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WHAT’S BIG IN IOGKF MAGAZINE
Message from Sensei
Tetsuji Nakamura
Page 1
75 years young!
Higaonna Sensei turns 75.
50 years in pursuit
Sensei Bakkies celebrates
The Giants of
Traditional Karate
Part 2 of an interview with
Masters Higaonna & Kyuna
Interview with Sensei
Ernie Molyneux
Plus EGKA 40th Anniversary
Women of Karate
Sensei Linda achieves 7th Dan
& MUCH MORE!!
WHAT FREE EXTRAS ARE ONLINE?
Everything in this
Magazine and with
videos and more!
Dojo Repsect:
A new video of
Higaonna Sensei
Black Belt Gasshuku
with Terauchi Sensei
New Video Emerge
Video clips to match all
major article in this
magazine
Event Reports and
more articles from
around the World!
At the end of the year, I would like to look back and summarize our organization's
activities in 2013. This year was a very memorable year as Higaonna Sensei received the Intangible Cultural Heritage Award from the Okinawan Government. As
students, we have known him as the best karate master on the planet. However, it
was our great pleasure and honour that the Okinawan Government officially recognized his skill, knowledge and his lifetime work and contribution toward promoting
and preserving traditional karate.
In March, IOGKF Peru hosted the South American Gasshuku. The event was well
attended by South American members. In May, IOGKF Canada hosted MCF in Niagara Falls. This was when Higaonna Sensei's good friend, Choko Kyuna Sensei announced that there will be a big surprise for all IOGKF members, and a week later
we found out that Okinawan Government had awarded Higaonna Sensei with the
Intangible Cultural Heritage Award. In July, IOGKF Italy hosted the European
Gasshuku in Sicily. Higaonna Sensei got ill on the third day of the event, but all
other senior instructors finished the event and everybody enjoyed the high quality
of teaching. In September, IOGKF Russia hosted the Euro-Asia gasshuku. It was
well attended by regional members and the public demonstration at the theatre was
a great success. In October, the annual Chief Instructor Gasshuku was held at the
Budokan in Okinawa, Japan. During the event, we welcomed Juichi Kokubo Sensei
back as the Chief Instructor of IOGKF Peru. In November, the EGKA (England) celebrated its 40th anniversary and many English members and members from surrounding countries attended the event. It was in England where IOGKF International was established in 1979. Also in attendance at the event were Higaonna Sensei's old friends, such as Sensei Terry O'Neil (Shotokan) who invited Higaonna
Sensei to England for the first time in 1969.
This year I travelled to 17 Gasshuku in 13 countries as the newly appointed world
chief instructor. At all events, I was welcomed and I received many positive and encouraging comments. I would like to thank all members for your support and trust
in me.
At the beginning of our organization, it was Higaonna Sensei who lead the IOGKF
with his outstanding skill and charisma. Now we have many skilled and talented
instructors in our organization who are committed to following his legacy. There
are many senior instructors travelling around the world and teaching seminars.
I believe the future of traditional karate is promising in IOGKF.
I hope for good health and prosperity in the coming year, 2014, for all of our
members and your families.
[email protected]
IOGKF had a successful year. We welcomed new members from Norway,
Paraguay and Tajikistan.
Throughout 2013 there were numerous opportunities provided around the world
for our members to learn new techniques and to improve on their Okinawan Goju
-Ryu knowledge and skills, to meet other karateka.
The quality of teaching our masters and senior instructors provide is what makes
IOGKF great and each member should strive to take advantage of this. To help
you make your plans for next year the gasshuku scheduled for both Higaonna
Sensei and Nakamura Sensei are listed under the Events section of the IOGKF
website. There are also many other events being offered around the world with
other senior instructors. The information for these events is added to the site
when the information becomes available; so don’t forget to check the Events site
on a regular basis for updates.
Remember, these events are for you! They are offered to help preserve
traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu. These events are also a great way to forge new
relationships. The fostering of friendships between members of different
countries is major part of what makes IOGKF a great organization.
[email protected]
Thank you: For everyone who has really supported me on this newsletter and
in particular this magazine! This edition has been like doing two in one; usually
we aim to produce a 26 page magazine, but we’ve had so much support from
around the world I am please to present you with a 42 page Monster Edition! I
especially want to thank Ciara McGrath from England (EGKA) for all her help
on the online newsletter and to Nakamura Sensei for guiding the whole process. Please keep sending you articles and reports through for the newsletter. I
also encourage you to send any ideas you may have for uss this can often
lead to reality. Sensei Jakob Kold from Denmark suggestedd that maybe we
should make a magazine in Higaonna Dojo last year and now we have a 42
page high quality book, that martial artist from across the globe are now reading and getting involoved in!
Next year there are many major Gasshuku’s across the world and I encourage everyone to do their best to
attend as many events as possible to strength relationships and form new ones within the IOGKF family.
Chile, South Africa are both hositng large scale events with Higaonna Sensei that will not disappoint and I
personally am really looking forward to coming to Scotland for the European Gasshuku in 2014. If you ideas
or article for me I am always happy to discuss them in person at Gasshuku’s or via email, no matter how big
or small!
April ‘s magazine will see many more new articles included, along with Okinawan feature pieces. I want to
wish all of our members the very best for Christmas and a safe, happy and healthy 2014!
This deceptively simple symbol has become a focal point for two very important aspects of my life – my martial
arts training and my studies in becoming a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. My teachers gracefully
demonstrates the fluidic nature of this symbol in the nuances of the movements throughout our Qi-Gong and
Tai-Chi forms. The opening lines of my Traditional Chinese Medicine textbook describes its importance as
follows:
The concept of Yin-Yang is probably the single most important and distinctive theory of Chinese Medicine. It
could be said that all Chinese medical physiology, pathology and treatment can, eventually, be reduced to YinYang. The concept of Yin-Yang is extremely simple, yet very profound. One can seemingly understand it on a
rational level, and yet, continually find new expressions of it in clinical practice and, indeed, in life.
Maciocia (the author) then goes on to describe the Yin-Yang School (or the Naturalist School), that dates back
to the Warring States period (476-221 BC), and how they developed the theory of Yin-Yang to its highest degree. This school was rooted in Taoism which is a philosophy to observe the way of the universe. Everything
in existence is balanced with the existence of its opposite in order to achieve unity. The Yin-Yang Model demonstrates this philosophy by contrasting one element against another element thereby defining both. (ex. night
and day cannot exist without the other) Further to this, however, is that yin-yang elements exist in a dynamic
continuum where they are 1) interdependant, 2) mutually consuming-supportive, 3) oppositional, and are 4)
constantly transforming. These are the aspects of the Yin-Yang Model on which this article will focus, and I will
share my understanding of them through my martial arts experience.
The style of karate that I am practicing is called GojuRyu. ‘Go’ means hard or resilient; ‘Ju’ means soft or
yielding. Therefore, Goju-Ryu translates as the HardSoft School. This paradoxical dualism is relevant to
both the technical characteristics of the style and to its
underlying philosophy. The founder, Grand Master
Chojun Miyagi, chose this name as it represented the
essence of what he learned and subsequently taught.
It came from the third of eight precepts of the classic
Chinese writing the Kempo Hakku found in the Bubishi.
It states: Ho wa goju wo donto su: The way of inhaling
and exhaling is hardness and softness.
Though the systemized teaching structure of Goju-Ryu
originated in Okinawa, Japan with Miyagi Sensei in the
1930s, its roots came from Miyagi Sensei’s Sensei who
studied in China under a Sensei who was also an accomplished Chinese Herbalist. Given that Taoism is a
fundamental root philosophy of Classical Chinese
Medicine, it makes sense that the teachings that made
up the groundwork of Goju-Ryu would have been
heavily influenced by Taoism and, namely, the YinYang Model. Some of Miyagi Sensei’s teaching that
form the core of Goju-Ryu’s philosophy exemplifies this
nicely:
‘As supple as a willow, as solid as Mount Tai.’ It
is when the two extremes of hard and soft
are wholly united as one body that…
the harmony of heaven and earth will evolve;
The stronger one becomes, the more that person should express their gentler side;
The most important purpose of karate is to develop balance within ourselves so that we may express
our true nature and become better human beings; and
To achieve harmony… everything must express a balanced nature
Verse 8 of the Tao states, ‘One who lives in accordance with nature does not go against the way of things. He
moves in harmony with the present moment, always knowing the truth of just what to do.’ Miyagi Sensei’s
goals through Goju-Ryu are a clear reflection of this Verse.
These goals of Goju-Ryu also show how its practitioners are expected to improve their character by training
their minds as well as their bodies. As a starting point, I will assign one’s mind as ‘yin’ and one’s body as
‘yang’ given that the yin aspect of the two elements on the same continuum tend to be of a more receptive nature to its yang element that is relatively more aggressive. This assignment of yin-mind and yang-body is an
extrapolation of such common determinations of yin to yang as night to day, winter to summer, and water to
fire.
