Article by Alan King
Honbu Dojo in Randburg - Tuesday, 19 September 2006
Honbu Dojo in Randburg - Tuesday, 19 September 2006
We were extremely privileged to have Sensei Yamaguchi, who is one of the senior instructors in JKS Japan, in the country for 10 days. Shihan Norman Robinson's Honbu Dojo hosted Sensei Yamaguchi for his first sessions on the evening of 19th September, where Sensei Yamaguchi presented two one-hour training sessions. The first session was for coloured belts, from white to brown belt, and was well supported with over thirty karateka in the hall. Sensei's teaching was dynamic, with fantastic illustration of how to generate power from the hips and the importance of correct distancing in kumite. He also introduced one of the new katas - Junro Shodan - which concentrates on turning, combined with an emphasis on shifting the center of balance in stance transitions. Neko-ashi dachi (cat stance) occurs frequently in this kata.
The second session was also well attended with over thirty black belts ranging from 1st
Dan to 6th Dan from various dojos on the floor. The class commenced once again with a very dynamic illustration of how to use the hips. Sensei's hip movement and rotation is lightning fast and very powerful. This lead to a series of avoidance and counter techniques based on rapid hip turn, tai sabaki and spinning empi-uchi, followed by take downs. There was some entertaining interaction between Sensei Yamaguchi and Sensei Andre Kok around "continuous kumite", with non-stop attacks, blocks and counter attacks.
The senior class was introduced to another Junro kata - Junro Yondan - which concentrates almost entirely on rotation. Almost every move involved a rotation with very few linear movements and some unusual hand combinations. The highlight was a 360 degrees spinning technique ending with choku zuki. It is interesting that a number of kata have been added to the traditional Shotokan curriculum, including these Junro katas 1-5.
The class ended with two simple exercises, the first concentrating on neko-ashi dachi and the second a squatting exercise to develop leg strength.
It was obvious that all karateka enjoyed Sensei Yamaguchi's classes tremendously. His
movement is very smooth and dynamic and he has a very engaging teaching style. The style of karate demonstrated was not the linear style we so often practice, but more fluid and free-flowing.
Not only were the classes technically fantastic, but they were fun too - what more could we ask for?
Air Force Gymnasium - Saturday, 23 September 2006
Yamaguchi Sensei presented three sessions at the Air Force Gymnasium in Valhalla, Pretoria, on Saturday afternoon, attended by karateka from Gauteng North, Hoitsugan, Middelburg and Witbank dojos. The first session was devoted to coloured belts, the second and third to black belts.
The first senior session concentrated on kata. After the warm up, sensei Yamaguchi introduced himself in Afrikaans (much to everyone's delight) and then demonstrated various exercises aimed at improving hip rotation and penetration through projection and large movements. These began with hip-twitching, and then added various combinations of empi-uchi with spins of between 180 degrees and 360 degrees, followed by mawashi-geri and spinning ushiro mawashi-geri, always concentrating on full rotation of the hip and extension of the striking limb.
Sensei was very clear that techniques, while they must be focused on the target for effect, should not represent a stopping point, but simply a momentary hiatus in continuous motion.
Junro Godan, the fifth in the set of Junro kata, was introduced. This kata has as many rotations as the rest of the sequence, but illustrates the different types of shifts available. In addition to the familiar tsugi-ashi [half-step] and yori-ashi [shifting], the terms okuri-ashi [basically quarter step] and haiyumi-ashi [crossing over] were introduced.
Although a simple embusen is used (similar to Heian Shodan), there is a series of less frequently used blocks, stances and shifts combined with frequent rotations. Sensei demonstrated the kata at the end of the class to warm applause.
The second senior class concentrated on kumite - mainly drills and exercises. The central theme of the lesson carried on from the previous class - focus in movement. Rather than the typical stop-start action so often seen in kumite, Sensei demonstrated a continuous flow of attacks. Rather than stopping after delivery of a combination (say kizami x gyaku-zuki), he showed how to deliver the combination with force but then be ready to continue to deliver any number of techniques thereafter without stopping!
What he demonstrated was the importance of rhythm, moving at almost at the same tempo as a waltz. The drills he demonstrated were aimed at extending the range of the techniques - long low lunges, bouncing lunges, extension of back kicks with the support of partners and drive while performing kizami-mae-geri. This last exercise proved surprisingly difficult as the partners restricted the transfer of weight onto the back foot and kept the back foot aligned to the front.
To emphasize the importance of rhythm, the class lined up in three lines with the students line astern in fighting stance. The first in the line had to move along the line, firing off kizami-zuki on each student in turn and then return. The idea was to achieve some sort of rhythm - "not like pistol, but like machine gun", as Sensei explained! It was clear from the way Sensei was shaking his head that any rhythm he was seeing was that akin to hippos and not agile karateka! Also - he was heard to say "hakke plat" (Afrikaans for "heels flat") on numerous occasions - something else karatekas seem to struggle with due to poor ankle flexibility.
