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European seminars 2023 - be aware that changes may have to be doneAnnual EMKA Taikai in Witten, Germany, March 24 to 26.Please see the Seminars page for more information.News from the WMKA headquarters in OkinawaNew year greeting 2023 from President Taira Yoshitaka, HanshiPresident Taira sends his best wishes to all WMKA members for 2023 ( Reiwa 5). In August last year, Okinawa marked the 50th anniversary since its reversion to Japan from U.S. rule. Okinawa Prefecture gathered karateka from all over the world and increased the awareness of Okinawa's role as the birthplace of karate.President Taira announced that we are planning to hold a “Memorial Monument Erection Commemorative Festival” (tentative name) sometime in the Autumn of 2024! Every WMKA member and dojo should start planning for this great event! The greeting also includes an interesting article by Riki Nomura san, the WMKA overseas manager, on the Japanese tradition of New Year’s Cards (Nengajo) with many illustrations. Read the full greeting from the President here. The Annual Autumn Dan Evaluation Test on November 20th 2022 in Okinawa.Uplifting news from Okinawa to end 2022 on a positive
note! 
There were five participants from overseas: three from England, one from Germany and one from the USA, and twelve participants came from mainland Japan. We congratulate all participants for having achieved new
ranks after dedication and hard work! The European members
taking part were: Karl-Heinz Tessner 5th dan, Steven
Woolston Renshi 6th dan, Sally Woolston 5th dan and Joel
Castasus 3rd dan. Report from The 2nd Okinawa Karate World Tournament 2022Riki Nomura san, the WMKA overseas manager in Okinawa, reports from The 2nd Okinawa Karate World Tournament. 
We are happy to congratulate our two medal winners: Ms Mayumi Horikawa Renshi 6th dan from Okinawa, Silver medal, and Mr Minoru Yoneda 5th dan from Osaka, Bronze medal. Here with President Taira. Please note: The Okinawa government wants to regularize The Okinawa Karate World Tournament with the Winter Olympic year. This means we all may have a chance to join the future events and seminars! Announcing 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. 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. |