The most important kata in Goju-Ryu is Sanchin kata which is a
specific sequence of slow yet powerful movements done in a deliberate manner. Its goal is to generate internal power through the
muscular system while simultaneously having relaxed breathing
and a clear mind. Translated to ‘Three Battle’, Sanchin refers to
the balancing of the opposing forces of body and mind to achieve
higher spiritual awareness.
I have also realized the mutual consumption-supportive and transformational principles of the Yin-Yang Model through Goju-Ryu by
first understanding that every yin-element (and yang-element) can
are be subdivided into furhter yin-yang elements. Recalling that
water is yin relative to fire’s yang energy, water can also be
thought of as both yin-ice and yang-steam. ‘As supple as a willow, as solid as Mount Tai’ philosophy can be applied to both the
mind and the body thereby creating a yin-yang within the mind
and a yin-yang within the body.
Martial Arts help to train a person to defend him/herself by being
relaxed when confronted so that quick movement of whole body
or part of one’s body is possible. Having tight or flexed arm and
leg muscles would inhibit avoidance manoeuvres.
At the same time, one must keep core muscles active in order to maintain posture and balance. Opposition
principle of yin-yang within the yang-body. If avoidance is not possible then the affected muscles need to either become more relaxed (yin) to absorb the attack or rigid enough (yang) to block it. Transitional principle of
yin-yang within the yang-body.
Countering technique require speed that comes from using one’s body extremities in a whip-like motion. But at
the point of execution or contact, one’s body needs to be instantly rigid or the technique would be ineffective.
A rope (whip) has no strength if stationary or if pushed upon. So to does the body need to turn from a supple
willow to a mountain for that split second of contact then back to a willow. Though the willow could be considered yang to the relatively less mobile mountain, in this context, the immobile mountain is far more energetic
and would be the yang element. Making one’s body as rigid as a mountain is the result of numerous chemical
reactions causing contractions of almost all the skeletal musculature so that every joint and articulating surface
is fixated. Without such rigidity, the delivered technique would be absorbed or nullified within the karateka’s
body; the equivalent of using a weapon that is collapsible or has shock absorbers. This rigid yang-state requires a lot of energy and without transitioning back to a yin state, the contracted muscles would fatigue (yangenergy would be consumed), leaving the karateka with less energetic yin-muscle. Mutual consumption principle of yin-yang.
Training one’s mind is the other important element of martial arts. One must learn, train, and develop techniques that are repeated so often that they become automatic. This mental process requires much effort and
would result in reversing the previous yin-yang labels to yang-mind to a relatively yin-body. Once automatic,
however, those techniques can be delivered reflexively instead of consciously so the mind would now be back
in a yin-state. From that point, new techniques can be learned and developed, repeating the cycle. Mutually
supportive and transitional principles of yin-yang. Having a yang-active mind during a confrontation (eg. thinking along the lines of ‘if he throws this type of punch then I will block in this fashion then counter with this tech
nique…’) would render that person fixed on one course of action. If anything other than the anticipated attack
occurs, that person now has to first break his/her train of thought and then think of what to do, all the while
probably getting hit for being too slow. Keeping a clear mind that can reflexively respond is the product of a
very relaxed yin mind that came from the consumption of a yang state of training.
The last correlation that I would like to share is evident at the closing ceremony of every Goju-Ryu class with
the recital of the Dojo Kun. Composed of 5 ways to improve one’s character, one of the Dojo Kun translates
to ‘Train your mind and body, strive to reach the essence of Goju-Ryu.’ The essence of Goju-Ryu lie within the
spiritual or meditative side of training in which one tries to be in balance with one’s own nature and the nature
of the universe. The Yin-Yang Model provides a framework that illustrates how this goal is obtainable by balancing opposing elements that are independent, transitional and mutually consuming and supportive within a
person. My karate training makes it easy to appreciate the advantages of utilizes such dichotomous elements
in order to defend myself; being able to transition between a hard (resilient) and soft (yielding) body and a hard
(active) and soft (receptive) mind. Practicing Sanchin kata, where this paradox is the focus, is the way that I
best internalize the Naturalists School’s requirments for applying the Yin-Yang Model. The Yin-Yang of GojuRyu.
TRANSLATED BY: SENSEI TETSUJI NAKAMURA
INTERVIEW BY: SENSEI DAVID LAMBERT
KYUNA SENSEI: It’s hard to say which is more important. However with traditional Karate it
is a way of developing your whole body along with your breathing – which is very important.
But it only works if you train properly. The student needs to trust their teacher and be loyal to
what they are saying and slowly, step by step, they will be shown more and more detail. For
example when you punch Makiwara or you break a board, you use two knuckles, but eventually you will be shown that outside you would strike only with the first knuckle. It’s a progress
system which develops both.
My teacher was Aizo Shimabukuro Sensei and he had a Dojo after World War II. He had so
many years of experience teaching Karate, but now in Okinawa there are only two of his students that have their own Dojo’s, Shimabukuro Sensei’s son and I. So the traditional way is
hard, but the finished product is high quality and develops both attributes.
KYUNA SENSEI: Oyo Bunkai is ok to practice, as long as you keep it close to the basic
movements of the Kata. If you stray too far away from the Kata and get too fancy, there is a
very real danger of changing the Kata itself. People begin to think that if the Bunkai is like
this, then the Kata must be done that way too. So that’s the key with Oyo Bunkai, don’t get
too fancy and keep it close to the original Kata movement.
Also Kata is designed to be used against multiple opponents. In many Kata movements you
may be blocking or striking forward with one hand, but also to the side or behind with another
hand. If you practice the Kata correctly and don’t change the movement, the correct defence
should emerge when you are attacked. That is true bunkai, Oyo Bunkai is a natural variation
on these. You have to followed the Kata movement first and then the self defence movement
will come from this.
KYUNA SENSEI: This is the main reason we formed the Okinawa Traditional Karate-do
Development Association six years ago as we felt that it was a necessity for Okinawan
traditional culture to survive. The association is going to establish who the carrier or the real
master of each traditional Karate style and we want people to come and study properly under
these Masters and understand the spirit and mental philosophy of each style. This is a key
part in keeping traditional Karate alive and well.
KYUNA SENSEI: For Shorin-ryu it would be Naifanchi Kata. To practice Naifanchi you only
need a small, straight line space – it doesn’t need a lot of room. You should also practice basic punching in the air.
It has to be Sanchin. You can definitely practice Sanchin in only
10 minutes. Sanchin gives you breathing power, physical power and mental power and
even 5 or 10 minutes each day will be beneficial. Then practice basic punching, kicking
and blocking techniques. Anywhere, any time! Everywhere is a Dojo. Today my hotel room
is my Dojo! [laughs]
Chojun Miyagi Sensei said one of the best things about Karate is that you don’t need too
much space or too much time and you can do it anytime. Morning, afternoon, evening, any
time is a good time. You can be asleep and train inside you mind! [laughs]
KYUNA SENSEI: Judo, Kendo, Sumo, etc, you need a partner to practice, but the beauty
of Karate-do is that you can do it by yourself, anytime of the day or night.
HIGAONNA SENSEI: The most important part is that you continue. You fight the battle
against yourself. You don’t need a partner, the best enemy is yourself.
Thank you to Master Higaonna & Master Kyuna for
taking the time to share their wisdom with Karate-ka
around the world
A TRIBUTE FOR THE 75th
BIRTHDAY OF OUR SENSEI
September 2013 marked the 50 years milestone of
non-stop Karate Do practice for the Chief
Instructor of South Africa, Sensei Bakkies
Laubscher.
To commemorate this milestone, an International
three day Gasshuku with his teacher and mentor
for 47 of those years, Sensei Morio Higaonna, will
be held in his hometown of Stellenbosch on 1, 2
and 3 May 2014 – kicking off with a Welcome
Party on 30th April 2014. The Gasshuku will include separate training sessions for members of all
grades including juniors of all ages, similar to the
2010 'Ubuntu' event. This will be an opportunity
for all IOGKF members to experience the best tuition in Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate by the current
top teachers worldwide. Make sure you do not
miss this opportunity!
His career briefly: Sensei Bakkies started off in the Kyokushin style, end of 1963, then changed
to Shotokan (JKA) mid 1964 and became a Black Belt in July1965, at the time, possibly the
youngest senior (adult) Black Belt worldwide in JKA. To put this in perspective, in the same
year he won the Cape Province Grand Champion title (best in Kata and Fighting) in the open
senior division - there were no weight categories!
At the end of 1966 he changed to Goju Ryu when it was introduced in South Africa and has followed his teacher and mentor, Higaonna Morio Sensei ever since. He is currently Higaonna Sensei's most senior student worldwide and has taught Goju Ryu in 25 countries to date!
He considers himself blessed in the sense that he always had exceptional teachers throughout his
career in all three disciplines, for example, Sensei’s Kase and Shirai in JKA, with of course the
ultimate being Sensei Higaonna Morio - his personal mentor and teacher for the past 47 years.
His philosophy remains that it is not the style of Karate, but the Teacher that will ensure
progress.
He considers friendships amongst sincere Karate Ka as another blessing. No matter what style
or school, good Karate Ka always respect each other.
