Our founder and president, Shihan Athula Minithanthri, was invited by Shihan Adeeb Saad, the Israeli representative of Dhammika Karate-do, to spend three days in Maghar, Israel. Shihan Athula had long wished to give a seminar there as a guest, and it was a special experience for him. Shihan Athula considered the exchange of karate-do experience and knowledge just as important as fostering German-Israeli relations.
In the midst of preparations for Easter on Friday, 7 April 2023, Shihan Athula flew to Tel Aviv, where he received a very friendly and warm welcome from Shihan Adeeb Saad and his family on Saturday night. They then travelled by car to Maghar, a Druze village in the north of the country which was designated a city by the Ministry of the Interior in 2021 due to successful reforms, making it the first Druze city in Israel. Shihan was finally taken to his accommodation in Maghar.
On the morning of 8 April, our Shihan went to the sports hall, where numerous children and young people were already waiting for him. Shihan Athula had prepared a special programme for them. As well as teaching them kumite, he also taught them the rare, original version of the Seiryu kata. He was particularly pleased about the unannounced visit from the mayor of Maghar and other local dignitaries.
At this point, Shihan would like to express his heartfelt thanks once again for the invitation.