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Wednesday July 2
Today was a busy day. We got up, ate breakfast and we took Rivers Sensei’s group to the bank to exchange their money. After everyone was straight, we left for Shureido only to discover that it was very under-stocked. Most everyone was able to buy what they wanted but some things would have to be mailed to the states once they were complete, others would be delivered to our hotel when they were ready.
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| Joe took everyone to Shuri Castle but the main building was closed for construction however everyone was still able to go in the main courtyard and the other castle sites. I took Wes Brown and the other Shin Dojo students to the Koza Seidokan to make formal introductions to Taira Sensei and Takamiyagi Sensei. I headed back to the hotel and headed straight for the onsen. That afternoon, Izumi Sensei came up to the room and we got to relax and catch up on each other’s lives. After he left for work, Eric, Joe and I left went outside to throw the football and relax and Wendy went to get a tattoo at a shop on Gate 2 street. |
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| We arrived at the Koza dojo at 6 p.m. to give gifts and let the students look around the inside of the beautiful dojo. The kids began to come in and Izumi Sensei started the warm-ups and stretches. Izumi Sensei asked me to teach the class and after doing kata, we went over basic bunkai to the kihon and fukyu kata and how they could be used against a stranger. |
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| We ended class with a fun, multi-station game that we use in Little Dragon’s class at home and then we watched the kids practice their kata for the upcoming tournament in Urasoe on Sunday. The junior high kids came in and we concentrated on Passai kata, their tournament kata and then bunkai for Passai kata. |
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| We finished class and then went to a beautiful Izakaiya for dinner. We had yaki tori and sushi and then headed back to the hotel. Jet lag set in to the greatest degree and we were all fighting to stay awake. |
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Thursday July 3
Today was our trip to Tsuken Island and we got up early to meet Izumi Sensei so that we could head to Awase. My two friends Miyazato-san and Yonehara-san had made plans, as long as we could help with the gas, to take us by boat to Tsuken Island and then tour the reef surrounding it. They, and Izumi Sensei, had graciously bought lunch for everyone and brought tents and tables to set up on the beach. We met at the docks at Awase and Yonehara was getting the second of his two boats ready for us. We loaded everything on the boat and headed out towards Tsuken. After moving past Katsuren and White Beach, we moved into deeper water and saw Tsuken in the distance. We finally arrived, took everything ashore and then set up camp. Tsuken Island was absolutely beautiful and it’s prestine waters had incredible visibility. Many of us sat under the tent in our chairs without saying a word to one another as we sat and took in the beauty of Tsuken and Okinawa.
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| Soon, we were all in the water, walking the beach and throwing the football. Yonehara decided to take us out on the reef and we were able to do some snorkeling over the beautiful coral. After some time in the water, Yonehara gave Felix a floating collection net and a screw driver so that we could get some appetizers. We weren’t too sure about the sea urchins that we love to eat so much but we did find a clam that we opened up in true Virginia shellfish fashion and Felix and Eric were able to enjoy the salty sashimi right there on the boat. We had to start heading back since Eric and Anna were testing at the dojo that evening so we packed up the boat and headed home. We rain into a squall on the way in and got a nice cool shower to help with the sun exposure that we gained on the beach. |
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| After a quick shower, we headed to the dojo for training and testing. We went over Naihanchi and Pinan kata and then Eric and Anna got last minute instructions for testing procedures and protocol. Makoto Gibu directed the test to begin and then Gibu Sensei gave words of instruction and encouragement to Anna and Eric. Gibu Sensei, Makoto Gibu and I sat on the testing board and began. Eric and Anna did a super job under tremendous pressure and nerves. Gibu Sensei told them that they had done a great job and asked that they continue to practice and train even harder when they return to the states. He awarded them their certificates and their belts afterwards and we were took plenty of pictures of these proud students.
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| We were also very proud of these two. Anna has trained since she was four and has always worked very hard in and out of the dojo. She is a perfect model of a junior shodan and hopefully other students in the dojo will follow her example. Eric is a walking example of dedication. He drives 45 minutes one way to come to karate three times a week, knows as much kobudo as our black belts and is always training. These two students rarely miss a class and we were all smiles when we watched these two students be promoted by Gibu Sensei. |
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| Class resumed with kobudo training as we started with all three sai kata and then continued through all of the kata for bo, tunfa and nunchaku. We were all pretty tired afterwards and crawled once more out of the dojo.
*a note to self, do NOT go snorkeling and swimming under the Okinawan sun on days you have to train at the dojo.
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| We got home and went to the roof to celebrate Anna’s and Eric’s test with food and various spirits. Eventually, we all went to the upper deck on the roof and scattered ourselves around so we could lie down and look at the stars. At the sudden sound of snoring, we all got up and went back to our rooms. |
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