Sensei Bakkies represented the South African All Styles Karate team in two World Championships. In 1972 in Paris, France, he advanced to the quarter finals in the individual fighting division - there was no kata division at this tournament and no weight or age categories - just one big
open Kumite division. In the 1975 World Championships in Long Beach, USA, he only took part
in the team event, the South African team losing narrowly to England, the eventual World
Champions, with the English team featuring well known Karate Ka such as Terry O'Neill,
Tickey Donovan and Brian Fitkin.
After his sporting career he decided that Karate was a Martial Art and that the way sport karate
was headed, together with commercial exploitation, would lead to the disapearance of lethal
fighting skills, traditional 'mind forging' training intensity, intrinsic values and personal
development. Traditional Karate was the only true pursuit to preserve the essence of the Art!
For the sake of short term objectives for juniors and young people, he devised the current tournament system used by IOGKFSA to preserve interest and motivation in younger members until such time as a student reaches 'Karate maturity' and realizes the real nature of the Art lies in
one's own ability and growth as a person and not in achievements. 'Not what you have
achieved, but what you have become!'
During his journey, he has met and befriended some of the famous names in the Martial Arts,
one who made a lasting impression being the leading western authority on Budo, the late Don
Dreager. FOR MORE INFO ON NEXT YEARS CELEBRATIONS & EARLY BIRD RATES:
The last few months has seen IOGKF International
achieve many milestones. Higaonna Sensei is turning 75
years old, Sensei Bakkies has reached 50 years of training and IOGKF England (EGKA) is celebrating its 40th
Anniversary.
However in October 2013, another ground breaking
milestone was achieved, when Sensei Linda Marchant
became the first female in the entire history of the
IOGKF to obtain the rank of 7th Dan; an achievement not
only for Goju-ryu, but martials arts everywhere. Everything from major newspapers in the United Kingdom,
social media sites and even martial arts magazines like
this one have celebrated her accomplishment.
Sensei Linda stood tall and performed everything that
her male counterparts were also required pass to succeed in their gradings. Her constant training and determination has lead to her becoming one of IOGKF International’s most popular characters and has forged a
path for women within Karate’s history books.
But it hasn’t always been like this. Women’s involvement in martial arts, Karate in particular, has only come
about in the last 50 or so years. Now with so many talented and inspiring female martial artists
across the globe today, it is difficult to fathom that until recently it was a man’s world – full stop.
To understand this we need to look back to a different time. Until World War II and the American involvement in the battle of Okinawa, Karate wasn’t a household word. Prior to this, the culture of Japan ran along the lines stated in the famous James Bond movie ‘you only live twice’ “In Japan Men
come first, Women come second”.
The women of the family were responsible for the cooking,
cleaning and caring for the children. A harsh sounding reality,
but on the western side of the globe, a women’s role was basically playing out the same way.
According to all historical records available today, Chojun Miyagi Sensei (the founder of Goju-ryu Karate-ka) did have female
children, but none of them were ever taught or permitted to
train. Miyagi Sensei’s wife, Makoto Miyagi, was a great support
to her husband and would often socialise with students before
and after training took place at her home, but never actually
trained in Karate.
As the war ended, the Americans returned home and many soldiers took with them, the art of Karate. It rapidly became popular
throughout America and the rest of the western world and competition fighting drew much attention. Oknawan instructors
such as Kyuna Choko Sensei (Shorin Ryu Master) visited
America in the 1970’s to teach and popularize Karate.
By coincidence it was around this time that the ‘second wave’ of the women’s equal rights revolution
began to run its course in the west and spread across to the east where Japan adopted similar principles.
Although it is not known who was the first ever female Karate-ka, there have certainly been notable
exponents across the globe who have made a name for themselves in amongst the ranks of the
world best.
Its seems strange to think that even 50 years ago there were no female Dojo instructors, black belts
or even beginners! It is not until you think like this that you can fully appreciate and understand the
magnitude of the journey of incredible women like Sensei Linda Marchant and other countless females involved in Karate across the world. Each Karate-ka has their own story and each one has
been an integral part to changing the belief that Karate was only a man’s world, when today we know
that it is certainly not.
IOGKF International has many, many outstanding female martial artists across the globe and Sensei
Linda Marchant is the fantastic role model to which they can aspire too. IOGKF International proudly
shares a summary of Sensei Linda’s personal journey as a tribute to her achievement.
Born on the Isle of Wight, at the age of 10 her mother took her to Judo classes in
hopes to tame her energetic nature. After 8 years she began training in Wado-ryu Karate as a more traditional training approach appealed to her. Sports of any kind attracted Sensei Linda and while playing rep hockey in London, she decided the facilities in the capital where going to help her achieve the next level. She found Goju-ryu
and trained with Sensei George Andrews and combined with her other activities was
exercising up to three times per day. She went on to win National, European and International championships. Two days before her 5th Dan grading Sensei Linda snapped
her Achilles tendon, but this wouldn’t stop her determination and she recovered to become the IOGKF’s leading female exponent and in 2013 achieved 7th Dan Black Belt,
the first women to ever do so. Now a senior instructor in the EGKA, Sensei Linda has
become a role model for both male and female members world wide.
By: Alessandro Romagnoli - IOGKF Italy
The European Gasshuku 2013 was hosted in Italy, in the beautiful and picturesque city
of Catania, Sicily. For IOGKF Italy it has been an honor and a joy to be able to organize
this important event. Under the guidance of Paolo Taigō Spongia Sensei, our entire
community has been able to participate and share the many responsibilities that constitute the Gasshuku.
A special merit we owe, no doubt, to Beppe Manzari Sensei, the real director of the organizational machine: from the reception of the many guests who came from different
parts of the world to the extraordinary sensitivity with which he has been able to find
solutions for any kind of trouble any similar event entails - as you can imagine. For all
of us a good example of patience, dedication and efficiency.
For me, who could follow
from the "inside" the administrative aspects of the
reception and registration of
the numerous students and
teachers arrived in Italy for
the meeting of the great
IOGKF family, it is also important to emphasize the big
commitment exerted by the
young people from our
federation who responded
enthusiastically whenever asked to perform important duties, so that everything could
be efficient and in order.
Finally, thanks to all guests for being so kind to understand and excuse some of our difficulties or unintentional mishap, and for helping us to overcome unexpected troubles:
this, I think, is an essential element of the spirit that animates the whole IOGKF community, from north to south, from east to west .
Many people among those who, like me, usually participate in international gasshukus,
have often been wondering and discussing with each other, what is the special ingredient, or even the "secret", that makes this international meetings such a formidable
moment.
Over the years, my perception of this
“something” has changed within myself and I
think it is the same for many other practitioners.
There is undoubtedly a social and emotional
element that emerges from meeting with
other practitioners. The pleasure of workingout hard and together, under the kind gaze
of so many experienced teachers, gives participants new invigorating energy and, of
course, provides many ideas and insights to
work on for a full year. And this already
would be enough. In addition, the possibility
of sharing moments of pleasant informality is
not to be underestimated – indeed, the rest
of our life is also made up of convivial moments, a day at the beach, a nice meal together and a good pint of beer. But the fact
that this happens at the end of a day spent
working-out together, punctuated by the
same rhythms, gives these simple moments a
special aura. A new focus and a necessary bath
in humility.
A separate mention is to be given to the
study that each one of us has the opportunity
to carry out through the careful observation
of a "giant" such as Higaonna Sensei. Indeed,
this topic deserves the writing of a book in
itself. I do not want to refer to the technical aspects, stubborn, of an inspirational father,
who clearly shows to have an enviable physical and mental shape and a "heart" that even
the best young athletes struggle to achieve.
At the height of optimal or adverse conditions, this man seems to tap into something
that is not of this world. I hope that with this statement I do not seem exaggerated or
insane. I'm not talking about magic. Nor is adulation moving my fingers on the keyboard as I write.
I allude to that part of our experience that cannot be reported by words, by a thought
that observes from the "outside”. It is therefore hard for me to find adequate words. We
are in the presence of a testimony. A concrete body that has made himself available to
be forged by an extraordinary practice over time. And time is the practice itself. We’re
no longer dealing with a person with a name and surname. Here is where I find the very
heart of this practice. Seeking to grasp, through his example, what this man sees, and
trying to put myself in that position in order to see something that won’t be the same
but will, given my own experience, provide the key to my practice. I would even go as
far as to say that this clearly indicates to me that beyond the experience of each individual karateka karate does not exist.
There’s no doubt that the organisation can and must protect even the smallest aspects
of this treasure, but the gust of wind that moves our karategi is the “something” whose
presence can be perceived even though its form cannot be touched. Sensei Higaonna is
a true master in this sense, because to my eyes he is capable of disappearing into the
sweat of his exertion, without leaving a trace. This is also an enormous act of love towards his students, by ensuring that they can’t fall into the illusion of assuming that it
is enough to be able to call oneself a student of a great master. Because at that precise
moment, nothing would remain but the dust of a “great master that wasn’t there”.
