Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate

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Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate is a documentary series about the amazing martial arts teachers living on Okinawa, the birthplace of karate. The documentary series grew out of the Karate Masters Portrait Project which began in 2012. The portrait project allowed us amazing access to the sensei, but it was only James Pankiewicz and I who got to hear their stories. The documentary series is a way for us to share that unique knowledge with the international karate community. (view Masters Gallery….)

Sensei: Masters of Okinawa Karate」は、空手発祥の地である沖縄に住む素晴らしい武道家たちのドキュメンタリーシリーズです。空手マスターズポートレートプロジェクトは2012年3月に始まりました。

目標としているのは、21世紀に沖縄で活躍している空手と古武道の先生方の肖像を撮ることです。空手の先生方の類まれない武道に関しての知識は、日本だけでなく、世界でも文化的に高く重要視されています。

GOALS OF THE SERIES

  1. Document the stories of Okinawan karate masters and their philosophy on life and their martial arts practice.
  2. Record in the highest quality possible. Ideally 4K or 8K, RAW, multi camera, multi audio
  3. Store the original data as an archival record.
  4. Transcribe and translate the recordings to spread knowledge of Okinawan martial arts, history and culture.
  5. Make the videos available for free online via YouTube and Bujin.tv so that anyone, anywhere can see them.

SERIES TWO – COMING IN 2022

Series Two offers a wonderful opportunity for individuals and organisations to publically sponsor the production and receive credit in the final programs, as well as on our social media and communications.

Six episodes with Okinawan masters Approximately 20 – 40 minutes in length. 

Released from summer 2022 every 2 months on YouTube and Bujin.tv

2-3 additional episodes with international masters of Okinawan karate.

TOTAL BUDGET ¥3,000,000 – ¥5,000,000  (based on length of videos) includes consumables and payment to creators

If we raise more than 5,000,000 yen, for each additional  500,000 yen raised we’d add an extra episode to the series up to 12  episodes. 

FINANCING

During Series One, everyone worked as volunteers, but it is not  sustainable in the long-term.  Along with covering the cost of the  consumable supplies, those working on the project, need to be paid. The  karate masters interviewed should receive an honorarium for their time. 

Series Two, therefore, will have to be supported once again by the international karate community and other organizations. 

How to Apply to be a Sponsor? Please click here and use the form to register as a Sponsor (Tiers 1-4) and proceed to payment arrangements. (form link) (donations can be split into lower monthly payments, just ask us for details)

SPONSORSHIP – SERIES TWO  

TIER ONE – Main Sponsor  $10,000                    

Organization name and logo /graphic full page at the start and end of the each video.  

YouTube only allows static title cards and end cards  where there’s a paid promotion. These title cards and end cards can  include graphics and the sponsor or marketer’s logo and product  branding. Must be co-branded with the creator’s name/logo so first  full-page logo will be Ryukyu Media Productions.  Title cards 2 seconds.  End cards 3 seconds.

TIER TWO – Sponsor  $1,000            

Dojo / Organization name and logo at end of each video

TIER THREE – Key Supporter  $500             

Dojo / Organization name at end of each video

TIER FOUR – Supporter  $100                                    

Individual’s name at the end of each video

Become A Sponsor

SERIES ONE REPORT – Okinawan Masters

Name                Style                  Length              Views

  1. Toshimitsu Arakaki – Matsubayashi Ryu 8 mins 80,000
  2. Yoshitsune Senaga – Uechi Ryu 15 mins 472,000
  3. Koichi Nakasone – Ryukyu Kingdom Sui-di Bujutsu 26 mins 315,000
  4. Takeshi Tamaki – Shorin Ryu Karate Do International 9 mins 105,000
  5. Kiyomasa Maeda – Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do 15 mins 67,000
  6. Kenyu Chinen – World Oshukai Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Do 59 mins 146,000
  7. Tsuguo Sakumoto – Ryuei-ryu Karate 38 mins 54,000
  8. Seikichi Iha – Beikoku Shidokan Karatedo Association 34 mins 50,000
  9. Tetsuhiro Hokama – Goju-ryu, Hokama Kobudo 27 mins 85,000
  10. Takehiro Gaja – Uechi-ryu Karate 30 mins 32,000
  11. Toshihiro Oshiro – Shima-Ha Shorin-Ryu karate, Yamanni Chinen Ryu kobujutsu. 39 mins 20,000
  12. Zenshu Toyama – Goju-ryu Karate 33 mins 13,000

Special Bonus episode  – Nakasone & Iha conversation at Dojo Bar.                               50 mins             3,000

SERIES ONE REPORT – International Masters

  1. Arcenio Advincula – Isshinryu Karate Ryukonkai Kobudo 46 mins 58,000
  2. Cezar Borkowski – Okinawan Karate Ryukyu Kobudo 25 mins 14,000
  3. Neil Stolsmark – Shorin-ryu Karate, Matayoshi Kobudo 19 mins 14,000
  4. Doug Perry – Shorin-ryu Kensankai Karate & Kobudo 31 mins 35,000

CHALLENGES

  1. The amount of time it takes to transcribe, translate, edit and subtitle each episode. It takes several weeks of work per episode. For Series One this was all done by volunteers.
  2. The cost of gear to record the videos.
  3. The cost of computers and hard drives required to store the data during and after the interview. Approximately 1TB per interview, which is the copied to back up drives, and copied again during editing.
  4. Not including time, transportation etc., the total expenditure for consumables on Series One was ¥2,827,515

SUPPORT

The international karate community generously supported the first series.

Main Series Sponsors – SERIES ONE

Fusei Kise, Isao Kise and the OSMKKF-USA  

Jerry Figgiani – Shorin Ryu Karate Do International

Beikoku Shidokan Karatedo Association

Grant Campbell – USA Karate Federation

Cezar Borkowski – Northern Karate Schools

NOVA Okinawan Karate Dojo

Waterpoints Dojo – Okinawa Arts Research Studies World Scene

Series Sponsors – SERIES ONE

Marguerite “Peggy” Hess – Jensen Beach Uechi Ryu Karate Do Dojo

Reece Cummings – Cummings Karate Dojo

Michael Quinn – Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Europe

Martin Pinto – Essex Goju Ryu Karate

Mark Spear – Black Bear Dojo

Okinawa Karate Podcast

Fred Mansfield Jr. – Beikoku Shidokan / RBKD

Series Supporters– SERIES ONE

Tim Herlihy, Robin Ross, Joshua Simmers, Jeff Perkins, Paul  Punshon, John J. Strangeway, Gerry Campbell, Shelley Cormier, K V  Manoharan, Phil Butler, Danny Smith, Justin Rathert, Adam Carter, Mike  Powers, Miguel Da Luz, Robert Roberto Curtis, Josh Ryer, Belgi  Serin, Igor Vakos, Lisken Dus, Andrew Pearce, Christopher Ford, Cos  Vona, Steve Ouslis, Sandro Simonetta, Axel Heinrich, Jiří Matouš, Jose  Planas, Andy Morris, Steve Armes, Olaf Steinbrecher, Hannele  Zubeck, Maija Zubeck, Scott Alter, Rob Chartier, Laura Chartier, Xu Ya  Hui, Vlamir Silva, Marian Reiter, Cassie Pham-Korman, John Schrock, Åke  Mora Temnerud, Ari Nuutinen, Hubert Laenen, Mario Michiels, Chris  Michiels, Lynn Miyahira, Roy Paul, Andy Sloane, Justin Sheehy, Manfred  Streuber