What was remarkable was the easy way Sensei was able to move - something that the spectators picked up on. What was equally remarkable is the consistency of the message Sensei was preaching and the technique Shihan Norman teaches, most recently at the National Gasshuku.
It is clear that JKS has moved on its understanding and practice of karate from the
linear backwards and forwards of its JKA roots to a more dynamic and multi-linear, flowing style, without losing the effectiveness of traditional Shotokan karate.
The day was finished off with a braai, hosted by Sensei Eddy Currie at his home in Pretoria, with various expressions of gratitude from JKS South Africa, Shihan Norman and Sensei Yamaguchi. Sensei Yamaguchi kept on saying how he was enjoying his time in South Africa and promised to return to South Africa as soon as he can.
Sensei Yamaguchi showed a very entertaining side to his character, having the group in stitches with his sense of humour during the presentations.
Not only were the classes technically fantastic, but they were fun too - what more could we ask for?
Air Force Gymnasium - Saturday, 23 September 2006
Yamaguchi Sensei presented three sessions at the Air Force Gymnasium in Valhalla, Pretoria, on Saturday afternoon, attended by karateka from Gauteng North, Hoitsugan, Middelburg and Witbank dojos. The first session was devoted to coloured belts, the second and third to black belts.
The first senior session concentrated on kata. After the warm up, sensei Yamaguchi introduced himself in Afrikaans (much to everyone's delight) and then demonstrated various exercises aimed at improving hip rotation and penetration through projection and large movements. These began with hip-twitching, and then added various combinations of empi-uchi with spins of between 180 degrees and 360 degrees, followed by mawashi-geri and spinning ushiro mawashi-geri, always concentrating on full rotation of the hip and extension of the striking limb.
Sensei was very clear that techniques, while they must be focused on the target for effect, should not represent a stopping point, but simply a momentary hiatus in continuous motion. Junro Godan, the fifth in the set of Junro kata, was introduced. This kata has as many rotations as the rest of the sequence, but illustrates the different types of shifts available. In addition to the familiar tsugi-ashi [half-step] and yori-ashi [shifting], the terms okuri-ashi [basically quarter step] and haiyumi-ashi [crossing over] were introduced.
Although a simple embusen is used (similar to Heian Shodan), there is a series of less frequently used blocks, stances and shifts combined with frequent rotations. Sensei demonstrated the kata at the end of the class to warm applause.
The second senior class concentrated on kumite - mainly drills and exercises. The central theme of the lesson carried on from the previous class - focus in movement. Rather than the typical stop-start action so often seen in kumite, Sensei demonstrated a continuous flow of attacks. Rather than stopping after delivery of a combination (say kizami x gyaku-zuki), he showed how to deliver the combination with force but then be ready to continue to deliver any number of techniques thereafter without stopping!
What he demonstrated was the importance of rhythm, moving at almost at the same tempo as a waltz. The drills he demonstrated were aimed at extending the range of the techniques - long low lunges, bouncing lunges, extension of back kicks with the support of partners and drive while performing kizami-mae-geri. This last exercise proved surprisingly difficult as the partners restricted the transfer of weight onto the back foot and kept the back foot aligned to the front.
To emphasize the importance of rhythm, the class lined up in three lines with the students line astern in fighting stance. The first in the line had to move along the line, firing off kizami-zuki on each student in turn and then return. The idea was to achieve some sort of rhythm - "not like pistol, but like machine gun", as Sensei explained! It was clear from the way Sensei was shaking his head that any rhythm he was seeing was that akin to hippos and not agile karateka! Also - he was heard to say "hakke plat" (Afrikaans for "heels flat") on numerous occasions - something else karatekas seem to struggle with due to poor ankle flexibility. What was remarkable was the easy way Sensei was able to move - something that the spectators picked up on. What was equally remarkable is the consistency of the message Sensei was preaching and the technique Shihan Norman teaches, most recently at the National Gasshuku.
It is clear that JKS has moved on its understanding and practice of karate from the
linear backwards and forwards of its JKA roots to a more dynamic and multi-linear, flowing style, without losing the effectiveness of traditional Shotokan karate. The day was finished off with a braai, hosted by Sensei Eddy Currie at his home in Pretoria, with various expressions of gratitude from JKS South Africa, Shihan Norman and Sensei Yamaguchi. Sensei Yamaguchi kept on saying how he was enjoying his time in South Africa and promised to return to South Africa as soon as he can.
Sensei Yamaguchi showed a very entertaining side to his character, having the group in stitches with his sense of humour during the presentations.
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