Whenever my brother Raul and I have held technical Karate seminars, the same question always comes to mind: “Why weren’t all the instructors present? And, why haven’t a significant number of black belt students filled the hall tatami to capacity, particularly when there are hundreds of them in our school?” On reflection, these are good questions to ask, since they force one to remember the old days, perhaps the better days of Karate. In our youth, there was much enthusiasm to learn the technical details of our martial art and in general, there was a remarkable avidity to learn more of the katas, the bunkais and the basic techniques of the Ken-Shin-Kan Goju-ryu fundamentals, of the unforgettable training sessions with Sensei Akamine, and so many other aspects…Is it that times have changed? Or, is it that people have changed? I continue to reflect trying to understand the new Ken-Shin-Kan generation, who are so indifferent towards the process of learning and lack the enthusiasm to surpass themselves. So very different to ourselves and to the way we were. And it is for all the reasons above that I send you this message:

        Dear Ken-Shin-Kan students:

        I would like to help you become aware of the enormous importance the technical seminars have towards the improvement of the teachers, who in the end will be those who spread the Ken-Shin-Kan teachings at Dojos. And this role must be assumed with responsibility and honesty, since it is understood that students hope to receive the original lessons through them. On this matter I must reiterate, that on repeated occasions, I have heard comments indirectly, which say, “here in our Dojo we execute the katas Sensei’s Raul way”, which implies that according to them, there are great technical differences between the two Directors of the school. Nevertheless, this comment does not have any foundation, since Sensei Raul and Sensei Roberto have standardised the Ken-Shin-Kan katas, and teach a technical line in agreement with Sensei Akamine’s teachings, and additionally is approved by both.