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March-April 31-60 2004.P65 Sensei Williams with Kenzo Mabuni Soke in the original Dojo of the founder Kenwa Mabuni. MY JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF 48 Most people associate the date of September Mabuni. In April of 1994, Mabuni Kenzo The skill and knowledge of the instructors at 11 with the terrible tragedy in New York. In conducted seminars in Albany, New York and all of the dojos I trained at, was amazing, and 2003, September 11 fell on a Thursday and it Phoenix, Arizona. Subsequent to these best of all they were all more than willing to was the day I started my Journey to Japan to seminars, Kenzo Mabuni Soke established share it with me. I was lucky enough to receive achieve a goal that I set for myself, just after I the Shito Ryu Karate Do Kai of America (now one on one training in Kata with an 8th dan started my Karate training in 1984. It took me called Shito-Ryu USA Karate Do Kai). Since instructor with a second instructor (7th dan) 19 years, but I achieved it and it was well worth then 12 more countries have been added with also helping me. waiting for! Australia being the most recent addition. I knew that I was being watched closely as I Modern technology had a lot to do with paving ‘The walls of the dojo had mentioned to Sakai Shihan that I wanted the way for my visit to Osaka where I trained to attempt a grading for my 3rd Dan, so I made with some of the highest ranking exponents were filled with history sure that I trained hard and put in 100% effort of Seito Shito-ryu Karate-Do in the world. The at every training session. It wasn’t like other technology I am referring to is the Internet, which included gradings that I have done where you know which is how I made initial contact with Kazuo photographs of Kenwa that a certain time frame is allocated and you Sakia Shihan, the Secretary General of Shito- know what you are required to demonstrate, Ryu International Karate-Do Kai. The Mabuni and the original this grading was over eight days! organisation is headed by Kenzo Mabuni syllabus and a list of Soke who inherited it from his father Kenwa Sakai Shihan told me that my promotion to 3rd Mabuni, the founder of Shito-Ryu Karate-do Kata’. Dan would have to be discussed by the in 1952. His father left him the Shito-Ryu members of the Supreme Council and then name, his complete syllabus and the Dojo After about eighteen months of corresponding their recommendation would have to be with the Association name Nippon Karate-Do by email and exchanging videos, I was invited accepted by Kenzo Mabuni Soke. Kai. All these remain intact today. He followed to travel to Osaka and stay with Sakai Shihan his father’s curriculum exactly the way it was to learn more about Seito Shito-Ryu Karate- When I left Japan, I didn’t know for sure written down in 1929 and that’s why he called Do. This was a chance of a lifetime and I did whether I had achieved my goal of passing a it Seito Shito-Ryu or pure, true Shito-Ryu. not hesitate in accepting the invitation. It was grading in Japan and being promoted to 3rd six months from the time I was invited until I Dan, I would have to wait! I was officially I have always trained in Shito-Ryu Karate-Do arrived in Osaka. advised in December that Kenzo Mabuni Soke (mainly Hayashi-Ha Shito-Ryu) and I was had approved my promotion to 3rd Dan and looking for a way to get to the source.There Apart from achieving my goal of actually had issued my Menjo (certificate) on are many organisations which were started travelling to Japan and train, I also wanted to December 1, 2003. by former students of Kenwa Mabuni which be graded in Japan and to be accepted as teach Shito-Ryu. Seito (or pure) Shito-Ryu the representative for Seito Shito-Ryu in I made a point of writing down what I did each teaching the curriculum of Kenwa Mabuni, Australia. I knew that I had set myself some day in an exercise book so that I could look which was passed down to his son Kenzo difficult goals, but I was determined to do my back on it for future reference. Each night Mabuni Soke with no changes. best and achieve them. before going to bed, I made a habit of filling I arrived at Kansai International Airport in ‘The skill and knowledge Osaka on Friday September 12 at 7.30am of the instructors at all of after an eight hour flight from Perth to Hong Kong where I waited seven hours for my next the dojos I trained at was plane for the three hour flight from Hong Kong amazing and best of all to Osaka. they were all more than My learning experience started from the time willing to share it with me. I walked out of the arrival area at the airport and met with Sakai Shihan. We went to a I was lucky enough to coffee shop and talked about Seito Shito-Ryu receive one on one and it was at that time that I was asked if I would like to meet Kenzo Mabuni Soke. Of th training in Kata with an 8 course I was very keen to meet the son of the founder and Sakai Shihan told me that he dan instructor with a would ask Soke if I could visit him at his home. second instructor (7th We then left the airport and started on the one dan) also helping me’. hour drive to the home of Sakai Shihan in Hashimoto, and on the way I learnt more about the history of Seito Shito-Ryu and about some Kenzo Mabuni Soke dedicated his life to of the people I would meet during my visit. preserving the true lineage of his father’s karate. He was not concerned with politics or During my eight day visit, I trained at five of the image and remained unknown to the outside twenty five dojos which make up the Shito- world until 1993. Upon the request of his good Ryu Nihon Karate-Do Kai. The training friend Osamu Ozawa (Shotokan master), sessions were hard and lasted for two hours, Kenzo Mabuni Soke travelled to Las Vegas but every session was a great learning and exposed the world to Seito (pure) Shito experience. Sensei Mike William with Ryu, the true karate of his father, Kenwa Sakai Shihan 49 ‘It was a great feeling to While we were waiting for our table, Sakai Mabuni stood out at the back of the dojo. Shihan was talking to me about the kata Sepai Kenzo Mabuni does not speak English and actually go to the source and before I knew it, we were practising the apart from a few words, I do not speak kata in the carpark! We had to move a couple Japanese, so Sakai Shihan was the of Shito-Ryu Karate-Do, of times to make way for cars entering and interpreter. I was given permission to take the feeling was amazing leaving. Sakai Shihan demonstrated the photos inside the dojo and I was also able to moves and I followed, it’s not that easy doing have my photo taken with Kenzo Mabuni. and very fulfilling for me shiko dachi in jeans! as I had achieved my goal It was a great feeling to actually go to the On Thursday September 18 Sakai Shihan and source of Shito-Ryu Karate-Do. The feeling and found my way to the Fukae Shihan took me to the home of Kenzo was amazing and very fulfilling for me as I origin of Shito-Ryu which Mabuni Soke in Osaka. It was a fantastic had achieved my goal and found my way to experience to visit the house which was the origin of Shito-Ryu which is one of the is one of the four main originally occupied by Kenwa Mabuni who is four main styles in Japan. styles in Japan’ the founder of Shito-Ryu Karate-Do. The original Dojo where Kenwa Mabuni trained is Outside Japan there are eleven countries that out my book with the days lessons. I now have still attached to the house and it was in this are affiliated to the Shito-Ryu International a permanent record of my trip with all the dojo that I met Kenzo Mabuni Soke. Karate-Do Kai which comes under the control details of every training session I attended. of Nippon Karate-Do Kai, the original Soke Kenzo Mabuni is highly respected and organisation formed by Kenwa Mabuni and The dojo wasn’t the only place I learned about it was a great honour for me to visit him at his handed down to Kenzo Mabuni Soke. Seito Shito-Ryu. One evening I went with home. We entered through the main door of Shihan Sakai and his family to a BBQ the dojo and removed our shoes. Before At the time of my visit there was no restaurant for dinner. The restaurant was very going inside, we all knelt down on the wood representative for Seito Shito-Ryu in Australia. popular, so popular, that we had to wait for an floor in the seiza position and bowed before I had made an application long before I went hour to get a table.
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