Interview/Writer : Daniel Mardon
Photographer/Translator : Yuko Takahashi

Daniel Mardon, “The karateka-therapist”
Physiotherapist and longtime martial-arts practitioner, Daniel Sensei lives in Okinawa. One of his passions is to find unique Dojo with strong personalities that will leave an imprint forever.  With his wife Yuko Takahashi, who is a great Karate historian, they let us discover many hidden aspects of Okinawa Karate…

This special series of articles proposes to explore the original spirit of Karate.  Today, the subject is: 

2025 “Hatsugeiko” 初稽古 (New year’s first training)

Each year, the Shureikai Minamihara Shureikan organizes a traditional open-air training to celebrate the new Karate year.

The location is always the beautiful “World heritage UNESCO” Katsuren medieval castle built in the 13th century.  The reason for this tradition is that the Shureikan’s Chief Instructor; Shimabukuro Tsuneo Hanshi,10th Dan of Karate/10th Dan Kobudo & Chairman of several federations, is a descendant from more than 600 years of that epic warrior history.

Early morning on Katsuren gusuku.

Solemn moment before training.

After a good warmup Kihon time.

Important note about Japanese cultural values:

Modern Japanese people celebrate and enjoy Christmas and Halloween as cultural events, but there is something special about welcoming the new year.

 In the old Japan, Japanese people were considered to grow older together at the same time during 正月shogatsu (New Year) and not on their birthdays! (kazoedoshi)
It was said that a God (Toshigami-sama) would come on New Year’s Day to bestow a new God-given age, vitality and good fortune.
New Year’s Day was therefore very special. Shogatsu (new year) was synonym of being reborn as a new person.

In December, they do a “big cleaning” to wash away the dirt around them, they eat toshikoshi soba on 大晦日 Oomisoka (New Year’s Eve) and welcome the New Year with their families in a pure spirit.

Nowadays, the way people decide to live their lives is different, but it feels that the Japanese spirit and values have been passed down through the ages. Japanese people cherish Shogatsu probably more than in many other cultures for these cultural reasons.
There are many words and events associated with beginnings in the New Year, such as 初詣 hatsu-moude (the first shrine-visit of the year), 初夢 hatsu-yume (the first dream), 初日の出 hatsu-hinode (the first sunrise), 初稽古hatsu-geiko (the first practice), 初釜 hatsu-gama (the first tea ceremony of the new year) and 書初め kakizome (the first calligraphy).
This explains why 初稽古 hatsugeiko (The first practice of the new year, or the first training) is so important for karateka and their traditions.

Made of solid Ryukyuan limestone, the castle was built like a stone ship, 98 meters above the Pacific Ocean that surrounds the peninsula.  The medieval fort was in use until 1611, meaning 153 years after the saga of the powerful lord Amawari, who was executed during the destruction of his castle in 1458 by the army of the king of Shuri; Shō Taikyū (1415-1460).  In fact, the King was his father-in-law since Amawari had married his daughter Momoto-Fumiagari.  King Shō Taikyū was the 7th son of the famous Shō Hashi; last King of Chuzan and 1st king of the Ryukyu Kingdom.  Shō Hashi is known as the founder of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Farmers and fishermen remained in the area and developed a small village called Haebaru; right at the bottom of the castle.  Shimabukuro Tsuneo Sensei was born in 1945 in Haebaru and his house and Dojo are still situated in this historical village.  That is why the Dojo is often referred to as “Katsuren Dojo”.

Read more about Shimabukuro Sensei on “HIDEN” 05/2024
https://budojapan.com/karate/dm13e/

Shimabukuro Sensei and his second son Takashi teaching

Children’s demonstration

Bo practice with Tsuken Island in the background.

Pose under a shy Sun.

Katsuren jo-site Amawari Park Visitor Center

Although it is early for a Sunday morning, Karateka are already gathering in the parking lot and wandering around the brand-new constructions hosting a museum and the most beautiful restrooms I have seen…. 

Shimabukuro Sensei is here greeting us with his wife and family.  His 2 Shihan sons and 6 of his 13 “Mago” (grand children) will participate in the event.  In fact, it is a very private matter and I am again the only “outsider”…

The large group proceed to the green slope leading to the base of the castle.  Shimabukuro and his sons are climbing in small 4×4 pickup trucks full of Kobudo weapons and drinks.  A little shuttle train takes the elderly up there.

