I love how Sai feel & move!

The crazy thing is it's ok to sell Sai or bring to Canada, just nunchucks (there were some incidents after Bruce Lee movies)

Yes, I'm going to look around to see if there are any vendors that accept bitcoin, but I'm also at the whim of my whole group so might not have thr opportunity

Yes, and exhausting 😅

🧡

Tonight we trained at the Okinawan Karate Kaikan. Also known as a living museum, the Kaikan was designed to promote the preservation & development of traditional Okinawan karate, it's best known export

The Kaikan is a place to honour the essence of karate - as both a museum visitors can explore, & a dojo karatekas can train at

Our dojo trained under Sensei Minoru Higa (10th Dan) again, the Kaicho (or federation president) & Grandmaster of our Kyudokan School of Shorin-ryū

The floors are made of natural, unpainted red pine - you just glide across it

https://nostr.build/av/4a5cc887850da9e68c01c507c864ec55a951d0cd094bd609fd83f0f95cec03b8.mp4

Warm up excercises. While the humidity & heat of Okinawa add fluidity to our moves, it's much easier to tire

The Kaikan at night 🧡

Yeah, I'm renting so it will be easier to install than a floor makiwara :)

Time to get a new gi 🥋 at the Shureido! Karatekas (karate students) from all over the world visit the Shureido to buy gi's & other karate equipment

Okinawa is the origin of karate. There is a long history of tradition & karate culture in its bones & many make the pilgrimage to train here

Various weapons for sale

Ironically nunchucks are illegal in Canada (customs will confiscate! My friends make their own ;)

Wall makiwara, I'm taking one of these puppies home 🧡

Many gi embroidery options to choose from

We each have personalized gi (top & pants) - I'm getting a second with lighter material for hot weather. We recieve our belts embroidered with our name from our Sensei

Thanks for reading!

I'm coming on Sunday

Ramen time! 🫡

Typical ramen shop

This is how you order

Yes, this is my second time training with my dojo, third time in Okinawa :)

Going to the Shureido today to get another gi 🥋

Amazing! 🤜🏼🤛🏼 I also train in the Shorin Ryu style, originally Shinjinbukan, now Kyudokan - here on a karate trip with my dojo :)

No, but trying a lot of other dry fish snacks :)

Yup, I did a double take though :)

Yup! They're amazing raw from the Tsukiji Market - everything is!

Hello Okinawa 🧡

Okinawa is the fifth largest island of Japan, 3 hours away from Tokyo, with a subtropical climate. It's also the origin of karate 🥋

Naminoue Shrine, Naha

I KNOW!

I bought some desert cheese and a Bento box to try

Japanese bacon 🥓 🤣

I love the things you find in Japanese grocery stores!

Fancier sushi Tham most restaurants here

Everything is packaged!

Desert cheeses

Bento box 🧡

Fusion of old & new in downtown Tokyo

It used to be in the same building where the food was, and you may be able to watch from a second floor viewing platform. 15 years ago I could get closer to the tuna