On December 8th 2005 Higaonna Sensei awarded Victor Panasiuc sixth dan in Goju-Ryu karate. Presentation of the name occurred in Okinawa, during the workshop black belt Goju Ryu. About Okinawan their impressions about the way in karate and in life tells the President of the Association of Goju-ryu Moldova Victor Panasiuc.

You are not the first time visited Okinawa. This time the reason for the trip was the assignment given to you the sixth? 

Almost all of my travel associated with Goju Ryu, it happened this time. Sensei and the guardian of traditional Goju Ryu Morio Higaonna conducted a seminar for black belts at home in Okinawa. I received an invitation to the seminar. But my main aim was not the seminar itself, and not receive the sixth dan. I deliberately chose December to visit Okinawa. At that time Sensei usually train a few students, and there is an opportunity for more serious training.

How is the exam in Goju Ryu? Does it many hours a duel with successive partners, breaking objects, all that does karate so spectacular and popular? 

Firstly, I would say that given as the degree of skill in karate, is not a sports title conferred for a win in competitions or in combat. Dan - this is the recognition of the Master of your depth of understanding of karate, assessment of how far you progressed in his or her way to karate. During a recent visit to Okinawa, I had not even realized at once that the examination began. It all started with a few matches under the supervision of Sensei. The next day continued the examination. Exams - a demonstration of all sections of the technology, which is in Goju Ryu. This kata (special forms of exercise), bunkai - interpretation of these movements with a partner who apply for a real fight, and a series of special exercises for developing a number of specific qualities - the tactile sensitivity of the body, stability, explosive force. 

Not all readers of the interview is deeply versed in styles and trends of karate, specific terminology. If you can - a brief digression on the history and differences between Goju Ryu as one of the styles of karate. 

Goju Ryu - one of the three major styles of karate, who practiced in Okinawa. After the Japanese conquest of Okinawa residents were forbidden to keep and bear arms. Martial arts are based primarily on turning your body into a fighting machine, emerged as a vital necessity for people who want to preserve their private sense of independence, the right to determine his life and to protect themselves and their loved ones. 

In today's world, many of the martial arts have become openly commercial. Itself, this process is not bad and not good. There is nothing wrong in conducting competitions, victories, judges and television. For hundreds of thousands of athletes involved in martial arts, this is a great way to feel healthy, confident, earn money, in the end. 

As Goju Ryu, then, largely thanks to Sensei Higaonna, Goju Ryu Karate has kept the tradition of true martial arts. This is one reason why sporting events are held in Goju Ryu, mainly for children and youths. Every single sporting event provides rules-constraints. They are required not to make a sports tournament in the murder. Therefore, only when the young man finishes training "first step", the real start serious training. In martial art, as in real life, the restrictions can not be. 

Karate Goju Ryu - a synthesis of special exercises - kata, physical and spiritual training exercises with a partner. Fights, when they are held, are taking place under the control of men, with limited possibility of a serious defeat an opponent. But, first, Goju Ryu is a martial art, the way in which you want to go all my life.

 You are doing karate for over 20 years. It started karate to you?

 I started karate in 1979. Neither of which Goju Ryu then it did not come. Before the Soviet Union and Moldova wave swept the World Karate hobbies. Karate we had then bizarre mixture of legends, rumors, sports equipment, based on the different styles that come from authentic and casual teachers and trainers.

In 1984, after an accident at the training camp, karate was prohibited. Classes and teaching karate were classified as criminal offenses and a few of my friends actually spent on this article. I continued training in the army, where he met a few guys that has a very high level of understanding of martial arts, then again in Chisinau, on the street in a park in the evenings. In 1987 I began to teach karate, although it had to register the sports section, which was called "Sambo with elements of aikido. And, in 1989, I first learned of Goju Ryu. I heard that in Kazakhstan conducts training 4 dan karate, Dutchman Harry de Spa. But the lessons I missed a Dutchman. The first serious lessons Goju Ryu received from one of his students. Then I first encountered the practice of "bunkai" - closed transcripts of the classical elements of the fighting in Goju Ryu. By the way, my Kazakh friend Alexander Gendrikson showed me the decryption in the kitchen, karate has continued to be banned. 

In 1991, the same place in Kazakhstan, I met Sensei Higaonna, and since then has only been training with him. The following year, at the annual seminar, he gave me a first dan. 

And what now is a school of Goju Ryu in Moldova?

 Goju Ryu combines in Moldova more than 500 people. We are engaged in the four courtrooms in Kishinev. Branches were opened in Bender, Brichany and Edinets. Twice in Moldova with seminars and demonstrations attended Sensei Higaonna.

 Your whole life is closely connected with Sensei Higaonna. What kind of impression on you that man?

 Many Chisinau people seen Higaonna at demonstrations. On the surface - this is a low strong affable man. It is hard to believe that he is already 66 years old. Talking about the teacher, I find it hard to restrain himself from the performance in superlatives. I say easier - it is the true keeper of the traditions of Goju Ryu, modest and kind man, devoted his life to improving the way in martial arts. 

