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Okinawa Karate International Tournament Uechi-Ryu Kata

okinawa tournament 2018 The organizing committee of the 1st Okinawa karate International Tournament has released videos of all the Karate and Kobudo Kata that can be performed in the competition. 28 Kata from Shuri-te kei/Tomari-te kei, 10 Kata from Naha-te kei and 7 Kata from Uechi-Ryu kei have been selected for the Karate Kata competition. Kobudo competitors will be able to choose among 21 Bo and 13 Sai Kata. More details on the competition Kata can be found here.

An important contribution of the organizing committee is the fact that all the Kata have been performed by several Okinawan masters in all the acceptable versions to cover the technical differences among various schools within the same styles. Uechi-Ryu Kata are the most recent to be added to the official YouTube channel of the organization. You can see the seven competition Kata below:

Kanshiwa:

Kanshu:

Seichin/Sechin:

Seisan/Sesan:

Seiryu/Seryu:

Kanchin:

Sanseiryu/ Senseryu:

The 1st Okinawa Karate International Tournament 2018

okinawa world tournament 2018 Okinawa Prefecture Culture and Tourism Sports Division, Karate Promotion Division Karate Promotion Team has announced "The 1st Okinawa Karate International Championships". The event aims to create a place where Okinawa Karate enthusiasts gather in Okinawa and deepen exchanges, to properly inherit and develop the skills and spirituality of Okinawa Karate. Karate was systematized by the ancient warriors of Okinawa and handed down until today. This tournament will further promote the development of Okinawa Traditional Karate and Kobudo for the future.

The organizational work has been divided into ten committees:
1) 4 competition committees (Shurite/Tomarite, Nahate, Uechi-ryu, Kobudo)
2) 4 referee committees (Shurite/Tomarite, Nahate, Uechi-ryu, Kobudo)
3) 1 martial arts demonstration committee
4) 1 seminar committee

and the final event will include:

1) Tournament (kata/form)（型）
2) Enbukai (public demonstration)
3) Seminars
4) Opening and closing ceremonies
5) Exchange meetings
6) Other special events appropriate for the purpose of the Basic Policy

The venue that will accommodate the tournament is the Okinawa Prefectural Hall of Martial Arts (Budokan), at Onoyama Park and the Okinawa Karate Kaikan from the 1st until the 8th of August 2018. The official website is already available in five languages: http://okinawa-karate.okinawa/en/

October, the Month of Karate!!!

okinawa karate celebration poster2016 October is not only a good period to visit Okinawa, in terms of climate conditions but is also the most active month when it comes to celebrations, competitions, demonstrations and other Karate-related events organized on the island which is considered to be the birthplace of Karate. What started as the officially established "Day of Karate" on the 25th of October has gradually spread into the whole of October making this month very special. As we read on Okinawa Traditional Karate Liaison Bureau October 2016 promises to be a great month for Karate enthusiasts residing on Okinawa, and for the lucky ones who will have the chance to be there! A great number of events have been scheduled for October 2016 in addition to the Official Karate Day, the Great Tug of War and the other related to the Karate Day yearly celebrations.

As we read on http://okkb.org/ and on Okinawa Karate News the following events will take place during October 2016:

October 2016 promises to be a great month for karate enthusiasts in Okinawa. In addition to the Naha Festival and its Great Tug of War and the yearly commemorative events in relation with the Karate Day, officially established on October 25^th, many karate manifestations are scheduled this year.

Here is the list, which will be updated along the way.

Premier League 2016 Okinawa Tournament
Dates: October 1-2
Venue: Okinawa Prefectural Budokan, Naha City
Organizer: WKF
http://www.jkf.ne.jp/karate1-okinawa/

CFA seminars
Dates: October 3-7
Venue: Okinawa Pref. Budokan, Naha City
Organizer: Karate Kenkyūkai
http://www.karatekenkyukai.org/

Naha Festival and Great Tug of War
Dates: October 8-10
Venue: Kokusai Street, Route 58 Kumoji crossing, Onoyama Park, Naha City
Organizer: Naha City & Conservation Society of Naha Giant Tug of War
http://www.naha-otsunahiki.org/en/index.html

21st All Okinawa Champs
Dates: October 16
Venue: Tamagusuku Gymnasium, Nanjo City
Organizer: Zen Okinawa Karatedo Federation

3rd 100 Kata for Karate Day challenge

Dates: October 22 (9AM Start)
Venue: Chura Sun Beach, Tomigusuku City
Organizer: Challenge Okinawa
http://challengeokinawa.com

