Okinawa Seito Karatedo

I feel deeply honored that two calligraphies by Ishida Hanshi hang at the shōmen, the front of our Shudokan Dojo in Klagenfurt. For me, they carry a very special meaning and create a direct connection between our dojo and Ishida Hanshi’s dojo in Tagawa, Japan.

The calligraphy on the left reads 内家拳 – Nèijiāquán, referring to the internal Chinese martial arts. It reminds us of the Chinese roots that helped shape Karatedō and, at the same time, reflects another important aspect of our dojo: we share this place with practitioners of a wonderful Wing Chun tradition, keeping the connection to Chinese martial culture alive.

On the right we find 古武術 – Kobujutsu, meaning old martial arts or traditional martial arts. To me, these characters express our commitment to the traditions of the old masters—to preserve, study and pass on what has been entrusted to us.

These two calligraphies are therefore much more than decoration. They represent roots, tradition and connection—between China and Japan, between Tagawa and Klagenfurt, and between past and present.

My heartfelt thanks to Ishida Kenshin Hanshi for these beautiful calligraphies and for the bond they symbolize. I am truly honored to have them at our shōmen.

🙏 ありがとうございました、石田範士

Last weekend, we held our Shudokan Gasshuku 2026 – and for me, it was a truly inspiring and unforgettable weekend.

My heartfelt thanks go to all participants who joined us, many of whom travelled a long way to train and share this experience together. Your dedication, openness and spirit made this Gasshuku something very special.

The main focus of our training was Shichisei Saho, a kata rooted in Praying Mantis Kung Fu that has been preserved within our school through Ichikawa Isao Hanshi. Exploring this form together and looking beyond the movements into the principles behind them was a deeply rewarding experience.

This Gasshuku was especially meaningful to me because my dear friend Fernando Garcia Renshi from Mexico joined us together with his son Fer. It was a great joy to train side by side again, to exchange ideas and simply to share time together through the martial art that connects us.

Thank you to everyone who made this weekend what it was.

Training together, learning together and keeping knowledge alive – this is what such gatherings are all about.

七つの旭の型と七星の型を修めた武道家は、何があろうとも、悪しき死を迎えることはない。
Ichikawa Isao Hanshi (1935-1996)

Ein Wochenende, das noch lange nachwirkt…

Am vergangenen Wochenende durfte ich ein Seminar in Reichenbach im Vogtland geben – eingeladen von Bernhard Dietz und gemeinsam gestaltet mit meinem langjährigen Wegbegleiter Robert Göslbauer.

Was soll ich sagen: Es war einfach sensationell. Mit so vielen Gleichgesinnten gemeinsam zu trainieren, sich auszutauschen und voneinander zu lernen, ist etwas ganz Besonderes. Diese Offenheit, diese Begeisterung und dieser respektvolle Umgang miteinander haben das Seminar zu etwas wirklich Einzigartigem gemacht.

Ein herzliches Dankeschön an das Dojo Reichenbach für die großartige Organisation und die herzliche Aufnahme. Man hat vom ersten Moment an gespürt, wie viel Leidenschaft hier für Karate gelebt wird.

Besonders gefreut hat mich auch, Jürgen Kraus, von dem ich schon viel gehört hatte, persönlich kennenzulernen – und mit ihm gemeinsam die Hände zu kreuzen. Solche Begegnungen machen unser Karate-Do so wertvoll.

Danke an alle Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer für eure Energie, eure Begeisterung und euren Einsatz. Dieses Wochenende hat mich sehr bereichert und mir unglaublich viel Freude bereitet.

Ich freue mich schon auf ein Wiedersehen!

Ich habe 3.701 Follower gewonnen, habe 20 Beiträge erstellt und haben 5.206 Reaktionen erhalten während der vergangenen 90 Tage! Vielen Dank für euren anhaltenden Support! Ohne euch wäre das nie möglich gewesen. 🙏🤗🎉

I have received the DVDs of the Toyama Kanken Joint Training (November) from my teacher, Ishida Kenshin Hanshi. In addition, Ishida Hanshi sent me a photograph of Horie Masanori and myself. A moment that carries many memories and for which I am truly grateful.

Thank you very much, Ishida Hanshi, for these meaningful gifts, for passing on knowledge, spirit, and tradition in the true spirit of Toyama Kanken. 🥋🙏

New Publication in Preparation – A Long-Matured Path Continues

Some projects wait many years for the right moment.

As early as 2006, I completed an extensive yet unpublished manuscript on the Naha-te kata and their path into Shudokan through Toyama Kanken, and into Karatedō through Ichikawa Isao.

After finishing my book "Kyoku – The Seven Kata of the Rising Sun", I rediscovered this manuscript shortly before Christmas—and immediately recognized the historical, technical, and philosophical value it contains. These are insights that go far beyond my own students and are likely to be of great interest to Goju-Ryū practitioners worldwide.

From this rediscovery, a clear decision emerged: to further develop the manuscript and publish it as a standalone book.

The Kata in the Shudokan Tradition – Volume 1: Naha-te Kata

An initial draft will be made available to members of the International Shudokan Research Society in early February. The official publication is planned for the first half of 2026.

This book marks the beginning of a multi-volume series dedicated to those kata that have been preserved through Toyama Kanken and Isao Ichikawa.

Each volume will examine an individual kata or group of kata through a thorough historical and philosophical lens—deliberately moving beyond purely technical analysis, and focusing instead on origin, transformation, and inner essence.

I am very much looking forward to sharing this path and these projects with like-minded practitioners.
More details to follow soon.