Let's go back to Okinawa. As the seminar was held this year?

I'll try to tell the usual routine of the day.

At 4.30 am Sensei Higaone already out of the house. Almost hour walk on foot to the Zen before - at home for meditation, another well-known in Okinawa man - a teacher of Zen Seykeemo Rashi. House for meditation - two-storey building in the traditional Okinawan style. On the second floor of a room for meditation, on the ground - the room where the teacher lives. Located in the Zen to a picturesque place, on a hilltop with stunning views of the Nahua (the capital of Okinawa) and the Pacific Ocean. Near to the Zen - a stone path, with more than 1000 years passed Okinawan kings of the castle, situated near to the Zen.

Meditation under an hour, from six to seven in the morning. Several days a week is a meditation in silence, a few days - reading sutras.

Then, during the day, held two training sessions of 4-5 hours, which leads Sensei Higaonna. And so for three weeks.

For Moldova, Okinawa is exotic. You've been there four times already. What impression do you recall the first. How does the life on Okinawa?

Okinawa - the southernmost of the islands of Japan. Climate - warm, because a number of ocean. We even swim in the ocean, regardless of December. Twenty percent of the island occupied by U.S. military bases. Military presence is felt everywhere. The sky is almost always possible to see a military helicopter or fighter. They stand the fighters and the civil airport Nahi. In a city full of military jeeps and if to comply with political correctness - Americans of African descent. From the jeeps came the dull rhythm of R & B, at restaurants often can be found the inscription - "approved for U.S. troops"

Impressions of Nahi, the capital of Okinawa ... The modern city. Many close narrow streets. Almost no greenery. The only concession to the love of nature - common street bonsai. Miniature, a man's height, pines, maples and shrubs. Actually, the whole nature of the island, as people, not expensive. Even for city trees do not tend upwards. But the density of the undergrowth - both in the jungle without a machete does not move, and two meters. North Island - high cliffs down to the sea.

Conditions for life ... You can choose, of course, one of the network of hotels, their in Naha enough. But most visitors prefer to stay in hotels in the Japanese style. Three or four storey houses, small rooms, two to three meters. Instead of beds - mats of rice straw. Facilities - on the floor, with laver almost at knee level - Okinawans in their mass is very low people. This hotel is worth $ 20 per day. This is without breakfast. But, Okinawa still at $ 5 you can buy a portion of sushi - salmon, salmon, salmon roe, ten pieces of sushi. Chisinau came to ten times more expensive. Generally, by 15-20 dollars a day can safely live.

Of course, the memorable flavor cuisine. My friends in Okinawa often invited me to a small family restaurant. Favorite food - dumplings and cakes. Filling - 80 percent of garlic, 20 percent of the meat, and pork. But garlic is not as sharp as ours. The taste is more reminiscent of the potatoes with garlic. But then the smell is strong enough. I remember the next day the teacher, with a smile, asked me to perform breathing exercises in front of an open window. The national alcoholic beverage sake is not, but avamori. If the sake is, rather, rice wine, then avamori closer to vodka, some liqueur reach the fortress degrees to 70.

However, the main impression - the people of Okinawa. The openness, friendliness and quiet sense of dignity. Japanese compared with the Okinawans seem a bit theatrical and unnatural. In Okinawa, in the order of things to entertain guests Blade. Okinavets not allow you to pay in a restaurant, if he invited. The behavior of Okinawans more like us than the Japanese or, for example, polite, sincere but not Europeans. I am very dear to the simple gift that made me before leaving my Okinawan friends - a wooden plaque on which are carved the characters' spirit of Okinawa.

Victor, now you are the owner of the sixth given Goju Ryu. In principle, this is one of the highest in the hierarchy dan karate. What you will seek to do next?

In life I was fortunate to meet with this teacher. Although Sensei Higaone already under seventy, he still continues to climb the path of Goju Ryu. In a few sentences for the interview I can not tell you about the philosophy of martial arts, how art can act as a criterion of sincerity in the other spheres of life. As the entire universe can be expressed in a single gesture, if this gesture truly sincere, and in the way of Goju Ryu can be found and continue to find all the diversity of life. Decoding only one movement can devote years and years. Without a shade of pathos to say that the path is endless.

In this case, if you do not devote Goju Ryu whole life, whether to engage in the ordinary man, willy-nilly, plunged in the hustle and bustle of everyday life?

What is remarkable martial art that everyone can choose to have it, what is needed. You can learn all the technical arsenal, and can restrict the basic exercises. But if you get into deep into the mystery of just a few movements, then before you might see a completely different understanding and vision of everyday life. For example, businessmen who train with me, I say: "If a year class Goju Ryu your business has not grown for at least 10 percent, you incorrectly and dishonestly engaged in Goju Ryu.

Feelings of life, which brings the martial art can be compared more with nothing.

11.01.2006

All Moldova