03/05/2026
The watchful eyes of Uehara Sensei will be on us later in the year at our National Gasshuku. đź“… December 4-6, Wainuiomata High School
Last night while Kuramoto Sensei and Yonesato Sensei were working with a student who made the pilgrimage from New Zealand to Honbu, I had the opportunity to work kata one on one under the watchful eye of Uehara Sensei. With over 60+ years of training experience, Uehara Sensei is truly a walking encyclopedia of historical and technical Goju-Ryu knowledge. If you’ve been fortunate enough to have him analyze your kata, you’ll realize just how much more you need to work on and how precise he is with the minutest of details: with laser focus, he doesn’t miss anything. Mistakes were made over and over; however, when something was done “right” his encouraging Japanese expression of “So…so…so…so…so” or “yes-yes” uplifts you to keep moving forward with your kata, transcending the dojo heat and repeated cadence of “again.” Moments like this are a reminder that the path has no shortcuts; only repetition, humility, and the willingness to be corrected. Grateful for the guidance, and back to training at Honbu.
