‘A big deal’
Local karate students meet Grand Master from Japan
College students from the Yuma area had the opportunity to meet dignitaries from Okinawa, Japan, on Friday morning as part of a karate conference at Arizona Western College.
Students of the martial art attended a three-day conference featuring Isao Kise, a 10th-degree black belt and director of the All Okinawan Shorin Ryu Kenshin Kan Karate and Kobudo Federation.
Kise led the conference along with his translator Sonomi Atsuzawa-Windley.
Officials with AWC said Kise teaches traditional karate, sport karate, and sport kumite as well as full contact karate. He is also a senior judge for tournaments throughout the Island of Okinawa and is also the All Okinawan Kata, Kobudo and Kumite Grand Champion.
Francisco “Taco” Aguilar, director of Yuma Shorin Ryu Karate and instructor of the discipline at AWC, noted that Kise is the son of retired Grand Master Fusei Kise.
“He is here to make sure that we are looking the same — kata (patterns of movements), weapons — that we are all following his rules and guidance,” Aguilar said.
He added that directors of the discipline attended the conference from Texas, Colorado, and Minnesota. Aguilar says that he himself is the offshore karate director.
“It’s history for our federation,” Aguilar said. “He (Kise) just got promoted last month to 10th degree and took over the whole world federation for our style. He is the number one man, and to have him here in Yuma — the first time visiting America as a 10th Dan Grand Master — is an honor and privilege. It’s even greater for me, because I work here.”
Aguilar said 10 conference participants are Yuma students. He added that he hopes his students take away from the experience a deeper knowledge of the training.
“I want them to understand where our teaching comes from, how we teach and why we do it a certain way,” he said. “I want them to understand that this is a big family. It’s not just here in the U.S. but worldwide.”
The conference also included youth students on Sunday. Aguilar says the discipline can be taught to those who come from all walks of life.
Jane Peabody, coordinator of physical and wellness education at AWC and one of the karate conference event organizers, said meeting a Grand Master such as Kise is not a common occurrence.
“It just doesn’t happen when you practice martial arts here in the United States,” she noted. “I was practicing martial arts and I never got to see my Grand Master. To be able to see the person that is in charge of your art, it’s a big deal. I am really excited and honored that he decided to come to Yuma.”
College officials noted the conference took place before the start of AWC’s 8-week karate classes, which begin Monday, Oct. 15. According to an AWC news release, the courses focus on the basic skills associated with the discipline of karate, with an emphasis on physical conditioning, mental discipline and self-awareness.