People usually visit Prague in December to soak up the atmospheric Christmas markets – which are lovely!
However, December in Prague is a time that we look forward to each year to reconnect with our Shikukai Prague family and train under the expert guidance of Richard Barham Sensei focussing on the fundamental principles laid down by Shikukai.
As usual the course was held over three days with Friday’s training being exclusively for Shikukai members and focused on pair work. The main message for the session this Friday was about creating opportunity and space for a counterattack to execute kobo no ichi – the Wado model of offence and defence working in tandem.
On Saturday we focused on the principles of tsuki. Emphasis was placed on tsuki no san yoso (the three elements of, speed, koshi and weight). Attention was also given to eliminating waza no san aku (the three mudanas: mudana chikara, mudana ugoki and mudana waza).
The session seamlessly moved on to the practice of junzuki, sonoba zuki and then junzuki and gyakuzuki variants. Kihon kata was cleverly practiced to stress the importance of a good junzuki dachi. Here our intention was also drawn to importance of relaxation – Datsu Ryoku.
Saturday’s training concluded with Kushanku Kata. Rather than initially looking at the kata as a whole we concentrated on where our energy was generated from. This was a very useful exercise as it allowed us time to feel if we were connected to our hara, to notice if we were consciously eliminating the mudana’s or if we were leaking energy.
The last day of training came all too quickly. It was a culmination, a bringing together, of all that we had learnt on previous days. We were reminded about the principles of Junzuki dachi, tsuki no san yoso and the mudanas and were encouraged to absorb these principles in everything that we do.
In pairs, groups and then as a whole some observed others (mitori-geiko) as a way of enhancing our learning. This worked well because of the of essence behind Budo. Everybody worked as a team; everybody was encouraging and at the same time was able to give constructive criticism to help move learning on.
Many thanks to David Vlk and his team for allowing us to visit once again. Thank you for your support and for the chance to train with such a lovely group of people. Thank you for your friendship and for looking after us with transportation and for the very enjoyable hospitality in the evenings.
We are already planning our trip back
Sue Dodd
Some extra words from the host, David Vlk:
Once again Shikukai instructor Richard Barham (6th Dan) was invited to Prague for the Christmas course, accompanied by Mark Gillis (4th Dan) and Sue Dodd (2nd Dan). This is the third year they have come to Prague and gave us great support and an extra zest for practice. The course is of great importance for students in Prague who cannot attend Shikukai courses in the UK. We appreciate that the course is always tailor-made; just as a tailor measures a dress, so Richard checks and directs our karate practice according to needs. A good example is that we were asked to show our Junzuki movement without any specific instructions to start with. Richard then compared us to the correct posture and timing and gradually introduced elements of execution that he would like to see. These were not necessarily new messages, but sometimes I feel like when I say this to my group, they do not hear, but everyone tried their best in front of Richard, so it was actually nice to see. Time in Prague is not only about training. Gatherings are planned also in the evenings, in the beautiful centre of Prague, where folk customs must be observed. So there was a lot of drinking and laughing, and spending time together to enjoy the company. Well, the end of the course came very quickly and we are already looking forward to 2026, when we will be happy to invite Richard to Prague again for more training in the Shikukai way.
David Vlk.
Shikukai Karate-Do International 