A special thank you to our 40th Anniversary Committee for arranging special commemorative events as well as creating outstanding mementos to mark this historic occasion for Karate BC.
We started with Sensei Shapland’s Friday night seminar on “the history and evolution of kata”. Close to 30 participants heard some of the key advances in kata as seen through the eyes of the Okinawans. Very interesting. That evening a “trailer” of the dvd “Otusan-The Life of Masami Tsuruoka” was shown and 25 copies of the dvd sold. If anyone else would like a copy, please refer to the Karate Canada website or contact Dan Wallis for more information on purchasing a dvd.
The committee also arranged for an entertaining demonstration Saturday morning of Okinawan Eisa dancers. Thank you to Sensei Scales for arranging this event.
On Saturday the audience was entertained with demonstrations by Sensei Shapland’s Tesshinkan kobudo students. Another very interesting demonstration on Saturday was performed by Sensei Barry Gower’s Uechi Ryu students.
On Sunday Sensei Akiro Sato performed a knife defence demonstration to the delight of all.
The committee also created a commemorative Yearbook, compiled by Charles La Vertu which was distributed to participants and spectators during the weekend. This book was very professionally done.
The tournament committee/anniversary committee had Kerr’s Recognition Services Inc. create a special tournament medal commemorating 40 years for KBC. It is spectacular.
