Gensei-ryu Karate-do World Championship, Japan, august 2008

Narikawa Tetsuo, with the agreement of the Shukumine Family and actual Soke, Shukumine Shudo, and with the collaboration of the Gensei-ryu Karate-do federation leaded by Kanai Yasunori, will organize the first Gensei-ryu Karate-do World Championship at Komae's Olympic complex near Tokyo, the 9th of august 2008 from 9:30.

Competitions are open to all Gensei-ryu Karate practitionners in the following categories:

Individual Kata - Men/women
Under 20 years old - Ten-i, Chi-i, Jin-i-no-kata
Under 12 - Ten-i, Chi-i, Jin-i-no-kata
From 9 to 12 - Sansai-no-kata
Under 15
Under 18
Adults

Individual Kumite - Men/Women
Under 10
Under 12
Under 15
Under 18
Adults
Veterans

Team Kata - Men/Women

Team Kumite Men

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First Gensei-Ryu World Karate Tournament

Overview and Purpose

In 2000, Gensei-Ryu Supreme Master and Founder Seiken Shukumine passed away. From 2000 to 2007, Mrs. Kazuko Shukumine, wife of the Founder, assumed the leadership position for Gensei-Ryu. During the seventh anniversary memorial service, Shudo Shukumine, the eldest son of the Founder, succeeded Mrs. Shukumine as the third Leader of Gensei-Ryu Head Family.

In 1953 Supreme Master Shukumine officially named his style “Gensei-Ryu” and for the next ten years he gave lessons at many dojos in Japan and other countries. For many years, he devoted himself to his new techniques and new methods. In 1964 Supreme Master Shukumine published his book “Shin Karatedo Kyohan”. In 1965, he compiled all his work in a new martial art called “Taido” leaving his book as a means for those who wished to continue to learn Genseiryu Karatedo.

The successors of Gensei-Ryu apparently felt orphaned in the realm of karate as practitioners of a style without a Founder. Some switched to other schools, and others did not take the name of Gensei-Ryu. After Supreme Master Shukumine left Gensei-Ryu, the style broke up.

The purpose of the First Gensei-Ryu World Karate Tournament is to assemble those who enthusiastically pursue Gensei-Ryu with the blessing of the Founder’s family and after 40 years without the active involvement of the Supreme Master,. This Tournament was a dream and vision of many, and is an opportunity to globally unify the Gensei-Ryu style. It is also an opportunity to inform our global membership of the third successor of leadership of Gensei-Ryu, Shudo Shukumine.

We wish all participants who pursue Gensei-Ryu at this world tournament will compete amicably, enhance mutual friendship through exchange, and progress ourselves to the next level of competence.

When unified, we have strength in our numbers. As Gensei-Ryu is a relatively minor style, so can learn from the teaching of Motonari Mouri, a warlord in the Warring States period. He was famous for his “Three Arrows” quote. One day, he taught his three children to break the arrows, and they did it without difficulty. Afterwards, he gave three arrows to each child. The three of them did the same, but were unable to break the three arrows. Motonari then said, “Although a single arrow is easily breakable, three arrows together are hard to break at the same time. When the three of you unite your strength, it will be hard for your enemies to defeat you”. In the West, one would say that a rope of three strands is not easily torn.

It is our hope that all participants at the tournament work together peacefully, support the head family, and build an organization to establish “the Gensei-Ryu World Karate-do Federation” (a tentative name).

After establishing the organization, we intend to standardize all the Gensei-Ryu kata and techniques, and to publish a new textbook, videos, and DVDs as compliments to the work of Supreme Master Shukumine’s “Shin Karatedo Kyohan”

Today’s Karate is losing the original characteristics of Budo. A game-first mindset is dominating the Art, and winning “game” has become the primary objective. We seek to follow “Gensei-Ryu” Karate-do as established by Supreme Master Seiken Shukumine, carry on both his techniques and an attitude true to the principles of Supreme Master Shukumine, and make this a sustainable, formal organization. Traditional Karate, as a Budo art form, is not a sport. Winning a “game” is not the goal. We seek to develop healthy adults and children capable of courtesy, manners, and respect toward all, with patience, self-control, and harmony of heart with body through Karate.

Traditional Japanese Karate is globally enjoyed and practiced. We wish that Traditional Japanese Karate, as a Budo art form, be held to the highest standards of an honored tradition. We seek to transmit these excellent Japanese cultural traditions, stick to the original intention of the Founder, and contribute and spread Traditional Japanese Karate so that its techniques and philosophy can contribute to the improvement of a peaceful, global society.

