An old friend re-visited.

With gradings behind us and a dojo full of karateka with bright new belts; I wanted to try something a little different that would challenge our students.

There was a kata that I used to practice with Stav a few years ago called Kashu (Hi no te): one of Asai Shihan's elemental kata based on Unsu (Fire).

Kato Shihan had asked Sensei Ash to practice it as part of his preparation for his Yondan grading. Dave and I were mid kyu grades, but we really liked this kata and would practice it at both Selby and Haxby dojo before anyone else arrived.

As well as challenging my students I also like to challenge myself.

How do I teach Kashu, when I have a mixed class from ungraded students to 1st Kyus?

I divided the class in half, green belt and below and purple and belt up.

For each sequence in the kata I taught a simplified version for the lower grades based on techniques that they know, or could easily pick up and the more advanced kata moves for the higher grades.

Lower grades:

Age Uke, Age Uke, Empi, Gedan bari......

Higher grades:

Jodan bari, Gyaku Zuki, Jodan bari, Gyaku Zuki, Shuto, Empi, Kentsui, Gedan bari....

The higher grades having typically 2 moves, sometimes 3 moves to each of the lower grades single moves.

We looked at the application of Jodan bari, and how combinations from the kata could be used in Jiyu Ippon Kumite for brown belts.

The importance of correct use of the hips in combinations like Kentsui, Gedan bari when you are moving from Kokutsu-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi, making shomen mid technique is essential to develop power.

I love the application of move 20, Jim from Haxby went spinning to the floor as the strike landed, it has the feel of an Aikido move, you just seem to flow round your attacker as he dissolves at your feet.

I was certainly challenging myself trying to teach a high grade kata and devise a simplified kata as we went along and still maintain a fluid lesson.

I will have to ask Kato Shihan to teach it again, now hopefully my understanding has moved on a bit. I hope you enjoyed our visit to an old friend as much as I did? We won't do many sessions like this, but it is good to look into your future and what most of you were learning is how to learn a kata. By each of the higher grades taking a lead in rotation, it forced you to pay attention and at the end of the night you could all perform a 45 move kata that you had never seen before today, not a bad session, Osu!

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More Shotokan and Asai Ryu Kata videos uploaded

I have uploaded a few more kata from Latvia and mainstream old JKA kata with Bunkai

• Jurokupo
• Juroppo
• Gyaku Zuki No Kata
• Zenkutsu Dachi No Kata
• Kiba Dachi No Kata
• Fushu (Kaze No Te) ( Wind Hands)
• Bassai Dai
• Kanku Dai
• Jitte

If you follow the link to my kata page and double click on the kata name, it will take you to the video of the kata selected.

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More Asai Ryu kata posted

I have uploaded a few more kata from Latvia, they are "step by step" guides.

• Junro Shodan
• Junro Nidan
• Junro Sandan
• Junro Yondan
• Junro Godan
• Jo No Kata &
• Mawari No Kata

If you follow the link to my kata page and double click on the kata name, it will take you to the individual kata page.
If you double click on the video titled "step by step" guide, it will take you back to YouTube, click on "more info" in the sidebar and it will bring up a full list of all the moves.

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More Latvian videos posted

Many thanks to the Sensei from Latvia for posting more Asai Ryu kata on You tube. I have added their videos of Joko Issei and Kashu into the relevant kata pages.

These and many more Asai Ryu kata can be found by clicking on the links from my kata page.

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Is Yahara Shihan the "Angel of Kata"?

If you have never viewed "the committee's" unique Kata blog you may well want to, and with a little bit of thought make your own contribution.

This panel of high ranking dan grades are very hard to please and have a reputation at being ruthless in their rejection. It is like the "X Factor" but with 4 Simon Cowells!

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More Asai Ryu Katas posted

Many thanks to Sensei O'Keeffe for posting on You tube "Kashu" also called "Hi no te" this is the "Fire" elemental kata devised by Asai Shihan following on from the mainstream kata of Unsu. The kata is performed by Sensei Makita, Matsui and Watanabe as a demo in Japan at this years JKS competition. The Team kata is followed by Sensei Makita and Matsui as uke as Sensei Watanabe performs the bunkai. As you would expect a great video.

