The 2020 Okinawa Trip commences on Monday 17 August, and this year we have extended the invitation to visit the homeland of Karate to all GKR students.
GKR has been organising trips to Japan since 2001 which were originally exclusive to Senior Instructors, and later included some tournament competitors. One of the reason these visits were limited in numbers was because most dojos in Japan and Okinawa are very small. During the previous couple of of trips, we were able to hire out a large martial arts facility and invite masters to come and teach us.
In 2018 we heard from:
- Jesse Enkamp Sensei (the ‘Karate nerd’)
- Sunagawa Sensei (9th Dan Goju Ryu)
- Higa Sensei (9th Dan Shorin Ryu and 5th dan Judo)
- Hokama Sensei (10th dan Goju Ryu and founder of the Okinawa Karate Museum)
Whilst it’s too early to lock down specific instructors for 2020, we have a number of exciting masters in mind who will be announced closer to the date.
These trips currently have two official training days consisting 12 hours of training, with ample opportunities to undertake extra training if you wish. There are also rest days where you are free to explore on your own, or join us for planned activities.
Each evening we meet at the Dojo Bar, where the owner Sensei James is able to recommend various dojos for students seeking extra training to visit. In 2018, many of the 70 students who attended the four ‘organised’ Masters Seminars stayed on in Okinawa for days/weeks to train at multiple dojos. The majority of the GKR Karate senior instructors will be in Okinawa until at least the following weekend.
We have intentionally held our 2020 event one week after the Tokyo Olympics end in order to avoid the high costs associated with travel during this period. However being only one week after, anyone who wishes to be in Tokyo for the Olympics can be.
Why we conduct these trips
- To expose GKR students to different ideas, principles and training practices, broadening their overall knowledge and experience.
- As Okinawa is the true birthplace of karate, it gives you a deeper connection to karate’s history. Okinawa houses countless karate-related historic sites, memorials of karate’s forefathers and the World’s only Karate Museum.
- To provide the contacts and opportunity to train at numerous dojo’s in the evenings (in your own time).
- An opportunity to mix and train with fellow GKR students from other cities, states and countries.
Okinawa 2020 Itinerary
Our 2020 training venue is looking to be Naha’s Budokan, a three-story martial arts facility close to Naha Airport and Naha City in Okinawa. This will be confirmed closer to the date.
Monday 17 August
Masters Seminar 1: 9am – 12pm
Masters Seminar 2: 1.30 – 4.30pm
Tuesday 18 August
Rest day where you are free to explore on your own, or join us for a drive to visit waterfalls in Northern Okinawa.
Wednesday 19 August
Masters Seminar 3: 9am – 12pm
Masters Seminar 4: 1.30 – 4.30pm
Thursday 20 August
Many people choose to take a ferry out to Zamami and Aka islands, where you can swim with sea turtles and snorkel in one of the world’s best known snorkeling locations.
For anyone who is interested in this trip, please join GKR Karate’s Okinawa 2020 Facebook event for regular updates.
Download the Okinawa 2020 Flyer
