UIKA - WUIKA Press Release

To Our UIKA Dojos Friends, Associates, and Families:

Isshinryu Groups Around The World Unite

For years the United Isshinryu Karate Association (U.I.K.A.) has made it a mission to keep the true Isshinryu as taught by Master Tatsuo Shimabuku alive.  Senseis John and Cindy Ingram (FL) and Sensei Dan Holloway (MI) have spent decades under the guidance of Master Harold Mitchum.  As Master Mitchum's senior students they have dedicated their lives to Isshinryu, to continue the dream that was begun by Master Shimabuku on Okinawa.
  It's with great excitement that the United Isshinryu Karate Association  announces a new endeavor, one that will bring about a union between Okinawa, Europe, and North America. The World United Isshinryu Karate Association (W.U.I.K.A.) which will serve as a platform for Isshinryu practitioners to train under regional directors, is forming as a worldwide effort to unite serious Isshinryu students from many regions around the globe.
Isshinryu's first generation advisory board; consisting of Tokumura Kensho Sensei,  John Bartusevics Sensei, Tom Lewis Sensei, and Bill Blond Sensei, have given their full support and backing to the idea of a World United Isshirnyu Karate Association and approve of the pursuit to unite Isshinryu practitioners the world over.  This new organization, the W.U.I.K.A., will seek to continue spreading Isshinryu to those who share in the desire to keep Master Shimabuku's Isshinryu alive.
Sensei John Ingram will lead as the director of the North American region  with Sensei Dan Holloway as the region's president, incorporating the United Isshinryu Karate Association under the heading of the newly formed W.U.I.K.A..
 Sensei Lars Anderson of Denmark (Europe's Joshinkan Orginazation) will lead the W.U.I.K.A. European region, and has begun the process of merging with the new orginization and plans to continue in ongoing efforts to train and share Isshinryu Karate with Isshinryu practitioners in Europe.
Isshinryu students in each of the represented regions will be able to gain membership, attend training seminars and symposiums, and stay connected with others who share their love for Isshinryu.  It is a great time for Isshinryu, and the W.U.I.K.A. is excited about this new journey.

Please visit our Facebook page at http://facebook.com/theWUIKA
Serving the Isshin Ryu community!

UIKA 2017 Kick off!!

UIKA Family:

Happy New Year to each of you!  I wish everyone the absolute best for this new year!  Last year brought us together,but was bittersweet.  We lost Sensei Mitcum in June making the year tough on a lot of us.  Sensei was close to the organization and had a special bond with many of the folks.  That was Sensei in a nutshell, making friends, mentoring, and doing his best for Isshin Ryu.

I remember one high ranking Dan approaching me and he said he asked Sensei Mitchum why he became so active in the past few years, Sensei answered and said, "it was for Master Shimabuku and Isshin Ryu".  In one seminar that I did with Sensei during a Q & A session a young person asked what he felt about Master Shimabuku.  Sensei paused, looked down for a moment and with those sparkling blue eyes said, "I loved the man".  I'll never forget that moment as I needed to back away for a second to gather myself.  But, that was Sensei, honest, caring, loving, and authentic.

Sensei would have us to be forward looking.  He planned and wanted the organization to improve and continue on.  One way we can do that is by taking his lead, and being the best we can be, then preparing and improving as we grow.  We are better together, stronger because we care.  We as UIKA members are united to the cause of preserving what Master Shimabuku taught through his student Harold Mitchum.  I'm all in, preserving the dream!!

As we look to membership a few things will change to improve the organization.  Memberships of one and five year are available as are "life time".  Details will follow as we massage some of the things we do to improve performance.  I appreciate all that folks do to help, everyone from the regional representatives to our social media and web guys, and sponsoring DOJOs, THANK YOU.

We'll see you soon, if you need anything your are welcome to contact the organization through Facebook, and the website.  Additionally, my number is available at: 248-505-4698.

Use the following new membership application link:

https://goo.gl/ybi3wQ

Dan Holloway