News
24hr Kata-Thon
The Dolphin Leisure Centre, Haywards Heath, UK – 9th April 2011
Local Karate Students Stage ‘Karate-thon’ to Raise Funds for Japanese School Members Affected by the Earthquake and Tsunami
Haywards Heath, UK – 21 March 2011 – Shorinjiryu Renshinkan Karate, England today announced it will stage a 24 hour ‘Karate-thon’ on 9 - 10 April 2011 in an effort to raise more than £5000 for the karate school’s members in the north of Japan, an area devastated by the earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011. The ‘Karate-thon’ will be held at Freedom Leisure’s Dolphin Leisure Centre, in Haywards Heath, West Sussex and will involve youngsters and adults from across Mid Sussex.
The 24 hour ‘Karate-thon’ will see approximately 100 students perform kata (memorised sequences of defence and attack movements) around the clock, beginning at 7.30pm on Saturday 9 April. Participating students will donate a fee, as well as seeking sponsorship in recognition of their efforts.
The event will include a 6 hour ‘Karate-thon’ for youngsters aged 10 years and over, and a 4 hour karate-thon for those aged 8 – 10 years. The ‘Karate-thon’ will be open to spectators and any donations will be welcomed on the day. Alternatively, anyone can donate to the cause by going to www.renshinkankarate-england.org.uk.
Shihan Julia Turley, head of Shorinjiryu Renshinkan Karate, England said: “Everyone is now fully aware of the horrific events unfolding in Japan following the recent earthquake and tsunami. Our Renshinkan family in Japan has suffered greatly in the biggest earthquake in living memory. Thousands have died, many more are missing and homes and lives have been completely destroyed.
“We have a large branch of the school in Sendai, the epicentre of the tsunami, an area that has been completely devastated. The 24 hour ‘Karate-thon’ is our chance to not only raise funds to help the recovery process, but to also commit spiritually to our Renshinkan family with some hard physical effort.”
Every penny raised will be personally delivered to the surviving members of karate school families in the disaster area by the head of the international Shorinjiryu Renshinkan federation, Soke Iwao Tamotsu. Soke Tamotsu will travel from the school headquarters in Kagoshima, situated on the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands, Kyushu.
Grand Master Iwao Tamotsu, head of the school, says: “The love and support for Japan and our Renshinkan family in areas damaged by the terrible earthquake and tsunami has been overwhelming. I have received calls from all over the world and I thank all involved in the effort to raise funds and provide spirit and hope to Japan in this dark hour.”
In addition to the ‘Karate-thon, the school will be accepting donations during all its normal sessions and will request a small fee to watch the upcoming Grading – in which students gain their next belts – on Sunday 27 March 2011.
Freedom Leisure has kindly donated the use of the Dolphin Centre’s sports hall free of charge to ensure all money raised goes direct to the Japan Tsunami Relief fund.For further information, or an interview, please contact Julia Turley on 01444 454827 or email jtrenshinkan@btinternet.com
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami – Renshinkan England Fund Raising
INTRODUCTION
Everybody is now fully aware of the horrific events which are unfolding in Japan as the result of the recent earthquake and tsunami.
The England branch of the International Federation of Shorinjiryu Renshinkan Karate Do is closely connected to and led by Grand Master Iwao Tamotsu whose Father first established this style of traditional karate in the 1930’s. The headquarters is based in Kagoshima, way down on the south coast of Japan. Although the headquarters is not directly affected, there is a large branch with many dojo’s based in Sendai, the epicentre of the tsunami and the area that has been completely devastated.
THE DISASTER
Friday 11th March
As soon as the England Leader of Renshinkan(Julia Turley) heard of the tsunami she contact Soke Iwao Tamotsu to express her heartfelt sorrow and prayers for all Sendai students on behalf of England Renshinkan. Soke Sensei responded with the following message -
“Thank you for your concern. A very large area has been affected by this disaster, and there are many, many victims. There are also many Renshinkan dojo’s (in Sendai). At the moment, I can’t get through to them by phone so have no way of contacting them. I am grateful for the sympathy and friendship of all of you in the UK. Please pass on my regards to everyone”
This was followed up with a message sent to all members of the International Federation on Tuesday 15th March.
“I would like to thank every one of you who have showed your love and support to Japan, our people and our Renshinkan family in the areas that were damaged by the terrible earthquakes and/or the tsunami. I have received so many calls from all over the world. Shihans (Senior Instructors) in Tokyo contacted me and confirmed that nobody was physically injured. I was also finally able to get hold the Shihan in Sendai today. He said that his mother is still missing and he has no idea what has happened to his students and their family’s. He has not been able to find anyone at the moment.
I know there are some students trying to raise funds especially for our Renshinkan family in Sendai. Once I receive these funds, I will personally fly over there with some Shihan, and will donate the funds directly to the families in the dojo. I will make sure this will happen in the near future.
As Soke and a Japanese person, I really appreciate your support from the bottom of my heart.”
Sincerley
Soke Iwao Tamotsu Shorinjiryu Renshinkan Federation of Japan