What is it like on Okinawa? Although I’ve never been to Okinawa, I understand that it’s a sub-tropical island which means that it is hot and humid year round. This weather can be difficult for people who are from other parts of the world to train in if they aren’t used to it.
Is Okinawa a part of Japan? Yes. In 1972 Okinawa became a prefecture of Japan (prefecture is sort of like a state). However I think it is important to mention that the culture of Okinawa is very different from mainland Japan.
Why do people in Okinawa live so long? Okinawa is the place in the world where the highest percentages of people live to be older than 100 years old! It is also important to know that most of those people are active and able to participate in daily life even at that age. This is because of the combination of Okinawan diet, lifestyle, and training for martial artists.
· The diet that Okinawans eat is what many nutrition experts consider a perfect health-food diet. http://okinawa-diet.com/
· The Okinawan people strive to live a low-stress lifestyle which many experts believe helps them live longer lives.
· On Okinawa, martial artists train every day. This does not mean simply going through each kata slowly in order to make sure they remember it. It means that they train to their full capabilities every day. (In fact, many masters have small dojo rooms in their homes)