Author Archives: Sensei Koszarsky

Young’s Spring 2024 Tournament

Open Style Martial Arts Tournament
Hosted by Young’s TKD of Bellefonte
Saturday April 6th, 2024

Events: Forms, Weapons,  Breaking, and Sparring
Divisions: Handicapable, Children, Junior, Adult, Senior and Executive
$100 Cash Prize for Grand Champion Winners
Trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (Runner up medals for children)

Bellefonte Sr. High School
830 E Bishop St.
Bellefonte, PA 16823

​Day of Registration begins at 9:00 am
Black Belt meeting at 10:30 am
1st event is weapons at 11:00 am

​Only $50 to compete in all events
Register in Person at the event (cash only at the event)
Click to visit Young’s TKD website for additional information and online pre-registration.

Happy Little New Year!

January 15th is a day of great significance.

The ソグワチグワ Soguwachiguwa was a 3 day celebration beginning with the full moon in January.  Okinawans would pay tribute to 歳徳神 Toshitokujin, a Shinto Kami of agriculture, seeking good fortune for their crops in the coming year. When the Gregorian Calendar was adopted, January 15th became the day that Soguwachiguwa was observed.

In 1956 on the occasion of ソグワチグワ Soguwachiguwa (Okinawan dialect) / 小正月 Koshogatsu (Japanese), the Little New Year, Master Shimabuku called a special meeting at his home & dojo in Chan village to announce a new name for his unique style of Okinawan Karate. Previously, his style had been called as Chan Migwa Te (in the late 40s) and later Su Nu Su (early 50s).  He chose “Isshin Ryu” because “all things begin with one, and the heart is the most important part. Isshin Ryu is the One Heart Way/Method.

Traditionally, the Coming Of Age Day, Seijin-no-Hi, was also celebrated on January 15th. It’s the mark of entering adulthood. You could say that Master Shimabuku’s Karate entered its adulthood at this time and emerged as Isshin Ryu Karate.

In the USA, we remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his beliefs in equality on January 15th. Master Shimabuku was progressive in his time as well. He would teach anyone his art as long as they were genuinely interested and of good heart, man or woman, any race or creed.

Like an Okinawan Hibiscus, Master Shimabuku’s Karate bloomed as “Isshin Ryu” on that January day in 1956.  Seeds of Isshin Ryu have since been carried on the winds across the oceans and around the globe. 

Hibiscus Bush Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images ...


In January of 1972, Sensei Sutton planted one of those seeds at Penn State and established the Penn State Karate Club.  With help from Sensei Dorow & Sensei Liskai, PSKC developed strong roots.

October 25th is “Karate Day” in Okinawa

On this day in 1936, prominent Okinawan masters gathered in Naha and formally adopted the term Kara-Te 唐手 (empty hand). The masters present included Hanashiro Chomo (1869-1945), Kyan Chotoku (1870-1945), Motobu Choki (1871-1944), Miyagi Chojun (1888-1953), Kiyoda Juhatsu (1886-1967, Chibana Chosin (1885-1969), and Shinpan Shiroma (1890-1954).
*The three highlighted in bold text are Shimabuku Tatsuo’s teachers.

This year the OKINAWA KARATE SPIRIT〜沖縄県空手振興課公式チャネル〜 channel on YouTube will be streaming some of the events starting at 10PM our time.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC176Q7L3JfTmYBzDDPk2UhA

Additional information is available through the Okinawan Karate Information Center:
https://okic.okinawa/en/

Isshin Ryu’s Dragon Man

島袋龍夫

Over a century ago, in the small village of Chan, on a small island in the south pacific, a boy was born. One day he would become a Karate Master whose art would reach beyond the shores of Okinawa and spread across the globe.

“Dragon Man” of Isshin Ryu, Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei
(September 19, 1908 – May 30, 1975)