Soke Mabuni (centre of front row) with members of Karatedo Shitokai Karate Club.
Soke Mabuni (centre of front row) with members of Karatedo Shitokai Karate Club.
A Whangarei karate club has welcomed martial arts royalty. Karatedo Shitokai Karate Club recently had the honour of hosting Soke Kenyu Mabuni at their dojo in Whangarei.
Soke Mabuni is head of Shito-ryu style karate, one of the four main styles in the world.
Soke Mabuni's grandfather Kenwai Mabuni anOkinawa Karate Master founded Shito-ryu in about 1930 and took the style to Japan and from there the style spread around the world.
It is the first time a Shito-ryu Soke (meaning head of style) has been to New Zealand and after a seminar in Auckland; Soke Mabuni came north to attend the local Shito-ryu dojo in Whangarei.
Sensei Murray Burns said it was a huge honour just to meet Soke Mabuni but to have him come to the club and be pleased with what he saw was amazing.
"The knowledge Soke Mabuni has, has been attained by a lifetime study of karate and to have him share some of that knowledge with our Whangarei Club members was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he said.