JULY 28th
Aug 1st
2014
EUROPEAN
GASSHUKU
HAVE YOU MADE YOUR PLANS?
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This Gasshuku had a special feel about it from
the moment the idea was conceived, a feeling
born of historic prestige and achievement. 40
years is worth celebrating for any organisation
but for the EGKA the journey has been very
special, a journey inspired and led by some of
the finest martial artists past and present.
A total of 462 individual Karate-ka registered for
the Gasshuku Including representatives from
Denmark, Spain, Iceland, Scotland, France &
Belgium.
On the English Goju-Ryu Karate Association
(EGKA) webpage set up for the Gasshuku
Sensei Ernie voiced his thoughts It seems a life time ago when Sensei James
Rousseau formed what was to become the
EGKA in1973, and it is a testament to all the
people over the last four decades who have
contributed so much to make the
Association the success we all enjoy today.
I hope you will join me in Liverpool to enjoy what promises to be a very special long
weekend of celebrations and training. Training will be led by Sensei Higaonna, assisted
by Senseis Tetsuji Nakamura, Roy Flatt, Paul Nolan and myself.
It was also good to see a number of other students from other associations and styles, all-in-all
though the turn-out not necessarily a surprise given the list high calibre of the instructors that
Sensei Ernie explained above.
Pre-Gasshuku
For those of us lucky enough to attend the Thursday evening class held at Sensei Roy’s Childwall dojo, which was graced with the presence of both Sensei Nakamura and Sensei Ernie.
With the class split into seniors and juniors with Sensei Ernie taking the Seniors for the first half
whilst Sensei Nakamura took the junior grades and then swapped around for the second half.
The time just vanished as Sensei Ernie led the class through kumite drills followed by Sensei
Nakamura leading the Seniors through Sepai kata, emphasising the use of both Go and Ju
techniques.
During the spring Gasshuku Sensei Nakamura left people in awe of his ability, impeccable technique delivered with a power and a grace that pushed that boundaries of what appears possible. Yet during his appearance in Liverpool for the Anniversary Gasshuku, Sensei Nakamura left
a lasting impression showing that his command of Goju Ryu has visibly grown beyond even
what we witnessed in the Spring. They say a good teacher teaches but a great teacher inspires,
given the heritage of IOGKF, the ability to deliver such inspiration has to be an essential requirement, one that Sensei Nakamura is clearly in command of. The future of the IOGKF is certainly
in safe hands.
Friday
Friday evening was reserved for Dan
grades only and was led by Saiko
Shihan Morio Higaonna. Participants all
turned up in good time eager for the
commencement of this special
Gasshuku and the opportunity to train
with one of the worlds leading karate
masters. It was great to see so many
people in attendance and also to reconnect with so many friends from various
Gasshuku’s around the world. The session ran from 18:00 to 21:00 hours and
commenced with the unique IOGKF
Junbi Undo (preparation exercises) with
emphasis placed on correct performance with Sensei Higaonna providing detailed explanations
on correct posture, breathing, timing and the use of the hips.
Sensei Higaonna led from the front inspiring students not only with his exemplary technique but
also with a speed, power and spirit that belies his age and reinforces his status as one of the
foremost Karate Masters of our time. During this part of the session Sensei explained that
Junbi Undo is a fundamental part of Goju Ryu karate, that whilst the routine was designed to
warm up and prepare the mind and body for Karate practice, the techniques themselves are
part and parcel of the system and need to be executed with exactly the same gusto and attention to detail as that required in any other Karate technique.
Following the Junbi Undo Sensei Higaonna then led the Dan grades through kihon (basics),
with particular emphasis on a spirited delivery of basic tsuki (punching) and uke (blocking)
techniques with speed and power. Particular emphasis was given to the importance of relaxation in delivering fast technique, culminating in continuos relaxed fura-tsuki’s (short punches)
and age-tsuki’s.
The final part of the evening was dedicated to the practice of Sanchin kata where Sensei Higaonna demonstrated correct movement and breathing. Sensei emphasised the importance of
keeping the feet in full contact with the floor throughout the Kata and the need to keep elbows
tightly in position to protect the ganka. Sensei Higaonna made particular emphasis to the importance of correct posture then went on to explain 3 types of breathing - tandem, chest and
stomach and their relevance both during and post performance of Sanchin
kata. Like all good things in life the evening flew, culminating with a hearty applause from a hall fall of hot, sweaty
and happy karateka.
Saturday
A junior session was held between
10:15 to 11:15 hours on the Saturday
morning and was carefully co-ordinated
to ensure the continued smooth running
of the weekend.
The Saturday adult/cadet session commenced at 12:00 hours and ran through to 16:00. This
time Sensei Ernie led the Gasshuku through Junbi Undo before handing over to Sensei Higaonna for a session on Kihon (basics). The front line was made up of senior IOGKF grades
with over half the line made up from 6th and 7th Dan’s from all over Europe including Sensei
Luis Nunes (Chief Instructor, Spain), Sensei Torben Svendsen (Denmark), Sensei Linda Marchant (London) who has recently returned from gaining her 7th Dan at the Okinawa Chief Instructors Gasshuku, Sensei Peter Galer (Birkenhead), Sensei Steve Gouldson (Shinzato),
Sensei Mike Draper (Liverpool), Sensei Steve Hallam (12 Quays), Sensei Nigel Thomas
(London), Sensei Neville Kinghorn (London), Sensei Felix Nelson (London). The seniors
spread out amongst the hall to provide further help and inspiration for the lower grades.
Sensei Higaonna continued the themes from the previous evening, giving all the Dan grades
the opportunity to practice and consolidate on the lessons learned from Friday. Following approximately an hour the kihon session a short break was introduced prior to the Gasshuku being split into groups according to grade. Then as the weekend progressed the Gasshuku
instructors took turns with each of the groups.
For 4th Dan and above the first session was led by Sensei Ernie who led the group through the
finer points of Seisan kata. Sensei Ernie broke the kata down into sections, emphasising the
key points in the execution of the techniques in each through explanation and demonstration
then drilling these in to the group through repeated practice. Following the Kata Sensei Ernie
then took the class through the kihon bunkai (basic applications) of Sepei. Sensei Ernie
ramped up the pace of the Bunkai and built the applications up to achieve a more fluid transition through the correct sequence of the Bunkai, reflecting the style of Bunkai delivery that
Sensei Ernie has now built into the grading syllabus. For the Bunkai I was partnered off with
Sensei Tony Smith from Herefordshire. It was a pleasure to train with Sensei Tony again, the
last time I partnered him was during the 2004 Budosai in Okinawa bringing back some great
memories. Unfortunately time was against us and despite the pace driven by Sensei Ernie we
ran out of time before we could complete the full sequence of all of the Kihon Bunkai.
The final session on Saturday for 4th Dan and above was taken by Sensei Roy who continued
the kata and bunkai theme with Kururunfa. This time I partnered someone I’d not met before,
Sensei Klaus from Denmark. Sensei Klaus was excellent to train with and very much reinforced
what I’d come to expect from Danish IOGKF, excellent technique, fast, powerful and a great attitude. It was a real pleasure to partner Klaus as we tore into the bunkai with gusto.
Once again the training time flew by and the session came to an end. All in all a great day of
training surrounded by like-minded Karate-ka who exemplify the IOGKF family.
Saturday Night
Some of the Karateka headed off to the
heart of a city on Saturday night to take
advantage of the many fine restaurants,
bars and clubs. But for those of us fortunate enough to have and invitation to
the Instructors dinner we made our way
to the Palm Sugar Lounge at the the top
of Liverpool One (the new city centre
shopping centre). Palm Sugar is one of
Liverpool’s top restaurants offering Thai
food in luxurious and exotic surroundings.
The instructors were treated to an
excellent performance by international
opera singer Natsuko Mineghishi
accompanied by Haruna Takebe on piano. This was a special gift from Sensei Higaonna who
had flown Natsuko all the way from Australia and Haruna from Spain in order to deliver a
unique performance to mark the 40th Anniversary of the EGKA. Classic Italian and Japanese
operatic songs followed by local classics including the Beatles ‘Norweigan Wood’ & the
Liverpool Football Club anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
Following this the guests were led to their tables to enjoy a first class Thai banquet, before
finishing back in the bar area for a few well deserved drinks to round off the evening.
Sunday:
The Sunday session commenced with Sensei Roy leading the Gasshuku through Junbi Undo,
again with the senior grades spreading out amongst the hall to assist participants where required. This led on to the Kihon session with Sensei Higaonna issuing those familiar phrases
‘Moichido!’ and ‘Challenge yourself!’.
As this Sunday is a special day in the United Kingdom where we remember those who have
lost their lives in wars fighting for their country. On this day it is customary to hold a moment of
silence at 11:00 hours and so Sensei Ernie brought the Gasshuku to a pause to pay our
respects.
Following the minute’s silence there was the a short break
before we moved back into our groups. For 4th Dan and
above we moved to Sensei Paul’s group and commenced
an excellent matt work session where we partnered off to
run through a variety of practical self-defence situations.
