Lost in Translation...

No, this post isn't about the movie!

I just thought I'd share a funny conversation that I had with Arakawa Sensei today over lunch. Every Wednesday morning, their is an adult training session at the Shiramizu dojo. Afterwards the students and instructors usually go for lunch and today was no exception.

The instructors were talking about a new movie that was coming out in Japan, I could follow a little bit of the conversation even though it was all in Japanese.

Arakawa Sensei asked if I knew the movie 'Ai-yama'. I said no. He told me it was very famous, about machine suits (?), but I just assumed that it was some japanese style movie. I picked up my mobile and quickly went on the internet searching for 'Ai-yama' but only found brief references to Yoga.

Anyway, Arakawa Sensei searched the internet and showed me this:



Arakawa Sensei said 'IRONMAN' and not 'AI-YA-MA'...

I thought it was funny anyways...

Kita-Kasushika Area Karate Championships

The Shiramizu English intern tag-team!

Yesterday was the Kita-Kasushika Area Karate Championships held at the Asukaru Centre in Satte City. I thought this was going to be a small local competition, I was therefore pleasantly surprised to find out that there was over 500 entrants and a reasonable number of competitors in my own divisions.

For a full report on the comp, go to http://japankarateintern.blogspot.com.

I just thought I'd mention that Amy performed very well, making her way to the finals of her division and took gold. Her FIRST EVER Individual Gold medal, a great achievement in Japan... Nice one Amy!


Amy 'high fiving' her opponent during a match!

Making her way comfortably to the finals to win her first ever individual Gold Medal, in Japan of all places!!!


Amy with her FIRST EVER individual Gold Medal!


Lawrence in action...!


Carl's winning punch


Carl mid-flight, a moment before the right leg connects to his opponents head

In other news, I went onto to get 2nd place after some good fighting... but I think the day was Amy's!