Stockholm Sweden, July 2019.
After the success of the WUIKA & TOKUSHINRYU EUROPE SOUTH AMERICA TOUR (Review the article here), during December 2018 and January 2019 that had two WUIKA Romania students visiting several dojos taking part in a busy schedule in Chile, several activities took place during the first period of 2019 that mobilised the directors of WUIKA and Seishinkan in Europe and South America.
The exchange of students, seminars, tournaments and master classes are some of the most relevant activities that have been developed during the first period of 2019, leaving projects and tasks to continue and unforgettable postcards for those who were involved in each of them.
We invite you to review each of them in detail below.
TOKUSHINRYU KOBUDO 2019 WINTER GASHUKU & TOKUSHINRYU CUP
沖縄徳身流古武道
March 1 – 3, Copenhagen Denmark, 2019
March 2019 and Tokushinryu Valby Shibu’s logistical team dressed up to organize splendidly once more the Winter Gashuku & Tokushinryu Cup, the first of two annual events that gather all the Tokushinryu Europe practitioners in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Unlike the previous versions, this year the Tokushinryu Cup took place on Saturday morning due to the visit of the vice president and representative of the WUKF (World Union of Karate do Federations) in Denmark, Søren Helsted, who attended the event as an observer in the framework of the standardization of the category of Kobudo for the next United Karate of Denmark (UKD) National Championship during April and that will have as a novelty the debut of the Kobudo as division of competition.
Mr. Helsted, who is in constant communication with Lars Andersen sensei, was very satisfied and expectant of the results that inclusion will have for the first time in the history of Kobudo as official category in a Danish National Championship.
The champion of the 2019 version was again Diego Rodriguez (Tokushinryu Sweden) followed by Sven Mischke and Adreas Mischke, members of Tokushinryu Kobudo Germany, who completed the podium of the 2019 Tokushinryu Cup in its latest version under the format of “free choice of weapons”, due to the modification that forces the black belts to present more advanced katas / weapons in the first round.
According to Lars Andersen Sensei (Tokushinryu Kobudo Europe Director) the new format, that will be implemented immediately this 2019 (Tokumura Cup, in the framework of Nakskov’s Summer Gasshuku in September), aims to support the ultimate goal of the tournament, which is to be able to appreciate a wide and varied repertoire of kata/weapons and levels through the participants in the event that come from the different Tokushinryu groups in Europe. We can also anticipate the “technical isolation” that occurs when not having the possibility of interacting frequently among the various groups in Europe, which also have different karate and kobudo backgrounds.
The seminars were focused on strengthening the use of the Gusan, through the practice and correction of the Kata, in addition to the study of some Bunkai, emphasising as usual, the correct alignment of the segments and application of force in each movement.
CLICK BELOW TO CHECK THE AUDIO VISUAL RECORDS
2019 TOKUSHINRYU CUP
- Tokumine no Kun, by Sven Mischke
- Tokushin no Eku, by Andreas Mischke
- Hamahiga no Tonfa, by Diego Rodriguez
- Tokushin no Nunti Sai, by Diego Rodriguez
Once again the Seishinkan Budo School greatly appreciates the organisational deployment by the Tokushinryu Valby School to successfully carry out this new version of the Winter Camp and the 2019 Tokushinryu cup.
THE 2nd OKINAWAN KARATE NORDIC SEMINAR
沖縄空手古武道
April 6 – 7, Helsinki Finland, 2019.
After the success in the first incursion of this event in 2018 in Stockholm Sweden, the logistics team of the Okinawan Karate Nordic Seminar moved again to give the initial kick to the second version, this time in Helsinki, Finland, hosted by the representatives of Seibukan Shorin Ryu 聖武館少林流 in the region.
The project’s main objective is to revalue the roots of Okinawan Karate through the practice and revision of the main styles that derived from the teachings of the outstanding Shuri Te master, Chotoku Kyan 喜 屋 武 朝 徳 (1970 – 1945) . Isshinryu 一心流 by Tatsuo Shimabuku 島袋龍夫(1908-1975), Seibukan Shorin Ryu 聖武館少林流 by Zenryo Shimabukuro 島袋 善良(1908-1969) and Shorinji Ryu 少林寺流 by Joen Nakazato (1922-2010) are the karate styles that the participants have the possibility to experience and together, discover those principles and techniques that share the same roots.
With a greater framework of attendance compared to the 2018 version, the event was highlighted by the concurrence of practitioners of different styles such as Shotokan, Shito Ryu, Kyokushin, Shorin Ryu Seibukan, Shorinji Ryu, Isshinryu and Koryu Uchinadi among some others, who enjoyed of practical sessions aimed at highlighting what connects over what differentiates each one, creating an exclusive atmosphere of growth and collaboration.
