Blog Archives | Visit Karate Okinawa

The Place for Every Karateka out There in the World.

Today I’d like to blog about the Okinawa Karate Kaikan. Now for those of you who have visited Okinawa before may have had the pleasure of visiting the Okinawa Karate Kaikan so know what is has to offer. However, there may be some who did visit Okinawa yet didn’t have the chance to visit. Please be sure that on your next visit, or even first visit, that you stop by.

I’ve been to the Okinawa Karate Kaikan several times, mainly when conducting our Karate History Tours. It is located in Tomigusuku City, which is about a 15-minute drive from central Naha. It’s a really interesting place. The dojo located in the main building has 4 courts for competition use.

There is also a training room with lots of equipment including 3 makiwara posts of different height and 3 punching bags of different weight.

Here is a video of a group from Poland that came to Okinawa in January, 2020. The group is from the “Łódzka Akademia Karate Tradycyjnego” located in Łódź, Poland and they stayed for 11 days. It is basically a video on the dojo training they received in Okinawa. We organized their dojo training sessions, a Karate History Tour, and more for them. In the first minute of the video, you will see the group training at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan’s training room. Yup, the training room is big enough for group training, and there were more than 20 people in the group.

https://youtu.be/rM4WgFFyRSU

The reference room which contains a lot of information on Karate and its history is located in the adjacent building. There is an entrance fee that is reasonable, and not only do you get to read about Karate’s history but you also get to watch 2 short films about it. There is however a lot to read so be prepared to spend some time in there, taking advantage of the entrance fee.

There is a big open space in front of the building with the reference room, and that is where you will find the “Special Dojo” or “Shurei Hall”. It’s open only for special use and no one is allowed inside unless you are a special guest or the cleaning lady.

If you want to find out more in depth information on the Okinawa Karate Kaikan, the please click here .

I had mentioned that I had been to the Okinawa Karate Kaikan on our Karate History Tours. If you haven’t been on the tour and are planning a trip to Okinawa, then it’s worth going on because not only would you have the chance to visit the Kaikan, but you would also be able to visit other karate-related places as well. Click here for more details on the tour.

And for those of you who are interested in having some dojo training like the Łódzka Akademia Karate Tradycyjnego from Poland, check out our programs page here and you will find different programs to choose from.

I’d love to write more but then I would run out of ideas for the next blog. If you have any questions or comments, you can contact us through our contact form. Until the next blog, continue to stay safe and well.

A Story for All – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

There are probably some of you out there who are into Japanese anime. Well I recently started watching the Japanese anime called, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”. It is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotōge, and it is about Tanjiro Kamado, a young boy who becomes a demon slayer after his family is slaughtered and his younger sister Nezuko is turned into a demon. I wasn’t sure what the hype was all about until I started watching the anime with my 8-year-old son, who actually started watching the anime way before me.

The image below is of Tanjiro.

Though quite difficult to explain, Tanjiro and another character Tomioka use what’s called, “Mizu no Kokyuu” which is a kata using a katana, creating what appears to be a water wheel of water. Total concentration is needed to perform mizu no kokyuu. The image below shows Tanjiro using the mizu no kokyuu to fight off a demon.

And after watching the first episode, I got hooked on the intro song. If you who are interested in Japanese pop music, the intro song is a must hear. The title is, “Gurenge” by Lisa, a Japanese singer-songwriter. There is an English version which you can find on YouTube, but I prefer the original, no offense of course.

I would love to write more about Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba but I’ll end here, leaving you in suspense. I hope you get to watch it soon. I’m about to start on watching the twentieth episode.

If you are signed up with any of the major streaming services then you should be able to find it there. It is worth watching.

Though it does not deal with a katana nor water, if you are interested in experiencing “Zazen” or seated meditation, please click here .

I’ll be writing about places to visit next time, so until then if you have any questions or comments let us know.

Come and Visit Okinawa’s Churaumi Aquarium

There are many things to do on Okinawa, but I haven’t quite got around to doing most of them even though I’ve been on Okinawa for about 5 years now. One thing for sure that I have done is go to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. I’ve actually been there several times, even before I was living in Okinawa.

When you enter the building of the aquarium, you are first greeted at the door by staff who ask if you want your picture taken with a whale shark in the background. The whale shark is fake of course. Then after purchasing your tickets, it’s time to begin the tour of the aquarium. At the start there is a touch pool that contains starfish and more.

