Sasaki Toshiatsu (R) teaching the students at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas yesterday. Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
The karatekas in the country were given the privilege to train with world class karate instructor Sasaki Toshiatsu at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas yesterday.
The 8th dan black-belt karateka instructor from Japan arrived in the Sultanate on Friday and had his last class session with the karatekas from the Brunei Shotokan Karate Association (BSKA) last night.
"He is the grand master of the grand masters in karate and this is a very good opportunity for all the karatekas in the country," said one of the instructors at the (BSKA), Mohd Sofian Abdullah in an interview with The Brunei Times.
Toshiatsu is one of the most experienced senior karate instructors in Japan and is the chief instructor of the Japan Karate-do Maruyoshikai Organisation (JKMO).
Currently, JKMO is represented with branches in USA, Canada, Russia, France, India, Malaysia, U.A.E, Iran, Sri Lanka, and many other countries.
Sofian continued that Toshiatsu's style of patience perfection allows the student to progress at their own pace, while striving at full potential.
"Toshiatsu is very particular about detail of every basic movement in karate... he also allows the absorption of knowledge through repetition, which is always followed with key explanations and instruction," he said.
Recognised as an experienced teacher of all mandatory kata (performance), Toshiatsu travels the world, bringing in-depth knowledge of karate to all karatekas and he also officiates at many world championships.
"Toshiatsu arrived on Friday from Kota Kinabalu in Sabah and tomorrow (today) he will go to Miri, Sarawak to teach at karate associations there," he said.
As one of the only few instructors in the world who are officially sanctioned to teach Shotokan style mandatory kata (performance), as prescribed by the World Karate Federation (WKF), Toshiatsu, is world renowned as the "Instructor's instructor".
"I hope that all the karatekas of all ranks and belts would use this opportunity to learn as much from Toshiatsu," he added.
Karate is one sport that has a lot potential in Brunei. Last year, the national karae team bagged two medals, one silver and one bronze at the 27th edition of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Myanmar. Muhd Fida'iy Sanif delivered on the silver medal after losing 8-6 to Ramon Antonino Franco of the Philippines in the men's under 55kg kumite. The bronze medal was courtesy of Mairul Muhammad after edging Myanmar's San Toe in the repechage of the men's under 60kg kumite after both were deadlocked at 3-3 in regulation time.
