The echoes of “Kiai” may have faded from the Okinawa Budokan, but the energy from the 2025 TOGKF World Budosai is still ringing loud! This year’s event was an absolute, resounding success, proving once again why this gathering is the heartbeat of our international karate family.

It was a truly breathtaking sight to see the Okinawa Budokan filled with hundreds of practitioners from every corner of the globe. From seasoned masters to enthusiastic white belts, members traveled from across the world to return to the birthplac

e of Goju-Ryu. The sea of white dogi was a powerful reminder that our passion for Traditional Okinawa Goju Ryu knows no borders

The atmosphere inside the dojo was electric. Everyone—without

exception—trained with intensity and spirit under the watchful eyes  of our world-class instructors. We sweat together, learned together, and grew stronger as one.

While the training was world-class, the “Budosai spirit” truly shone through in the moments between sessions. It was heartwarming to see long-time karate brothers and sisters reuniting after years apart, picking up right where they left off. And what of the new bonds? The event sparked countless new friendships as members from different cultures shared stories, laughter, and a mutual respect for the art.

The 2025 Budosai will be forever etched in our history for the incredible grading ceremony that took place. In a rare and deeply moving display of lifetime dedication, several of our most senior leaders reached new, prestigious heights.

We are immensely proud to announce the successful promotion of Bakkies Laubscher Sensei and Terauchi Kazuo Sensei to the rank of 10th Dan. This extraordinary achievement recognizes their life long

loyalty, and commitment to the preservation and promotion of Goju-Ryu. Additionally, we celebrate George Andrews Sensei on his well-deserved promotion to 9th Dan, a testament to his decades of tireless leadership and loyalty to Higaonna Sensei.

Adding to the gravity of the occasion, Higaonna Sensei personally made the trip to the Budokan to oversee these promotions. Seeing Sensei head the official grading panel and stand before the masters he has guided for decades was a profound reminder of the lineage and integrity of our federation. It was a truly historic moment that left us inspired by the power of “never-ending training.”

Following the spirit of the gradings, the official demonstration

s took center stage. The Budokan was hushed as representatives from various countries showcased the power, flow, and technical excellence of our style. The level of skill on display was world-class, but more importantly, the heart behind the movements was unmistakable. It was a joy to see that the demonstrations made Higaonna Sensei very happy; his pride in the progress and preservation of TOGKF Goju-Ryu was visible to everyone in attendance.

No Budosai is complete without a legendary send-off, and the 2025 Sayonara Party was the perfect exclamation point to an incredible week! After days of intense focus, the energy shifted from the dojo to a few well-deserved refreshments at the Sayonara party. The room was a blur of laughter, cheers, and international camaraderie as karateka from dozens of nations shared stories over local Okinawan delicacies.

In a wonderful surprise, Higaonna Sensei made another appearance, looking relaxed and clearly enjoying his time amongst the attendees. Seeing him smile and share in the joy of the global family he built was the highlight of the night. We may have arrived as practitioners from different countries, but we left the party as one united TOGKF family!

As we look back on these unforgettable days in Naha, we can confidently say the 10th World Budosai was a triumph of tradition and community. We left Okinawa with tired muscles but full hearts, already counting down the days until we can all stand on the dojo floor together again.

 to the organizers, instructors, and every participant who made this event a landmark in TOGKF history!

Keep the flame burning! Start your preparations now and keep your training consistent—we look forward to seeing everyone at our next international gathering. Let’s carry the spirit of Okinawa with us until we meet again!