Satori Karate Clubs

And we're back...

Training is on tonight at the Douglas Sports Centre
7 to 8pm

Merry Christmas to a our karateka and family

Thursday classes have moved
We're now at The Grove Academy 7-8pm in the gym hall
Monday classes are still at the Douglas leisure centre

Karate is back!!
7pm to 8pm
TONIGHT
Douglas Sports Centre

And we're back!!
Training restarts 26th July
Mondays and Thursdays 7pm to 8pm
At the Douglas Sports Centre

Cracking bit of info on International Women's Day

Today is International Women’s Day! 🌟 One of the most famous women in Karate history was Tsuru Yonamine. 🇯🇵

According to the writings of Gichin Funakoshi, at the age of 16 or 17, Tsuru was attacked by a thug who tried to rob her. Fortunately she managed to escape without being harmed, but decided to learn martial arts. 🥋

Accepted as an understudy to a famous teacher, Tsuru trained diligently and ultimately progressed to a level superior to almost any man. 💪 In fact, her sensei maintained that the only boy in Okinawa that she could not defeat was Sokon ”Bushi” Matsumura [1809-1899], who would later become known as the grandfather of modern Karate. 👊

Hearing about her skills, young Matsumura couldnt believe that a female could be stronger than a male and decided to challenge her in ”kake-damashi” (a traditional way of testing someone’s skills). ✊ Having great difficulty trying to control her, he was nearly thrown to the ground.

As if that wasn't enough of a surprise, the final shock came when she clutched his hand and proposed marriage to him! 💍 As strong as young Matsumura sensei was, he stood speechless in front of his opponent finding her beauty and spirit irresistible. 😍

Ever since then, Tsuru became the most famous female martial artist in Ryukyu Kingdom. 👍

[Note: This photo is not of Tsuru Yonamine, but rather an Okinawan woman from the same era to illustrate what she might have looked like.] Japanese to English translation by Patrick & Yuriko McCarthy.

Practice your dojo manners for when we come back!!

There is a Japanese saying that Budo begins and ends with a bow (reigi)

Which is both a simple fact of the act of performing a bow at the beginning and end of training and also cuts a bit deeper below the surface towards the purpose of the practice itself. Classic Japanese!

The bowing explained...

Two expressions (in Japanese) mark the bows:

- At the opening of practice:

ONEGAESHIMASU. (I ask a favour...)

- At the close of practice:

DOMOARIGATOGOZAIMASH*TA.(Thank you very much -
for the practice).

The essence of ettiquette is about respectfully paying attention to what you are doing and this attitude both informs the training and supports it.

A dojo without this element cannot be called a Dojo as such.

Happy Birthday Sensei
A massive thank you from your students - especially from the kids that love every minute of their time in the dojo
Have a great day Sensei and we are all looking forward to getting back to class