Authentic Okinawan Karate Blog

Football, Fascism and Fandom: The UltraS of Italian Football (Out November 2010)

2010-03-28T09:58:00.002+01:00

Not to be confused with the English football 'hooligan', the UltraS are the hardcore subculture of fans at the two main Rome football clubs - AS Roma and SS Lazio. With neo-fascist sympathies, these groups (the Boys at Roma and the Irriducibili at Lazio) are political and well-organised. Following years of ethnographic work and interviews with the leading figures within the organisations, Alberto Testa and Gary Armstrong have written a fascinating expose and examination of the UltraS. Football, Fascism and Fandom is a unique and terrifying study of a group that has not been examined in depth before now.

Football, Fascism and Fandom: The UltraS of Italian Football (Out November 2010)

Okinawa training 2010 March

2010-03-26T09:28:00.002Z

March 2010 saw a succesful international seminar of Karate and Kobudo held in Okinawa by Senseï Chinen. Sensei Chinen emphasised the importance of dojo kumité and the Shorin ryu basic katas: fukyu gata ichi and ni, naihanchi shodan, the 5 pinan, Itosu passai, Matsumura passai.

The entire training week was paced by combat work concentrating on developing timing and toughening up the body. The atmosphere was particularly intense and productive. It was an excellent preparation for the 2011 Karate World cup in Okinawa.

Many thanks to Senseï Chinen and to his assistant at Yomitan, Sensei Jungo Matsuda, who is in charge of the Oshukai Hombu Dojo in Yomitan (Okinawa-Japan).

Oshukai Seminar in India- January 2010

2010-03-24T22:42:00.005Z

The 27th of January Sensei Martin Takatsy and Roland Gorbaty held a succesful karate and kobudo seminar in India.

UFC: Lyoto Machida Possesses a Secret MMA Weapon - Karate

2009-12-16T19:57:00.002Z

Wouldn't it feel awesome if you had a secret weapon that almost no one else did? In the end, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida does. It's called karate.
Funny, huh? Years ago, hardcore fans would have laughed if you mentioned karate and MMA in the same breath. They would've said that karate had already been proven ineffective during the early UFC years when Royce Gracie and his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu reigned supreme. But as Lee Corso often says, "Not so fast, my friend."

The bottom line is that karate is enjoying an MMA resurgence these days. And as Lyoto Machida readies to put his UFC light heavyweight title on the line against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 104, it must feel good to know that he understands MMA's new secret weapon better than anyone else.

Calling him an aberration may not work anymore, either. Vitor Belfort, fresh off of a dominating victory over Rich "Ace" Franklin at UFC 103, is giving karate major credit for his recent resurgence. "My new weapon that I'm adding to my game is karate," Belfort told MMAJunkie.com. "It's just something that I want to use right now. I was taking my time. I was feeling the fight. As soon as I see something, I make sure I have the zip code, the address and the social security number. I don't like to throw things away."

Of course, this secret MMA weapon is continually becoming less and less secret, even if people are having loads of trouble figuring out how to counteract it. Machida's Shotokan experience is what separates him from the crowd; it's what makes him so dangerous. And that could be bad news for Rua as the two ready for UFC 104.

In fact, it may be bad news for everyone else in the division.

Instructors’ seminars in Marseille (France)- January 2009

2009-12-01T19:14:00.000Z

The 10 and 11th of January 2009 Sensei Chinen led a course of Shorin ryu karate in Marseille.
Over 45 teachers attended ; the first part focus on the pedagogical view of teaching okinawan karate . Chinen Sensei then explained and demonstrated in detail Tsuki techniques. The course ended with the study of katas: Chinto, Kushansu Dai, Goju shiho.

January 2010 WOF Seminar in India

2009-10-01T09:25:00.000+01:00

Summer International Seminar France 2009

2009-09-23T09:01:00.003+01:00

KARATE demonstrates its value at the UFC: Lyoto Machida

2009-07-14T15:17:00.004+01:00

Lyoto Machida - a karate shotokan stylist, son of karate master Yoshizo Machida- is undefeated in his professional MMA career and in his UFC career and has yet to lose a round. He is currently ranked as the #1 light-heavyweight fighter in UFC.

