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News from the WMKA headquarters in OkinawaAnnouncing The 2nd Okinawa Karate World Tournament 2022
A message from Riki Nomura san, the WMKA overseas manager in Okinawa, informs us that the 2nd “Okinawa Karate World Tournament” is planned for August 1st to 9th and consists of two parts: “Karate Tournament (Kata / form)” and “Karate Seminar”. The contents may be changed, or it may be cancelled or postponed based on the COVID-19 situation. The WMKA Okinawa Headquarters will send 12 personnel including president Taira and vice president Arakaki to the Expert Committees as Seminar instructors and Judges or staff. Ms. Mayumi Horikawa, Renshi 6th Dan, won Okinawan Preliminary Rounds and will attend the Main Tournament as one of three participants from Okinawa Adult Female Senior in August. The Kata tournament is organized in five categories after the three main Karate-kei (Ryuha) plus two Kobudo (Sai and Bo). These five categories are divided in four age groups each for female and male participants. The Karate Seminars will be run by 28 Karate and Kobudo instructors from all Okinawa Karate & Kobudo organizations. New year greeting 2022 from President Taira Yoshitaka, Hanshi
President Taira congratulates all WMKA members around the world for the fact that we could erect the Memorial Monument for Founder Shoshin Nagamine last year. A dream come true! The monument is located in Tomari district in Naha City where O'Sensei Nagamine was born on July 15, 1907. The Monument stands side by side with the Monument for Matsumora Kosaku, known as “Restorer of Tumai-di” (Tomari-te). Although a small island, Okinawa is the birth place and home of the peaceful self-defence art "Te" that has evolved and spread to the whole world, regardless of age, gender, nationality, race, thoughts or religion. President Taira covers how the Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect our lives, both globally and for the WMKA. Referring to the motto “There is no night that doesn’t dawn”, President Taira expresses his hope that today's step by step will lead to a brighter future. We are planning to invite WMKA members widely to celebrate the erection of the monument of honour to the founder Shoshin Nagamine Sensei after the COVID-19 disaster has ended or is under control. The message also contains photos from the unveiling of
the monument. Cancellation of the Memorial Monument Unveiling for Founder Shoshin Nagamine in 2021
Read the full message from the President here. New schedule for the Memorial Events for Founder Shoshin Nagamine in 2021 Announced by President Taira Yoshitaka In his new message, President Taira expresses the hope that if the various efforts and means to curb the pandemic are shared and continued, the world may again return to our normal daily lives. Based on this, President Taira announces the new schedule for the Memorial Events for Founder Shoshin Nagamine in November this year. Read the President's full message here. A leaflet attached to President Tairas message contains more information about the new schedule. New year greeting 2021 from President Taira Yoshitaka, Hanshi
Referring to the motto “There is no night that doesn’t dawn”, President Taira expresses his hope that the step by step approach will work. He looks forward to reunite with many of the WMKA members in Okinawa in November at The Memorial Monument Unveiling and Cerebration for Founder Shoshin Nagamine. The message also contains an interesting description of
the tradition of their New Year’s rice straw festoon,
Shimenawa. WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual Event and Memorial Tribute to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine on November 1, 2020President Taira Yoshitaka, Hanshi: Announcing the first WMKA virtual seminar"The COVID-19 disease (Corona virus) is still hurting many people around the world. I hope all of you and the people around you are not affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.We are glad to announce the “WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual Event and Memorial Tribute to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine” which will be held twice on November 1st at 8:00 am and 8:00 pm Okinawa local time. November 1st was the originally scheduled date for “The Memorial Monument Unveiling & Celebration for Founder Shoshin Nagamine” in Okinawa. All Events were postponed to 2021. We are very thankful for all WMKA members around the world because “WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual Event and Memorial Tribute to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine” was proposed by overseas members not from Okinawa." Read the full message including practical information here.The COVID-19 and the postponement of The Memorial Events for founder Nagamine ShoshinPresident Taira Yoshitaka, Hanshi: We value the most our policy of “Nuchi-du Takara - Life is a Treasure”"Considering the current heartbreaking condition and the unknown virus activity, we decided to postpone “The Memorial Monument Unveiling & Celebration for founder Nagamine Shoshin and Karate-Do International Seminar & Exchange Martial Arts 2020” to next 2021." "Please cancel your travel arrangement who already have booked the trip to Okinawa and we are very sorry about it. We will be aware of the COVID-19 status and will post the new schedule when every situation was satisfied later. We hope we can meet many of you in Okinawa in next 2021. Please stay at home to protect you and the people around you. We will follow the same policy in Okinawa." Read the full message here.The COVID-19 and The Memorial Events for founder Shoshin Nagamine - a message from President Taira Yoshitaka, Hanshi“Nuchi-du Takara” “Life is a Treasure”"Under this heartbreaking situation, I hope all of you and the people around you are not affected and will stay healthy. We have a proverb in Okinawa. “Nuchi-du Takara” that means “Life is a Treasure”. Please stay at home and protect yourselves and the people around you. Karate can be practised any time and any place." The intention and hope is to be able to have the celebration of the unveiling of the memorial monument for our Founder O'Sensei Nagamine Shoshin and in WMKA world seminar in October-November 2020 in Naha as planned. Any necessary changes will be announced. Read the full message here.European seminars 2020 - be aware that changes may have to be doneUnfortunately cancelled: Seminar with Arakaki Toshimitsu, vice-president of the WMKA, Hanshi 10th Dan, in England July 16 to 19Unfortunately cancelled: Annual EMKA Taikai in the Netherlands, April 3 to 5.Please see the Seminars page for more information.News from the WMKA headquarters in OkinawaNew year greeting 2020 from President Taira Yoshitaka, HanshiIn his message President Taira covers the tragic fire at
Shuri-castle, a corner stone of Okinawan culture and one
of UNESCO's World Heritage sites. The Okinawan and the
Japanese governments have started working together to
restore it. President Taira also announced the programme for the International Seminar and the Memorial Monument Unveiling & Celebration of Founder Nagamine Shoshin. It will take place in Naha from October 30 to November 2, 2020. See the full programme here. You may find the initial announcement made in 2019 here. Taira Yoshitaka, Hanshi, appointed president of the Okinawa Prefectural Karate-Do Federation.Quotation from Okinawa Karate News:On April 15, 2018, the General Assembly of the Okinawa Prefectural Karate-Do Federation, also known as Kenkuren, was held. Matsubayashi-ryu Taira Yoshitaka sensei was appointed as the new president and Goju-ryu Takara Seigo sensei become the chairman of the board of directors, in Japanese rijicho. After Nagamine Shoshin sensei founder of Matsubayashi-ryu serving for six years as the president from the establishment in 1981, it has been 32 years that presidents have come from Shorin-ryu and Goju-ryu. Born in Ogimi Village in 1943, Taira sensei studied under masters Shima Masao and Nagamine Shoshin before opening his dojo in 1995. He will certainly continue preserving the philosophy of the Kenkuren which is based on the preservation of Okinawa Karate-do, the healthy development of young people, and the improvement of competitive skills. Taira Yoshitaka, Hanshi, President of the WMKA, was awarded the prestigious Cultural Commendation from the Prefecture of Okinawa. |
