Thursday, November 06. 2025 by C. Michial Jones
On November 5th, the physical toll of my ongoing cancer treatments was heavy. I felt, in my own words, “puny”—the kind of deep-seated depletion that makes even the simplest movements feel like a mountain. However, the path of Budo does not stop for the convenience of the body.
As the USA Shibu-Cho for the Okinawa Gojuryu Karate-do Goeikai and the personal representative of Grandmaster Kenei Shimabukuro and Hiroshi Ganaha Sensei, my duty to the art transcends my personal comfort. I traveled to Lebanon, Indiana, to visit our branch school and ensure the standard of Okinawan Goju-Ryu remains uncompromised.
The Guardian of the Standard
Being a Shibu-Cho is not a title of vanity; it is a position of quality control. In the United States, it is easy for Okinawan arts to become “watered down” or misinterpreted. My responsibility is to ensure that when a student bows in a Goeikai dojo in Indiana, they are receiving the same “DNA” that exists in the Hombu Dojo in Okinawa.
During this visit, we dedicated our focus to two profound kata:
- Shisochin: A kata that emphasizes the “Hard” and “Soft” in close-quarters combat, utilizing joint locks and circular defensive movements.
- Suparenpei: The most advanced kata in our system. It is a long, demanding journey through 108 movements that requires total breath control and technical precision.
Teaching Through the Depletion
There is a unique clarity that comes with teaching while physically weak. When you cannot rely on raw power or athletic explosiveness, you are forced to rely entirely on structure, leverage, and the efficiency of the breath. In Lebanon, as I corrected the students’ forms in Shisochin and Suparenpei, I found myself teaching the very essence of “Old Man Karate.” I was showing them that true power does not come from a flexed bicep, but from the alignment of the spine and the grounding of the feet—lessons that become crystal clear when your muscles are tired from radiation but your spirit is resolved.
Conclusion: Representing the Masters
To represent Shimabukuro Sensei and Ganaha Sensei is a weight I carry with pride. Whether I am feeling 100% or 10%, the standard must be met. The visit to Lebanon was a success, not just because the students improved their kata, but because we proved that the Goeikai spirit is immovable. We continue to refine, we continue to correct, and we continue to honor the Okinawan masters who entrusted us with this flame.
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