Again I was fortunate to partner off with Sensei Klaus from
Denmark we soon built up a hard sweat working through numerous sequences often ending in throws or take-downs.
Sensei Paul encouraged everyone to utilise their experience
as senior grades by responding naturally and pragmatically
to improvise on the basic technique.
The final session for our group was with Sensei Higaonna
who led the group through Suparinpei, the longest and most
senior kata in the Goju Ryu system. Sensei initially took the
group through the entire kata, scrutinising our performance
and then breaking it down section by section. Each section
was repeated many times, ‘Moichido… Moichido’ giving
students an opportunity to practice and embed the points
covered by Sensei Higaonna. Sensei reinforced aspects from Sanchin kata that bear relevance
to Suparinpei, such as maintaining good posture and keeping the feet flush to the floor whilst
stepping. He also emphasised points arounds speed, timing and use of the tandem in
various parts of the form.
At the close of training the attendee’s were treated to a superb demonstration. It commenced
with a unique performance by Natsuko Mineghishi, combining her talents in both karate and
singing with an operatic take on four Shotokan kata, narrated by Shotokan legend Sensei Terry
O’Neill.
This was followed by IOGKF Chief Instructor Sensei Tetsuji Nakamura who demonstrated an
exemplary performance of Suparenpei, the most advanced Kata of the Goju Ryu school of
Karate.
Next, IOGKF Vice Chief Instructor and Chief Instructor of the EGKA Sensei Ernie Molyneux
performed Sanchin, the fundamental kata of Goju Ryu, whilst being tested by IOGKF Saiko
Shihan Morio Higaonna in what can only be described as a masters demonstration of both the
kata and the shime (testing).
S e n s e i Higaonna then moved on to an impressive demonstrate Kakie (Goju style pushing hands), the power and grace in which Sensei Higaonna applied a combination of locks
and strikes exerting total control and judging by
the odd facial expression, a modicum of pain to
his partner. A demonstration all the more impressive when you realise the quality of his
partner, Sensei Torben Svensen, 6th Dan,
IOGKF from Denmark.
The demonstration concluded with a
demonstration of something that Sensei
Higaonna has become famous for, conditioning
against a rock . The rock was supplied by
Sensei Peter Galer (6th Dan EGKA,
Birkenhead Dojo), and bravely held in place
by Sensei Luis Nunes (IOGKF Chief Instructor
for Spain) and Sensei Mike Smith (4th Dan
EGKA, Hooton Dojo) as Sensei Higaonna
enthusiastically pummelled the rock with a
multitude of strikes from the Goju Ryu syllabus
Sunday Night
The Gasshuku was formally closed in the traditional manner with a Sayonara Party held at
the Alicia Hotel on Aigburth Drive in Liverpool. The party was well attended and the Alicia put
on a fine spread of plentiful food, which was well received by Karateka having built a good appetite from the previous 3 days of hard training. People relaxed and enjoyed the evening which
included a slideshow of photographs reflecting the lifetime of the EGKA, bringing back memories of youth, and courtesy of moustaches and afro’s, a dab of fashion trends through the
decades. Sensei Ernie was presented with a large birthday cake to mark the 40 years of the
EGKA and the celebrations went on long into the evening as people reflected on a superb
Gasshuku and on the great achievement of EGKA, here’s looking forward to the next 40 and
may it continue to grow from strength to strength!
From start to finish the event ran smoothly and was clearly seen as a great success by all who
attended. A big thank you to all of the Gasshuku instructors to Sensei Ernie, Sensei Roy and
Sensei Paul from EGKA and especially to Sensei Higaonna and Sensei Nakamura who travelled from Okinawa and Canada respectively, to provide first class instruction and inspiration to
all the participants. The final word must be to congratulate Sensei Ernie and Sensei Roy both
organising an excellent Gasshuku and
on their leadership and commitment that
has built the EGKA into the great
organisation that it is today!
Article & Photos By: Guy Keen - EGKA
Letters to the Editor is one of our newest edition to IOGKF Magazine. This section gives you,
the reader, the opportunity to respond to the articles we publish. You can have your say and
share your thoughts on anything printed. All you have to do is email your letter to the IOGKF
International Editor at: [email protected]
Be sure to include your name, grade, age, member country and the title of the article you wish
to respond too. Please check with your chief Instructor or senior Dojo instructor to gain
permission before responding.
We asked our Facebook group members for their Sensei or other great
teachers best training quotes or philosophies!
“Pain is weakness leaving the body” -Unknown
From: Soren Ravn Larsen - Denmark
(when applying a wrist lock) “90 degrees + 90 degrees = Pain”
- Sensei Joe Roses From: David Lambert - Australia
“One day of practice is like one day of clean living. It doesn’t do
you any good.” - Lombardi From: Bernie Morrison - Australia
“Hard training, easy combat. Easy Training, Hard Combat.”
- Marshal Suvorov From: Bernie Morrison - Australia
Sensei Ernie Molyneux is an 8th
Dan Black Belt & IOGKF World
Vice-Chief Instructor. He is head
instructor for England (EGKA)
and has over 40 years of martial
arts experience. A European &
World Tournamanet Champion,
along with frequent trips to the
Higaonna Karate Dojo in Okinawa
has given him a unique and rare
perspective on all things Gojuryu. His popularity as an guest
has seen him visit many nations
& develop a very high skill level.
For those who do not understand the magnitude of
Higaonna Sensei’s achievements, what can you tell us?
SENSEI ERNIE: Well for starters Higaonna Sensei has been recognised as a living cultural
treasure for his contributions towards martial arts or Karate basically. If you are talking rank
wise, Sensei has graded from white belt to 3rd Dan when he was 19 after many of training.
As for when the IOGKF started, I believe Sensei was a 7th Dan. He was this rank when he
first came to England for EGKA in 1977 and Chinen Sensei was 6th Dan.
This was the first time I’d seen and trained with Higaonna Sensei, but we in England has
been training with Chinen Sensei since 1972. But Higaonna Sensei had actually been to
England in 1973. He was with Terry O’Neil and Gary Spires, and I can’t quite remember,
but Bakkies Sensei might have also been with them. Either way, they stopped into Liverpool on their way to the world Karate championships in Paris.
As for the IOGKF itself it was formed in Poole in England in 1979, but as for the countries
affiliated with Higaonna Sensei prior to this South Africa had been following him since 1969
and England was from around 1977. But people from our Dojo’s in England were going
over to England to train with Higaonna Sensei at the Yoyogi Dojo even before that. English
guys like Graham Ravey and Steve Bellamay were there for extended periods.
But even pushing grades aside, being at such a high level and in such high demand for so
long is a true testament to Higaonna Sensei.
Now, some 35 plus years later, Higaonna Sensei has
stepped back from the role of World Chief Instructor
and promoted Sensei Tetsuji Nakamura as his
replacement.
Can you explain the significance of this move?
SENSEI ERNIE: I think it was a really wise move, personally. If look at a lot of the other
really big Karate associations, across a variety of styles too, once the figure head either
passes away or retires completely there tends to be suddenly be too many chiefs and everyone wants to be in charge. So basically what Higaonna Sensei had done has had a look
at where he is in life and has decided to appoint Nakamura Sensei, obviously for his youth
and technical abilities. Higaonna Sensei has then asked seniors like Bakkies Sensei, Terauchi Sensei, Sensei Henrik and I to support Nakamura Sensei in his journey to become
the world chief instructor.
Even though his current title is World Chief Instructor, he knows himself he still has some
way to go. And Nakamura Sensei is actually very, very open minded in that respect and he
will take on board advice from the other seniors and I. Our next step is to try and push him
more to the forefront now. For example, we really want to see him out the front with him.
Higaonna Sensei at the big Gasshuku’s. When Higaonna Sensei kneels down, we think
Nakamura Sensei should be out the front there with him.
When Higaonna Sensei formed the IOGKF, he still had possibly up to ten seniors to him in
Okinawa. Master such as Kina Sensei and even Miyazato Sensei at the time, and of
course Anichi Miyagi Sensei and Shuichi Aragaki Sensei were all his seniors and were
listed as such, but Higaonna Sensei was the chief instructor because he was obviously the
most active out of everyone
This is exactly the same with us currently seniors and Nakamura Sensei.
Where do you see the IOGKF heading in this new era?
Is it along the same path or in a new direction?
SENSEI ERNIE: I think it’s our job as chief instructors and more so us as executive committee members and seniors of IOGKF to basically continue to steer the Federation on its
current path. We have many, many good senior instructors in many, many countries and I
think what we need to do is make sure that we are all heading in the same direction.
Personally I think we need to have tournaments of one form or another, because otherwise
we’re going to lose too many youngsters. I think we need to have some kind of Iri Kumi
competition or something along those lines, and then we get together and have a World
tournaments every set amount of years. The countries themselves would have to push the
tournaments, not necessarily to have fighters travel to different countries or in open tournaments, but just so it gives the youth a want to compete. If they want to compete in point
sparring competitions or other comps, that’s fine. In England we have members who want
to do both, but unfortunately because we do practice traditional Karate and we have some
much to cover like Kata, Kakies, Bunkai, etc, Kumite is not really the main objective. So
unless you get someone who is very, very talented you won’t get someone who will win
these open competitions.
