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Selby Shotokan Karate Club

Friday, December 28, 2007

Where does the Shotokan Tiger come from?

I was asked a couple of weeks ago "what is the origin of the Shotokan Tiger?"..... I didn't know and I thought that I should, so I have done a little research, here is what I found.
"When Gichin Funakoshi was a young man, he enjoyed walking in solitude among the pine trees which surrounded his home town of Shuri. He would often walk up Mt.Torao and meditate among the pine trees under the stars and bright moon. Mt.Torao is a very narrow, heavily wooded mountain which, when viewed from a distance, resembles a tigers tail. The name "Torao" literally means "tigers tail". And it is because of this that people think Funakoshi chose the tiger symbol. ( However there is an other story that explains why the tiger was used. Apparently Funakoshi was asked to write the 1st book about karate. The man who asked him was an artist called Hoan Kosugi. It was decided if the book was written Kosugi would design the cover. In Japanese, "tora no maki" is an official document of an art. Funakoshi's book would be "tora no maki" of Karate. "Tora" also means tiger.)"

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Yamaguchi Sensei - Ushiro Geri

Yamaguchi Sensei demonstrating Ushiro Geri on Schwehm Sensei (JKS Chief Instructor- Germany)

I have never had the opportunity of training with Yamaguchi Sensei, but I have trained once with Sensei Uwe at Nottingham at Sensei Alan Campbell's dojo.

Rebecca very much enjoyed Sensei Uwe's class, but Germany is a bit far to travel for regular sessions. I hope Sensei Yamaguichi & Schwehm are here in the UK in 2008.



Yamaguchi Sensei's kick is so fast, some excellent teaching points of snap in the turn and hip extension to increase the length of the kick. I didn't think I would see a Usherio Geri faster than a Gyaku Zuki.




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Sensei Helen is Suffolk bound

Watch out Suffolk the "Selby Stig / CSI Selby" is on her way to terrify you for at least 6 months. Unfortunately for us Helen has landed her dream job as a crime scene investigator, initially on a 6 month contract. At least she can put all her hard work doing that degree into practice.

Haxby, Selby and York clubs had a few beers last night and we presented Helen with her personalised Black Belt and a little reminder from the club. Wishing you all the best Helen, Osu!


Above: Sensei Helen was presented with a couple of gifts

Helen joined SSKC just after I did in early 2000, but had soon overtaken me in grade, when she went to university I caught up again and we have always been similar grades training together for the last eight years.

Above: I think this was before we started toasting our Sensei

We will not lose her completely, she will be training with us when she returns to see her family at the odd weekend. Helen has also looked at the best route to get from Suffolk to Whitchurch for Black and Brown belt courses. I believe Helen also has her sights on the European Championships in 2008.

Above: "The Likely Lads" they will even remember the TV programme!

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Sensei Dave Hazad - Born Fighter

Rebecca bought me a copy of Sensei Dave Hazard's book for Christmas, she said she bought it because she wanted to read it after I had read it.

Take a look at you tube promotion below:



It's a great read, Sensei Dave's introduction to karate was in 1969, his Shihan was Enoeda Sensei who was a 6th Dan then and Kato Sensei was an assistant 4th Dan at the time. Sensei Dave had quite an introduction to Kato Sensei, but you will have to read my previous post or/and read Sensei Dave's book to learn more...


Rebecca was asking if we could attend Sensei Dave's weekend course later in the year, we will have to wait and see, unfortunately it is the other end of the country from us. I did manage to train with Sensei in Dartford in September 2006. Please see post below.

http://selbyshotokankarateclub.blogspot.com/2006/09/course-with-sensei-dave-hazard-15th.html

Hope to train again in 2008, Osu!

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Tuesday, December 25, 2007

SSKC Noma 10K £10 Challenge

I wrote in a previous post a couple of days ago that I would like the club to do something for the charity Dr Kelvin has been working with: "Facing Africa".

Kelvin drop me an e mail saying that he is doing a 10k run for the charity in July and challenging me (and other members of SSKC) to join him, or just make a donation.

This got me thinking....what about "pyramid challenging", it's a bit like pyramid selling but hopefully it will allow us to make a difference to the charity in 2008.

