Event Information:

Press Release No. : 2 /2013
Date   : Thursday, 31 January 2013

Japanese Karate Instructors Make an Impact/
Seminars open to public on 2 February in Suva
& 9 February in Lautoka

    
Two weeks into their four-week stay in the country, Senseis’ Shigeki Yamada and Kengo Yamada have been making a huge impact training Goju-Ryu karate-ka around the country. The two Senseis’ have been conducting training in Suva, Nausori, Nadi and Lautoka accompanied by senior local instructors, Senseis’ Netani Koto and Lemeki Lenoa.

Sensei Lemeki Lenoa, Karate Fiji’s National Coach and Coaching Coordinator said that the past two weeks, training has been intense with training being conducted 6 days of the week and the level of training especially for black belts has been challenging but it has also resulted in improved technique, discipline, focus and form.

“It has been a very rewarding experience for all the karate-ka and even ourselves as instructors to go back to our traditional roots of training. Over the past seven years, we have become too sports oriented which unfortunately, has led to several setbacks in terms of karate-ka around the country not truly understanding what Karate is actually about. The Senseis’ being in the country has rekindled that core spirit of Karate-Do and made friends and followers of Karate come to realize that Karate, while being a sport is also deeply rooted in the values and discipline it teaches.”

The Senseis have so far conducted 11 training sessions in various Karate Fiji affiliated Goju-Ryu clubs. The focus over the past two weeks has been on traditional Kihon (Basic training) in various Tsuki (Punching), Uke (Blocking), Geri (Kicking), Uchi (Strikes) techniques. The Senseis’ have also been revising various Kata in the Goju-Ryu syllabus and over the next two weeks will start to focus on high-level Kata for senior (Black belt level) karate-ka. The Senseis’ will also transition to Kumite (sparring) training before their stay in Fiji comes to an end.

The Senseis  will be conducting a seminar in Suva at Yat Sen School Hall on Saturday, February 2nd and another in Lautoka at Natabua High School Hall on Saturday, February 9th, both of which will be held from 1pm – 6pm.　Members of the public interested in watching or taking up Karate this year are welcome to watch the seminars and speak to club representatives present about joining.

Karate Fiji is grateful for the assistance provided by the Japan Foundation and Embassy of Japan in Fiji for making this training opportunity a reality and also for supporting the Federation’s ongoing plans of further developing Karate in the country.

     For information about training sessions, please contact Ms. Angela Birch on telephone 9928057, or visit the official Karate Fiji website at www.karatefiji.com or email info@karatefiji.com.  For more information about Yamada Senseis, or to arrange interview with Yamada Senseis, you can contact Ms. Mele Raturaga on telephone: 3304 633 email: eojculture@fj.mofa.go.jp .

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