martial arts training : karate events

Karate Events

Shitokai Murayama UK Autumn Course 2007	29-09-2007
Our second visit from Kunio Murayama Sensei this year proved every bit as enjoyable as the last. Sensei arrived at Gatwick on Friday morning, would you believe without his lugguage for the second time in one year -Continental Airlines sort yourself out!
Undeterred we made the trip back to Cheltenham in under 3 hours including a stop for brunch. Not having anything to unpack Sensei and I left his appartment and set about purchasing the essentials in the hope that his lugguage would appear the following day. It did appear the following day but not until about 10.00pm. Sensei was more disapointed about not being able to present the new Shodan students with their certificates than not having a clean shirt to wear. He always thinks of others before himself and strives to maintain his professional status.
The weekend course took a new format by holding the exams before the course allowing students to relax and enjoy the course without having to think about their pending test. It worked well and while the branch chief instructors namely Senseis Phil, Steve and myself assessed the Shodan Ho candidtaes, Sensei tested four students attempting Shodan. I am pleased to report that all students passed their exams and were presented with their black belts and certificates that evening at the dinner dance and presentation night.
The seminars were primarily on the Jo. A stick approximately 4 feet in length and 1 inch in diameter. Murayama Sensei began by explaining the system Dai En Ryu, taught him by his Sensei Manzo Iwata a direct student of Kenwa Mabuni, founder of the Shito-Ryu system we practice. Manzo Iwata sensei was taught by Mr Fujita Seiko, a master of many Ninja combative arts of which the Jo was one. Sensei explained and demonstrated the 5 Kihon exercises which we drilled many times before introducing us to some basic ippon kumite exercises which brought the potential of the Jo to life. After the Jo Sensei wanted to clarify some points on kata Bassai Dai and Seienchin in order to set us all some homework he felt we needed after seeing the grading candidates perform these kata with their bunkai applications. The Sunday morning saw the branch chiefs testing over 70 brown belt candidates before the first of 2 seminars taken by Murayama Sensei. After quickly revising the Jo basics we continued with more Jo kumite drills and were treated to a self defence demonstration by Sensei who was more than happy to throw me around the floor to the amusement of those students in attendance. The second seminar was for the junior grade students. Sensei took them through the basic stances and kihon techniques and explained the importance of correct basics and preparation in all aspects of not only karate but life. Then they too were taken through some basic Jo drills and a little kumite much to their delight. Sensei left from Gatwick on the Tuesday morning and expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone who organised and participated in the weekends events and looks forward to returning in the new year. Congratulations to Jack Hipwood - Josie Reynolds - Robert Norman - Craig Turner and Luke Jones all of who received their Shodan Ho rank. Well done and thank you to everyone who attended the course and made it the great success it was. Brian Sensei.