The second video is from Latvia, "Kibaken Shodan". I believe Asai Shihan created Kibaken Shodan with the intention of it being the first in a series. Kato Shihan has devised Kibaken Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan and Super Kibaken to complete the series.

These and many more Asai Ryu kata can be found by clicking on the links from my kata page.

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New Asai Ryu Videos posted

I have added a few kata videos into the blog from Lativa. Koller Shihan's - Mawari no kata and Asai Shihan's Roshu, Shotei dai, Jo no kata, Hikioshi no kata, plus the open hand technique kata, Kaishu no kata. Enjoy, Osu!

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Kaminari Arashi - Thunderous Storm

I have posted a copy of Bertel Sensei performing "Kaminari Arashi".

I have known of this kata for a while but have never seen it before. It is posted on u-Tube with tomorrows date, it confused me for a minute, but then I remembered it is already tomorrow in Japan. Sensei many thanks in sharing this very dynamic footage, Osu!

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Three years have past.

Above : Asai Shihan 10th Dan - IJKA/JKS

On 15th August 2006 Asai Shihan sadly passed, but his karate lives on all over the world. I only had the honour to train with Sensei once (briefly) and will leave further comment to those for whom he was truly Sensei.

Bertel Sensei - 6th Dan has written an article for the Shotokan way on this anniversary, as always well worth a read.

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A steady week, even if it is the holidays.

It was a quite Sunday for the SSKC, the last training session at Barlby for August (the next 3 Sundays are at Hambleton). Just myself and fourteen kyu grades, Sensei Andy was away enjoying the Scottish cuisine.

There was a fairly even mix of low grades and 5th kyu and greater, no mid grades so I decided after Kihoon training to do "Gohon Kumite". After drilling in kihon form for the lower grades each partnered with a higher grade. Jodan attack, Ichi........Go, attack change, then change partners, seven sets jodan each low grade with each high grade. Then onto chudan, then onto full Gohon kumite. With seven sets I could start slow to count and gradually build up in speed until no count speed and power, (control for the higher grades). 45 minutes of Gohon kumite went quickly and the session was over.
The second session just left myself and Dom, Dom is preparing for Shodan. I ran through all the Kihon that Kato Sensei did for the Shodan gradings in Budapest a few years ago. I knew that note book would come in handy. It is amazing how Sensei can put a short string of basic techniques into such difficult combinations. We also worked on Jion and a little Kanku Sho.

Wednesday at Hambleton was very quite, Sensei Andy was back from his hols and when he asked what were we going to do I requested Heian Nidan. Sensei drilled us in Kihon, application and Kata. Julie and Amy were doing fairly basic form and Rebecca and I were set with all sorts of challenges all around H2. A great session for all four of us, Sensei ne rei, Osu!

Tonight, I went to train with Sensei Mike at Haxby, training starts at 19.00hrs, but I can sometimes sneak into the hall at 18.00hrs when they open the door to "fat fighters" in the adjacent room. I had been sitting in my car flicking through my note book and found some scribblings of two kata that I hadn't done for a couple of years.

Above : Koller Shihan

The first was Mawari No Kata, this was devised by Koller Shihan and the second was the Asai ryu kata, kokutsu-dachi No Kata. I spent an hour trying to remember them, with Mawari No Kata I was ok until the last few moves, the Gyaku Zukis didn't seem quite right and my scribblings weren't helping.

Above : Asai Shihan

Kokutsu-dachi-No-Kata, I had tried to remember about a year ago and again my notes had failed me when I couldn't remember the transitions or which way to turn, a couple of notes didn't make much sense. However I was still trying to figure it out when Sensei Mike turned up. Then suddenly, a couple of pennies dropped, I could remember Sensei teaching it and little details of half steps and spinning. I think I nearly have it now.
Sensei Mike had to leave early so I was Instructing for about the last hour. We started with back stance, starting with just the feet. Then I had the white belts just stepping blocking shuto and all the purple belts and above eventually doing the kata. I found myself really enjoying this kata, perhaps it has changed for me now I have a basic knowledge of Bassai Sho and Kanku Sho, I can appreciate better what I am meant to be doing. I finished with the Brown belts and above focusing on when to turn on the ball and when the heel for smooth transition. I hope everyone enjoyed learning it as much as I did teaching it, Osu!

