I have been very lucky to be able to
visit Okinawa twice a year over the
past 14 years. One of the things I
have learned is that in addition to
some world famous Dojos such as
our own Honbu Dojo, there are hundreds of small private dojo dotted
around the Islands. It has often been
stated that you could be talking to a
high grade karate or kobudo instructor without knowing it, and I have
shared a few conversations with taxi
drivers who turned out to be 8th dan
instructors. However, I have only ever fleetingly met one senior graded woman whilst at
a demonstration. I became curious as to whether there were any others.
This plus my own training journey has led me to undertake some personal research,
namely to meet other high graded women in karate in Okinawa. I am interested in their
training experiences and in understanding the influence that women have had in karate
as well as the adaptability in training methodologies and promotion of the Art.
My first introduction through Miguel La Luz (who I have also known for some 23
years!) was to the highest graded woman in Okinawa, Oshiro Nobuko Sensei, 8th Dan,
Shorin Ryu. We met at her dojo in Urasoe, the Honbu dojo of her association and talked
over lunch via Miguel who kindly translated. However, I did not conduct an official interview but rather used some prepared questions to promote discussion. I have therefore
paraphrased Oshiro Sensei’s answers from my written notes.
Firstly I asked Oshiro Sensei what drew her to Karate and in particular Shorin Ryu.
Oshiro Sensei used to practice Ryu Kyu Buo (Okinawan dance) with her younger sister.
Originally, the traditional dance was performed by men only, women were not allowed.
However, over time women were allowed to practice and so now both men and women
dance with more women than men!
There are three dances that are “karate-type” dances and dance practitioners went to
Shorin Ryu to help them better their dance techniques as the essence in kata and the
dance were the same. However, Oshiro Sensei loved the karate so much that she became
more addicted to it than the dance!
Karate used to have a bad image/reputation and was described as “kenka” or “an image
of brawling”! This image is now disappearing but it was not a good advert for women