General News

Happy New Year to you all.  Sensei Andre and I have just arrived back from our annual trip to Okinawa.  These visits are essential to ensure that our karate remains up to date, our techniques are accurate and our teaching skills are enhanced.  We had the benefit of Higaonna Sensei’s instruction at first hand and had some really magical moments.  We saw the New Year in…..training of course!  We started at 23.00 on New Year’s Eve and finished at 02.00 on New Year’s day.  Higaonna Sensei had the idea of training across 2 years.  The Japanese believe that whatever you are doing as the year crosses over, you will be good at for the rest of year.  So think back to what you were doing!  We were doing Gekisai Dai Ichi, so after over 23 years of practicing this kata we might finally get to be good at it!

The trip was not without a few other events.  I dislocated my shoulder practising a kobudo (weapons) break fall, whilst holding a shield and spear at the same time and Sensei Andre cracked a rib during karate conditioning training.  Despite this we somehow managed to gain our 3^rd Dan in kobudo with the help of some very strong pain killers.

Also you might have noticed the change from OTGKA to EGKA.  The initials stand for:

English Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Association.

Many of the southern OTGKA dojos joined the EGKA in December 2009.  The association is led by England’s Chief Instructor, Sensei Ernie Molyneux (IOGKF 7^th Dan).  Sensei Ernie has been training since 1972 so he has 38 years karate experience under his belt.

You can find out more about the association at www.egka.org.uk .

From an administration point of view there is very little change.  All current licences will be honoured and new EGKA licences will be issued as and when they are required.  The badge remains the same as it is an IOGKF badge and both associations have always been part of the IOGKF.  We anticipate that this change will be an exciting new beginning, with a varied events calendar planned for all ages throughout the year.

We now have our second junior student, Bradley Anstee participating in one adult session a week.  The junior transition to the adult sessions appears to be working well and we will continue in this mode for the foreseeable future.

New Karate TV Series (Hai Karate) on CBBC

This started on Thursday 14^th January at 5.15pm and is repeated on Sundays at 1.30pm.  It can also be viewed on BBC i-Player.  The series involves 4 children and their parents who are trying to attain yellow belt standard in 3 weeks, whilst learning more about the Japanese culture.  If successful, the children will take part in the Junior World Championships in Okinawa. The two main instructors are Kotomoto Sensei, the lead instructor of our Honbu dojo in Okinawa and a senior student at the dojo, Brent Sensei.  They are always an inspiration to us when we are training with them in Okinawa.  Higaonna Sensei will also be filmed teaching the families in the actual Honbu dojo.  Please try to take a look at this series – students will find it really interesting.

Student of the Month

Student of the Month for January 2010

***Bradley Anstee ***

Bradley has earned this accolade ten times over.  He is a model student and always gives 100% in training.  His recent action however deserves recognition.  We were proud to learn that when Sensei Jason was late in attending the class when we were away, due to the severe weather conditions, Bradley took it upon himself to call the dojo to order and start formal proceedings, followed by the warm up.  Well done, we are both very proud of you.  We were also very proud to hear that all the students present fully supported Bradley, behaved properly and followed his instructions to the letter.  Well done everyone, this is the very spirit of karate that we have been endeavouring to promote.

Dates for your Diary

28^th February – Children’s Friendly Tournament – more details to follow.