FURIN KEIKOJO

Here there is my dream. 

I want to create an environment (hall, place, location, time, group and etc.) where karateka (people who practice karate) would meet up for karate practice, KARATE NO KEIKO (not sure if I've spleeled it right). I see too much of politics and money around this beautiful art. So, this place has to be FREE of it. Another way to say: I regardless of Dan, Federation, Association and Affiliation a karateka should be able to come and practice together. Nothing to argue about or prove - pure practice time. The thing is there is not enough training time in our DOJO's. We come there to study and to get corrected but any art requires more than that. particularly it requires repetition and practice. 

I am still considering my options... I need to find a place first. Then I wil try to inform people and we will see...

I will call that place FURIN KEIKOJO. Looking for a place right now...

HELLO

It's been long time since I wrote here. Many things happened to m, my personal life, my karate life, my professional life and etc. Some of them were too tough to deal with (and yet I am still kicking...) and some were of less degree... anyway my karate has never stopped. Not sure if it is getting better but this is not my point. The point is "show must go on".

I am back. 

I will try to continue writing here and asking for advises. If anyone gives me one I will be happy; if no advises or revisions I will be still doing it rather for myself, for later revision. It is interesting to see my karate 2 years ago. Now, watching those videos I feel sad. ;-)

Very soon I will add something to watch, think and chat about.

Ossu! And thanks to everyone who was still watching my blog (loads of views surprisingly). :-)

JKA GASSHUKU INTERNATIONAL

This week-end I participated in the Gasshuku International of JKA France which was held in Saint-Julien en Genevois, just on the border with Switzerland.

First, I liked it very much. JKA representatives were very friendly and welcoming (I am not a member of JKA) . The amount of attendees was high. I lot of senior karateka and many children. I didn't spot many teenagers though but this is rather usual for karatedo from my experience.

The course was split on three sessions to swap sensei (there were three) between different levels (colored, brown and black).

1. Daniel Lautier Sensei (7 dan, JKA Fance) 

Impressive session focused on techincs in GYAKU HANMI. Surprisingly for me it was relatively complicated. Well, I am usualy quite comfortable performing GYAKU-technics. But when we started to move back and forward performing different sets of technics, all of them in GYAKU HANMI I found myself a bit lost from time to time. The SANBON KUMITE in GYAKU part was ok (I faced a couple of opponents and definitely dominated) but still I feel like there is something I have to work on: more flexibility, HIKITE, point of application etc. We finished with a couple of KATA to glue the GYAKU HANMI KAMAE. I liked the session. It was very informative and left a lot of home-work for me. I am going to review it again this week.

2. Izumiya Seizo Sensei (7 dan, JKA)

Entire session was dedicated to the kata that I had never learned before, BASSAI SHO. Very good session. Actually it was my favorite from all three sessions. We broke KATA on several parts in order to learn the sequence first. Once it was done sensei started to show applications for each movement, kind of BUNKAI, and I was very lucky as for the rest of the session I was chosen  to assist   Izumiya sensei. All the technics were shown on me! :-) I have to say that all the applications were real and doable. No dancing! I benefited from my young judo years as I was forced to fall many times, too many times! As one may imagine falling on the bare floor with no previous experience is quite tricky unless you are a former judoka :-). So, we worked all applications in pairs. I felt very confident (probably due to the fact that I was assisting :-) ). Actually BASSAI SHO didn't look very complicated to me. Why Have I Never Practiced It Before?? From now on I include it in my KATA arsenal. During the practice I noticed my SHUTO UCHI became stronger and snappier. I am still not very confident in MANJI KAMAE. I have to figure out the last two movements of the KATA. We did worked on them but it still takes some mind efforts to do them, no automatism yet. Very inspiring session it was.

3.  Sergio GNEO Sensei (7 dan, JKA Belguim)

We did UNSU. I found it to be a very difficult KATA for my level, I guess. Interesting KATA. Many new technics. One day I will learn it. For now I will try to remember the basics only. Generally speaking this session I liked the least. I didn't learn much as I had to focus on copying moves looking at others who also didn't feel confident. So, it was rather messy. The way sensei was teaching is also not my favorite as there were many jokes and chats and suggestions regarding applications etc. but no clear system. No method. So, unfortunately for me it was rather a waste of time though I am very thankful to the sensei for the new KATA .

Summary. Very good practice.Shame it doesn't happen often in "my area". I will be definitely looking for more. And thanks to JKA and to the Sensei for interesting lessons. My mistakes are getting more and more exposed like that.

NATURAL DISASTER

Today I planned to post a new article here... But then I saw the news and what happened in Japan. Being an adept of Japanese culture (karate-do is a part of culture) I have to put it on hold.


My family and I are shocked with the scale of the tragedy there. Please accept our condolences for those who have lost their relatives or friends. There is no words of comfort in such situation. 


If anyone from Japan reads this note please do not hesitate to contact me should you require help. I am not rich unfortunately but I promise I will do my best.


Tomorrow there will be another day and the Sun will raise again in Japan. Let's stay strong!

DOJO KUN

Yesterday I had a very interesting discussion with the senior ranks of my dojo here in Grenoble. Surprisingly no one of them have ever heard about DOJO KUN! I am not talking about remembering it japanese, about knowing the translation or explanation. No! Ignorance about the art. I am disappointed again and this time even deeper than before. So, I am going to make sure I remember the japanese way of pronouncing it (not only the meaning). It is my fault of not remembering it (I was taught before and I knew it but stopped practicing it). I feel responsibility lying on the shoulder of each and any karateka to remember and understand it and more to pass this tradition and knowledge further. 

UCHI UKE

I have just finished my midday practice that included:
- SOTO UKE - GEDAN BARAI - UCHI UKE - GYAKU TSUKI
- EMPI and JUNRO YONDAN.


I have to come to one of the most difficult for me points, UCHI UKE. Somehow application of this technique goes better than KIHON (that's how I see it at least!). UCHI UKE - a block from inside. It should start from the HIKITE creating compression (potential energy) and making the whipping snap (kinetic energy) in order to stop in front of the body covering its "edge". Usually performed on CHUDAN level.


Please watch my video and point out as many of my mistakes as possible. I am going to review this technique during the the next two weeks.

OFF-TOPIC

Tonight local dojo where I practice is running a grading session for 10-1 kyu levels. But 1 kyu and black belts are invited to take part in it and to do a mock-test for any level including their next one. I am going to take part for sure. I will try to re-do my Shodan, if possible, following local rules and regulations of FFKAMA. I am sure I will have even more food for my karate revision blog.