2008 JKF NW Classic

JKF Northwest

Portland Oregon – Members of the JKF NW hosted their 22nd Annual Ryobu-Kai Northwest Classic and as can be expected put on a first class event. Host Junki Yoshida and the hombu dojo provided an excellent venue for seminars taught by Kunio Miyake on the kata Pakiu and Seipai, Eugene Tibon taught Saifa, and Kiyoshi Yamzaki taught Gojushihosho, Roger Jarrett taught a business seminar and Cleve Baxter gave a USA-NKF Referee clinic. Sensei Miyake filled in for Baxter who was to teach Sepai but was delayed due to weather.

As the tournament began an impressive line up of officials spanned the length of the venue. Jake Lease commented never before had he seen so many top officials working the rings at a local event. For the competitors this was a valuable opportunity to perform and be judge by many of the highest licensed and best officials in our country.

Roger Jarrett gave a rousing speech to highlight to everyone in attendance that the USA-NKF is in great shape and things having been forward with the organization. This year is a big year with World Championship being held in Tokyo. As a special treat WKF World Champion the beautiful Katsuga Wakabayashi flew in to perform kata at the event treating the crowds to Seienchin and Tomari Bassai. Kiyoshi Yamazaki performed Gojushihosho and at 68 years young his stellar kata performance demonstrated what karate-do has to offer the practitioner in terms of life long benefits.

Sensei Yoshida will be organizing a business group to meet at this years USA Open in Las Vegas. From this group the plan is to develop a support organization for the USA-NKF bringing in more leaders from the business community to help fund karate here in the US.