2/18/03
Colorado Budo Shihan Society Meeting
A meeting was held February 18th, 2002 of Japanese Martial Art Instructors
living in the Denver area. This meeting, organized by Gaku Homma Sensei of Nippon Kan,
was the tenth
annual meeting of its kind to be held. Before WW2, there were many Japanese martial art
instructors in Denver, most of them whom have now passed away or retired. This meeting
was held between active Japanese instructors who currently own their own dojos and are
involved in dojo operations in Denver. Although it is always difficult to get everyone’s
busy schedules to coincide, these meetings are an important tool for building the future
of Martial Art Society in the United States. This years meeting was held during the lunar
New Year and everyone had an enjoyable time listening to stories of international teaching
experiences and ideas.
Current members include:
Shotokan Karatedo Japan Karate Association Official Instructor, Yutaka Yaguchi Shihan. Yaguchi Shihan, over 70 years in age is still active in his teaching of Shotokan Karate
both locally and around the world. Yaguchi Shihan first came to Denver in 1965, then moved
to Denver permanently in 1969 after living for a few years in California.
Wadokai Karatedo, Sadaharu Kurobane Shihan also came to Denver about the same time as Yaguchi
Shihan. Kurobane Shihan attended the same university in Japan as Yaguchi Shihan who studied
as his senior. Even though the two instructors teach different styles of Karate, they have
a long friendship and history together.
Enshin Karatedo, Joko Ninomiya Shihan, moved to Denver from New York in 1976 where he founded
Enshin Karate. Currently Ninomiya Shihan has over 80 branch dojos world-wide. He is currently
actively teaching at his headquarter dojo here in Denver as well as traveling many times
a year to continents around the globe.
Aikido Nippon Kan Kancho, Gaku Homma Sensei is also a member of this group of Denver based
Japanese Instructors and has worked to coordinate these annual meetings to promote communication
between these esteemed instructors to share in their special styles and expertise.
There has been a serious rivalry between Enshin dojo and Nippon Kan dojo for the past 8
years which has been competed for annually with a tournament…bowling tournament that
is! To date Enshin Karate holds the winning trophy, which will be contested in earnest
again this year in early March. Seriously, this unique activity between dojos of different
styles is a wonderful opportunity for students from both arts to share in a little “cultural
exchange”. Historically these events have had up to 150 bowlers vying for the title
of Champion, (Bowling Champion that is!) Students from Enshin Karate dojos also join Nippon
Kan members for many of our bi-annual community service projects.
