Welcome to The DOJO Bar Revival project – DB 2.0 is going to BE AWESOME
Is it true? Could it be…..
Seen a post or two on our Facebook? Maybe you heard whispers around the Dojo? Still wondering if it really is true? Well, wonder no more, The DOJO Bar is definitely on its way back!
We are aiming to be up and running again by late 2023. Not only that, we are planning for The DOJO Bar to be bigger and better than ever. Yep, exciting times are on the horizon here in Okinawa, and we want you to be part of it all!
So what was The DOJO Bar?
For those who may not be up to speed on what was “Probably the best karate bar in the world”, here is a potted history.
Okinawa is the home of karate, and recent decades has seen evermore karateka making pilgrimages to these beautiful islands. Visiting karateka are highly motivated to deepen their personal practice, and soak in this culture rich in marital traditions. Once shrouded in mystery, it has become easier than ever for international visitors to find a dojo to practice, tour karate sites of importance, and join organised events and competitions in Okinawa.
But for all these structured options, some important needs were going unfulfilled. Namely, what to do in your down time to make the most of your time in this martial arts mecca? And where do you go to meet local karateka and other martial arts pilgrims? These were questions that had been gnawing away at veteran karateka and long-term Okinawa resident James Pankiewicz. But, he also had an idea—it was to create a karate-themed, friendly meeting place for people from all countries and backgrounds”.
In 2011, The DOJO Bar stepped into the unfulfilled niche of “karate meeting place”, and quickly became the place for international and local martial arts enthusiasts to gather informally, to build connections, share knowledge, and celebrate fraternity. The bar’s unique theme and distinctive interior, not to mention the great food and vast array of drinks, also proved a hit with locals and tourists wanting an experience outside the norm.
Over the course of its nine years, The DOJO Bar became one of the most iconic bars in Okinawa. A mainstay in travel guides, and consistently high ranking in search engines, the bar enjoyed an unrivalled international profile and boasted a core of dedicated patrons and a broad network of enthusiastic supporters. Unfortunately, the COVID shut down of international travel was not kind to the Dojo Bar, forcing its doors to close permanently in 2020.
The next DOJO Bar is what you have been wanting!
In the two years since its 2020 closure, there have been a wave of inquiries from karateka around the world wanting to know if they can book their seat at a re-opened DOJO Bar when they finally are able to travel to Okinawa. While always intending to re-open, James Pankiewicz, the owner and creator of The DOJO Bar, has used this downtime to plan a new operation that goes far beyond a nighttime bar catering to thirsty martial arts enthusiasts.
Over the years James fielded many requests for services beyond what a bar normally provides. Whether it is for work, relaxing or playing, people clearly want their favourite karate theme space to be open in the daytime, and to come with a range of travel services soon at hand. And now is time to make good on all this market research.
Phase 1:
The DOJO Bar 2.0 will be part of a larger enhanced space, that will include all those other things people were asking us for. So, for the first phase expect to see:
- A relaxed cafe and bar space, serving a simple and tasty selection of food and drinks through the day and evening. The ultimate meeting spot in Okinawa with that famous “karate” vibe.
- Fully-equipped and comfortable remote working facilities, including wifi, lockers, printing, mailing address services etc. The perfect basecamp for visitors who want to pursue projects in Okinawa.
- A range of information services, including a travel desk for curated karate tours and general tourist activities. Visitors will take the first step here to discover much much more of Okinawa.
- A media studio and media-creation facilities to meet the growing demand for martial arts, and Okinawa-related content. Offering among other things, photoshoots to visitors courtesy of Chris Willson, the master photographer behind the Karate Masters project.
Our vision for the DOJO Bar 2.0 is a space that is more flexible and accessible, not just for the karate crowd, but for a broader spectrum of international visitors and internationally-minded locals. We feel this is in line with the development of karate in Okinawa, led by the prefectural government, which has put a lot of effort into opening up and making karate more accessible to a wider audience. Our structure therefore, of course, still a bar, but it will become more by being a shared space, useful to many, and welcome to all!
We need your help!
If you weren’t already excited about the return, then hopefully we have raised your expectations with our plan for DOJO Bar 2.0!
Our patrons and fans all around the world have been the lifeblood of our operation. Without you we never would have had our 9 years as the social hub of Okinawa’s martial arts community. But now we need our fans to come together more than ever!
We really appreciate all the messages of support, and encouragement to bring back The DOJO Bar. Keep them coming! But, when it comes to the crunch, we really need funds to get this project underway.
To get the operation up and running in time for our July opening, we are on the lookout for potential collaborators, investors, and especially donors! For many of us, finances are tight, but for anyone that has a little spare cash to put towards seeing their favourite karate bar up and running again, please click on the Donation button!
Showing our appreciation
Over the years, The DOJO Bar has got a lot of love from all around the world, and we want to reciprocate!
As our plans take shape there will be more ways to get involved, and to contribute, but at this early stage we have put the following packages together to show our appreciation. Here are some of the ways to help us out:
Donating for the DOJO Bar KANSHAIN NAFUDAKAKE display
“KANSHAIN” – in Japanese means “appreciated members”
We need your help to get back into business and we have a unique way to show you our gratitude at the new DOJO Bar.
Many of you would have already seen the wooden name tags hanging from the walls of dojo, these are called “nafuda” and show the names of members, supporters and people of significance to the dojo. Make a donation to the DOJO Bar Revival fund and your Name on a nafuda will take pride of place along the top of the wall in DOJO Bar 2.0 and will be a permanent reminder of the people that helped bring us back. In keeping with nafudakake tradition, display order is ranked in significance, so there is now a chance for your contribution to secure a noticeable and permanent place on our wall.
Dojo Mon tiles
A great tradition at The DOJO Bar was for visitors to sign the wall and pin their dojo logo, a point of pride for many visiting dojo owners and members. At DOJO Bar 2.0 it will be a bit more structured for dojos and organisations. Above the easy to reach signing space will be a permanent display of tiles with the name and logo (MON) of our supporter and contributor dojos and organisations. A Dojo Mon Tile is available to donors of $100 or more. Reserve your spot and send us your design, or come fix your tile personally.
COMING SOON…
Prebuy discount vouchers to use at DOJO Bar 2.0
We will be offering 20% discount vouchers redeemable for food and drink available for pre-purchase online. Purchase a 5000 yen voucher (worth 6000 yen) or a 10,000 yen voucher (worth 12,000 yen), which will be valid for up to 2 years. Even if it’s going to be a while before you can make it to the island yourself, these vouchers make perfect gifts for friends that will soon be here on their karate pilgrimage. Gifting options will be available.
Purchase our merchandise
You can always use a new t-shirt or two right….Then why not wear your support for our revival! A new DOJO Bar 2.0 range of merchandise is in the works, so keep an eye out for updates on the DOJO Bar Facebook page and the Challenge Okinawa website. Can’t wait for the new line up, then visit our shop for the classic merch we have available. Every little bit helps toward getting the bar back up and running.