
This was, by far, the largest single martial arts demonstration I'd ever participated in. We got there early, around 1pm to start practicing. There would be time for each group to run through their portion of the demonstration and tweak spacing issues, and after a short break and a very yummy dinner of Japanese curry, we'd do the entire program for the audience at 7:00 pm sharp.
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The order of presentation was:
1. Opening address - Janice Bass (5 Dan)
2. Ryukyuan Classic Dance <<Kagiyadefu>> - From the Uchima Katsumi Ryukyuan Dance School. This was a traditional dance that is often performed at the beginning of a festival. It involved brightly colored costumes and beatiful fans. The pace of the dance was quite regal.
3. Karate - Sanchin and Kanshiwa by all memebers of the Women's Friendship Tour. YEAH - we pulled it off. After hours and hours and hours and hours of practice we did these two kata together as group, as a team, as a unit.
4. Ryukyu Kobudo - Sakaguawa No Kon (Dai) Performed by Loretta Bryant (4 dan), Rochelle M Young (4 Dan), Teresa McClary (5 Dan), Katherine Keither (4 Dan), Kimberlee Voigt (1 Dan). This group of women were from Michigan and what they performed was a wonderful bo kata.
5. Karate - Seisan Bunkai - Demonstrated by Donna Emschweiler (4 dan) with Technical analysis by Heather Lipin (3 Dan) and Dana Sheets (3 dan)
6. Self Defense Dance <<Goshin No Mai>> - performed by Katsumi Uchima, dance school Shihan. (the title Shihan - means that she is a master teacher and considered to be good enough to be a teacher of other teachers). This was a treat to watch. Two dances were performed. Both contained fighting movements couched in the form of a dance. This style of dancing developed when the Japanese first occupied the Ryu Kyu Kingdom at the end of the 18th century. The Japanese forbid the practice of martial arts (not wanting the young men to become strong enough to rise up and overthrow the occupying government). So the Okinawans put their weapon and empty handed fighting principles in their dances. Flags were used instead of sai, Fans instead of short swords, and empty handed movements were sometimes embellished and done in a stylized fashion. However - if you became proficient at the dance, it would be very easy to then teach you how to use the same movements in application.
7. Karate - Yakusoku Kumite - performed by Sue Ling Rekas (2 Dan), Maria Toronsian (3 dan), Denise Laiosa (3 dan), Marian Bushey (3 dan), Renee Leblanc (1 Dan), Tonia Lagasse (1 kyu)
8. Karate - Fukyugata & Kanshiwa kata performed by Ageda Female Dojo. The Ageda Female Dojo is the first all-women Uechi dojo in Okinawan. Sensei Hatsuko Machida (5 Dan) directs the school.
9. Address of Thanks - Hiroshi Inada - President of the Okikukai (9 Dan) and Peggy Hess - Women's Friendship Tour representative (6th Dan)
10. Congratulatory Address - Masakazu Nakasone (Koza City Mayor)
11. U.S. Marine Corps Martial Arts Demonstration - Rebecca Gould (2nd Lieut.), Anatasia Moreno (Sgt), Jasmine David (Sgt), Danita Ferands (L. Cpl) These women performed some of the MCMAP partner training. The first part included gun, knife, and stick defenses and disarms. The second part were empty handed grappling, throws, and submission techniques, and the third was the bayonette partner form that was first demonstrated to us when we did the joint demo with the MCMAP Far East program on Camp Courtney. This time the women used blunted bayonettes. My understanding is that only the black belt instructors actually use live blades for this exercise because of the risk and skill.
12. Karate - Sanseiryu - Teresa McClary (5 Dan), Donna Emschweiler (4 Dan), Denise Laiosa (3 dan), Dana Sheets (3 Dan)
13. Ryukyu Kobudo - Maezato No Tekko - the Ryukyuan Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai. The Tekko are a traditional weapon that is fashioned after a stirrup. One Tekko is held in each hand. This is a professional kubdo demonstration team. So they were a real treat to watch.
14. Ryukyo Kobudo - 1) Nicho Sai (Kata and Training). The women performed the sai kata as a group, and then some of the women stepped out, another woman stepped forward with a bow and proceeded to attack the women during the kata with the bo. If the women were in the proper form, the sai deflected the bo. If they weren't, they got hit. 2) Choun No Kon (I don't remember what this was...I'll have to go watch the tape)
15. Ryukuan Classical Dance <<Hatomabushi>> - Nakada Yaeko Ryukuan Dnace School -- Another regal and beautiful performance of tradition Okinawan dancing.
16. Karate - Passai Kata - performed by the Ryukyu Kobudo Ryukon Kai
17. Master Instructor's Special Demonstration 1) Seisan - by Teresa McClary (5 Dan) 2) Ryuko by Katsuko Machida (5 Dan) {The kata Ryuko is new kata developed by the Okikukai} 3) Sanseiryu - by Peggy Hess (6th Dan)
18. Kachashi - Guests and Participants. Kachashi is the dance everyone body does together at the end of a festival or party. We all got to get out on stage one more time and dance together. The marine women event got permission to come out in uniform and dance with us. It was just an absolutely wonderful feeling to be onstage with so many women from all around the world who share in the comraderie and partnership of training in the martial arts.
19. Closing Address - Katsuko Machida (5 Dan)
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I can't even begin to describe how much fun we had that day. We were so near the end of our journey, we had all spent so many hours together in training and travel and fun, we were still meeting new people and making new friends and we had the support of the local community. I will carry these memories in my heart for my lifetime - and I'm just thrilled to have been able to share this experience with so many other incredible women.
Thank you to Peggy for making it happen. Thank you to Steve who did so much and asked for nothing in return. Thank you to all the women who had the courage to sign up and come. Thank you to the teachers of Uechi, who taught us all as if we were your own students. Thank you to the people of Okinawa who welcomed us with open arms and open hearts. Thank you to everyone who supported us on this journey by giving your work, your time, your ideas, your fiscal support, your good thoughts and good wishes for our journey.
Thank you all from the very bottom of my heart.