The relations between the Okinawan institutions and the Italian ones, concerning traditional martial arts, are relatively recent. But let's take a step back first in order to better understand the situation. Traditional Karate and Kobudo from Okinawa made their appearance in Italy years after Japanese Karate, in particular that of the JKA, consolidated as the most practiced martial art in our country. Even today, despite the competition of many other Japanese and / or Okinawan Karate styles, other martial arts, and numerous personal defense and combat sports courses, Karate mistakenly called "Shotokan" is one of the most practiced martial arts in Italy.
Over the course of time, other traditional Karate styles have come to our territory, originating from the island of Okinawa, the home of Karate! For many years there has been talk of uniting the various schools into a "federation" or, at least, into a national association, also incorporating the other Okinawan martial art that came to Italy, the Kobudo. Despite the will of many, the typical nature of Italian culture has meant that nothing has materialized, giving precedence to jealousies and desires for independence from institutions that are above the parties. So for a long time, except for sporadic events and timid attempts to change things (for example, remember the never completed projects Kentokukai and the Associazione nazionale Karate-do e Kobudo di Okinawa), italians have never been able to achieve anything serious and lasting.
Things changed with the birth of Okinawa Karate Kenkyukai, the Traditional Okinawa Karate and Kobudo research, dissemination and preservation association, which took place on January 23, 2016, which managed to bring together different Okinawan martial arts schools and styles present in Italy. Over time the association has grown, bringing together several other schools in Italy and Europe, and carrying out local and national projects and events, already discussed in other venues, and always available on the website: https://okinawa-karate-kenkyukai-en.webnode.it/ . In fact, Okinawa Karate Kenkyukai has made fairness and transparency one of its cornerstones, in order to demonstrate to everyone, in Italy and in Okinawa, its authenticity and good faith.
It was Okinawa Karate Kenkyukai, an Italian institution, which initiated relations with Okinawa Prefecture institutions, in particular with Okinawa Dento Karate-do Shinkokai, and with the Okinawa Karate Information Center. It began with a typical exchange of e-mails between the national manager Emanuel Giordano, and the secretary of the president of Shinkokai, Ms Kanazawa Miwa. In the e-mail of 16/01/2017, Ms Kanazawa wrote:
"As in your message, sports karate is a very common type of karate. This movement will be stronger because Karate will become part of the Olympic games. So I hope that Okinawa Karate Kenkyukai will help to make information on Okinawa's traditional Karate in Italy and in Europe. "
In the e-mail of 19/01/2017, after having spoken again with President Kyuna Choko sensei, and with Director Ikemiyagi sensei, Ms Kanazawa invited Emanuel Giordano to go to their offices, to personally illustrate the Okinawa Karate Kenkyukai project:
"You should visit us and talk to us personally about your project. Next time you visit Okinawa please let me know your travel plan. I will organize a meeting between you and our masters."
Emanuel Giordano went back to Okinawa in July 2017 and, as National manager of the Okinawa Karate Kenkyukai, he had three meetings at the Okinawa Karate Information Center office. The first, brief and informal, was between the aforementioned and Ms Kanazawa. The second was on 06/07/2017, and was attended by the President of Okinawa Dento Karate-do Shinkokai, Kyuna Choko sensei, and the Chief of the Okinawa Karate Information center, Uehara Kunio sensei. During the meeting, given the necessary presentations, and discussed the ongoing project in Italy, President Kyuna sensei said: "Good idea! We all agree, yours is a good project, you have our support! ". The meeting ended with an exchange of business cards and the gift of an Italian flag. The third and last meeting took place on 11/07/2017, between Emanuel Giordano, his Karate master Maeshiro Morinobu sensei and Uehara Kunio sensei (photo below).
After these meetings an article was published (in Italian and English) available on the Okinawa Karate Kenkyukai website. The links between the two institutions continued with a regular exchange of e-mails, as well as sending several written reports (2-3 a year) on the progress made and the Italian situation. The idea of the information reports was from the Okinawa Karate Kenkyukai.
The Okinawa Karate Kenkyukai's manager, Emanuel Giordano, had two other meetings with the Chief of the Okinawa Karate Information center, Uehara Kunio sensei, one in January 2019, and one in October 2019 (photo below). During these meetings various topics are discussed, some formal and others not, and the information dealt with in the various written reports sent during the year is deepened, since sometimes it is necessary to better clarify some points, due to cultural differences between our two countries. Cultural differences that sometimes led to misunderstandings.
Without devoting too much space to it, we must however mention the fact that some Italian practitioners do not like the connection between Okinawa Karate Kenkyukai and Okinawan institutions, and so there have been, over time, several attempts to boycott this relationship.
In conclusion, Okinawa Karate Kenkyukai and Okinawa Prefecture institutions have created a magnificent bridge between Italy and the "home of Karate". Maybe these institutional relationships can be less interesting than the seminars and the various events carried out by our group in Italy, but it is right to talk about them, since they have been possible thanks to the work and time of different people, and the work must always be respected, especially when it is carried out with dedication, fairness and passion, and has the sole reward of personal satisfaction and that of others, even more so when everybody can benefit, and not just a small circle.