MUGEN KARATEINTERNATIONAL BLOG

Charity Tournament

2012-02-27T12:10:00.000+09:00

There were many fantastic moments at the Mugen Kai Charity Tournament last weekend.

The kids again stole the show with all the effort they put in. There also were some great moments in the adult's matches. Lots of laughter and tears as well and everyone had such a wonderful time.

The money raised for event goes to Fukushima earthquake victims via the Action for Nippon charity. True recovery can never be made with such a terrible disaster there but we can always continue to give and support those who lost so much.

Thank you to Yamaguchi-sensei, The Mugen Ryu Staff and Shidax for putting on another wonderful and generous event.

All photos -> http://www.flickr.com/photos/21096624@N06/sets/72157629098318534/

Wayne.

Angelo

2012-01-29T21:11:00.000+09:00

Sunday practices are turning into something very special. We have all groups taking lessons in one day now. First with kids class, then with lady's class then to finish with regular open class. People get to meet each other between classes and you can really feel the strong sense of companionship between all the students.

Today was the first time Angelo to assist in the kids class. He will eventually go back to New York in a year's time and would like himself to teach karate to kids. Angelo was very popular today with the young ones working with Yamaguchi-sensei. I am sure he will be a fantastic instructor and I wish him all the best in his future as a Mugen Ryu Sensei.

Wayne.

Light Sunday

2012-01-22T23:07:00.000+09:00

There was a large turn out for Sunday's class today at the Azubu Juban Dojo.
It was a really fantastic practice session packed full of energy, excitement and of course safety. It must be the start for the new year with everyone wanting to work hard and get their skills up.

Yamaguchi-sensei mentioned that at the next tournament that it will be a charity event for 3/11 earthquake victims and also that there will be some interesting prizes for the tournament winners. Win or lose, I look forward to that.

Hope to see you all at the next practice!

Wayne.

Final Challenge 2011

2011-12-18T20:22:00.000+09:00

Today was the last of the Mugen Grading Tests for this year. It really was a very intense and emotional time for everyone. Today's black belt challenge was Nozawa-san. He fought extremely well in all his 10 rounds with the line up he was up against. Also today we saw many white belt challenges, though showing their nerves, they all did so well especially in the 'Kihon' I must say.

Anounced today was assignment Hotta-san who will join Mugen Ryu Karate as staff and also with the anouncement from Ken Shida that Shidax will be involved heavily in promoting kids karate with advisory input from Yamaguchi-sensei. This is wonderful news and I look forward to the advancements of Mugen Ryu Karate to the youth of Japan.

Congratulations to all challengers today and thank you so much again to Yamaguchi-sensei for helping us all realize that anything is possible so long as you believe in yourself and are showered with support from your fellow friends and family.

Wayne.

Sweat and Tears

2011-11-27T22:36:00.000+09:00

Today's tournament was surely something to remember for a long time. I have never felt so much emotion and I have never seen so many people cry, it truly was a great day for everyone. Win or lose, it didn't matter. All that mattered was the amount of effort and support everyone gave. There was so much of these two things, it really made the event such a special one.

Congratulations to Miku-chan and Naoka-chan for receiving their black belts today. Both of them really fought so well and deserved it.

Congratulations to all the other kids and adults who won their events. There was so much team effort and friendship building today it really proved that these kind of events are not just about winning. It's about bonding and it's about support for each other efforts and goals.

Thank you to Shidax president Ken Shida and Shidax staff for providing the location and supporting the event . Also thank you to all the helpers and judges for making sure everything went smoothly. And last but not least thank you to Yamaguchi-sensei for organising and producing yet again another wonderful tournament.

Wayne.

Rain or shine

2011-11-19T22:55:00.000+09:00

It was great to see all the kids class at the Azabu Juban dojo on Friday and Saturday. Though it was raining heavily all day on Saturday so many students came to practice and probably for a good reason.

Coming next weekend (Nov 27th) is the next Mugen Kai Karate Tournament in Shidax Hall. This time it will be team competition and these types of tournaments are always the most enjoyable as there is always lots of laughter and great moments.

Always emotional

2011-11-13T07:39:00.000+09:00

It was amazing to be at the Azabu Juban/Hiroo kids grading test today. Grading tests are always emotional and thrilling to see. No one is trying to be better than anyone else but themselves. It truly is a self test, to know just how much you can achieve if you have the motivation, the spirit and the support from everyone around you. Those who were there will understand what I am saying. I will leave the photos I took to describe all that is needed.

Wayne.

All photos -> http://www.flickr.com/photos/59151236@N03/sets/72157628110748024/

Azabu-Juban/Hiroo Kids Grading

2011-11-07T08:28:00.000+09:00

This coming Saturday will be the next Azabu Juban/Hiroo Kids Grading test. As always, we will see a lot of effort and support from all students and parents. It's great to have something to work for and it seems to get most out of the kids. Once they decide they want something so badly they will try so hard to get it. Not sure why but I think kids can be more determined than adults. As parents you probably know what I am referring to. Kids will put so much effort into getting what they want, and they will do almost anything to get it. We as adults can learn from this trait, as often we give up too soon or not even try when faced with challenges.

Anyway, I hope to see you all there this Saturday at the Azabu Juban Dojo to cheer on for the kids.

Location: Azabu Juban Dojo
Date: November 12th
Time: 16:00 - 18:00

New Kids on the Block

2011-10-22T20:23:00.000+09:00

There were many kids today at the Azabu Juban branch for practice. Today, it was Taka-Sensei teaching the class with Mai-sensei assisting. It was so good to see so all of them trying hard and helping each other out. I notice there are so many new kids members and especially brother and sister teams. Such a wonderful thing to see a many family members and that just shows how much influence Mugen Kai has on that aspect. As with any family, we support each other as much as we can no matter how much sacrifice it takes. We put family members first at all costs. With Mugen Kai it is so similar, we always focus on putting our colleagues first, helping them improve and provide motivation. Support and care is everything and that is why I love the most about being apart of this community.

I will definitely take more 'brother & sister' pictures from now on. For today's class, I managed to get a nice photo of Jason and his younger sister, Nicole as the feature photo. They both are really enjoying themselves at practice and I am sure there is a lot of talk at home regarding Karate since their mom also has recently become a member!

