Thursday, December 31, 2015

2016 New Year Message from Saiko Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi

Saiko Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi

Happy New Year!


I hope that all I.K.G.A. and J.K.G.A. members have had a good start to the new year of 2016.

Last year, many events took place in each Bloc to commemorate the 50th anniversary of I.K.G.A. The European Seminar and Tournament in England was conducted in July, the South American Block Seminar in Colombia was in September, the African Block Seminar and Tournament in South Africa was in October, and the Oceania and Asia-Pacific Region Championships in Jakarta was in November. Also, the All Japan J.K.G.A. Championships were held in Tokyo on July 25th. I was privileged to be able to attend all of these events and had a productive time with all the participants.

For 2016 events, IKGA members are planning to conduct Oceanian, European, Asian, and African Seminars. In addition, a Pan-American Championship in Chile is being planned as a collaborative effort between the North American and South American Blocs. This year, the All Japan J.K.G.A. Championships are scheduled to be held on Saturday, August 20th at Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo.

Looking ahead, the 7th I.K.G.A. World Championships in Vancouver, Canada will be held in 2017. I trust that everyone will keep up your daily training in preparation for this big event and dedicate yourselves to continued self-improvement.

In 2020, Tokyo will host the Olympics and Paralympics. Karate is one step closer to being adopted as an Olympic event, and devotees of karate are waiting and hopeful for good news. I would like all of you as practitioners of karate to strive to display the highest ideals of martial arts that are learned through Karate practice, and to do your best to avoid activities and behavior that might damage the image and reputation of Karate as an Olympic event.

If karate is adopted as an Olympic event its increased global status would greatly help promote international friendship. But we are also expected to always be mindful that the martial spirit of Karate-do as well as proper decorum and respectfulness must be maintained.

In honor of the year of the Monkey


The "Analects of Confucius" teach us a lesson about three wise monkeys that "see, hear, and speak no evil". They teach that we should "look not at what is contrary to propriety, listen not to what is contrary to propriety, speak not what is contrary to propriety, make no movement which is contrary to propriety".

2016 年の 指標
A guideline for the year 2016


不安と苦痛は命の証し
迷い悩みは希望と未来
幸せ求めは虚しい妬み
心の安らぎ 喜び探し
想い温め 心盤石

2016 年元旦 山口剛史
Anxiety and difficulties show that we are alive.
Distress and confusion are signs of hope and anticipation.
It is fruitless to seek happiness beyond what you possess.
Seek and cherish calm,
And you will achieve a state of inner peace.

January 1st, 2016 Goshi Yamaguchi