[Blog] Taishijuku students' experiences at a training camp in Germany: international exchange and learning through Karate-do① Issa Watanabe

日本語

Oss.

My name is Issa Watanabe. I am currently a third-year university student and train at the Taishijuku Akabane branch.

In mid-May, I took part in a seminar called ‘Kata Special’ in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany. It is a seminar to which Naka Shihan is invited and teaches every year.

Firstly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Naka Shihan and all the members of the Taishijuku for the very valuable experience I gained on this trip.

I have been practising since I was a child, but I have never had the experience of going abroad to practise, so participating in this seminar was very stimulating and valuable for me.

I decided to participate in this seminar because I wanted to see for myself how karate-do, which I have only practised in Japan, is perceived in the rest of the world and how it differs from Japan.

To be honest, before I went to Germany, I had the impression that karate-do overseas had become more of a sport and that the fundamental aspects of budo, such as courtesy, had been neglected.

However, when I actually attended the seminar, this selfish image was overturned.

I was so impressed by this that I thought those of us who practise in Japan might be neglecting these things.

I also strongly felt that people around me, whether in the dojo or elsewhere, were looking at me as a ‘Japanese’. Therefore, I tried to behave in a way that would not embarrass me as a Japanese person who strives for karate-do, not only in terms of my skills such as Kata and Kihon, but also in terms of my manners and greetings.

I feel that the most important thing I learnt from participating in this seminar was that I became aware that I am one of the Japanese people who are practising karatedo and that I should be a role model for those who are practising abroad. 

Furthermore, through this international exchange through karate, I have gained respect for other cultures and an awareness and pride as a Japanese person.

I would like to review my behaviour as a student of the Taishijuku in my future training and strive to improve not only my techniques but also my character so that I can be as good as my comrades in karate in other countries around the world.

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