Wayne.

[Other random photos]

4th Mugen Karate Exhibition - The trying aspect

2011-10-11T08:06:00.000+09:00

I have to say from all the Mugen Karate exhibitions that I have been to, this one has to be the most exciting and thrilling one so far. There were so many wonderful performances from all ages and levels. I am sure it made all parents and friends very proud and I am sure it would be something to talked about for a long time ahead.

There were a lot of great moment during this day, but for me, the one that moved me the most was the pure trying aspect. People not being able to break planks of wood the first time, then seeing them trying and trying over and over again with all the loud support from everyone was the most touching thing. It really shows how strong the community is in helping and supporting each other. No matter where you come from, how old you are, or even how unskilled you think you are, the strongest aspect of it all is the support and friendship you get from this small yet caring community.

I want to say thank you as always to Yamaguchi-sensei for organizing a memorable day for all of us. Thank you to Shidax for sponsoring the whole event and also thank you all the helpers to made it just that much more special.

Wayne

2011 Mugen-Kai Karate Exhibition

2011-09-30T23:43:00.000+09:00

Coming October 10th will be the 2011 Mugen Karate Exhibition held in Nippon-seinenkan. It is wonderful participating in these no competitive events. Everyone practices so hard together and with that they learn so much, probably more than they realize. This time round we will see some new really interesting performance with adults and kids performing kata, kihon, board breaking, nunchaku and other exciting performances. It is great to see both adults and kids getting together to work as a team. There is so much support and bonding happening, you really do appreciate the open hearted spirit that Mugen-kai creates, I am definitely proud to be apart of it.

Good luck to everyone participating this year. I am sure it is going to be another successful event with breath taking and emotional performances, but above all it will be another warm and wonderful gathering of friends and family.

Wayne.

2011 Mugen-Kai Karate Exhibtion Details:

Date:                    October 10th
Time:                   12:00 - 15:00
                            (Doors open from 10:00am - please be as early as
                             possible to be ready)
Location:              Nippon-seinenkan
Address:              Kasumigaoka Machi 7-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Map/Directions:    http://www.nippon-seinenkan.or.jp/hotel/languages/english/access/access.htm

Training Camp

2011-09-19T00:18:00.001+09:00

The Mugen Kai Karate training camp this time was something really special. Gathered were kids and adults staying over to train and enjoy the facilities at the Naka Izu Winery training grounds provided by Shidax Corporation. It was really wonderful to be able to be with all the kids this time. So much communication and friendships were built during this weekend. We practiced together, ate together and stayed overnight together. The kids had the wonderful chance to spar with the adults and they all did so well. I am sure they have now fond memories of the times they had with the adults and I am sure the same can be said about the adults.

I'd like to thank again Yamaguchi-sensei for organizing another sucessful traing camp. I am sure it was not easy to be teaching both kids and adults over this time. Thank you to Ken Shida and Shidax for allowing all of us to be able to use the spacious and beautiful facilities. Also thank you to Taka-sensei and Mai-sensei for assisting. We all look forward to the next training camp and know for sure that it will be yet another success.

Wayne.

End of Summer

2011-09-10T20:00:00.000+09:00

Though it is the end of Summer, we see a large return of many foreign kids and new foreign members to Mugen Karate. Today it was very noticeable with the number of students coming back after their summer holidays in their own home countries. It was wonderful to see them all come together to play and practice with the local kids. It really doesn't matter what language you speak, people when opened up can communicate so well in manner and behavior. This is why I like karate, we learn to communicate in any way possible and we learn to respect each others cultures and upbringing.

Wayne.

Ready for Nunchachu?

2011-09-04T17:24:00.000+09:00

It was a good practice today at the Azubu Juban dojo. At the lady's class from 11 - 12 we had 2 new joiners whose kids are already members. It is great to see more family members join up. With parents and kids having more in comon, I am sure life at home will become a lot more interesting.

The 12 - 1pm beginners and kids class was full of 'kihon' and 'kata' and that was fantastic. We all need to improve our basic form and movements to be more skilled in karate. There is always so much to learn which makes karate a really enjoyable and fullfilling thing to do.

From 1pm - 2:15pm we had the regular class and many people turned up for that. Again focus was on kihon and some sparing towards the end. We were also very luck enough to have Yamaguchi-sensei demonstrate to us the use of Nunckaku and its kata. Comparing it to what you see on the movies and how you would really use it in karate - very interesting.

For the training camp coming up on Sept 17th / 18th we will also have nunchaku lessons so for those who are going please make sure to order your own set.

Training Camp in Naka-Izu (Sept 17th - 18th)

2011-08-26T22:59:00.000+09:00

Greetings all.

Coming September 17th - 18th will be the next Mugen Karate training camp in Naka-Izu sponsored by Shidax. This time there will be both kids and adults training so it really will be a fun and exciting gathering. Please make sure to confirm by mail ( mugenkarate@gmail.com ) to that you will be coming before the end of August as that is the closing time for reservations. It will cost only 12,000 yen for adults and 10,000 yen for kids. This includes the night's stay in the beautiful Winery hotel and also includes a superb dinner and breakfast at the winery restaurant. Trust me, the food is really really good. There will be many other activities but you can also enjoy the hot spring baths the open spaces that surround the complex. Transportation is not covered in the price however if you need help getting there then that could be arranged after confirming your attendance.

More details will be provided after people have confirmed so do try to put your name down and come along. The last camp in Naka-izu was a lot of fun both Japanese and foreign students. I'm really looking forward to the excellent training, great food and most importantly, getting to know people a lot better.

Wayne.

More details on Naka-Izu Winery Hills here -> http://www.shidax.co.jp/winery/

Obon Holiday

2011-08-11T23:52:00.000+09:00

Congratulations to all who tried out on the grading last sunday at the Kuramae Dojo. Though I could not be there, I heard it went very well. Well I could tell from the classes this week that everyone had improved, especially all the hard working white belt students. Gradings are so important as they help push us hard enough to get to another level within ourselves. Without them there would be less improvement and gratification.

In regards to summer holiday break (Obon), there will be no practices from August 12th (Friday) until August 17th (Wednesday). So the first lessons will start up from August 18th (Thursday).

