Special theatrical showing at the UEC 12 (near the Nittany Mall) at 1PM on Sunday, March 31st.

Karate Kid Trivia: Pat Morita’s character Mr. Miyagi was named after Okinawan Karate Master Chojun Miyagi 宮城 長順, founder of Goju Ryu. Chojun Miyagi was a teacher of Tatsuo Shimabuku 島袋 龍夫, the founder of Isshin Ryu Karate

February 15th

2005 interview with Grand Master Shimabuku:

http://bohans-family.com/sensei-speaks/shimabuku-k/shim1.htm

About Grand Master Shimabuku:

http://www.theihof.com/104-kichiro-shimabuku

Grand Master Shimabuku will conduct several seminars in London this summer as part of the IWKA 2019 World Championship events.

Isshin Ryu Karate is offered at University Park campus as part of the Penn State Campus Recreation’s Fitness & Wellness instructional fitness classes. Registration is still open for the Spring 2019 semester.  Register online:

https://pennstatecampusrec.org/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=991e87d7-7396-433b-8fde-5c93a89e8316&semesterId=3f9eb40d-02ee-45ac-be58-c04d8d9024c4

The Soguwachiguwa was a 3 day celebration beginning with the full moon in January.  Okinawans would pay tribute to 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 Soguwachiguwa (Okinawan dialect) / 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.

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.

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.  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.

“I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Tatsuo Shimabuku broke with age old traditions and would openly teach his Karate to anyone of good character that demonstrated a true desire to learn, regardless of heritage or gender.

https://universityethics.psu.edu/penn-state-values

Since class night fell on Karate Day this year, we decided to do a 100 Kata Challenge.

The class was broken into three kata groups with beginners doing Seisan, Intermediate/Advanced doing Naihanchi, and Black Belts doing Kyan No Sai.  After a brief warm-up, we had a little over an hour available to perform the katas.

Congratulations to our Naihanchi group on completing 100 repetitions! Kyan No Sai logged 52 repetitions for 2nd place, and Seisan 40 for 3rd.  Lots of energy, sweat, and good kiais!  Great job everyone!

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.

Large Karate demonstrations, like the following video, are held in Okinawa on October 25th to commemorate the Meeting Of The Masters and celebrate the Okinawan art of Karate.

The declaration of KARATE NO HI (空手の日) KARATE DAY

http://okic.okinawa/en/archives/newstopics/536?fbclid=IwAR1XjOCKa73yxfJPnqnTzgmMkSVwrRhQcWz1QcJhaUoHbchdR4u9Qx2kyY8