Returning to Okinawa...
The United States Marine Corps ordered me and my family back to Okinawa, Japan where I was stationed from 1978 to 1983. I immediately set about to resume my kobudo training with Matayoshi Shinpo Sensei; however, he and his family had moved from Yogi to Naha. The photo on the left was taken in 1982 at Matayoshi Shinpo Sensei's dojo, the Kodokan, during the Zen Okinawa Kobudo Renmei's year-end party or Bonenkai, 忘年会. I'm located almost directly in the middle of the back row, the guy with no hair, and immediately to left of me is Franco Sanguinetti. He had traveled from Peru, South America that year to train with Matayoshi Shinpo Sensei at the Kodokan. Also, the young woman sitting on the far right of the second row is Millei Auda from Bordeaux, France. She came that same year, 1982, to study kobudo with Matayoshi Sensei at the Kodokan.
As it turned out, Franco Sanguinetti Sensei and I would both leave Okinawa the following year, 1983. We had our going away party together! I rotated back to the United States and Franco returned to his home in Peru, South America. That was the last time I would see him until our paths crossed again in 2010!
As it turned out, Franco Sanguinetti Sensei and I would both leave Okinawa the following year, 1983. We had our going away party together! I rotated back to the United States and Franco returned to his home in Peru, South America. That was the last time I would see him until our paths crossed again in 2010!