To Yamaguchi-sensei, Taka-sensei, and Mai-sensei, please take it nice and slow over the summer break. I have enjoyable time off since you all work so hard to help us all out. We look forward seeing you all at the next class so take good care.

Wayne.

Next Level

2011-07-20T22:17:00.000+09:00

Come August 7th will be the next Mugen Kai Karate Grading day for adults at the Kuramae Dojo. Though gradings are held 3 times a year, they do seem to come around very quickly. It is a must of to have such events as it gives us the motivation and encouragement to do better. I have noticed the training is a lot harder now that the grading coming up. It's really good to experience this as you definitely get a lot fitter and acquire more skills. We all need to set outselves goals and this is definitely one I can appreciate.

Hope to see you all in the dojo and to practice hard together!

5th Anniversary Tournament - Great success

2011-06-28T22:53:00.001+09:00

Yet again it was another success tournament! Everyone had a great time with lots of action and no injuries. It was a nice mix between the kids matches and the adults. So wonderful to see all the support coming from kids, parents and students. The party at the end was also excellent with great service from Shidax and also we were very lucky to see the 5th anniversary video documentary of Mugen kai. That was extremely well made! Congratulations to all the winners for doing so well. And of course thank you to Yamaguchi-sensei, to the mugen helpers, and Shidax for putting on another great event.

All photo's here -> http://www.flickr.com/photos/59151236@N03/sets/72157627073698696/

Tournament Weekend!

2011-06-20T23:12:00.000+09:00

This coming Sunday (June 26th) at Shidax Hall in Shibuya will be another exciting and fun filled Mugen Karate Tournament. I love hearing all the loud cheering and all seeing wonderful support everyone has for each other.

The hall opens from 10:15 am (event to start 10:45 am) so please don't forget to come as early as possible to be changed and ready.

Also don't forget the party which starts from 3:30 pm. We have a lot of people attending that so I'm looking forward to seeing every one and celebrating Mugen Karate's 5th anniversary!

Access Map -> http://www.shidax.co.jp/ssv/hall/hall_access.html

Another super Sunday

2011-06-05T22:10:00.000+09:00

It was another great Sunday class at the Azabu Juban dojo.

Very busy for all staff as there was the Lady's class lead by Mai-sensei, the Parent/Kids Karate class lead by Yamaguchi-sensei and the regular class also lead by Yamaguchi-sensei.

We had Jason and his father Keith try out at the Parents/Kids karate and that was great fun. Keith said it was so much fun to be able to practice with his son and hopes to be able to do it again. In the adults class, we had many students come to practice. Also that was extremely good and everyone worked hard to improve on their skills.

Please don't forget on June 26th we have the Mugen Karate Tournament held at Shidax hall in Shibuya. Applications for that will end on June 12th so please make sure to get your name down before that time. There will be a party at the end for all members and family's so please do try to make it for that.

Busy Weekend

2011-05-29T18:30:00.000+09:00

On May 28th (Sat) we had the Kuramae kids grading which saw also some students trying out for their black belts. Yamaguchi-sensei and Taka-sensei were at Kuramae dojo for that while Mai-sensei was at the Azabu Juban branch teaching the kids there. All teachers were very busy this weekend - Otsukare sama deshita!
Pictures from Mai-sensei's class.

Mai-sensei (Leading Kihon)

Mai-sensei (More Kihon)

Sophia-chan (One handed cart wheel)

Akira-kun (Meditation practice)

Kids Grading (Azabu Juban) - May 21

2011-05-22T21:05:00.000+09:00

The Mugen Karate kids grading was held at the Azabu Juban dojo on Saturday May 21st.
First grading was with the youngest group of kids "Yonen class".
It was great to hear all the little ones yell aloud when doing the Kihon and when sparing.
The level of support they gave each other was fantastic.

As for the regular kids class "Shonen class", you could see how everyone improved so much since the last test. All kids were very focussed and did so well, especially the all girls.
So many of them could kick so high and tried so many different techniques it was great to see!

Kids Grading soon to come

2011-05-15T01:46:00.001+09:00

It has been while since taking photos of regular kids class. Today at the Azabu Juban dojo many came to practice and practice hard they did. Yamaguchi-sensei reminded everyone of the grading which will be held at Azabu Juban next Saturday (May 21st) and got all the kids working hard to prepare for that day. All did well today and we look forward to providing support for everyone to be tested next weekend. Good luck to everyone!

Action for Nippon Charity Event Yoyogi Park

2011-05-03T19:03:00.002+09:00

It was such a wonderful day. Thank you to everyone who came and helped, especially all the children.

All photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59151236@N03/sets/72157626512817929/

Grading Day (Kuramae Dojo) - more photos

2011-05-01T16:10:00.000+09:00

Some more photos from the grading event at the Kuramae Dojo on April 24th.

Congratulations to everyone who passed.

Grading Day (Kuramae Dojo)

2011-04-24T23:21:00.000+09:00

The 2011 Spring Grading was held at the Kuramae dojo. It was great to see everyone and be amoungst all the cheering. So much of this is about trying your best and supporting everyone around you. It makes a huge difference when everyone is behind you. Good to see many international members also today all trying their best and all enjoying themselves. I congratulate all the students who were tested for their black belts today. It's always a very emotional time to see people reach a wonderful milestone. As Yamaguchi-sensei always says, this is a wonderful journey you take and it never ends. With the support of all your family and friends , you just keep moving forward and look ahead to find what you are looking for.

Wayne.

Fight For Japan

2011-04-17T22:37:00.000+09:00

With so many families and friends who came to show their support for the orphans of Fukushima, it really was a truly special moment.

Thank you to Yamaguchi-sensei who gave a great introduction lesson to all the adults and children. To be able to practice and communicate so closely made it a really enjoyable time.

Thank you to Shida Shacho (Shidax) who came to open the event with a very emotional and supportive speech.

Thank you everyone for coming and contributing in today's charity karate event. You make a difference so please keep fighting for Japan!

