
At the end of a great seminar both for the amazing teaching quality and for the great feeling of collaboration, I would like to drop a few lines to thanks all the participants.
Hanshi Patrick McCarthy arrived in Italy on Wednesday, June 17, and from this very first day we have had the opportunity to talk, train and share ideas and programs about the future.
Every morining we met at 6.30 for a 10/12 km fast walk. What a great opportunity to talk about our art: from history to philosophy, from the current status of Koryu Uchinadi in Italy to the updates about our next projects.
In the afternoon we had training both empty handed and with tanbo (sticks) and knives. Among other things we learned the interesting kata Tsukinaka, from the Yongchun White Crane traditions, together with its application practices.
Of course we also had convivial and funny moments during lunches and dinners.
The Masterclass Seminar was held in Cesena on June 20 and 21, 2015. More than ninety senior karateka from different Italian regions and from Switzerland, Spain, Slovenia, France, England and Finland attended the event. In the twelve hours of training Hanshi Patrick McCarthy covered many aspects of our Art, with a main focus on the Motobu Choki’s kumite drills, mainly built on the principles related to the kata Naihanchi/Naifuanchin (known as Tekki in many modern styles).
Thanks to all the participants, especially to those who traveled from abroad to share with us this great learning experience.
A special thanks to Sensei Borut Kincl and his student Mitja Jukič Grm from the Slovenian Kenpo Arnis Federation for their practical demonstration of the applicability with weapons of the same principles studied during the seminar and to Sensei Lucio Maurino for his amazing performance of kata Enpi.
Thanks to all my students and assistants who managed all the organizational aspects of this Seminar. They all did an absolutely great job!
Congratulations to Miguel Piédrola Nadal and Antonio Baeza de la Torre, from Madrid, promoted to the rank of Yudansha and to Sensei Ante Brännbacka, IRKRS Finnish shibucho, who received the sixth dan and the Kyoshi license.
Very well deserved!
Last, but absolutely not least, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my sensei, Hanshi Patrick McCarthy, this year in fantastic shape, not only for his amazing teachings bur also for all what he is doing for our group and for his continuous help and guidance. Dōmo arigatō gozaimashita Sensei!
See you next year!
Here you can view some pictures taken during the seminar.