On 8 October 2006, the 20th Annual Shorinjiryu Shinzen Shiai was held in New York. Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo was well represented with 6 members participating.
Our team had been in the US for over a week, with us training with Hanshi Watanabe at his Japan Karate Center Dojo in Baltimore, MD. We covered the kata Kusanku, Sankakutobi Shodan and Sankakutobi Nidan yakusoku kumite series (3 in each series), bo kata and sai kata, with a special emphasis on Shorinjiryu footwork.
At the Shorinjiryu Shinzen Shiai in New York, Kyoshi Myron Lubitsch made a surprise announcement that Shihan Jim Griffin has been promoted to 6th Dan, following a recommendation made by our patron, Shihan Phil Hooper. Congratulations to Shihan Jim for a promotion that recognises his long time dedication to Shorinjiryu karate.
A further happy announcement was that Kyoshi Myron himself was promoted to Hanshi 9th Dan. Congratulations also to Hanshi Myron.
The team fared very well with us bringing home 5 placings, as follows:
Congratulations to all involved.