Wayne

"Fight for Japan" - Charity Karate Event (April 17th)

2011-04-16T00:27:00.000+09:00

Don't forget this Sunday from 15:00 we will hold the Fight for Japan Charity event in the Azabu Juban branch. All are welcome so please do not hesitate to even just come and donate. We hope to raise money help support the children who lost their parents. Please come and please give. We all need to take action.

Wayne.

Hurts more not trying

2011-04-14T00:00:00.001+09:00

For the first time I started speaking English in the Dojo. It's quite an odd feeling to be speaking my native language there when for the past one and a half years I have been using only Japanese. Others are taken off guard by it but I think it's really needed. We need to adapt in our lives to all challenges and becoming complacent with anything is just taking the easy road. So next time I see you at practice don't be scared to try out a few English moves on me. It will hurt more not trying..

Wayne.

[Fight For Japan - Charity Karate Event]

Don't forget this Sunday (April 17th from 15:00) is the Mugen Charity Karate event at the Azabu Juban branch. Please try to join the event which is open to both students and non students. Donations of 1000 yen or more will go to the poor children who lost their parents after the mass destruction in Fukushima. Please come, please give.

"Fight for Japan" - Charity Karate Event

2011-04-08T23:53:00.000+09:00

On April 17th, from 15:00, Mugen Kai Karate (Azabu Juban Branch) will hold a charity karate class for anyone who wants to come.

It will be centered around karate for first timers so can learn the basic techniques and get a good safe work out.

All donations will to go to orphans of Fukushima.

A minimum of 1000 yen is desired but of course would be much appreciated.

We hope you can attend and bringing your family and friends (kids extremely welcome).

Sensei Yamaguchi and Mae-sensei will be teaching so expect to have a really enjoyable time.

To ensure your attendance please mail mugen.international@gmail.com or call Mugen Karate 03-5856-5575.
I look forward to seeing you there to help fight for the children of Fukushima.

Wayne.

Mr Mio

2011-03-31T00:24:00.001+09:00

It was great to see a good friend start yet another journey. Such an emotional moment to see someone tackle all his opponents and challenges to get to his goal. As with all the problems in Japan now, we need to fight to survive and fight to protect. For a student, the road to black belt is one road that is never an easy one but we decide our destiny whether you like it or not. Such is life, we walk down the road we choose to walk. We decide how steep it should be and accept all the hurdles that in come in our way. One thing we must remember is not to give in to weaknesss as for that we lose to ourselves. Human beings are all fighters by nature. We fight to survive and we fight to protect. I congratulate Miochi for fighting so hard and for showing how strong we as human can be when it really is needed.

Color of Kuramae

2011-03-27T02:21:00.001+09:00

I was very fortunate to join Yamaguchi-sensei to attend the Thursday practice at the Kuramae Dojo. To be surrounded by so many skilled students made me feel such a beginner and it was good. There is so much we need to learn to be phsyically and mentally stronger. To practice with so many people at that level definitely helps to improve your own ability. All I can say is I will be going back to that dojo to learn and enjoy the great friendship.

Wayne.

Disaster Message

2011-03-13T16:59:00.000+09:00

This is a time where we all need to strong and work together. There are so many people who may need our assistance. We have to give where we can give and comfort when we can comfort. I know the Mugen community is such a giving and supportive community. Please do whatever you can do to help those that are in need. We are all strong fighters and now is the time for us to fight the hardest. Please do the obvious by donating money, not wasting power and asking others if they need help. Please be at anyone's assistance when needed. The real work starts from now but I am sure we can pull through this if we work together. Please reach out and do whatever you can as every little effort can count so much.

For those who do need help please contact Yamaguchi-sensei directly so we can try to organize assistance as soon as possible. We will also be able to provide support for non-Japanese speaking members so please just contact Mugen Karate on the main number 03-5856-5575 anytime.

Take care and give care,

Wayne.

Gedan Barai

2011-03-08T00:31:00.000+09:00

I like this one a lot. Gedan Barai translates to 'low level block'. It looks easy to perform but believe me, form and application of this defensive move is difficult. I think the kids like doing this one a lot . They seem to hold their stance well when doing it and you can see it in their faces. So serious and so much effort into control. Not easy for even the adults, the angle of the lower arm is very important, as with the drawn back attacking arm. That with being well balanced on your feet make this defensive move something very challenging. Make sure to watch Yamaguchi-sensei or Taka-sensei carefully when this block is performed. It is a very beautiful and classic karate manuever, something I definitely will be practicing hard on in the next class.

Wayne.

Are you on the ball?

2011-03-06T09:49:00.000+09:00

I will start with this classic expression. 'On the ball' means alert, in control, effective. Mugen kids love to warm up with the work out ball before practice starts. They use it for balance and control. As when doing karate, so much has to do with control and balance. Very similar in the adults class, we do 'the balance game' whereby we stand on the balls of our feet to then see if we can knock over our opponents by pushing them with out hands. Balance & Control is such an important aspect of Karate. Especially for the Mugen style, it is probably more important than being physically stronger and more powerful.

We all win...

2011-02-27T23:41:00.001+09:00

It was yet another spectacular Mugen Tournament. This time at the Shidax hall with such a large space it made the event just more exciting. Again there were many great moments. What I loved the most was seeing the kids trying so hard and working as a team. Same for the adults, such comradery, support and laughter, it really made such a wonderful day for competitors and spectators.

My top moments:
- Hearing Adeta say to his mother "I lost but got 4 points!"
- Mateo saying "I will try harder next time. I will join my dad in Sunday's class for the second hour training".
- Seeing Taka-sensei's inspirational smile when leading the shonen class Kihon.
- Watching Angelo compete in such gentleman fashion.
- To see Yamaguchi-sensei judge all matches hopping on his broken foot!

Thank you Yamaguchi-sensei again for organizing yet another wonderful event.
Everyone tried so hard today, to me we all leave as winners.

Wayne

Next - The Tournament

2011-02-18T22:50:00.004+09:00

One big thing that makes Mugen Tournaments so special is the mix of adult and kids matches all happening at once. It's a wonderful gathering of friends and family filled full of cheering and laughter. Yamaguchi-sensei does such a good job of building a safe and fun environment for us that we all can feel comfortable and try our best. For me the best moments are to watching the kids matches and seeing all of them try so hard. It is such an emotional time, you not only see competitors cry but also supporters. The special awards part is also something very touching to watch. To see someone being recognized for trying their hardest is something that makes me proud to be a Mugen-kai member.

