Tuesday's training focussed on the impending grading  to sharpen our technique, and more work on "keri" - kicking -  especially keage and kekomi  to emphasise the difference between snap and thrust.

I was pleased to be invited back to Loreto to introduce more students to JKA karate under the Sainsbury's Active Kids initiative.  Our training was interrupted by a wasp which sadly needed to be despatched with "fumikomi" - stamping kick.

On Friday at Oasis we welcomed our new guest instructor Hirayama Sensei, 5th dan and former  All Japan kumite champion.  The class was basic but very technical, with a few guilty looks when Sensei explained the difference between a coloured belt standard and black belt standard of technique.

Oss!
Sensei Simon

Last week  I had the privelege of visiting Sauncey Wood JMI junior school to introduce 34 pupils to karate. We punched and kicked through an hour's lesson and even the teachers joined in. I am pleased to announce that Harpenden JKA will start an afterschool club on Tuesdays very soon, and an evening lesson at the school on Thursdays 7 pm to 8 pm.
On Monday Sensei Ohta invited Imamura Sensei - JKA 7th dan - to the Budokwai in London for an evening lesson. See youtube to appreciate the kumite technique of Imamura Sensei. The class concentrated on zuki and centering and focussing our power - after Sensei had reminded us, of course, that there is no first strike in karate.
The week finished with Sensei Paul Steadman at Oasis and more practice of zuki with full fighting spirit - a trademark of Sensei Paul!

Oss!

Sensei Simon

Thank you  Sainsbury's Active Kids Initiative!  I was asked to  take a lesson at Loreto College  in  St  Albans  last week.  Fellow  instructors at the JKA gave me some useful  tips on how to instruct a class of 20  young ladies  and  I hope if any who were there read this they will confirm that the lesson seemed to go well.  The fighting spirit was awesome when it came to the kiai!
It is a challenge to show the benefits of karate in just one lesson, but we were able to cover basic punching, blocking, and kicking and even kihon kata. Everyone concentrated and worked hard, so thanks Loreto!

Slough all grades course with Sensei Ohta gave us excellent practice in moving through 90 degrees in stances. Basic training emphasised the need to execute technique in one smooth movement with everything focussed at the point of impact. The course finished with kata practice when we split into groups by grade.

Tuesday we worked on kikomi and more work on Heian Nidan and Sandan in our extended lesson.

At Oasis on Friday Sensei Ohta drilled students through Heians Nidan and Godan on the spot, starting from kibadachi. This is an excellent way of practicing hip technique - if you don't get confused! After two on to one kumite (seriously!) we warmed down with stomach churning situps and leg raises.

At a loose end on Saturday I visited Budokwai where Sensei Sue Waughman teaches. http://www.budokwai.co.uk/karate/seniors_12_years_adults/intermediate_advanced_karate/your_instructors
I trained with Sensei Sue in the early 80s when we were at Marshall Street under Sensei Enoeda. I recommend anyone to visit Budokwai for some hard full on training on a Saturday. Three shitei kata - bassai dai, kankudai, and jion - in succession is tough!

Oss!
Sensei

A tough  week at Oasis; stance training in zenkutsu and kibadachi on Monday. Sensei Ohta saw that Mme. F was stronger than me (she was in the French equestrian team after all!).  Not content with that, Mme. F  caught my nose with  kizamizuki jodan in the warm up kumite on Wednesday!

Tuesday night at Harpenden JKA went well with the first longer lesson, concentrating on kata (Heian Nidan and Heian Sandan) from 8 pm to 8.30 pm.  More work will be needed on keage and mawashigeri next week - difficult kicks to learn.