The instructors responsible for conducting the training sessions during the Okinawan Karate Nordic Seminar are:
- Mr. Robert Iversen, Okinawa Shorinji Ryu, 7th dan. Sweden
- Mr. Kim Mitrunen, Okinawa Shorin Ryu Seibukan, 5th dan. Finland
- Mr. Diego Rodriguez, Okinawa Isshinryu Karate & Kobudo, 5th dan. Sweden (Chile)
In addition to the 2020 version of the Okinawan Karate Nordic seminar, there are some other related projects that link the event directly with Okinawa and the current representatives of styles on the island, which is why talks are currently being held with the Okinawa Ken 沖縄県 y el Okinawa Karate Kaikan 沖縄空手会館 in order to involve the direct source from where this projects is born: Okinawa.
If you want to review the 2018 and 2019 Okinawa Karate Nordic Seminar: In the footsteps of grand master Chotoku Kyan, we invite you to click the links below.
THE OKINAWA KARATE NORDIC SEMINAR 2018 – Stockholm Sweden
THE OKINAWA KARATE NORSIC SEMINAR 2019 – Helsinki Finland
DANISH NATIONAL KARATE & KOBUDO CHAMPIONSHIPS
沖縄空手古武道
April 27, Virum Denmark, 2019.
In the residential town of Virum, 15 km north of the center of Copenhagen, a new version of the United Karate of Denmark (UKD) National Championship took place. This organization, which works in parallel to the officially recognized by the Danish Olympic Committee, the Dansk Karate Forbound (Dkarf), is the one that brings together all the organisations that represent the traditional and general contact karate in Denmark, thus conformed the “2nd team” that represents the country at international level.
Affiliated with the World Union of Karate of the Federation (WUKF), the organisation of this national championship had as main objective to determine the representatives in each division for the 11th European Championship 2019 (Click here for further information), to be held in the town of Odense, Denmark between October 24 and 27, 2019 .
Being an event with tradition, in this opportunity it stands out as the first time in its history that the division of Kobudo古武道would take place, which had massive participation of athletes from the country that took part in the two categories in which the series was distributed: Long and Short Weapons.
Click Here to Review the Karate & Kobudo Kata performance during the Danish National Championship
Diego Rodriguez Sensei was part of the Haslev Isshinryu Karate Skole team directed by Martin Frederiksen sensei and Nelly Bradsted, taking part in two categories: Kata Karate, where he got the 3rd place, and Kobudo (Advanced Long and Short Weapons) where he got the first place in both divisions. In this way, in addition to getting the qualification for the next European Championship, Diego Sensei took part in the history of the Danish Kobudo when participating in the first event where this discipline took place.
Yhara Rodriguez, student of Isshinryu Seishinkan Chile, who was on tour in Denmark, also took part in the event in the Kata Karate category, also getting the first position on the podium.
Seishinkan Budo School would like to thank the support and kindness of the Haslev Isshinryu Karate School for including Yhara and Diego sensei in the team that competed in the event, contributing in this way to the representation work of Isshinryu and Tokushinryu Kobudo that all the athletes developed in a splendid way.
HASLEV KARATE SKOLE – SPECIAL TRAINING & KATA SEMINAR
沖縄 一心流空手古武道
May 4 – 5, Haslev Denmark, 2019.
A week after the UKD Danish National Championship, took place the initiative promoted by the WUIKA managers in Denmark and organised in a splendid manner by the Haslev Karate School directors Nellie Bradsted and Martin Frederiksen sensei. The objective is to carry out a kata clinic and special training sessions for the children and youngters in the club, with the idea of delivering a different perspective to address the training of these age groups, in addition to delivering some training techniques for competition kata.
On this occasion, Diego Rodriguez Sensei was invited to lead the activity, complementing those already carried out during the previous week with Yhara Rodriguez, who was visiting Denmark for almost a month, during which she took part in the regular karate classes at school.
Recreational karate and introduction to Kobudo were part of the initial sessions, which then gave way to more specific training techniques to develop the competition kata. The activity also served as an adjustment for the Isshinryu representatives who will be traveling to the World Championship of the specific style to be held in London England, next July (IWKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2019 LONDON – UK)
The activity is also part of the joint efforts that are being made worldwide among all the WUIKA (World United Isshinryu Karate Association) directors and organisations in Europe, South America, the United States and Okinawa to promote and support activities that favor the exchange of students to different continents, thus enhancing the cultural and martial art growth of its members.
Finally, the last details were fine-tuned for the visit of Cecilie Bradsted Pedersen, student of Isshinryu in Denmark, who will be visiting the Hombu Dojo of Seishinkan in Chile during the next June and July.
Thanks to Nellie Brasdted and her entire logistics team for the wonderful activity that took place over the weekend.
SHINGO RYU CUP – Næstved Denmark
May 05, Næstved Denmark 2019.
