Striking Post – March/April 2017

S T R I K I N G   P O S T   –  March/April

 

This August 2017, the Soke Cup will be held in Kumamoto Japan. It is comprised of both kata and kumite competitions. This tournament is regarded as the World Championships of Chito-Ryu, with the best athletes from around the globe vying for top honors. This tournament, however, is much more than merely a high level competition. The atmosphere is more like that of a family reunion: the Chito-Ryu family. Participants will have the opportunity to re-connect with old friends and will make new and lasting friendships with Chito-Ryu karate-kas from all over the world.

It truly is a special event unlike any other you may have attended elsewhere. It is a celebration of our Chito-Ryu heritage passed on from O`Sensei Tsuyoshi Chitose. Spectacular demonstrations will illustrate the wealth of knowledge and high degree of skill which can be attained by students of this great art.

Soke Sensei is inviting us all to come together to celebrate our Chito-Ryu. Our colorful past, our purposeful present and indeed our promising future. It is important for us to show our support for Soke Sensei, who has not had an easy time these last few years. If you have never attended a Soke Cup, you need to put this high on your list of things to do and I promise you, you will never regret it. In the end, it is not about who won medals during the competition. If you participate, on any level, be it as a competitor, official, coach, organizer, or even spectator, you are a winner and you may be counted as a valued member of the international Chito-Ryu family.

I hope I get to see many of you this year in Kumamoto.

Domo Arigato,

Milton Bourque