Here is what you have to do in a few easy steps:

  1. Accept the challenge and agree to run, jog or walk 10k between now and the end of July.
  2. Agree to raise a minimum of £10 for the charity.
  3. E mail me using the link in the sidebar accepting the challenge (so I can update readers on how many people have taken up the challenge)
  4. The Pyramid part... Challenge a minimum of three people to also take part, anywhere at anytime.
  5. The important bit....pay your sponsorship/donation to Facing Africa, you can use the link in the sidebar, please put a note in the comment section that you took part in the SSKC 10k £10 challenge.PS Don't forget to use gift Aid!
  6. Please e mail me and let me know how much you raised, I keep an ongoing total on the blog.

I have put a few links in the sidebar for your information:

"Noma" - What it is all about


"Kelvin's Page" - You Tube and BBC links on the Yorkshire medical team's work in Ethiopia

"Facing Africa" - A link to the charities web site


"Online Donations" - A link straight to the donation page

To try and make A big start I will be challenging all my Karate contacts, Army contacts and family, friends and work colleagues, all you have to do is accept the challenge and challenge three more people to do the same!

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Merry Christmas from IJKA Ireland

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Monday, December 24, 2007

A Christmas present to you all

A Few clips from You tube as a Christmas present for you to watch



Above: Asai Shihan shows what Makiwara training is all about




Above & Below: Kagawa Shihan demonstrates how to Kick




Note: Sensei Scott getting into side of shot and doing a little translating to boot.


I have only trained with Kagawa Shihan once, I will always make sure that I am not the tallest in the class as this is a quite a regular demo.

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Okazaki Shihan's Christmas message

Okazaki Shihan sent me this Christmas message from Japan, can anyone help with a translation?


お元気ですか
新年明けましておめでとう
私は貴方からの手紙を幸せに思っています
貴方は誰ですか   貴方の名前を教えてほしい
私は貴方が大好きです
一度日本に来てください   心からお待ちしてます
さようなら
また お会いできますことを祈します

okazaki

Translation Courtsey of Sensei Andre Bertel

Here you go Paul (Mr. Okazaki's letter to you). Happy New Year. From Andre
お元気ですか How are you?
新年明けましておめでとう Happy New Year
私は貴方からの手紙を幸せに思っています I'm very happy to recieve the letter from you.
貴方は誰ですか   貴方の名前を教えてほしい Who are you? I want to know your name.
私は貴方が大好きです I like you very much.
一度日本に来てください   心からお待ちしてます Please come to Japan some day. I 'm really forward to it, from my heart.
さようなら Sayonara
またお会いできますことを祈します I pray to see you again.
Andre Bertel



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Sunday, December 23, 2007

Kelvin's page updated

I have updated Dr Kelvin's page with some detail of the work he did with the Facing Africa charity in Ethiopia. Kelvin was part of the surgical team treating Noma.

I know Kelvin is very much involved with the charity and after viewing myself some of the charities work I hope there will be something we can do collectively as a club in 2008 for this cause.

I have not included the detail on the main blog because it details major facial reconstructive surgery, but if you would like to watch the you tube clips posted from the BBC's Inside Out programme or follow the links to Facing Africa web site please click on Kelvin's name in the Kyu grade table in the side bar.

Kelvin, I cant believe that I have not heard of Facing Africa of Noma before, brilliant work, Osu!

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Christmas Greetings from Bulgaria

Above: A Karate card to us all from Sensei Latchezar Nenov - IJKA Bulgaria

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Can we do some Kumite Sensei?

It is always nice to recieve feedback from students and requests for what they would like to work on.
But, how do you develop a karateka in kumite, when do you start and with what type?
Karate is a balance of Kihon, Kata and Kumite, but many students feel that they are being held back unduly in kumite.
Every association and indeed club will have a differing viewpoint, but here is ours.

Types
Kumite can be broken down into the following:
Basic Kumite - Gohon, Sambon and Ippon Kumite (5, 3 & 1 Step)
Jiyu ippon Kumite - Semi free
Jiyu Kumite - free

We will start beginners on attacks and defence in the standing position. We also have karateka in pairs just stepping forward backwards and to the sides just maintaining kamae and maai (no attacking). We develop to "knee boxing" where karateka score points by touching the knee of the opponent, from a scramble for a young beginner this can be very tactical for the experienced karateka developing tai-sabaki.

Above: Static Attack and defence

The Karateka is practiced in Gohon, or so he/she thinks and want to progress straight to Jiyu, where the excitement is.


Above: Even in Gohon kumite you don't know who you might come up against!

