Traditional Okinawan karate cannot be separated from Okinawa itself. The Seibukan hombu (headquarters) dojo is in town of Chatan, in the center of the island. We see it as imperative for our seniors to visit regularly, to learn and hone their karate under the expert teaching of Shimabukuro Zenpō Sensei, his sons, Shimabukuro Zenshun Sensei and Shimabukuro Zensei Sensei, and Arakaki Shōhei Sensei.

Lucy and Doug have trained there seven times between 2014 and this year, although we couldn't go between 2020 and 2023 because of the pandemic; Clayton has been three times, once for three months: Craig has been once. Training in the birthplace and heart of karate teaches us more than technique; it gives us insight into and feeling for the culture, at least to the extent is possible in just a visit. We believe learning about Okinawa and its people is just as important as learning to punch and kick.

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