If anyone knows where I can find any video of these kata I would greatly appreciate an E-mail.

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Seiryu and Hachimon kata

I posted a couple of videos in the Asai Ryu kata section of the blog.
A version of Seiryu from Mexico and Hachimon from Israel, enjoy.

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Kato Shihan - Hangetsu

Above : Kato Shihan - 9th Dan IJKA - Chief Instructor

Kato Shihan teaching Hangetsu, enjoy.

I have also added it to the videos in the kata section.

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Kato Shihan - Gankaku

Above: Kato Shihan 9th Dan IJKA - Gankaku

Kato Shihan teaching Gankaku kata and Bunkai in Riga, 2007 enjoy.

I have also added it to the Gankaku page in the kata section.

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Kato Shihan - Sochin

Above: Kato Shihan 9th Dan IJKA - Sochin

Kato Shihan teaching Sochin kata and Bunkai enjoy. I have also added it to the Sochin page in the kata section.

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2 New Kata videos added

I have added two new brilliant videos in the kata session.

Yahara Sensei performing Empi (about 9 mins!)
Imura Sensei performing Jitte (nearly 8 mins!)

Also thank you to Jim from Haxby who kindly pointed out an error in a link which I have now corrected. If anyone finds any similar errors please drop me an E-mail.

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Shotokan Kata Videos

The collection of kata video is still growing, I have recently added a video of Makita Sensei JKS performing Gojushiho Dai, this was forwarded to me by Hans Ranah Sensei JKS from Loughborough, Many thanks.

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Kato Sensei's Kata Course

What a weekend for Josh to attend his first Black and Brown belt course at Whitchurch at the home of Kato Sensei! As a teenage 2nd kyu it is daunting enough turning up at Sensei's on a Friday night, it is so different from anybody elses home that you would walk into. As Rebecca put it there is always so much to look at, items from all other the world.

Training started at 10.30 on Saturday when Sensei announced " No Kihon, No Kumit, just Kata this weekend, we must all work hard to remember Asai Sensei kata....this weekend Junro kata, Shodan... Nidan... Sandan... Yondan... Godan, also Joko Kata, Issei... Nisei... Sansei... Yonsei... and Gosei" My maths skills have always been ok but I wasn't sure but I thought Sensei had just told us that we would be practicing ten Asai Ryu kata over the coming two days?

What a baptism of fire for young Josh. I have always been a bit slow to pick up kata so I was glad that although I don't regularly train in any of the ten that Sensei had just mentioned I had a least seen / tried at least six or seven of them. At Shodan I am still trying to concentrate mainly on the core Shotokan kata, although I do enjoy dabbling in Asai ryu kata.

Saturday was a long day starting at the Whitchurch school and after lunch continuing in Sensei's garden until a little after 17.00hrs. The session had concluded with Sensei Peter Custance teaching Joko Gosei. After training Thomas, Josh, Dom and myself ran few the kata that we had been taught during the day while some karateka retired to the sauna and some to the bar for a well deserved pint.

I also used the time in the early evening to practice some of the Asai kata that we were not practising that weekend. I was very grateful to Sensei Brian Toomey from Ireland of his corrections to my performances of Kashu and Meikyo Nidan. I aslo went through Rantai with Simon from Haxby and again Sensei Brian was kind enough to gave us a few pointers.

Sunday started with about ninety minutes of Joko Gosei bunkai. I am never failed to be amazed at Sensei's bunkai of kata. For each sequence he would demonstrate multiple applications depending on technique used for attack. We would then practice that sequence of moves and then partner up and practice the bunkai.

