WATCH: Karate Enthusiasts from Near and Far Converge on Cocoa Beach for Memorial Weekend
By Chris Bonanno // August 3, 2019
Cocoa Beach Karate hosts 8th annual Soke Nagamine Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate Memorial Weekend
SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Karate enthusiasts from as far away as Canada gathered in Cocoa Beach on Friday and Saturday as the 8th annual Soke Nagamine Memorial Weekend was held at Cocoa Beach Karate located in Cocoa Beach Health & Fitness.
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA – Karate enthusiasts from both near and far gathered in Cocoa Beach on Aug. 2 and 3 to celebrate their craft and honor an important figure in martial arts as the 8th annual Soke Nagamine Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate Memorial Weekend was held at Cocoa Beach Karate, located at Cocoa Beach Health & Fitness off State Road A1A.
The impetus for the gathering stems from a visit to Cocoa Beach in July 2011 from Soke Takayoshi Nagamine, who was the head of the World Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do Association.
He is also the son of the founder of the discipline that the organization gets its namesake from.
Nagamine was slated to visit again in 2012 but passed away in April of that year at the age of 66 prior to his return.
“He came all the way out from Okinawa to run a seminar here,” said Sensei Des Chaskelson, with Cocoa Beach Karate.
“We decided to continue the seminar and have a memorial in his honor to remember him and honor the legacy of the Nagamine Matsubayashi Karate-Do.
In his honor, the tradition began at Cocoa Beach Karate, where participants perform different kata, or forms of karate in various groups.
The weekend was saw participants from representing a wide variety of ages, backgrounds and ability levels.
“It’s an event that people from all over the country come here, black belts, white belts, it doesn’t matter,” said Terry Berman, a Cocoa Beach resident.
“Working out, we all come from different styles but we all do the same thing so it’s fun just seeing the little differences but doing the same type of thing. To me that’s fun.”
The event also attracted people from as far away as Canada to make the trek to Cocoa Beach.
“I’ve been doing this with Des (Chaskelson) since 2012 after Soke passed away so it’s to keep Soke’s memory alive and his teaching and to honor his legacy and bring people together,” said Steve Trombley of Missassauga, Ontario Canada.
“There’s just something about Orlando and Cocoa Beach that I love to always come back (to),” added Len Tran, of Alexandria, Va.
