13 – 24 Aug 18: Shinjo Anyu Sensei, founder and president of the Goyu Kan, visited Missouri for karate training and sightseeing.  We held a three day gasshuku 17 – 19 Aug with attendees from MO, IL, and IN.  A big thank you to my wife Jennifer Willis for planning, designing shirts, cooking, shopping, organizing.  We promoted Jennifer Byrd to Go Dan at the end of training.

 

16 – 17 Jan 16:  I visited Roy Hobbs Sensei this weekend.  We practiced AikiJutsu and Kobudo.  It is always great to visit a library of knowledge.

Oct 15:  I have been teaching Goju Ryu at the Republic, MO Community Center for one year.  There are 11 great kids studying with me.

7 Oct 14:  I started teaching Okinawan Goju Ryu at the Republic, MO Community Center!!!

31 Aug 14:  Today is my last day as  an Active duty member of the world’s greatest Air Force.  Tomorrow I officially become a Veteran!

10 Jul 14: Jennifer and I departed Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for our retirement home in Clever, MO.  Well maybe not total retirement.  I will find some kind of work to keep me busy, and after 27 years of teaching in military base gyms and other peoples dojos I will finally open my Goju Ryu Dojo!!!

28 Jun 14:  Sensei Jeri Carson and I hosted a Gojy Ryu / Pangai-Noon day of training at the Davis School of Martial Arts in Springfield, OH.  A highlight of the training was the opportunity to practice both the Goju and Pangai-Noon versions of Sanshin kata.

12 Sep 13: I traveled to New Castle, IN to teach a one day Traditional Okinawan Goju Ryu seminar. Kevin Chalfant Sensei hosted karateka from the area interested practicing Goju Ryu together for the event. We focused on Kihon, Sanshin Kata, and Geki Sai Dai Ichi.

23 – 30 Jul 13: I traveled to Okinawa to spend the week with Shinjo Sensei. We visited with several friends, conducted a kyu class, conducted a promotion exam, participated in and helped judge a children’s tournament, and ate a lot of good food.

Jun 12: The Air Force decided it is time to move me again.  In two weeks we will make the journey to Dayton, Ohio.

8 – 10 Aug 11: I trained with Stewart Duncan and Crystal Hallmark in Ft Walton Beach, FL.

13 – 14 Nov 10: I traveled to Ft Walton Beach, FL to train with Stewart Duncan and his students.  We spent all day Sat in the park practicing GOJU.  Stewart is working hard to maintain a traditional GOJU presence in FWB.

Jul 10: The Air Force decided it was time for me to move again.  In Jul my family and I packed and made the long journey from Florida to Deerfield, New York.  The summer is great here — wondering about the winter?

11 – 18 Aug 09: Another great trip to Okinawa, Japan.  I got to train with Shinjo Sensei and watch the Okinawa Traditional Karate/Kobudo World Tournament.  There were some outstanding martial artists from around the world competing and practicing.

16 – 18 Mar 09: I got another opportunity to visit with Roy Hobbs Sensei, Dentokan Hombu.  We presented Ms Jennifer Byrd with her Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Ni Dan Certificate’ and had a great time training.  Hobbs Sensei helped with advanced bunkai while we practiced kata and taught Suparinpe to Jennifer.

1 Mar 09: I had the pleasure of training with Bob Bolton Sensei at the Tampa Family Martial Arts Dojo again.  We spent the evening working on GekiSai and stances.

19 – 22 Nov 08:  I visited the Dentokan Hombu.  Roy Hobbs Sensei, Jennifer Byrd, and I spent several days reviewing and practicing Goju-Ryu kata.  As always Hobbs Sensei helped me further my understanding of Karate Do.  Jennifer Byrd’s knowledge and karate skills have improved significantly.

6 Nov 08:  I visited the Tampa Family Martial Arts Dojo.  Bob Bolton Sensei led a great class and allowed me to train with his students.

27 Sep – 1 Oct 08: I  visited the Goyu Kan Hombu Dojo.  During the visit I got to train with Anyu Shinjo Sensei and senior yudansha.  Traveling to Okinawa is always an opportunity for me to improve my karate kata and receive mentor ship from Shinjo Sensei.  My annual “tune up” went well.