GALLERY — NEW YORK, JULY 2007

One of the most important and misunderstood training methods in Okinawan Karate is the machiwara.  Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to have a machiwara bolted to the floor in a New York apartment; or in an expensive commercial building, like the one we use for our Dōjō.  So, I designed a new portable machiwara platform.  After several design attempts, and lots of money ($$!!), I am getting closer to a working model.  My machiwara uses 400 pounds as counter weight to stabilize the base of the machiwara. 

This portable machiwara could be conveniently removed for storage.  In other words, my landlady, who runs a dance studio, doesn't want a machiwara bolted to the floor permanently.  This could be a good solution for many New Yorkers interested in machiwara training.  A long time ago, I used to have a machiwara bolted to my apartment floor.  I never understood why my neighbors complained about me hitting the machiwara, and not about the merenge music at two in the morning. Go figure!! 

During the month of July, the Shinjinbukan New York Dōjō was visited by Mr. Julian Dove from Amsterdam, the Netherlands.  Julian trianed with me for a month, and will probably be back during his next school break.  Also, another new student at my Dōjō is Preston Flammang, a former Sho Dan in Tae Kwon Do, who is switching to our Shinjinbukan Shōrin Ryū style.

Below from left to Right: Preston Flammang, Jimmy Mora & Julian Dove.