http://www.harpendenjka.com en-gb harpendenjka.com 2012-1-30T00:00:00Z harpendenjka.com http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#111414 Alison and I spent Sunday at a course entitled Emergency First Aid at Work presented by Tony Bennison of httpwww.abcfirstaid.co.ukI was looking forward to bandaging Alison and putting slings and splints on people WRONG It was actually a very sensible course aimed at keeping first aid simple and supporting life until the ambulance arrives. Tony gave several clear messages throughout the course eg. call 999 and if you dont know what to do or are unsure of anything speak to 999. We learnt the principles of Danger Response Airway Breathing Circulation and that you should repeat these steps over until help arrives. A major part of the course was instructing us when to use CPR and not to be afraid of using CPR.His talk was interspersed with actual videos of sporting events showing what can go wrong if the correct first aid approach is not adopted. These covered sudden death syndrome where fit sportsmen collapse and how treatment should or should not be given. We also saw a training vid... 2012-1-30 09:08:45 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#107905 Normal 0 Sensei Daniel Lautier was born March 23 1950 in Tangier Morocco. His father working for an airline so he travelled frequently. As a teenager he started karate in France March 21 1965 under Mr. Perret. In 1968 he stayed in Japan and went to the JKA. There he met many instructors especially Kase Sensei and Sensei Miyazaki. Back in France he trained many months with Kase Sensei at the dojo of the Rue de la MontagneSainteGenevi232ve in Paris. Sensei Lautier passed his black belt shodan at the age of 19 in 1969. Soon he devoted himself to his passion of karate full time and became a teacher. From the moment when Sensei Kase joined karate in the French Federation Lautier Sensei helped to develop and promote the Japan Karate Association in France. By 1978 he was training regularly with Miyazaki Sensei and every week travelled from Paris to Brussels to be with Sensei Miyazaki. This continued until Sensei Miyazaki sadly passed away in 1993... 2011-12-1 11:37:26 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#107010 Busy week Saturday 12th November saw us at Stevenage JKA Karate Club for a grading with Sensei Gary Stewart. Sensei Gary gave black and brown belts a hard taining session first thing lots of exciting partner work followed by continuous kata. Four katas in a row without stopping tests your stamina and technique. Several years ago I faced a test which demanded several kata constantly over about an hour and the only way to survive such a test is to make sure your technique stays as strong and focussed as possible good practice. The grading went very well and all our students passed well. I was delighted with our three orange belts they were 12and 3 in their grading group and when it was time to show their kata they moved almost like a team kata all together. Well done Adnan Glenn and Matt. Sunday I was helping to judge the JKA London Area competition and Alison was timekeeping. It was great to see the commitment shown especially by younger competitors. I refereed several jiu ippon ku... 2011-11-17 06:24:17 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#103622 The end of a hard weeks training. Last weekend Mrs MJ and I attended the excellent Autumn International Course at K2 Crawley with Sensei Imamura Sensei Izumiya and our Head of Association Sensei Ohta. The training was excellent and many gems of advice came from the close instruction of each Sensei. It was also a good opportunity to brush up on advanced katas Gojushiho and Unsu the latter being particularly difficult for us more mature karateka. Sensei Izumiya made us laugh talking about how different age bands should regard the jump in Unsu. People in their 20s should jump people in their thirties should try to jump people in their forties should think about jumping and people in their fifties and older can dream about jumpingGood attendance at the club this week thank you students Thursday was tough for me because of a hard lesson at Oasis with Sensei Ohta not helped by broken air conditioning Some fellow students thought I had feinted when I slipped in a patch of sweat during ste... 2011-9-30 17:46:18 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#97701 Last weekend was a martial arts extravaganza with the JKA England National Competition in K2 at Crawley. Alison and I went there on Friday to help set up and because we could not gain access to the main hall until 10.30 pm we were helping until 2 am It was worth it because the Hall looked superb with 7 arenas tatami.Up at 7am for a huge breakfast courtesy of the Arora Hotel and the referees briefing at K2 for 9 am. This year we combined kyu grades with dan grades so there were over 500 competitors to manage through the day.I had the privelege of joining Sensei Adel Ismails judging team on area 2. Refereeing and judging is high pressure because motivation and reputations are made or broken by your decision. And mistakes are especially embarrassingEvenso we kept going and it was a great experience and I would recommend anyone to try judging and refereeing as long as you have the guidance of an experienced karateka to keep you on your toesSee the JKA website httpwww.jkaengland.orgindex.... 