TRADITIONAL OKINAWAN KARATE IN EDMONTON
International Okinawan Shōrin-ryū Seibukan Karate-dō Association (IOSSKA)
国際沖縄少林流聖武館空手道協会
人に優しく己に厳しくそういう精神が厳しい稽古の中で培うものである。
This spirit of being kind to others and being strict with oneself is cultivated through rigorous training.
Shimabukuro Zenpō, Kaichō IOSSKA.
NEWS
No class today, but Zenpō Sensei opened the dojo so we could practice.
Some couples hike on their holidays, some bike, some lie on the beach. All those are just fine; everyone should enjoy their lives as they choose. But I will always be grateful to have a wife who thinks an ideal vacation is training in an Okinawan dojo.
Canadians training at hombu dojo in Okinawa.
The Seibukan Karate Dojo (Edmonton) is proud to announce that Brynn was promoted to 7 kyū (green belt) today, on the shore of the East China Sea in Okinawa.
Genna, Lucy, and me training Passai at Ōzato dojo.
The Canadians with Zenpō Sensei and Zenshun Sensei at Ōzato dojo.
I am very proud that my students made the effort to come all the way to Okinawa to train with the best Seibukan teachers in the world.
Zakimi Castle, Yomitan, Okinawa.
Training at hombu dojo.
First class of the trip at the Urasoe dojo. Arakaki Sensei and his students are always so good to us.
Lucy training at our first class at hombu dojo this trip.
Sensei Raymundo giving expert instruction to one of our members who visited his dojo in Hyōgo, Japan.
Thank you, Sensei!
We were tentative because it was so slippery, but we did our annual real Edmonton karate.
Lucy with two of her students
Zenpō Sensei was honoured by the Okinawa Prefectural Karate-dō Rengōkai for his contributions to traditional Okinawa karate. Here he is with Kōtarō Sensei and Nakahodo Sensei.
社会正義 Shakaiseigi: social justice.
Although I don't hear the term much anymore, a few years back, the term, "social justice warrior," was often used in derision. But our dojo will always be proud to fight for social justice.
Karate is a way of fighting.
But people often misunderstand the nature of the battle.
Lucy brought her famous home-baked chocolate-chip cookies and brownies as a Valentine's Day treat for everyone in class today.
Other clubs can boast about their trophies and medals, but we have the best cookies!
Pair drills at this morning's class.
Some martial artists idolize Bruce Lee, but our dojo finds inspiration in Yo-Yo Ma, who said, "It was only through decades of musical exploration that I came to understand my responsibility as a human being."
None of us will ever be the Yo-Yo Ma of karate, but we seek the same understanding.
At the end of every class, I bow to my students and say to them, "Otsukaresama deshita." It's a phrase ubiquitous in the Japanese workplace and translates as "Thank you for your effort." But it also means "You must be tired," "I see you," and "We're all in this together."
To every good, brave person standing up for human rights in Minneapolis, Portland, Alberta, or anywhere else on the planet: otsukaresama deshita.
The dojo's senior student, Clayton, is a fish biologist, so my wife, who's a black belt, crocheted this for him. It's displayed at his office now. Yes, that fish is also wearing a black belt.
The dojo is austere, a humble place of natural and quiet dignity. Always cleanliness and order predominate. Inasmuch as the dojo links the spiritual and physical elements of karate-dō, the basis of its construction must not conflict with that relationship.
Sabi and wabi—naturalness, simplicity, rusticity (but not without an element of design)—are its keynotes. It follows that the dojo must contain nothing ostentatious to distract the mind, for not only would this run contrary to the element of spirituality in the dojo, but it is patent that no really serious training can be pursued in a training area that contains all sorts of ornamentation.
Adapted from Donn F Draeger
Lucy and Murphy studying the Seibukan book.
Craig and Clayton at the Karate Day demonstration in Naha on 26 October 2025. They radiate the rigor and discipline of Seibukan. I am very proud of how they represented the dojo in Okinawa.
Genna training at hombu dojo.
Seibukan karateka on Karate Day 2025, Naha Okinawa.
Our dojo members are beside and behind Zenpō Sensei, who is in the center, wearing a cap.
The Seibukan banner that hangs in our home, signed by Zenpō Sensei, Zenshun Sensei, and Zenei Sensei.
Training in Okinawa
Lucy and Doug with Zenpō Sensei and Zenei Sensei, May 2025.
We go to Okinawa regularly because Zenpō Sensei is unequivocal that it is necessary:
Karate is from Okinawa, so you must go back to Okinawa and see what we do; every karate technique you must correct in Okinawa. Make sure you visit your sensei and feel all Okinawan people.
Please visit Okinawa, to feel traditional Okinawan karate, and eat Okinawan food and breathe Okinawan air. Many things you have to experience in Okinawa.
Our dojo funds instructors and senior students to travel to Okinawa to learn from the finest Seibukan sensei in the world. In October 2024 three went there, as the Canadian representatives at the 62nd anniversary celebration of Seibukan. Craig stayed for two weeks; Lucy and Doug were there for a month. It was demanding, illuminating, and marvellous.
Lucy and Doug are in Okinawa right now, where they will train for four weeks. It is their ninth trip since 2014, despite not going for four years because of the COVID pandemic. They will be joined by three other members of dojo who will be taking their first trip there. Three other dojo seniors went in October. It was Clayton's fourth trip, Craig's second, and Jared's first. They later joined by Genna later in the month.
Our members get to Okinawa often, because we think it's essential. Our purpose is to be a bridge between the karate and culture of Okinawa and good people in Canada seeking to move with more grace through life.
Araha Beach, where we stay in Okinawa.
In what's become a happy tradition, we had lunch with Sensei at a Chinese restaurant. We loved the conversation over good food, as Sensei reflected on karate, Okinawa, and his life.
When we were in Okinawa, Zenpō Sensei told us he would never change kata. Our dojo will always follow his example; we will, to the best of our abilities, be faithful to the tradition that has been passed down to us.
Our last training session this trip was at the Urasoe Dojo this very wet morning. Kyan-san gave us this beautiful sampler that she wove herself. Weaving is a traditional Okinawan art form.
We get treated so well here by such good people. Lucy and I are going to miss them so much as we head home. "Ichariba chodee": "Once we meet, we become family."
Our Edmonton Dojo
9000 km from Okinawa, we are doing our best to uphold the great tradition of Seibukan karate-dō.
