• ENBU-TAIKAI: 11th to 15th OCTOBER 2023

THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE UECHI-RYU OKINAWA KARATE-DO IN SERBIA
BELGRADE, OCTOBER 11th TO 15th, 2023

UECHI-RYU OKINAWA KARATE-DO began to be practiced in Serbia at the beginning of 1973. The pioneer of this karate style was Mario Topolšek (1942-2021), who opened several dojos in the former Yugoslavia, first in Serbia, in Belgrade and Bor-town, and then in Slovenia, in Kranj-city; and Croatia, in the cities of Karlovac and Rijeka.

On the occasion of this jubilee, OKIKUKAI SERBIA HOMBU DOJO organized the UECHI-RYU SEMINAR led by Popovic Vladimir, Kyoshi 8 Dan, and within it a special DAN-TEST for guests from abroad; as well as a solemn celebration of THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF UECHI-RYU OKINAWA KARATE-DO IN SERBIA.

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— UECHI-RYU SEMINAR was held from October 11th to 14th, 2023. It was attended by guests from Italy: Palumbo Gaetano from Milan, Carreri Stefano and Filipini Federico from Pesaro; from Romania: Moraru Razvan from Timisoara; from Croatia: Bjelivuk Daniel from Karlovac; and USA: Tarasov Dmytro from Sacramento.

The guests from abroad who passed for higher ranks during this year were presented with CERTIFICATES from the OKINAWA KARATE-DO ASSOCIATION from Japan.

Down: Moraru Razvan, 1 Dan (Romania, Timisoara), standing from the left: Carreri Stefano, Jun-shihan
4 Dan (Italy, Pesaro); Vladimir Popovic & Tarasov Dmytro, Jun-shihan 4 Dan (USA, Sactramento)

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— A SPECIAL DAN-TEST was held at the end of the seminar on October 14, 2023.
Bjelivuk Daniel from Croatia, Karlovac-city, successfully passed the Renshi 6 Dan rank.

Standing from the left: Dimitrieski Milan, Kyoshi 7 Dan, Bjelivuk Matiana, Bjelivuk Daniel, Renshi 6 Dan
& Popovic Vladimir, Kyoshi 8 Dan

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— THE SOLEMN CELEBRATION OF THE FIFTY ANNIVERSARY OF UECHI-RYU OKINAWA KARATE IN SERBIA was held at the Center of Culture "Vlada Divljan" in Belgrade on October 15, 2023. The celebration was attended and by Mr. Tetsuya Tsubota, Counselor of the Embassy of Japan in Serbia.

Mr. Tetsuya Tsubota, Counselor of the Embassy of Japan in Serbia with wife
& Jelic Radovan, Secretary of the OKIKUKAI SERBIA HOMBU

In addition to the members from Serbia, guests from Italy, Republika Srpska, Croatia, Romania and the USA participated in the UECHI-RYU KARATE-DO ENBUKAI program.

Mr. Ignjatovic Dragan, Program Manager

Basic Karate techniques: Novi Sad Dojo, childrens group

HOJO-UNDO: Novi Sad Dojo

KYU-KUMITE: Zrenjanin Dojo; Protic Dunja & Protic Strahinja

KANSHIWA-KATA: Moraru Razvan 1. Dan, Romania, Timisoara

KANSHIWA-BUNKAI by the members of the Sanchin Dojo

KANSHU-KATA: Janjic Jelena 2. Dan, Novi Sad dojo (left)
YAKUSOKU-KUMITE: Novosel Tamara, 1 Dan & Tepavac Nina, 1 Dan, Novi Sad dojo (right)

SEICHIN-KATA: Carreri Stefano, 4. Dan, Italy, Pesaro-city (left)
SEISAN-KATA: Jelic Stefan, 1 Dan, Okikukai Serbia Hombu (right)

SEISAN-BUNKAI: Dimitrieski Milan, Kyoshi 7 Dan, Sanchin dojo & Protic Zoran, 4. Dan,
Zrenjanin Dojo, (left); SEIRY-KATA: Kisic Gojko, Renshi 6 Dan (right)

KANCHIN-KATA: Bjelivuk Daniel, Renshi 6 Dan, Croatia, Karlovac-city

DAN-KUMITE: Sabo Teodor , 4 Dan & Sabo Dragan, 5. Dan, Shoken dojo Novi Sad (left);
SANSEIRYU-KATA: Dimitrieski Milan, Kyoshi 7 Dan, Sanchin dojo (right)

SANSEIRYU-BUNKAI: Okikukai Serbia Hombu;
Popovic Vladimir, Kyoshi 8 Dan; Panajotov Milos, 5 Dan & Koncar Milos, 5 Dan

TAI-KITAI: Sabo Teodor , 4 Dan & Sabo Dragan, 5. Dan, Shoken dojo Novi Sad

SANCHIN-KITAI: Tarasov Dmytro, 4 Dan, USA, Sacramento & Popovic Vladimir, Kyoshi 8 Dan

TAMESHIWARI: Tarasov Dmytro, 4 Dan, USA, Sacramento

TAMESHIWARI: Crnogorac Srdjan, 2 Dan, Novi Sad dojo

TAMESHIWARI: Protic Zoran, 4 Dan, Zrenjanin dojo

TAMESHIWARI: Milenkovic Aleksandar, 3 Dan, Novi Sad dojo

TAMESHIWARI: Gobeljic Vuk, 5 Dan, Novi Sad dojo

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— As guests of the program, members of the ensemble of THE CULTURAL-ART SOCIETY "KORENI-BELGRADE" performed with a mix of Serbian folk dances.

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— THE CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION were awarded at the end of the official part of the program:

For support in the affirmation of the UECHI-RYU in Serbia the Certificate of Appreciation were awarded to Mr. Tetsuya Tsubota for the Embassy of Japan in Belgrade.

For the help in realizing the celebration of this jubilee the Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to Mr. Ljubisa Djurovic, Director of the Center for Culture "Vlada Divljan" (left) and to Mr. Vladimir Vidakovic, Art-director of the Cultural-Art society "Koreni-Belgrade" (right)

For contribution of the development the Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to the pioneer of the UECHI-RYU in Serbia, Mr. Topolsek Mario (1942-2021); the Certificate was received his son Mr. Topolsek Vladimir; and to the instructors of the dojos in Serbia: Mr. Drasko Stojanovic, Mr. Samardzija Rade, Mr. Bozidar Markovic, Mr. Srecko Stanimirovic (1960-2023), Mr. Kisic Gojko, Mr. Grbic Milan, Mr. Knapcek Miroslav, Mr. Veskovic Bojan, Mr. Teodor & Dragan Sabo, Mr. Gobeljic Vuk, Mr. Protic Zoran, Mr. Todorovic Nenad, and Mr. Petrovic Nemanja.

For the help in popularization of the UECHI-RYU in Serbia the Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to: Mr. Milovic Misa, Pakovic Slobodan, Bogunovic Predrag, Radivojev Jovan, Simic Nenad, Smiljkovic Bojan & Luka Markovic.

For cooperation and contribution to the development of the UECHI-RYU aboard the Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to: Mr. Kukolj Triso (Republic of Srpska), Mr. Janjic Dragisa (Republic of Srpska), Mr. Bojovic Radoje (Republic of Srpska), Mr. Prekogacic Vlada (USA), Mr. Bjelivuk Daniel (Croatia) & Mr. Palumbo Gaetano (Italy).

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— Socializing with the participants and visitors of the celebration continued with a cocktail in the foyer of the Cultural Center "Vlada Divljan", where the PHOTO EXIBITION OF UECHI-RYU SERBIA was set up.