Over the weekend Sensei also announced a number of Dan grading results. Quite a few IJKA Dan grades had been undertaking examinations for period of up to eighteen months and only got their results at the weekend. Our congratulations go to Sensei Dr Jonathan Lyons - 5th Dan, Lisa Woods - 4th Dan, Frances Kenny - 3rd Dan, Steve Cameron - 3rd Dan, Sunil Agalgatti - 2nd Dan and Steve Crowe - 2nd Dan. Claire was also taking Sensei Stacey's 2nd Dan certificate back to Ireland for her. Also recently promoted in 2009 Sensei Mike Kotowski - 5th Dan and Dave Sanderson 4th Dan. Late on Sunday Sensei also completed the final stages of Sensei Milena Galabova grading and promoted her to 3rd Dan. Sensei-ni-rei, Osu!

Well back to Josh, what a weekend, I was very proud to be your Sempai, Thomas, Dom and Josh all were perfect ambassadors for our club.

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Shotokan wheelchair kata videos

I added to the Kata Video pages 6 posts with shotokan wheelchair kata from Heian Shodan through to Tekki Shodan. They are performed with good Zanshin and strong technique.

If you click on the Kata link below, the disabled Shotokan katas are at the very bottom of the kata table in the left hand column in the disabled kata section. I hope I can get some Asai wheelchair kata footage to post soon. If anyone has any I would greatly welcome their donation.

I can faintly remember Kato Shihan teaching me the first Asai wheelchair kata when I was probably a yellow belt and I have not done it since, I can only remember the first 4 moves.

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Selby Hosts Sensei Kato - Feb 09

Above: The Course Photo

What an absolutely brilliant weekend!

Kato Shihan 9th Dan IJKA World Chief Instructor visited the Selby dojo, the first time in about 20+ years. Karateka from Selby, Haxby and York dojos trained on Saturday at Selby and Haxby on the Sunday prior to thirty one Karateka grading.

We were very pleased to have with us Sensei Stacey and Claire from Ireland, who brought with them Malcolm who graded to 2nd Kyu on Sunday. I believe it was his first grading with the IJKA, he didn't seem to be phased so far from home, congratulations on obtaining your 2nd Kyu!

On Saturday Sensei taught a two hour class for all grades and a further session for Black and Brown belts where he taught Shotei Sho, I have a couple of clips of some of the bunkai and Sensei teaching the circular hand techniques which I will post when I get a chance.

Sensei Steve Cook from Selby joined us for training on the Sunday. He has been unable to train for a few years due to family and business commitments, but he has not lost any of his skills. Great to see you training Steve.

Sensei Mark was over from Whitchurch on Sunday and Shihan put him on the spot when he sent all the Black Belts into the anti-room for Mark to teach us Joko Nisei. I am sure even when Kato Shihan is teaching one of the Asai Ryu kata he will give himself a few minutes to think through the kata again and get it back in his head. Sensei Mark did not have the luxury of even a few seconds. Twenty minutes later Kato Shihan was back to see the results, apart from one hand position on one technique we were ok, Sensei Mark had saved us all a lot of money because Shihan was going to charge us one beer for every mistake!

More photos of the two day course will be posted soon....(when I get a minute). The member table and all the individual member pages have all been updated with your new grades, my congratulations go to the seventeen students from Selby that graded today, well done to you all.

We now have at Selby eleven purple and Brown belts, look forward to some great sessions over the coming months. You now have some good foundations on which to build your karate.

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Kata Course and Grading - 21/22 Feb 2009

Sensei Kato is coming to the Selby Dojo at Barlby High School on Saturday 21st February. It has been well over 10 years since he last taught at our club. It is a great honour for us to host him and we would like all our members to make their best effort to attend the course.

Full details of the weekend:

Saturday 21st - Barlby High School

Selby Shotokan Karate Club

1.30pm for 2pm to 4 pm training
4pm to 5 pm High Grades Only

Sunday 22nd - Wiggington Recreation Hall

Haxby Shotokan Karate Club

9.30am for 10am to 1pm training and gradings

Training Fees - £18.00

Grading Fees - £10.00 / £6.00 (12th to 10th Kyu)
If you are grading you MUST attend the course as well.

All Selby members please let Paul know ASAP if you intend to attend &/or grade.

The link below will take you to a map and directions to Barlby High School

How to find us

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