To Protect, Not Harm: A Lifetime of Teaching the Ways of Peace

Martial Arts Demonstration & Reception
6:30 – 8 pm

Speaker
Taika Seiyu Oyata, Founder of International Ryu-Te Renmei

Taika Oyata has been a martial arts practitioner for close to 60 years. From an aristocratic Okinawan family dating back to the 17th century, he learned the indigenous arts used to protect the Shuri kings. He began his training after service in World War II, and since then, Taika Oyata has constantly analyzed the human body and the traditions he inherited. He now has a strong following in the U.S., with students in more than 26 U.S. states, Japan, Israel and Poland, and he recently began training the U.S. Sky Marshals. He teaches “life-protection arts” drawn from the history and practice of Okinawan arts, including pressure-point striking and joint locking, the meaning behind the empty-hand kata and use of various traditional weapons. This respected and renowned master will demonstrate his extraordinary art and discuss his belief in and teaching of martial arts as a defensive and protective, rather than destructive and violent, skill.

Followed by a reception.

Tickets: $25, Japan Society members, Ryu-Te Renmei members and Young Professionals Network $20.

Corporate members are entitled to a designated number of free admissions to this event, based on their company’s current membership level. These reservations must be made at least 48 hours prior to the event. Additional corporate registrants pay the discounted corporate member rate of $20 for this event.