This isn’t really karate-specific as it could apply to other martial arts with a long-standing lineage/tradition…

If you maintain ties and regularly train(ie: with the head of your style/lineage in its native region(Okinawan karate in Okinawa for example) ; what has been the most or challenging part of doing this long term over several years?

It is easier for you to travel to the main school in Japan(or wherever else) OR easier to do the opposite(invite/send for the Chief to come to you?

Doing either would seem easier if one runs a school within a GvBody/association. Does anyone out there train like this individually for themselves instead ?As private training without intending to own/run a school(yet)?

When I was still in the Shorinkan, we had to attend at least one official training camp per year, as a dojo, and any time we went to Okinawa, we were only allowed to train at the Shorinkan honbu dojo, and only during the designated "foreigner classes," of which there were two per week. We usually had a Kyoshi within the organization come and teach twice per year, although that wasn't strictly necessary to maintain membership. Personally, I was going to maintain my membership in the Shorinkan, personally, while establishing my own unaffiliated dojo starting in 2020, but politics and ultimatums changed my mind, so I went independent, instead.

I'll be honest: if I was to move to another area that had Shotokan dojos, but none were ISKF, I wouldn't be too pressed about it. I would simply pick what's available and look forward without looking back. As a matter of fact, if one of them was ISKF and the others weren't, I wouldn't automatically choose the ISKF dojo just because it's ISKF... unless, of course, the only other option was a JKS dojo (nothing against them; but I vehemently disagree with WKF style kumite).

What IS most important to me is that it's Nakayama lineage (as opposed to Gima, Egami, etc). I'm more concerned with that than whether or not it's Okazaki, Kanazawa, Nishiyama, Asai, etc.

Edited July 21Jul 21 by Furinkazan

2 hours ago, Wastelander said:

Personally, I was going to maintain my membership in the Shorinkan, personally, while establishing my own unaffiliated dojo starting in 2020, but politics and ultimatums changed my mind, so I went independent, instead.

You never looked at joining Kensankai, Kiyobukan, or Butokukan?

22 hours ago, Furinkazan said:

You never looked at joining Kensankai, Kiyobukan, or Butokukan?

No. There are a bunch of different Shorin-Ryu organizations I could have tried to join, but they either didn't have instructors accessible to me to help me adjust to the system, or the instructors/organizations would require me to change my curriculum to conform to their standards, and I had already decided to move forward with the approach my late Sensei and I decided on. I suppose I could have done a deeper dive to see if there were any organizations that let instructors have free reign on what/how they teach, but I am already part of the World Combat Association, which is style-agnostic and best-practices based, and that's how we approached creating the International Neoclassical Karate Kobudo Society, as well. I am also unofficially connected to the Bugeikan, as that is the headquarters for KishimotoDi, but they don't really make it official until you train with them on Okinawa, and I haven't had a chance to do that, yet.

I should mention first that I have only travelled to Okinawa twice and have not maintained ties with the Kodokan directly since 2014, though I have contacts on Okinawa still. Arakaki Sensei died in 2013, and after my second visit and failed effort to find a teacher of equal quality I have not gone back. I admire his son Ryuta as a karateka, and he is much superior to myself, but he is not the teacher his father was and what he knows is more in line with the teachings of Higa Minoru Sensei (Kyudokan). And I did meet some excellent karateka whose time I appreciated deeply and as people I respect, and some I can call friends, but again they could not give me what I found with Arakaki Sensei. My current sensei spent five years visiting Arakaki Sensei regularly, and already had advanced training of over three decades before meeting him. I am also in contact, through the internet, with several other Kodokan groups. Thus, I have a lot of access to what remains of his student base, and our collective memory, without going to Okinawa.

Arakaki Sensei did visit the UK in 2010 for a fortnight, where I followed him around for all the sessions he taught, and I travelled to Okinawa for a month long stay in 2011. Thus, I can somewhat address the question of:

“It is easier for you to travel to the main school in Japan(or wherever else) or easier to do the opposite(invite/send for the chief to come to you?”

