Okinawa Karate Performance Exchange Coming to L.A.

Meitetsu Yagi

The Okinawa Prefectural Government and the Okinawa Karate-do Shinko-kai (Society for the Advancement of Traditional Okinawa Karate) are bringing their Karate Performance Exchange to Southern California.

Naonobu Ahagon

Karate masters representing Shorin-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, and Uechi-Ryu are touring the U.S. to promote their first Okinawa Karate International Tournament in 2018. For the Los Angeles area, Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu will host an evening for the masters to perform demonstrations, answer audience questions, and provide photo opportunities beginning at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, at Centenary United Methodist Church, 300 S. Central Ave. (at Third Street) in Little Tokyo.

Representing Japan will be:

• Naonobu Ahagon (chairman), hanshi, 10 dan, Okinawa karate and kobudo

• Meitatsu Yagi, hanshi, 10 dan, Goju-Ryu

• Minoru Nakazato, hanshi. 10 dan, Shorin-Ryu

• Masanari Kikugawa, hanshi. 9 dan, Goju-Ryu

• Harukichi Shimabukuro, kyoshi, 8 dan, Uechi-Ryu

Karate students, senseis and enthusiasts recognize that this is an exceptionally rare opportunity to visit with these masters outside of Okinawa.

The event is free. For more information or to make a reservation, call (323) 533-2669, email budoish@gmail.com or visit www.Okinawa-karate.okinawa.

Masanari Kikugawa and Harukichi Shimabukuro

Minoru Nakazato (left)