Sunday 9th December Inter Club Competition Stretford:
On Sunday the 9th of December we entered our first inter-club competition which turned out to be a success, bringing home 18 medals and finishing 2nd overall out of 11 clubs that entered!
Sensei's Needham, Grant and Cartmel took gold, silver and bronze in the senior kata and Colin and Steve took gold and silver in the senior kumite.
Saturday 14th July 2007 Pendlebury Leisure Centre: On Saturday the 14th of July we were lucky to be able to host a course with two former world karate champions, Sensei Anne Hastings 6th Dan amd Sensei George Best 6th Dan.
Wednesday 9th May 2007 Oldham Sports Centre: Sensei Needham, Steve Royle, Mark Cartmell and myself attended a course with Sensei Keigo Abe Abe Sensei is a slightly built 69-year-old gentleman and apologised that he had a painful hip joint that was causing him to limp. After a short warm up, and I mean short Sensei Abe began the first of 2 sessions. The hand techniques were performed in shizentai (natural stance), starting with Kizami zuki with no hikatai, and then Gyaku zuki, again without hikatai. Abe Sensei then looked at how we moved through Zenkutsu dachi, emphasising the alignment of the front knee over the toe saying that this should be a natural position and should not be pushed out of alignment, which applies pressure to the knee. (Further research shows that this un-natural knee position can be traced back to Gikko Funakoshi whose legs, being slightly bow legged gave the appearance of being pushed out to the outer edge of the stance and to his students wishing to emulate their teacher!) Abe Sensei explained that the movement is in two parts, the first with the leading leg should have the feeling of pushing the knee forward as if falling over and the second being a simultaneous thrust with the back leg. As usual the course ended too soon but had lived up to expectations concentrating on basics, as Japanese instructors tend to do, which is what we try to instil in our own students. Sensei Keigo Abe was born in October 1938 and started his training in Shito Ryu Karate under an Okinawan Master. He moved to Tokyo in 1958 and started training in Shotokan with Sensei Masatoshi Nakayama (10th DAN) at the JKA’s Honbu Dojo. Report by Keith Mayor (4th DAN) Saturday 25th November, Sensei Andy Morrell (President C.M.A.A) Driving to Ashton is becoming a habit, and this time it was to attend a kicking, flexibility and stretching course, and anyone who attended the summer course will know what I had let myself in for! The course was conducted by Andy Morrell, Founder and President of C.M.A.A.. We started with a warm-up to get the blood flowing around our bodies, then Andy talked about stretching for a while, and then the pain started! The first hour was all about resistance stretching both with and without a partner. After this we went on to tension stretching and how to 'place' a kick on target and not 'throw' it at the target which wastes both time and energy. Finally we practised target and power work incorporating the techniques we had learned. This was my first proper C.M.A.A. course and I was impressed by both the teaching and the relaxed atmosphere within the Dojo, and would recommend that both students and instructors alike should attend the next course. Report by Steven Royle (3rd DAN) Saturday 21st October, Sensei Russell Stutely 5th DAN Shotokan; Ashton-under-Lyne seems to be coming a regular venue for courses as this was where Russell Stutely, 5th DAN Shotokan and principal instructor of the O.C.F.M. was holding his course on pressure point techniques. As this was an open course, there were students from Karate, Tai-Kwon-Do, Mixed Martial Arts, Kung Fu, Self Defence and JuJitsu. Next we found the pressure points in the legs and ankles, and finally points on the torso, neck and head. As this course was only open to students aged 16 and over, I cannot go into too much detail about the content, but if any student is interested, I will gladly try to explain the principles and show them how to execute the techniques as best as I can. Report by Steven Royle (3rd DAN) Saturday the 14th of October Shihan Fumio Demura’s Course at Ashton-under-Lyne: I made the short journey to Ashton 6th Form College to train with Shihan Fumio Demura of Genbon-Kai Shito-ryu Karate Do. Report by Steven Royle (3rd DAN) 30th July C.M.A.A. open course. Sunday 30th July, Copley Sports Centre, Stalybridge. This was our first visit to a C.M.A.A. open course, so we were not quite sure what to expect. The day was split into half hour segments, and there were different matted areas for adults and juniors. The first session was taken by Phil Wright from Revolution Martial Arts, Stockport, who introduced us to 'Crazy Monkey' defence system, and showed how easy it was to defend against attacks to both the head and body with the minimum amount of training and experience. He also went on to show how to move around maintaining perfect balance. This was an interesting concept which we had not seen before, and I am sure that we will be able to utilise some of the points raised in our own training. After a short break we were then introduced to Sensei Ricky Fletcher from the Open Tree Martial Arts club in Newcastle. Sensei Fletcher trained in what he liked to call pre-traditional Shotokan karate, the karate taught before it was taken to Japan, and having spoken to him during the break, I was looking forward to this session. The first thing he showed us was that the first stage of Gedan Barai was in fact both a block and strike, the strike being to the lymph glands within the armpit. He showed that the strike is both natural, and hit the target every time, and that the effect could be altered by striking with either fist, knuckle or thumb, the thumb strike being the most effective and the most dangerous. We were then shown a block using kake uke followed instantly a strike to the elbow joint. Simple but very effective. Sensei Fletcher then introduced us to some painful nerve points and finished the session by 'knocking out' one of his students without actually hitting him. Although not literally rendering him unconscious you could see the effects which had large yellow and163 black rings beneath the eye sockets and his pupils were noticeably dilated. After a quick half hour break for a drink and something to eat, we were back on the mats. This time, we split into two groups, one with Kyoshi John Greenhalgh (8th Dan CMAA Director) from Salford JuJitsu group. this group did some escapes from grabs and holds, and later finger and wrist take-downs and throws. The second group was training with Shihan Ray Bell (6th Dan CMAA Director)from Sunami Jutsu Ryu. This group practiced part of Shihan Bell's own system called DTAC (Defensive Tactics and Armed Combat Techniques). Ray said from the outset that this was not a Martial Art, but a defensive system. The group was spilt again into two groups, one group defending against knife attacks using Tai Sabaki (body shifting) to evade the blow and then using attacks to the joints and knees to stop the attacker. At the end of the session, Shihan Bell stressed the point of passive resistance, I.E. if you are held up and they ask for your wallet, give it to them. These techniques were to be used as a last resort only! Andy Morrell was in charge of the next session and gave us some good leg strengthening exercises. With a partner we started with Mawashi Geri slowly to about the level of our partners belt, and then without lowering the leg, changed to Ushiro Mawashi Geri delivered at the same speed and height. The fourth technique to be added to the sequence was an axe kick over our partners arm which was used for balance, and the final addition was to straighten the leg straight from the axe kick position and hold to the count of five. All these exercises were performed with both legs, each set without lowering the active leg between kicks. We were to feel the effects of this session for several days! Thanks Andy! The next session was with Andy Crittenden 5th Dan of the S-D-F (Self Defence Federation). After a couple of minutes talking to us, Andy (as he liked to be called) told us there was no right or wrong, just do what felt right to you. After another short break, we were back on the mats with Sandan Neil Froggat of Shiro Bara JuJitsu. We then lined up as both Kyu and Dan grade certificates were awarded. Review by Keith Mayor (4th Dan) & Steve Royle (3rd Dan). 9th April Sensei Fred Harrison & Sensei George Best. Sunday 9th April, Selwyn Jones Sports Centre, Newton-Le-Willows. Senior students attended a training course held by Sensei Fred Harrison and Sensei George Best. The day was divided into two sessions, the first being taken by Sensei Harrison, former British Karate Association National Coach, National Kata Judge, many times National Kata Champion and Kata Grand Champion. We started with Chinte, with Sensei Harrison emphasising the movement between the stances and the execution of each technique. He then covered the Bunkai (application) of various movements within the Kata. Next Sensei Harrison went through Rohai (Meikyo), and it was interesting to note that there were a few differences to the way we have been taught this Kata. Again Sensei Harrison explained the Bunkai and this gave understanding to some of the less obvious applications within the Kata. This half of the course was concluded with Sensei Harrison taking the class through Kanku Sho, again concentrating upon stance and application of the techniques. Sensei Harrison said that he had noticed that students from other associations performed some of the techniques within the Kata slightly differently from other students, but emphasised that this was not wrong as Kata could have many different interpretations. After a 10-minute break, the course was taken over by Sensei George Best who showed us some drills for practicing Kaeshi Ippon, showing how to increase both speed and agility by reading the opponents movements. Next we lined up in front of a senior student who had to respond to seven different attacks consisting of – kizami zuki, gyaku zuki, Mae geri, Yoko geri kekomi, mawashi geri and ushiro geri. Once everyone had had a go, we changed the rules slightly and one was designated as the attacker and one the defender. The referees gave a ten second count down in which the attacker had to score his point. All who attended agreed that enjoyed the course, and we learnt some excellent training tips, and even at 3 hours this course still felt too short! It is always a pleasure to train with both Sensei Harrison and Sensei Best and we always leave with plenty to talk about. Sensei Best is holding another course in Lymn on the 21st of May, details to follow. Report by Sensei Keith Mayor 3rd Dan First Aid Course 5th February. On the sunday three of the senior students, Tony Wheeler, Beverley
Needham and Keith Mayor traveled back to Dukinfield to attend a St John's Ambulance first aid course, once again held by Andy Morrell, who is a St John's trainer. The course covered the aspects of first aid that we might come up against in the the normal running of a martial arts club and the current legislation. Each student received certification after the course which will also count towards becoming a level one instructor. The course proved to be useful almost immediately as when we got back to training, we had to deal with a minor bleed and a minor strain! Instructors Course 4th February. On Saturday the 4th of February, senior students Keith McNamara, Tony Wheeler, Steven Royle, Beverley Needham and Keith Mayor attended an instructors course held by Sensei Andy Morrell, head of C.M.A.A. at his club in Dukinfield. This course was designed to cover aspects of running a martial arts club, covering such topics as risk assessments, child protection and what club insurance does and does not cover. There was a lot of information to take in, and all who attended are now well on the way to becoming level one instructors under C.M.A.A.
(8th DAN JSKI).
Sensei Gidley (7th DAN JSKI) and his students made us welcome, and I was somewhat surprised to find that there were only about 30 students attending this course.
The emphasis of this first session was on the speed of both hand techniques and movement through zenkutsu dachi.
We then moved to double punches alternating the lead punch from left hand to right hand. This series was to enable Sensei Abe to check for both hip rotation and shoulder movement.
The final series of punches added hikatai as well standing in zenkutsu dachi, starting with the right leg forward, and then the left.
To get this point across we paired up and our partners fed their belts through ours and at the command to go pulled us forward as we simultaneously moved forward. At first we did this with our hands on our hips, but added punches later.After a short break we then started Kata and Abe Sensei took us through all the Heian Kata’s explaining part of the Bunkai and some the alternative moves that can be used. Some of these moves were different to what we do following Kanazawa Sensei but were acceptable.
As the course ended there was just time for a photo session before going home.
When Nakayama sent out instructors worldwide to spread the word of Shotokan Karate, Abe Sensei stayed at the Honbu where he remained for the next 30 years, and as such can be regarded as one of the living legends of Karate having been there in its early days, and still teaching at the age of 69!
Abe Sensei was also responsible for devising the original rules for Ippon Shobu competition in a manner, which preserved Budo through the concept ‘killing with one perfect, decisive blow’, ippon, or two allmost perfect blows, waza ari.
We started the course, by finding and using your partner’s balance to your advantage, and then went on to wrist and arm locks using the principles of opposites and fire, wood and metal.
As I arrived at 9.30, I was surprised to see so many foreign Karate-ka already in Gi’s ready to train, and as I booked in I met an old friend from the C.M.A.A. summer course Sharon, behind the desk.
Upon entering the hall I soon found another old friend from the summer course, Sensei Ricky Fletcher (Dr Pain).
We started training dead on 10.30 with a gentle warm up, then Sensei Demura awarded Black Belts to students who had passed their gradings. (2 x 6th DAN; 2 x 5th DAN and 1 x 4th DAN):
Then the hard work began. To say that Sensei Demura is a hard task master is an understatement, we started with about 50 Choku Zuki punches in about 20 seconds with Kiai’s on every punch! We then got into pairs, stepping in with full power and speed, stopping about 1mm from your partner’s nose; this was followed up with speed and reaction training.
As we sat down to watch Sensei Demura, we though that had only been training for about 10 minutes, but in reality it had been about 50 minutes!
Sensei Demura then talked about the history of Karate, stances and the Bunkai of Kata.
We then went through Pinan Nidan, Heian Shodan in Shotokan, and pairing up again, we went through the Bunkai of the Kata. Sensei explained for the pull back and hammer fist strike there could be over 50 applications!
This session was only supposed to be 11/2 hours, but we had now been training for over 2 hours and it still only felt like 10 minutes!
The second class started at exactly 1.00pm, and it started in much the same way as the first one had, but then progressed onto throws and take-down techniques with some grappling on the floor. Once more we analysed Pinan Nidan, )Heian Shodan) to see if there were some grappling techniques within the Kata which surprised about 90% of the class!
As the course finished, Sensei Demura left us with some words of wisdom. He said that it was important to train with top Japanese Sensei at every opportunity as he had lost so many friends in the last 5 years to “the great Dojo in the sky”.The day started with a warm-up with Sensei Andy Morrell, and then we separated onto our respective age groups.He started by explaining that in a real fight situation you had a maximum of 90 seconds before your energy would be seriously depleted, so what ever you were going to had to be delivered within this time frame.This is what Sensei Fletcher described as the 'death mask' ! We then progressed to defence against attacks with baseball bats, again using Tai-Sabaki to move out of the way and disarm the attacker.
The second group did defensive techniques against an attacker armed with a gun, and I (Steve Royle) found this most interesting, as I had previously been on courses that dealt with bat and knife attacks, but not guns.
I (Steve Royle) will not go into details here, but if anyone is interested I will be pleased to show them the moves I learnt, as they are quite nasty!After practicing this with both legs, Yoko Geri Kekkomi was added using our partners body to apply pressure and stretch out the leg.
He showed us the first move of a defence against an overhead right handed strike and then told us to ‘play’ with our partners and come up with a suitable defence.
We then did the same thing for a ‘finger point’ and a person walking towards you full of aggression.
In this session we did more stick work with defensive moves that were very similar to those used by Shihan Bell. We finished this session with takedowns and throws using the attackers weapon, and for me (Steve Royle) this was a nice way to finish the day!
All in all this was one of the best courses we have been on. We met a lot of new people and made new friends in the world of Martial Arts, and gained a lot of knowledge to take back to our own club and training sessions.We started with our partners using either kizami zuki or gyaku zuki stopping well short of the target, and us countering with gyaku zuki as soon as the attack was initiated.
We then added a feint before the attack to try and catch out the partner who was doing the counter.
Each attack had to be blocked and countered with a kiai, and as soon as the kiai was heard this was the signal for the next attack.
Finally in this section we added ushiro mawashi geri as well just to spice things up a bit.
For the final part of the course, we split up into groups of four, two fighters and two referees.
As soon as a point was scored, the winner changed places with one of the referees, and the only way you could get a break was to win your match.
George Best Course 26th January 2006
Swinton Karate Club would like to thank Sensei Best, and I am sure that all the students who attended enjoyed the course as much as I did,and I am sure that we will invite him to train with us again later in the year.
Article By Sensei Keith Mayor 3rd DAN
A rather young Sensei Needham and Sensei Mayor training with Ticky Donovan OBE (second from the right).
Keith, Colin & Mark at the recent training course in Wilmslow with Sensei Murakami 6th Dan.
Check the dairy page for details of future courses.