Without the participation of the Isshinryu schools in Romania, who have been preparing for the specific world championship of the style to be held in London during July of this year, a new version of the already traditional Shingo Ryu Cup (Click here for further details) was carried out in Næstved, Denmark. The massive absence of Isshinryu practitioners, however, did not mean leaving without international representatives of the style that took part in the event, due Yhara Rodriguez, student of Seishinkan Chile, became champion of the advanced female category of kata.
Haslev Karate Skole (Click here for further details) was kind enough to host Yhara for a month, which aimed to develop an exchange in the cultural and training field in Isshinryu Karate一心流空手(throught the training sessions with Lars Andersen sensei, Martin Frederiksen sensei and Diego Rodriguez sensei), continuing in this way with the mega project of exchanges between Europe and South America that some students of Isshinryu and Tokushinryu in Romania have already been part of during the last December 2018 / January 2019 in Chile (Click here for further details)
After several rounds Yhara Rodriguez won a Goju Ryu 剛柔流 IOGKF and Isshinryu student who finished second and third respectively. This result is already added to those obtained during the previous two years that have had a representative of Isshinryu and Seishinkan in Europe (Diego Rodriguez Sensei, Shingo Ryu Cup 2017 and Shingo Ryu Cup 2018) crowned champion in the most advanced divisions of kata.
Seishinkan Budo School and WUIKA Europe were very proud of the performance and sent their greetings to Yhara for the commendable results and role as representative in the event.
Deep thanks to the organizing committee of the Shingo Ryu Cup who, as usual, carried out an event organised in a splendid way.
EUROPE – SOUTH AMERICA EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Denmark – Chile 2019
Stockholm Sweden, May – June 2019
One of the projects that motivates the daily work of Diego Sensei is to establish, promote and support ties and exchange activities among the members of Seishinkan Budo School in Chile with schools and organizations in Europe, as has been the case in the past tour that made the members of WUIKA Europe in Romania, George Craciunescu & Alex Covasa, who were from mid-December 2018 until the middle of January 2019 enjoying an agenda full of cultural activities and related to the practice of martial arts in cities and dojos of Isshinryu and Tokushinryu in Chile.
At the beginning of 2019, the Isshinryu student in Haslev Karate Skole (Click here), Cecilie Bradsted, decided to join her personal project of cultural exchange with the initiative promoted by Diego Sensei when trying to coordinate in just a couple of months, a visit to the WUIKA Hombu dojo in South America (Seishinkan Budo) in Chile. The efforts resulted in an initiative that would have a student from Chile visiting Denmark and then Cecilie visiting Chile for about a month.
Yhara Rodriguez, Isshinryu student, Shodan and recently qualified as a nurse, was the one who decided to take part in the project and on May 18, she started her tour to Europe with a brief stop in Sweden to finish later in Haslev Denmark until May 20. Since then, an exquisitely prepared schedule has been developed that includes training at the WUIKA Hombu Dojo in Europe, supporting children’s classes in Haslev Karate Skole, participation in the Shingo Ryu Cup and the Danish National Championship 2019 and off course, a lot of cultural activities related with the amazing country of Denmark.
Later, and only three weeks after Yhara’s return to Chile, on June 10, Cecilie would be the one who would undertake the trip to continue with this project, this time in Concepcion, Chile.
The agenda of activities includes taking part in the regular training of Isshinryu in the Hombu Dojo of WUIKA in South America, seminar of Tokushinryu Kobudo, visits to the dojos in the region and various activities related to Chile, its cultural legacy and with Concepcion, the recognised Second Capital of the country and student city per excellence, due to the large number of Universities and Institutes that can be found in it.
Diego Rodriguez Sensei and Seishinkan Budo School, hope that Yhara and Cecilie will continue enjoying the rest of the tour and wish a happy return for Cecilie to Denmark. We thank both of you for the confidence placed in focusing your energies and invest your resources, joining efforts to carry this adventure together and write one more page of this ambitious project that hopes as always to continue inspiring new practitioners to embark on this journey of growth and to cross the world in search of new experiences that have as a central axis the practice of Karate Do.
EL SUR, main newspaper of southern Chile
Article and interview to the participants of the exchange between Chile and Denmark
For those interested in Europe and South America, the exchange program project promoted by Diego Rodriguez Sensei and supported by the WUIKA & Tokushinryu Kobudo organisations in Europe and South America through its board members, is fully operational and in the stage of receiving interested parties to give step to the planning stage, which includes the delivery of details and approximate dates to be carried out.
Enthusiasm to contribute to the personal and collective growth and to inspire the current and future generations of Isshinryu & Tokushinryu practitioners in the world, are the main conditions that must be met by those who wish to be part of this project, who from now on are cordially invited to contact us for more information.
With the sincere desire to help, I remain attentive to any concern regarding this or other related projects.
Sincerely yours
DIEGO RODRIGUEZ INZUNZA
Seishinkan Budo School Europe
Stockholm – Sweden 2019
SEISHINKAN BUDO SCHOOL EUROPE 