Different types of kumite develop different skills, in Gohan the maai is set, in Jiyu Ippon from Kamae, maai is an optional distance. Jiyu ipppon is a massive step up from basic, Jiyu Ippon is the first introduction to "jissen" actual fighting. You announce the area that you are aiming and the attacker attacks decisively. The defender is free to use any technique to block and counter. The purpose is to put into practice techniques of offence and defence.
When training with either Gullen or Kato Shihan with senior grades much time is spent on Jiyu Ippon. Kato Shihan recently said to us in whitchurch, " This is Jiyu Ippon not Jiyu wazari, you must attack, you must score.... target, target".

I am sure Jiyu Ippon means that the karateka attacks with a single technique, but what Shihan was trying to instil into us is this is Jissen actual fighting. It requires Zanshin, spirit and commitment. The attacker can make use of feints and changes in advancing techniques, not just a straightforward Oi-Zuki. The blocker can advance, retreat or tai-sabaki, shifting the centre of gravity, blocking-finishing in one breath.

I was reading Yahara Shihan interview in this months SKM he talks about trying to survive Yano Sensei, he had to learn good tai-sabaki. Yahara Sensei studied the method of movement of the late Asai Sensei who used special evasion methods that he learnt in Taiwan while studying Chinese wushu.

The feeling of Jiyu Ippon should be if after attacking, the attacker continues to attack or turns the blockers counter against him this would become jiyu kumite. For this reason Jiyu Ippon requires great skill and is not recommended for beginners whose techniques will be poor and ineffective under pressure. For the more experienced karateka it will develop true sight and the sixth sense of attack and defence.

When grading for Shodan I was disappointed that after my Jiyu Ippon that I only had about 30 seconds of Jiyu kumite, but now I realise that I have still to develop before I am really ready for Jiyu Kumite.

Gullen Shihan starts high Kyu grades in Jiyu Ippon in a relaxed manner but requires a simple defense sliding back and block and counter age-uke or soto-uke. An excellent grounding, what this does is gives the defender maximum time to react to the attack. It dosen't matter if the attacker changes side, half steps first or slides in, the basic blocks work giving you not quite all the time in the world, but a lot more time than having to worry about having a certain foot forward for the technique to work. This is then developed into speed and power with Zanshin for brown belts, but still just the basic block....don't get ahead of yourself yet.

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Saturday, December 22, 2007

IJKA Worldwide

At our Christmas course Sensei Brian Toomey spoke about the transition from IJKA Europe to IJKA worldwide.

Within our association Asai Shihan was our chief instructor until his passing on the 15th August 2006. Although I only got to train with Asai Shiahan briefly I am sure that I speak for many within the IJKA when I say his Karate continues today and his memory and influence will be with us always. Out of our deepest respect for Asai Shihan arrangements within our association did not change for a minimum of twelve months.

The IJKA moves forward and has over the last 6 months have had many countries join our association. IJKA Europe will now be known as the "International Japan Karate Association"

Kato Shihan 8th Dan is now officially our Chief Instructor (World) . Kato Shihan has been resident in the UK for 35. He has a unique style of teaching and his attention to historical detail of shotokan makes his coaching seminars a must for every serious shotokan karateka.

I can remember Kato Shihan teaching 6 versions of Bassai dai in one afternoon, too much for me to take in but it demonstrates the depth of Shihan's knowledge.

If you wish to know more about the IJKA please visit http://www.ijka.net/

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Sunday, December 16, 2007

Christmas display and party

Tonight was our annual display and party, everyone took part demonstrating Kihon, Kata and kumite relevant to grade, followed by a few eats etc and a trip down the pub for the adults.




Above: Selby Club Christmas photo 2007

There was unfortunately a few faces missing from this years photo due to other family commitments etc, but we were very happy to get approx 30 faces in the frame.

At Christmas we present the Sensei Trevor Jinks Cup, this is awarded to a Karateka that has showed good spirit and correct attitude to training. This was a very difficult decision this year and we had quite a few nominations from our instructors. After much deliberation we decided that we would have to give a runners up prize this year, as there was so little between the winner and the runner up.

Josh was awarded a Blitz White Diamond Gi that is worth approx £65 in recognition of his continued commitment to training. Josh had many years training in a different style of karate and I think he will agree that he has found the transition to Shotokan very demanding. Despite a failure, followed by being awarded the same grade he had reached in his previous style he has continued to persevere. It was this commitment and effort with little reward that we have recognised tonight. We look forward to guiding you through future gradings in 2008 as you work towards your Black belt. It is this sort of determination that gets Karateka to Shodan where students with more natural ability just give up... well done Josh, Osu!

