Karate no Hi (Karate Day)

[Wastelander]

On October 25th, 2005, the Okinawan government, in partnership with several Okinawan karate masters, held the first Karate no Hi (Karate Day) celebration in Naha, Okinawa. Since then, every year there are demonstrations and seminars on the 25th of October to support and spread awareness of Okinawan karate. This year, the DOJO Bar has gotten together with some other sponsors to try to start a new Karate Day tradition--the 100 Kata Challenge.

The idea behind this challenge is to bring karateka from all over the world together--in person, and in spirit--to train hard and pay homage to our roots. The main get-together is on Okinawa, of course, but they are hoping that people in other countries will participate in their own dojo, parks, or back yards. Since the US is about a day behind Okinawa, we will be doing it at 4pm on October 24th. Will anybody here be participating in the challenge?

[sensei8]

Please, SIGN ME UP!!

[Nidan Melbourne]

That sounds awesome!

[Wastelander]

This is the website that James set up for the event. You can register your dojo as a participating location on the "Events" page: http://challengeokinawa.com/

[sensei8]

This is the website that James set up for the event. You can register your dojo as a participating location on the "Events" page: http://challengeokinawa.com/

Thanks for the link...I'll check it out.

[armanox]

I'll check it out. I may propose it to the dojo.

[OleOle]

I hope everyone who participated in International Karate Day enjoyed themselves.

It seems from a look at the list of events held...

http://challengeokinawa.com/100kataforkarateday/

...that there was a heck of a lot of non-English speaking countries involved, big contingents from Venezuela, Namibia, India, Russia, Peru and Argentina. Lots too from the US, Canada, UK, Ireland and some from Australia but none, apparently from my home city of Sydney - not exactly a good turnout from a city of four and half million people

Ahh well, we'll do better next year, for some reason most of the people I spoke with here didn't know the event was even taking place but there was some interest to participating next year so we'll see what happens.

If you managed to do the 100 kata, well done!

[Wastelander]

We did our part, and ran through Naihanchi Shodan 100 times! I have to say, somewhere around 60-70, I started to feel kind of like Jell-O!

[sensei8]

My dojo did the same, Naihanchi Shodan. Our Hombu, with Greg, our Kancho leading them, did Naihanchi Nidan. Those dojo's within the Shindokan network did Naihanchi Sandan.

And yes...we had fun. However, none of us registered, and for that, I feel that I let the event coordinators down; our apologies to the solemnness of this event. I am to blame on not following this through!! I deeply and sincerely apologize to those who administered the Karate no Hi (Karate Day) celebration, it's a wonderful and meaningful event.

Sometimes I'm too busy, but not too busy to make excuses!!