This , i hope will close the rethoric argument that stand up people are worse than wrestlers or jujitsu fighter. It shows that when a fighter has a strong stand up game and good take down defence can be undefeatable.

This also works in the street, would you use jujitsu.wrestling tehcniques in this situation? click to see

Seminar of Shorin-ryu Karate and Kobudo in Poland (June 2009)

2009-07-07T22:24:00.003+01:00

From the 6th to 7th of June 2009 Hanshi Chinen led a succesful seminar of Karate and Kobudo in Krakow (Poland).

International Shorin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo Seminar in Okinawa

2009-07-01T16:41:00.002+01:00

From 21st to 26th of August 2009 a International Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate & Okinawa Kobudo Seminar will take place in Yomitan, Okinawa (Japan).

2009 Okinawa Traditional Karatedo World Tournament

2009-07-01T16:39:00.000+01:00

The tournament will be co-hosted by the tournament’s executive committee and the Okinawa Dento Karatedo Shinkokai. The official dates for this event are August 14-16, 2009.The tournament will be held at the Okinawa Prefectural Hall of Martial Arts (Okinawa Kenritsu Budokan) which is air-conditioned. The only competition that will take place is for kata, and this will be restricted to traditional Okinawan forms.
The list of the instructors who will be giving seminars in August has to be seen to be believed. Many of these Instructors are designated intangible cultural assets by both the Okinawan Prefectural Gov’t and the national Japanese Gov’t.

www-edu.pref.okinawa.jp/karate2009/en/index.html

U.S. Marines attend karate clinic in Okinawa (2009)

2009-06-28T19:18:00.001+01:00

NAHA - U.S. Marines based in Okinawa kicked and chopped their way , as they attended a karate clinic on the southern Japanese island that has often been plagued with crimes committed by military personnel.
About 200 Marines from the logistics group based in the city of Urasoe were given lectures on the sprit of Okinawa-style karate and its basic non-contact ”kata” forms by a local group of artists, including the 2008 women’s world champion.
The clinic was the latest effort by the U.S. Marines and the local Foreign Ministry office to provide U.S. military personnel with the opportunity to help deepen their understanding of Okinawan culture and keep them from committing criminal acts.
”Karate is suited to build discipline, as well as mental and physical training, and I think there is no way for people in military service to miss it,” an official of the ministry office said.
Tsuguo Sakumoto, a professor at the Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts who served as a chief instructor at the clinic, said he was impressed with how quickly many of the attendees got the knack.
”They have natural aptitude, probably because they are well-trained (in the military), to the degree that I even want to give them a chance to train intensively with me,” Sakumoto said.
U.S. Marines in Okinawa have been involved in a number of criminal cases after World War II, ranging from raping schoolgirls to drunken driving and trespassing. (2009 Kyodo World News Service).

OKINAWA- MARCH 2009

2009-06-28T19:16:00.001+01:00

From the 13th of March till the 18th of March; it is scheduled a seminar of Shorinryu karate at the Oshukai hombu Dojo in yomitan (Okinawa-Japan)

My friend Mouloud Boumedhel SENSEI passed away

2009-06-28T19:10:00.000+01:00

i sincerely feel a great pain writing this entry…Today Mouloud Boumedhel SENSEI passed away ; he was only 37 years old.
Mouloud Sensei was a gifted karateka; I met him several times and immediately i recognised his great martial arts skills and fighting spirit (i cannot imagine a better person to have near you in a ‘fighting’ situation)
However his most important trait was the way in which humbly present himself; the trait of a ‘real’ black belt. He was an incredible generous person always available to help and give advices.
In November, before leaving Paris, we spoke and told me Alberto i would like to see you more often at the oshukai and we gave each other the appointment for Strasbourg to train.
Oshukai has lost a great karateka but most importantly a great friendly human being!
Alberto