After that it’s fish, fish, different underwater creatures, fish, and more fish. Yes, that’s right, we are at an aquarium.

I think the main attraction of the aquarium is what’s called the “Kuroshio Sea Tank”. It is a gigantic tank containing about 70 different species including manta rays and 3 huge whale sharks. If you are lucky enough, you can have you picture taken with all 3 whale sharks in the background. There is also an observation course above the water.

If you get hungry during your walk, there is the Cafe “Ocean Blue” that serves light meals, snacks, and drinks.

The entire park is called the Okinawa Expo Park. The aquarium is located indoors of course and before leaving the building there is a section called the Main Rest House. There you get to see a lot of underwater fossils. There is also the jaws of a shark which is big enough to have you fit in and have your picture taken which I’ve had done a few times.

When you step outside you have a few things to check out; Emerald Beach, the Manatee Pool, Sea Turtle Pool, Dolphin Lagoon, the Okichan Theather where they have the dolphin show, and Kids Adventure Land where kids (and adults) can play.

There is actually a lot to do at the park besides the aquarium, and I don’t think most people take advantage of the other things the park has to offer. You can spend an a good few hours at the park. For more information on the park, you can check out their website here.

Though we don’t have the program listed on our website, we have done “Churaumi Aquarium Tour” tours. The most recent one we did was in January of this year for a group from Poland. We also arranged dojo training sessions, a Karate History Tour, and a few other programs for them during their stay in Okinawa. You can have a look at photos from their stay here.

If you are interested in visiting the Okinawa Expo Park on your first or next visit to Okinawa, let us know and we will see what we can arrange for you.

And if you thinking about maybe having some dojo training while in Okinawa, have a look here for more of the programs we have to offer.

Thank you for reading. Until the next blog, continue to stay safe and well.

Ootoya – authentic, homestyle Japanese dishes

Now if there is thing that you must do when you come to Okinawa is to have authentic, homestyle Japanese dishes. I am not an expert gourmet but I know good food when I have it. Ootoya Gohan Dokoro OOTOYA, or just Ootoya for short, is a chain restaurant which I am happy to say is a restaurant with food that will satisfy almost everyones’ tastebuds.

On the menu there are tons of food to choose from, some that are grilled or boiled. I find the food to be not only healthy, but also very well presented.

There are around 17 Ootoya restaurants in Okinawa, and over 200 in the rest of Japan. Tokyo alone has 198 restaurants. Most of ones in Okinawa are located in the southern part in places like Naha or Ginowan.

Though I don’t go there too often as I used to, whenever I am craving some authentic Japanese food, Ootya is always at the top of the list. The next time you are in Okinawa, or even in Japan, be sure to stop by Ootoya Gohan Dokoro OOTOYA.

Lift Your Yoga Workouts With Tweaks Technology

Hello there everyone. We would like to share an article with you which was written by a ZENthusiast named, “Sheila Johnson”. It is on the ever-so popular spiritual and physical discipline yoga.

Enjoy reading.

Is your yoga regimen feeling a little stale? If you’ve been practicing yoga for a while now, it might be time to consider upping your game. There are plenty of ways to do just that, and it all starts with you.

Do a Self-Check

Maybe the reason yoga seems pretty same-old-thing is because it is. Of course, leaving your comfort zone and trying new things can challenge your confidence. After all, you’re probably pretty comfortable with how you’re doing right now. Why risk failing at something new and more difficult?

The answer to that lies in knowing that failure is okay, and in fact, it can lead to growth. It’s been said many times that the only way to really fail is not to try. What’s more, Self explains that doing something new is healthy. Not only does it stretch your body, it stretches your mind. Even if things don’t go smoothly, trying, doing your best, and moving forward will give you a confidence boost. So give yourself the gift of trying something new and challenging!

Yoga Props and Accessories to Try

If you’re going to up your yoga game, you’re going to need some more equipment. After all, you’ve probably done everything you can with your current yoga gear. Besides, there’s something inspirational about using new gear. It practically begs you to try out new movements with it!

A knee pad provides extra cushioning that aging or damaged joints need. It alleviates painful pressure on your weight-bearing joints so that you can practice more comfortably. It’s also handy for practicing outdoors, so you can enjoy a more versatile routine.