The Trevor Jinks Cup was awarded to Sam Dennis, no one has trained harder than Sam in 2007. He has fought hard to keep up with his peers after missing a grading. He has attended additional training sessions with Gullen Shihan at the York dojo to advance his Karate. What has impressed us most is his personal motivation and maturity beyond his years. Sam is small and has been caught a few times this year, and been hurt. Unfortunately when you get to Sam's grade (3rdKyu) you need to step up your training, you need spirit and correct karate attitude. Sam has what it takes to reach Shodan, Sam should be aiming for 2009.

Above: Josh Hartley, Sensei Ash and Sam Dennis

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Selby Stig?

Sempai Helen has been trying out for a racing scholarship in the "Clio Cup", she is regularly seen behind the wheel of her beloved MG hatch, racing around the back roads of North Yorkshire.

She found the Clio an excellent car to drive despite the racing seat and helmet being too big for her tiny frame.

At the end of a brilliant day she was told that she had to do a blog, "everyone was", she was like a frightened rabbit in the headlights in front of the camera, sorry Helen.... just click the link below....

http://www.racingscholarship.com/blog17.htm

If you take the mickey out of Sempai Helen though, be prepared for a quick Uraken or Gyaku Zuki, Osu!

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Kakioku Shodan

At Kato Shihan's Christmas course we were taught a kata that I had not done before, I have managed to find a video of Asai Shihan performing Kakioku Shodan, with Bunkai, enjoy...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.




Above: Asai Shihan performs Kakioku Shodan with Bunlkai


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Saturday, December 08, 2007

Sensei Andy Denby - 5th Dan

Sensei Andy joined Selby Club at the beginning of the year, to be honest I wasn't sure how it was going to work out. It is not everyday that a Godan walks through the door and asks if it is ok for him and his kids to join in.

It can be a little daunting teaching as a Shodan with a Godan standing in the line. Sensei Ash and myself took it as a great complement that someone with Sensei Andy's experience was at home training with us.

Sensei has kindly given me a little of his extensive Karate career to put on his members page. Please go to the Dan grade table in the sidebar and click on Sensei Andy's name.

We all look forward to many years training together. Osu!

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Friday, December 07, 2007

Photo Competition

This Karateka has been spotted all over Europe this year but who is he?
Seen here sporting the Bobby Charlton look.
Can you Name him?

Kato Shihan's Christmas Course

Above: "Hammer" from IJKA Ireland grades for Shodan



Above: Sensei Sharad Karai, Gen. Secretary IJKA England


Our congratulations go to "Hammer" from Ireland, a well deserved Shodan. Sophie one of Sensei Sharad's students also attempted Shodan and has been invited by Shihan to re-grade in three months time.


The Shodan grading was both physically and mentally demanding. Shihan does not have a set grading syllabus, you can not practice your grading over and over before hand. In Kihon you are asked to undertake 6 to 8 move combinations moving forward, backwards and using multiple stances within the same combination.


Shihan Kato will explain the combination, you get to practice 2 or 3 times and then you execute the sequence with speed, power and Zanshin. Forget the combination, lack good technique, speed, power or Zanshin and you will be marked down.


A couple of weeks ago a black belt from a different association came to watch at York club with a view to training the following week. Shihan Gullen was teaching the beginners and I was taking the Purple belts. We happened to be going through combinations, we were practising some of the Shodan combinations Sensei had used for the Dan gradings in Budapest (where I believe only about 4 out of 18 students passed!) Shihan Gullen spoke to the student afterwards and asked him what he taught of our training. He informed Shihan that they didn't do it like that at his club and was concerned that it would confuse him. Unfortunately we have not seen him since.


I strongly believe that Shihan is looking to see enough in any student to pass them, he is not there to invite you back at a later date. However Shihan must maintain a standard and that standard needs to be the same throughout the Association whether in the UK , Russia or anywhere else in the world.


When you present yourself for your Shodan grading prepare to be pushed to your limits and beyond, at this point you will no longer have good technique, speed or power but you must still have Zanshin!


Shihan many thanks for the brilliant course, the hospitality of your home and the opportunity to meet with all our friends again, Merry Christmas, Osu!


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Georgia & Michael Denby


On Sunday the 3rd December I returned from Kato Shihan's with Michael and Georgia's grading cerificates. A very proud dad then presented them.

Gullen Shihan had informed me that they both had graded very strongly and were very close to double grading.

Congratulations to you both, Osu!

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