Rangiora Dojo Fly

Our team of four members from the Rangiora Karate Club (and one brave wife) have now returned home after training for 2 weeks in Okinawa and Japan. We trained with Sensei Higaonna, now 10th Dan, (the Power Source) in Naha, Okinawa and 8th Dan Terauchi (so strong) in Japan. One of our team (Geoff) trained with Sensei Taira (8th dan) from the Jundokan dojo - another similar style of karate.

Training was intense, with daily temperatures of over 30 degrees, so training was from 8:00 to 10:30 at night (six times a week in Okinawa and 3 sessions in Tokyo)- NO DRY GI or OBI!

We felt like beginners again, as we learnt many important finer points in our kata and their applications.

The people of Okinawa were very friendly, and even in Tokyo, the people went out of their way to help us (despite the city's busy, non-stop life!).

On some of the few days the kiwi group wasn't training or traveling, we went to Ozuma San San Beach, huge Aquarium in Nago City, Pineapple Park with Whiri (our kiwi mate), (my) Birthday meal with Sensei Kuramoto!, Tokoshika Island - snorkling, and in Japan two of the different "cities" of Tokyo: Shibuya and Akihabara (Electric City). The numbers of people and the huge shopping buildings were amazing! During the time spent there the team ate lots of sushi and rice meals, with the occasional sneak out to Starbucks for a coffee and of course an awesome Karaoke night with Joe in Japan!

Our karate members all want to go back to Okinawa in 2 years time with others to show them this unique way of life, and of course the Power Karate of Sensei!

Sayonara.

Rob Stewart, Rangiora Dojo