To avoid any confusion I’d like to give an explanation about my dojo, based here in Nakatsu-shi, Oita. My dojo does not offer ‘regular classes’, nor membership, but rather offers private lessons to advanced karateka needing specific supplementary training._________
If you wish to learn karate in Nakatsu or Oita Prefecture in general, I highly recommend that you get in touch with the Non-Profit Organization J.K.S (Japan Karate Shotorenmei). The prefectures chief instructor is Tachibana Shihan (8th Dan). Here are his official contact details: http://www.jks.jp/schedule.html#oita
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SO WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MY DOJO?
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(1) Firstly, it is for my own practice. I prioritize training over all other aspects of karate. It is my belief that you cannot gain the mental/spiritual benefits of karate-do without constant physical training. So firstly, my doj
o is for my own karate-keiko!
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o is for my own karate-keiko!_________
(2) Secondly, my dojo is a place to privately train serious karateka who wish to ‘supplement’ their club practice. For example, last month a sandan from SKIF (Shotokan Karate International Federation) came to my dojo to work on his Unsu. This month I have a couple of JKA (Japan Karate Association) shodan’s, who are training for an upcoming ippon shobu event. These karateka, just like all the others who come to me, are not my students, but are coming to my dojo to ‘get special training’. I will coach anyone regardless of organisation, in my dojo. So if you are interested in private lessons please email me at: andrebertel@hotmail.com
Shotokan-Ryu and Asai-Ryu Technical Seminars:
Away from my weekly dojo self-practices, and private lessons here in Nakatsu-shi, I also conduct technical seminars by invitation (regularly within Japan & sometimes internationally). Currently some of my seminars are being arranged in Europe next year. If you are wanting to host a technical seminar, again please email me. Please note: Unlike my private dojo, when travelling to conduct seminars I teach all grades.
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To conclude, I’d like to once again emphasize that my Nakatsu-city dojo does not recruit members, but is rather for serious training. It is primarily for my own daily self-practice, and to host private lessons, for serious karateka.
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© André Bertel, Japan (2009).