So I think that’s another step to strengthen IOGKF in the junior ranks.
Do you think because of this, IOGKF needs its own set
of tournament rules?
I don’t think it is so much the rules. In the past we’ve had lots of seniors who are high level
referees in their own country and they’ve actually helped us in formulating sets of rules. But
it’s not so much the rules themselves, it’s getting the referees to all be on the same page
and use the rules in exactly the same way. Generally what happens is what one referee
deems as too much contact, another referee will think that’s ok. What one referee will accept as contact, another referee won’t and that’s basically what it is like in different parts of
the world.
We have some countries where they like to have a higher level of contact and other countries that think there shouldn’t be any contact at all. What we actually need to do is try and
even it out a little bit and find a happy medium between the two, because when we have a
world tournament, we’re going to have good fighters disqualified, not through any fault of
their own, but because they’ve just been used to making heavier contact or they get hurt
because they’re not used to having any contact. The bottom line is if you haven’t got an
even playing field, you can’t really have a fair tournament.
As for teaching, say you have a students who come into
the Dojo young and is quite tournament orientated and
trains like that for years and then suddenly becomes to
get board, how do you steer them towards traditional
Karate?
Well if they do start to become board with the tournament side of things, you really should
have make sure that they actually have a real love for training itself. You know they really
have to have a thirst for knowledge and you create this by not feeding them too much too
early. I am not saying you should keep people in the dark by not showing them your Kata
and things like that, I think that would also be the wrong approach. But you can only fill a
glass so far before its starts dripping over the side and losing things, so you need to find a
good balance and only give them so much at a time.
However, if you do have someone like that who is very talented and board of tournament
Karate, you can ask them to start helping with teaching. Because sometimes instructing
can also give you a greater insight into Kata, different combinations and techniques and it
will help to give you a better understanding and depth of knowledge of the actual style
itself. So each situation is different.
Now IOGKF International is such a big organization and
there are so many talented senior instructors amongst
its ranks, do you think member countries should bring
a variety of guests to their shores, or just try and stick
with one visiting instructor?
I think if you are looking at Kata, each
country needs to look to Higaonna Sensei
and then of course to Nakamura Sensei,
because obviously Nakamura Sensei has
modelled himself on Higaonna Sensei’s
technique. So I think if they want to learn
the Kata’s they really need to go to
Okinawa.
We have such a variety of instructors with
such a wide range of abilities that I think it is
good to do a rotation of guest instructors. In
England and also Denmark for example, we
always rotate the guest instructors.
For lower grades its a big deal if one instructor teaches the Kata with their hand here and
another with their hand there. But for seniors its different attitude, they take into account
peoples body shapes. Like I’m not six foot six inches tall and because they’re really tall they
might not be able to do a good Shiko Dachi or vice versa. I think though as you get a little
more mature its important just to accept little things like that and get on with it and don’t
make a big deal about something if it is slightly different.
The truth is, none of us are like Higaonna Sensei or even like how Higaonna Sensei was
when we first started training, but all we can do is strive to reach the goal of the level of
perfection he has in his technique.
With training, how do you get the most improvement?
Is it attending big Gasshuku’s or training in Okinawa or
just Dojo training?
For me personally, on most big Gasshuku’s I’m usually teaching, but there is generally
training in the mornings with Higaonna Sensei for black belts before the Gasshuku starts.
Whether we’re covering Sanchin or senior Kata, whatever it is, I always find I pick
something up. Even if it is only one thing in one Kata I always make a note of it and when I
go back home I think to myself I need to sort that out.
Obviously I get more if I personally go to Japan and train with Sensei, because it’s me on
the floor putting that many more hours of my own training in. But I do also really enjoy
training with my own students. I train with them every day and some of them are very, very
dedicated. Whether we’re doing fitness training, bag work, fighting, Kata, Bunkai, Kakie
and other different aspects I enjoy that side of training too. In the day time, I train for me
and at night I try to teach and those who join me during the day, they basically have to just
go along with me.
Well speaking of your own time during the day, are you
training then and do you have a certain routine?
Yes I do. Generally I try and work it so say on a Monday morning I would just go to like a
regular gym and do some cardio training and some weight training and maybe do some
bag work of Kata afterwards. Then Monday night I would teach at the Dojo, which is a senior class, but depending on what we are doing, I’ll try and get involved with the training too.
On Tuesday mornings its the same thing again and some of my students might come and
train with me and I’ll just do my general fitness routine for between 40 minutes to an hour
and then do Karate based training for an hour or even longer if I have something coming up
like a big Gasshuku or I’m off to teach somewhere.
It’s basically the same routine day to day it’s just the training that varies. But I try to keep it
so that my level doesn’t drop, so I never have to struggle to get back to fitness, unless I
have an injury. I always try to keep myself at a reasonable fitness level.
Then on Tuesday nights I teach a beginners class. There are some black belts there, but
they are generally the ones how are back after having some time off and are getting geared
up to return to the senior classes
On Wednesday morning, sometimes I go to a boxing gym and I’ll do basically pad work,
bag work, sparring, etc for a couple of hours. Thursday mornings I train again and I basically follow the same day to day routine again and again. As for the weekends, if I’m not
teaching somewhere, I’ll train again on Saturday and Sunday. This is usually once, sometimes twice just depends on family commitments. If there’s nothing going on or my wife is
away, I’ll go a couple of times.
You were talking about black belts who have had time
off coming back to training. World wide there seems to
be a lot of people who used to train coming back into
the organisation. Do you think chasing up the people
who have stopped for a while due to family or other
commitments is something member countries should be
doing?
Yes I do. What generally happens is when someone
has a week of the instructor tends to notice and if it
becomes a fortnight you think ‘I wonder where
they’ve gone’? If it gets to a month and you don’t
contact them, you can actually lose them. What you
should do as an instructor, after a fortnight or so is
get in contact with them and just ask how they are,
say I haven’t seen you for a while, hope to see you
soon, I hope everything is ok. You don’t have to be
pushy and say where are you, it’s certainly not that
type of thing. A lot of people do martial arts or Karate
as a hobby and they don’t what to be pushed. If you
ring up saying, ‘where are you? Why aren’t you at
the Dojo?’ then it becomes like they feel like they
have to turn up. You should never make it like that.
But having said that it is a two way street. If you
have people showing up every blue moon, they can’t
expect to be graded. It’s a bit like a double edged
sword if you will.
With people who are going to have a bit of a lay off or a break because they’re getting married or they’re off to university, whatever it is, if they do decide to come back, you should
provide for them to train. I know that in the past, even in my own Dojo, people have come
back after a long layoff and a lot of the other black belts think that is open season on them.
This is no good, because they won’t go back. It can also lead to an animosity feeling in the
Dojo or almost like there are two groups which isn’t how it should be. You can try to avoid it,
but unfortunately it’s not always that easy, all you can do is try and make it friendly for everybody.
From the 12th to 15th September 2013, in Moscow the most important event for all karateka in
Russia was held. The Euro-Asian Gashshuku under the guidance of Morio Higaonna Sensei, with
Tetsuji Nakamura Sensei, Masakazu Kuramoto Sensei and Ernie Molyneux Sensei was set to be an
event to remember.
On the 12th of September Morio Higaonna Sensei, Ernie Sensei, Nakamura Sensei and Kuramoto
Sensei visited IOGKF Russia Honbu Dojo – “Higaonna Dojo”,which was opened in 2011 by leader of
IOGKF Russia, Sensei Bogdan Kurilko. All of the senior level instructors were impressed by the new
home of Russian IOGKF. On this day training was for 3rd Dan and above.
The next day, in a modern sports complex in the south-west of Moscow, we began basic training. All
participants were divided into four groups according to the colour of their belts. Within four hours of
training each group had time to practice with three of the four Teachers. As a result, through the
Gashuku, each participant received a wealth of knowledge and experience.
The seminar was attended by
representatives of not only Russian Goju
Ryu, but also representatives of
Kiekushinkay, Shito Ryu, Shotokan, Kosiki
and Ruei Ryu Karate.
The seminar was attended by 180
participants from 17 cities of Russia and 11
countries: England, Denmark, Czech
Republic, Bulgaria, UAE, Ukraine, Moldova,
Romania, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and
Tajikistan.
It is very difficult to describe the feelings of
a unique karate festival like this one. One word that comes to mind is Great!
During the breaks between trainings Morio Higaonna Sensei, Nakamura Sensei, Sensei Ernie and
Kuramoto Sensei visited the most famous Russian martial arts school - Sambo 70. Two months before
Higaonna Sensei visited, Sambo 70 was visited by President Putin.
On September 15th , in the evening , in a large theater, Sensei Bogdan Kurilko organised the first
Russian Okinawan martial art festival which involved representatives of Chinese martial arts from the
south of China, Russian representatives of Shorin Ryu , Uechi Ryu , Motobu Ryu Udun ti , Ryukyu
kobudo, Matayoshi kobudo and Bunbukan kobudo . In the second part of the combat show, over two
hours , Goju ryu representatives demonstrated our fighting arts . The most important and long-
Sensei Linda Marchant - IOGKF England (EGKA)
documented her experience at the Chief Instructors
Gasshuku in Okinawa via social media and it has been
shared below for IOGKF members...