This is a formal announcement of the organization of the First Gensei-Ryu World Championship, where we can collectively demonstrate that Gensei-Ryu is globally respected style, attract new disciples and motive our existing members.

We hope you will understand our objectives and look forward to seeing you participating to this tournament.

Very Respectfully,


Tetsuo Narikawa, Chair, Executive Committe of the First Gensei-Ryu World Karate Tournament
In Honor of:
Seiken Shukumine, Supreme Grand Master, Genseiryu

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Tournament Requirements
First Gensei-Ryu World Karate Tournament

1. Date and Time
9 August 2008
Opening Ceremony Starts at 9:30 am and the Tournament will conclude at 6pm.

2. Location
Komazawa Olympic Gymnasium
Komazawa Olympic Park
1-1 Komazawa Park
Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan

3. Participant Categories
The total number of participants is subject to change based on Tournament
enrollment. The limit for each category is 32 participants.


Category Description
A. Ten-i no Kata: Children/Color Belt, 9-10 years of age
B. Chi-i no Kata: Children/Color Belt, 9-10 years of age
C. Jin-i no Kata: Children/Color Belt, 9-10 years of age
D. Ten-i no Kata: Children/Color Belt, 11-12 years of age
E. Chi-i no Kata: Children/Color Belt, 11-12 years of age
F. Jin-i no Kata: Children/Color Belt, 11-12 years of age
G. Sansai no Kata: Children/Black and Color Belts, 9-12 years of age
H. Free Kata (Gensei-Ryu kata only, please): Teenagers (All Belts), 13-15 years of age
I. Not used
J. Free Kata (Gensei-Ryu kata only, please): Teenagers (All Belts), 16-18 years of age
K. Free Kata (Gensei-Ryu kata only, please): Women (All Belts) 19 years and above
L. Free Kata (Gensei-Ryu kata only, please): Men (All Belts),　19 years and above
3.1 Individual Kata
M. Team Kata: Women (All Belts), 16 years and above
N. Team Kata: Men (All Belts), 16 years and above


3.1 Team Kata



3.2 Individual Kumite

PA. Male, 9-10 years of age
PB. Female, 9-10 years of age
RA. Male, 11-12 years of age
RB. Female, 11-12 years of age
SA. Male, 13-15 years of age
SB. Female, 13-15 years of age
T. Male, 16-18 years of age
XA. Women, 19-39 years of age
XB. Men, 19-39 years of age



(The categories below are limited to 16 participants, first to enroll)

VA. Men, 40-54 years of age (Group A)
VB. Men, 55 years and above (Group B)
WA. Women, 40-54 years of age (Group A)
WB. Women, 55 years and above (Group B)
Y. Men, 19 years and above, Ippon Shobu (Two Waza-ari Match)



3.3 Team Kumite

Z. Men, 16 years and above.

Links:
http://genseiryu.moover.jp/englishpage/
http://homepage2.nifty.com/gensei-ryu1/
http://www.seidokai.com/

Contacts:
Tetsuo Narikawa, Chair, Executive Committee
Fax: + 81.3.3489.4877 or +81.3.3489.4857
(press send when you hear the Japanese recording)

Postal Address:
Tetsuo Narikawa
1-9-5 Moto Izumi
Komae-shi, Tokyo 201-0013

Please direct inquiries to:
Ms. Tomoka Narikawa at 2008.GENSEI@gmail.com
or
Ｍｒ. Jim Pelczar at jim.pelczar@gmail.com

I couldn't attend to the world championship, so is there someone to give us the result or to tell us how it was ?

Here are some photos of the 1st Gensei-ryu karate-do championship, found on the Gensei-ryu Dutch Association's site:
http://www.genseiryu.nl/fotoalbum/Karate/album/11%20Japan%20deel%201/index.html
http://www.genseiryu.nl/fotoalbum/Karate/album/12%20Japan%20deel%202/index.html
and on the japanese Hombu site:
http://briefcase.yahoo.co.jp/bc/sfgjw223/lst2?.tok=bcU2OhbBx..g91Mk&.dir=/278c&.src=bc
http://briefcase.yahoo.co.jp/bc/sfgjw223/lst?.dir=/7c4b&.src=bc&.view=

Here are some new photos:
http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/genseiryu2009/FirstGenseiRyuWorldKarateTournament

Here is a video about the championship: