Goju-Ryu Karate Training Log

2008-05-20T10:29:00.003Z

I have been asked a few times lately why I haven't been keeping this page updated... so here's an update!

Last night's class (20th May 2008) from Childwall Dojo:

Class made up of 17 black belts, 5 brown belts (one of them injured but helping out in a teaching capacity) and several lower grades, all training with Sensei Roy Flatt.

Note: At the start of the class, after junbi-undo Sensei had everyone perform 100 push-ups (in sets of 10 repetitions) and 200 sit-ups (sets of 20). At the end of the class everyone performed another 50 push-ups prior to seiza (the closing procedure at all IOGKF karate classes) and then another 70 push-ups after seiza.

Basics:

This class was geared towards sparring practice.

From zenkutsu dachi (long stance), chassis forwards and punch using the leading hand, kizami zuki (lunge punch).

Next, practice the same movement and add a punch with the opposite hand to form a combination - kizami zuki / gyaku zuki (lunge punch / reverse punch). Maintain a long stance (zenkutsu dachi) while practicing this combination.

The kizami/ gyaku combo mentioned above is an attacking combination - next we performed the defence to counter it. The defence was also performed from zenkutsu dachi, each of the incoming attacks are blocked using an open hand (the leading hand performs both blocks) and followed up with a gyaku-zuki counter punch. As an example, when stood in left zenkutsu dachi, the defence would be to block the incoming punches in quick succession with an open left hand, followed swiftly with a right hand counter punch (gyaku zuki).

This was practiced with a training partner several times, black belt students were encouraged to move about in their stance when practicing the techniques in a relaxed yet fast manner.

After this we practiced several other basic sparring combinations, often incorporating kicking techniques. One such combo was to perform a mawashi geri (roundhouse kick) to the head followed quickly by gyaku zuki to the body. The defence to each combination was practiced as a class group with Sensei demonstrating the technique slowly first, then everybody paired up with a training partner to try each combination out in a pre-arranged sparring sitaution.

Padwork:

Everyone was asked to get boxing gloves and sparring mitts out (most people from our dojo keep mitts and gloves in their training bag for such an occasion). Then, with the training partner, everyone was given 3 x 2 minutes of padwork training. One training partner held the mitts and called shots for the other person to perform. Sensei Roy is a big fan of this kind of training and all of his students enjoy the chance to practice this kind of pad training. You can practice several different combinations of punches and kicks - after a while it becomes quite tiring! You also become much better at calling the shots when you are holding the target mitts, calling shots for your partner to perform is an art in itself. This part of the class was performed to a clock (2 minute rounds) and by the end of the session everyone was sweating a lot and looking slightly red in the face.

Kata:

Straight after padwork Sensei had everyone line up for kata training. Senior grades practiced Shisochin kata with instruction from Sensei Roy, junior grades practiced Gekisai Dai Ichi kata with instruction from Sensei George Yuen.

Shisochin is the kata that students need to know in order to grade to black belt. That is to say, it is *one* of the kata that you need to know! Shisochin kata incorporates lots of long stances and open handed techniques, as well as several turning sequences. If the kata is performed by somebody who is not making long enough stances it can look quite weak. Also, Shisochin involves lots of tempo changes during the performance of different techniques, it is only through continual practice that a student is able to identify the correct tempo for his kata.

Sensei Roy had brown belt level students practice Shisochin kata for the rest of the class. This was a test of confidence, mainly because the brown belts are soon being tested for black belt. Tonight 2 students in particular were singled out by Sensei to perform the kata in front of the rest of the class... 18 black belts stood and watched as they did their kata! Then Sensei Roy gave them some advice on how to perform well under pressure. This kind of advice can be applied to any situation, it doesn't apply just to kata or even karate training.

Next everyone was told to perform a kata of their choice. This meant that several different Goju-Ryu kata were being performed at one time by several people in the same place... it is interesting to perform kata like this, if you aren't sure of what you are doing then you will probably get tangled up with the person next to you (who is doing a different kata!). I practiced Kururunfa kata as it is the one that I would need to know for the my next black belt gradings. Out of the 20+ students in our group only myself and 2 others were practicing Kururunfa kata.

The class ended with stretching and announcements from Sensei Roy.... and more push-ups.

2008-03-23T14:02:00.000Z

Happy Easter to one and all.

2008-03-13T21:51:00.003Z

Apologies for the lack of updates on this page.

Tonight's class at Childwall: Sensei Roy had vistors from Poland training as part of his class, a black belt and a brown belt. There is already a regular student in Liverpool who is from Poland, his name is Raphael and he's been training with Sensei Roy now for well over 18 months and is very dedicated to his training.

The session began with junbi undo, press ups and sit ups, then we practiced moving basics - stepping in stances such as neko ashi dachi, zenkutsu dachi and sanchin dachi whilst, at the same time, performing blocking techniques (such as hiki uke and ko uke). We also practiced blocking techniques with a training partner, many different blocks. This section of the class concentrated on basic techniques. Towards the end of the section Sensei had everyone practice a combination that went as follows:

From left zenkutsu dachi (long stance with left leg in front): Attack towards your training partner using an oi zuku / gyaku zuki combo (punch with left hand then right hand). Then, almost straight away, block an icoming attack (which is aimed at your chest) with your left hand using soto uke (forearm block) - as you perform the block you also bring your left foot to your right foot so that you turn your body slightly to the right. Next, spin your hips clockwise and turn your head to the right - at the same time that you begin to twist around, kick using your right leg and perform ushiro geri towards your training partner's midriff.

After basics, the class was then split into 2 sections: kyu grades (students lower than dan grade) practiced kata Seiyunchin with Sensei Steve; black belts were taken to one end of the dojo to practice kata Kururunfa with Sensei Roy. Sensei Roy took everyone through the movements of Kururunfa kata a few times slowly and then we practiced kata applications (bunkai) with a training partner. This took us right up to the end of the night's class.

This coming Saturday evening we are having a dojo party in Liverpool city centre, should be fun!

2008-02-18T08:20:00.002Z

Slow-motion karate-chop:

This is a very interesting video to watch - I am surprised by how the hand behaves when it is used to "chop" something in half.

2008-02-16T04:01:00.004Z

Been training at Kiyose Dojo with Terauchi Sensei this morning.

The class was at 10am, me and Kev (also from Childwall Dojo in Liverpool) arrived slightly late, Sensei was half way through the warm-up when we arrived. As I was getting changed I watched as Sensei ran about the line of students pulling them into the correct position for each exercise as he called it. I also noticed that Sensei has got a photo in pride of place of himself with Sensei Paul & Peter (who are both from Merseyside, the picture was taken when we took Sensei around Birkenhead market). I was made up when I saw that!

The class was lot of basics, push-ups and Sanchin kata followed by Gekisai Dai Ichi and Dai Ni. We also did some Oyo Bunkai for these 2 kata, including take downs and neck locks. Sensei worked us *really* hard.

Terauci Sensei asked how everyone is in Liverpool and also asked specifically how my dad is, how my sister is and if she is training, how Sensei Roy Flatt is and how Sensei Ernie is. At the end of the class he told his students that he likes going to Liverpool because everyone from there is a good singer!

2008-02-01T19:35:00.000Z

Training last night (on the last day of January 2008):

Sensei Mike from Thingwall Dojo made an appearance at Childwall for some extra training in preparation for his upcoming gradings test. Our dojo last night had a 7th dan (Sensei Roy), a 5th dan (Sensei George), two 4th dans, a 3rd dan and even more black belt students after that. It wasn't the biggest turn out that we've had on a Thursday, but the vintage of people in attendance was quite good!

Training involved beginning with Tensho kata practice (senior "heishugata" or closed-fist kata) for black and brown belt students. Sensei Roy explained a lot about the way this kata is performed and the way that different parts of the kata require different tempo and tension.

After this the class was split into 2: Sensei took students who are grading soon to one end of the dojo for kata practice, while Sensei George and Sensei Steve instructed the remaidner of the class in Ippon Kumite training (one punch sparring) and also San Dan Gi - 3 level sparring. This included some variations of San Dan Gi, we even performed one that incorporates a throw / takedown.

The session ended with kakie practice, lead by Sensei Roy.

2008-01-27T14:49:00.000Z

Sensei Evi Yanti (IOGKF 2nd Dan) instructed on a special karate course today. The event was held in Liverpool at Sensei Roy Flatt's Childwall Dojo. Sensei Evi is the current IOGKF women's kumite world champion, a title which she won at the 2006 Miyagi Chojun Festival in Niagra Falls, Canada.

Some photos from the event:

Sensei Evi's class was 3 hours in length and the session focused on awareness training and sparring technique.

2008-01-15T07:30:00.000Z

Monday 14th January - Training @ Childwall

Firstly, I need to let everyone who was at this session know, the photos that I took during the class never turned out. Something to do with a "card error", basically the camera never took the photos properly. Sorry.

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Tonight's class with Sensei Roy was great. It was a big class (but Mondays always seem to be lately). The session started with a warm-up that involved lots of "circuit training" style touches, stuff working in with a training partner. Sensei had everyone push out 40 press-ups, each individual press-up had to be full (starting with nose to the floor and finishing with arms locked straight). 40 of them! This was followed by 100 crunches ("fingertips over the knees") and then straight into Kihon, or basic training.

Basics was practiced with a training partner, as were most of tonight's exercises. However basic training was brief as soon Sensei had everyone combining several techniques together to form renzoku kumite sparring drills. This included several varying blocking and countering techniques, initially from punch attacks but later on we also were shown set defences for kicks as well.

Attack (from Zenkutsu dachi) - Chudan oi zuki (a punch thrown towards opponent's chest)
Defence (from Zenkutsu dachi) - Block to the outside of the attacking arm using Soto Uke (forearm block). Step your feet close together at the same time time you block, this will turn your hips. Keep turning and quickly spin around 360° - at 180° (when you are facing away from your opponent), kick him in the stomach with Ushiro geri (back kick).

Attack (from zenkutsu) - Step forward and attack Chudan oi zuki (punch aimed at chest)
Defence (from zenkutsu) - As your opponent steps forward and punches, block to the outside of his arm using Soto Uke and shift your body completely to the side, maintain your original stance as you move. As you land to your opponents "outside", quickly kick using mawashi geri off your back leg to his chest (underneath his outstretched arm). The kick is performed almost immediately using a spring-board effect (when you step to the side and block the attack, the leg is bounced forward into a kick - this happens as soon as your back leg lands on the floor).

Attack (from zenkutsu) - Kick towards your opponent's groin, mae geri (straight thrust kick).
Defence - Start from zenkutsu dachi but on the *opposite* leg to your opponent (if he starts with his left foot in front, you start with your right in front). As he kicks mae geri towards your groin, block the kick down to the inside and immediately kick a low-level mawashi geri directed at his supporting leg (although in reality it would be directed at his groin).

Attack (from zenkutsu dachi) - Step forwards, strike oi zuki chudan (chest level punch off leading hand)
Defence - Block with hiki uke (open handed "hook block") to the outside of the attack - take hold of the wrist of his attacking arm. Counter attack with Ushiro mawashi geri (a reverse roundhouse kick) aimed at the back of opponent's head (strike with the sole of your foot). Then, in one movement, quickly bring the attacking leg down and use it to sweep your opponent's leading leg, to perform a takedown. (Advanced technique!)

After kumite training like this for about 45 minutes, Sensei had everyone pair up with a training partner and then line up along the length of the dojo in pairs for sparring practice. Sensei stressed that this was to be light, fast sparring practice and that "Everyone should leave the class looking the same as when they walked in" - i.e, no heavy contact.

The class ended with group kata training, while I took photos of our karate club's senior grades for our dojo's new website - unfortunately these pictures never turned out (as explained above).

2008-01-07T23:30:00.001Z

Happy New Year!

Tonight was the 1st session at our dojo in 2008 (we are based in a local community centre here in Liverpool and the centre staff are given a well deserved break during the Christmas holidays, so the dojo is shut for 2 to 3 weeks). It was a good turn out with about 20 black belts and many lower grades in attendance.

Sensei warmed everyone up with Junbi Undo then we did lots of basics, sliding, stepping, punching, kicking and things of that nature. Then we did some "distance training" exercises with a training partner - this involved blocking an attack and counter-punching an opponent. We practiced this several times.

Sensei also had everyone practice kicking towards (but not making contact with) a target. Here's how we did it - 1 training parnter kneeled on the floor in seiza position (as used at the begining and the end of each IOGKF karate class). The other training parnter then kicked above the top of his head using mawashi geri (roundhouse kick). This was performed to a count of 10, then the kneeling partner sat up straight and the kicking partner had to kick above his head again - again without kicking his training partner in the head! Very tricky!

Sensei had us practicing lots of exercises that involved countering attacks.

The class ended with Sanchin kata practice.

2007-12-06T17:18:00.001Z

Here are some photos from during the EGKA Black Belt Grading which took place last Sunday in Woodchurch, Wirral.

Photos taken by Mr Colin Platt, many thanks for sending them across to me mate!

More to follow.

2007-12-04T11:53:00.000Z

First of all - I owe you an EGKA black belt grading report. I never made it along to the grading (for the first time in years), sorry about that. But I have spoken with a few people who were there and some of them took part in the grading. I've also been sent some photos of the grading which are great, I'll put them on here shortly.

Last night was "business as usual" at our Dojo in Liverpool. Sensei Roy had the class run through a lot of stuff, including exercises to improve punching speed by working with a training partner. One drill that sticks in my head is to stand face-to-face with partner and, to a set count, both side punch out right handed towards one another at the same time. Then, on the next count, punch with your left hand, and so on and so on.

We also practiced a ippon-kumite (one-step sparring), some moving basics with a partner and also some other kicking and blocking drills taken from the weekend's training with Sensei Ernie Molyneux (EGKA Chief Instructor).

Today my arms are all bruised and bumpy from the blocking exercises. Great class last night.

2007-12-01T19:32:00.000Z

EGKA Winter Gasshuku - Day One

Today was the 1st day of this year's "EGKA December Black Belt Gradings Weekend" here in England. The course is being held in a place called Woodchurch, which is in Wirral (Merseyside). This venue is also an EGKA dojo, Sensei Steve Hallam and Sensei Charlie Gibbons both teach regular classes there.

The course today started at about noon and was well attended. At the begining everyone took part in formal mokuso (meditation), which all IOGKF Goju-Ryu karate classes begin with. When EGKA holds national course such as the one we have had today, usually we have 3 Sensei's at the front of the class during mokuso - these are Sensei Ernie Molyneux (IOGKF 7th Dan from Bournemouth, our Chief Instructor), Sensei Roy Flatt (IOGKF 7th Dan from Liverpool) and Sensei Paul Nolan (IOGKF 7th Dan from Wirral). The 1st senior grade taking part in the course then calls everyone to attention by calling out a formal procedure, all spoken in Japanese. Today mokuso was called to order by Sensei Peter Galer (IOGKF 5th Dan from Birkenhead).

Sensei Ernie then lead the class through a rigorous warm-up exercises called Junbi Undo. These are a series of stretching and strengthening exercises which were developed in the early 20th century by Miyagi Chojun Sensei (the founder of Goju-Ryu karate). Today the very same exercises are still used at the begining of every IOGKF Goju-Ryu karate class, as a means of preparing the body for karate practice. During junbi undo today Sensei Ernie had everyone perform sets of movements and exercises such as stepping and turning in "a figure of eight", side-stepping using suri ashi (a form of body evasion) as well as other exercises that got everyone sweating a lot!

After junbi undo Sensei Ernie moved straight into the 1st training session of this year's winter course. This session was a lot to do with moving basics - stepping in set stances and performing kicks, punches and blocks to a set count.

The 1st session was one big class, with everybody training together with Sensei Ernie as the instructor. After an hour or so Sensei told us all to take a 5 minute water break and be ready to return and split into groups. The 2nd session was next and the class broke into sections, each of the new classes was taken by one of our karate association's senior dojo instructors. Today the classes were as follows:

Prospective black belt grading participants took part in a session with Sensei Roy Flatt, who took a look at their kata and gave some tips about how to perform the kata during tomorrow's grading.

3rd degree black belt and above: Senior grades were in a class with Sensei Paul Nolan. This class included some hojo undo (strengthening work using karate equipment) and also practicing Sanchin kata).

2nd dan black belts practiced Shisochin kata and it's applications - with Sensei Steve Gouldson as their instructor.

Shodan (1st degree black belts) were taught by Sensei Steve Hallam, they practiced several kata and also applications of the kata.

Kyu Grades (students below black belt level) had a special treat: A ground-work class with Sensei Peter Galer. Sensei Peter had his group on a matted area and they spent 2 hours learning how to fall properly and how to take someone to the ground and also how to defend from an attack while down on the floor.

A grading examination was taking place while all of these other class were going on. Sensei Ernie was in charge of a kyu grade test and about 20 to 25 students took part. An IOGKF grading examination is pretty much when you are put through your paces to show your level of competance. In our karate association it is customary that anyone who is testing for 1st kyu (the grade before you test for black belt) has to be tested by our chief instructor, Sensei Ernie Molyneux. Your own dojo instructor would usually test you for all of your gradings from white belt (beginner) up to brown belt, so for a lot of students this was their first grading test being watched by Sensei Ernie. The test was also overseen by Sensei Mike Draper, who called out the count for techniques to be performed to during the test. An IOGKF gradings test lasts about 2 hours and involves showing an examinor your karate ability - today's test included lots of kihon (basic techniques), moving basics, kata & bunkai (Goju-Ryu kata and the applications - or meanings - of each movement in the kata) and also padwork and other things such as showing knowledge of use of training equipment.

Tomorrow's class starts at 9am, then in the afternoon Sensei Ernie and the EGKA grading panel will oversee this year's winter black belt gradings.

2007-11-28T07:43:00.000Z

On Monday evening this week we had a special event at our Dojo in Liverpool, Sensei Roy Flatt lead the class in a sponsored "2,000 techniques" session. This event was held to promote our karate club and help raise money to send students to next year's IOGKF World Budosai Gasshuku, which is being held from July 20th 2008 in Naha City, Okinawa, Japan. 36 students took part in the class, 20 of them being of black belt level.

Sensei Roy warmed the class up using traditional Goju-Ryu junbi-undo exercises, followed by press-ups and sit-ups. Then, stood in lines of 10 people, the class were taken through a complete range of karate techniques, each performed several times at full power.

The arrangement was as follows: For every technique performed each person on a line of students would count to 10 and everybody else in the class would perform the technique in time to the count. Then the next person on the line would count 10 techniques, then the next person would count, and so on all the way along the line of students. Using this system, each technique was performed repeatedly 10 times for 10 students - 100 techniques per row of students. This process was repeated time and time again, each time a different karate technique was executed by the entire class, 100 times per technique. This included several hundred punches, open-hand strikes, kicks, elbow-strikes and other karate techniques performed either as single strikes to each count or (later in the class) as 2 or 3 techniques for every count.

At the end of the session Sensei Roy announced that during the class everyone had in fact performed 3,600 techniques in total, far outnumbering the original target of 2,000. The class ended with everyone performing Sanchin kata (Goju-Ryu's core kata) as a finish to the night's exercise.

Sensei Roy Flatt wishes to congratulate everyone who took part in this event, as it was very difficult and took a lot of energy to perform. Money raised from this sponsored event will be put into a fund for next year's trip to Japan to train with Higaonna Sensei, Chief Instructor of the IOGKF organisation (The International Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Federation - this the karate federation that our karate club, Childwall Dojo, is a member of).

Also it is worth noting that some of our dojo's students will be taking part in a black belt grading examination next weekend - this event was a sort of "warm up" for their grading, which will be held at a national Gasshuku (training camp) and in front of the EGKA national grading panel.

2007-11-26T02:43:00.000Z

Have you seen "The Human Weapon", a TV show featuring Higaonna Sensei yet? It's interesting seeing a martial arts show being broadcast with Sensei in it. It is being shown in Europe on the History Channel sometime in the next few weeks.

2007-11-15T21:43:00.000Z

Tonight's class was mainly Ippon Kumite training. Sensei Roy had the class practice defending against different attacks - Jodan (head height), Chudan (an attack to the chest), Gedan (a kick to the groin), Mawashi Geri (roundhouse kick), Yoko (defending against a side-kick) and Ushiro (defending against a reverse kick). Each of these attack / defence drills was practiced separately... not all in one combination! To begin with we practiced the Jodan attack and block for 10 repetitions on the right, then on the left, then the Chudan attacks and so on.

This session was geared towards an upcoming Black Belt grading that will be held here on Merseyside on the 1st weekend of December. Goju Ryu karate students from all around England will gather to train together for the weekend, then on the Sunday afternoon there is a black belt grading. High pressure, but fun.

2007-11-04T18:56:00.001Z

The infamous Goju-Ryu 8th degree black, Bakkies Laubscher Sensei (of IOGKF South Africa), instructed at an EGKA Gasshuku this weekend in Southampton. We had a good turn out for the event and Sensei really raked everyone over the proverbial coals. The final session of the weekend included 2 on 1 fighting (as in 2 people attacking 1 person) - very hard training!

Here's some photos that I was able to take during training...

And here's a small video of Bakkies Sensei walking like a crocdile.

2007-10-19T21:41:00.000Z

Last night's class:

Junbi-Undo

Basics:

San Dan Gi (3 step block & attack). Firstly this was performed solo, then with a training partner. Also we practiced "San Dan Gi #2" - which is the same 3 step attack movement but incorporating a mae geri (kick) on the last step. This section of tonight's class was practiced for about half an hour.

Chokusen Gekisai - This is a variant of Gekisai Dai Ichi kata, the first open-handed kata taught to IOGKF Goju-Ryu students. Chokusen Gekisai (also known as Renzoku Bunkai") is the first kata performed in a straight line. It is also performed with a training partner, and in the straight-line form we are able to incorporate an "opposite attacking kata" so that 2 people can demonstrate the kata in a straight line and show how each movement is put into combative use.

At this point the lesson was split into 2 classes - black and brown belt students were instructed in Sanchin kata by Sensei Roy. Sensei showed students how to test a training partner's Sanchin kata, including Shime testing (focus slaps). It is extremely important that Sanchin shime is performed correctly - incorrect shime testing can lead to injuries such as concussion and dislocations.

While senior grades performed Sanchin kata the other group in the class practiced "Gekisai Dai Ichi 4 man attack". This exercise requires a group of 5 people to be performed correctly. This routine is used to practice quick-fire Gekisai bunkai (kata applications) under pressure from several attackers from different directions. Some of the students taking part in tonight's "4 man attack" had never tried this before, so to begin with we performed the routine slowly to get the order of techniques correct. Then, after 2 or 3 complete sets of performing the routine, we added more attacking speed to put extra pressure the man in the centre of the attack (who was defending all attacks by using Gekisai Dai Ichi kata applications). Everyone taking part in this section of the class tried hard and did very well in both the attack and the defense. Well done!

2007-10-08T14:36:00.000Z

National course yesterday with Sensei Ernie Molyneux in Rotherham, England. The course was conducted at Sensei Andy Bluck's Nishimon Dojo - a very nice facility with great foam matting, ideal for doing throws and sweeps.

The course started at 10am with several high grade karate instructors from the EGKA karate association traveling from across England to take part. It was great to see everyone training together once again. Sensei Ernie began the class with junbi-undo (Goju-Ryu warm-up exercises) and also a brief amount of stancework and moving basics exercises. The remainder of the session then focused on Goju-Ryu kata.

We began with Sanchin kata practice with assistance from a training partner. Ernie Sensei explained how a training partner should help correct your kata, especially posture and keep the back straight during the actual performance of the kata. Sensei also demonstrated how we can help to restrict a person's technique during Sanchin kata to make performing the kata more difficult (difficult but not impossible). After practicing performing Sanchin kata with a training partner restricting arm movement and correcting posture, Ernie Sensei demonstrated how to correctly apply shime waza (focus slaps) during Sanchin kata. We then practiced the kata again, this time with continual shime testing from a training partner.

After Sanchin kata, we moved on to practiced "open handed" Goju-Ryu kata. Kata covered during this class: Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, Shisochin and Sesan. Toward the end of the class, when Sensei split everyone into differing groups based on grade, we also practiced Kururufa kata bunkai (kata applications).

Sensei went to great lengths to stress the timing for kata, especially for the two Gekisai kata. Ernie Sensei told us that, when grading, if someone should make a mistake in the first few kata then the grading panel will invariably watch that person's kata for further mistakes in the higher kata. So it is very important not to neglect practicing the "beginner" kata, as some people might be inclined to do (in order to concentrate on senior kata) when preparing for a senior dan grading.

2007-10-02T13:27:00.000Z

Good luck to my friend and training partner Sensei John Birch who is having an ankle operation today. A speedy recovery to you mate!

2007-10-02T13:16:00.000Z

Flyer for upcoming Goju-Ryu karate course in England with "Bakkies" Laubscher Sensei of South Africa.

The course is due to happen on November 3rd & 4th in Southampton, England.

2007-09-25T12:33:00.000Z

I was looking through some photos from the European Gasshuku (to put online for everyone to see) and I came across a folder of pictures taken at the Karaoke night. Here is one of Sensei Roy & Sensei Steve from EGKA singing a Four Tops song (I think!)... there's also a video of them singing this song, they were very good!

2007-09-24T20:48:00.000Z

Tonight's class was held in a temporary dojo as our regular training hall is being renovated. So this evening we all met at a local children's school for our regular Monday class with Sensei Roy. Surprisingly, in spite of the change of venue at short notice, we had a large turn out for the session and the hall was very full.

Class plan (2 hour session)

Tonight's class made excellent use of training partners.

Junbi-Undo (Warm-up exercises) including:

Press ups with training partner - one person lays their hand flat on the floor and the other performs push-ups, touching their nose to the back of partner's hand. If your nose doesn't touch the hand it does not count towards total push-ups performed! Each person does 30, then 20, then 10 push-ups with a short rest in between each set.

Sit-ups with training partner - interlock legs with partner and both lay flat on the floor then sit up together and punch right hand towards partner. Perform 30 sit-ups then a short rest (20 seconds), then 20 more, break, then final 10.

Kihon (Basics):

Standing still from basic kamae (hands drawn back next to chest), punch head height (jodan),

Step backwards with right leg into zenkutsu dachi (long stance), block left hand Jodan Uke. Step forwards with right leg into zenkutsu dachi, attack right hand Jodan Zuki.

Step forwards into zenkutsu dachi, punch gyaku zuki (opposite arm to the forward leg). Step back into zenkutsu dachi and defend with jodan uke.

With a training partner, practice stepping and blocking attacks deliverd to different levels (head, chest and groin):

Jodan: One partner steps forward and attacks using Jodan Zuki (head-height punch).
Other partner steps to the outside of the attack and block using Age Uke (Head-height block). Counter attacks almost immediately using gyaku zuki (reverse punch).

Chudan: Same premise, this time block an attack to the center of the chest (chudan zuki). Block again to the outside of the attack using chudan uke (chest level block) and counter attack straight away using ura zuki.

Gedan: The low-level attack is a kick (mae geri) aimed at the knot of the belt or the groin. Defending partner blocks to the inside using gedan barai (low-level sweep block) and counter-attacks immediately using gyaku zuki.

The class is now split into groups, preferably of 5. One person stands in the center of and 4 opponents stand around him. The centre-man faces an opponent, who attacks jodan (head height attack), either left or right hand at random. the person being attacked must correctly determine which hand they will be attacked with and then block the attack to the outside (for example, block a right hand attack by stepping to the left, over the attackers right shoulder. This is so the attacker cannot easily attack again with their other hand). Center-man blocks 4 jodan uke attacks (1 from each opponent) and then 4 chudan uke attacks (8 attacks in quick succession). Each person in the group has a turn as the centre-man.

Next: Same groups as the last exercise. This time the 4 attackers get together and are each given a number: 1, 2, 3 and 4. The center-man should not know their given numbers! One person amongst the attackers (the highest grade) calls out a number between 1 and 4 - this person now attacks the center man. The objective is for the person being attacked to be ready to defend an attack from any angle... even possibly from behind.

Dynamic Tension Exercises

With a training partner: One person lays flat on the floor, face down. He starts with legs straight and then bends at the knee, flexing hamstring muscles. His training partner sits at his feet and restricts the leg from moving from a straight to bent position. Next, the person laying flat makes the leg straight again but bends the other leg. Training partner restricts the movement of both legs, creating dynamic tension in the movement.

After performing this exercise, be sure to take a few moments to stretch your legs before continuing.

Kata

The following movement is taken from Gekisai Dai Ichi kata. From left Sanchin Dachi , kick right leg mae geri (thrust kick) and land in zenkutsu dachi (long stance). After practicing the leg strengthening exercise from the previous example, this should now be a fast movement.

The entire class now performs Gekisai Dai Ichi kata as a group. After practicing the kata a few times everyone but the front line of students moves to one end of the class and all watch as the senior students perform Gekisai Dai Ichi kata... with their eyes closed! At the end of the kata some people (including myself) are slightly out of line, showing that they are relying on their eyesight when practicing kata. Everyone has a turn performing the kata with their eyes closed.

Tonight's class finishes with more "dynamic tension" strengthening work - this time for arms. With a training partner, one partner practices the initial Sanchin kata punching movements, complete with breathing, while training partner restricts the motion in each punch (both the drawback of the arm and the extension of the punch). This is practiced 20 times on each arm for each training partner.

2007-09-09T03:01:00.001Z

Higaonna Sensei - 10th Dan

Morio Higaonna Sensei received his 10th dan certificate from his teacher, Sensei An'ichi Miyagi on September 5th, 2007.

Higaonna Sensei also received a special certificate signed by Aragaki Shuichi Sensei and Miyagi An’ichi Sensei (both direct students of founder of Goju-Ryu, Chojun Miyagi Sensei) that recognizes him as a student in the direct line descended from Miyagi Chojun Sensei.

Miyagi An’ichi Sensei and Aragaki Shuichi Sensei both felt that recognizing Morio Higaonna Sensei as part of the Goju-Ryu lineage is important for the future of Goju-Ryu being passed on to future generations.

2007-09-05T17:17:00.000Z

Very busy in work lately, so I haven't had much chance to make it to training in the dojo. Updates soon!

2007-08-21T14:49:00.000Z

Monday 20th August: Childwall Dojo (Liverpool) class plan.

Junbi undo (Warm-up exercises)
Instructed by Sensei George Yuen (IOGKF 5th dan).

Kihon (Basic techniques)
Geri waza (kicking exercises), practiced from zenkutsu dachi (long stance).

1) Mae ashi geri (front leg snap kick)
2) Mae ashi geri & mae geri combination (front leg kick followed by back leg kick)
3) Mae mawashi geri (front leg roundhouse kick)
4) Mae mawashi geri & mawashi geri combination (front leg roundhouse kick followed by back leg roundhouse kick)

Moving basics
Each combination of techniques executed and then step forwards, across the dojo floor several times. Each combination of techniques beginning from zenkutsu dachi.

1) Mae geri, oi zuki (front hand punch), gyaku zuki (reverse punch)
2) Mawashi geri, mawashi hiraken uchi (roundhouse backfist strike), gyaku zuki
3) Mawashi geri, ushiro geri (spinning back kick) & gyaku zuki.

Sensei Roy Flatt takes over instructing the class; some stretching then padwork with a partner.

Padwork
Everyone is given a set of padded hand mitts (boxing gloves) and focus pads (hand pads). One person holds the focus pads for his partner to strike as Sensei directs.

We practiced several different combinations of punching and kicking techniques whilst stepping across the dojo floor and then back again. Once the whole dojo has been crossed, then back again to the starting point, each partner trades gloves and hand pads so that the other person has a turn of holding the pads for his partner to strike. Everyone is encouraged to stand with their left foot forwards in a short stance (Sanchin dachi), hands held high and boxing gloves held in a fighting position to protect your head.

I cannot recall many of the several combinations that we practiced during this session (sorry!). In all Sensei Roy showed us about 10 different combos. Here are just a few of them:

1) 4 body shots (left, right, left, right), pivot on the left foot (positioning yourself over your partner's right side), left jab to the head.
2) Left jab followed by an immediate left hook to the ribs, right cross, finish with a right mawashi geri.
3) Left mae ashi geri (snap kick off left foot) followed up by a right hand punch to the face.
4) Free sparring - Person holding the pads calls out shots for other person to throw.

Class ended with stretching.