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Karate Masters Documentary – Let’s make it happen!

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It’s been three weeks since I posted the pilot for Sensei – Masters of Okinawan Karate on YouTube. The goal was to see if viewers were interested in the concept, and for me to get some feedback. This would enable me to make a decision about what to do next.

If you’ve not watched already, please take 8 minutes 25 seconds out of your day, and check it out.

In three weeks the video has had about 3500 views. More importantly, comments in various Facebook groups, and direct messages to me have been very positive. It seems that many in the karate community would like to see more interviews, and that the videos, similar to the photographs in the Karate Masters Portrait Project, would be valued by others.

Today is January 1st 2019. It’s a time for new beginnings. A time to dream big, and aim for the stars. After talking with my wife Yuki, I’ve made the decision to go ahead with this new project. My goal is to create a series of 10 videos over the next 2 years. Videos will be released globally for free on YouTube.

Who will you interview?

Toshimitsu Arakaki was the first master interviewed, and Yoshitsune Senaga was the second. We still have to shoot more footage of Senaga sensei, edit, translate and caption it, so the completed video should be online around the end of January. After that it will all depend on which sensei have the time and patience to let us interview them. I’m happy to take suggestions from the karate community, but ultimately the sensei have to be willing to take part.

What questions will you ask?

How and why did they start learning karate and who did they learn from? What were the key pieces of advice from their teachers. How has learning karate changed their life? How does their style of karate differ from others? What are their favorite training methods? What advice do they have for others? Do they have favorite kata or techniques? Are there any anecdotes they’d like to share? These are just starters, hopefully the sensei will talk about whatever they are most passionate about.

I’d love to get questions for the sensei from their students and the karate community around the world. The depth of the interview and its ultimate length will depend on the sensei.

How can the international karate community help make this possible?

To bring the production quality of the series to the next level with better audio, multiple angles of video, and to manage the data, I’d need to purchase equipment such as an additional camera, boom microphone system, and data storage.

I’d also like to cover basic expenses like gasoline and highway fees for myself and other volunteers.

I think it is important to be able to give the karate masters a gift at the end of each interview for their time. For the Karate Masters Portrait Project we returned to each dojo with two or three large prints from their photo shoot, but for the video series I’d like to give an honorarium 謝礼金 (gift envelope with ¥10,000) as a way to give thanks and express that we value their time.

To help cover all these costs I believe the international karate community could help. I’m hoping that individuals, dojos, or organizations would be excited to help make this video series a reality. I’d acknowledge the generosity of all supporters and sponsors in the credits of the videos.

$50 Individual Supporter

$500 Sponsor

$1000 Main Sponsor

Supporters will have their name at the end of all remaining videos in the series in the credits.

Sponsors will have their name / dojo / organization at the end of all remaining videos in the series in the credits.

Main sponsors will have their name / dojo / organization and their logo at the end of all remaining videos in the series in the credits.

How do I become a supporter, sponsor or main sponsor?

Click on the link below and make your donation with PayPal.

https://paypal.me/TRAVEL67

In the “add a note” section please give the name as you’d like it to appear in the credits and an email address that we can contact you to give you updates on the project along with any other comments. For main sponsors I’ll also be in contact with you to get logo data for the credits.

I’ve got questions about this video series. How can I get in touch with you?

You can reach me via email at Chris@travel67.com or through Facebook

So there it is. A big idea. I’m in, and willing to give it my best. I believe that this project has the potential to be something special, and hope some of you would like to join me in this endeavor.

2018 Highlights

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The biggest event of 2018 was on February 12th when Jasmine Victoria Willson was born.

Over the last 10 months she’s grown to be a delightful little toddler who is excited by all her adventures. Life now revolves around bananas, Igglepiggle, and bath time.

I’ve been shooting a wide range of imagery, along with producing some videos for SKYLUM software.


Periclimenes psamathe seafan shrimp on gorgonian sea fan @ Cape Zanpa, Okinawa, Japan.

The Karate Masters Portrait Project continued, and expanded to start a new video documentary series about the amazing martial arts sensei on Okinawa. 2019 will begin with some exciting news about the series.

  • Dell Hamby 6th dan Uechi-ryu Karate 6th dan Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan Karate Master Portrait Project #77
  • Yasuhiro Uema, 9th dan Shorin-ryu Karate, #78 Karate Masters Portrait Project Photographed at the Karate Kaikan, Okinawa, July 27th 2018
  • Yoshitsune Senaga 10th dan Uechi Ryu Karate Do Kenseikai photographed 30/11/2018 at Honbu dojo, Tomigusku, Okinawa

At the start of the year I was out photographing the humpback whales while creating a video for SKYLUM, then at the end of the year I was recording the TEDxOIST lecture series with a team of videographers. One of the speakers was my good friend Nozomi Kobayashi who talked about her job monitoring the migrating whales.

In the spring I updated the Okinawa and Kyushu chapters for the next edition of Fodor’s Japan. Jasmine had her first trip down to Miyako Island.

Yuki experienced onsen bathing for the first time in beautiful Kagoshima Prefecture.

In summer we travelled back to the UK so that Jasmine could meet the extended family. Spent many days wandering around National Trust properties and eating cakes.

  • Sheep Dog Trials, Cumbria, United Kingdom
  • Jaguar XK120 black
  • Statue of Sir Matt Busby and group statues to the players Best, Law, and Charlton at Old Trafford, Manchester United football / soccer stadium. Manchester, England.
  • Gardens of Quarry Bank Mill, Styal, Cheshire, England

A huge thank you to my friends, family, workshops students, and clients for their support over the year. Wishing you all a relaxing holidays, and a fantastic 2019.

