Shikukai Karate-Do International member Dojo, Mushin Jyuku, hosted its first ‘summer intensive’ course held in East Devon. Children, young adults and adults of the Dojo were joined by Shikukai students from Weymouth, Chippenham and Essex for five days of focused training. The course was planned around the club’s normal training on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings – with extra training available in between.
The course was led by Rob Selby 5th Dan Sensei, whose theme was to practice; Kihon (basics), Keri (kicks) and Renketsu-dosa (‘combinations’) from the Shikukai syllabus. The well-planned sessions gave attention to each aspect with Rob Sensei following and tracking the progression from 9th Kyu to Dan grade.
Training in Kihon, Rob Sensei offered a different term to the word ‘basic’ and used the word, ‘foundation’. Kihon practice at 9th Kyu, or beginner level Wado, lays the foundation for the training and development to follow. Students practiced the Tsuki, Uke and Keri movements from the syllabus and experienced how Sugasawa Sensei is progressively challenging and developing body action and dynamics through movement-based principles at each successive grade.
Training in Renketsu-dosa, Rob Sensei offered his own thoughts on what we might be gaining from this practice. It would be easy to assume we are just performing Kihon Waza and Keri Waza together to offer a combination or set sequence of techniques. Yes, in part maybe, but within the Shikukai Renketsu-dosa we can find body movement and mechanics that really challenge our core control and where our centre has been placed, as well as some really credible Taisabaki strategies. Particularly towards the top end of the syllabus, we can see ideas of moving to the Soto and Uchi ranges, Kekaeshi and Kaeshi principles and actions, Nagashi practice as well as the continued development of the Ashi-sabaki that feature throughout the syllabus.
Students were challenged to see if they could reverse the forward momentum of the Renketsu-dosa to move backwards at a given command. Ohtsuka Meijin- founder of the Wado Ryu, said that we should be able to move in any direction from the centre of our bodies. Rob Sensei explained that if we are just thinking about moving forwards to complete the combination for the sake of fulfilling what’s written in the syllabus, maybe we are missing the depth of what Sugasawa Sensei is asking us to explore.
The Saturday session was led by guest instructors Steve and Pam Rawson 7th Dan Sensei’s. The idea of Taisabaki being referred as body evasion was recapped from the Spring course to reinforce a better understanding referred to as body management. This linked into how Rob Sensei presented the last three days of training – using the Shikukai syllabus’s progression to develop body movement and correct body usage, posture and structure to find the underpinning principles of Wado.
Pam Sensei led a dynamic warm up then began training in Kihon, adding extra challenges by using a range of Tsuki techniques, including Kaeshi practice and principles of body shifting (left and right) with Jodan Nagashi-Uke; a familiar feel to Kushanku Kata. An emphasis was given on using the correct koshi movement and the weight transfer to give a strong Tsuki after the Nagashi-Uke. This then led onto students performing Sanmi Ittai Dosa, which further demonstrated the theory of Ten-I, Ten-Tai, Ten-Gi.
Steve Sensei then isolated component parts of Kihon Gumite Ipponme which then led onto students practising this paired Kata. Junior grades practiced their pair work for their respective grade, with seniors moving onto Kihon Gumite Gohonme. The session finished with Steve and Pam Sensei offering a pair work based drill to help explore the theme of Taisabaki.
The practice of pair work flowed nicely into Rob Sensei’s training on Sunday. Students explored the pair works found at 7th and 8th Kyu in a solo format. Students performed the Tsuki and Keri role of Uke, then immediately filled the role of Tori practicing both sides.
The senior session was made up of Kumite Gata practice, Rob Sensei managed to squeeze all twelve of Sugasawa Sensei’s Gonosen variations in. Here we were able to work together with many other Shikukai students to further develop our understanding of Ma-ai (distance and timing). The way Rob Sensei structured and built upon each session helped us to see how the principles from the Kumite Gata can be abstracted and traced back down through Sugasawa Sensei’s syllabus to arrive back at foundation level Wado (9th Kyu).
Students made use of the village pub in Otterton after training and had time to explore the costal town of Exmouth and enjoy the weekend festival that happens every year. Our thanks to Rob Sensei for organising and leading the training and to Steve and Pam Sensei’s for leading Saturdays session.
Tom Wilkins 1st Dan, Sue Dodd 2nd Dan.
Shikukai Karate-Do International 