Day one: of the Gasshuku and we are on the 2nd floor of the Budokan. It
has the smoothest of floors so there is no excuse for not performing a long
suri ashi, so much so that it is now challenging to stop!! The focus today
was on sanchin, tensho and kururunfa, with some suri ashi practice, block
and attack techniques, then kurarunfa applications. Thanks to Sensei Joe
Roses for being a great partner.
We also had a short lecture from the physio doctor who also treated some
of the participants with great success. They are all now able to move their
bodies better and some can sit in nekoashi for the first time in years!
I have now registered for my grading so countdown begins in earnest to
Friday afternoon. I dont know how many others there will be until tomorrow when registration closes.
Day two: and great sessions on Tensho, sepai and Suparimpei today. This is a very Zen Gasshuku as the schedule
changes every day so it tests your Zanchin (focus)! I managed to fit in a quick training session tonight just to run
through things in Sensei's dojo. Then I met up with Sensei Purvis Mistry from India and had a read of his new book
on Sanchin and we had a short study session on it. The book is truly wonderful and interesting and an easy to read
for such a technical subject.
Then we all met up with Sensei’s Ernie, Roy, Paul, Steve and Reena for dinner and have just finished having had
another study session with Sensei’s Roy and Zeenat on the art of cake selection and eating!!
Day three: we had a lecture with Minau Sensei on The importance of Nutrition. He advises the Japanese Olympic
Committee and the World Cup Soccer team. This was very technical and I took many notes.
Then I went home to prepare for the grading. I needed to wash my gi for the next day and have some lunch. I
walked to the dojo about 16.20 and waved to Higaonna Sensei on his balcony. I made sure that I was thoroughly
warmed up and then we started at 17.00 sharp. The panel consisted of Sensei’s Higaonna, Bakkies, Terauchi, Ernie,
Henrik and Nakamura. This is as serious as it gets with over 250 years of experience scrutinizing your every
move!!! We all performed all the katas, Sanchin, Tensho, Suparimpei applications and then Chishi, nigiri game,
kakie and some verbal questions. I then met up with Sensei Peter Lembke from Germany who was also testing, in
Mama sans for a snack! We were then joined by Sensei’s Roy, Paul, Steve and Reena. This was a nice way to finish
a busy day!!!
Today was the last session and it lived up to all our expectations. First hour Sanchin, then next hour plus, all kata
from Gekasai dai ichi to Sanseru. The last section was more body conditioning and ippon kumite. As we were on
the Judo tatami, ukemi and take downs were practiced. All washed down with jumping and clapping press ups
with a final session of body rolling!!
Then we had a short lecture on Higaonna Sensei' s history. His first visit to South Africa in 1972, and stories about
Bakkies Sensei, Terauchi Sensei, Uehara Sensei and Kokobo Sensei in Yoyogi dojo, Tokyo. There was even a
connection to Bruce Lee! The lecture concluded with Higaonna Sensei and Bakkies Sensei saying that the reason
they are still training is the people around them. Higaonna Sensei said that he felt a lot of energy from everyone
that inspires him to train hard. I would like to echo those sentiments. have loved every minute of this trip, first class training,
all the IOGKF family on form and Okinawa not failing to disappoint.
A Report by: Sensei Jorge Rivera & Sensei Manuel Easton
IOGKF Chile (Goju Do)
Last year coming back from the 2012 Budosai, we knew that we would participate in the “2013 Chief Instructor
Gasshuku” (CIG) in Okinawa. We knew it would be a great opportunity to improve our karate, train daily at the
honbu dojo and get acquainted with other Chief Instructors from around the world. What we did not know was
that this trip would last a whole month.
We committed for the 2013 CIG with Sensei Higaonna and Sensei Larsen, during the South American Gasshuku
(last April in Lima, Perú). Then during the MCF 2013 (in Canada) Sensei Nakamura confirmed that Sensei Higaonna
would be in his Naha Dojo for the whole month of October. It was later in August, when Sensei Nakamura visited
Chile, that we finished the last details of our trip to Japan.
We left on October 1st, with a long journey ahead of us. We flew west-ward from Chile crossing the date-change
line which made us jump 12 hours ahead of our local-time-of-departure. Thirty-six hours later with several stopovers we finally arrived in Okinawa on October 3rd- The jet lag was terrible the first few days. Those 12 hours of
time difference, made our bodies want to go to sleep in broad daylight and stay awake at nights!
Just a day after we arrived, so did Typhoon “Fitow”. Fortunately it missed Okinawa, but left a whole weekend of
pouring rain and strong winds. The weather was still very hot and the humidity off the typhoon´s rain, and it
made our first days of training at the Dojo even more unforgettable.
Classes at the Dojo were regularly held by Sensei Kuramoto, who was very kind and welcoming with us. Two other
karate-ka were also there for regular training: Reena Prasad (England) and Morten Christoffersen (Denmark). We
partnered with them for morning sessions when individual training is performed. A lot of the morning hours were
spent on supplemental exercises (hojo undo) and practicing Kata. It was during the night sessions when Sensei
Higaonna supervised the training. He dedicated long hours to observe and correct our technique (kihon, kata and
bunkai), explaining all details.
The first gasshuku participants started arriving the following week. The first ones were Sensei Kokubo (Perú), Sensei Linda Marchant (England) and Torben Svendsen and Jakob Kold (Denmark). Other sensei arrived later from
Germany, India, Moldova and Russia and we all trained daily at the Dojo. The energy of that group was incredible
and really made a difference in our performance, pushing us to train even harder.
We shared most of our “free time” with Sensei Kokubo. After the morning training we used to have lunch together
and after the night sessions we used to go to a small restaurant for gyozas and something to drink. He turned us
into fans of “ikasumi some”: a bowl of noodles darkened with squid ink and chunks of pork and fried squid with
garlic, that, plus a side of seaweed soup!
When the Gasshuku started on October 16, we had 55 karate-ka. The classes were held at the Budokan from 9
am to 1 pm, led by Sensei Higaonna himself. It’s hard to put into words Sensei´s dedication to teach each one of
us and his attention to detail.
Also during the Gasshuku there was a grading for higher yudansha grades. As always the results were given at
the Sayonara Party. Sensei Veiga and Moreira (from Portugal, students of sensei Monteiro) were awared 6th
Dan. Sensei Linda Marchant (England), Sensei Bobby Smith (Bermuda), Sensei Juichi Kokubo (Peru), Sensei Gene
Villa (USA) and Sensei Viktor Panasiuk (Moldova), were all promoted to 7th Dan. Congratulations to everyone!
In addition to the gasshuku, this year Sensei
Higaonna had something else prepared for us.
Complementing the technical instruction we had
classes at the honbu dojo with Sensei Sugimoto
Rendo, specialist in Amagi Thermal Therapy. His
instruction was aimed at alleviating tension and
healing injuries, to improve our performance and
physical power. Sensei Sugimoto treated Sensei
Monteiro, who had a muscle injury that prevented
him from doing high kicks. After a couple of sessions,
he experienced a noticeable improvement in is
flexibility. He also treated other karate-ka who
showed great results. We also attended a lecture
from Maeno Hiroyuki, a nutritionist at the Japan
Association of Clinical Nutrition, specializing in high
performance athletes. He did a presentation on
healthy eating habits and how small diet adjustments could dramatically improve performance,
quality of life and slowing the natural aging process.
When the Gasshuku was over, we returned to the
daily trainings at the honbu. Once again we had the
chance to practice under the watchful eye of
Higaonna Sensei, sometimes, as the only students in the dojo. What a wonderful and humbling experience!
On October 25th, we attended the celebrations of the International Day of Karate, at the Shuri Castle. The most
important karate schools in Okinawa and their grand masters performed demonstrations. The IOGKF presented
a team of okinawan karateka: Sensei Uehara, Sensei Kuramoto and Sensei Yamashiro did a great exhibition of
kata Shisochin. Later that night, it was time for the grand masters demo. Sensei Higaonna´s presentation was
superb. His energy and technical ability was observed by many people, who later, recognizing the red and black
kenkon in our jackets, approached us to congratulate us for our master! We lived another memorable experience in the streets of Naha. It was the 2013 Otsunahiki at the Naha Prefecture. It is a traditional tug-of-war competition done yearly, Japanese style. The main rope is massive; over 1 meter in diameter with narrower ropes
stemming from it, that competitors can pull along with other people (usually 10 per each smaller rope). In our
smaller rope we teamed up with Sensei Roberto Gil (Spain) and Sensei Kokubo (the most enthusiastic and serious competitor). We pulled, huffed and puffed for many minutes and even blistered our palms, but we are
happy to report that our side (East) won the competition, moving the opposing team about four meters.
