IKGAITALIA

Greetings to all that practice the art of Karate-Do…

I have started practicing the art of Karate since the age of 8 and have started in 1978, in a Shotokan School in Italy under Sensei Rao, a 5th dan Instructor at that time. In April 1979 me and my family immigrated to South West Africa/Namibia and there I continued studying the art of Karate Shotokan which at that time there it was the only style more recognised than the others. My teacher then was Sensei Danilo Reviglio, at that time a 3rd Dan Instructor and Chief Instructor of the country. I kept training and learning Shotokan till the age of 16 years. I successfully passed my 1st dan grading and a year later I asked permission to participate at a Goju Kai National Seminar in South Africa - Cape Town. This was a style which I was hearing for some time and only good anyway. In the past I was studying it's history and so I was very curious in knowing what it was all about.

There I had the opportunity to train with the Goju Kai Africa President, Peter Brandon Shihan. This man taught in a marvellous way that I was only but surprised, and decided that my future in Karate lies with Goju Kai. I was allowed to train several times in order to be able to understand if this style is made for me or not. When I decided to go over to the other federation and style being Goju Kai, my Sensei was Trevor Norval. Also a remarkable man and an outclass of all in Karate. Words are not enough to begin mentioning what a superb Karate man Trevor was and still is. With maturity in my years of learning, I can say out loud, that he has taught me Karate, but that I will not forget who my first instructors were neither.

This art of Goju for me, I can say that it made me understand really what Karate is about at a 360° level of my life. I agree with all that show karate can be more spectacular and maybe more exciting for some, BUT…Karate with technical study, that transmits harmony and much more, is something that one brings within himself for the rest of his/her life.

Personal Experiences:

My very first visit to Japan, was in 1991 for a stay of 2 months, of which hard and disciplined training was done each and every day under the guidance of Goshi Yamaguchi Seiko Shihan. There I had the opportunity and successfully passed my Nidan Grading. In 1993, I returned to Japan with the Namibian National Team and the South African National Team, for the first IKGA World Championships. There I took part in Kumite, Kata, and bunkai, of which for first world championship experience, I placed myself within the first 6 of each category. After the tournament, I decided to remain again in Japan and do some more studies and training at the Hombu Dojo. This time it was for 3 months. I managed to survive the hard training of the Japanese, and this gave me a mental edge to keep training my karate wherever I would be one day.

In 1997 I was again selected for the National team to take part at the Brasil World Championships, and in 2001 at the Australia World Championships. During my study and currently active in the art of Goju Kai Karate, I have obtained immense satisfaction personally through this lovely and powerful art of Karate-Do.

I hope that through my teachings and now with the new IKGA-Italia federation, with Mario Laurini Sensei and Luciano Masci Sensei, who together control the Italy block, Goju Kai can now grow from strength to strength…

Oss…

Sensei Ignazio Costarelli