Comments

Conocí a Mouloud hace más de 20 años. Compartimos, si se puede decir, sangre, sudor y lágrimas. También muchas alegrías, entrenamientos, viajes a Okinawa…La noticia de su desaparición me ha dejado sin palabras. Tengo la sensación de haber perdido no sólo un amigo, sino casi un hermano. Y lo era en esta familia de Oshukai.Creo que no hará falta traducir mis palabras cuando están escritas con el corazón.Mouloud, amigo, siempre seguirás entre nosotros, ahora que te encuentras entre los grandes maestros que nos precedieron. Sé que allí no dejarás de entrenar y de aprender, manteniendo, como siempre tu eterna sonrisa y tu capacidad de entrega a los demás.Hasta siempre, que no adiós…–Benjamin Martinez

2009-01-01 20:09:11

Mon cher Mouloud, la nouvelle de ta disparition m’a laisse dans un désarroi total, et ma peine est profonde, je suis effondre.
Nos rencontres au delà d’un stage Madrid, Paris, Thonon, et bien d’autres encore ou nous avons partage sueur et des larmes parfois. Jamais j’oublierais ton éternel sourire, ta gentillesse et ta délicatesse. Je garderais pour toujours dans ma mémoire tes cours de Karaté et Kobudo, ainsi que ses merveilleux moments de convivialité.
Maintenant tu t’en traînes dans le plus grand Dojo avec les plus grands Maîtres, ceux même qui ont donne un sens à notre vie.
Mouloud mon cher ami, tu resteras toujours par mi nous, ton éternel sourire, humilité et ton dévouement à notre école, perdureront au delà des temps.Nous continuerons à travailler, et continuer ton ouvre, afin que de la haut tu sois fier de nous.C’est n’est pas un adieu, mais un au revoir mon amiJosé–José

2009-01-02 05:28:07

Perdre un karatekas d’Oshukai cela est dur, perdre un ami, un frère cela est encore plus dur.Mouloud restera dans notre mémoire, au delà de l’excellent pratiquant, une personne sincère et loyale, altruiste et serviable.Ces grandes qualités sont les marques d’une personne au grand coeur. Notre “compagnon de route”nous manquera réellement. “Mais lorsqu”un soldat tombe il faut serrer les rangs”; aussi, MOULOUD, ce que nous ferrons prochainement à Oshukai, sera en souvenir de toi et en ton d’honneur. Comme une étoile filante tu poursuit ta course, tu as illuminé bien des “moments”, aussi tu restera toujours présent à notre coeur, car tu le savais en l’incarnant: un karatekas doit avoir un grand coeur.–Gilles Méhard

2009-01-02 10:38:23

have no words to explain my pain…. I have no words to explain what you are feel about this tragic news of your big friend.As a Catholic as a Christian I will pray for Mouloud Spirit, and I know that God is looking for Him, I can feel this.With humility I express my pain…..Sweet Regadrs from Oshukai Italy.Vaccese Christian, Bezze CarloAlberto
Distinti saluti
Drawing Project
Christian Vaccese

2009-01-02 12:36:17

Mouloud, cher ami tu resteras toujours dans nos pensées une personne dévouée au grand coeur.–

Roland GENDRY

2009-01-02 20:37:14

C’est avec grande tristesse que nous apprenons le décès de Mouloud Boumedhel. Nous l’avons connu en 2004 lors du premier stage auquel la Kyushinkan de Naples a participé. Mouloud nous a personellement accueilli, suivi dans tous nos déplacements et nous nous sommes tout de suite senti à l’aise au sein de l’Oshukai.Nous n’oublierons jamais son sourire, ses attentions, sa grande disponibilité et sa gentillesse.Tu es une grande ceinture noire et aussi un grand ami.Nous transmettons nos sincères condoléances à sa famille, ses amis ainsi qu’à l’Oshukai.Luca Raucci, Hugues Pluvinage et tous les membres de la Kyushikan (Naples)4° dan Kobudo 1° dan Kobudo

WOF French Cup in Paris

2009-06-28T19:09:00.000+01:00

The Oshukaï Karate French Cup Karate shorin ryu took place on 13 December 2008 in Paris.
More than 150 french karateka competed in Kata, Kata Kumiwaza and Dojo Kumite as well as Shuyo waza Kumite for Kyu.

