Culture and Education »Event Information
Event Information:
The first training session was conducted with Karatefiji, at Yat Sen Hall in Suva on 17 January 2013.
Following the session, official welcome ceremony was held, and Yamada Senseis handed over the gift of training materials from JAPAN FOUNDATION to Karatefiji.
Welcoming Speech by KFA President, Mrs. Makarita Lenoa
This opportunity to bring the Senseis’ to Fiji has taken almost a year to come to fruition.
Sensei Shigeki Yamada is a Goju-ryu Karate-ka for more than 52 years, with extensive experience in training karate-ka around the world especially in Europe and the Middle East for 33 years. His seminars have also brought him to the Oceania region before where he has conducted training in Australia and New Zealand. He is also the Executive Director of Kanagawa Karate Federation. Both Sensei Shigeki and his wife run their dojo in Kanagawa prefecture in Japan.
Sensei Kengo Yamada is also a Goju-ryu Karate-ka for 26 years, and has been teaching for 9 years. His achievements include winning titles for 9 consecutive years in All Japan Karatedo Goju-Ryu competition, as well as 5 championships in Goju-Kai World competition.
Both the Senseis’ hail from Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan and for those of you that do remember, Sensei Masaya Yamada who previously spent 2 years in Fiji as a JICA volunteer, also went to High School with Sensei Kengo Yamada and were also members of the Senior Male Team Kumite.
Both the Senseis’ are impressed with the fact that Karate Fiji is pushing to develop Karate further and hope to spend their 4 weeks focusing on aspects of Kihon, Bunkai, Kata and Kumite. While the Senseis’ are here to train fellow karate-ka, they also wish to take the opportunity to establish new friendship and learn more about Fiji’s culture.
Karate Fiji wishes to acknowledge the support of the Japan Foundation for sponsoring the Senseis’ and the materials that have been donated and also wishes to thank his Excellency, the Ambassador of Japan and the Embassy of Japan for facilitating the Federation’s request. The Federation also wishes to extend a special thank you to Ms. Iwatani Nobuko and Ms. Mele Raturaga for their immense efforts in coordinating this project with the Karate Fiji Technical Team led by Sensei Netani Koto and Sensei Lemeki Lenoa. Karate Fiji also wishes to thank the committee members of Suva China Club for hosting this event.
Welcoming Speech by Ambassador Mr. Oshima
Mrs. Makarita Lenoa, President of Karatefiji and the President of Oceania Karate Federation / Vice-President of the World Karate Federation,
Sensei Netani Koto, Technical Committee Chairman,
Sensei Lemeki Lenoa, National Coach,
And distinguished senior and young Karate-ka in Fiji,
Colleague from Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me a great pleasure to be here today on the occasion of the very first session of training by Yamada Shigeki Sensei and Yamada Kengo Sensei from Japan with Karatefiji. Yamada senseis are extensively experienced trainers as well as practitioners of Go-ju-ryu karate, as President of Karatefiji has just mentioned. I am very proud to have their presence in Fiji, as a result of almost a year preparation by Karatefiji, the Embassy, and Japan Foundation. On today’s occasion, I wish to congratulate Karatefiji for this achievement.
Karate is the one of the representative martial arts of Japan, developed under influence of indigenous martial arts of Ryukyu Islands and Chinese kenpo. According to the WKF (World Karate Federation), now there are around 100 million karate practitioners worldwide. It is of course a style of sports, but I guess what attracts so many practitioners would be its emphasis on philosophical aspects. For example, we say 礼にはじまり、礼に終わる whose direct translation is begin and end with a bow. It is the manifestation of the spirit of respect and courtesy. This spirit is rooted not only in Karate-do but also in a lot of arts in Japan.
Yamada sennseis will be in Fiji for a month, and are expected to conduct a series of training in Suva, Nausori, Nadi and Lautoka. Seminars are also planned, and I believe that, under excellent coordination by Karatefiji, Senseis will make good contribution to the development of many Karate-ka in Fiji, as well as to the deepening friendship between us.
Let me conclude my address with congratulation once again to Karatefiji and wish you all the best in this project.
Thank you very much.
Karate Fiji will announce the schedule of trainings and seminars by Yamada Senseis. 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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