Matsubayashi-Ryu Honbu Dojo (Nagamine Dojo) Closing :(

[CredoTe]

Friends in Karate,

As many of you may or may not know, information was received from Okinawa that the Nagamine dojo (Honbu dojo) is due to close, as the lease on the building has unfortunately come to an end, and the land is due to be redeveloped. The final day open will be December 15, 2013.

It looks like a new home for the World Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do Association (WMKA) will be selected at some point.

https://www.matsubayashi-ryu.com

[Wastelander]

I had seen something about that, but the report I saw was in Japanese and obviously Google Translate wasn't entirely accurate--I had thought it was simply closing for open training! The translation gave the impression that the dojo, itself, would still be there and in use by regular students. This is definitely sad news

[Zaine]

That is unfortunate news! I'm sure they will bounce back quickly and find an awesome space to train though.

[RJCKarate]

It is sad to hear, especially for those of us who have lived and trained at the Nagamine dojo many times. However, just to provide a bit of context, our organisation (the WMKA) is fortunate enough to have 7 other dojo in Okinawa, and since Sensei T. Nagamine's passing, Taira dojo had played the role of the world headquarters.

Events like these are sad, but we continue to move forward and practice karate as best as we can.

[bushido_man96]

It is sad to hear, especially for those of us who have lived and trained at the Nagamine dojo many times. However, just to provide a bit of context, our organisation (the WMKA) is fortunate enough to have 7 other dojo in Okinawa, and since Sensei T. Nagamine's passing, Taira dojo had played the role of the world headquarters.

Events like these are sad, but we continue to move forward and practice karate as best as we can.

This is really the only best advice. Move forward, and try to make things better. Sad to here, but hopefully, its just another obstacle to overcome in this style's history.

[CredoTe]

It is sad to hear, especially for those of us who have lived and trained at the Nagamine dojo many times. However, just to provide a bit of context, our organisation (the WMKA) is fortunate enough to have 7 other dojo in Okinawa, and since Sensei T. Nagamine's passing, Taira dojo had played the role of the world headquarters.

Events like these are sad, but we continue to move forward and practice karate as best as we can.

I was hoping you would help clarify, RJC. Since I know you train in Okinawa on a somewhat regular basis, I figured you would be able to shed some light on the issue. The information that is disseminating to the US, Canada, etc isn't totally clear on what's going on; which is why my OP is rather vague (besides the final date).

Any other details you could provide? How could this happen? Was it that the WMKA heads couldn't prevent it? The hearsay going around here in the US and Canada is that Soke's son was relocated out of Okinawa, and a stipulation of the lease was that a Nagamine had to be there. I have no idea if any of this is true...

[Nidan Melbourne]

That is saddening to hear that the honbu has to move. but hey you never know the dojo might be bigger than before.

and is also very saddening to hear that your soke passed away.

[sensei8]

Yes!! It's quite sad to hear about things like this. May their paths be brighter wherever they may or may not go.

This caused me to think about the trails and tribulations that our own Hombu has had to indure since the passing of our Soke and Dai-Soke; two chairs that will never be filled, nor tried to be filled.

It caused me to weep ever so slightly as I sat in quiet solitude remembering my sensei, my friend; my Dai-Soke.

Heads up and look for brighter days ahead!!

[RJCKarate]

While it was sad to hear, at 3pm Okinawa time on Sunday, dojo all around the world who are WMKA members and connected to Okinawa, entered their dojo to train at the same time as Okinawa - this was 5pm for Australia, and anywhere between 1am and 6am from Canada to Ireland.

This was a great event and fostered a good feeling of spirit and closeness between members of the WMKA. There will be a news article posted on https://www.matsubayashi-ryu.com soon, however, in the meantime you can see our facebook page from photos not only from our dojo in Australia, but from the dojo in Okinawa:

Our dojo: https://www.facebook.com/KarateCanberra

Photos from dojo around the world: https://www.facebook.com/events/656727311046793/

[bushido_man96]

While it was sad to hear, at 3pm Okinawa time on Sunday, dojo all around the world who are WMKA members and connected to Okinawa, entered their dojo to train at the same time as Okinawa - this was 5pm for Australia, and anywhere between 1am and 6am from Canada to Ireland.

This was a great event and fostered a good feeling of spirit and closeness between members of the WMKA. There will be a news article posted on https://www.matsubayashi-ryu.com soon, however, in the meantime you can see our facebook page from photos not only from our dojo in Australia, but from the dojo in Okinawa:

Our dojo: https://www.facebook.com/KarateCanberra

Photos from dojo around the world: https://www.facebook.com/events/656727311046793/

This is a pretty cool event. Thanks for sharing these with us, and here's to continued progression for you style and organization in the future!