Hope to see you all at the next Mugen Tournament at the Shidax hall in Shibuya on February 27th. This is something I definitely will not be missing.

Wayne.

Map to Shidax Hall -> http://www.shidax.co.jp/ssv/access.html

2011 Mugen Karate Events

Feb 27 - Team event tournament

Mar 26/27 - Mugen-kai Kids Training camp
April 24 - Grading day (Kuramae )
May 21 - Kids Grading day (Hiroo & Azabu-Juban)
Jun 26 - Mugen Tournament and Mugen's 5th year Aniversary party
July 9/10 - Mugen-kai Kids Training Camp
Aug 7 - Adult's Grading day (Kuramae)
Sep 17/18 - Mugen-kai Kids Training camp
Oct 10 - Mugen-kai Exihibition
Nov 5 - Kids Grading (Kuramae & Akihabara)
Nov 12 - Kids Grading day (Azabu-Juban & Hiroo)
Nov 27 - Mugen-kai Tournament
Dec 18 - Adults Grading day (Azabu-juban)

Hiroo Dojo

2011-02-10T23:16:00.000+09:00

My first visit to the Hiroo dojo and I have to say though it is totally different in look from the Azubu Juban Dojo, the vibe is exactly the same. It was a nice practice to observe and take photos. We had a nice mix of married couples and many women wearing black belts! A very safe class and lots of fun let yet again by Yamaguchi-sensei. Hiroo is a very nice place. I will definitely be back again and hope to practice with every one soon.

Wayne.

Total Control

2011-02-09T23:25:00.000+09:00

I did not realize Pilates was about strengthening the mind and body with exercises from the core. It seems very similar to Karate. Today at the Hiro Dojo, I had the pleasure of watching Valerie and Yamaguchi-sensei practice on some very structured movements. I definitely would like to try this out soon. Total concentration, total control and total fitness indeed.

Feb 5th - Change/No Change

2011-02-05T23:42:00.000+09:00

It's been a while since taking photo's of the Juban kid's class. I notice a lot of changes and some things not changing. Lots of changes - we the level of of the kid's ability to focus and control their skills. No change - the kids still love having their photos taken! In today's class Yamaguchi-sensei (with new haircut) took on the kids in the breaks to see if they could pull him down with judo style moves. The kids loved that and it tired the sensei down for sure as I notice a lot of sweat in the breaks! Anyway today's class was lot of fun and I managed to capture some killer moments.

Wayne.

All photos -> http://www.flickr.com/photos/59151236@N03/sets/72157625981424482/

Taka-san

2011-01-29T14:53:00.007+09:00

This week saw the awarding of black belt to Taka-san and it was my pleasure to have been there capture this special moment. It was definitely a big day for Mugenkai. To see this man work so hard and to get to this level, no one deserves it more. Taka-san is an extremely very hard working staff member of Mugen kai. Though I have know him but only a short time but I can most definitely say, he is a great teacher, a great student and a fantastic fighting partner. Congratulations!

Team Shida-juku

2011-01-26T19:42:00.002+09:00

I managed to get time to go and shoot the Shida-juku class on Tuesday nights and lucky for me it was the day for students to get their new belts. It was a great to experience this night. The Shida-juku team work hard and play hard. You could feel the fighting spirit within all members and with the whole team. I said to Yamaguchi-sensei that night it doesn't matter now young or old you are, the true spirit of fighting lives within you forever until you die. You can truly see why these men are successful in and outside the dojo!

No classes Jan 22 (Sat) / 23 (Sun)

2011-01-21T22:17:00.000+09:00

Due to the Mugen Training camp in Naka-Izu on Jan 22 and Jan 23, there will be no regular classes held in any of the Mugen branches. For those coming to the training camp please make sure to be on the premise before 3pm. There are many planned activities so it should be an enjoyable time for all.

2011 Mugen Karate Events

Jan 22/23 - Mugen kai Training camp (Naka-Izu)

Feb 27 - Team event tournament
Mar 26/27 - Mugen-kai Kids Training camp
April 24 - Grading day (Kuramae )
May 21 - Kids Grading day (Hiroo & Azabu-Juban)
Jun 26 - Mugen Tournament and Mugen's 5th year Aniversary party
July 9/10 - Mugen-kai Kids Training Camp
Aug 7 - Adult's Grading day (Kuramae)
Sep 17/18 - Mugen-kai Kids Training camp
Oct 10 - Mugen-kai Exihibition
Nov 5 - Kids Grading (Kuramae & Akihabara)
Nov 12 - Kids Grading day (Azabu-Juban & Hiroo)
Nov 27 - Mugen-kai Tournament
Dec 18 - Adults Grading day (Azabu-juban)

Jan 14 - A real photographer

2011-01-15T21:06:00.004+09:00

For Friday's kids class we had the pleasure of having a real photographer for a magazine called 'Sesame'. I think this is the kids fashion magazine affiliated with Asahi publications but we will find out at a later date. With almost 30 kids turning up for practice this time, I am sure we will have great photos for the Mugen Karate coverage in the magazine. It was a very hot session and reminded me of summer training. No complaints, better hot than cold anytime of the year especially when training!

2011 Mugen Karate Events

Jan１6 - Woman Free Trial Lesson 12-1pm（Azabu Juban)

Jan 22/23 - Mugen kai Training camp (Naka-Izu)
Feb 27 - Team event tournament
Mar 26/27 - Mugen-kai Kids Training camp
April 24 - Grading day (Kuramae )
May 21 - Kids Grading day (Hiroo & Azabu-Juban)
Jun 26 - Mugen Tournament and Mugen's 5th year Aniversary party
July 9/10 - Mugen-kai Kids Training Camp
Aug 7 - Adult's Grading day (Kuramae)
Sep 17/18 - Mugen-kai Kids Training camp
Oct 10 - Mugen-kai Exihibition
Nov 5 - Kids Grading (Kuramae & Akihabara)
Nov 12 - Kids Grading day (Azabu-Juban & Hiroo)
Nov 27 - Mugen-kai Tournament
Dec 18 - Adults Grading day (Azabu-juban)

December 8 & 9 - Weekend Gathering

2011-01-09T19:17:00.000+09:00

Looks like the kids are getting more and more flexible. Saturday's class was filled with lot of high kicks - it was so wonderful to see. Yamaguchi-sensei added some interesting drills and games at the end. All the kids enjoy themselve a lot.

