Interviews & Text: Daniel Mardon, The Karateka-Therapist
Photography & Translation: Yuko Takahashi

Daniel Mardon: The Karateka-Therapist
Based in Okinawa, physiotherapist and veteran practitioner Daniel Mardon travels the archipelago in search of “dojos with a soul.” Alongside his wife, karate historian Yuko Takahashi, he explores the often-overlooked dimensions of the craft, working to unveil the original essence of karate.

Oshukai: Excellence as a Heritage

Now established in 15 countries, the World Oshukai Federation (WOF) enters a new era under the presidency of Sensei Mikio Sueyoshi. Supported by two legendary 9th Dan pillars—Masters Maurice Roggero (a 50-year veteran) and Aleksander Staniszew—they ensure that the flame of their mentor, Master Kenyu Chinen, continues to bridge Okinawa and the world.
(See Homage to Chinen Sensei https://budojapan.com/karate/dmspe05/)

World OSHUKAI Honbu dojo Murasaki Mura.

A Formative Exile

From Iejima to the Lights of Paris

Master Kenyu Chinen’s life was a borderless quest. Born in a post-war Japan, he left the tiny island of Iejima at fifteen for Naha. Living alone in a boarding house, this first exile forged his resolve. It was there that he discovered the grandeur of Ryukyu culture and immersed himself in martial arts, choosing the rigors of Shorin-Ryu under Master Nakazato and the profound depth of Kobudo under Master Matayoshi.

His adventurous spirit eventually led him further afield. In 1976, he moved to France to share the authenticity of his art. A solitary pioneer in a country then obsessed with modern competition, he championed a radical vision of “authentic, formidable karate”—one where power is born from the economy of motion. Chinen Sensei introduced a model of karate that felt new to the French but was, in fact, ancient. He also pioneered Kobudo, showing that weapons and empty-hand techniques are two sides of the same coin. Until his passing in September 2024, he made France the global hub of his school.

New president Mikio Sueyoshi with Vice-présidents Aleksander Staniszew Poland (left) and Maurice Roggero France (right).

Inside of Honbu dojo.

Murasaki Mura: Traces of the Past

This historical village in Yomitan was built in 1993 for the NHK series Ryukyu no Kaze (“The Winds of Ryukyu”). A faithful recreation of the Ryukyu Kingdom’s splendor, it became a cultural park in 1999. Its magnificent dojo has hosted many schools, including Master Chinen’s regular seminars. Today, his heirs have made it their permanent home: the WOF Honbu Dojo has officially relocated from Paris to Yomitan.

Seeing disciples travel here to practice is proof that the transmission has crossed oceans intact, closing a historical circle between France and the birthplace of Karate.

Aleksander Staniszew Sensei and his assistant Jerzy Chrzanowski.

During Kobudō class.

The Inverted Mirror

When the Source is Enriched by its Tributaries

As a permanent correspondent in Okinawa, I find the Oshukai phenomenon fascinating because it reverses the usual flow. Typically, foreign experts come to Okinawa to take knowledge back home. Here, international practitioners return to the source to demonstrate the purity of what they’ve learned and to train together on sacred ground.

When I moved to the homeland of Gichin Funakoshi, a master who guided much of my life, I felt strangely orphaned to find that Shotokan essentially did not exist here.  Wandering from dojo to dojo, I felt like a beginner with decades of “flaws” that were nearly impossible to unlearn.
This cultural shock doesn’t diminish Shotokan’s nobility, but rather, it highlights Okinawa’s unique insular nature, where karate crystallized on different vibrational and biomechanical frequencies.

I envy the French and Polish disciples bringing their original karate to Murasaki Mura or to the Karate Kaikan in Tomigusuku.  They are living proof of a successful, multi-directional transmission. Their presence is a sincere tribute to Sensei Chinen’s legacy.

Daniel & Aleksander Sensei in front of “Shurei no yakata” at Karate Kaikan.

OSHUKAI delegation in front of Aromapressure® Healing Dojo.

Alphonse Francine Sensei, former “Yoshitaka KC” student, where I started in 1975. It’s been half a century since we last saw each other!

Innovation in the Service of Health

Oshukai continues to evolve, addressing modern challenges like practitioner longevity and injury prevention. In France, “Karate-Health” has become a priority, driven by the needs of a dedicated veteran core. Led by longtime instructor Gilles Méhard and supported by research in psychology, the French branch focuses on the mental and emotional dimensions of martial longevity.

Simultaneously, in Poland, Dr. Tomasz Zając (7th Dan) President of the “Meiryoku” Foundation has prioritized the biological “royal road.” This path led him to the Aromapressure® Healing Dojo, an Okinawan-based physiotherapy school established 14 years ago. Founded by Daniel Mardon and directed by Yuko Takahashi, Aromapressure® serves as a “clinical bridge,” translating ancient empirical wisdom into modern science.

This method specializes in lymphology and manual lymphatic drainage—a sophisticated medical practice that remains one of the few tools capable of addressing both the circulatory and immune systems. By integrating traditional sports massage and rehabilitative physiotherapy with a biomechanical analysis of karate (relying on Okinawan pillars like gamaku), the school has transformed the dojo into a space for functional rehabilitation. 

From treating edema to anti-aging, this “high-tech” manual approach ensures that karate remains a sustainable path for the future.

“Karate-Health” seminar with theory & practice.

Graduation ceremony by Yuko Takahashi Sensei.

“Gamaku”: The Body’s Hinge

Contrary to popular belief, Gamaku is not about the hips; it is the work of the abdominal core. It is the body’s true hinge, articulating the torso and controlling the pelvis. This has become a cornerstone of our research, earning its author the nickname “Doctor Gamaku.” Combined with controlled breathing, this approach allows us to rediscover fundamental martial principles through a therapeutic lens.

Last day at Karate Kaikan. On the program: Karate, Kobudō & Thérapie (we can see the massage-table).

Maurice Roggero Sensei, very impressive with “Kama”.

Internal Karate: Biology Commands the Mind

Dr. Zając’s philosophy aligns with Daniel Mardon’s. “internal” karate is nothing mystical; it is the science of deep muscles, posture, and breath. We believe the mind, and even the spirit, depend on biology…  If the body breaks down, the mind falters, and it takes a strong spirit to fight back.  Conversely, mental distress rarely manifests as direct physical pathology. In Japanese, the term Genki is used for being in good condition, literally meaning “to be in good spirits”—yet this state depends entirely on organic health.

This is why Dr. Zając chose Aromapressure® to enrich his research. The psychological approach (France) and the biological approach (Poland/Okinawa) are the two levers of a single machine designed to preserve human integrity.

Therapy session with hip-adjustment.

Discussion with Dr Tomasz Zając, 7th Dan, owner of a clinic and president of the “Meiryoku” foundation.

Toward a New Status for the Teacher

A gap is widening between veterans and youth attracted by mass sports. In France, state-certified teacher training has unfortunately traded anatomical expertise for administrative logic. It is an absurd irony: an instructor may push students to their physical breaking point, yet lack the most basic tools for recovery or body care. Our goal is to restore the teacher’s “nobility” by transforming them into true technicians of the body.

By placing biomechanics at the heart of the dojo, the instructor becomes a guarantor of longevity, ensuring that the Martial Way remains a path to health for everyone, from juniors to seniors.

Presentation of OSHUKAI officials to Master Zenpo Shimabukuro.

Group pictures at end of seminar at Honbu dojo & Karate Kaikan.

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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!