When you can take the pebble from my hand ....

When will you be ready to grade for your "Kuro Obi" (Black Belt), after 3 years, 4 years, 5 years...?

At this weekends Black and Brown belt training Campbell Sensei gave some clear direction, he was talking about Jiyu Ippon Kumite and said you are ready when you can take the Black Belt from your training partner.

In the cult TV series Kwai Chung Caine would not be ready to leave the temple until he could take the pebble from Master Can's hand, you must step up to the mark and take that Black Belt.

It does not just apply to Jiyu Ippon Kumite.

What do Gohon Kumite, Sandon Kumite, Kihon Ippon Kumite, Jiyu Ippon Kumite and Jiyu Kumite have in common?

The word Kumite, all should be performed with the same budo spirit.

As A Brown Belt you should be a dangerous and hungry opponent for any Black Black.

Sensei Simon from Haxby was particularly good at this (and still is, but don't let him know). It does wonders to raise the game of Black Belts to have a hungry Brown Belt trying to take your Black Belt away.

Jim reminded me at the weekend of the particularly enjoyable Jiyu Ippon Kumite session with Simon for I think his 2nd or 1st Kyu grading. I can say that we both really went for it, which came as a bit of a surprise for the parents of the junior grades who wondered what the hell was going on. Simon thought he had completed his block and counter at one point, he did not move away so with out thinking Ashi Bari, gyaku zuki. I think it got a bit scrappy at times, but it was definitely budo.

As Campbell Sensei said you will not be given a Black Belt, you need to take it.

Not everyone will want it enough, young Tom Smith from Haxby has got a lot to teach our Brown Belts. From the second he lined up for his Shodan grading in front of the JKS chief instructor Kagawa Sensei he was TAKING a black belt home, there was no doubt in his mind at all. When you can follow Tom's example, you will be ready and if you are not ready, do not step on the line and present yourself for grading.

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The marksmanship principles of kata

We all know that the principles of the dojo (the dojo kun) should also be practiced outside the dojo, but are external principles able to be applied inside the dojo?

I am regularly responsible for the conduction of ranges, for soldiers who are attempting to pass an annual weapons test. If they have paid attention to their weapons lessons and apply the marksmanship principles it is like doing a yellow belt grading every year. If you can't maintain this minimum standard, you can not remain.

Unfortunately many do not find it easy and fail to meet this minimum standard,why?

My 1st question to those that do not pass is "Did you apply the marksmanship principles?"; the answer is always "Yes".

My 2nd question is "What are the principles?", this is usually followed by a period of silence or waffle.

If you do not know the core principles behind what you are trying to perfect how on earth can you apply them and ultimately achieve the level of success that you desire?

Surprising the 4 marksmanship principles translate very well into kata.

1. The position and hold must be firm enough to support the weapon

1. You must have a solid stance from which to perform techniques.

2. The weapon must point naturally at the target without any undue physical effort.

2. The technique must naturally follow the correct path.

3. Sight alignment (aiming) must be correct

3. Joint alignment (Knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, hand etc) must be correct.

4. The shot must be released and followed through without undue disturbance of the position.

4. Your technique must be executed without undue disturbance of your stance.

The other Wednesday I still had this concept of keeping core principles in mind when I asked a group of Brown and Black belts what the core principles of kata were. I was met with a similar puzzled expression to the soldier on the range. They did manage to list quite a few important points, but not "principles" (general rules). I asked them to go and see what they could find out, pointing them towards Nakayama Sensei's Best Karate series.

Nakayama Sensei's Core principles:

1. The correct number and order of moves must be performed.

2. The kata must begin and end at the same spot.

3. The meaning of each movement must be clearly understood and fully expressed.

4. The karateka must be aware of the target and know precisely when to execute the technique.

5. The rhythm and timing must be appropriate to the kata.

6. Breath properly and kiai in the correct places.

During your kata practice you may wish to select one or two principles to focus on, but those who are preparing for Brown and Black belt gradings need to consider all these key principles when you present yourself for examination.

Knowing what the core principles of kata are has got to help, Osu!

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JKS England Squad Fund contribution

A big thank you to everyone that supported the SSKC Competition .

The Cups have been engraved and I dropped Haxby Clubs off on Thursday, York your cups will be delivered Monday and I will bring the Seibukan Cups down to B & B trg in a couple of weeks.

I have completed the accounts for the event and have prepared a cheque for £250, which I hope will kick start the JKS England Squad fund.

Good luck to all the team in Dublin this weekend, Osu!

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Wa Shin Kan - Gateshead

Yesterday we travelled North, a bit of shopping in the Metro Centre followed by a afternoon of training at Wa Shin Kan dojo in Gateshead.

Sensei Douglas had contacted me to say that unfortunately Cook Sensei was unable to attend as planned, but this did not deter us from having the opportunity of training at another JKS dojo.

Sensei Douglas instructs in both Karate and Judo.

