Locals Bring Home the Gold, Silver and Black
GARNER, North Carolina (January 20, 2010)
- Instructors and students from JKO Karate in Garner participated in the 37th Annual JKO Masters Seminars and Championships held on January 16-17 in San Diego, California. Held at the San Diego Convention Center, this international event has drawn competitors, officials and VIPs from as far away as Italy and from organizations as notable as the World Karate Federation and USA Karate.
This year’s featured seminar on Saturday was taught by Hanshi Minobu Miki, head of the Japan Karate-do Organization. Hanshi Miki came to the United States from Japan in 1966 and founded the JKO in 1972 at the request of the Grandmaster in Japan. “We train hard and make sure to teach the tradition of karate-do,” Miki said. “Having studied under the founder’s son, it is important to me to teach my students what he taught me. This event is a big part of that.” Miki earned his 8th degree black belt and the title of Hanshi, senior master, from Soke Kenzo Mabuni, son and heir of the founder of Shito-Ryu, the style of karate Miki teaches. Miki was the first person in the world outside of the Mabuni family to do so.
