We cleaned hombu dojo on Dec 22, 2007. First of all, we cleaned our dojo kamidana which had protected us for a year and then cleaned everywhere else. Thanks to many people, we could clean very fast and we could save time. Thank you very much. (Mr. Warren Barnes came to Okinawa because of his relative’s wedding and helped us on that day) We are happy to start our first practice in 2008 at clean gymnasium.

-Makoto Gibu, editor, Butokukan Newsletter

My favorite word “Osu”

The series No. 28

Mr. Gibu was born in 1941 and his had a very hard time during war. He started practicing Karate when he was a middle school student and he devoted himself to Karate more and more. Finally he realized that the strong person is the one who understands other people’s pain and also knows the spirit of tolerance. The words “Osu” contains respect for seniors and also encourage each other at  the gymnasium.

We can see their life in their words

By Seiten sha

The performance at 16^th Urasoe Tsuna Hiki Festival by Mr. Sokuichi Gibu

There was a Tsuna Hiki Festival at Sun Park on Oct 20, 2007 and our president performed “Tunfa”. Students who belong to Urasoe Karate association joined it and it was a wonderful performance.

About Tsuna Hiki Festival

This festival was held even before World War II and most  people in the city joined

the festival at that time. After the war, it took long time to restart again and thanks to the Chamber of  Commerce and Industry. Urasoe city and a local

self governing body restarted it in 1992. It has been taken over by Group Tebi

since 1997 and the festival has been held as a wish for health and respect for each other.

-Makoto Gibu, editor, Butokukan newsletter

The performance “Karate Gaei” at the 37^th Naha Tsuna Hiki Festival by Mr. Sokuichi Gibu

The 37^thTsuna Hiki Festival was held on Oct 14, 2007 and Mr. Sokuichi Gibu (our president) performed “Karate Gaei” at the opening ceremony. The purpose of “Karate Gaei” is to encourage people to pull a big rope east and west side with four master teachers from Kobayashi and Goju gymnasium. President Sokuichi Gibu has been Chirman of the Board of Karate Directors and received a prize from Naha City.But unfortunately it was his last performance at the Festival and it will be done by his students next time.

Thank you very much for showing us such a wonderful performance.

About Naha Tsuna Hiki Festival

The Tsuna Hiki Festival is one of the big events of  Naha with

205,000 people in attendance and participating in the rope pull. The length of the rope measures 200meter, 1.56 meter in diameter, and 42 ton.  (By Okinawa times)

-Makoto Gibu, editor, Butokukan Newsletter

TIDA Times Article

The spirit of tolerance is very important for Karate.

Kobayashi Karate Butokukan

Mr. Sokuichi Gibu

(Karate for him)

Students bow saying “Osu” enter the gymnasium and sit upright in front of a big mirror closing their eyes. The person who gets president Gibu’s permission says “yoshi” and can start their practice at the Kobayashi Karate Butokukan. The purpose of this tradition is to concentrate before the training and it will help to practice remain safe.

He was born in 1941 and he had a hard time when he was young because of the war. He started practicing Karate when he was a middle school student and his purpose was to become stronger as he didn’t want to be a bully at school. He learned a lot from Karate since then and became strong physically and mentally. He realized that he was more positive than before and very active. Finally he learned that a strong person is the one who is very kind and knows the importance of tolerance through Karate.

He opened his gymnasium 28 years ago and he has taught 3000 students in all over the world. Discipline such as good manners, obligation, and duty is very important in his Karate spirit and he is hoping that Karate will help to make people kind and thoughtful. Whenever his students have problem, he talks to his student and listens to them a lot. Therefore his students trust him a lot and they respect him a lot.

(My life is for other people)

Because of his hard life experience when he was young, his motto of his life is “My life is for other people” and always willing to help many people and organization such as lion’s club and Karate association. He encourages students who are learning Karate all the time. He says that students’ learning style has changed compared to the past and sometimes he needs more explanation about discipline in Karate nowadays. But his passion toward to students is always same. Daiki Hira (3rd grade students at Showa Yakka middle school) says, “I have been practicing Karate since I was 3 years old and I really feel that I am becoming very strong mentally. Gibu Sensei is very strict and practice is very hard foe me sometime, but he is basically kind and I trust him a lot. I really want to continue karate.” Musashi Tanahara (Also 3^rd grade student at middle school) says, “Mr. Gibu is very strict and he tells me off when I don’t focus on training sometimes, but he is very nice and respect him.”

Mr. Gibu has been performing at Naha Big Rope Festival, but he decided to stop doing it next year and his students continue it instead of him. His son is supporting his school and his 4 four grandchildren are learning Karate at his gymnasium. Of course he is very strict at practice but he is very happy that many his relatives are involved in practicing Karate and continues his work for the future. He believes that Practicing Karate means a lot and students can get mental strength and also understand culture, so he is very happy if more people join his Karate gymnasium to share the experience.

Hanshi Sokuichi Gibu Promoted to 10th Dan/Judan

In December of 2005, Hanshi Sokuichi Gibu, Kaicho Okinawa Karate-Do Shorin-Ryu Butokukan, received confirmation that he was being promoted to 10th dan/ judan by the Zen Niihon Karate-Do Renmei for his contribution to Okinawan traditional karate development. The award commendation was handed to Mr. Gibu by the director Mr. Kanazawa at Mr. Gibu's dojo on January 12. Hanshi-10dan is given to the ones that have been selected by the league depending on their years of experience and acheivements, and also they must have been holding Hanshi-9th dan for at least 10 years.

"This commendation is beyond my standing." Said Mr. Gibu "I assume, my volunteer activities on the Okinawa crime prevention association and exhibitions in Naha helped to set a high evaluation on this commendation. I will continue to train very hard and try to expand Okinawa Karate-do at home and abroad."

Mr. Gibu started karate at age 14 and opened his dojo in 1979. he has over 800 deshi(pupils) all over including the U.S. and Argentina.

-Okinawa Times newspaper, January 26, 2006