Welcome to the Lewisham Shotokan Karate Centre

Sensei Ueki (8^th Dan and a member of the Board of JKA Directors) and Sensei Kuarasako (7^th Dan and Vice General Manager of the Technical Division) joined Sensei Ohta (6th Dan JKAE) for a three day course at the Spectrum Lesuire Centre, Guildford.

Day 1 - Sensei Ohta instructed the first day with the main focus on the development of an “explosive” technique when moving in stances. The transference of power between supporting and moving legs was key to understanding this concept. For the second part of the class, Sensei Ohta took the black belts through Jion and then Sochin, which saw a series of good applications (Bunkai). The Kyu grades were instructed separately by rotation throughout the course from Sensei’s Ueki, Kurasako and Ohta during the course.

Day 2 - Sensei Karasako described the important main points when making a punch (direction, tight fist and hikate) before moving on to focus on hips and building the foundation for adding age uke, soto uke and gedan barai. Combining this with gyaku zuki and throwing in changing directions made for an interesting lesson in basic movements as well as coordination of footwork. The second class continued on the same theme from the first class but further developing the technique to block and counter at a 45 degree angle to the attack. Nijushiho was then practised followed by Enpi with great emphasis made on age zuki strikes (upwards) in the kata. Towards the end of the class, a presentation was made to senior JKAE instructors who had passed their international licences - but not before they had practiced their kata in front of the whole class! Our very own instructor from Lewisham, Sensei Roy Tomlin demonstrated Nijushiho before collecting his international Referee and Instructors Licences from Sensei Ueki.

Day 3 – Sensei Ueki took the first class. The lesson recapped on the stances practiced from the previous days classes. One of the important points to note is the position of the knee in relation to the front toe while in zenkutzu datchi. Correct stance and transference of power now became evident. The next lesson saw Sensei Ueki take the black belts through Kanku Dai. Sensei mentioned that this kata has all the good characteristics and noble ideas that is in essence what JKA karate embodies (never make the first attack - as the first move in this kata is defensive). Moving to Gojushiho Sho with a great deal of application (Bunkai) gave Geir Larsen (JKA Norway) and Roy the opportunity to beat each other up demonstrating several aspects and applications of the kata! Sandra Dacres-Smith also collected her 2nd Dan (Nidan) certificate in a presentation from the Sensei's.

A very good course with an opportunity to catch up with old friends and to cement knowledge gained over the three days marked yet another successful Guildford international course.

The black belt gradings followed shortly after the class with success for Lewisham for the following Instructors:

Tim Neil - 2nd Dan - Nidan

John Harvie - 3rd Dan - Sandan