2011-7-5 12:13:28 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#95574 On Sunday 5 June 2011 JKA England held a kumite and referees course at Hatfield Sports Village. With the National JKA Championships looming on 2nd July this was an excellent opportunity to practice kumite with new partners so it was good to see many kyu grades in attendance.After a warm up from Laura a national squad team member Sensei Ohta took us through some basics to reinforce our training. For the next three hours we graduated from three step sparring sanbon kumite to kihon ippon kumite one step sparring jodan chudan maegeri and then jiu ippon kumite adding kekome and mawashigeri. Black belts finished with jiu kumite using jodan chudan attacking.As we worked through the forms of kumite we split into small groups to practice the techniques under competition conditions with referees and corner judges. Many enjoyed this because it made us appreciate the pressure a judge or referee comes under. We alternated positions so that everyone had a chance to be a corner judge regardless o... 2011-6-6 09:58:30 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#94212 Computers Dont you love them 1 hour to go and I wanted to start with the Enter the Dragon theme.....major startup failure on computer 1. Computer 2 working after 4 attempts to buy the tune I landed on Amazon 20 mins to go. Do I want to download the downloader NO of course you have no choice proceed 15 mins to go tune bought burn to CD.........error licence not valid. No music then but my adrenalin was truly upAs it happens Wood End had the theme to karate kid 2 so the children entered assembly to see me facing Sensei Lester. We demonstrated 3 step sparring talked about the training and the history of karate and then the Wood End After School students demonstrated their techniques to the school. We showed everyone how to punch with Kiai and finished with a count down to help me break a piece of wood always a risky exercise but thankfully the plank broke as directed.Many thanks to Sensei Lester Wellington of Tairyoku Karate Club for helping me and thank you to Wood End School for gi... 2011-5-18 13:43:17 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#93169 Still recovering from four days of intensive karate at the Spectrum Leisure Centre Guildford. We were very fortunate to be taught by Sensei Tanaka 8th dan Sensei Osaka 8th dan Sensei Sawada 7th dan Sensei Ohta 7th dan and Sensei Inokoshi 3rd dan. Mrs MJ and I camp nearby at the Basingstoke Canal Centre because we like to watch the sun go down as our bodies recover from the exertions. We arrived early to set up camp just as Princess Catherine and Prince William were tying their knot and departed for Guildford quickly. Friday afternoon was group training with multidirectional punching often confusingSaturday to Monday we trained from 10 am to 1 pm each day. There was an excellent balance between full on endurance training and technical instruction especially when we separated into groups kyu grades brown belts shodan nidans and sandan and above. The groups focus on kata mainly so this is always a good opportunity to get a new insight into a kata and practice application of several part... 2011-5-4 22:51:19 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#84849 An early start took us to Swanley for the first course of the New Year. Sensei Glyn Morgan 5th dan of Wareham amp Purbeck Karate Club took the warm up and then we split into sections by grade. The JKA Squad joined the brown belts and there were separate groups for kyu grades and black belts.Sensei Ohta instructed the black belts starting with chokuzuki and then took us through the elements of Bassai Sho. Emphasis was on hip movement and position in back stance kokutsudachi. We moved on to the kibadachi ashi barai and double punches which are a feature of Bassai Sho and practice with partners was an excellent way of appreciating how this should work drawing the attacker towards you with the ashi barai. Similarly practicing the last two moves tsukami with partners was also very useful.A short break and then we were taken through Jitte by Sensei Gary Stewart. Jitte has blocks with hands held high jodan yokouchi barai and it can be very demanding when you have to repeat the movement many t... 2011-1-17 18:41:31 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#83254 No Pain No Gain as they say. Ive certainly built my credits for turkey and Christmas pudding this week but Im still hurting from two visits to Oasis SKC in London.Tuesday night a few of us from Harpenden JKA braved snow and trains well done Marc for not giving in after two cancellations and a breakdown. Sensei Paul Steadman was in charge and instead of the usual warm up and stretching we were straight in to partner work testing eachothers strength in stance and then speed. A relentless pace ensued of partner work including a lively combination of attack and defence HJKA students be warned I have made notes for next year We reached a crescendo with one partner back against the wall defending against the other throwing almost any technique at them. Damage report one split toe slight muscle strain in shoulder Mrs A has a ligament problem plus total exhaustionFoolishly I returned next day for Wednesdays class with Sensei Ohta which usually begins with slow kumite to warm up. Whether it w... 2010-12-23 06:15:05 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#82813 The highlight this month was the visit from Sensei Tsuyama 8th dan accompanied by Richard Heselton 4th dan from Japan. Sensei Tsuyama taught Sensei Ohta Chief Instructor of the JKA in England. JKA England held a course at Hatfield Sports Village attended by nearly 200 students including yours truly and several kyu grade students from our club. Sensei Tsuyama took us through basic techniques explaining many finer points with assistance from Sensei Heselton.The black belt class concentrated on kizamizuki with partners which got very lively It was also a privilege to watch Senseis Tsuyama and Heselton demonstrating how it should be done. We continued with jodan chudan and maegeri kihon kumite but using relaxed but fast block and counter which was excellent to get the pulse racing. Excellent value for only 16310 for three concentrated hoursI saw Sensei Heselton again at the national squad selection where I was able to practice some judging. I recommend searching youtube for Heselton kumite... 