Kancho Kanazawa Course in Watford November 2003

Over 400 Shotokan Karate students from all over the world were treated to a special course on Saturday 1^st November 2003 with the top man in the Karate world, Kanazawa Sensei.  The course was managed by S.K.K.I.F instructor Sensei Kevin Leigh, Yondan, head of Kodokai Shotokan Karate club in Watford and was open to all clubs and associations worldwide.  Kanazawa Sensei, who is in the middle of a European tour, brought with him Murakami Sensei, Rokudan S.K.I.F for the 2 day course.  Also present was special guest Akita Sensei, Godan.

The Saturday course focused on perfecting basic techniques.  Kanazawa Sensei began with teaching the correct form for Oi Zuki then added in simple combinations such as Mae Geri, Oi Zuki.  He then split the class by grades and we studied Bassai Dai, Ji’on, Empi and Kanku Dai katas.  Kanazawa Sensei often called the class together for a Master Class to explain certain techniques and bunkai.  He asked for volunteer students to demonstrate the kata in front of the class and commented on the students’ moves, correcting them where necessary. 

For the afternoon session, Murakami Sensei took over the higher grades and partnered everyone up for Mawashi Geri training.  With his partner holding up their hand as a target, Murakami Sensei stepped up from the back foot and kicked Mawashi Geri to the head with the front foot then stepped down, changing leg in the process.  The sequence was then repeated with the other leg and gradually working up to fast speed.  In just a few minutes practice, students were exchanging kicks, one each side by count, full speed and power. 

Sensei then arranged the class into groups of 5 and demonstrated kumite within group situations.

With one person in the middle of the group, the first attack was Jodan Oi Zuki.  This was blocked and countered with Jiyu Ippon technique Jodan number one (tate shuto, gyaku zuki).  The person then directly to the right of the defender launched a Chudan attack.  This was countered with Jiyu Ippon technique Chudan number two (seiryuto gedan uke, uraken uchi).  The person at the back attacked Mae Geri which was countered with Jiyu Ippon technique Mae Geri number one (gedan berai, gyaku zuki), then the final attack from the 4^th person was Mawashi Geri.  Care was taken to spin away from the kick by pivoting quickly, then counter with Jiyu Ippon technique Mawashi Geri number one (haiwan uke, gyaku zuki).

At the end of the afternoon session, Kanazawa Sensei called the whole class together again and called upon Murakami Sensei to demonstrate S.K.I.F syllabus kumite with a volunteer.  Sensei showed the entire syllabus of Kihon Ippon (basic one step kumite for up to 3^rd Kyu).  These consisted of attacks Jodan, Chudan, Mae Geri (4 defences for each), Mawashi Geri and Kekomi (2 defences for each). Kanazawa Sensei commented on each defence and ensured that stances and angles were noted by all.  Murakami Sensei then demonstrated Jiyu Ippon techniques (arranged kumite for 3^rd Kyu and above).  These consisted of attacks Jodan, Chudan, Mae Geri (5 defences for each), Mawashi Geri, Kekomi, Ushiro Geri (3 defences for each), Kizami Zuki, Gyaku Zuki (3 defences for each)

The Sunday course was slightly slower paced, and concentrated more on the S.K.I.F syllabus.  The class began as one, again with basic techniques.  This time, techniques were broken down into 3 counts.  For example, with Age Uke block, count one was Zenkutsu Dachi stance with opposite arm extended and hips fully in.  Count 2 was extended arm withdrawing to face level and turning so it is side on whilst the blocking arm twisted up and crossed with the extending arm.  Kanazawa Sensei stressed how important it was that the hips had not turned and were still fully in.   On count 3, the hips turned 45 degrees, the extended hand withdraw to fist on the floating rib and the block completed it’s turn to full Age Uke.  We then continued in the same vein with Soto Uke and Uchi Uke. 

Kanazawa Sensei then demonstrated with Murakami Sensei a way of making your Mae Geri kick stronger and ensuring that the hara and hips are used correctly.  Using Sensei’s belt, Kanazawa Sensei used it as reins around Murakami Sensei’s hara and Murakami Sensei then kicked forward, pulling Kanazawa Sensei with him.  The class tried this, with Murakami Sensei giving a helping hand to the smaller children who needed an extra bit of weight behind them. 

The class was split, with Kanazawa Sensei teaching the black belts some high grade kata.  He began with Chinte, then moved onto Gankaku Sho.  Whilst some of the class were familiar with this kata, the majority were not, so Kanazawa Sensei spent some time ensuring stances were correct and repeating so students could remember the form.  Finally, he focused on Nijuhachiho – a kata that is not readily available to learn so everyone was struggling.  We practiced the form several times until Kanazawa Sensei was happy that we had learned enough of it.  The Kyu grades practiced the Heian katas, and then learnt more unusual defence techniques from  Murakami and Akita Sensei’s .  This involved a student standing in Kibadachi stance whilst their partner crawled around their body without touching the floor.  The purpose was to strengthen the muscles and test the strength of the stance.  The whole class cheered when Murakami Sensei demonstrated it could be done by crawling around a student, whose Kibadachi was decidedly shaky afterwards!

In summary, a truly International course with fantastic attendance and inspirational teaching direct from Japan. S.K.K.I.F is especially indebted to Kevin Leigh and the members of Kodokai, Watford for making this a highly successful course.

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