Okinawa Karate Dojo

Thank you all who attended today’s Quarterly Board Zoom training. What an amazing amount of information and skill by all the instructors. There is still time to sign up for the September Seminar. The board looks forward to seeing all of you there.

Sign up now and don’t miss this event this Saturday.

We welcome those who wish to attend.

FYI: Lee Richards has released a new book. Lee is very insightful on the details of Taika Oyata’s art.

In addition to our announcement of the association board reforming, we invite you periodically check into our website for information and events.

https://www.ryute.com/ryute

Leadership

Students, followers, and future students, it is with joy that we announce the following news!!

RyuTe Karate Kobudo Renmei Organization Announcement!

RyuTe friends and family,

Welcome back! We are pleased to announce Taika's RyuTe organization has returned to active status. Since Taika's passing in 2012, the organization faced many challenges. This is not uncommon when an organization so closely linked to the identity of it's founder struggles to find a way forward while coping with such a loss.

In the following years, a great deal of effort went into defining a path according to Taika's wishes, but after several years the organization eventually became inactive in the official sense. However, since that time, many of Taika's students continue to carry on the art introducing new students to RyuTe and most importantly, continue to gather and train together under the flag of RyuTe, sharing their knowledge amongst one another just as Taika had hoped. In that sense, RyuTe has never really gone away.

In 2023, some of us began discussing the value of returning the organization back to a formally active status. We knew the undertaking wouldn't be easy, but things worth doing rarely are. So, after many discussions with former members and board members we approached Taika's family, Mrs. Oyata and Taika's son, Masaki, for their blessing. Encouraged by their enthusiastic support, in the latter part of 2024, we set about the process of re-forming the organization as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Our reason for choosing this structure is so the organization may continue to live on well into the future, and therefore RyuTe lives on.

Taika had longintended for the organization to be passed to Tashi Jim Logue, tragically, Tashi Logue passed away one year before Taika. With no one individual to inherit the art, it was Taika's expressed intent that the organization to be run by a board of directors and that his students work together to continue the study of RyuTe. This new structure continues to honor Taika's last wishes.

It is also in this spirit we have restructured the board, separating it into two distinct roles: The Board of Directors guides the direction for the RyuTe Karate Kobudo Renmei while the Technical Advisory Board is responsible for upholding the highest standards of RyuTe training and dan rank promotions. Together, we will work to continue creating training opportunities for our members, providing support to RyuTe dojos, and of course, introducing the next generation of practitioners to the art of RyuTe.

We hope you are excited to join us.

‍

Sincerely,

RyuTe Karate Kobudo Renmei
Board of Directors

Dojo members,

Our drum group will be performing at grand opening ceremony of Japanese restaurant in Wichita on Dec 21, Saturday.
Please refer to attached information for details.
Hope many of you can attend the ceremony.

Thank you,
Sensei Oshiro

Students, I wish to share this post with you. A good friend of mine had a situation that mirrors what we are training you for. I cannot overstate being continuously aware of your surroundings and allow your training to guide your defensive posture…………On Tuesday, just after dropping one of the kids off on campus, I pulled in my driveway and grabbed my purse to hop out of the car. As I was crossing the side yard a guy ran up behind me and grabbed me, spinning me around and told me to give him my purse. It was the middle of the day, in my own yard, and completely unreal to have someone waving a gun in my face. I didn’t think the gun was real at first, and when he threatened to shoot, I admit, I wasn’t thinking. I just reacted, and I grabbed his wrist and forced his arm away from us both, while we struggled. He shot off a round. No one was hurt but his driver yelled, “let’s get out of here!” As neighbors started coming out to investigate. He shoved me backwards and ran off as I ran for the house.

I know this could have gone much differently and that I was very lucky. I should have just given him the purse. But when he first demanded it, I didn’t process what he had actually said. And then I had his arm in my control and realized now I couldn’t let go or I would be dead. I had nothing to fight back with. My keys weren’t in my hand. I had been complacent.

So, I’m sharing this to remind you not to be complacent. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. This can happen at any time, anywhere, to anyone. Stay safe! Be vigilant!

It is with pleasure and distinction to introduce the newest Shodan studying Taika’s art, Stewart Mitchell. Your devotion to the art and your perseverance will always be appreciated and your hard work has paid dividends. Congratulations and your journey is just beginning.