SIJO ADRIANO EMPERADO, the Living Legend, was the Guest of Honor at the first Annual 'Ohana Celebration held in San Diego, California by SIGUNG GEORGE & SIMO PATRICE LIM and the event offered fun for the entire family.They say the number one reason to visit San Diego is the weather. Well, the weatherman ordered up a weekend of pouring rain but no one attending the 'Ohana celebration let it dampen their spirits.

The celebration began Saturday morning with a traditional Hawaiian chant performed by SIFU HENRY KAUKA KOA who flew in from Maui for the weekend's festivities. Martial artists in attendance got to quench their thirst for knowledge by training in two days of seminars with the following Masters and Grandmasters:

GRANDMASTER DECHI EMPERADO

OLOHE SOLOMON KAIHEWALU

DAI SHIHAN TED TABURA

GRANDMASTER JULIAN GENERALAO

GRANDMASTER VINCE BLACK

GRANDMASTER TED SOTELO

HANSHI PETER BROWNE

PROFESSOR GREG HARPER

SIGUNG KAILANI KOA

SIFU HENRY AIAU KAUKA KOA

GRANDMASTER OLOHE SOLOMON KAIHEWALU began Saturday morning's seminars by sharing what his Papa has passed down to him; the Ancient Hawaiian Art of Lua and Hawaiian weaponry. Fascinating! At the tail end of the afternoon, following Saturday's seminars, SIGUNG GEORGE & SIMO PATRICE LIM proudly promoted fifteen members of their Kenpo 'Ohana to advanced belt rank with the blessings of all of the Grandmasters. Saturday evening was free for those newly promoted and their families to go out and celebrate and for everyone else to enjoy San Diego's nightlife.

Sunday morning's seminar line up was kicked off by GRANDMASTER DAI SHIHAN TED TABURA, highlighting Lima Lama self defense techniques, the katana and the kama. Outrageous! The finale of the day was each seminar instructor showcasing their art with a five minute demonstration-finishing with HANSHI PETER BROWNE, Head of the Fighting Arts Organization of Great Britain. What a treat!! HANSHI BROWNE traveled all the way from London to share his dynamic martial arts skills, put on a fabulous performance and served up the icing on the cake. Delicious!

Sunday evening's Luau began with SIFU HENRY AIAU KAUKA KOA performing a chant that left everyone in the ballroom with "chicken skin." Next came the Color Guard led by VINCENT SANTA ROMANA and performed by CARLA JOY, DAVID LOPEZ and SARAH JOY and the National Anthem beautifully sung by ERIN BARKLEY and NATACHA MOUSSEUX-all LIM'S HAWAII KENPO students. No sooner had the girls sung their last note when everyone heard the blowing of the conch shell and felt their hearts pounding from the beating of the SHOKEN-JI TAIKO DRUMMERS. All the Grandmaster's and SIGUNG and SIMO'S family were introduced and presented with fresh flower leis flown in from Hawaii. Immediately following the lei presentation was a moment of remembrance. The names of our martial arts ancestors who have passed and left us their rich legacy were read aloud while "The Wind Beneath My Wings" played in the background. There was not a dry eye in the house.

SIGUNG KAILANI KOA said prayer before dinner and while everyone enjoyed a wonderful feast, they were all entertained with a hula performance by KUMU KEHAULANI ASHTON & the NOHEA of POLYNESIA HULA HALAU and had some very eye-catching assistance from GRANDMASTER OLOHE SOLOMON KAIHEWALU'S black belts. All seminar instructors were presented with an award with the inscription that read "Hope and Inspiration are the most precious gifts a teacher can give" and given a standing ovation. The next treat was a hula performance by AUNTY DECHI EMPERADO, AUNTY LOIS TABURA and KUMU KAILANI KOA. Their performances were so enchanting and full of poise, it left everyone with a lump in their throat. Every moment you thought the evening had filled you up, you were served another course. The students who were promoted the day before were called up on stage and presented their diplomas and then everyone got to enjoy a video presentation of the promoted students including their baby pictures and highlights in their lives and their fondest memories. When the video credits rolled, San Diego's finest DJ (and SIGUNG GEORGE LIM'S son) DJ KECHUP geared up the music and everyone hit the dance floor and danced until the wee hours.

What an emotional weekend. Everyone who attended the LIM'S 'Ohana celebration had such a fantastic time that no one wanted to go home. SIGUNG GEORGE & SIMO PATRICE LIM invited everyone to their second annual event being held in Arizona, President's Day weekend, 2006 and shared with everyone, Mahalo (thank you), Aloha (love) and A Hui Hou (until we meet again).

HANSHI PETER BROWNE and his Fighting Arts Organisation of Great Britain held the Gathering of the Masters International Martial Arts Convention in Torremolinos, Malaga, Spain. It was an outstanding event that included 3 days of World Class Martial Arts Instruction and a fantastic barbeque with traditional Spanish dancers for entertainment. It was the biggest Gathering of the Masters International Martial Arts Convention to date and Instruction was administered by some of the best martial arts Masters in the world today.

Torremolinos is an attractive and appealing resort noted for its clean sandy beaches, wide choice of hotels and restaurants, entertainment, seasports and nightlife. It is packed with tantalising shops, thronging with people of every nationality. If it is family fun that you want, Torremolinos is hard to beat. But if you want something a little less energetic, there are plenty of places where you can while away the hours in picturesque surroundings-bougainvillea clad patios where old men play dominoes, public gardens with exotic magnolia and banana trees and seafood restaurants-sipping a glass of sangria and simply watching the world go by.

Masters and students came to Torremolinos from: The UK, The United States of America, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Italy, Denmark, France, Hawaii, Portugal and Spain. Those who traveled to Spain to train were not disappointed. Martial arts students got to rub elbows with and soak up knowledge from the following Instructors:
SOKE WOLF GANG JOO'S HELD
HANSHI PETER BROWNE
SHIHAN HAYEN DANIEL
SHIHAN MIKE JOHNSON
SIGUNG GEORGE LIM
SHIHAN KARL FIN
SHIHAN ENRIQUE PEREZ CARRILLO
SHIHAN TERRY COUGHTREY
RENSHI JEFF SAWYER
SIFU FRANK SCHELER
SENSEI GEOFF HARRIS.

Saturday evening everyone boarded coaches and headed an hour out in to the country, following the sun as it set and came upon on old historical farmhouse. Participants were all treated to a wonderful barbeque, traditional Spanish dancers and dancing until the wee hours. Sunday's training was filmed by the local Spanish television station and highlighted with a Masters Demonstration Finale.

Everyone here in the US will be thrilled to know that HANSHI PETER BROWNE'S next Gathering of the Masters Convention is being held September 23, 24 & 25 at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas!

In Maui with Sijo Emperado
at Dai Shihan Ted Tabura's Festival of the Kings