Dedicatory demonstration for the victims of the war
Dates: October 23, starts at AM 6:00
Venue: Okinawa Pref. Peace Memorial Park, Itoman City
Organizer: Uechi-ryu-kei Rengokai

Karate Day’s demonstration 2016 & Guinness world record challenge
Date: October 23
Venue: Kokusai Street and in front of Naha Tenbusu, Naha City
Organizers: Okinawa Prefecture Government, etc.
http://karate-otkk.jp/

Facebook event

livestreaming karateday2016

This year's event will also include an official challenge of the "Most People Performing a Kata" verified by the Guinness Records. It will also be available to watch through live streaming on Youtube.

WUF Karate Kobudo exchange demonstration
Date: October 25
Venue: Okinawa Pref. Budokan, Naha City
Organizer: Okinawa Prefecture Government, etc.
http://karate-otkk.jp/

The 6th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival
October 26-30
More athttp://wuf2016.com/en/

Symposium “Karate and Kobudo town, Naha” 2016
Dates: October 26, starts at PM6:00
Venue: Palette Civic Theater, Naha City
Organizers: Naha City Karatedo Federation, Naha City
2nd Okinawa Kenpo International Seminar
Dates: October 29-30
Venue: Ginowan City employees sport center
Organizer: Okinawan Kenpō Karatedō Association
http://www.kenposeminar.com

19th Junior HS Champs
Dates: October 29
Venue: Gushikawa Comprehensive Gymnasium, Uruma City
Organizer: Okinawa Pref. JHS Athletic Federation

All Okinawa Karatedo Tournament
Dates: October 30
Venue: Okinawa City Budokan
Organizer: Okinawa Karate-Do Association
http://www.okikukaihq.jp/

Most People Performing a Kata - Guinness Record!!! Okinawa 2016

Well...that was a BIG Kata!!!

karate kata guinness record2016 5

October the 25th is known to be the "Day of Karate" but this year October evolved into the "Month of Karate" in Okinawa (see our previous article)

On Sunday 23 of October 2016, 3973 Karateka performed a Kata in the Kokusaidori Street in Naha, setting a new World Guinness Record!!!

The event was broadcasted live globally through Youtube, and it was an event that made us really wishing to be there!!!

Congratulations to all the participants and organizers for the awesome atmosphere and this great achievement!!!

Photos of the event:
(source: Okinawa Karate and Kobudo http://karate-otkk.jp/)

A Historical Day for Uechi-Ryu

Okinawa Karate-Do Kyokai (Okikukai), one of the most popular Uechi-Ryu associations worldwide, has given the following announcement, signed by its current Chairman, Tsutomu Nakahodo Sensei (Hanshi, 10 Dan):

okikukai announcement

The link of the official page: http://www.okikukaihq.jp/others/ryuuhamei_henko.html

We attach the translation of the above text. The translation was done with the help of Google Translate tool.

Please, note that some adaptations have been made to absorb automatic translator's failures and inconsistencies. Do not consider this translation as 100% accurate. We will update the text as soon as the official announcement is done in English.

Photo of Nakahodo
Sensei's new Badge.

Dear all,

Our association's line in 1995 was named "Shohei Ryu". So far, it has been a favorite for 21 years. Now worldwide karate is under widespread development and "karate" is added as a competition event in the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020. A karate Promotion Division is set up in Okinawa Prefecture, director of next year, until April, Okinawa karate Kaikan is start of service. Based on the situation of the surrounding environment, and the fact that karate is changing greatly, from July 31, 2008 in the meeting, has been decided to announce the change the school name of the Association from "Shohei Ryu" to "Uechi Ryu".

1) Organization Name: Okinawa Karate Association

2) School name: Uechi Ryu

3) Notation: Okinawa Karate Association (Uechi Ryu)

4) Reasons for the change:

(1) The use of a valid and effective name, in order to promote the international spread and development of Okinawan karate, and for the activities of Okinawa's three major school names.

(2) To play a role, since the association is home of 72 overseas affiliated dojo in about 20 countries, a large international spread development of karate

(3) It is necessary to enhance the "name", which is the mission of the Association. In the future, to promote the further spread development, introducing the association as one of the three major schools, one of which is "Uechi Ryu".

(4) More, leading to activation of the organization activities. The school name of our association, which is the organization that inherits the mainstream of Uechi Ryu, to be returned to the original "Uechi Ryu"

Okinawa Karate Association

Chairman Nakahodo Tsutomu