Japan Trip 2011 - The Plan

On September 23 and 24, Japan International Gima-Ha is hosting a series of events.  These special events will be starting with an international invitational Karate tournament.  Secondly, a special ceremony is being held for Mr. Gima’s 23rd memorial.  Third, Mr. Higuchi is celebrating his 70th birthday.  And lastly, there is a grading for senior black belts.

Seven of our own members are taking this opportunity to go: Shihan Tak-Sameshima; Senseis Paul Sexton, Hardeep Gill, and Andrew Statz; Sempi Lucus Reddy; Nina Krack; and our youngest traveler, David Rhodes, accompanied by his father Mike.

This will be the first time for Lucas, Nina, David, and Mike and the excitement of the trip is holding all of us to our training over the summer.

Lucas, 2nd Dan, with the South Surrey Karate Club, will be competing in the Kata division.  Nina, 3rd kyu, who trains with the White Rock Karate Club, will be competing in both Kata and Kumite, with approximately nine other competitors.  David, 3rd kyu, also with the South Surrey Karate Club, will be competing in both the Kata and Kumite division: it has been confirmed that David has 90 competitors in his division!  Specifically for Kata, each member is required to be prepared with 3 Katas. (Lots of home training going on this summer!)

Both Senseis Hardeep Gill, (White Rock Karate Club) and Andrew Statz (South Surrey Karate Club) will be grading for their 5th Dan. (Even more home training happening!)

The tournament and special events will all be held in Tokyo.  Most of us will be departing around September 19, staying for a couple days in a scenic area of Tokyo to do some sight-seeing before heading up to the APA Hotel and BumB Tokyo Sports Culture Centre.  After the events, Lucas, Andrew, Nina, David and Mike are going to continue their travels to explore to Kyoto area, an area that is within safe distance from the radiation. Lucas will continue after that week on his own down the west coast of Japan and will be travelling to the island of Okinawa, where he plans to explore the area where karate originated. After that he will be returning along the eastern side of Japan, stopping at locales along the way until he arrives back in Tokyo. He will explore Tokyo for a day or two before he flies back to Vancouver.

We will all be taking our cameras and maybe even some videos, so it might be an idea to have a post-Japan-trip-filming-and-success party?

The entire group of students send their heart-felt thanks to Shihan Tak Sameshima and our Senseis for their support, encouragement, and excellent instruction in preparing us for this exciting trip!