Yasuda Tetsunosuke ~ Hanshi 10th Dan

If you happen to meet him at the corner of a street, Mr. Yasuda Tetsunosuke will remind you of a gentleman of old time Okinawa. In the post war Okinawa, he worked on US military facilities before opening his own real estate company named Yasuda Jutaku Co., Ltd that he still runs today. While at a first sight you might not notice it, the life of CEO Yasuda was supported by karate and yoga.

Born in 1926, Yasuda sensei became a student of Miyazato Eichi sensei, a direct student of the founder of Goju-ryu, Miyagi Chojun sensei. As he explains, "The reason why I chose Goju-ryu is because this school had the breathing kata Sanchin and Tensho. This is because I studied the way of breathing through Yoga."

Having encountered psychology at university, Yasuda sensei has always lived a life where severe karate training and Bushido way of thinking are like the two wheels of a bicycle.

Yasuda sensei truly believes that "It is important to face oneself in an honest way. Unfortunately, in the case of many karate people, they are focusing on the outside aspects of karate. That is why when I look at martial arts today, I can not stop thinking that it has gotten out the way of Budo. Ideally, if one practices karate thinking of it as a way to build himself, he will find his Ikigai, his purpose in life". He goes on saying that "Human beings should follow the principles of the Kamikaze units, living as if today was the last day of their life. This concept should prevail for life but also in karate and never be forgotten."

To the question what is the most important thing in karate, Yasuda sensei answers frankly, "Tanden no kyoka and Kiso tanren, respectively the strengthening of the tanden and basic training. I can't conceive that an animal could do something but a man could not!" And at 87, Yasuda sensei, the Saiko Komon or supreme advisor of the Jundokan Sohombu, doesn't only speak about theory but also applies it. Grabbing a 20 kg weight and holding it behind his head, he executes easily some 30 sit-ups. And when finished, he goes back to instructing with a healthy smile on his face...

Interview Conducted by Okinawa Karate News: http://okinawakaratenews.com/eng/hanshi.php#h1

First Impressions of the Jundokan

When you think about the idea of training at the Jundokan Honbu-Dojo in Naha, Okinawa, the birthplace of Goju Ryu Karate, thoughts of brutal conditioning, hours of solid press-ups, and a code of conduct so strict that one false move will have you kicked out, may come to mind. But, in reality, that’s not the case at all. In fact, it couldn’t be further from the truth.

My first trip to Okinawa in October of 2008 started with unsurprising feelings of anxiety towards such prestigious training at a place as historic and world-renowned as the Jundokan. Of course, I too thought along the same lines as those mentioned above; training with the masters of the art- it had to be tough! However, after just one night's worth of training at the Jundokan dojo, I quickly realised I was wrong to feel that way. In fact, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Contrary to popular western ideology, the teaching style at the Jundokan Dojo is not about beating one another until you feel no more pain. Don’t get me wrong, training is serious and requires 100% of your effort and concentration, but those teaching at the Jundokan are accommodating, teaching age-old techniques and ideologies in a manner which is specific to you. A sense of “equality” is created, one sensei even stating to me that it is best to train as “brothers, rather than as teacher and student” (Hisao Sunagawa, 2012). It is a combination of these factors that make the Jundokan Dojo unique like no other.

Upon returning to the Jundokan now in July of 2012, I have quickly come to realise that things have not changed in the slightest. All of those teaching here are exceptionally friendly and welcoming, one sensei having even invited me out for the day where he bought me a drink afterwards. And of course, training itself is no different. One night saw us working over kata and at a stage where my technique differed to those of others around me, a discussion closely ensured. Within long, we were told that in fact I was not wrong, and that the technique could be done both ways depending on the bunkai. Such an accommodating style of teaching is what makes the Jundokan unique; always open to the opinions of others, always looking to learn more from others around them. The idea that “this is the one way to do it- your way is wrong”, simply does not exist, but rather, the concept of accommodation and equality prevails.

Okinawa is a great country, and Naha is a beautiful city filled with interesting and unique things to do during the day, and world-class karate to train in at night. The Jundokan Honbu-Dojo is remarkable place where just one night’s training can change your entire perspective on Karate itself. It is a place that unites people from all across the globe for one single purpose: to train in the traditional art of Goju Ryu Karate-Do. There aren’t many places in the world where you can train with the current masters of Goju Ryu as equals, but the Jundokan strives for just that. There really is nothing else like it, and no better way to learn the art of Goju Ryu.

Blake Turnbull

July 2012, Naha, Okinawa.