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The wheels are now well in motion for the trip to Japan. Flights are being booked and the contingent from the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy is growing as more interest spreads. Not only will there be a senior group attending the International Wado-Ryu Karate-Do championships on Sunday 23rd August but a number of under eighteen students, who regularly attend national squad training throughout the year, are also travelling to compete in the All-Japan Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Championships which are to be held on Saturday 22rd August. Apart from the contest, training dates are also being planned for the first week as well as some sightseeing visits before and after the weekend of competitions. Sensei M.Shiomitsu is kindly organizing this along with Sensei Kazutaka Ohtsuka.
At the moment members of the Devon Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Kai who are going to Japan to compete, officiate, coach, train or to support are: Sensei Peter Hill 6th Dan, Matthew Soanes 3rd Dan & Theresa Soanes 1st Dan (along with their daughter Abbie), Andy Kilby 2nd Dan, Paul Hedden 1st Dan (along with his girlfriend Leanne) and Craig Hill 1st Dan.
Best Wishes To Joseph Bale (Budo Juku):                                                                                                                     Devon Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Kai and all it's members would like to wish Joseph Bale 1st Dan (Budo Juku) well on his particular visit to Japan. Jo is the son of the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy's Kumite coach Sensei Arthur Meek 6th Dan Renshi. He will joining the rest of the contingent for this trip to Japan, but his visit will not be a short one. He has expressed a wish to stay in Japan for a few months to taste some of the intense training there and to follow in his father's footsteps. Shiomitsu Sensei was happy to endorse this and Nihon University old boy Kamizuma Sensei has kindly agreed to accommodate Jo. Those like Devon Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Kai's Matthew Soanes 3rd Dan who have trained with Kamizuma Sensei intensely, will know that Jo will be amongst some of the best young fighters in Japan. Jo is also incidentally a current south west kick boxing champion. Best of luck and best wishes Jo from all your friends here in Devon.

In August 2009 the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy will be participating in the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do International Championships in Tokyo, Japan. First and foremost a team will be selected from the group of competitors who regularly attend Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy National Squad Training throughout the year. However, this is also a trip that can be supported by Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy members wishing to train in Japan and attend the championships as a spectator.
The Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy Kumite Coach Sensei Arthur Meek 6th Dan Renshi as already kindly booked a hotel which can cater for a group stay so that a budget of around £25 per night can be met.
The hotel is situated in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo and has some of the finest department stores plus other tourist attractions that can make this trip unique. The first week will be based around training at Nihon University Karate Club in preparation for the contest, so it is best that as many members stay together as possible to make group travelling easier. Training is in the afternoon and the time from the hotel to the club would be about fourty five minutes by train.
The second week will be for sightseeing or leisure so students may make their own arrangements for where to go and stay etc.
Flight prices are approximately £500 return plus the 7/8 nights at around £25 per night, added to that the following week, gives some idea of the initial cost of the trip.
Selected squad members to represent the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy will be assisted from squad funds.

Memories of Japan                                                                                 The late Sensei Toru Takamizawa and his personal student Peter Hill at the dojo of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in 1991. Takamizawa Sensei was a graduate of this University and captain of their University Karate team. In the year Takamizawa Sensei was captain he took their Karate team to one of their most successful years in the history of this prestigious academic University.