Sho Sakamoto, a practitioner of the Kyokushin style of Karate from Japan was in Chennai on November 15, 2025. It is common knowledge that in Chennai – the sports and culture rich state capital of Tamil Nadu, the combat sport of karate is very popular, with different styles of karate being taught to willing youth as well as elderly men and women.
Sakamoto’s visit to Chennai was a part of his second ‘round-the-world journey’ to connect with dojos and martial artists globally in order to boost the popularity and strengthen the development of Kyokushin style of karate.
At the time of writing, Sakamoto had conducted training sessions in 43 countries. During his stay in Chennai, he imparted training to Christopher Rodgers (Chris) – India’s men’s national champion, and Ash – the women’s national champion.
National Kyokushin Karate champion with Japanese Master Sho Sakamoto.
Talking about it, Sakamoto said he was very impressed with the dedication and leadership of Chris and Ash. Explaining that the event was proof of how martial arts can foster friendship and cultural understanding between India and Japan, he said, “I believe this exchange is an excellent example of how Indian martial artists also contribute to global cultural understanding through their devotion to Kyokushin karate”.
About his Chennai visit, Sakamoto told Madras Musings, “I have been practicing Kyokushin karate in Japan for over 20 years and have earned my black belt. I am currently on my second round-the-world trip, and India is the 76th country I have journeyed to, with this being my 49th country visiting the dojos. I am interested in the global spread of Kyokushin karate, and I continue to engage in cross-cultural exchange by visiting dojos around the world while traveling.”
“During my visit to a dojo in Chennai, the first thing that surprised me was that training starts early at 7 am on Saturdays. In Japan, training usually starts not earlier than 9 am. So, this was quite surprising! I found the training atmosphere very relaxed, and everyone seemed to enjoy practicing karate. On the other hand, the sparring sessions were intense and full of focus. I participated in sparring myself and was impressed by the high level of skill, which I believe reflects the presence of two national champions, Chris and Ash. I sparred with both of them and found their techniques exceptionally advanced – among the highest I have experienced in any country.”
The fact that Kyokushin karate, which originated in Japan, is being practiced with such dedication in Chennai, despite language differences, makes for a very meaningful experience of cross-cultural exchange.
National men’s champion in Kyokushin style, Christopher Rodgers told Madras Musings that Sakamoto had visited them at their Chennai dojo this November 15. “He showcased exceptional skill giving lessons to our students. It was, indeed, a pleasure to host him, and we look forward to meeting him again in the future”, said Chris.