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News Special Club Sessions & Kyu Gradings

Club Training & Grading, September 2018

We enjoyed a brilliant lesson with Ohta Sensei this September. Some of the kumite combinations, which in practise seemed straightforward, proved to be much more challenging when facing an opponent! Later on in the session, he led everybody through the katas of those grading and Kanku Dai for the brown and black belts of the club. As we have come to expect from the Chief Instructor of The Japan Karate Association in England, his technical feedback and his own performance was second to none.

Well done everybody for training hard and to those who graded. Our next session with Ohta Sensei is coming up in December!

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Events

Anniversary 2

Sunday 6th January 2019 | 10-11am-ish
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHIRANAMIKAI

We’re in Stanmore this morning for some more training, sympathetic to Saturday’s session. Don’t forget your trainers! Followed by brunch, perhaps?

North London Collegiate School

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News Outside The Dojo Special Club Sessions & Kyu Gradings

Shell-A-Nami-Kai Beach Training, Summer 2018

Arriving in Rye on Thursday afternoon was well-rewarded with lunch at Fletcher’s Cafe. Visiting Rye Castle was insightful, with a fascinating, brief history on what used to be one of the most notorious prisons in England. We received a thorough drenching afterwards while exploring the wider grounds and took refuge in a haunted inn(!) before our dinner in Webbe’s Fish Cafe where we met up with the wider group.

Overall there were a few red faces (and feet) at Shell-a-nami-kai this year, the result of the fantastic weather we had. Training was light, relaxed and great fun. The kata of choice this trip was Jion with appropriate basics and applications to make it easier to learn.

After training Friday morning we headed to Dungeoness, stopping for lunch at the superb roadside Snack Shack which served fresh fish of the day, and The Old Lighthouse which offered fantastic views for everyone unaffected by vertigo. The pre-radar Denge Sound Mirrors were next, with us getting as close as we possibly could, lightheartedly brainstorming how we might get even closer. In the evening it was back to the cottage and negotiate elbow space in the kitchen as we all mucked in to prepare dinner.

Our last session on Saturday morning was followed by a quick and tasty bacon bap and cup of tea at Salts Farm Cafe before heading back to London for our afternoon training session.

Training on the beach, fun outings, superb meals and great friends! That’s what Shell-a-nami-kai/Sand-A-Nami-Kai and karate is all about :-) and with theses great British summers looking set to continue, why not put aside a few days in August and join us?

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News Outside The Dojo Special Club Sessions & Kyu Gradings

7th Karate Summer Camp, August 2018

Shiranamikai’s summer camps are a week of learning and development sessions that aim to help students of all levels improve techniques while exploring advanced katas and applications, in a relaxed dojo environment.

This summer we studied Heian Shodan, Empi, Heian Yondan, Gojushiho Sho and Sochin. Those who attended the whole week received a certificate and on the last day we enjoyed our traditional club lunch together!

Put the dates in your diary for next year: 29th July – 2nd August

By the way, that was maneki neko, lucky cat soft drink. Have you tried it? 👊🏻😺🥋

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JKA Competitions News

JKA England 2018 National Championship

Shiranamikai members had a very rewarding day at the JKA England, 15th Anniversary, 2018 National Championship.

With somewhere in the region of 350 competitors across individual and team kata and kumite events, there was a lot to get through in a single day. Fortunately our association has a very experienced events team and officials who managed the day very professionally enabling us to wrap-up completely by 7pm.

This year was titled the 15th Anniversary Championship because JKA England was formed as an association in 2003 with ties to the JKA World Federation dating back further to 1965. The Japan Karate Association itself celebrates its 70th anniversary having been established in November 1948. 2018 is also the 150th anniversary of the birth of Funakoshi Gichin, born 10th November 1868! Master Funakoshi founded Shotokan and was the first Chief Instructor of the JKA.

Counsellor Hiroshi Itakura, First Minister of Education and Sport at the Embassy of Japan in the UK, was guest of honour and presented medals alongside Ohta Yoshinobu, Chief Instructor of JKA England.

As always, the conduct of our students was exemplary and I’m very proud of everyone who entered. More than just competing for oneself, these events offer an opportunity to build relationships with students from clubs across the country and to see, experience and be inspired by karate.

