SKA MALTA Training at World-Renowned Top Dojos in Japan! June 2017

SKA Malta Training at World-Renowned Top Dojos in Japan! June 2017

SKA Members at Taishijuku, Tokyo, JAPAN. June 2017

Between the 11th and 20th June, two of our SKA Members travelled from Malta to Tokyo for training with some of the World’s most renowned JKA Japanese Instructors at Top Dojos in Japan.

Their first training sessions took place at Taishijuku with excellent instruction being led by one of the world’s most highly esteemed and charismatic JKA instructor Naka Sensei, 7th Dan JKA HQ Instructor, at the Akabane Dojo branch, and the Koishikawa Dojo branch.

Both sessions focused on basic fundamentals, Kihon combinations, Kata and Kumite during which our members were lucky to have had the opportunity to constantly partner up with Japanese students and Instructors from Taishijuku Dojos.

Children’s Session at Akabane Dojo, Taishijuku, Tokyo

Children’s Session at Akabane Dojo, Taishijuku, Tokyo

SKA Black Belt Michael Vassallo and Brown Belt Sylvia Bugeja at Akabane Dojo near Sensei Naka and Sensei Ogane

SKA Members with Sensei Naka, 7th Dan JKA HQ Instructor, Taishijuku

SKA Members with Sensei Naka and his Senior Instructors and students at Koishikawa branch Dojo, Taishijuku

On Saturday evening our SKA members were very fortunate to have been invited to dinner with Sensei Naka, his wife and other Instructors from the Akabane and Koishikawa branches. Both our students were very honoured and humbled by the kindness and respect that was shown to them, as well as their friendly company and impeccable hospitality. They were also taught various interesting aspects of Japanese culture during dinner, which our students truly appreciated. Our students are very happy to have made New Friends at Taishijuku and are also very honoured at having been invited to train again at Taishijuku in the future. An opportunity of a lifetime that our students will cherish and surely recount for many years to come.

SKA Black belt Michael Vassallo and Brown Belt Sylvia Bugeja with Sensei Naka and his wife and Senior Members of Taishijuku, June 2017

SKA Black belt Michael Vassallo and Brown Belt Sylvia Bugeja with Sensei Naka and his wife and Senior Members of Taishijuku, June 2017

On Monday 19th June, our students joined in training sessions at the JKA Headquarters Honbu dojo in Tokyo, where they had the opportunity to train with Imura Sensei, 8th Dan JKA HQ Instructor and several times JKA All-Japan Champion in Kata, in the morning and Shiina Sensei, 7th Dan JKA HQ instructor and several times JKA All-Japan Kata and Kumite Champion, in the evening.

Imura Sensei’s gruelling session in the morning was focused on continuous repetitions of fundamental Kihon techniques and one step Kumite. Our students were also fortunate to train with top Japanese students during Shiina Sensei’s Kumite session in the evening, whose superb level was truly inspiring. It was also an exciting experience to meet several other renowned JKA Instructors around the Headquarters, whilst also having the opportunity to watch them train.

SKA Members outside JKA Headquarters Hombu Dojo, Tokyo, Japan, June 2017

SKA Members with Sensei Imura, 8th Dan JKA Headquarters Instructor

SKA Members at JKA Headquarters Hombu Dojo, Tokyo, Japan, June 2017

SKA would like to thank Naka Sensei, his Seniors and students at Taishijuku Dojos as well as Imura Sensei and Shiina Sensei at JKA Headquarters, for their great hospitality and for allowing our members to join in their Training. We would also like to thank Ms Petra Karlova, member of Taishijuku Dojo, for constantly providing help to our members in communication and guidance.