During the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of June 2017 hundreds of Uechi-Ryu karate practitioners had the opportunity to be on the tatami the Palais Omnisports de Maisons-Laffitte (78). This was the 12th Uechi-Ryu Coupe de France, and attracted almost 120 practitioners and 110 tournament participants.

In Kata, for the first time this year, there was a separation between male and female according to their level (Kyu and Dan). This allowed practitioners of lower ranks to make it to the podium. An additional pressure weighed was put on the shoulders of practitioners, since they were judged by Uechi Kansho Sensei, the current Soke of the style and the great grand-son of the founder of the style, Kanbun Uechi, and Haruki Kawasaki Sensei who came from Okinawa for the occasion.

After the Kata competition, it was the time for Kumite tournament. The Kumite tournament was held under full contact rules with controlled punches to the head area.

On Sunday morning, 74 karatekas of all styles came together to attend a seminar under the Masters Kansho Uechi and Haruki Kawasaki. Practitioners from Russia, Spain, England, Belgium, Portugal, and even Australia attended the event. For more than 3 hours, the training focused on the fundamental principles of Uechi-Ryu Style. The leader instructors expressed their gratitude to all the attendees for the beautiful moments they shared and gave an appointment for the next year during the 13th event which again will be held in Maisons-Laffitte.

A great seminar is being organized by Alexander Renninger Sensei, this September, in Bad Kissingen, Germany from Friday the15th till Monday the 18th of September 2017. James Thompson Sensei (Hanshi, 10 Dan) will lead the training, assisted by Brian Diamond Sensei (Kyoshi, 7 Dan). Master James Thompson is a first generation student of Grandmaster Kanei Uechi. He began his training in early 1960's while a member of the US Army's elite 1st Special Forces Group(Airborne) on Okinawa. Thompson Sensei was promoted to his current rank of Hanshi Judan in August of 2016 by his current instructor Yoshitsune Senaga. Brian Diamond Sensei started training Uechi Ryu in 1981 at Thompson Sensei`s Okinawan Karate Academy. He is the secretary of the Uechi Ryu Karate Kokusai Kyokai. 

Contact information:
Spitalgasse 2, 97688, Bad Kissingen
Mobile: 0049 174 306 77 18 (from abroad)
0174 306 77 18 (within Germany)
uechiryukaratedojo.bk[at]gmx.de

Seminar's leaflet

UPDATE: On behalf of Okikukai Serbia Hombu Dojo we were informed that Takashi Arakaki Sensei will be the event's special guest from Okinawa. Arakaki Sensei is among the most respected masters of his generation in Okinawa, both in Karate-Do and Kobudo. He is an excellent instructor and a wonderful person!

The annual seminar of Okikukai Serbia Hombu has become a tradition over the last years. This year's seminar will take place at the indoor gym of "Stari Grad" elementary school,  on Herceg Stjepana str., No. 7, Belgrade Serbia, from Sunday 30th of April up to Tuesday 2nd of May 2017 and will have two training sessions per day (10:00~12:00 in the morning and 14:00~16:00 in the afternoon). Kyu/Dan Tests will also be held during the last day of the event. Vladimir Popovic Sensei (Kyoshi 7 Dan), chief instructor of Okikukai Uechi-Ryu Serbia Hombu and Milan Dimitrieski Sensei (Renshi 6 Dan) will lead the training. People from over 7 countries have already applied. However, there are still open places. 

For more information please contact: okikukai.serbia.hombu[at]gmail.com
Official Site: http://www.okikukai.org.rs/index_e.htm