Thanks to André Boutléroff, our member in France, who unearthed some documents showing that the history we were showing for 1979 & 1980 was incorrect! It is now updated on the History page.
Covid-19 has brought tragedy and disruption to the world in the last few months.
Nations are adapting their behaviour to the different environment according to their specific circumstances, but in general a large amount of normal activity has been curtailed. One result of this is that our championships, the Kofukan International Cup 2020, due to take place in Denmark on April 4 & 5, had to be cancelled, a great disappointment to us all, and that karate classes, in common with all sorts of gatherings, have not been able to continue, at least not in the same way.
People are very inventive and members have found ways to keep sharing training, by conducting sessions online or sometimes by one-to-one sessions, while observing distancing rules and in accordance with their particular country’s regulations. Social media has been useful in allowing members to be helpful and supportive to each other, and just generally in keeping people as cheerful as possible in trying circumstances.
The last overseas visit that Shihan Tomiyama was able to make before countries began to close their borders to travellers was to Belarus for the weekend of March 14/15. Many seminars due in 2020 have had to be cancelled and it is uncertain when the world will start opening up again. He is looking forward to being able to resume his travels and meet up with old acquaintances again as soon as possible. In the meantime, here are a few stories looking back at easier times, and a pictorial guide to two of the Fighting Combinations taken from Shihan Tomiyama’s most recent book, ‘Essential Basics of Karate in Depth’.
- Editor
On the morning of July 26, 250 people from 14 different countries set off by bus towards Toyooka and Izushi for the first leg of the trip. The Kofukan International Cup was held over the following 2 days in Toyooka.
It is with great sadness that we have to advise members that Shihan Hiroshi Okubo, 8th Dan, passed away this morning at the age of 71, following a short illness.
Shihan Okubo was a direct student of Master Chojiro Tani at the Shukokai Honbu Dojo in Kobe. A guiding light of Shito-ryu Karate-do Kofukan in Paris since moving to France in the mid-seventies, he was a popular instructor who worked with passion to promote the art of karate-do and kobudo that he loved.
We send our deepest condolences to his family on their loss.
This volume by 8th dan Chief Instructor of Shito-ryu Karate-do kofukan International is intended for all levels and styles of practitioner, commencing with a brief introduction and some historical background.
The book is in 8 chapters, beginning with illustrations of a comprehensive range of basic karate weapons, techniques and other basic knowledge, through stances, basic techniques, training methods and combinations and partner work, on to 5 basic katas and fighting combinations.
All demonstrated in photographic form with descriptional captions, comments and explanations.
Master Fujimoto was born on 23rd September 1925.
He started practicing Kendo at the age of eight and Judo at the age of thirteen. He began Karate at the age of eighteen when he entered Doshisha University on Kyoto and joined it's Karate Clu He is four years junior to Master Tani, another Doshisha graduate and founder of Tani-ha Shito-ryu Shukokai. The instructor of the club was Master Kenwa Mabunim founder of Shito-ryu, but he only taught Goju-ryu (Naha-te) at the club. The young Hiroshi Fujim oto trained hard and eventually become captain of the club.
In November 1947, he and eight other students visited Tokyo and trained and competed with students of P seven universities. On that occasion, he did a demonstration infront of many karate-kas including Master Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan karate.
This visit triggered an exchange between universities in the Kanto area (around Tokyo) and those in the Kansai area (around Osaka and Kyoto), which led to the formation of the "All Japan University Karate Federation".
Master Fujimoto received the title of Goju-ryu Shihan from Master Kenwa Mabuni on 10th January 1950. He was one of the strongest Karate-ka under Master Mabuni and Master Mabuni often sent him to teach at clubs and dojos as his representative. I have met several old Shito-ryu instructors who remembered Master Fujimoto and all of them talked about him with respect.
But his life changing experience was just around the corner. He saw an advertisement for an Okinawan festival in central Osaka and decided to go as a spectator. Among dancing and music there was to be a karate demonstration which he awaited with great interest, as you can imagine. However, the demonstration consisted of a few people, Okinawan immigrants working in Osaka, just demonstrating some katas.
Not satisfied with this, Master Fujimoto went backstage and challenged these karate people. The leader of the group was Master Seijiro Sakihama and Master Toma, one of his disciples took the challenge. To his surprise, Master Fujim oto's attack just bounced back from the body of Master Toma and one seemingly gentle blow he received in response nearly made him faint. So he immediately asked Master Sakihama to take him as a student but Master Sakihama declined citing that he only taught Okinawans.
