The Yoshukai Karate Winter Workout is an annual convergence of Yoshukai Karate students and teachers upon the gulf coast for a day of traditional Japanese Karate Training, testing, weapons demonstrations, and self-defense that ends with a neck-deep martial arts workout in the frigid gulf waters. The event was started in 1980 by Pensacola's own Gerry Blanck, a 7th-degree black belt who still attends the event and was the World Kickboxing Champion from 1983-85. It has been held every year on Pensacola Beach, except for the years 2005-09, where it was held on Panama City Beach due to local coastal damage by Hurricane Ivan. The directors are 8th-degree black belt Hiroaki Toyama of Pensacola, and 7th-degree black belt Mike Culbreth of Dothan, Alabama. Other black belts and familiar faces that participate in the workout include Pensacola favorites Blanck, Sensei Seadog, and retired women's division World Kickboxing Champion Cheryl Wheeler Duncan. The Yoshukai Karate Winter Workout is open to all Yoshukai Karate students, from all ages and locations. Spectators are also welcome.