WELCOME

The New Zealand Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate Association, headed by Shihan Dennis May 8th Dan is an international body devoted to the teaching of traditional Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate and is directly affiliated to the Okinawa Goju Ryu Karatedo Kyokai, O.G.K.K.

NEWS

A WORD FROM SENSEI.

As 2009 draws to an end, I would like to thank all our members, parents and instructors for your support of our dojo activities over the past year. We had a wonderful year of training with great attendance of all our Gasshukus, Black & Brown belt seminars and dojo activities. A special mention to our senior class at Henderson Honbu dojo, this has grown to close to 50 adults training very regularly and for the first time in our 30-year history, our senior class there had grown larger than our junior classes. Congratulations to all of you that have recently passed your promotion test. As you know the grades in the NZ Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate Association are very hard to achieve and are respected worldwide. A special thankyou also to all of our instructors, who spend many hours each week devoting their time to teaching: Shihan Turner, Sensei Della Proffit, Sensei Murray Simpson, Sensei Aaron Barrett, Sensei Thanasi Balaphas, Sensei Sennen Harry, Sensei Michael Samuels, Sensei Penny Cheketri, Sensei Karen Davey, Sensei Barry Knutson, Sensei Karin Tempelhoff, Sensei Jason Sandford, and a very special thank you to Sensei Mal Riley for all the extra work he does for our association. I am very fortunate to have instructors of this calibre in our association. Finally a big thankyou also to Mrs Glendyr Donaldson, our NZ association administrator, for all the great work and assistance she gives me and our dojos. I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy & safe New Year, and look forward to seeing you all in 2010.

JUNIOR BLACK BELT GRADING. On Wednesday 2nd December Shihan May conducted a junior black belt grading of 5 Honbu Dojo students.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT : Shihan Dennis May, Alex Davey, Chris Scholtens, Daniel Ha, Hannah Carson, Kate Carson, Sensei Mal Riley.

DUNEDIN GASSHUKU.

Shihan Dennis May, Sensei Thanasi Balaphas and Sensei Karin Tempelhoff with the Milton Students

In December, Shihan May assisted by Sensei Thanasi Balaphas and Sensei Karin Tempelhoff, conducted a gasshuku at our Milton dojo. This was very well attended and a very good standard was achieved. During the Gasshuku all the members did 1100 press-ups!!! and were encouraged by Shihan to always push themselves even harder.

Shihan May teaching bunkai.

Shihan May demonstrating a take-down.

Shihan May also attended a party hosted by Shihan Bob Cahill. Many of our most senior Black Belts, who have been with Shihan May for over 30 years,were also present.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT : Sensei Craig McKersey, Sensei Joe Ratana, Shihan Bob Cahill, Sensei Tony Barnes, Shihan May, Sensei Jim Scorgie.

HONBU DOJO GRADING.

Henderson Honbu Dojo had a Senior Kyu grading at the beginning of December. While Shihans’ May and Turner were pleased with the level of commitment and proficiency of the kyu grades, Shihan May reminded all that graded that the bar has been raised and they must strive to deserve the belt they now wear. Below are some of the new brown belts.

FROM LEFT : Ashly Smith, Shihan May, Sylvia McClunie, Aaron Boyd, Paul Whiting.

BLACK & BROWN BELT SEMINAR AND BBQ.

The last Sunday in November was our last black & brown belt seminar for 2009. This was well attended by over 65 members including all the Auckland area Instructors, and also Sensei Jason Sandford from our Katikati dojo. At the end of the seminar all the Hojo Undo equipment were demonstrated, and later a BBQ was held outside the dojo.

KATIKATI COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATION.

The Auckland students who accompanied Shihan Dennis May to Katikati, along with the students from the Katikati dojo, put on a demonstration in front of the local fire station for the community. After the demonstration and grading they went to the local hot springs for a barbeque. Jason and his wife Emma then hosted the Auckland contingent overnight in their lovely home overlooking the Bay of Plenty. An idyllic setting and fantastic hosts provided a relaxing time that was comparable to a retreat-like resort.

Demonstration in front of the Katikati Fire Station.

KATIKATI DOJO GRADING.

Earlier this year in the beginning of May, Sensei Jason Sandford started a Dojo running out of the Wrestling Hall in Katikati, Bay of Plenty. The student numbers have grown to 16 students and they had a grading on the 7th of November. Shihan Dennis May was very pleased with the quality of training displayed, which reflects well on Sensei Jason.

Students show the proficiency of their front kick. (mae geri)

SRI LANKA SEMINAR.

In August this year, Honbu member Sylvia McClunie and her partner Jeremy, visited our branch dojo in Sri Lanka. During that time she taught a seminar on Saifa Kata on behalf of Shihan May who visited there last year. Sylvia's seminar was well received by all the Sri Lankan members and the local media and politicians covered her visit there. Our chief Instructor in Sri Lanka, Shihan Samarawwa was very pleased with the seminar.

Sri Lankan students lined up ready for training with Sempai Sylvia.