Ready to aim higher in a literal manner? Yoga Journal notes standing on sturdy yoga blocks can make your balance poses more challenging and even exhilarating!

A stability or balance ball allows you to add variety to your practice and improve your balance while doing it. Using one regularly will also improve your core stability and posture while increasing your strength and flexibility. Sitting on a ball engages multiple muscles in a way that static sitting in a chair can never match. Heck, you can even tote it to the TV and snag a workout while bingeing your favorite shows.

A portable suspension device allows you to challenge yourself with those sometimes scary advanced poses. Secured within a sling, harness or hammock, you can concentrate on proper alignment and balance without worrying about falling. Working in a suspension harness is also great for improving your flexibility and strengthening your core.

Add Technology to Your Yoga Routine

Adding a great yoga practice app like Yoga Studio or Pocket Yoga to your phone will let you practice whenever, and wherever, you find yourself with a few minutes to spare. There are also apps to inspire and encourage you. You can even set weekly or monthly yoga goals on your smartphone and use it to keep track of your progress toward them!
If your current phone plan just isn’t able to support your growth, consider a fresh option like a prepaid plan. In these plans, you get to pick the plan, users, and phone that matches up best with your needs, and can even upgrade to a new device if you want.

Putting It All Together

Gather your new yoga gear, put on some great music, pull up today’s lesson on your favorite yoga app, and start practicing. Your body and mind will both thank you for your efforts on their behalf! They’ll also thank you for the deep relaxation after a challenging workout. And wasn’t that the whole idea of yoga in the first place?

Remember that we have a Zen program. Please click here for more information on our Zen program.

We hope you learned a few new things you can try the next time you do yoga. I sure have. Thank you so much, Sheila Johnson.

Have a nice workout everyone.

Keibin-eki Kariyushi-ichi – An Okinawan Farmers Market

Hello there everyone. I hope you are doing well and eating healthy. Speaking of which, yesterday I had an errand to run, and on my way home I decided to stop by the local farmers market for some vegetables. Though I could have just gone to the supermarket, there was something I wanted that is rarely sold at supermarkets, or at least supermarkets in my area.

This is a photo of the farmer’s market a couple of kilometers from where I live. It’s called, “Keibin-eki Kariyushi-ichi” but the locals call it Kariyushi for short. The market is located in Nanjo City which is about a 30-minute drive from the Naha area.

The most common farmers markets however are the JA Farmers Markets, usually with the name of the village somewhere in the name. JA stands for Japan Agricultural. The markets are nice but are usually too crowded.

The Keibin-eki Kariyushi-ichi carry everything from fruits and vegetables to baked goods, eggs, and dairy products.

They also carry some locally prepared foods like tempura, miso paste, and fruit jam as a complement to the agricultural products they sell.

In one section of the market they sell flowers and plants. They usually have nicely arranged flowers to fit the occasion such as Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day. During the first week of the new year, my family and I go to the market to get New Year’s flowers.

In another section of Kariyushi they sell potted vegetables, herbs and plants. I’ve bought a few before and they are reasonably priced. You’ll notice on the right side of the picture above that there is a machine. Water is sold. If you have the right bottle, you can get 10 liters of water for 100 yen.

This is what I wanted. It’s called “Shima Rakkyo”, directly translating to “Island Shallot”. It can be prepared in different ways like deep fried as tempura, but we like to pickle the shima rakkyo. First we wash the shima rakkyo, and then cut off the leaves. Then we place the shima rakkyo in a ziploc, adding some salk and making sure each shima rakkyo is completely covered in salt. If you are in a hurry to eat it, then you could leave it in the fridge for about 30 minutes before preparing it for eating. We like to leave it in the fridge for at least a day. When it’s ready, we place the shima rakkyo in a small serving bowl and sprinkle bonito flakes onto the shima rakkyo, and then voilà.

You can have this as a snack or as an appetizer. It goes well with beer or awamori.

Sorry, I was too hungry at the time that I didn’t take any photos of the finished product.

Since it would be difficult for anyone travelling to Okinawa to prepare pickled shima rakkyo, we could take you on our Sakaemachi Market Bar Hopping Tour where you would be able to try not only pickled shima rakkyo but also experience the local night life. Please click here for more information.

Please be sure to add a farmers market visit to your Okinawa itinerary.

Have a nice day everyone.