Hawaii Karate Kenkyukai: February Session

After a couple of February Sundays that first played host to the Super Bowl and the OSKA Shinnenkai, the Hawaii Karate Kenkyukai met once more on February 19, 2012. On the docket was the Seienchin/Seiunchin/Seiyunchin kata, the Kihon kata, Wankan/Okan/Matsukage, Kojo no Sai, and Wanchin.

Performing the Seienchin/Seiunchin/Seiyunchin kata were Kyokushin Karate, Senbukan Dojo, and Minakami Dojo, respectively. This kata is generally believed to have been passed down by Kanryo Higaonna who learned it while in China. There is also another version in the style of Ryueiryu, as founder Nakaima Kenri had also trained in China even earlier, as he was nearly fifty years older. Like most kata, the name’s meaning is lost in history, as it was passed down orally or written down in katakana without the use of Chinese characters.

Next up were the three Kihon Kata by OSKA. Chibana Chosin Sensei formulated these kata, which contain basic but powerful fighting sequences.

Following this, the schools performing Wankan/Okan/Matsukage were Island Ki, Hikari Dojo, International Karate League, Kenshukan, and Aikenkai. While Wankan is sometimes rendered as “King’s Crown”, the use of meaning derived from Chinese characters was something added retroactively, as the name had been passed down orally or written in katakana.

Rounding out the kata portion was Ryukyu Kobudo performing Kojo no Sai and Zentokukai performing Wanchin. Kojo no Sai is considered the oldest sai kata in Okinawa, having been passed down by the Kojo family. Wanchin is a kata created by Zenryo Shimbakuro Sensei for his dojo’s grand opening in 1962, and the name was derived from a combination of Wansu and Chinto.

After each school performed their kata twice and answered questions regarding the meanings of various movements after the second round, everyone partnered up to practice techniques from the kata as presented by each school. Indicative of their respective fighting methodologies, they ranged from stepping off-line to avoid an attack, combination strikes, grappling and catching techniques, to walking in directly to attack an opponent.

After the conclusion, refreshments were provided by Lee Sensei, Nakasone Sensei, Ishii-Chang Sensei, Nakata Sensei, Steve Chun (C.Q. Yee Hop Co./Commercial Enterprises) and Grant Kawasaki (Hanapa’a Sushi) and everyone enjoyed themselves talking story.

Performing the Kata (in order):
Seienchin - Kyokushin Karate - Dean Harada Sensei (representing Herbert Ishida Sensei)
Seiunchin - Senbukan Dojo - Alan Lee Sensei and Kyle Nakasone Sensei
Seiyunchin - Minakami Dojo - Sean Roberts Sensei
Kihon Kata Shodan, Nidan, Sandan - OSKA - Alan Yokota, Steve Chun, Grant Kawasaki, John Oberle
Wankan - Island Ki Dojo - Taylour Chang and Frank Lopes (Round 1) and Hisae Ishii-Chang Sensei (Round 2)
Wankan (Okan) - Hikari Dojo - Charles Goodin Sensei
Wankan / Matsukage - International Karate League - Gary Hiramatsu Sensei (representing Walter Nishioka Sensei)
Wankan - Kenshukan Karate Kobudo Association - Shawna Carino (representing James Miyagi Sensei)
Wankan - Aikenkai - George Sasano Sensei
Kojo no Sai - Ryukyu Kobudo - Alan Yokota (representing Fumio Nagaishi Sensei), Roy Rivera, John Oberle
Wanchin - Zentokukai - Angel Lemus Sensei, Judy Lemus, Ruth Gates, and Rob Toonen

Observing:
Walter Nishioka Sensei
James Miyaji Sensei
Robin Sagadraca


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