In July 2023 I attended the International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do Federation (IOGKF) training camp in Naha, Okinawa. It was the first face to face event for us in Okinawa since the COVID epidemic. It was just for country Chief Instructors and senior grades and there where representatives from over 50 countries in attendence.
The event was presided over by:
IOGKF World Chief Instructor (Shuseki Shihan), Tetsuji Nakamura
IOGKF World Vice-chief Instructor (Fuku Shuseki Shihan) Ernie Molyneu and Henrik Larsen along with Sensei Jorge Monteiro and Sensei Katsuya Yamashiro
It was great training and catching up with old friends.
While there I was invited to sit my 7th degree black belt along with Sensei Rajesh Ravji also from New Zealand. Also graded from New Zealand was Phil Dovaston and John Healy, both who graded to 6th degree black belt.
Sensei Rajesh, Sensei Phil, Sensei John and myself make up the kambukai (technical committee) for the International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do Federation New Zealand (IOGKFNZ) https://karate.org.nz/about-iogkfnz/
IOGKFNZ have had the IOGKF World Chief Instructor, Sensei Nakamura, in Wellington for a training weekend in March which saw members from all over New Zealand and Australia attend.
In September we had Sensei Torben Svendsen, 7th degree black belt from IOGKF Denmark hold a training weekend in Wellington. Once again well supported by IOGKFNZ members from around New Zealand