A little girl, with little curls, came to see the hills. She read about a naughty rabbit, and went in search of thrills.
She walked up Orrest Head, and looked down at the lake. But now that she was seven, it was just a piece of cake.
She hiked up Wandsfell Pike, and the view was just the best. Mum took another photo, while Dad had a little rest.
The Red Arrows roared above, a mountain victory!
Then holding hands, they wandered home, for buttered scones and tea.
The karate interview series is back! Watch a 6 minute preview of Episode 1, then I give some updates on Series 3.
Huge thank you to those who’ve already made donations as sponsors or supporters for Series 3.
SERIES THREE SPONSORS
Martin Pinto – Essex Goju Ryu Karate
Series Three – Supporters
Artur Carballo
Justin Sheehy
Olaf Steinbrecher
Masaru Hoshi
K.R. Ruiz
Click here to learn more about the documentary series, and how you can help!
Back in 2017, Zachary bought his wife Kelley a location / studio portrait session for Christmas. Kelley had amazing ideas inspired by classic Disney movies, so we went with a demure princess look amongst Okinawa’s cosmos flowers, then transformed her into an all-powerful queen.
With Kelley looking magnificent (or possibly Maleficent), we shot in the studio, then headed over to Bise Village to get images at the beach and amongst the fukugi trees.
Zachary was even willing to step in front of the camera so that Queen Kelley could demonstrate the true power of the crown.
Over the past 8 years, Zachary has himself transformed into a legendary Thunderbird. It was fantastic to see both Zachary and Kelley in the new Netflix documentary (That’s Zachary (Zeke) in the Official Trailer thumbnail!). So happy to see them following their dreams, and their lovely young family. Hopefully we’ll meet again if they are ever back in Okinawa, but until then safe flights as you serve your Queen and country.
Thank you to Audra Pesicka for her great work back in 2017 with hair and makeup, and to Yuki as my assistant. Photos were shot with the Pentax 645Z, with lighting using a Profoto B1 and the softlight reflector white.
For more information about photography sessions in Okinawa please click here.
R.I.P. Jyosei Yogi, Kounan-ryu Karate & Okinawa Kobudo Renseikai, passed away at 91 years old. Fond memories of our shoot in June 2012.
Grey-faced buzzard (Butastur indicus) a common winter visitor in Okinawa happily perched on the corner of my studio.
We are embarking on creating Series 3 of Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate. We have filmed a fascinating interview with Tatsunori Matsuda of Okinawa Kenpo, and recorded the first pieces of B-roll.
We’ve also got the go ahead to film interviews with Seisuke Adaniya (Matayoshi Kobudo / Shorin-ryu), Yoshio Kuba (Goju-ryu) and Kiyohide Shinjo (Uechi-ryu).
The plan is to film at least 6 interviews with Okinawan masters in Series 3 so there are several other sensei that we will be reaching out to. We will also conduct several interviews with international karateka.
I hope to start releasing the interviews in October 2025 around Karate Day and the Martial Arts Film Festival.
If you’d like to watch previous interviews, learn more about the series, or support the project then please click the link below
https://travel67.com/the-karate…/sensei-documentary/
Any questions just ask!
A huge thank you to the organizations, dojos, and individuals who helped sponsor and support the first two series.
SERIES TWO SPONSORS
Martin Pinto – Essex Goju Ryu Karate
Doug Perry – Okinawa Shorinryu Karate
Cezar Borkowski – Northern Karate Schools
NOVA Okinawan Karate Dojo
Seikichi Iha, Okinawa Prefectural Intangible Cultural Asset – Beikoku Shidokan Karatedo Association
Neil Stolsmark – Authentic Ancient Arts
Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei Kai & Shorin- Ryu Shorinkan.
Zensekai Karate Kobujitsu Renmei / Oyata Preservation Foundation
Series Two – Key Supporters
Ervin Tong – Shin Shi Kan
Fred Mansfield Jr. – Beikoku Shidokan / RBKD
Robert Roberto Curtis – Beikoku Shidokan / Virginia Dojo
琉球大学国際地域創造学部 ウェルネス研究分野 (荒川研究室)
Mark Spear – Black Bear Dojo
Series Two Supporters
Ari Nuutinen
Justin Sheehy
David Deinert
Fred Speece
Andreas Sticht
Danny Smith
Olaf Steinbrecher
Jonathan Lapomardo
Shelley Cormier
Gerry Campbell
Marian Reiter
Joel Castasus
Åke Mora Temnerud
Victoria Kirkup
Robin Ross
Thomas Podzelny
Andy Morris
Darren Xiberras
James Hatch
John J. Strangeway
SERIES ONE – MAIN SPONSORS
Fusei Kise, Isao Kise and the OSMKKF-USA
Jerry Figgiani – Shorin Ryu Karate Do International
Beikoku Shidokan Karatedo Association
Grant Campbell – USA Karate Federation
Cezar Borkowski – Northern Karate Schools
NOVA Okinawan Karate Dojo
Waterpoints Dojo – Okinawa Arts Research Studies World Scene
Series One – Sponsors
Marguerite “Peggy” Hess – Jensen Beach Uechi Ryu Karate Do Dojo
Reece Cummings – Cummings Karate Dojo
Michael Quinn – Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Europe
Martin Pinto – Essex Goju Ryu Karate
Mark Spear – Black Bear Dojo
Okinawa Karate Podcast
Fred Mansfield Jr. – Beikoku Shidokan / RBKD
Series One – Supporters
Tim Herlihy
Robin Ross
Joshua Simmers
Jeff Perkins
Paul Punshon
John J. Strangeway
Gerry Campbell
Shelley Cormier
K V Manoharan
Phil Butler
Danny Smith
Justin Rathert
Adam Carter
Mike Powers
Miguel Da Luz
Robert Roberto Curtis
Josh Ryer
Belgi Serin
Igor Vakos
Lisken Dus
Andrew Pearce
William C. Ford
Cos Vona
Steve Ouslis
Sandro Simonetta
Axel Grundig
Jiří Matouš
Jose Planas
Andy Morris
Steve Armes
Olaf Steinbrecher
Hannele Zubeck
Maija Zubeck
Scott Alter
Rob Chartier
Laura Chartier
Xu Ya Hui
Vlamir Silva
Marian Reiter
Cassie Pham-Korman
John Schrock
Åke Mora Temnerud
Ari Nuutinen
Hubert Laenen
Mario Michiels
Chris Michiels
Lynn Miyahira
Roy Paul
Andy Sloane
Justin Sheehy
Manfred Streuber
If you, your dojo, or organization can support Series Three it would be a huge help to document this important part of Okinawan culture.
