The first Kyudokan dojo has been operating in Ireland since May 2017 in Killorglin Co. Kerry. Kyudokan is a traditional Okinawan Shorin-ryu group with headquarters in Naha, Okinawa. Kyudokan Kerry follows the teaching of Okinawa Shorin-ryu karate Master Minoru Higa 10th dan soke of Kyudokan Okinawa.
The Kyudokan School of karate originated in Okinawa is a traditional karate school famous throughout the world because of its heritage, culture and family traditions that were preserved to this day. Kyudokan Karate was created by O Sensei Yuchoku Higa.
Master Higa and the kyudokan will be familiar to many Shotokan practitioners as it is featured in the videos the Great Journey of Karate featuring Naka Sensei of the JKA, visiting Okinawan traditional dojos
The classes in Killorglin are run by Marc Dourieu who held a first dan in Shotokan before taking up Shorin-ryu while he was staying in France in 2014/2015.
Training in Okinawa with Kyudokan
In 2016, Marc spent two weeks in Okinawa with Sensei Rault training under the guidance of Master Minoru Higa. This visit to the birthplace of karate convinced him to change the way he practices karate and to follow the training methods and the teaching of the Kyudokan. The shorter fighting range and practical nature of Shorin-ryu karate seemed a better fit for his personality and aspirations.
Since his return from Okinawa, Marc has been teaching a Shorin-ryu class in Killorglin every Wednesday evening (and the odd Friday evening) with a small but dedicated group of students. He also traveled to France to train with Sensei Rault, 8th dan, Kyudokan France, (highest Kyudokan rank in Europe) and Civil and Cultural Ambassador of the Okinawan Prefecture.
Sensei Rault spent many years living in Japan and returns to Okinawa to train with Master Higa a few times each year and recently returned from his 51st trip to Okinawa.
With Sensei Koyu Higa and Master Minoru Higa, Tsuboya Dojo, Naha, Okinawa.
Should you wish to find out more about Kyudokan, please visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kyudokanKerry/ or contact us via the Facebook page.