A day dedicated to Shito-Ryu – The 2nd KVBW Shito-Ryu Day in Beilstein

On Saturday 17 May 2025, the second KVBW Shito-Ryu Day took place in Beilstein – a training course for anyone interested in the Shito-Ryu karate style. As in the previous year, the event impressed with a varied and challenging programme that met with great interest. The training course was based on the basic principles of the Shito-Ryu tradition and offered valuable impulses for beginners and advanced karateka alike.

The karate day began with a brief welcome from Shihan Athula Minithanthri, the style instructor of the Baden-Württemberg Karate Association (KVBW). Together with Sensei Joachim Wursthorn, he opened the Kihon unit following a brief warm-up session led by Philipp Klemm. This focused on Shito-Ryu techniques to refine the participants’ skills and prepare them for the later kata unit.

A specially organised training unit was set up for the karate kids, with the specific aim of promoting coordination and motor skills. With the expert guidance of Oxana Traiber, style instructor at the Bavarian Karate Federation (BKB), the children learnt new movement sequences through play. Meanwhile, in another part of the sports hall, teenagers and adults practised the kata “Oyadomari no Bassai” and its bunkai to develop a better understanding of how the techniques can be used in practice.

Much to everyone’s delight, KVBW President Anton Klotz addressed the participants just before they took their lunch break. In his speech, he emphasised the importance of the Shito-ryu karate style. He also expressed his delight at the large number of children taking part, and warmly invited everyone to this year’s KVBW summer camp in Langenau.

After lunch, the agenda included a practical self-defence training session. Participants were given an insight into various defence strategies, ranging from simple release techniques to more complex methods that could be crucial in real-life situations. The programme concluded with a Ryukyu Kobudo session led by Joachim Wursthorn, during which the fundamental techniques of traditional bo combat were taught and practised with partners.