At HOSHINOYA Okinawa in Yomitan Village, Okinawa, a "Ryukyu Karate (Toudi) Stay" program, where guests learn the principles of Okinawa's indigenous martial art, "Karate," and engage in self-reflection, will be held from Wednesday, September 1, 2021, to Tuesday, November 30, 2021. The 3-day, 2-night program includes learning basic forms in the facility's dojo, culminating in a "tameshiwari" (board-breaking) challenge on the final day.

HOSHINOYA Okinawa, a resort in Yomitan Village, Okinawa Prefecture, will host a limited, one-group-per-day (up to two people) 3-day, 2-night program called "Ryukyu Karate (Toudi) Stay." This program allows guests to learn the principles of Karate, a martial art honed as a means of self-improvement, through training sessions in the facility's dojo and "dozen meditation" (dynamic Zen meditation). Following these activities, guests can relax with a Shiatsu massage and an evening of Awamori.

Karate, the predecessor to modern karate, is a traditional martial art that emerged from Okinawa's indigenous martial art known as "Te" (or "Ti"), which fused with Chinese martial arts. It has been practiced not only as a form of self-defense but also as a discipline for self-cultivation. This program offers a way to learn the spirit of Karate in a way that naturally integrates into your stay.

During the stay, the program utilizes a private, detached dojo with a traditional red-tiled roof, open windows, and an engawa (veranda). Guests will receive instruction from a certified instructor of the Uechi-ryu Karate-do Kenyu Kai, based in Yomitan Village. The lessons go beyond physical movements to impart the history and essential principles of Karate. Starting with basic forms, the training progresses to more advanced techniques, culminating on the final day with a "tameshiwari" (board-breaking) challenge, where participants use their learned skills to break wooden boards.

In the evenings, "dozen meditation" sessions are offered to reflect on the day's training. Dozen meditation is a coined term describing a meditative practice that involves confronting oneself through martial arts movements, in contrast to "zazen" (seated meditation) which focuses on introspection in a seated posture. Supported by HOSHINOYA Okinawa staff who possess Karate expertise, guests will mindlessly repeat the forms learned during training as a form of meditation. Following meditation, Kuwansou tea, an Okinawan plant known for enhancing sleep quality, will be served.

During breaks in training, guests can enjoy Shiatsu massage in their rooms overlooking the sea. Shiatsu, a traditional Japanese therapeutic technique rooted in Oriental medicine, helps to relax the mind and body after the rigors of training. Each room is also equipped with a traditional Okinawan earthenware jar (kame) filled with Awamori and a "karakara" (a type of flask) for serving it. Historically, Karate and Awamori have been closely linked, with Karate practitioners often enjoying Awamori as a way to rest and recuperate. Guests are invited to enjoy an evening of quiet contemplation over Awamori in their rooms.