Okinawa Gasshuku 2005
For fourteen years I have been visiting this small but beautiful island with it’s climate that makes you think that it’s always summer and the people of Okinawa are very warm and friendly and ready to help.
After a day of rest to get acclimatised, it was off to Higaonna Sensei’s dojo which is situated near Asato area, using the monorail that runs above the city, you can reach it in no time, and all will be welcome providing you 'look, listen, train and sweat' Higaonna Sensei’s Dojo is small but it managed to accommodate 38 delegates from around the world, these would include, England, Sweden, Russia, Moldova, Germany, Spain, Israel, Kazakhstan, U.S.A, Singapore, Ukraine and Australia.
The training schedule was four hours a day, but in 'Okinawa
time' that means six to seven hours. The IOGKF curriculum was covered,
Higaonna Sensei was determined to validate the smallest detail in all
the Kata’s over the period of the week. Every morning would include
Sanchin and Tensho Kata, Higaonna Sensei would explain the breathing and
co-ordination in the movement, when I look at him, I can not imagine anyone
before or after being able to execute movement has he does.
When it came to Hojo Undo (Supplementary Training) Higaonna Sensei demonstrated
hand conditioning on a stone with jagged edges, not once but many times,
and presided to strike the edge of the wall has if it was made of rubber,
you can see by the markings that he performs this task every day. (See
photos)
One morning during training, we had a visit from Master Shuichi Aragaki, who watched while we trained and after we had finished, he treated us to some stories about his life and philosophy.
I was also privileged to have an audience with Master An'ichi Miyagi at his home, the meeting lasted for two hours and the most amazing thing is, he answered all my thoughts without me asking a question, both these Masters were direct students of Bushi Miyagi Chojun.
On an exciting note, Linda Marchant who accompanied me has been training with me for 23 years and is my assistant, was successful in her examination for 6th Dan with Higaonna Sensei. She is a role model to all women in the pursuit of excellence.
I would like to thank the staff at the Honbu Dojo for their effort, in making this trip a very positive venture, and of course to the Master for his guidance.
George Andrews
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| Sensei George with An'Ichi Miyagi Sensei at his home | Left to Right, Senei Marchant, Sensei Higaonna, Sensei Aragaki, Sensei Andrews, Sensei Nakamura, kneeling Seigi Higaonna (Higaonna Sensei's son) | Sensei Andrews, Sensei Higaonna and Sensei Marchant |
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| The above mentioned concrete post in Sensei's dojo showing the marks left by his conditioning | ||
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| Sensei Higaonna's pebble bucket | The stones used daily by Higaonna Sensei for conditioning his hands (inset shows his hand) | Dojo group photo of the participants from all over the world in Sensei's dojo |