本日、和道流空手道連盟の昇段審査会が行われました。私のチームは8名が受審し、全員合格を掴むことが出来ました! 私は六段位を、東明先生と竹下先生は四段位を、成人1人と小学生4名の生徒たちは初段位を允許されました。 今年も1年間指導して頂いた三代宗家 大塚博紀 最高師範、副会長 寺田英視 先生、理事長 坂巻明 先生、副理事長 押田良光 先生、誠にありがとうございました。 私をいつも応援し支えてくれている母と妻と子供たち、ハワイの母と慕い尊敬する小高寛子先生、アメリカでの生活時代から兄と慕う西村昭二先生、競技会や合宿や大会でいつも支援し私と家族と生徒たちを大切に想ってくれる立木茂 先輩、ありがとうございます! 私を信じて私の道場に大切な子供を預けてくれる保護者の方達と道場に通う生徒たち、ありがとうございます! 1人の努力ではなく皆んなの理解と協力と応援があったからこその成功です。 合格を信じてメッセージを贈ってくれた方々にも御礼申し上げます。Today, Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei held its Black Belt promotion examination. Eight members of my team took the exam, and all of them passed! I was granted the 6th dan, two instructors were granted the 4th dan, and four students were granted the 1st dan. I would also like to thank those who sent me messages believing that I would pass ♪
Good morning to Wado-Ryu Family ! The DVD of the 9th International Tournament and 60th National Tournament held at the Tokyo Budokan on August 24th and 25th to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei will be released today, November 28th. It includes footage of the kata division, Kihon Kumite division, and Kumite division final, as well as commentary by Grand Master Ⅲ Hironori Otsuka sensei. You can purchase it from Web Hiden or amazon ♪
On the website of the only professional karate organization in Schleswig-Holstein recognized by the German Olympic Sports Confederation, there is an article about the Wado-ryu Karate-do Renmei’s 90th Anniversary, 9th International Tournament, and 60th National Tournament, which were held last month.
The article contains words of gratitude to the management staff who cared for the athletes who came to Japan from overseas to compete in the international tournament.
I was moved to tears by the heartfelt words about the efforts of those who supported the international tournament behind the scenes, such as adjusting the temperature in the building so that athletes and spectators could feel comfortable, interpreting and announcing in various languages, and checking in athletes with a barcode reader to prevent reception errors.
I don’t understand German at all, so I used software to translate. I understood all the thoughts of the posters.
A beautiful and spectacular demonstration was held at Wado-ryu Karate-Do Renmei 90th Anniversary, 9th International Tournament, and 60th National Tournament were held at the Tokyo Budokan on August 24th and 25th, 2024.
“A collaborative performance of Japanese drums by Wado-ryu Karate-Do Renmei and Ryuko Taiko kai”
Although I was born in Japan, which is said to be safe compared to other countries, my childhood memories are of days of fear of violence. My father and uncle had a dispute over my grandmother’s inheritance, and my father gave everything to my uncle, but my uncle, who had spent everything, demanded money from my father and mother, and when they did not respond, my uncle was angry. He started getting violent.
My father continued to endure violence from his uncle. The two lost their father in the war and were poor and hungry from an early age. After my uncle graduated from elementary school, he picked up scrap metal every day and earned money to buy one bowl of udon noodles a day, which the whole family ate. My father has memories of my uncle supporting him when he was young, so instead of hating his brother, my father endured violence and continued to verbally admonish his brother.
My father was hospitalized due to overwork and violence from his uncle. My uncle’s violence was directed at my mother, sisters, me and my younger brother. My mother fought to protect us children, and when she felt we were in danger, she would take us out of the house and move between relatives’ homes and cheap hotels. When my mother ran out of money, there were many days when our family slept in the car.
I made a decision when I was 10 years old. I want to become a strong man who can protect my mother, sisters, and younger brother.'' That's why I started karate. What I wanted when I was young was to be able to spend time with my family in a place where I could feel at peace.
God made me meet Wado-ryu. Wado-ryu introduced me to a great teacher, Setamatsu Sensei. Setamatsu Sensei taught me strength, kindness, duty and humanity. This strength, kindness, duty and humanity have given me students. My students have given me purpose and responsibility in life. My father passed away in 2016 and my master Setamatsu Sensei passed away in 2017, but God gave me a life to learn from Grandmaster III HironoriKazutaka” Otsuka Sensei. I have already learned something important from Otsuka Sensei. “What you teach is important, but how you teach it is even more important.” Because the extent of understanding and mastery varies depending on the other person’s knowledge, experience, and skills, so it is necessary to know the other person and watch their reactions. New light cannot be created through self-satisfaction and selfishness. “I look for what I can do for the person in front of me, and when I find it, I think of the best way to convey it and do it.If I fail, I spare no effort to improve.”This is what I want to do.
I found the precious thing I seek.
If I kept doing that, I became a family with everyone.
There are no winners or losers here. We are peacemakers
Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei 90th Anniversary 9th International Tournament 60th National Tournament
Thank you to everyone from all over the world for coming to Japan.
“We are Wado-Ryu family”
I want to share with you this video that I made with so much love and heart. I was so sad to leave you all yesterday, but I look forward to seeing you again.