Villagers are coming in numbers because many children are participating.

I often think of what my U.S. Marine friend Tim told me years ago: “Okinawa people are very much like Sicilians.  Tim is an American-Sicilian from New-York that has spent 2/3 of his life in Okinawa.  He therefore knows what he is talking about and if I couldn’t see much resemblance in the beginning, I discovered that Okinawa society indeed has similarities with some of our European clan systems…

After a traditional opening speech paying respect to the ancestors and wishes for the New Year, Shimabukuro Sensei ask us to line up, positioning ourselves at proper distance in perfect rows.

Shimabukuro Sensei conducts himself the thorough warm-up session.  It is particularly necessary today because the January wind is pretty cold even though we are in Okinawa.  It will be cloudy and windy during most of the training, but no rain is announced.

The Uechi-Ryu Kihon are always a problem for me and I feel that I will never be able to perform their Kata…

A great moment takes place when Shimabukuro Sensei decides to give us a detailed bunkai demonstration that will reveal secrets…. As I already wrote in previous articles, Shimabukuro Tsuneo Sensei is a pretty open person, but he does teach true Dento Karate 伝統空手 (traditional Karate).  With this authentic Karate, bunkai are more difficult to understand, because the techniques are subtle and done at very close range compared to “World-Karate”.  The idea of Kime (極め) is quite different (see link above) and there are no pause/pose in Okinawa Dento-Karate.  We are indeed discovering “secret techniques” we had never expected…!

Next is Kobudo practice and demonstrations with Bo & Sai and Sensei makes a speech about the different forms that have existed and that were born in the environs.  He points to Tsuken Island, which is only a few kilometers away and mentions the Kata carrying Tsuken references.

Shimabukuro Tsuneo Sensei believes that there are quite a few martial arts of the Ryukyu Samurai clan that were not able to be preserved due to the principle of “Isshisouden” 一子相伝 which means that a Master conveys his secrets, mysteries, or essence only to one-child (or one-disciple).  There is also the concept of  “Mongaifushutsu”門外不出; where important things are hidden and lost because the Master is not letting it go outside the gate (mon 門) of the house…The long class ended under a beautiful sunshine and Yuko and I did a couple of Shotokan Kata in memory of Funakoshi Gichin and his son Yoshitaka.  Then we got offered some excellent tea and other drinks…

Kata with 4 Shimabukuro Sensei… Left to right; 2nd son Takashi, father Tsuneo, 1st son Atsushi & grandson Ren.

With Sensei & his sons.

Shimabukuro Tsuneo Hanshi performing a Kata.

Daniel’s conclusion:

This was another amazing experience and as always, hard to describe with usual words.  The imposant fortress seemed to echo pieces of history narrated by Shimabukuro Sensei and projecting ghostly flash-back of warriors.   Indeed, the weapons, the Do-Gi and the atmosphere of that medieval castle made me feel like “Time-travelling” in a different dimension.

Homage to Shotokan-Ryu and Funakoshi Gichin & Yoshitaka Sensei.

With Yuko Takahashi Sensei demonstrating a Kata.

Going back down, happy, after an amazing training and experience.

View of the Katsuren castle from the Dojo in Haebaru village.

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Daniel Mardon; the Karateka-Therapist 

Creator of Aromapressure® method and physiotherapist with a valid US license, Daniel Mardon was born in Paris.   One of his specialties is to teach and to perform lymphedema and subcutaneous tissue-damage care, after radiotherapy for cancer patients at medical institutions and subcutaneous tissue-circulation stimulation before and after surgery.
He was also a therapist for two famous soccer teams in Paris.    Since 2005, he has focused on producing top-class hotel spas in Japan, as well as physiotherapy education and awareness-raising activities for health care professionals.  Author of several books, among his major publications includes “The Physiology and Bodywork of Physical Therapy ” (Published by BAB Japan) and DVD “Daniel Mardon Aromapressure® Method ” (Pony Canyon). He regularly appears on television and radio shows, and has featured in numerous media publications.

『身体療法の生理学とボディワーク』（The Physiology of Somatic Therapy and Bodywork）
Co-written by Daniel Mardon and Yuko Takahashi
On sale now on the BAB Japan website!