As for Sunday's class we had the Kuramae and Azabu Juban students today in the Juban Dojo. There were many skilled students there and it was a enjoyable and educational class. Many people came today for the regular class. It felt like a grading day with the huge mix of people. We also had 2 new joiners who seem really want to practice with their kids and with the other mugen members. 2011 will definitely be a year of making new friends and closer bonding with family members.

January 7th - M stands for Mugen

2011-01-08T08:44:00.000+09:00

First day of practice for the year and every one was having fun. Yamaguchi-sensei arranged the usual warm up, Kiho, Drills and sparing but I noticed the kids were trying much harder and also adjusting to the levels of those who were not as big or skilled. This was great to see. We need to understand and respect the level of those around us whether lower or higher. We do karate not just to be stronger but to control our strength. As Yamaguchi-sensei always says, safety is very important.

Twenty Eleven

2011-01-05T19:54:00.000+09:00

Looks like Yamaguchi-sensei has organized some exciting events for this year. I am really looking forward to them and hope too will try to participate in as many of them as possible.

First class of the year at the Azabu Juban Dojo will be this Friday (1/7th). Looks like the primarily focus will be for company workers and the like. Good time to get rid off some of that office sweat, good time to have a good laugh and just have a great time.

Also coming up on the weekend of Jan 22 and 23 will be the Mugen-kai training camp in Naka-izu Winery Hills. It will be a one night stay with many activities. Anyone wanting to go please confirm by mail to Yamaguchi-sensei by Jan 10th. The place looks great http://www.shidax.co.jp/winery/

Here is the list of all events for 2011:

Jan 15 - Woman Free Trial Lesson 4-5pm (Kuromae Dojo）
Jan１6 - Woman Free Trial Lesson 12-1pm（Azabu Juban Dojo)
Jan 22/23 Mugen-kai Training camp
Feb 27 - Team event tournament
Mar 26/27 - Mugen-kai Kids Training camp
April 24 - Grading day (Kuramae Dojo)
May 21 - Kids Grading day (Hiroo & Azabu-Juban)
Jun 26 - Mugen Tournament and Mugen's 5th year Aniversary party
July 9/10 - Mugen-kai Kids Training Camp
Aug 7 - Adult's Grading day (Kuramae Dojo)
Sep 17/18 - Mugen-kai Kids Training camp
Oct 10 - Mugen-kai Exihibition
Nov 5 - Kids Grading (Kuramae & Akihabara Dojo)
Nov 12 - Kids Grading day (Azabu-Juban & Hiroo Dojo)
Nov 27 - Mugen-kai Tournament
Dec 18 - Adults Grading day (Azabu-juban Dojo)

Wishing you all a fantastic Rabit year!

December 31st - Year/Eye of the Tiger

2010-12-31T19:58:00.000+09:00

It has been a fantastic year. All working hard and all trying their best. But no matter what happens outside whether good or bad, nothing changes when you enter that Mugen-kai dojo. You meet your friends, you focus, you fight and you have fun. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. For the one year I have been a member of Mugen-kai I have experienced many wonderful things thanks to Yamaguchi-sensei and all the people of the Mugen-kai community. This year of the tiger has supposed to have been a year of bravery, courage and luck. For me and I'm sure many others, it certainly has been a year of luck. Luck to have found a place that helps you believe in yourself more.

To Yamaguchi-sensei - From all the members of Mugenkai we thank you for being a great teacher, a wonderful mentor and an inspiring leader.

Wayne.

Dec 26th - Mugen Grading Day

2010-12-26T21:39:00.000+09:00

Pass or fail, win or lose, it doesn't matter. So long as you continue then that is the way of Mugen-kai. As with life, Mugen Karate is not easy nor is it supposed to be, it is a journey of hard work, study and progression. There is no satisfaction for a downhill road. It is purely just that, a road that you follow and will soon lead you to the end without a breath, without enlightenment, without gratification. I choose the uphill, the pain, the endurance, the fight - for that it will really lead you to the high ground, the end of all ends, the place only you will ever know. Your true fighter spirit...

December 22 - Let's get serious

2010-12-23T12:41:00.000+09:00

Yet again all the kids lined up so seriously to have their photo taken but "KAMERA MAN". No one made a noise and posed quietly to make sure they were in the right position. Yamaguchi-sensei entered the dojo while all were waiting anxiously for the start, it was like being in adults class.

December 19th - Mugen Family

2010-12-19T22:44:00.000+09:00

It was a big turn out today for the parent/kids session. And really wonderful to see all the adults picking to spar with the kids. Shows the great amount of support they have for getting children to do well. Kids have pretty much decided that when picking their parents in match sparing they will use their real names instead. Takeuchi-san's kids and Minagawa-san's kids will be addressing their fathers as "Takeuchi-san" and "Minagawa-san" from now on. It is so touching to see the effect Mugen-kai is having on family's and friends, something very special is in the making.

December 16th - The Last Fighters Club

2010-12-17T00:48:00.001+09:00

Yamaguchi-sensei's message - Karate is not about just getting to your goal or about beating your opponent. It is about the willingness to achieve , to follow and most importantly - to continue. Karate is not just a sport. It is a way of life. We can do this special thing until the day we die. It is not about ourselves but everything and everyone around us. Never give up is a given I believe. Move on and take all you learn with you is the key to become stronger in mind and stronger in person.

Fighters club means just that - a place to go to fight for everything you believe in.

Wayne.

December 10th - Mugen Sky Tree's

2010-12-10T19:06:00.000+09:00

...is how I would describe today's kid's class. Everyone can kick so high and straight up - I am so jealous... All the kids wanted their photos taken again so it was a little bit of a line up but they all tried so hard in front of the camera. I wonder what triggers kids to do their best when the camera is on them. With adults it's often the opposite and we often close up when someone has a camera on us. So yet again another lesson for us adults - to be open and express ourselves freely.

