IWKA World Championship 2024 will be hosted in Pittsburgh this summer.
August 1st – 3rd.
Upcoming Registration Deadlines:
Regular registration: January 1, 2024 – April 30, 2024
Late registration: May 1, 2024 – July 22, 2024
https://www.iwka2024.com/registration
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.
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.
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/
Karate classes will not be held in 232HUB during spring break. Remember, you can practice Karate wherever you go. If you are staying in town during spring break, look for us on the HUB lawn, Sunday & Wednesday evenings at 7, weather permitting.
January 15th 1956, Master Tatsuo Shimabuku called a special meeting at his home & dojo in Chan village, Gushikawa city 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). On the occasion of Soguwachiguwa (Okinawan dialect) / Koshogatsu (Japanese), the Little New Year, Master Shimabuku announced the official name of his Karate. He chose “Isshin Ryu” because “all things begin with one.”
The Soguwachiguwa is 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, and also the day Master Shimabuku chose to name Isshin Ryu.
Traditionally, the Coming Of Age Day, Seijin-no-Hi, is 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.
How will your Karate grow in the coming year? Hard work combined with good fortune should yield an excellent crop.
In Japan, the Oshogatsu (The Big New Year) was also changed to match the Gregorian Calendar. In some regions, like Okinawa, the original Chinese New Year date is still observed.
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.
Resolution on the declaration of the day of Karate:
http://okic.okinawa/en/archives/newstopics/536
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)
Sept 19, 1908 – May 30, 1975
Thank You to the Penn State Japanese Friendship Association for inviting the Penn State Karate Club to participate in their 2022 Matsuri event earlier this month.
A few brave audience members joined us on stage for the participation part of our presentation. Here they are going through Fukyugata Dai Ichi, a special introductory kata developed by Master Shoshin Nagamine (長嶺 将真) in the 1940s to help promote Okinawan Karate.