Karatedo Shitokai New Zealand

2012 Sensei Fumio Demura

On the 1st December, Sensei Bob attended an excellent seminar in Auckland conducted by Sensei Fumio Demura, who was brought out by Sensei Dennis May.

The seminar was attended by around 200 Karateka, all very keen to expand their knowledge from a 9th Dan Karate legend. For readers who do not know, Sensei Demura was the stunt double in the original Karate Kid movie, doing all the stunt work for "Mr Miyagi” and also advised Bruce Lee on Kobudo (weapons) in all his Kung Fu movies. He is a tremendously knowledgeable master, who, although crippled by a stroke in 2011, still travels the world passing on all his knowledge and experience, which was eagerly absorbed by all attending. As the saying goes, you cannot take knowledge away, and Sensei Demura has an incredible depth of knowledge gained from his years of training.

Of particular value was his version of some of the bunkai from Bassaidai . He has a theory that as long as the bunkai has the desired effect, it does not really matter how it is carried out. His saying (very true) is that while 5 + 5 equals 10, so does 7 +3 or 6 + 4, etc. Another very interesting exercise was the " 8 person ring” where one person stands in the middle and is attacked from all directions by the others. A most bruising and mind sharpening exercise (Bob has the bruises to prove it!)