Monday, May 7, 2018 by C. Michial Jones
Life has been a whirlwind lately between the dojo, my granddaughter, and my return to college. While my time at the keyboard has been limited, my time on the mat has been extensive. Here is a look at our recent travels and the growth of our Okinawakan International community.
East Coast Swing: Maryland and Delaware
From April 4th to 8th, Amber, Jason, and I headed east for a five-day tour. Our journey began with a brief stop in the charming town of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, before we got down to business in Maryland.
Anshinkai Martial Arts (Belcamp, MD) Our first training stop was with Jeff Sullens and his students at Anshinkai Martial Arts. We spent three hours diving deep into the Okinawakan International curriculum. While we stayed focused on the core syllabus, we also took a brief, enjoyable detour into a section of Aiki-Jujutsu. The camaraderie after training was a highlight; Jeff and his wife were exceptional hosts, and it was great to see their students’ dedication to adapting to our new organizational standards.
The National Aquarium & The Woodlawn Gasshuku Before the main event, we took a “tourist morning” to visit the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Its unique spiral layout and diverse habitats were incredible to witness.
That evening, we launched into a three-day Gasshuku hosted by Vance Parker at Parker’s Gojuryu in Woodlawn. This was a deep dive into the technical heart of our system. Over three days, we covered:
- Foundations: Breakfalls, Ido Dachi, and Ido Kogeki.
- Partner Work: Sandan Uke Harai, Sandan Gi, and Ippon/Nihon Kumite.
- Kata & Application: Intensive focus from Gekisai through Sanseru, including detailed Bunkai.
Heading West: Jacksonville, Illinois
On May 5th, we traveled to Jacksonville, Illinois, to visit Steve Foster at the Karate-do Kai of Jacksonville. Jacksonville is a beautiful town—we spent some time admiring the stunning local architecture before the seminar began.
We were joined by guests from the Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai for a five-hour intensive session. It was a productive day that moved through several layers of the curriculum:
- The Essentials: Sandan Uke Harai (1-4) and Sandan Gi.
- Combat Drills: Ippon Kumite (1-6).
- Forms & Weapons: We worked through kata and their bunkai before finishing with Bo Buri.
Reflections on Progress
The most rewarding part of these trips isn’t just the training, but seeing the effort our partner dojos are putting into the Okinawakan International transition. Adapting to new curriculum changes is never easy, but the passion shown by Jeff, Vance, Steve, and their students is a testament to the strength of our organization.
It’s good to be home, but I’m already looking forward to the next time we can share the mat.
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