HELLO SHORIN RYU KARATE & KOBUDO FRIENDS....
This site aims to share valuable and essential information about our asian cultural fighting arts, the "Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate" under the KYUDOKAN School of the HIGA Family.
The WASHIMEKAI, literally translated as Washi-EAGLE, Me-EYE, Kai-CLAN or Association (EAGLE EYE CLAN) traces back its Philippine Karate roots in Naga City, Region 5 (about 350kms south of Manila) in the early '70s under the lineage of my Filipino Sensei, the Great Master MANUEL "Manny" Q. DURAN (PAKA/SSH-Commando Self Defense Club, Sta Mesa, Manila) from whom I trained for the straight period of 16 years (1972-1988) until my promotion to the rank of 6th Dan and annointed "Successor" in the Duran Shorinryu line during my promotion (6th Dan) in May 8, 1988 in Naga City. Even I have already established my own Dojo and Organization, I still continued training under my sensei's guidance until his demise in August 19, 1993. And on October 7, 1994, about more than a year after my teacher's demise, I assumed my teacher's latest rank of 7th Dan by virtue of traditional succession as the rightful heir being named as "Successor".
In between those periods (1991-2001), I've been fortunate to train with various Okinawa and Japan Karate Masters visiting the Philippines, notably, Seigi SHIROMA Shihan 8Dan (1991/1992) of the Okinawan Shorinryu SHIDOKAN (Guam Dojo) from whom I obtained the rank of 5th Dan Okinawa Shidokan (August 29, 1991) after passing the required examination; Yasuhiro UEMA Hanshi 9Dan of Okinawa Shorinryu SHUBUKAN-Uema Karate Dojo/2001; and most recently in 2004/2005 from 9th Dan Hanshi Oscar HIGA, the Technical Director of the World Okinawa Shorin Ryu KYUDOKAN Karatedo Renmei where I and the Washimekai was officially named official Branch/Representative of the KYUDOKAN School in the entire Philippines. While with the mainstream of "olympic-sport karate" and official in the PKF (1994-2001), I have had great opportunities training with various Karate Masters of different styles (Okinawan and Japanese systems) apart from Shorinryu Karate, thus greatly enhanced my knowledge and skill in the "modern karate" systems such as Shotokan Ryu and Shito Ryu. At this point in time, the Washimekai has gained the humble status of a "national" style organization having established and operationalized Regional Branches and Dojos in at least Six (6) Regions nationwide (Regions 4(South Tagalog) , R.5(Bicol), R.10 (Bukidnun), R.11(Davao), R.12 (Cotabato) and NCR/Metro Manila, with principal operational base in Region 4 (Santa Rosa City, Laguna). Washimekai also maintains Four (4) Branches abroad, namely, WMK-Bahrain/Jess Ablanida, WMK-Dubai/Engr. Mike Marajas, WMK-Jeddah/Ali Darajj and WMK-Canada/Leo Orea.
Towards mid-year 2006, the Washimekai-Kyudokan prodded for the formation of a National Federation of Traditional Karate practitioners/organizations with the sole purpose of creating an appropriate forum where traditional Okinawan karate practioners and teachers in the country can gather and hold activities to advance and promote the traditional karate & kobudo in the most democratic and non-discrimination processes and further devoid of politics. The idea drew favorable acceptance from various groups practicing Okinawan Karate and Kobudo. This gave birth to the "PUKKO" - Philippine Union of Karate & Kobudo Organizations. In the ensuing year, PUKKO contemplated to affiliate with the WUKO-World Union of Karatedo Organization, a fast-growing (re-born) International group present in all the 5 Continents in the World with at least Eight (8) Styles of both the "technical (Sport) " and the "Traditional Karate". On 14th January 2008, PUKKO was eventually recognized as a Regular Member Federation of the WUKO. Anent this development, the Washimekai-Kyudokan and other co-founding members of PUKKO foresee a brighter horizon and opportunity to advance karatedo not only as a sport, but as an education and ethical-standard processes for the development of the socio-physical of its practioners. The site is by no means complete, but we will try to update it from time to time to cope up with the ever changing time and make it more responsive to those who want to be associated and friends to us....
Thank you very much... your comments are highly enjoined and welcome.
MARCELO MONTE NAVARROZA
Senior Police Officer IV
Founding Chairman/Shihan, WASHIMEKAI
Official Representative/Chief Instructor to the Philippines
World Okinawa Shorinryu KYUDOKAN Karatedo Renmei
e-mail: wmkarate@yahoo.com
mobile: +63915-290-9350 Founding Union President, PUKKO Philippine Union of Karate & Kobudo Organizations Member-Philippines: WUKO World Union of Karatedo Organizations