Shiranamikai Results as follows…

Thomas: 4th Kata & Bronze kumite
Ryoma: Gold Kata & Gold Kumite
Shohei: Gold Kata & Gold Kumite
Lennon: Bronze Kata & Bronze Kumite
Toshimitsu: Gold Kata & Silver kumite
Chantelle: 4th Kata & Bronze Kumite
Sevim: Bronze Kata & Bronze Kumite
Uma: 4th Kata
Stephanie: Gold Kata & Bronze Kumite
Shion: Gold Kata & Gold Kumite
Kentaro: Bronze Kata & Silver Kumite
Austin: Silver Kata
Itsuko: Silver Kata
Shiranami XL (Alex, Ollie, Austin): Bronze Team Kata
Shiranami M (Shohei, Lennon, Ryoma): Gold Team Kata

This is a great achievement. Well done everyone for working so hard during training!

🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇x3

🥈🥈🥈🥈

🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉x3

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News Special Club Sessions & Kyu Gradings

Club Training & Grading, June 2018

We enjoyed a smashing session with Ohta Sensei this June. He was on great form and with technical feedback and kumite sequences which, although simple in that they followed the basic syllabus, were demanding in the mere fact that a very senior instructor was watching, greatly increasing the demands one places upon themselves!

Well done everybody for training hard in the warm dojo and to everybody who graded. You get a nice new belt and certificate for your efforts.

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JKA Courses News Outside The Dojo

JKA England Spring 2018 Gasshuku

Special guest instructors Imura Takenori 8th Dan, Kobayashi Kunio 7th Dan and Shiina Mai 4th Dan from the Tokyo Sohonbu, Sawada Kazuhiro 7th Dan from Belgium and Ohta Yoshinobu 7th Dan from JKA England lead the brilliant, spring May Bank Holiday Weekend, training camp.

Four days training can initially seem a little daunting but by taking one day at a time, you get to experience the various methods and personality of each instructor. We are all individual so sometimes a different take on basics or applications can click with one person more than another.

Shiranamikai members were present over the weekend as always which was great to see. Participating is a prerequisite for taking shodan but sessions are for everybody, not just brown belts and above. They present a fantastic opportunity to learn from highly experienced, world-class instructors, who you might not otherwise have the chance to see.

Imura Sensei has an imposing presence and he amazed students with his take on press-ups. Kobayashi Sensei linked a superb basics and kumite lesson with Gojushho Sho kata. Sawada Sensei has a wealth of knowledge and his classes have always been informative so it was great to see him back. Shiina Sensei is incredibly fast and strong and people always leave her sessions with a smile on their faces. And with Ohta Sensei, you’re looking at a technical masterclass every time.

So, plan your diary ahead and attend as possible in order to experience all that these world class instructors have to offer.

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News Special Club Sessions & Kyu Gradings

Club Training & Grading, March 2018

Ohta Sensei delivered a great session for us this quarter. Everything starts from basics so it was reassuring to spend so much time on the fundamentals. Twisting, turning, preparing… twisting and squeezing as a part of preparation, and how to turn on which part of the foot at a particular point. These aren’t necessarily the things you focus on as a beginner because at that stage it is more the overall impression that you cultivate but from brown belt level and especially for black belts, it becomes increasingly important to refine your technique.

Sensei’s explanation of kiba dachi and his exercise was interesting. Sometimes putting across the information in a slightly different way can make more sense to an individual. Kokutsu dachi, too – are you turning on the correct part of the foot, controlling your weight distribution and using your muscles effectively?

Well done to everybody on passing their grading! We’re open as usual over Easter so looking forward to seeing you training!

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Articles News Outside The Dojo

Karate Club Video Premier

Watching our new club promo together on the small screen at the big screen before it goes live. But how did the popcorn go from being ‘on the club’, to being all over the floor? Never mind, it was a fun thing to do!

Many thanks to all the staff at Odeon Cinema Swiss Cottage for being so welcoming and taking such good care of us. The newly refurbished IMAX screen will open in two weeks time – can’t wait!

And here it for those who couldn’t make it to training on Saturday:

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News Special Club Sessions & Kyu Gradings

9th Anniversary of Shiranamikai

Welcome back to the dojo!

6th January saw our first karate session of 2018 but it was also the 9th anniversary of Shiranamikai! Needless to say we had a gentle (not gentle) re-entry to training followed by some light snacks and cake to celebrate our club’s birthday. Of course, there was lots of fruit, too! Oh, and fresh sushi!

Here’s looking forward to another great year of training… training and eating…

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