"It is with deep regret and sadness that we announce the passing away of Soke Takayoshi Nagamine, 10 th Dan Hanshisei on April 26,2012"

http://www.matsubayashi-ryu.com/content/wmka-news

That is so sad to hear. He was so young... just about my mother's age.

May he rest in peace.

Yes...Rest in peace!! My prayers to his family, friends, and students!!

This only made me miss my Dai-Soke even more!

Wow...with his father's long life, this was not something you would expect.

Carpe diem, 67 is pretty young these days. I do wonder what happened and what will now happen with the WMKA. I suspect it will further fragment, which is a shame.

Carpe diem, 67 is pretty young these days. I do wonder what happened and what will now happen with the WMKA. I suspect it will further fragment, which is a shame.

I pray that the WMKA won't fragment, it's not a pretty thing to be part of and to see, I've seen it first hand and it's quite sad.

Carpe diem, 67 is pretty young these days. I do wonder what happened and what will now happen with the WMKA. I suspect it will further fragment, which is a shame.

I pray that the WMKA won't fragment, it's not a pretty thing to be part of and to see, I've seen it first hand and it's quite sad.

It already has several times long before this. I think it is human nature and inevitable. Martial arts and religions seem to be similar in this regard. It will all depend on who takes over and how much those under that person like and respect that person. However and unfortunately, disagreements and politics are inseparable with any human institution.

It may fracture and some of the weaker links may fall away. However, those that stay true to Nagamine Sensei's teachings will be stronger. I believe the true practitioners will survive and flourish.

It may fracture and some of the weaker links may fall away. However, those that stay true to Nagamine Sensei's teachings will be stronger. I believe the true practitioners will survive and flourish.

Matsubayashi will certainly survive, it is just too popular world wide to fade any time soon. However, unless there was a per-determined succession plan, there must be some heavy politicking going on behind the scenes at the Nagamine organization right now.

Just wanted to repost something I found on the Karate by Jesse blog and wanted to pass along in part. A reminder that even those with karate "in their blood" are just like us.

From an interview conducted by Sensei Michael Clarke in 2005 with Nagamine Takayoshi in 2005:

Michael Clarke: Did you find it easy to do karate or was it difficult?

Nagamine Takayoshi: “I found it difficult, and in some ways I still do. I guess there are some genius people around who can do karate very easily, but my way was to just try harder and harder over a long period of time. Sometimes I have had a plan, but it didn’t always work out the way I wanted, so I just keep trying.”