Karate Course and Grading September 2013

I always enjoy the run up to a grading. There seems to be a special sense of excitement in the club, and everyone always tries that little bit harder with their training. The preparation for our recent grading was no different, well perhaps it was a little different – as some of our Haxby Karate Kids would be grading at the course for the first time!

We're off to see the wizard!

Sensei Alistair

A very proud Sensei Lorraine

Again we were lucky to have two excellent instructors, Sensei Alan Campbell, JKS England Chief Instructor, and Sensei Alistair Mitchell, 7^th Dan who has recently joined JKS England. The course had very much a kumite feel to it. Sensei Alistair was emphasising relaxation (with Colin stoically bearing the brunt of this painful looking demonstration!), and ease / flow / continuation in your movements with your block flowing into and leading to your counter, not working against it. 


Sensei Alan’s session with the senior grades focused on movement in kumite (I learnt the hard way that Ray is a difficult man to get past!). A special mention must go to Tom (F) who after being volunteered by his instructors stood up well to 15 minutes of kumite demonstration with Sensei Alistair – I lost track of how many times you ended up on the floor Tom, but you kept getting back up!

The gradings themselves provided cause for celebration with all our students continuing their progression on their karate journeys.Our Karate Kids performed brilliantly – every single one of them dug deep and successful achieved their first official JKS grade. Well done to Dylan (12^th Kyu), Dexter, Oliver & Evie (11^th Kyu), and Edward & Xander (10^th Kyu) – you did yourselves proud and I’m sure I saw a tear in the corner of Sensei Lorraine’s eye!

I Know that Andy and Joe were nervous going into their first Grading with us, but they did not let it show, putting in strong performances to get their 9^th Kyus. Colin and Gareth continued to show what they are made of, both securing 8^th Kyu – you have a whole new kata to learn before your next grading so it is important to continue with your dedicated approach. Katherine put in her usual graceful performance (after almost concertinaing her body during one of the exercises on the course – I really wish I could be half as flexible as she is!) to finally get rid of her red belt and replace it with a yellow one for 7^th Kyu.

 Lisa (as usual) was the first of the Gowland clan to face the grading panel and showed the younger generation how it was done by gaining her Green belt (6^th Kyu). Rebecca, how happy that her mum was the same grade as her (even if it was very briefly) dug deep to find her inner aggression to gain her 5^th Kyu.

Ray, Robert and Bethany grading

Then we were onto our brown belts. Ray was up first, and despite some issues with the kata his technique was strong enough to secure 3^rd Kyu – the path to Shodan starts here and you have some tough training (and gradings) ahead of you! Our 3^rd kyus were up next, Bethany successfully graded to 2^nd Kyu, but an early mistake in the kihon seemed to knock Robert’s confidence. Despite that he did put in a strong enough performance to secure a Temporary 2^nd Kyu. I know, from personal experience, how disappointing it is to get a temporary grade at 2^nd Kyu, but I know that he has the determination to keep going and the dedication to work towards getting your 1^st Kyu in February. One of the things that has always impressed me about Robert is that he never gives up – if he takes a hit during kumite, or stumbles over a kata, he always refuses to sit out to recover – preferring to work through it and carry on. It is this determination that will carry you through this disappointment and to your Shodan.

Wow! What a course! And the next one promises to be even better. Sensei Paul has outdone himself by arranging for Sensei Alan Campbell, JKS England Chief Instructor, Sensei Scott Langley, JKS GB & Ireland Technical Director, AND Sensei Shinji Nagaki, 5^th Dan WKF World Kumite Champion to run our course and grading on Sunday 23^rd February 2014. Save the date in your diary as it is definitely not to be missed!

OSU

Jim 

Haxby Karate Kids 6.30pm to 7.30pm Monday and Thursday ONLY £10 a month. Haxby Karate Kids is part of Haxby Shotokan Karate Club, Wigginton Recreation Hall, The Village, Haxby, York, YO32 2PL www.haxbykarate.co.uk