Ryukyu Kobudo Practice with Soke Sakagami at Itosu-kai Headquarters
Hello Everybody!
As a representative of the Itosu-kai Philippines, I went to the Itosu-kai headquarters in Japan again this year. This time I actually went to Japan for “Ryukyu Kobudo International Seminar 2018” and had 3 days’ hard training with Swedish, Australian and Japanese black belt, but I also practiced karate as well with Soke Sakagami.
At the honbu dojo (headquarters,) I practiced “Rohai Shodan” and “Matsumora Rohai” under the instruction of Soke Sakagami. It was such a great honor and pleasure to experience the hard work and effort of Soke Sakagami. The application of the kata was very interesting and incredibly useful. I highly appreciate it!
I also visited a branch dojo in Mitaka city, Tokyo, “Sho Karatedo Club International,” run by Shihan Tsunehisa Kitaoka. We practiced “Kihon,” “Pinan,” “Gekisai-Ichi,” “Shiho Kusanku” and “Unshu.”
I was very surprised that Sensei Ai Kitaoka and Ayumu Oda (Sho Karatedo Club International) took Sensei Göran, Sensei Per (Sweden), Sensei Howard (Australia) and me to “Hottarakashi Onsen Hotspring” in Yamanashi prefecture. We were able to see the sunrise from the hot spring bath on the top of the mountain. I also had a chance to visit the top floor of Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Senso-ji temple, Sky Tree Tower, Sapporo Beer Company in Asakusa, Nippon Budokan (Japan Martial Arts Stadium) which is supposed to hold Karate division of 2020 Olympic Games, and Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo.
Thanks to all Itosu-ryu members and officials. I highly appreciate to all your kind words and effort - Sempai Ikeda (Hodogaya Banch), Sensei Sato (Fukushima Branch), Sensei Helen Iwata (Headquarters), Sensei Yokoyama (Fukushima Branch), Sensei Nakajima (Kawasaki Branch), Sensei Goran (Sweden), Sensei Per (Sweden), Sensei Nakamura (Fukushima Branch), Sensei Obayashi (Koyasu Branch), Sensei Howard (Australia), Shihan Suzuki (Hiyoshi Branch), Shihan Kusuhara (Hodogaya Branch). Shihan Tsunehisa Kitaoka, Sensei Ai Kitaoka and Sensei Ken Kitaoka (Sho Karatedo Club), Shihan Nagoya (Nakano Branch). My sincere thanks as well to Soke Sakagami for all the support and guidance. You all have inspired me again to train harder and achieve my goals in Itosu-ryu Karatedo.
Hope to see you all once again in near future!
Yours sincerely,
Rheinan B. Manzo