His karate background has always been in Shotokan, but with a mix of associations over the years, he has also shown a keen interest in what over styles have to offer. I am sure this has developed his keen interest in kata application.

For the first hour Sensei asked us what we wanted to do. It was a great opportunity for Bex to receive some further tuition on Gankaku. Sensei Douglas is an experienced competitor and an excellent instructor, just what you need when you are trying to "perfect" a kata. At a recent course it was Sensei Douglas that was selected by Kagawa Sensei to demonstrate good technique.

We also had the opportunity of running through Gankaku Sho which is a SKI higher level kata developed from an Okinawa form.

Above: you do not always find your opponent at normal kumite distance.

As more karateka joined the session we went on to work on Kihon and combinations at different distances and onto kata applications.

Above: Some application with Sensei Ian Campbell

Both Bex and myself had a great afternoon, the early part more main stream karate (that Bex prefers) and the later part with some application and close quarter work (which I enjoy, a bit of a throw back to my Jiu Jitsu background). Many thanks to Sensei Ian Campbell, my training partner for most the later session.

Above: You may be working outside your normal karate comfort zone, but that does not stop you enjoying yourself.

We left Gateshead to travel back to Yorkshire two happy karate gypsies who had taken another step along "the way", Sensei ne rei, Otagai ni rei, Osu!

A link to the Wa Shin Kan dojo can be found in our links section, just click "Links" in the sidebar.

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SSKC Competition 2011

Above: The pre-competition photo

There was a great turn out for 2011 with sixty competitors in all. A time for karateka from our local (and not so local) clubs to experience competition in a semi formal atmosphere and use the experience as a stepping stone to national and international events.

Above : Sensei Steve, Luis and Andy all old SSKC members.

Luis and Andy reflect back on the times when Sensei Steve used to "beast" them up and down the dojo in the early 1980's.

Below are the results of yesterdays competition with some short clips and photos. Many congratulations to all the Cup and medals winners and all karateka for supporting the event.

The Cups will be engraved with the winners names and distributed shortly.

SSKC Competition Results - May 2011
Event 1 - Under 9 - Mixed Kata
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Jemimah Collins Haxby	Jenson Hall Selby	Molly Douglas Selby	Lee Griffin Selby
Event 2 - Under 12 - Mixed Kata
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Bethany Bamford Haxby	Eddie Bond Bradford	Amber Bannister Walsall	Lucas Mortimer York
Event 3 - Under 17 - Mixed Kata "The TSB Cup"
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Eleanor Dook York	Holly Bamford Haxby	Aaron Acaster Haxby	Phoenix Pierce Seibukan
Event 4 - Over 16 - Mixed Kata - Beg to 3rd Kyu "The Lawrence Hannah Cup"
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Peter Mallen Haxby	David Leadbeater Selby	Helen Baker Haxby	Claire Hardy Selby
Event 5 - Over 16 - Mixed Kata - 2nd Kyu + "The Lawrence Hannah Cup"
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Michael Dean York	Johan Kuylestierna York	Peter Mallen Haxby	Jim Bamford Haxby
Event 6 - Family Kata "The Gough & Kelly Cup"
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Bamford - C Holly & Bethany Haxby	Bamford - A Jim & Holly Haxby	Bamford - B Jim & Bethany Haxby	Bannister Josh & Amber Walsall
Event 7 - Under 9 - Mixed Kumite (Knee Boxing)
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Molly Douglas Selby	Jemimah Collins Haxby	Lee Griffin Selby	Jenson Hall Selby
Event 8 - Under 12 - Mixed Kumite
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Lucas Mortimer York	Joshua Parker Seibukan	Nathan Tipper Walsall	Remi Malcolm Bradford
Event 9 - Under 17 - Mixed Kumite "The SSKC Kumite Cup"
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Phoenix Pierce Seibukan	Lucas Mortimer York	Lewis Hopkinson Seibukan	Joshua Robinson Selby
Event 10 - Over 16 - Male Kumite - Beg to 3rd Kyu "The HT Scaffolding Cup"
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Adam Fisher Haxby	Peter Mallen Haxby	David Leadbeater Selby	-
Event 11 - Over 16 - Female Kumite - Beg to 3rd Kyu "The HT Scaffolding Cup"
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Wendy Pierce Seibukan	Claire Hardy Selby	Jacqui Malcolm Bradford	Helen Baker Haxby
Event 12 - Over 16 - Male Kumite - 2nd Kyu+ "The Denby Security Services Cup"
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Jim Bamford Haxby	Michael Dean York	Matt Beard Selby	Johan Kuylestierna York
Event 13 - Over 16 - Female Kumite - 2nd Kyu+
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Not Run in 2011	-	-	-
Under 17 - Grand Champion The Sensei Rodrigo Bastidas Memorial Cup
Winner	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Phoenix Pierce Seibukan 11 Points	Eleanor Dook York 10 Points	Lucas Mortimer York 6 Points	Holly Bamford Haxby 6 Points

Thank you to everyone that competed, officiated or supported on the day, Osu!

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