August 2008: Okinawa-Japan

2009-06-28T14:31:00.000+01:00

We publish with pleasure a picture about a group of students from Poland went to training at the WOF headquarter with Hanshi Chinen

Seminar in Okinawa-Japan

2009-06-28T14:30:00.002+01:00

WOF-UK informs that a series of seminars about Shorinryu Karate and Matayoshi Kobudo were held for international instructors at the WOF Honbu Dojo in Yomitan -Okinawa (Japan). The seminars were held under the supervision of Hanshi Kenyu Chinen - WOF President.

Oshukai seminars in Argentina

2009-06-28T14:29:00.001+01:00

The head of OshuKai Chinen Sensei led Karate and Kobudo seminars in Mendoza, Argentina from December 1st to 8th 2008.
The seminars were organised by Hugo Nadin,the Argentina Oshukai representative.
Sensei Chinen explained and demonstrated the main principles of the Oshukai school and spoke about the development of Oshukai in the whole South America.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF KARATE

2009-06-28T14:28:00.002+01:00

It is possible to trace the karate’s roots in Okinawa, the largest island of the Ryukyu Archipelago (the ancient Ryukyu Kingdom), which comprises a chain of more than 160 islands that stretch between the southern part of Kyushu (Japan) and Taiwan.
Although today we can find many different styles of karate, it is equally possible to divide karate in 3 broad categories: Modern (Sport) Karate; Traditional Karate (Japanese) and Classic Karate (Okinawa Karate).
Modern Karate
In 1945, karate started to evolve as a sport almost exclusively in the Japanese Universities. The supremacy of the own university was guaranteed by the victories that the karateka obtained in various championships. To suit this aim karate was modified; the techniques were adapted to win the match at any cost. The safety of the athletes became paramount; consequently, techniques particularly efficient in self-defence situations especially in close distance fights (therefore very dangerous) were eliminated. It is possible to see the disappearance of hands attacks, low kicks, holds, and short distance techniques; it was also introduced the use of small gloves and the concept of control, eliminating the full impact during the kumite’.
Traditional Karate
It is the karate that developed during the Meji period (1868-1911); it exalts the non-competition concept. The karatekas improve themselves through their mutual respect. This type of Karate (Shotokan, Wado ryu and others Japanese traditional styles), rightly, emphasises the importance of Kata but underlining more the aesthetic of the techniques; the katas gain importance from a physical education and mental point of view and the real meaning linked to self-defence is neglected. The superficial knowledge of many katas substituted the in-depth comprehension of one or two katas. It is important to stress that the old okinawan masters knew only one or two katas because every katas included numerous self-defence applications and fighting concepts that required very long period of practice to master it.
However to consider katas only from a physical and mental point of view is quite restrictive; the study of karate will be complete only if the student will understand the connections with its self-defence dimension, avoiding to get stuck to the appearance of the gesture and trying to uncover what the old masters wanted to transmit in reality.
Once achieved this state, it will be possible to train the technique till a point where, in a self-defence situation, the technique will be used spontaneously, without thinking. An old say of karate underlines this concept: ‘if you will use the technique you will be defeated’
Classic Karate
It is the original karate born in Okinawa; a method of self-defence that researched the efficiency in all forms of fighting: at long, medium and short distance. In the old times no training, no techniques were discarded a priori. The student learned to strike the vital points of the human body (using daily conditioning training on hands, arms, legs and feet); to use throwing (nage waza), arm locks (kansetsu waza) and katame waza techniques

French Kobudo Cup

2009-06-28T14:28:00.000+01:00

This month the Oshukai French division of Kobudo organised the Kobudo Cup with great success. Excellent were the techniques and the fighting spirit of the participants who displayed the real spirit of Budo in honour of Hanshi Kenyu Chinen world exponent of the Okinawa traditional Kobudo of the Matayoshi family.