Dec 9th - Fighters Club # 10 - On the ground

2010-12-10T01:10:00.000+09:00

Well it's getting close to the year end and so many are celebrating in whatever way they like best. Mugen-karate will celebrate with many events. With the tournament last weekend, with the next grading and with the 108 times sparing event to close the year off. It's going to be a tough to have 108 x 30 second sparing but it will be an excellent challenge to see out 2010.

Fighter's club is coming to an end. The very last one will be next Thursday and will most likely be the most difficult one. I look forward to that gathering and look forward to practicing with everyone else.

Tonight's session was loaded with on the ground work. I have to admit when I first tried grappling and judo style throws I did not like it but now I find it so interesting. Mugen karate is fantastic for teaching you how to apply all parts of your body. Grappling I must say is now one of my favorite things so practice.

Keep it real and on the ground,
Wayne.

Dec 5th - Mugen Tournament

2010-12-06T22:51:00.000+09:00

Never have I been to such fun filled wholesome family FIGHT gathering! The Mugen tournament was again another success with lots of laughter and tears. Kids took the show away again. Always great to see the youngest ones going at it. So cute the way they look when Yamaguchi-sensei was refereeing and telling them to kick higher. They all tried so hard to kick and punch but all were looking at Yamaguchi-sense to check if that was the right move every time - so cute.

The look on all kids faces when fighting each other is truly something I cannot describe. And to see kids cheering each other is so moving. It truly shows the level of support they have for their friends and even for others they do not know. Mugen-kai is about all of this. To support and help others, especially for those who aren't as skilled as others.

As for the adults event, it was very nice to see Taka-san's team win. A very strong yet entertaining team. Congratulations team Chocozille! Taka-san also got a special award for being the most dedicated and inspiring competitor. It was wonderful to see him receive that as he truly did stand out the most. Such a hard working student and teacher, he clearly deserves it.

Yamaguchi-sensei and his staff did a great job again for organising a very hectic day. I cannot imagine having to referee every match until the end. A good 6 hours of judging, running around making sure no one gets hurts and scoring is something only the mugen master can do himself. Thank you Yamaguchi-sensei for letting us all have such a memorable time.

Well, see you again soon at the next tournament but I'll see you in the Dojo before that!

Wayne.

December 3rd - M K K

2010-12-04T11:10:00.000+09:00

Nice turn out again for Friday's kids class. Mugen Karate Kids are so flexible it makes us adults green with envy. It's interesting how it all turns out. As we grow older we become less and less flexible physically yet become more and more controlled in the way we move and also the way we behave. Kids grow up learning from adults to be more controlled and be more disciplined. I guess that means us adults should try to learn from kids to be more open and free spirited.

December 2nd - Fighters Club #9

2010-12-02T23:39:00.000+09:00

Take it to the ground! Tonight's fighters club we had lots of new ground exercises. Pairing up with 2 hand holds, we tried to see who could hold the opponent on the ground the longest. That was fun yet so hard. Never did I think you could sweat so much in such a short time. After we had our classic fighters club 2-4-6 drills with our favorite press ups, burpees, sit ups and rolls. I think we all got better at doing continuous rolls since Yamaguchi-sensei made us to so many of them!

Sparing was good. We saw big improvements in Minagawa-san (nice high kicks and cart wheels!). Also some killer counter moves from Miocchi - very nice indeed.

Getting near the end of the year and we are all looking forward to the tournament and also the adults grading. It really is a busy Mugen-kai month.

November 28th - Take Note!

2010-11-28T18:53:00.000+09:00

Today's Sunday session we had Takeuchi-san and his oldest son join for the first time. It was good to see them practice and spar together. It is very moving to see parent and child sparing. Parents are less forgiving when fighting their own kids but it is natural that they do this as to set higher standards. I love the way Takeuchi-san is always taking notes for each class he goes to. Notes on what things he did well or badly on. It's great to see someone critique themselves like this. A true hard working fighter.

We also practiced also for the tournament next weekend. Grouping up into teams, we spared applying the tournament rules which is only kicking. You would think that people get very serious when on tournament mode but in actual fact it is very light hearted and fun. Thanks to the great judging and commentary by Yamaguchi-sensei, it made everything just so much more fun and funny.

I'm looking forward to the tournament next Sunday. Win or lose, it will be packed full of emotion, elation and entertainment.

Wayne.

November 25th - Fighters Club # 8

2010-11-26T00:19:00.000+09:00

A very emotional class tonight is how I can summarize it. Not as tough as other Fighters Club nights but still hard as the drills were punching and kicks with a combination of press ups, crunches, berpee's and rolls. That was hard! There are only 3 fighter clubs classes left. I will truly miss the hard training once we get to #12. But as Yamaguchi-sensei says, it must end to then start again. I guess we cannot have too much of a good thing. And rest is just as important as working out hard.

November 19th - Time to kick back..

2010-11-19T22:33:00.001+09:00

Friday class had a massive turn out and all kids and parents were well behaved as usual. I was very impressed with the white belts today. Some showing so much flexibility and ability to do some of the more difficult moves. During the sparing we saw a lot of guidance from the higher level belt kids. This was great to see. Karate is about respect and guidance for others. Kids learns this fast when doing martial arts. Anyway I will let the photos tell the true story for you as it was wonderful class today.

Wayne.

November 14th - Natural Sunday

2010-11-14T19:01:00.002+09:00

We had a good turn out for today's Sunday session. A mix of both kids, beginners and advanced levels. Many I am sure are practicing for the December 5th tournament and also the next grading towards the end of December. We saw a lot of improvement today especially for new joiners Minagawa-san and Takao-san. Both very athletic and seem very natural especially when sparring. Yes, it does take time but when you are enjoying karate it all seems to come together faster and more naturally. It's wonderful to see students fully indulged in Mugen Karate, to see it change their lives and become something more than just a sport to them.

Mugen Karate Tournament

December 5th will be the next Mugen Karate Tournament in the Tsukishima Sports Plaza. The event will be held from 1:15 to 5pm. Kids will compete individually (by their age group and size) while adults will compete in teams decided by Yamaguchi-sensei. Entry fee is 5000 yen and applications will close on November 20th so please make sure to apply when you next visit a Mugen branch. Promised to be another fun and safe event for all!

