Happy New Year

Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu

Wishing everyone all the best for a happy, safe and successful New Year.

2012 marks the 35th anniversary of Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo, and we will be celebrating throughout the year at different events.

An anniversary like this is a good time for us to show our appreciation for the people who have paved the way for the karate we practice today in Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo. These people should include:

• The founder of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo, Kaiso Kori Hisataka
• Our former headmasters, So Shihan Masayuki Hisataka (Kenkokan) and Kaicho Shunji Watanabe (Kenyukai Watanabe-Ha) for their guidance and example
• The founder of Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo, Shihan Lori Vanniekirk
• Our former chief instructors, Shihan Phil Hooper and Shihan Scott Brown
• Our current chief instructors, Shihan Jim Griffin and Shihan Max Estens
• All the dojo instructors, present and past

And most importantly, all the past and present members of Shorinjiryu in Australia (including the above) for helping us with our training, guiding us, and pushing us to improve.

So please join me saying a big arigato goziamasu to all these people. The best way we can do this of course, is to train hard in 2012, helping to make Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo even stronger by building on the platform they have given us.