Seminars for French instructors of Oshukai (November 2007)

2009-06-28T14:26:00.000+01:00

In Marseille , the 24th and 25th Novembr 2007 , more than 40 French instructors of Oshukai met to improve their techniques in shorin ryu karate with Hanshi Kenyu Chinen. Among the topics studied the seminars focused on traditional okinawan dojo kumite’.

HANSHI KENYU CHINEN IN CAMEROUN

2009-06-28T14:25:00.001+01:00

The 15th and 18th of November 2007 The World Oshukai Federation organised a series of seminars of Matayoshi Kobudo and Shorinryu Karate in Cameroun (Africa) . The seminars were led by the president of the World Oshukai Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Do Kobudo Federation Hanshi Kenyu Chinen - 9 dan. Local TV and press were present at the seminars very interested about Chinen Sensei first visit in Africa. The Branch chief of the World Oshukai Federation in Cameroun is Godefroy Koum Sensei. He is a student of master Chinen.

KOBUDO SEMINAR MAY 2009

2009-01-06T19:17:00.000Z

For he 25th anniversary of the Beuagency Dojo (France), The French OshuKai organised a succeful Kobudo seminar led by Chinen Hanshi. Kobudo enthusiasts came from Marseille, Bayonne, Strasbourg, Lille, Lorient, Nantes, Aurillac, Mareuil s/ Ourcq, Aulnay, Colombes, Montmorency, Paris, Courbevoie, Boutigny et Beaugency.

Seminars in Canada of WOF

2008-07-02T14:30:00.000+01:00

From the 31st of January to the 3rd of February a series of Seminars of Shorin-ryu Karate and Matayoshi Kobudo took place in Canada. The seminars were led by Hanshi Kenyu Chinen - WOF President.The seminars were a organised by WOF-CANADA and the canadian chief instructor of WOF Martin Takatsy Sensei

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR THONON LES BAINS 2008

2008-01-10T19:08:00.000Z

This year the international Seminar of Shorinryu Karate and Kobudo in Thonon Les Bains has achieved the remarkable target of 30 years of continues success!There were present 200 students from 15 different countries; as usual the seminar was led brilliantly by Hanshi Kenyu Chinen

THE MEANING OF THE TERM ‘OSU’

2007-07-12T14:22:00.000+01:00

Osu is the one word that you’ll hear the most in a traditional karate dojo . When you enter or leave the dojo, you bow and say “Osu”. When you greet a fellow karateka, you say “Osu” instead of “hello”. When you respond to an instruction or question in class, you say “Osu” instead of “yes” or “I understand”. When performing kihon waza (basic techniques) in class, each technique is often accompanied with a loud “Osu”. When practicing jiyu kumite (free fighting) in class and your opponent lands a good, hard technique, you say “Osu” to acknowledge your opponent’s skill. As a measure of respect, knockdown fighters at a tournament bow and say “Osu” to the front, to the referee and to each other, before and after the fight. Osu is used in many situations and seems to mean a lot of things. But what does it really mean?Oshi means ‘Push’ and Shinobu means ‘to Endure’.Osu means patience, determination and perseverance. Traditional Karate training is very demanding. You push yourself until you think you’ve reached your limit. First your body wants to stop, but your mind keeps pushing you. Then your mind wants to stop, but your spirit keeps you going. You endure the pain. You persevere. That is Osu.Great Okinawan Masters of the past rightly said that karate is not learned overnight. It takes years to properly learn the fundamentals. The basic techniques are performed thousands of times until they are done by reflex or instinct, without conscious thought . It’s easy to get frustrated by doing the same thing over and over again, especially when progress seems to be slow. To overcome that frustration and continue training takes patience and determination. That is Osu. Traditional Karate is Osu !