2010-12-15 19:53:36 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#61420 Sunday 21st March was the JKA course at Bath University. An excellent venue and the course was well attended with many kyu grades as well as black belts. Ohta Sensei took us through basic techniques and then we progressed to some demanding combination techniques one partner attacked with kizamizuki step forward 4 punches in sequence vs ageuke then four different blocks finishing with a counter. Good tough spirited training and conditioningWe continued with several kicking techniques and then rehearsed the black belt grading syllabus with full spirit.Kata practice for black belts was a choice of bassai dai gion or nijushiho sho with application bunkai training in threes. My arms are only just recoveringEveryone please note JKA courses are open to ALL GRADES see httpwww.jkaengland.orgEventsjkaenglandevent09b.html OssSensei Simon 2010-3-25 20:15:54 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#55057 Just recovering from a visit to Sensei Ohtas club at Oasis in London sse links on Tuesday 22 December. Sensei started the lesson by reminding us that this was the last lesson in 2009 so we would train for 10 minutes and rest then train some more. Each 10 minutes was intensive punching blocking kicking stepping etc to count followed by sanbon kumite ippon kumite and all the heian katas and tekki. The atmosphere was enhanced by the poor air conditioning which meant all the mirrors were steamed up and the floor was wet with condensation and sweat My favourite was sideways stepping in kibadachi with maegeri and then keage which our students will be enjoying early in the New Year Oss Sensei Simon 2009-12-27 22:11:10 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#51534 To Budokwai in Kensington on Monday 26th where Sensei Shiina 7th dan took a special lesson. Look up youtube Shiina JKA and you will see some of Sensei Shiinas kumite and you will realise what an awesomely powerful proponent he is. He was introduced by Sensei Ohta as a special friend and after a warm up from Sensei Sue we were straight into chokuzuki then punching and double punching from kibadachi to shizentai. Sensei Shiina wanted us to change from the traditional aim of punch and stance finishing as one to a more dynamic approach to punch and then settle in the stance. We continued with partners first practising avoiding a blow by a quick hip flick and then zuki combinations full speed including attacking the length of the dojo. ExcellentSensei finished with souchin and explained how we should feel our back shoulder blade muscles squeeze together like a coiled spring ready to release fast punches like an arrow from a bow. We all finished with our favourite kata. Sensei also gave us a... 2009-10-28 22:34:21 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#50559 I demonstrated karate to about 300 pupils of Wood End School today showing them basic punching blocking and kicking and the katas kihon and bassai dai. At the end I asked if anyone would like to be punched and at least thirty hands shot up I thought it best not to of course Great school. I am looking forward to taking the After School Club on Thursdays. Oss Sensei Simon 2009-10-14 00:09:05 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#42423 No training at the After School Club this week but students were asked to practice 100 punches and 100 kicks over half term. Tuesday nights club was preparation for the grading with Tairyoku Shotokan in Aylesbury on 6th June. We all worked hard but there is one question we all puzzled over how do you make Heian Sandan last 40 seconds The answer will follow when I have had the chance to consult with senior instructors over the next few weeks. Sensei Roy Tomlin httpwww.beckenhamkarate.co.ukroytomlin.html took the class at Oasis because Sensei Ohta was abroad with the Squad at the European Championships which were very successful see later. Sensei Roy took us through an excellent combination of attack defence counterattack vs defence counterattack defence counterattack. This was followed by gojushiho dai an intricate kata demanding balance and control but they all do dont they Oss Sensei Simon 2009-5-28 21:05:18 http://www.harpendenjka.com/page2.htm#41357 Guildford Spring Course 2009 Friday 1 May 2009 Once again clubs from all over England and Europe gathered at the Guildford Spectrum Leisure Centre for the JKA Special Spring Course. Familiar faces were everywhere as we stretched in preparation for the start someone commented that you could tell who was planning to grade because they were rehearsing their kata in earnest before the sessions started. We lined up eight deep for the Rei getting our first glimpse of visiting Senseis Sawada and Ogura and of course Sensei Ohta who announced that Sensei Osaka was delayed because of urgent JKA business in Japan and would be joining us the next day. Sensei Morgan 5th dan Wareham amp Purbeck took the warm up and handed over to Sensei Sawada who took the whole group for basic kihon training. We started with hip twisting and inevitably Sensei saw that some students did not have enough tension in their knees. We teamed up in threes so that one student had their knees held in position by the... 2009-5-10 18:15:37