Training Report　07/12/08・09

This weekend Kanazawa sensei and Murakami sensei came to Matsue for the weekend to teach us. There were 46 of us - Kanazawa sensei, Murakami sensei, 22 children (20 from Matsue and 2 from Izumo), 16 adults (15 from Matsue and 1 from Izumo) and 6 others from different styles. Training started just after 1 o clock, with a greeting, meditation and bow. Murakami sensei then led the warm up. Then Kanazawa sensei led the basics practice, explaining the details of punching. We practice this every week, but the atmosphere here was very different. We then split into 2 groups with Murakami sensei teaching the coloured belts and Kanazawa sensei the black belts. Kanazawa sensei taught us about punching from various stances and also blocking. Most of the stances, punches and blocks were basic, (however the last spinning block was quite difficult) and for black belts the important point was to harmonize the movements between the lower and upper body. For example, when changing from back stance and knife hand block to front stance and reverse punch, you shouldn't change stance first and then punch, rather move so the stance and reverse punch happen at the same time. It is easy to write, but very difficult to do. The timing of the stance is quicker than the timing of the punch. It is important for the higher ranking students to practice this. After a short break, Kanazawa sensei and Murakami sensei then changed groups. The black and brown belts were taught Jiyu ippon kumite by Murakami sensei. Sensei explained many points regarding the timing of avoiding the attackers attack etc. Training for the day then finished at 17:00.
Kanazawa sensei teaching the children.
Practicing to Sensei's counting. Sensei's punches are so powerful they don't seem like the punches of a 76 year old!
The children receiving instruction from Murakami sensei on the reverse punch.
The black belts learning the spinning block. It looks easier than it actually is.
After dinner, Kanazawa sensei and Murakami sensei gave us a talk. They also answered questions from the children, which I'm sure will be very memorable for all the children and adults.
Now, the 2nd day of training. As there was also a grading, the training was only for an hour. First we started with a warm up by Murakami sensei and then basics led by Kanazawa sensei. Half way through, Kanazawa sensei said that the posture of children in Shimane is not good, and explained about the importance of good posture. We then practiced the kata Heian Shodan, however there were some children who had forgotten it and they were warned that even if you learn new kata, you shouldn't forget the old ones. If you do, you will not improve. We instructors also felt these words. After the basics, we split into 2 groups, with the black and brown belts being taught by Kanazawa sensei and the coloured belts by Murakami sensei. The black belts were taught Happo kumite. This is where there is more than one attacker. This time we practiced in groups of 5, with 1 person in the middle surrounded by 4 attackers. One attacked with gyakuzuki, then another with oizuki, another with maegeri and then the last with mawashigeri. The defender then had to defend using techniques from yesterday's jiyu ippon kumite practice. It was difficult at first, but onece we got used to it, it really felt good to defend like this. I was told by Kanazawa sensei to kiai more and once again found myself reflecting on my mistakes. This practice was a reference for us to use so that we can practice ourselves, changing the techniques and also practicing left and right, because unless you can do both sides it is useless. We then ran through the kata Kanku Dai for the child who was to ta! ke his black belt. The training time was only short, but I was really pleased that we had the chance to learn Happo kumite, which we couldn't do last time (2 years ago). The coloured belts practiced the Heian katas with Murakami sensei. We all really have to practice these more.
The 2nd day. It was really cold.
Murakami sensei teaching the Heian katas to the coloured belts.
Kanazawa sensei explaining Happo kumite to the brown belts.
From here are the pictures from the grading. It was really cold and everyone was nervous in front of Kanazawa sensei and Murakami sensei. Some passed, some didn't, but everyone tried thier best. I hope to apply what we learned this weekend and deepen our understanding and training.
After training, Kanazawa sensei signed his autograph for everyone one by one.
Murakami sensei also did the same. Of course I got his signature too! After that, we went to Shimane winery for lunch and sightseeing before heading off to the airport. While waiting for the flight we spent some time in a coffee shop, and when I asked Sensei a question about the kata Hangetsu, he said it was a good kata and wanted to teach it this weekend, however there wasn't time. I hope Sensei will teach us it in the future. Until that day I will practice it! I said to myself as Kanazawa sensei and Murakami sensei left for Tokyo. Thank you very much for teaching us all! Oss!