Christmas Diving at Cape Zanpa, Okinawa

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A great couple of Christmas dives yesterday with my buddy Hiroshi at Cape Zanpa. Rinsed the gear and now sorting through images with a pile of reference books at my side.

Identifying fish is often a challenge especially when some of them such as the bullethead parrotfish change their shape, color, and even sex over the course of their lives. Trying to identify corals is even trickier, but hopefully over the years I’ll be able to better differentiate between the various sponges, sea fans, soft corals, stony corals and anemones. The featured photo is I believe a Periclimenes psamathe ( seafan shrimp) on a Muricella sp. gogorian sea fan.

(Initial phase) Daisy parrotfish / Bullethead parrotfish, Chlorurus sordidus, Scaridae, @ Cape Zanpa, Okinawa, Japan.
(Terminal phase) Daisy parrotfish / Bullethead parrotfish, Chlorurus sordidus, Scaridae, @ Cape Zanpa, Okinawa, Japan.
Clark’s Anemonefish Amphiron carkii, Damselfishes Pomacentidae @ Cape Zanpa, Okinawa, Japan.
Crinoids / Feather Stars on large sea fan (Melithaea sp.) @ Cape Zanpa, Okinawa, Japan.
Achaeus japonicus, aka the orangutan crab on Bubble coral Plerogyra sinuosa @ Cape Zanpa, Okinawa, Japan.

Sensei – Masters of Okinawan Karate #1 Arakaki Toshimitsu

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This video is the first in a possible series of interviews with Okinawan karate masters. The sensei discuss their lives and share advice on training.

The first master is Toshimitsu Arakaki, Hanshi 10th-dan, Matsubayashi-ryu Karate (Shorin-ryu). 新垣 敏光 範士十段 松林流空手 （小林流）He is the teacher of my good friend James Pankiewicz who arranged for the interview to take place. (James runs the famous Dojo Bar in Naha City, and the Asato Dojo across the street. Check them out when in Okinawa!)

This pilot video is an opportunity to see if there is much interest in making this a series of videos rather than just a one off. Potentially interviews could take place with several karate masters and include more footage of them training or their everyday lives.

Will all the videos be on YouTube?

Yes! The idea is for the videos to be available for free on YouTube to anyone who wants to watch. Hopefully individuals, dojos, or karate organizations would be willing to help sponsor the project to make it viable, but this would only be possible if I can show that there is definite interest in making the videos.

How can you help?

Give the video a thumbs up, comment, and subscribe to the channel. Share the video with others who are interested in Okinawan karate.

If you, your dojo, or your organization is interested in helping sponsor the series, I’d love to hear from you. 

What I want to do better.

We shot this video in 4K with one camera. It works, but it would be better to use at least 2 cameras to cut between shots. Outdoor footage likewise would be better with two cameras, and with the option for slow motion. The potential importance of these interviews means that I’d like to shoot these in the highest quality possible. Sound quality could also be improved using a dedicated person on audio.

 Please enjoy the video, and I hope the karate community around the world find Arakaki’s interview fascinating. 

Yoshitsune Senaga 10th dan Uechi Ryu Karate Do Kenseikai

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On November 30th, I had the honor to photograph and shoot some video of Yoshitsune Senaga, 10th dan Uechi ryu karate at his dojo in Tomigusku, Okinawa. He is the 82nd sensei to be photographed for the Karate Masters Portrait Project.

81 year old Senaga sensei also studies kobudo, and was willing to show us his techniques with the sai.   Interestingly he showed how the pair of sai that he used would ring like tuning forks when hit.  He explained that this was because these sai were made from metal that was once used in a temple bell in Nara.

After taking portraits for the project, I recorded a quick interview with Senaga sensei, then finally we got some selfies of the group, and little Jasmine once again stole the show. 

The video, the second in the series we are working on, will be translated and hopefully appear online in the coming weeks.  This is an exciting new addition to the project, and we are currently thinking about how we can take this video series further. 

Amphiprion ocellaris

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Why do scientists use the Latin names when describing a species?

To avoid confusion between languages, and within the same language, about exactly what species you are describing. 

The fish in the photo above is Amphiprion ocellaris.  

For identification I could go to my favorite identification book for fish in Okinawa: Reef Fish Identification – Tropical Pacific

In this book Amphiprion ocellaris is called the False clown anemonefish.

If we check on Wikipedia for Amphiprion ocellaris we find a wide range of common names.

“The ocellaris clownfish, also known as the false percula clownfish or common clownfish, is a marine fish belonging to the family Pomacentridae, which includes clownfishes and damselfishes. ” Wikipedia

However, my preferred source for fish names is Fishbase which gives the common name as clown anemonefish.  

Then again, for millions of children around the world,  Amphiprion ocellaris is simply known as Nemo. 

TEDxOIST 2018

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Last month our team recorded the TEDxOIST lectures, and they are currently in the process of being released on the TEDx YouTube channel.  The first 3 have just come online so if you didn’t manage to see the event you can watch them here.  There are 10 lectures in total, so I’ll announce on the blog when the other videos are available. 

A huge thanks to my team of Gary, Jon and Patrick for operating the other cameras. It was great working together filming the event, and also to be part of an even larger team who were organizing TEDxOIST.