2008 Okinawa World Budosai Report
by Adrienne Langgartner, IOGKF Canada

The 2008 World Budosai lived up to expectations.  With over 800 participants from more than 40 countries participating this was the biggest IOGKF event ever.  It was also the biggest karate event ever hosted in Okinawa. An incredible energy was created during training as the kiai from hundreds of karateka filled the auditorium.  Training with the top instructors in the world in the birthplace of karate is every karateka’s dream.

Welcome Party

The Welcome Party was held at the Hotel Orion.  The hotel’s reception rooms were filled with smiling people, many wearing their countries colours.  This event gave people a relaxed atmosphere in which to meet up with old friends, catch up on news and to make new friends.  It was a relaxing evening with plenty of good food, music performed by Higaonna Sensei’s sister and her group, laughter and of course, Orion beer.

Training

For five days the karateka met at the Budokan and trained together.  They were instructed by the following teachers: Higaonna Sensei, Bakkies Sensei (South Africa), Terauchi Sensei (Japan), Andrews Sensei (England), Molyneaux Sensei (England), Larsen Sensei (Denmark), Yamashiro Sensei (Okinawa), Nunes Sensei (Spain), and Nakamura Sensei (Canada). Learning under the different instruction of each sensei as they rotated through the various ranks focusing on kata, kihon, bunkai, kumite drills, etc. gave the participants an experience to remember.  Aragaki Sensei appeared to observe the various groups of students as they trained and the most senior ranks had the added bonus of training under him as well.

Black Belt Grading

During the week a black belt grading was held with over 70 participants, testing for junior shodan to nanadan. The results of the grading were announced on the last day of training.

Lectures

There were two lectures for the participants.  The first lecture was given by Shuichi Aragaki Sensei. He talked about training in the old days with Chojun Miyagi Sensei. Throughout his lecture he used many analogies with water. An’ichi Miyagi Sensei also added to this lecture with a story about how karate was necessary for survival on the streets of Okinawa in the old days.  This lecture was a rare opportunity for people to hear about Chojun Miyagi Sensei from people who actually trained with him. In the second lecture Higaonna Sensei talked about the history of karate and then answered a few questions.

Masters’ Demonstration

On the final day of the Budosai there was a Masters’ Demonstration presentation.  Opening the ceremonies were greetings from Mr. Hidenobu Goya, Hirokazu Kanazawa Sensei, Mr. Daikaku Chodoin, and Shuichi Aragaki Sensei.
 
The demonstrations were an inspiration to all.  Several of the masters were over 70 years of age.  It was an excellent opportunity for Budosai participants and demonstration guests to see what the IOGKF has to offer as well as to see the arts of other styles.  The following list is in order of presentation:
Gekisai Dai Ichi (IOGKF kyu grades & juniors)
Sanchin (IOGKF Black Belt)
Hojo Undo (IOGKF Japan & Okinawa)
Sanchin (Okiku Kai)
Naifanchi Shodan (Minoru Higa, and his members, Shorin Ryu)
Kartin no Kon & Seipai (Mamoru Oshiro and his members, Goju-Ryu, Kobudo)
Seisan and Bunkai (Zenpo Shimabukuro and his members, Shorin Ryu)
Saifa and Suparinpei (Takashi Okuma and his members, Goju-Ryu)
Gassen Naginata, Gassen Nuchiku (Seihan Shiroma and his members, Motobu Ryu)
Self-defence against knife attacks, Nuchiku (Motobu Ryu)
Chatan Yara no Kusanku (Mamoru Nakamoto, and his members, Shorin Ryu)
Okinawa Kobudo (Masahiro Nakamoto and his members, Kobudo)
Sesan (Hatsuko Machida, Shohei Ryu)
Ryuko (Shigeru Takamiyagi, Shohei Ryu)
Sepai (Herbert Allen, IOGKF USA)
Shisochin and Kakie (Eric Higaonna, IOGKF Canada)
Self-defence (Linda Marchant, IOGKF England - OTGKA)
Wheel Chair Self-defence (John Marrable, IOGKF New Zealand
Kururunfa and Bunkai (Luis Nunes, IOGKF Spain)
Sesan and Bunkai (Tetsuji Nakamura, IOGKF Canada)
Tensho (Morio Higaonna, IOGKF Okinawa)
Suparinpei (Katsuya Yamashiro, IOGKF Okinawa)
Sanchin Shime (Kazuo Terauchi, IOGKF Japan)
Yakusoku Kumite (Bakkies Laubscher, IOGKF South Africa)
Sepai (Shuichi Aragaki, IOGKF Okinawa)

Sayonara Dinner

The week-long event was closed with the Sayonara dinner.  Higaonna Sensei made special presentations to Bakkies Sensei, Terauchi Sensei, Leon Pantanowitz Sensei (posthumously), Mr. Hidenobu Goya, Mr. Daikaku Chodin, and Mr. Bruce McGee (Canada) in appreciation of their efforts to furthering traditional karate.  As part of IOGKF tradition countries prepared a sampling of their culture to be performed on stage.  There were quite a few songs, including a group effort from Canada, USA, Italy and England singing the Goju-Ryu song (to the tune of the Orion beer song); dance demonstrations, such as the flamenco from Spain; an instrumental presentation from Kazakhstan; lip-syncing from Denmark and Sweden; and a visit from Elvis.

It was an eventful week.  One could easily sum it up with ‘we came, we trained, we sweated… a lot, we played hard, and we had an amazing time’. Until the next budosai in 2012, stay healthy and train hard.