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Sensei Albie, Jill, Dennis and Dean's Blog page - hopefully to follow below.

We haven't gone yet - give us a chance...

OK we are here now.  Today is 6th Nov Thursday 2008.  So far we have sampled　local cuisine and trained at the Hyogo Univesity. We are staying in Kobe near the harbour which is lovely. We have been on the overground and underground rail system accompanied by our politically correct and mild mannered tour guide Sensei Wingrove who has had Dennis in stitches (and lots of Poles).  Went to a Jinja shrine today! did 3 hours of training at the Uni then saw a demonstration by Sensei Wingrove and the English karate team (1 of them) at the Regatta and Athletics Club of Osaka which is 150 or so years old. Just going to test the local drinks before an early trip to Hirsohima tomorrow. We have taken some photos and we are just working out how to put them ON when we get a moment.   Jill started a security alert in the public toilets when she pressed the emergency alarm instead of the flush. A security guard responded at the trot (excuse the pun)会は見真島は暇まま

By Miyajima Tori Gate	Miyajima - an island close to Hiroshima

Koi	Joy

Kobe Shrine - Jinja !!

This is us after training.  Got lots of other photos of nice Places.　 Went to Miyajima which is where the gate pictured above is and the picture below and saw the Shrine etc. Also had a visit to Hiroshima and spoke to a bomb veteran at the museum, this was all on the 7th. Hope to go to Kyoto tomorrow on the Bullet which we also spent an hour or so on today. Got a good photo of a mantis holding a door open which we would like to share with you soon. It just takes a while to sort out the pictures as we have only got the net and no Word programmes to mess about with. Sayonnara A, J, D & D 

8th Nov.   Sensei Terry etc will be going to Kyoto tomorrow for a few days then on to Tokyo for the championships.  We went to Kyoto today and visited the Shoguns castle, a temple and the Geisha district.  Tomorrow we are up at 5.30 am (its 11.20 pm now on Friday Night) to go to the airport for a flight to Okinawa.  Apparently we will be doing a demonstration in Tokyo when we return on the 14th (actually flying back on the 13).  For those of you who are jealous - the weather in Kobe is mainly overcast - hoping for better in Okinawa.  The boys have been buying souvenir T-shirts and bags plus we all bought sweat shirts!!!   By for now. 

Nijo Castle Kyoto	Part of the garden

Gion District Kyoto

Today is the 13th and we are at Naha airport waiting to fly to Tokyo.  Sensei Albie,　Dean and Dennis are in a noodle bar having some coffee.  We arrived in Okinawa on the 9th and stayed in Naha where we trained in the Okinawan Budokan. On the 10th we  went straight to Hokama Senseis dojo and trained from 9.30 to 12 alongside some Australians who were there. At 12 we checked into our self catering apartments a short walk away and then returned for training from 2-4pm. Training included bo, tonfa, sai and having our little fingers and toes pulled off, and our feet crushed - all very enjoyable. In the evening we had some beers and nice food.  The next day was training from 10-12 am and then from 6.30 ish we watched the kids class then we trained with Hokama Sensei students from 7.30 - 930.  and then had a ｆａｒｅｗｅｌｌ／ｗｅｌｃｏｍｅ　ｐａｒｔｙ　ｆｏｒ　ｕｓ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　Australians in the dojo. Yesterday we trained from 10-12 then 1-3.30 and then went to the Shuri castle for sightseeing. Had nice meal when we returned of meat on a stone - you cook the meat yourself on a hot stone on the table.and some beers.  Today left Nishihara where Hokama Sensei lives and arrived back in Naha. We trained at the Budokan again and then toured the Kume village and then visited the Sureido shop before heading for the airport.  It has been quite tiring so perhaps we can have a nap on the tiring so perhaps we can have a nap on the plane. Taken lots of pictuers to amuse you/bore you.  lots of pictures to amuse you/bore you. Bye for now ...apologies for bad grammer etc but its hard to find comma etc on this keyboard and PC and then repeats sentences of its own free will.

Outside Okinawan Budokan

Inside the Budokan in Naha- just one of the beautiful dojo in this facility.  This was just prior to a very sweaty session where we caught up with a bit of training of our own when we got off the plane.  Next day we'd relocate to apartments nearer Hokama Sensei's dojo.

Okinawa civil defence karate display team training at the Okinawa Budokan	Sensei Dean

Outside Hokama Sensei's dojo waiting to start the afternoon session on the first day.  We'd already done 2 and half hours in the morning before moving into our apartments so we were getting a bit peckish by this point.

Hokama Sensei's dojo. The kids session prior to the evening session on the second day.  This is the only training picture we took as we were either training or not training with no time for photos during the sessions.

Dennis & Glen heading for the evening session.	A corner of Hokama Sensei's dojo which houses a museum above.

Group Photos with Australian students	After training

Our group with Hokama Sensei and Glen from Northern Ireland.  We were able to spend 3 days training with Hokama Sensei studying both karate and Kobudo.  Hokama Sensei and his students showed us great hospitality with a welcome party for us and farewell party for the departing Australians being held in the dojo after the evening training session.

Shuri Castle Okinawa

Ornate interior	tranquil exterior

Wise Monkeys?  Outside the Shuri Castle Okinawa

Kume Village - Naha, Okinawa

We arrived back in Tokyo on the 13th.  On the 14th we trained with Tsuchiya Sensei and sensei Terry Wingrove.  A very enjoyable and painful session.  Next day we had a day off training which Dean and Dennis used to visit the Tokyo Dome to ride on the big wheel and see some koi.  Spent some time wandering around in the afternoon looking for a martial arts shop which we found with the help of the friendly policeman (pictured).  The next day Joe Swift very kindly took us to train with Kanna Sensei at his dojo.  We had an excellent session and then were invited to Sensei's house where we saw his hand crafted kobudo weapons and some of his unique conditioning methods.    

We had one final day left which we used to visit Mount Fuji.  Throughout our visit we were overwhelmed by the friendliness and helpfulness of the Japanese and Okinawan people.  At each dojo we visited the students were of an excellent standard and regardless of age served as an inspiration and a fantastic example of lifelong passion for their chosen martial art.   

Tsuchiya Sensei

Sensei Terry amusing Tsuchiya Sensei.	Sensei Dean feeling the pinch.

With Tsuchiya Sensei and his assistant.

Tokyo Shinjuku West	Pachinko and Slot !!

With Kanna Sensei

Some members of Kanna Sensei's Sunday morning kobudo class. 

Some of Kanna Sensei's students who were extremely impressive with ages ranging from young children and teens up to 60/70 years old .   The lad in the black jacket had recently won a kobudo kata competition with sai and bo.  There was also a very impressive lad in his late teens (not in the photo) and everyone trained extremely diligently and thoroughly in the heat to perfect their moves. 

With Kanna Sensei (right), Uehara Sensei (left), Joe Swift Sensei (centre). 

Uehara Sensei

Japan makes you	want to do strange things	in waterfalls

Helpful Policeman at Sunshine Dori Policestation

Mount Fuji peeping through the cloud

View from New Otani Hotel in Kobe	Our lovely Japanese Tour Guide

If you would like to see the photos taken by Sensei Platt (there's loads of them) during the Japan trip click here 

Sayonara!

　Junior & Cadet kata and kumite competition April 2008 Sponsored by Steve Mahoney