OGKK Seminar 2009: Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate-do Association Technical Workshop

Okinawa Goju Ryu Kyokai seminar was held on Aug 21st and Aug 22nd at Matsushima Elementary school’s gymnasium in Naha city. It was so hot and humid some overseas practioners that were not used to hot weather must have felt dizzy. On both days, the seminar started at 9:00a.m. with warm-up exercises. I attended it on the first day. The seminar was conducted mainly by Onaga sensei. It began with the warm-up exercises too and lasted until 10:30 a.m. And we had a 10 minute break. Sports drinks were prepared in the left corner and practioners rushed to it to get one and gulped down it. Sanchin and Tensho training came after the warm-up exercises. It was continued until 12:00p.m. There was a 2hour break for lunch and a rest.

The seminar was began again at 2:00p.m with Gekisaiichi. Lesson on every Kata from Gekisaiichi to Seipai was given with demos of masters’ kata.

On August 21 and 22, the Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate Association Technical Seminar was held at the Matsushima Elementary School gymnasium in Naha City. There were numerous participants not only from within Okinawa Prefecture but also from the mainland and overseas. Among them were some true hard-core practitioners who had been staying in Okinawa since the World Championships held from August 14 to 16 to attend this seminar. I attended only the first day. It was incredibly hot and humid that day, and I suspect the overseas students, unaccustomed to Okinawa’s climate, were feeling a bit worn out. To be honest, I, too, was dying for a drink during practice. However, the instructors were teaching with even more passion than the heat itself. The seminar began at 9:00 a.m., included a two-hour lunch break starting at 12:00 p.m., and continued until 4:00 p.m.

Flag of seminar

Senseis in a queue at opening ceremony of the seminar

Warm-up exercises

Gekisaiichi

Saifa

With students from both inside and outside Okinawa gathered in one place, I think the opportunity to train together served as a source of positive inspiration for everyone. I was particularly impressed by the dedication of our students from overseas. At the same time, it motivated me to train even harder so as not to dishonor the reputation of our home style.

That’s all