8th Annual Enshin Karate vs Aikido Nippon Kan Bowling Tournament
This
annual tournament began as Homma Sensei’s idea for a way to celebrate Enshin
Karate Founder, Joko Ninomiya Shihan’s birthday. Joko Ninomiya Shihan is quite
famous as a martial artist, and somewhat of a local celebrity. He began his career
with Kyokushin Karate and then Ashihara Karate. In 1988 he founded Enshin Karate of
which he remains Chief Instructor. Today there are over 70 branch dojos of Enshin Karate
world-wide.Homma Kancho and Ninomiya Shihan moved to Denver about the same time in the late seventies. For many years they have remained close friends. The front altar at Enshin headquarters in Denver is formed from the same 90 pine tree as the two pine pillars enclosing Nippon Kan’s front altar. They were a gift from Homma Sensei.
This
year over 140 students, families and friends attended the tournament which has grown over the years into
a serious but good natured rivalry. Coming into this event, the score for the seven year tournament was
Nippon Kan 4 Enshin 3. The competition ran neck and neck, but at the end of the day, Nippon Kan claimed 
victory!
As is tradition, the uchideshi from the losing dojo gets doused with coolers of ice water. The Enshin uchideshi, accompanied
by Jota Ninomiya, Shihan’s son, (who volunteered for the event), braved their fate, stripped bare
to the waist. Everyone cheered them on as the water came tumbling down. Beyond martial art style, this kind of communication and comradery is invaluable for both Enshin Karate and Nippon Kan students and friends.
We’ll see you next year!