From the perspective of a student, monetarily and life impact (Interrupting Work/Education et cetera) the easier of two for me to manage was the visit. It was far cheaper, and between the sessions I managed to work. I did not have to budget for it, significantly, or adjust my life to accommodate it. I think this would be true for most people.

What I will say is I had very little one to one time with Arakaki Sensei during the course. But it did give me a taste of the quality of his karate and instruction, which convinced me to go to Okinawa.  While there I was able to train with him every day, including classes at the Dojo. It meant helping take care of the dojo for the duration of my stay, but it was worth it. Much more expensive and did take up a whole month of my life, but the training was significantly more impactful.

I have subsequently explored inviting some of the sensei I connected with to the UK, but after the third try I gave up. Each wanted different guarantees I could not make, or an affiliation I do not want. If I were part of their organisations, or running a bigger venture myself, it would plausibly be easier but I am reticent to join an overseas organisation with which I will have limited access at the prices required, and with the obligations expected. And for me, I wanted to bring them to help promote actual Okinawan karate in the UK, not for my own benefit so each attempt turned into a non-starter. I decided to stop asking as I felt it was impacting the friendships I had built.

To be perfectly honest, and my feelings are of my own, after living through the civil war at our own disbanded SKKA, I’m tainted towards ANY MA Governing Body no matter the lineage.

Years later, my contacts with any Shindokan/SKKA students have dwindled away; contacts are far and away from what they once were.

13 hours ago, sensei8 said:

To be perfectly honest, and my feelings are of my own, after living through the civil war at our own disbanded SKKA, I’m tainted towards ANY MA Governing Body no matter the lineage.

Years later, my contacts with any Shindokan/SKKA students have dwindled away; contacts are far and away from what they once were.

I do believe that organizations are necessary. Outside of safety codes that all gyms have to meet, there are no government regulations that martial arts training schools are required to meet. This means that literally anyone can open up a martial arts school, regardless of their credentials or lack thereof, and award credentials to anyone who signs up based on any criteria that they set.

It's when the instructors and the credentials they award have the backing of an organization that the more discerning potential students are more reassured.

If I moved to an area where there's only one local Shotokan school and it's independent, I MIGHT sign up. But even if I do, I'm going to find the nearest organization affiliated school and sign up there too. If it's four hours away, then I'll drive up there every Saturday. I'll get my training from the independent school, but I don't want their credentials. I'll get my credentials from the organization affiliated school.

5 hours ago, Furinkazan said:

I do believe that organizations are necessary. Outside of safety codes that all gyms have to meet, there are no government regulations that martial arts training schools are required to meet. This means that literally anyone can open up a martial arts school, regardless of their credentials or lack thereof, and award credentials to anyone who signs up based on any criteria that they set.

It's when the instructors and the credentials they award have the backing of an organization that the more discerning potential students are more reassured.

If I moved to an area where there's only one local Shotokan school and it's independent, I MIGHT sign up. But even if I do, I'm going to find the nearest organization affiliated school and sign up there too. If it's four hours away, then I'll drive up there every Saturday. I'll get my training from the independent school, but I don't want their credentials. I'll get my credentials from the organization affiliated school.

Great points; I don’t disagree with you whatsoever.

For now, I’ll remain gun shy with my wanting to consider any Governing Body. Besides, my current health status is far more important to me than having the backing from any MA Governing Body.

If that time ever comes, I’d want to pass whatever form of Testing Cycle they might have because proof is on the floor and not what’s hanging on any wall.

My health first…anything else a distance second!!

On 7/21/2026 at 10:37 AM, Furinkazan said:

What IS most important to me is that it's Nakayama lineage (as opposed to Gima, Egami, etc). I'm more concerned with that than whether or not it's Okazaki, Kanazawa, Nishiyama, Asai, etc.

I just joined the forum, I am also from the Nakayama lineage.