Worldwide karate seminar held in Yomitan
The participants of the seminar hosted by World Oshukai Dento Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Do Kobudo Federation learned about traditional karate and kobudo of Okinawa at a gymnastics hall in Yomitan Village on August 26.
September 6, 2011 Kenichi Yoshida of Ryukyu Shimpo
The World Oshukai Dento Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Do Kobudo Federation, which is based in France and functions as a non-profit organization for traditional Okinawa Shorin-Ryu karate and Okinawan kobudo, held a seminar in Yomitan Village from August 22 to 27.
More than 100 exponents of karate from its 30 chapters all over the world gained new inspiration as they learned about the spirit and traditional techniques of karate in Okinawa, the birthplace of it. The seminar was held for the seventh time this year.
The World Oshukai Cup, a biennial event, was scheduled to be held this year in Yomitan Village, but the event was scaled down to the seminar because the number of applicants dramatically decreased due to the nuclear accident after the Great East Japan Earthquake. The World Cup has been rescheduled for two years from now.
Head of the Federation Kenyu Chinen talked about the importance of the seminar, saying, “It is very significant for all students to learn about traditional karate in Okinawa, the birth place of karate, and what they learn here could eventually be of benefit to Okinawa.”
After graduating from Okinawa Fisheries High School, Chinen went to France by himself in 1976.
Thirty-six year-old Canadian Jonathan Blais, who came to Okinawa for the first time, said, “I would like to practice karate in Okinawa and get my 2nd dan.”
Twenty-eight year-old Polish karate exponent Anna Koros, who started karate when she was a college student, said, “I am doing my best to acquire my 1st dan. Karate is now part of my life.”
Fifty-five year-old Frenchman Pascal Sorel commented, “I thought there would be no worries in Okinawa about the nuclear situation following the Great East Japan Earthquake. I would like to practice my technique and become mentally stronger.”
(English Translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey）
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