Ten members of Canadian Martial Arts Academy in Powell River had the chance of a lifetime early August when they travelled to the island of Okinawa in Japan.
The trip, which lasted from August 1 to 17, gave head instructor of the academy Sensei Frank Clayton and 30 students and instructors from academy locations such as Powell River, Mission and Vernon the chance to practice karate with the Okinawan masters and experience the rich culture of Japan.
Students from Powell River included adults Pip Hendy, Russ Bonter and Craig Long, as well as teenagers Kolten Laine, 15, Miranda Clutterbuck, 14, Kuba Wernerowski, 15, Erin Broughton, 14, Kyla House, 15, and Kylea Masters, 15.
Having been in the planning for years, the trip was meant as a reward and incentive for students to earn their black belts. During their travel, students worked with Meitatsu Yagi, head of a traditional Okinawan style of karate called Goju-Ryu, which combines hard and soft techniques.
Students also practiced classical weapons like the bo, a long wooden staff, and the sai, a short, dagger-like baton, with master Hidemi Tamayose.
Training took place mornings and evenings, freeing up the afternoons for seeing the sites of Okinawa, including various beaches and one of the world’s largest aquariums.
Masters said she had been training toward her black belt for four years before the trip. She said that it was a privilege to learn from karate masters, and that she was able to learn a lot of new skills. “It showed me that there are different ways of doing [karate], and you can work on the way you think is best,” she said.
One unexpected benefit was the Okinawan temperature. “I think it improved [my karate] most because the weather down there is really hot,” she said, adding that acclimatizing to the heat has allowed her to train longer and harder back in the cooler temperatures of BC.
According to Masters, one of the best parts of the trip was being able to meet students from other academy dojos across the province, with whom she will be sure to keep in contact.
“I thought it was an amazing experience,” said Masters, “and I never would have [been able to go to Japan] if it wasn’t for karate.”
