Shiranamikai members participated in the JKA England National Karate Championship at the weekend. Well done to everyone who took part, especially those who competed in a karate competition for the first time, and thank you to parents for their support during the day (and photos!). Results as follows…
Ella: Bronze in Kumite 🥉 Ariana: Bronze in Kumite 🥉 Blanche: Gold in Kata, Gold in Kumite 🥇🥇 Lara: Bronze in Kumite 🥉 Jacqueline: Silver in Kumite 🥈 Alex: Silver in Kata 🥈 Austin: Gold in Kata 🥇
Congratulations!
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This was a great result so it was nice to relax and catch up over dinner after our regular training session a few days afterwards!
Shiranamikai students enjoyed a special training session with Japan Karate Association England Chief Instructor, Ohta Yoshinobu 7th Dan, this March.
Fundamentals of blocking and counter attacks using hands, elbows and feet underpinned the session while targeting and distance work, timing and shifting was a key focus of partnerwork. Having utilising the three main Shotokan stances of zenkutsu, kokutsu and kiba dachi throughout the lesson, it was fitting that we finished the session with the kata Jion.
Well done to everyone on passing their grading, especially our younger attendees for trying their best.
Instructors, Hirayama Yuko 7th Dan and Igarashi Tatsuro 3rd Dan from the JKA Tokyo Sohonbu, joined Ohta Yoshinobu 7th Dan for this year’s JKAEngland Winter Gasshuku.
Hirayama Sensei created a buzz with her encouraging lesson delivery and positive, yet demanding, teaching style. She is now well known to students in the UK after several visits. Igarashi Sensei challenged participants with calisthenic exercises combined with karate technique, designed to increase speed and power in delivery.
A black belt dan grading was held the final day of the course. Congratulations to Chantelle on passing her 1st Dan. Well done!
Receiving her JKA 1st Dan certificate signed by Ueki Masaaki, Shuseki Shihan.
Shiranamikai students had a great training session with Ohta Sensei this September. Lots of fundamentals; lots of partner work! It’s amazing where the time goes when training is this good, and so enjoyable!
We enjoyed a session with our association’s chief instructor this month. Through kihon waza and ippon kumite, the emphasis was on muscle elasticity, release of tension and quick reactivation. Katas studied were Heian Sandan, Godan and Tekki, each featuring kiba dachi and drawing from the basics and partner exercises.
At Shiranamikai, we have a ‘training first’ core principle. While competitions offer up an exciting challenge alongside other clubs, gradings are a way in which to assess an individual’s development. Underpinning this is regular, consistent, training and practice for which there is no substitute.
Congratulations to everyone who graded on this occasion.
After a 3-year hiatus, Shiranamikai members were once again able to participate in the JKA England National Championship alongside more than 300 other competitors.
Well done to everyone who put themselves forward – there were strong performances throughout the day in some highly competitive events. No doubt everyone has emerged as a stronger character and better karateka.
Shiranamikai results Alistair: Silver Kumite 🥈 Louis: Bronze Kumite 🥉 Lennon: Gold Kata 🥇 Gold Kumite 🥇 Ariana: Silver Kata 🥈 Silver Kumite 🥈 Lara: 4th Kata, Bronze Kumite 🥉 Chantelle: Silver Kata 🥈 Austin: Silver Kata 🥈 Alex: 4th Kata Shiranami M (Shohei, Dennis, Jacqueline): 4th Team Kata
Thanks to family members for taking the time to come and offer your support, and those who assisted on the day. Also to all the JKA officials for organising such a large scale event, and managing the matches so well on the day. We appreciate all your hard work.
If you missed it this time, keep 29th October free for the Shotokan Open Championship!
Spring 2022, and England is hosting the first JKA international training course in three years. Instructors, Sawada Kazuhiro 8th Dan from JKA Belgium, Imamura Tomio 8th Dan and Shimizu Ryosuke 6th Dan from the Tokyo Sohonbu, join Ohta Yoshinobu 7th Dan for this long overdue gasshuku weekend.
A respectable contingent of our karateka neighbours are present, including from Scotland, Norway, Portugal, and Germany, all keen to participate and absorb the experience that these instructors have to offer… Sawada Sensei gives detailed explanations underlined with profound historic references, and uses physical proxies to great effect throughout his partner drills. Imamura Sensei expands upon uchi uke in basic partner work with makiotoshi making for interesting, if challenging, techniques. Shimizu Sensei demonstrates speed, power, and flexibility, leaving no doubt as to why he made such a formidable kumite competitor in the past. But what may have surprised is his exeptional form throughout katas Gankaku and Gojushiho Sho, with dynamic movement and slick direction changes. But that’s what the JKA does best: apportion equal time to kihon, kata and kumite, and where one finds a deficit, they strive to make improvements.
There was a lot to get through. The first 90 minutes of each day would be given over to kihon and kumite, followed by another 90 minutes being reserved for kata, bunkai, and instructor training. A friendly kumite match took place on Saturday, alongside a kyu grading, instructor theory, and referee practical. Sunday saw a dan grading followed by instructor practical exams.
So, a busy weekend with little time for much else. But this was a fantastic course taught by some of the most respected instructors in the world. And it was so good to finally catch up with karate friends after so long.
Congratulations to Alex on passing his 4th Dan! It’s an incredible achievement, and the culmination of 20 years of dedicated training.
Update: It was announced late-May 2022 that Sawada Sensei has been awarded 8th Dan by the JKA Shihankai. A just recognition for a great instructor who has dedicated his life to karate. Read more about Sawada Sensei on his academy’s site…
A great session with Ohta Sensei, our association’s Chief Instructor this March. We had a warm up and grading for our younger members followed by training for all. After a short break, senior grade students studied katas Bassai Dai and Jion before the main exam.
Our association’s Chief Instructor, Ohta Sensei, delivered a special class for Shiranamikai students at the end of 2020.
Adults just missed out on being able to attend in person due to increased tier restrictions that came into force in England on the day. But with Sensei’s keen eye, there was nowhere to hide, even when at an online height of just 10cm!
Top session with our Association’s Chief Instructor, Ohta Sensei, this week. Kyu grades received special guidance on their katas while brown & black belts were kept busy working through an exhaustive set of kicking and kumite drills!
Congratulations to everyone on passing their grading!
