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2024 Gōjūryū Karatedō Pan-American Seiwakai Seminar

Mina-sama,

We are honored to invite you to join us November 8th to November 10th 2024 with over 100 international karateka at our 8400ft² gymnasium, in the heart of Silicon Valley in Menlo Park, California at the Arrillaga Family Center (ARC), as we host from Japan: Seiichi Fujiwara Shihan as Chief instructor (Director of Gōjūryū Karatedō Seiwakai and Overseas Director of JKF Gōjūkai) and: Vassie Naidoo Shihan as assistant instructor (Vice President of Seiwakai International), for the 2024 Gōjūryū Karatedō Pan-American Seiwakai Seminar.

This event shall include both Seiwakai and JKF Gōjūkai testing, in the and promises to be an enriching experience for all participants. Download the PDF at www.gojuryu.net/seminar/, return to this page often for additional information as it becomes available.

2024 Gōjūryū Karatedō Pan-American Seiwakai Seminar

 

FAQ’s (yeah – these are all real Q & A, I can’t make this up!):

  • I’m confused, I gave my sensei the seminar fee and he said to get a receipt from you and now you wrote back that I should get my fees back and send it directly. Is there some kind of conflict going on?
      • There is no conflict. It is clearly written in the seminar package PDF (above) to remit your banquet and or seminar fee to the host ONLY and your testing fees to your club director. Your attendee wrist-band will not be issued if this is not rectified.
  • I am Grand Master (GM) Abc Xyz. I plan on coming to your seminar. What is the per diem program for guests and what time slots will you have instructors demonstrate and teach? I will add great value to your event.
      • Dear GM…. There is no per diem program nor guest instructor time slot available. The event is on a strict schedule and will cover the Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF) Gōjūkai curriculum as it conforms to Seiwakai Gōjūryū Karatedō, only.
  • Is this one of those events that are going to ask me not to wear my (Kyoshi) Shihan belt?
      • YUP! Please – please (P Gila reference), no Renshi belts, no Kyoshi belts, no Hanshi belts, no zebra belts or what-ever belts. Dress with humility, come with humility and display humility. The impression of your presentation is a display of your integrity.
      • Furthermore, please wear an all white do-gi, if possible, with minimum patches and markings. As written above also applies, your outer wear doesn’t need to display your inner reflections. A patch that reads “world champion,” “Grand-Master,” “Master Instructor,” “Overlord,” “Shihan,” means nothing in a group of like minded individuals seeking unity through cohesive participation.
  • During our county’s Visa application process we were asked to provide our P1 Visa Petition number. Do you have it available?
      • We cannot find nor recall in any communications, that we intended on providing P1 Petitions to any participant. Please understand, the host, as an individual, is floating the full cost of the event and the club is a small non-profit likely never be in a position to sponsor a P1 Visa, which costs thousands of dollars in legal fees to procure. The P1 Visa program is for major, internationally recognized athletes and does not have to be renewed for 5-years. Participants from Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Poland, Jamaica and Portugal all attend on tourist Visa.
  • Can your tell me in private, who asked that other stupid question ………?
  • Hey JP, who asked you disrespectful question bullet point #X ………?
  • Can you let me know, who asked about ………?
      • Sorry, we are not going to expose disrespectful, abusive, ignorant or unethical individuals, publicly or privately until or unless it is absolutely necessary. Time always reveals these type of individuals – ALWAYS!
  • Previously, the registration fee didn’t go up until after October 1st so I’m only going to pay the original base fee because it is not October 1st yet (registered September 11th).
      • This was the case for only some of the previous events not all, and at no time was it implicated as the traditional or enforceable cut-off date for early registration. We discussed this date with the international director in May and published the dates immediately there-after. Please understand that Karatedo is Budo, and Budo is based on merit, ethics, manners and respect. Because the host is not accepting such tactics, please consider not attending the event rather than force a subject beyond your boundary of control.
  • My child is a beginner and only attending one day, is there a discount for them?
      • Yes – please see the fee for one day for Cadets. This will not be available after September 1st.
  • If participating, can I take video?
      • Yes and no. You may take short video clips with the understanding that Fujiwara Shihan does not want seminar video posted online. Setting up a tripod to record the entire event is not permitted.
  • Can you reserve my hotel room?
      • Unfortunately too many have made this request which has restricted our personal and club credit cards, capped at $10k. If these individuals do not attend we are still charged.
  • I shouldn’t have to pay for the seminar and dinner if I am 8th Dan (another has asked the same and is 7th Dan)…
      • Why not? It’s not free. Apologies however, Fujiwara Shihan time (coaching fee), flight, meals and hotel are not free. Nor is the facility rental, insurance, banquet, etc. Perhaps if this were a hot date however, she already has a ring on her finger.
  • I missed the September 1st deadline to send payment. Can you extend it for me?
      • Possibly however only for two weeks and that is only if you had previously sent in your registration and needed more time to make the payment.
  • How do I pay for the seminar?
      • Please make payments for the seminar via the instructions in the seminar package (PDF) at www.gojuryu.net/seminar/ on pages four and five with clear payment instructions.
  • How much is the test?
      • Regarding testing fees: Contact your instructor or director of your country regarding test fees prior to.
  • Can I write a check? Where can I send it?
      • We are a little uncomfortable accepting personal check however if you must write a personal check, please send a direct message to the host for the delivery address and “payable to.”
  • Are there discounts for second and third family members, like the seminars in Canada and Australia?
      • We wish we could say yes to this and would love to have more attendees however,  we do not receive a facility rental discount for additional attendees. Unfortunately public sports clubs in the USA do not receive government subsidizations (as in Canada or Australia) or monetary support from the national and regional organizations (Seiwakai USA or Pan-America Seiwakai). There are no funds contributed and the host is carrying the full financial burden of the event.
  • Where is the best nightlife?
      • Downtown Palo Alto – definitely! You’ll want to lodge at Hotel Keen, Palo Alto.
  • What hotel is nearest to the training facility? We don’t want to rent a car.
      • Hotel Lucent, Menlo Park, CA: 5-minute walk to our training facility (the ARC) and is adjacent to a mega-supermarket and restaurants.
  • Are spectators allowed?
      • Spectators are restricted to “by written permission only.” Although the facility is publicly owned, it is privately rented for the weekend for our event. Please understand, there are despicable people in the world. We apply a unique term to despicable people, “Deshabari,” and deshabari suck. Those denied entrance will be pronounced trespassing and escorted next door to the police department. We are very serious regarding this.
  • I was just told you will give out a special gift for the first 50 registrants. Can you save one for me?
      • Unfortunately, the (potential) gift you are inquiring about may or may not be distributed to the first 50 paid registrations.
  • Who is organizing the tours and where are they?
      • There is no organized tour. Perhaps next year a third party affiliated participant and facilitate a regional tour.