The [ purpose ] of Karate is to be strong , but [ like a ] gentleman and to have friends all over the world .
Written By • Melissa Kowaluk | Photo by • Jana byrn
The Risner Fitness Center on Kadena Air Base offers a wide variety of classes , updated workout machines and equipment to best serve their customers . But did you know that Risner is also home to a Karate dojo ? Sensei Koei Nohara has been teaching Karate at Risner for four years and teaches ages fi ve and over . Sensei Nohara is native to Okinawa , the birthplace of Karate , and has been practicing the art passed down by his father for 63 years . He practices and teaches Shorin-ryu , Ryukyu-kobudo ( weapons ) and Full Contact . While Sensei Nohara has maintained the headquarter dojo in his Okinawa hometown , he has always tried to create a positive relationship with the local US military community . Not only has he taught at Kadena , but he has taught at Camp Kinser , and even taught at Camp Futenma during the Vietnam era . He is also the only one in his Ryukyukan organization who is qualifi ed to promote anyone to a sensei or higher level black belt .
Although Sensei Nohara has many responsibilities here , it does not stop him from traveling the world to teach and grow the Karate community . He ’ s taught in California , North Carolina , London , Paris , Belgium , India , Pakistan , Argentina and Chile to mention a few ! He hopes to continue to visit new places each year . He explained that it ’ s exciting to travel and meet new people overseas because they ’ re not just learning a martial art , they ’ re learning about Okinawan culture and traditions through Karate and taking it back to their part of the world . The same can be said about the Risner Dojo students with their diverse backgrounds . Karate is part of the identity of Okinawa that , through his guidance , he works to preserve and protect . Students of his can all say they learned Karate from its birthplace .
As of 2016 , there are 3.5 million people around the world who practice Karate . This martial art is deeply rooted in Okinawan culture and identity . It teaches discipline , hard work , persistence and respect , which are highly regarded qualities in Japan . Sensei Nohara mentioned that although Karate is great , it does not surpass family and friends in importance . “ The [ purpose ] of Karate is to be strong , but [ like a ] gentleman and to have friends all over the world .”
This Spotlight was a little different because one of Sensei Nohara ’ s students , MSgt Christopher Ward of the 353rd SOSS , reached out to us and requested that we highlight Sensei Nohara as a farewell gift . MSgt Ward is leaving Okinawa soon and wanted to thank Sensei Nohara for all that he ’ s done . This alone demonstrates the diligence and attention that Sensei Nohara pays to his students . MSgt Ward has been practicing Karate for 12 years and will take all he ’ s learned from Sensei Nohara and continue to practice in the future .
If you ’ d like to give Karate a try , Sensei Nohara teaches Monday and Friday from 7 pm - 8:30 pm at the Risner Fitness Center . It ’ s never too late to learn a new art !
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