Start with Jion, end with Jion

I recently returned to Jion to rebalance my karate—personal advice from Osaka Yoshiharu Sensei—a couple of years ago. `Start with Jion, end with Jion`. However, until now, I have needed to address other points.

 Perhaps surprising to some, Jion is Osaka Sensei`s tokui-gata… He said Jion is his favourite, but shiai--of course--Sochin. Needless to say, just as Asai Sensei is NIJUSHIHO and Yahara Sensei is UNSU, Osaka Sensei is SOCHIN.

These masters karate make the current generation red faced. No one can move at their level. This is the source of so much politics... Jealousy.

No one wants to stand alongside Osaka Sensei in kata practice, as we all look stupid. In my case, I want to look stupid, and hopefully get just a little closer to near perfection. 

Osaka Sensei, amongst my other seniors, whom I deeply respect here in Japan, want to preserve the BEST KARATE of Nakayama Masatoshi Sensei. This is a mission I have been pulled into, and are deeply honoured to be pulled into it by such greats. 

2019 will be a very special year for BUDO / BUJUTSU KARATE. Osu!!!

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2018).