Tsukishima Sports Plaza is located in Chuo Ward, Tsukishima 1-9-2. Approximately one minute walk from Yurakucho Station, exit 7 (Yurakucho Line or Oedo Line) -> Map

November 11 - Fighters Club #6

2010-11-12T02:03:00.000+09:00

Fighters Club tonight was focused on sparing - and only that! We all did 25 rounds of around 50 -53 seconds of sparing non stop. Then we spent the last 30 minutes doing match sparing. Hard work indeed but Yamaguchi-sensei lead us through a very physical yet safe practice session, it was excellent and much needed. At the end we also had time to work on a few low kick techniques and that was interesting. Aki-san and Miocchi yet again trying to see how much it hurts by kicking each others thighs. I think it was more painful to watch!

Wayne.

Mugen Karate Tournament

November 7 - Techy Sunday

2010-11-08T23:04:00.001+09:00

Another great Sunday practice. This time more focus was placed on technique. Another great thing about Mugen Karate is that you always learn new things. Even if you think you are good at one technique there is always room for improvement.

Coming soon - The Mugen Interschool Tournament

December 5th will be the next Mugen Karate Tournament in the Tsukishima Sports Plaza. The event will be held from 1:15 to 5pm. Kids will compete individually (by their age group and size) while adults will compete in teams decided by Yamaguchi-sensei. Entry fee is 5000 yen and applications will close on November 20th so please make sure to apply when you next visit a Mugen branch. Promised to be another fun and safe event for all!

Tsukishima Sports Plaza is located in Chuo Ward, Tsukishima 1-9-2. Approximately one minute walk from Yurakucho Station, exit 7 (Yurakucho Line or Oedo Line) -> Map

Wayne.

November 5 - T.G.I.F "Super Kids"

2010-11-05T23:49:00.000+09:00

Today's Friday's kids class was so much fun to watch. All the kids were practicing hard to get their photo taken so today I will post as many I can for all to see.

Actions speak louder than words so I will just leave it up to you to look at what I managed to capture.

Big thank you to all kids for giving me the chance to shoot some nice pictures.

Wayne.

November 4 - Fighters Club #5 (The Hammer Punch)

2010-11-05T01:18:00.000+09:00

Tonight was Fighter's Club #5 and it was yet another special session.The usual warm up kihon was in place as with the drills but after that we were straight into sparing. Yamaguchi-sensei lined himself up with Yoko-san, Hane-san, Teimo-san to fight 10 rounds with each of us. That was extremely exhausting even for people who could rest between rounds. After 10 rounds we had the regular match sparing and it was very noticeable tonight how everyone has improved.

Tonight the lime light is on Aki-san who came up with a new style punching technique which I am going to call "The Hammer Punch". It's like a chop with closed fist so when performed it looks like you are using a hammer. Some of us including myself volunteered to feel how painful it was. To be hit on the arm after class had finished was a bad idea! Great effort by Aki-san though for thinking of something new and applying it.

Though Fighters Club was intense and we were all pushed hard, there were no injuries. Many stayed back just to talk, laugh, give/take advice. Mugen Karate I can say is truly a place of good spirits and comradery.

Wayne.

Welcome to the Mugenryu Karate International Blog.

2010-11-03T10:42:00.002+09:00

Mugenryu Karate was created by Sensei Takeshi Yamaguchi about 8 years ago and has since opened many practices in Tokyo area.

His teaching style is very effective in helping students of all walks of life become stronger both physically and mentally.

This blog is dedicated to the practice of Mugenryu Karate for both international and Japanese readers.

I hope you enjoy the coverage and photo’s that I will try to provide.

Let the journey begin.

Wayne

October 31 - Sunday Session

2010-10-31T20:28:00.000+09:00


Taiki-Miku-Issei

Today's Sunday session was again a mix of kids, parents and the regular students. We had visitor Matt (USA) who wanted to try out the Mugen style. Though having many years of training in Karate and Brazilian Jiujitsu, Matt had had a great experience in both the beginner's and advanced classes today.

Matt vs Yamaguchi-sensei

Miku - High round house

Yamaguchi-sensei made all the kids spar with the adults many times. It was good for them to experience fighting against others more advanced and much bigger than them. Mugen Karate is more about technique and spirit than being simply being bigger and stronger.

Taiki - Left round house

Yume-san vs Hane-san

Issei - Axe Kick

It was nice to have Yamaguchi-sensei allow the kids to practice with the adults again. This is something you do not see in other karate dojos. This makes Mugen such a special place to be. Where most parents would be on the sideline watching their kids compete, Mugenryu promotes participation, communication and bonding between adults and children.

Wayne.

October 28 - Fighters Club # 4

2010-10-29T09:34:00.000+09:00

The Fighter Ring

Tonight's training was very focused on techniques. Usually Fighters club has lots of intense drills but today Yamaguchi-sensei helped improve our timing and rhythm with punches and kick. It was much needed!

Yamaguchi-sensei airborn

Fake low kick then to head - very effective when you look down first.

Yosuke-san managed to make it for the training tonight and that made it even more special. With his 8 years of experience every one learned a lot from watching him tonight.

Yamaguchi-sensei was in top form (as always) and yet again a very popular pick in the match sparing. It's always good to watch him spar especially with opponents much larger than him. Size in this case does not matter!

Yamaguchi-sensei vs Yosuke-san - 3 matches at the end, incredible..

I am truly looking forward to Fighters Club # 5.

Wayne.

October 23 - Karate Kids!

2010-10-26T23:11:00.014+09:00

It’s always great to watch kids do karate.

They always try hard and it wonderful to see everyone improve week by week.

But mostly importantly, everyone has fun!

Today we had over 20 kids with Taka-sensei teaching - all had a great time.

The awesome line up!

Taka-sensei leading the Kihon

Miku – super high kick!

The Front Kick (Mae-geri)

All diligently poised for the end of class – If only they did that before going to bed every night :-)

Coming up soon (Oct 30th) is the kids grading in the Azabu Juban Dojo.

Good luck everyone!

Wayne.