonstrations, all the dan grades are performing a mass Sanchin and the kyu grades Gekisai Dai Ichi. Sensei Linda will be performing a demonstration along with many others from different styles and countries. The final event of the week will be the Sayonara party and if the food is as good as the welcome party it will be superb! All in all a fantastic week, thank you to Higaonna Sensei and the other senior instructors for their instruction and to Nakamura Sensei and the Gasshuku staff for making it the great success it has been.
Congratulations to all those who were successful in their grading particularly Jason Smallwood from the Honbu Dojo who passed his Godan test
Saturday 26th
Today is the day for demonstrations, all Dan grades are to perform Sanchin Kata and all the Kyu grades will do Gekisai Dai Ichi. We have to be at the dojo for 9.00am to practice. There are to be demonstrations from IOGKF senior instructors, Okinawan Karate and Kobudo masters and IOGKF countries who wish to perform.
As usual the standard of the demonstations was superb and the day flowed very well, I have added 2 video clips, one of Aragaki Sensei performing Sepai, this was amazing to watch when one thinks that he is now in his 80th year. I have also added Sensei Linda Marchant performing her self defence demo with Andre and Daphne.
Special guests at the demonstations included the grandson of Miyagi Chojun Sensei and the grandson of Higaonna Kanyro Sensei amongst others.
Aragaki Sensei Sepai Video | Sensei Linda Self Defence
All that remains of the Budosai now is the Sayonara party!!!