Karate Day 2017

81 years ago something pretty incredible happened.

At 4pm on the 25th October 1936 in Naha, Okinawa. A very important meeting took place. A meeting that would become a cornerstone in Karate History.
The 1936 'meeting of the masters'.
The people whose pictures we now have on the wall. The people who we read books about. The people who paved the way to make Karate what it is today.
Hanashiro Chomo Sensei, Kyan Chotoku Sensei, Motobu Choki Sensei, Chibana Choshin Sensei, Shiroma Shinpan Sensei, Oroku Chotei Sensei, Nakasone Genwa Sensei and Kyoda Juhatsu Sensei.
In this meeting they decided that the fighting art that was being referred to in many different ways would come to be known as Karate- Empty Hands.
They felt like karate was a dying art because nobody was interested in it in Okinawa anymore. They wanted to make sure that the thing that they loved so much was not forgotten and that they were not the last people practising it. They wanted Okinawa to be known as the place where this beautiful art was brought to life.
Today is an incredible day because 81 years on, i think they achieved their goal.
Last year when the Guinness World Record was set with almost 4000 karateka doing kata at the same time, in the same place, in the middle of Okinawa. They would be proud.

2016 Karate Day Guinness World Record- 3793 people

Karate day fell on a Wednesday this year and with the newly opened Karate Kaikan a special demonstration was held there today with the current Karate Masters Performing at the 'special dojo'.

Being so small and cute ;) i crawled up the front and sat next to an important looking man in a suit, it meant i could get some pretty incredible pictures and videos of the people i really look up to and respect. I so want to be just like them someday.

The atmosphere there today was incredible. Once the speeches and demonstrations had started, everybody was so quiet and respectful.
There was a vibe of safety in the air- I mean, i don't think i could be in a safer place if i had tried - a feeling of confidence, peace and security.
Sunday will be the day where Karate takes over Kokusai Dori (Typhoon permitting) and so i'll do another post then, but i think today was a perfect way to commemorate Karate day.

It got me thinking about how different things were back then but they still strived for the same things that we are nowadays- getting more people to practice karate and love it like we do; and we love it because of what it brings out of us.
It makes us confident, part of a team,  a student, an athlete, a teacher, a mentor and so, so many more things. most importantly though. It gives us something money can't buy. Happiness and when taught in the right way, creates really great people.
Quoting Funakoshi Sensei: 'the ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of character of it's participants'.

I'll be dead in 81 years time, but i hope that i can play a small part in preserving Karate and passing it onto the future generations, just like the Sensei before us did and just like these sensei are doing now.