Events

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Events

GojuOkinawa Events

Japanese Budo Seminar and Demonstration - Nov 2009 in Netherlands
Okinawa Karate Kobudo Dictionary
1st Peace Commemorating Demonstration
World Budosai 2008 - Sugotere
History Channel - Human Weapon
Karate Budolife
Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival 2006

Japanese Budo Seminar and Demonstration - Nov 2009 in Netherlands

From the 4. to 11. November 2009 a Japanese budo delegation travelled to Amsterdam (Netherlands) to participate in a demonstration and seminar to celebrate 400 years of commercial rapports between Holland and Japan.
It was a big event, with 73 martial art Masters from Japan and Okinawa participating.
70 Masters from the Japanese mainland and Hokkaido represented modern martial arts (Judo, Kendo, Kyudo, Sumo, Karate-do, Aikido, Shorinji-kenpo, Naginata, Ju-kendo) and classical (Takenouchi-ryu Ju-jutsu, Katori-Shinto-ryu Ken-jutsu, Yagyu Shingan-ryu Katchu Heiho).
Higaonna Morio Sensei, Yamashiro Katsuya Sensei and I (Italian) represented Okinawa Goju-ryu bujutsu .
A very busy week plenty of demonstrations and seminars and others: the Sunday 8, the biggest demonstration held at Sporthallen Zuid in Amsterdam where ,about Goju-ryu bujutsu, first I performed Sanchin Kata and Higaonna Sensei did the "Shime".
then Higaonna Sensei performed Suparinpei Kata and Kakie with Yamashiro Sensei,
finally Yamashiro Sensei and I demonstrated body-conditioning and Yakusoku-kumite.
All group partecipating did an excellent performance, with 3500 spectators waching the show, and I am honored to have been part of this celebration, along with those famous, high level Masters and very grateful to Higaonna Sensei and Yamashiro Sensei for giving me this important opportunity.

Netherlands 2009 - Okinawa Gojo-Ryu Bujutsu - Sanchin Shime

Netherlands 2009 - Okinawa Gojo-Ryu Bujutsu - Kata Suparinpei

Netherlands 2009 - Okinawa Gojo-Ryu Bujutsu - Body Conditioning

Okinawa Karate Kobudo Dictionary

On 24. October 2008 a party was held in honor of the publication of the Okinawa Karate Kobudo Dictionary, a very precious book, to which Higaonna Sensei was a contributor, for the lovers of martial arts specifically karate and kobudo.

Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Shorin-ryu and Kobudo`s demonstrations were performed by various athletes. Higaonna Dojo`s black belts demonstrated Sanchin Kata.

1st Peace Commemorating Demonstration

The 1st Peace Commemorating Demonstration was held June 15 in Itoman`s Peace Park.
Chaired by Higaonna Morio sensei, 12 groups performed karate at this event, Japanese danse and eisa.
Higaonna dojo performed all together gekisai dai-ichi, dai ni, then the black belts performed shisochin, his bunkai, and kakie with some applications.
Yamashiro Dojo`s children performed saifa and seyunchin kata, and Yamashiro Sensei Suparinpei.
Before the start of the demonstration Higaonna Sensei spoke about the war, wishing that it will not happen again.
Many people took the time to see the event while visiting the park.

World Budosai 2008 - Sugotere

As result of the success of the World Budosai July 2008, a broadcasting team from RBC television was very impressed by the large participation of foreigners, as a result they recorded a program about Goju Ryu on the 11. August 2008 in the village of Murasaki.

Higaonna Sensei performed the kata Tensho and Suparinpei, and with me the applications of Suparinpei. Brent Pawlik and I also performed self defence (Yakusoku kumite). At the end of the session Higaonna Sensei and I were interviewed.

Next day a television crew returned to take some video clips of my students during a karate class. The program (Sugotere) was broadcast on the 21.August 2008 and was widely appreciated.

History Channel - Human Weapon

On the 20. to 25. March 2007 a television crew of the History Channel arrived in Okinawa to produce a documentary about traditional Okinawa karate.
The program, "Human Weapon", based on a simple story in which two American actors (Bill Duff and Jason Chambers, experts in martial arts) decided to research Karate styles of Okinawa for the first time.
After purchasing karate gi's and white belts at the Shureido store, they started training at a Kyokushin dojo. In the following days they also practiced Shorin-Ryu, Uechi-Ryu and lastly Goju-Ryu at Higaonna Sensei's dojo, where they practiced breathing exercises, hojo-undo, personal defense techniques and finaly the study of vital points.
On the final day of their adventure, Bill Duff competed in a Kyokushin kumite contest at the Budokan in Naha.
This documentary was first broadcast at the History Channel in America on July 2007, some clips can be now viewed on YouTube (<-click to view clip)

Karate Budo Life

On 10. February 2007 the "KARATE BUDOLIFE" demonstration was held for the first time at the Kudankaikan, Chiyoda-ku in Tokyo.

It was an important event, with three legendary masters, known throughout the world, participating.

Hirozaku Kanazawa Sensei (currently the highest ranking Shotokan master, a living legend)
Hoshu Ikeda Sensei (Shorin-ryu)
Morio Higaonna Sensei (Okinawa Goju-ryu).

All three styles participated at demonstrations.

Higaonna Sensei's group included:

So-Honbu-Dojo Instructors (Hoju Undo), Terauchi Sensei, Toda Sensei, Miyawaki Sensei from Tokyo and Higaonna Eric-Seigisan performed Hojo-Undo
Miyawaki Sensei (Sanchin)
Terauchi Sensei and Higaonna Sensei (Sanchin shime)
Higaonna Sensei and Terauchi Sensei ( Kakie)
Higaonna Sensei and Kuramoto Sensei (Suparinpei and Bunkai)
Higaonna Eric-Seigisan (Shisouchin)

This very special occasion, ended with a sayonara party, which I was privileged to be a part of.

Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival 2006

The 4th worldwide Uchinanchu Festival was held from 12. to 16. October 2006.
Numerous groups were invited to demonstrate Okinawan culture.

On the 14. October, a demonstration was held at the Kenritsu Budokan (Prefectural Martial Arts Center) in Naha.
Around 4500 people from Okinawa and all over the world participated at this event,
"The Karate-Kobudo Festival Exchange".

Members of the Higaonna Karate Dojo demonstrated Hojo Undo.