03/04/2026
I participated in the Hands of Okinawa seminar, organised by the warm hearted Polander couple. The seminar is since many years held in Washington, USA, but this year the most beautiful beach location was chosen, a hotel at the Rehoboth beach in Delaware.
The seminar is a unique happening. In my 40 years of martial arts practise, I’ve never experienced anything of the kind. Hanshi Polander puts new life to the old dream of Shigeru Nakamura, by unifying all Okinawan styles in one happening. Sharing knowledge by the great masters of different Okinawan styles, but also sharing of culture between the participants that come from all over the world and form a brotherhood of Okinawan karate.
We could choose 19 different classes of one hour each. A book could be written about the knowledge that was shared. There was Hanshi Luis Morales, with his warm and profound personality that draws you in, who gave insights in Tuite and other advanced Goyu Ryu principals. Hanshi William Hayes with close to 7 decades of experience. Grandmaster Steve L. Martin, who is a superb entertainer and provided interesting insights in the Fujan White Crane, a style which had great influence on Okinawan karate. Hanshi Clarence Murray from Shorin Ryu with practical fighting applications. Shobayashi Ryu representatives Kyoshi Tony D’Angelo and Kyoshi Tommy Revell who besides Shorin Ryu applications were sharing internal Taoist exercises. And many of Taika Oyata’s experienced students, like Kyoshi Niamh Cawley and his wife Kyoshi Helen Cawley who were teaching Taika Oyata’s 'Spider Web' with applications as well as different Kobudo weapons. Kyoshi Vernon Johnson who taught drills on circular blocking and body positioning. Kyoshi Adam McCauley who created unique effective knife and gun disarmaments based on his experience in law enforcement. And special thanks to Kyoshi Gerry Senese and Renshi David Vazquez who were so kind to step in last minute to cover for Hanshi Bruce Heilman who couldn’t attend.
My personal highlights were the classes of Hanshi Peter Polander of Shiro Washi Ryu Kempo. It was eye opening for me to see what respect is given to Hanshi Polander by practitioners and masters from other styles. I witnessed a black belt thanking him in tears after a class where Hanshi explained the details of the standard wrist lock. No esoterism, no theoretical lecture, but explaining and showing in extreme detail what the perfected body mechanics are for applying such a lock with devastating effect. Going into the smallest details of body positioning, use of heels, knees, hips, core of the body, weight of the body, elbow positioning, correct angles, till the stretching of the skin. And with very little visible effort, all people Hanshi Polander demonstrated his techniques on, dropped to the floor.
The dates are set for next years events. There will be 2 Hands of Okinawa seminars, one on the Rehoboth beach in April ‘27, and one in Okinawa end of June ‘27. The future of this unique happening is ensured and will alter between 3 different continents. As a martial artist, you have to experience this event, there’s nothing like it.