A couple of pics of a Ryukyu flying fox that was taking a nap in one of our garden’s trees. We often see them flying around in the evening, but they don’t usually sleep in the trees right next to our house.
The Ryukyu flying fox is a species of megabat, their wingspan is about 1.4 meters and they can weigh up to 500 grams. There’s no chance they are going to try and grab our cats, as they mainly eat fruits and flowers.
Denny Tamaki has been the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture since August 2018.
2018年8月から沖縄県知事に就任した玉城デニー氏。
After becoming governor, Tamaki began studying Uechi-ryu karate under Yoshimitsu Matsusaki, of the Uechi-Ryu Karate Karate-Do Kenyu-Kai. Tamaki explained he started studying karate both for its health benefits and because of its cultural significance to the Okinawa Islands, the birthplace of karate.
知事就任後、玉城氏は上地流空手道を上地流拳優会の松崎賀充先生に師事する。玉城氏は、空手の健康効果と、空手発祥の地である沖縄諸島の文化的意義の両方から空手を習い始めたと説明した。
The Uechi-Ryu Karate Karate-Do Kenyu-Kai is now led by Kiyohide Shinjo Sensei, and I have photographed many of its masters. Although Denny Tamaki is a relatively new student of karate, as the Governor of Okinawa, he is the chairman of the Okinawa Dento Karatedo Shinkokai, and is chair of the committee to inscribe Okinawan karate on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
上地流拳優会は現在、新城清秀先生が主宰し、私は多くの師範を撮影してきた。 玉城氏は空手の門下生としては比較的新しいが、沖縄県知事として沖縄電燈空手道振興会の会長を務め、沖縄空手のユネスコ無形文化遺産登録委員会の委員長も務めている。
In December 2023, I had the opportunity to attend the end of year training for the Matsusaki dojo, and photograph Denny Tamaki for the Karate Masters Portrait Project.
2023年12月、私は松崎道場の年末稽古に参加し、空手マスターズ・ポートレート・プロジェクトのために玉城デニー氏を撮影する機会を得た。
Although it was a cold blustery day in December, Denny Tamaki and Matsusaki Sensei were happy to head down to the beach for some final training, and a few more pics.
12月の寒い日だったが、玉城氏と松崎先生は最後のトレーニングのためにビーチに行き、写真を撮った。
A huge thank you to Denny Tamaki and Yoshimitsu Matsusaki Sensei. Thank you to Yoichiro Kuniyoshi Sensei for helping set up the shoot, and to all the students of the Matsusaki dojo for allowing me to join their end of year training.
玉城氏デニー氏、松崎賀充先生、ありがとうございました。撮影の準備を手伝ってくれた國吉陽一郎先生、年末の稽古に参加させてくれた松崎道場の道場生の皆さん、ありがとうございました。
The portraits were shot with Sony A7RIV cameras using the 24 mm f1.4 lens and the 24-105 mm f4 lens. The strobe I used was a Profoto D2 with softlight white reflector indoors, and switched to the Profoto B1 outdoors.
ポートレートは、ソニーA7RIVカメラで24mm F1.4レンズと24-105mm F4レンズを使って撮影した。使用したストロボは、屋内ではプロフォトD2とソフトライト白色リフレクターで、屋外ではプロフォトB1に切り替えた。
More information about the Karate Masters Portrait Project can be found here.
空手マスターズ・ポートレート・プロジェクトについての詳細はこちらをご覧ください。
More information about the Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate documentary series can be found here.
Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate』ドキュメンタリーシリーズについての詳細はこちらをご覧ください。
Another highlight from 2024 was a couple of days in the Lake District. As a kid, I spent many weeks on family trips and school camps in Grasmere and Borrowdale. Back then I’d be scrambling along Helvellyn’s Striding Edge or climbing a pitch on Shepherds Crag, but this time it was gentle strolls with the extended family.
I saw a red squirrel for the first time in decades, and had a lovely birthday lunch at the fabulous Zeffirellis in Ambleside,
Even mid-August, it was cool and a little drizzly, but that is almost to be expected in this green and pleasant land.
RIP Ryoichi Onaga 1948 – 2024
A student of Eichi Miyazato, Ryoichi Onaga taught Okinawa Goju-ryu karate for half a century in Murcia, Spain.
A 10th-dan Hanshi, Onaga Sensei was also Vice Chairman of the Okinawa Goju-ryu Karatedo Kyokai. Through an introduction from Norihiko Masuda Sensei I was able to photograph Onaga Sensei on August 20th 2021. Condolences to his family, friends and students around the world.
TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography 