Grand master visits

Press, 2 December 1985, Page 7

Grand master visits

Shihan Gordon Doversola, a grand master of the martial art, Okinawa-Te, is in Christchurch from Los Angeles for a three-week visit. He is shown demonstrating a spearless spear form or magari yari. Mr Doversola, the fonder of the Okinawa-Te organisation in the United States, has been teaching the ancient art since the

1950 s and has the exalted status of ninth degree black belt.

During his stay he will give lessons and on Saturday will hold a seminar at the Christchurch Youth Centre for anyone interested in the martial arts. Okinawa-Te has three branches in the United States and one in New Zealand — the school set up in Christchurch 10 years ago by Mike Lee, a young Hawaiian student of Mr Doversola's.

The grand master said that he would like to see an Okinawa-Te school in the North Island, “when things get better on the tournament circuit.” He said that he had also had requests for the estab-

lishment of schools in Britain, France, and Germany. “But I want to sit back at this stage. I don't like to spread if I can’t control my organisation,” he said.

For a small school the Christchurch version of Oki-nawa-Te was doing well, Mr Doversola said. He sees the whole idea of martial arts as building good character and discipline, training both mind and body.

“To us the martial arts are not only something that happens in the gym. It carries into the home and carries you into adulthood,” he said.

Since he has been in New Zealand Mr Doversola has heard of. articles promising

young people a black belt in four months or a year. He dismisses such claims.

“To us a black belt is very sacred — like a college degree. You have to have some pride and honour in wearing one,” he said. In the island of Okinawa and in Japan there were instances of certificates being sold, Mr Doversola said.

By contrast, in his decades of immersions in the art of Okinawa-Te, Mr Doversola has come to perfect 36 different katas or forms. “The shortest form is made up of about 100 pieces; the form of the tiger is 250 pieces; the leopard is 300 pieces; and the crane is 250 nieces,” he said.