令和八年一月十一日は、和道流空手道連盟・百合ヶ丘空手道クラブ支部の稽古始めでした。早朝から気温は非常に低いのに着るのは道衣のみで、冷たい床の上を裸足で立つことになる道場に、一人も欠席せず全員が集まりました。 共に武道精神を探求し和の道を歩む友に、「私が出来ることを今年も精一杯努めたい」と強く思いました。 January 11th, 2026, was the first day of practice for the Wado-ryu Karate-Do Renmei’s Yurigaoka Karate Club branch. Despite the extremely low temperatures from early in the morning, everyone gathered in the dojo wearing only their karate-Dogi and standing barefoot on the cold floor. To my friends who share my pursuit of the Budo spirit and the path of harmony, I strongly felt that I wanted to do my best in what I can do this year as well.
If I were to conside of kata practice as a puzzle, I would analyze each piece, imagine the whole picture as I connect them one by one, and ponder the true meaning of the completed picture. There aren’t many basic techniques, but if you continue to research them and add knowledge and experience, they can be applied, and the techniques that can be derived from them seem endless. I will continue my quest to “pursue the basics, never neglect training, and prove that Kihon Kumite is practical” In March of this year, I underwent my first-ever hospitalization and surgery, which made me keenly aware of the importance of good health. Thanks to excellent doctors and advanced medical technology, I was able to make a quick recovery and complete all of the events I had planned and prepared for last year. However, I will not become overconfident or complacent, and will continue to study and practice. Thank you for watching this year.
『引き手と突きそして順突きは何に繋がりどのように応用出来るか稽える』 “Considering what HIKITE, TSUKI and JUNZUKI are connected to and how they can be applied”
Creating something new is important and wonderful,but I think it’s much more important to accumulate daily efforts to get in touch with the true meaning of the basics that are necessary for everyone and everything.
The aim is for beginners and advanced level practitioners to have meaningful training together and deepen their understanding of basic and Kihon Kumite. I find great joy and meaning in exploring the fundamentals.
↑『表面的な稽古にならぬよう本来の性質や要素に関わる稽古を探求 continue to explore the true nature and elements of practice』
A young man studying Kenjutsu in the UK wanted to practice with me and joined my Sunday morning class. I am happy that the videos I continue to post on social media have led to new encounters, and that people have become interested in me, my teammates, and our training and come to see us.
↑『自由組手で基本組手を実用するための稽古を考える』
表面的な稽古にならぬよう本来の性質や要素に関わる稽古を探求し続けます。
We will continue to explore the true nature and elements of practice, so as not to become superficial.
If we continue to reject each other because it is difficult or we are not good at it, the distance between us will not be narrowed. In order to understand each other, we need to make an effort to get to know each other, one step at a time. Both in human relationships and kihon kumite. I think it’s important to have teammates who will throw and be thrown at each other over and over again, and put up with me until I’m exhausted.
I’m sure there are people among you who are not related by blood but whom you look up to as ideal fathers. I have three such people. Hiromasa Setamatsu sensei, Koichi Tajagi sensei, Koki Yasuhiro sensei Setamatsu Sensei passed away in 2017, Yasuhiro Sensei in 2022, and Takagi Sensei passed away just before the international competition last month. I cannot see my senseis, but I know they are in my heart and I am having conversations with senseis. The dojo where I practice every Sunday is the sacred places where my senseis spent their time, and where I continue to live and create with senseis.
Good morning. It’s a beautiful sunny day again this morning. When children ask us, “Why do we spend more than six hours at school studying Japanese, math, literacy, and history?” and we adults say, “It’s for your future,” it doesn’t resonate with them. So I thought, “How can I convey this to them?” “If you want to make a robot you like, where do you start?” “Hmm, I guess I’d draw what it would look like and think about its special skills.” “Next, what materials will you use? Do you buy them?” “Hmm, if it’s big, it’s heavy and takes up space in the room, so I use cardboard. Mom and Dad shop on Amazon, so I always have cardboard around ♪” “Look, you are imagining, drawing, measuring, and thinking of ways to achieve your goals. When you have a problem, you are learning to develop the ability to think about the best way to solve it and to devise a process.” It’s the same when I teach my students at the dojo. Even if I tell them “the basics are important,” it doesn’t fully get through to them. That’s why I try to train in a way that allows them to feel and realize what the basics are connected to. I will enjoy my day so that I can bring smiles and a fulfilling time to my students this week as well.
誰も傷つけたくないから、喧嘩したくないから、戦争を起こしたくないから、自分達にとって大切なものを守りたいから。私たちは武道から学び、心を正しています。 「戦う相手は Myself 乾いた心が泣いてる Hey 夢の途中必ずみつかるそれはひとつ 君に会った yesterday 銃を捨てた brand new day すべては Yes, it’s love Yes, it’s love」
Because we don’t want to hurt anyone, because we don’t want to fight, because we don’t want to start a war, because we want to protect what is important to us. We learn from Budo and correct our minds. “The opponent I’m fighting is myself. My dry heart is crying. in the middle of a dream I’m sure to find one thing. I met you yesterday I threw away my gun It’s a brand new day. Everything is Yes, it’s love Yes, it’s love”
I worked hard with my trusted teammates in the Sunday class, and each of us was able to clearly define the tasks we needed to accomplish in the remaining 26 days.