Okinawa Trip April 2006

Saturday April 15

Arrived in Okinawa and was welcomed by Izumi Sensei and his family, Tamaki Sensei, 7th Dan and Sunagawa Sensei, 5th dan. Went to the Asian Dining Restaurant next to the Budokan which offers quite a unique dining experience.

Sunday April 16-

Hanshi Gibu's 10th Dan Celebration

Left to help Izumi Sensei set up the photo equipment at the ANA Hotel in Ginowan for Hanshi Gibu's 10th dan celebration. I had a wonderful meeting with Hanshi Gibu over coffee and cheesecake so we could catch up before the party.

Front row starting third from left-Naonobu Ahagon, Hanshi/Reihokan, Zempo Shimabukuro, Hanshi/Seibukan, Kinjo Hanshi/Ryu no Sei, Sokuichi Gibu, Hanshi/Butokukan, Mrs. Gibu, John Spence, Naha Police Chief(yellow shirt), Kakinohana Sensei

Hanshi/Judan Certificate

From Left-Izumi Sensei, Naka Sensei, Hanshi Kinjo, Hanshi Gibu, John Spence, Gibu Makoto Sensei

Spence Sensei and Izumi Sensei

Hanshi Gibu gave a wonderful acceptance speech which spoke of wonderful memories of past training. He made a moving "thank you" to his wife who he said has supported him always and that he would not be where he is if it were not for her. Hanshi Kinjo made a humorous speech recalling the days when he and Hanshi Gibu were the biggest rivals in kumite and went back and forth in the Okinawa hard contact tournaments. Hanshi Kinjo was the first Okinawan to win the Kyokushinkai knock-down Championships.

Makoto Sensei introduced the Gibu family and spoke very proudly about his famous father. After my speech, I was presented with a very expensive bingata kimono obi from Hanshi Gibu and the Butokukan.

Monday April 17

Training at the Hombu

I was lucky this trip to get one on one training with Hanshi at the Hombu dojo. After going over kata, he went into explanation of Chibana Sensei's bunkai and mechanics. I had a great meeting with Gibu Sensei where I got to see some of his dan certificates that were signed and stamped by Chosin Chibana.

Hanshi Gibu was one of Nakazato Shugoro Hanshi's senior students and was the first to be promoted to 8th dan in the Shorinkan. To give you an idea of his seniority, the current fuku-shibu's in the Shorinkan, Nakazato Minaru and Yonamine Masaru were 4th dans when Hanshi Gibu was promoted to 7th dan. I learned that he started out in Goju-Ryu as a child and got to hear about old training days with such great sensei as Yamashita Tadashi Sensei, Shiroma Jiro Sensei and others.

Hombu kids class

Hanshi presented me with some beautiful gifts along with a Japanese business magazine that profiled Hanshi Gibu and that had our group picture from 2005.

Tuesday April 18- Daigo Dojo/Ginowan

I had the opportunity to train with Daigo Sensei and his wife Mamoko at their Ginowan dojo on Tuesday. Daigo Sensei is an incredible teacher and motivator who has had an impressive tournament career. His wife Mamoko also is quite the karateka. Not only has she won the Shorin-Ryu women's division FOUR times at the Okinawa Karate/Kobudo World Tournament, but her father is Tamaki Sensei, 7th dan in the Butokukan. We trained from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and covered bunkai, kata, kobudo, yakusoku kumite, ashi waza and mechanics.

Daigo Sensei

Daigo Adult group

Daigo Dojo kids training

Wednesday April 19

Today was a Koza day that started with helping Izumi Sensei be crossing guard for the local school kids. Izumi Sensei asked me to teach the classes that evening at the dojo and then training with his son Toshinari afterwards in order to check his kata. The Koza dojo is the most beautiful dojo I have ever seen in my life and is a treat to train in.

Koza Dojo Front

Demonstrating bo and kama

Roof top views of Koza from Izumi Sensei's house

I was so forunate to stay in Izumi Sensei's home and his wonderful wife, Hiroko, made us bento lunches every day at 5 a.m.

Outside the Goju-Ryu Jundokan

Thursday April 20

Izumi Sensei and I left on a field trip to Katsuren Castle and Hama Higa Island. We intended on catching the ferry to Tsuken Island but miss the ferry by minutes.

Katsuren Castle

A stop by a local fishing port near Hama Higa Island

Hama Higa Island

A visit to Tamaki Sensei's elementary school where he is a principal.

Yomitan Glass Village

Cape Zampa Cape Maeda

Friday April 21-

Training at the Hombu

Gibu Makoto Sensei and Kyoshi Yagi(far right)

A wonderful meal of Okinawan food and Orion!

Saturday April 22

Tamaki Sensei and Sunagawa Sensei picked me up at 10:00 for a sightseeing/picture trip around Yomitan. We went to Murasaki Mura which is the "Colonial Williamsburg" of Okinawa. It has many activites for visitors including a dojo where tourist can try karate for an hour or more.

With Tamaki Sensei at Murasaki Mura

Zakimi Castle


With Sunagawa Sensei at Zakimi-Jo

Ryukyu Matsu(Pine)

With Tamaki Sensei at Admiral Perry's Landing Site