Time yet again for one of my regular courses hosted by Kenkokai in Eemnes, not far from Hilversum. These are seminars organised by our Shikukai representative in the Netherlands, Martijn Schelen de Vries.
Martijn has a healthy Dojo of well-established students who come back year after year, which is a real advantage, as it gives me the opportunity to continue themes and build in solid reinforcement of Wado principles as presented by Shikukai chief instructor, F. Sugasawa Sensei.
Kenkokai members have a long-time relationship with Sugasawa Sensei and often travel to our courses in the UK, northern France and other locations in Europe.
Course content and themes.
I always respond to requests given in advance. This time Martijn and his Dojo members were needing clarification on specific paired kata from the Shikukai syllabus.
The Nihon Gumite from the 3rd kyu syllabus were on the agenda. I always find these useful to teach as they are almost the gateway techniques to Kihon Gumite and Kumite Gata. This time round they were also an excellent opportunity for seniors who may not have experienced the Shikukai syllabus to have a look at one of the significant stepping stones and the logical progression found within the pages of the syllabus book.
As is always the case, techniques found within the paired kata have a propensity to appear in multiple guises in other areas, specifically when looked at through the lens of principles.
I had a very deliberate plan to keep coming back to the staple strategy/technique of Otoshi Uke; whether it be, solo kata, paired kata or kihon, it kept cropping up.
Kata.
The course kata was Pinan Yondan; which I found convenient to break into two parts across Saturday and Sunday. But I also took the opportunity to dip very briefly into Seishan kata, as Sugasawa Sensei had very recently supplied an important update; not an addition (there’s already so much in Seishan), more of a clarification which helps to knit the principles tighter together.
The course was well attended and not just Shikukai members. Martijn always ensures to run an ‘open door’ policy and so we saw seniors from other Wado groups associated with the KBN as well as a student who travelled all the way from Italy.
Saturday evening saw us settled into a local restaurant; always a great opportunity to catch up and tell tales of things long past (Martijn).
The weekend may well have been ‘content-heavy’, but I felt the responsibility of having to get so much information across, over the eight solid hours of training.
As always, it was so nice to reconnect with old friends and make new contacts. I find myself constantly impressed with the continued elevation of the profile of Shikukai as mainstream Wado in the Netherlands; so much of it down to all the hard work of Martijn Schelen de Vries, to whom I am eternally grateful.
Until next time.
Tim Shaw
Shikukai Karate-Do International 