Without a doubt, our trip to Okinawa was a memorable journey that will surely mark our DO. This experience
was not exempt from sacrifices (physical, emotional and also financial), but we are grateful for the opportunity
and enthusiastic about the feedback we received.
We now have the responsibility and the great mission to transmit our experiences to our own students here in
Chile and to do so, we have a team of committed karate-ka that will support that effort.
When you look back at 1938 it seems so distant to the younger generation. It was
a year that saw much history created in all four corners of the world; in Europe a
man by the name of Hitler was beginning to gather a following in Germany, while
in Australia the first telephone link to the white house was established. And
across the Pacific ocean in America young children got their first at the man of
steel when Superman made his first ever comic book appearance.
At the same time in Okinawa, a small island 300 miles off the south coast of
mainland Japan, a boy was born on Christmas day whose destiny would see him
become a Super man in his own right.
Morio Higaonna, the legendary 10th
Dan Master of the Okinawan Goju-ryu
Karate style who is renowned across
the world as the foremost authority of
the art, has travelled from one side of
the globe to the other on his quest to
become what many have said to be
the Master or Masters. By pushing
himself to his physical limits by training
his mind and body every day, he was
transformed from a young man into the
highest level Karate-ka of our age. The
man know across the world by hundreds of thousands as ‘Sensei’, has a
story like no other and as a tribute to
his 75th Birthday IOGKF International
shares it with it’s members.
Okinawa is a land of good people,
beautiful culture and stunning nature. A
and that time forgot about, it’s rich heritage with both Japanese and Chinese influences saw the creation of a unique culture to above all preached peace. It was
shortly after the birth of Morio Higaonna that Okinawa would face its darkest
days, whn World War II brought itself to the island. American Soldiers did battle
with the Emperors forces, while U.S. war ships faced imperial Kamikaze aerial attacks. It was a desperate time and realising the danger presented, Master
Higaonna’s father, a local policeman, secured passage for he and his family to
mainland Japan. Three boats departed Okinawa for the mainland under heavy
fire and only the boat to finish its journey was that housing the Higaonna family.
When Japan declared defeat and the Higaonna family returned to Okinawa, they
were met with devastation and the fact that they were going to have to rebuild
their lives from scratch. It was a tough time not only for the Higaonna family, but
all Okinawan’s. It was a difficult environment to have to grow up in. Many things
today’s youth take for granted, the Okinawan’s did not. Using the bottom half of
Coca-Cola can for a drinking glass was just one of the small everyday practices
that Higaonna Sensei and his family were faced with during this trying period. It
was perhaps these hard early years that began to forge the impenetrable spirit of
our Master.
There was an interest of martial arts in Higaonna Sensei from a young age and
after seeing his father training at home in Karate with friend he was inspired to
learn himself. He joined the Karate club training at the Naha commercial High
School and worked hard to earn the clubs student Vice-president position. He
also struck up a friendship with Tsunetaka Shimabukuro and the two began training Shimabukuro’s front garden regularly. Shimabukaro Sensei taught Higaonna
Sensei Seiyunchin Kata and seeing the promise and potential in his friend, suggested that he present himself for training at the famous garden Dojo of Chojun
Miyagi Sensei, the founder of the Goju-ryu Karate style .
Chojun Miyagi Sensei had passed away a few years earlier, but a number of students were still teaching in his place. A young Morio Higaonna was very nervous
and clutching the training fee money his mother had given him tight in his hand,
he made his way to the Garden Dojo with Shimabukuro Sensei’s introductions.
Once the formalities were over he took his first steps in the Goju-ryu circle to
which his mastery would become legend. A man a few years older than he
quickly caught his eye. With lightning fast techniques and precise timing, Higaonna Sensei quickly decided this was the man he wanted to learn from.
Anichi Miyagi Sensei was only 24 at the time and up until his teachers death, had
studied in private under Chojun Miyagi Sensei daily. Anichi Sensei was taught all
the Kata and Bunkai by the founder and he understood the principles and teaching methods of the founder better than most.
Higaonna Sensei wanted his instruction and it did
not take long until his extreme effort and
determination stood out and Anichi Sensei
quickly picked him up as an outstanding pupil.
The two forged a relationship as student and
teach and history had begun to written. Higaonna
Sensei also came to know Chojun Miyagi
Sensei’s wife, as he would often arrive early to
clean the Dojo and do chors prior to training. She
would often tell him of Chojun Miyagi and the
high morals he should adhere by.
As time progressed and the popularity and modernisation of Karate began, the senior students of
the Dojo decided it was time to move on from the
Garden Dojo and set up an indoor location and
thus the Jundokan Dojo was built. Anichi Miyagi
Sensei was one of these seniors and as a loyal
student Higaonna Sensei followed his teacher and continued his training diligently
under his instruction. The dawn of graded belt systems was creeping over the Karate landscape and Eiichi Miyazato presented Higaonna Sensei with 3rd Dan
Black belt as a reward for his many hours of sweaty and dedicated practice.
With so many senior students of Chojun Miyagi all together it wasn’t long until rifts
began to form as to should be the Dojo head and to how certain aspects of training should be conducted. With compromising the exact teachings of Chojun
Miyagi Sensei not being a option for Anichi Miyagi, he decided to leave the
Jundokan and took a job overseas, before eventually settling in Tokyo, before
making his way back to Okinawa. Higaonna Sensei himself also left for mainland
Japan where he began his studies at Tokyo’s Takushoku University.
Yoyogi Dojo quickly became the most famous Karate Dojo in Japan and westerners from all over the world journeyed to Yoyogi to learn from Master Higaonna.
The Dojo was very humble, but the training severe. Although the cause of the
sweat, blood and tears was intense, visitors saw Higaonna Sensei’s abilities and
began to strive to reach his level by following his every instruction. Many western
historians were also visiting Dojo’s all over Japan during this time to document
and explain martial arts to the people of their homelands. One such person to see
Masters of many styles from all over Japan was Don Dreager who commented:
Higaonna Sensei’s demand as the world’s top Goju-ryu instructor could not be
contained Japan and subsequent trips in the 1970’s to Europe, Oceania and Africa made his following truly International. At the end of that decade in 1979, it
was decided that the first ever International Goju-ryu Gasshuku would be held in
Poole, England. Higaonna Sensei travelled to the United Kingdom and was joined
by his many supporters and newcomers curious to see the Master from the East.
During a meeting with the senior members of each country it was agreed that
some form of organisation was needed for Higaonna Sensei’s following. With the
permission of many of Okinawa’s senior Karate Masters, including Anichi Miyagi
Sensei and other students of Chojun Miyagi, Sensei Morio Higaonna became the
World Chief Instructor of the International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do
Federation or as would come to be known, IOGKF International.
Annual European training camps amongst rotating member countries were established and the IOGKF began to grow larger and larger. In 1981 Higaonna Sensei
brought the world to Karate. The first IOGKF world Budosai was held during that
year and for many of the world’s highest ranked instructors it was their first visit to
the birthplace of the art they were so desperate to Master.
By the early 1990’s Higaonna Sensei had married his sweet, Alanna and they had
moved to her hometown of San Marco’s in California with their son Eric. He established IOGKF world Honbu Dojo there. The presence of such an incredible
master became another important turning point in making IOGKF truly International and IOGKF began to grow in North America and Canada. The expansion of
these areas eventually lead to the creation of another annual IOGKF event, the
Miyagi Chojun Festival (MCF).
As time went on, Higaonna Sensei decided that he needed to return to Okinawa
to strengthen IOGKF in Karate’s homeland. Before a stay on the mainland of
Japan, he returned to Okinawa where he continued teaching at the Higaonna
Dojo in Makishi, a short distance from Tsuboya and the Garden Dojo of Goju-ryu
style founder Chojun Miyagi.
It was the founders wish that his style of
Goju-ryu, although an Okinawan art,
would become a treasure for the world
and that its benefits would extend far
across the globe. His untimely death
and limited by the capabilities of travel
and communication in his time, Chojun
Miyagi was prevented from ever seeing
this a reality. However today, some 60
years later, the commitment of Master
Morio Higaonna now see’s the IOGKF and Goju-ryu Karate-do present in over 55
different countries with over 75,000 members.
Higaonna Sensei has taken Goju-ryu to the world and then brought it back home
to Okinawa again, rewarded for his efforts by his late teacher, Anichi Miyagi, with
the presentation of his 10th Dan Black Belt and 2007 and with the attendance of
over 1,000 members at subsequent World Budosai events in 2004, 2008 and
2012. The Master was further recognised for his efforts in 2013 when he was
official recognised as a living treasure by the Okinawan government for his
contributions to Karate.
If you visit the Higaonna Karate Dojo, you will not see these placards hung upon
the walls, you will not see award after award. All you will see is Sensei. Training.
After 75 years of life and over 55 years of practice Master Morio Higaonna is still
trying to reach perfection in his own mind, body and spirit. Still considering
himself a student, his mastery continues to inspire this generation and will
continue to inspire future ones.
IOGKF International congratulates Higaonna Sensei on his 75th Birthday and for
being an example for all to strive towards inside and outside of the Dojo.