The 7th Shito ryu Karate do World Championships, that has taken place in Tokyo on September 12-16, 2013, location the legendary ″temple″ of martial arts ″Budokan″, attended a Greek delegation headed by George Pelekis.
The certain event is the leading of World Shito ryu Karate do Federation (W.S.K.F.) and it is organized every three years. It includes technical seminars, referee seminars, Dan grading and teacher titles, reaching its climax with the World Championships and the impressive opening ceremony offering a unique experience to all the spectators, including the opportunity for them to meet many great and appreciable teachers.
It is remarkable that the head of the Greek delegation George Pelekis except the fact that he has participated along with his students at the technical seminar, has passed successfully the grading for Jo kyu (teacher diploma), and has acted as a referee at the Championships.
After the end of the Championships, at the farewell dinner that followed, certificates of representation, has been awarded by the president of World Federation Mr Hiroshi Murata, to all the official representatives including Greece. The certificate received George Pelekis.
The following morning, the students that participated in the delegation, and who had made sightseeing tours at their free time in the city of Tokyo, had travelled with the high speed railways (Shinkansen) escorted by Shihan Con Kassis, towards Osaka city so they could catch the evening training at the historical ″Yoshukan″ dojo, with Soke Kenei Mabuni who was expecting the team’s arrival.
Those who for the first time visited and were been trained by the continuer of Shito ryu, Kenei Mabuni, were impressed. Such a great teacher, not only for his history (his contact with great teachers like his father Kenwa Mabuni, Gichin Funakoshi, Chojun Miyagi etc.) but also for the fact that in spite of his late age, 97 years old, he still has the ability to teach and to transfer his valuable knowledge with modesty and simplicity.
The trip that lasted for two weeks included except training, also sightseeing tour to several cities of Japan.
It has been a unique and unforgettable journey, since it was engraved in the memories of those who participated.
