News News.
By Ann Marie Castello
POGKF members from Texas and Canada participated in the USA national JKF GOJU KAI 2005 USA seminar and black Belt grading. The weekend of April 22 to 24th - California, U.S.A. was graced with the presence of immeasurable skill, talent and knowledge! Sensei Vassie Naidoo of Goju Ryu Karate Do Seiwai Kai hosted our first U.S.A. JKF Goju Ryu Seminar. Close to 100 karate-ka came together in friendship and spirit to ignite a new flame. The beginning of a long and prosperous tradition. The growth of a new family within the U.S. - the JKF GOJU KAI. We were instructed by Sensei's Shiomi, Muramatsu and Hisanaga of Japan; Sensei Lipinski of England and Sensei's Tuck, Naidoo and Veras of the United States. I was lucky enough to be near the front of the facility while I was training. Every time that I turned around it amazed me to see the sea of karata-ka, from all different age groups and belt colours in attendance. We went over Sanchin and Tensho in great detail while Sensei's showed all of the fine points to us; from breathing to muscle movement - until some shoulders were nice and red! Everyone got their equal share of attention from the top. While we practiced, our Sensei's walked around to everyone and helped us to improve our technique. Sensei Matsumura revealed a lot of, "little secrets" to us about kata and bunkai. Sensei we promise not to tell anyone else except our Goju friends!! Saturday evening we were all invited to a wonderful banquet that was hosted by Sensei Vassie at his dojo. The food was amazing! Such a wide variety - from sushi to chicken to beans and rice. Drinks a plenty and music to dance by. We were even serenaded with the sounds of a live saxaphone. The seminar ended on Sunday with a grading to those that were qualified. We all went back to our homes and dojos with new friends and more knowledge. It is our job now to pass this on to our new karate ka. I am looking forward to our next seminar and hope to see it grow even more!
POGKF CANADA NEWS
The Canadian National Blackbelt Championships were held in Nova Scotia, Canada on April 7, 8 & 9th, 2005. The host this year was the Nova Scotia Karate Association. The tournament was held at St. Marys University in Halifax. The landscape was outstanding! The Delta Halifax hotel sits right at the harbourfront in the midst of a beautiful boardwalk, many old museums and right by the Citadel - a beautiful old fortress erected to defend the city many many years ago. The Championship was attended by approximately 250 of Canada's top athletes. The first two days were spent in elimination rounds. Whilst team spirit and camaradie grew; so did the friendly competition between provinces! The sparring was fierce. Ontario's Pan Am and World Cup winner in sparring 60 kg. and under - Sayed Baghbani came out on top once again! The competition was very close - neck and neck, fist and fist between Ontario and Quebec. In the end Quebec came in first in total points and Ontario second.
P.O.G.K.F. members Olga Maidankina and Ann-Marie Castelo competed in Women's Individual Kata for Team Ontario. Olga came in third in Women's Kata, Open Division. Even with an knee injury, Olga competed like a true champion! Ann-Marie came in first in Women's Kata, Masters Division for the second year in a row. It was a competition to remember for a lifetime. Olga and Ann-Marie have the unending support and guidance of their Sensei's - Valery Karpov and Ramon Veras to thank for their huge success!! They would never have gotten so far without them