Sempai Sylvia demonstrates Saifa Kata to Sri Lankan students.

OKINAWA TRIP 2009.

In August this year Shihan May and 16 members travelled to Okinawa to attend the World Traditional Karate Tournament and Masters’ seminars, and also the Okinawa Goju- Ryu Karatedo Kyokai seminar and memorial demonstrations. Shihan May and his son Dylan travelled a week earlier to Tokyo where they visited Aragaki Shihan at the famous Yoyogi Dojo in Tokyo. Several of our members competed in the World tournament and Shihan May was a referee and judged many of the final matches. The following day after the World Tournament were the seminars conducted by the "Living Cultural Treasures" of Okinawa. Our members trained in the course conducted by Hanshi Koshin Iha 10th Dan Grandmaster and other senior masters of the Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karatedo Kyokai (OGKK). During the evenings our team trained at the dojo of Kikugawa Hanshi 9th Dan. This was enjoyed by all as after each training a party was held in the dojo with Kikugawa Sensei's wife and family members demonstrating traditional Okinawan dance and the New Zealand members demonstrating the Haka. The final weekend was the 2-day seminar conducted by the Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karatedo Kyokai and demonstrations by all the countries attending, and Masters of the Kyokai. Our team did lots of sightseeing and enjoyed a fantastic day visiting Tokashiki island and a day at the Expo park and the Okinawa aquarium.

Group photo with Iha Sensei (Grandmaster and Honorary Chairman)

Dressed up to go out for a meal.

Kikugawa Sensei joins in with the male students and perform Ka Mate! Ka Mate! Haka.

Sayonara Party group shot with our Okinawan friends.

SHIHANS' McDONAGH & McLENNAN VISIT.

Shihans' Marshall McDonagh, Ken McLennan and Dennis May with Students

Auckland Honbu Dojo Specials guests. Kyoshi Marshall McDonagh - Yoshinken, Shihan Ken McLennan - Kyokushinkaikan, Kyoshi Dennis May - Okinawa Goju Ryu. Kyoshi McDonagh & Shihan McLennan, pioneers of New Zealand Karate, foundation members of the 1st Karate dojo established in New Zealand , Napier Karate Club 1957

Kyoshi Marshall McDonagh and Kyoshi Dennis May

Kyoshi McDonagh Seminar, Honbu Dojo March 8th & March 15th. This will be a seminar not to be missed. It will cover 50 years of his Budo training and a unique presentation of the special Masters/Sensei that Kyoshi McDonagh has trained with, including Kyokushinkai Grandmaster Mas Oyama Sosai & Seido Karate founder Kancho Nakamura. Also an introduction to the Yoshinken system of Budo. A seminar not to be missed.

Muriwai Lakes - Summer Gasshaku 2008

November 2008 we had a Summer Gasshuku at Houghtons Bush Camp, Muriwai Beach. Sensei May said it was the best camp we've had in 25 years, and would like to thank all Students and Parents that attended, and especially the Parents that helped out in the kitchen.

Okinawan Visit and Gasshaku 2008

Grand Masters Kikugawa Sensei - 9th Dan Hanshi and Arakagi Kyoshi visit Auckland N.Z. for the 2008 Gasshaku.

IGKA WORLD CUP & International Gasshuku Chennai, India. 11th-13th July 2008

Greetings, I would firstly like to thank Shihan Ravi and Shihan Babu and all their members for making the 1st IGKA WORLD CUP such a wonderful event. It was truly an outstanding event with excellent competition and truely fitting for a World Cup. Thank you also to Shihan Rico Ludick and Shihan Peter Turner for your help to make this event happen and also for the great help with the Gasshuku. All the international teams that travelled to India, had a wonderful time so again many thanks to Shihan Ravi & Shihan Babu , also on behalf of the IGKA I would like to congratulate you both on your grading to 6th Dan. At the executive council meeting of the IGKA held in Chennei , it was decided that the 2nd World Cup will be hosted by Shihan Ludick in South Africa 2010. As a result of the success of the 1st World Cup the Sri Lanka Karate Do are hosting the 1st International IGKA Karate Championships this coming November in Sri Lanka. I will be attending along with Shihan Babu & Shihan Ravi and of course all IGKA countries are invited to take part. I have also heard from Shihan Jones IGKA USA-President and they will be also hosting a regional IGKA Pan-American Championships next year. Please support the IGKA Sri Lanka International Championship and if possible send even one or two competitors at the least. Thank you again for your support. - Kyoshi May. More details here.

OKINAWA GOJU RYU KARATEDO KYOKAI (O.G.K.K.) HONBU

In June 2005, Shihan Dennis May and 7 other members visited Okinawa and Tokyo. During their stay in Tokyo, they trained with Seiro Aragaki Shihan, Chief Instructor of the Yoyogi Dojo. In Okinawa, the New Zealand group trained at the Honbu Dojo of Hichiya Sensei and other O.G.K.K. dojo around Okinawa. More details here.