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| Shikina-En- The second residence of the Ryukyu Royal Family and the place where Bushi Soken Matsumura trained all of the guards and warriors for the King
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Shikina-en stone bridge
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| Sensei Spence holding the "beware of Habu" sign and following orders. The fatally venomous and aggressive snake of Okinawa is very abundant in this park.
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A samisen class held in Shikina-En
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| ) L to R- Miwa, Saiyuri, Sensei Spence, Noriyaki Ganaha. Sensei Spence demonstrated kata with these friends at the 2001 World Karate Tournament.
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| An incredibly beautiful but sad view from "Suicide Cliff" where hundreds of Okinawan Women dove off, many with children to their deaths. Japanese soldiers told the Okinawan people that U.S. soldiers would rape and eat them.
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| Saiyuri-san explains that 32 women and children were lured out of this cave by Japanese soldiers who promised them food and water-only to be bayoneted to death.
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To the beach!!!
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Mabuni beach
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| Sensei and Noriyaki decide to brave the sharp coral and head to the ocean |
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The former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters. Japanese soldiers enslaved thousands of Okinwans to dig this extensive underground tunnel network.
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Lt. Marshall explains that the holes in the wall were created by Japanese officers grenading themselves to death.
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| Tunnel map
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view from near Shuri
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Welcome to Okinawa!!!
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| Sensei Spence beginning to crack under massive jet lag
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Noriyaki and Miwa took us to a beach near the convention center for a late afternoon trip with drinks and food. Lots of Octopus and Orion beer!!!
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Sensei Zangardi, Sensei Spence, Miwa and Sensei Peterson(enjoying his octopus)
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| Beautiful Okinawan Sunset
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Sensei Zangardi and Miwa-
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Day two in Okinawa