Sochin continued...

From my instructor, Kato Sensei (9th Dan IJKA).

Osu

Clay Pigeon Shooting, Apples and Karate

On my post regarding Sensei Kagawa's course I mentioned clay pigeon shooting and apples. I then, rather inconsiderately, forgot to explain what I meant by such nonsense. 'What has our feathered friend or a certain stalked fruit got to do with the magnificent and glorious world of Shotokan karate!' Patience, I know you are desperate for the answers, and so I shall refute from withholding the answer for any longer. I shall now, only for you, reveal the mystical and ancient wisdom of the Orient.



To shoot a pigeon of the clay variety would be incredibly easy. You simply wait for it to land on the ground and then you would blast it to bits! Of course, although easy, this is unrealistic and would not aid you should you find yourself in a desperate situation where you must, with a rifle, defend yourself against the imminent attack of a particularly vicious pigeon which is after your hard earned chips, presumably. Now, although the analogy has some flaws the basic principle holds. To hit a clay pigeon, as you would a real one, you must try and strike the filthy animal down whilst it is flying through the air. It is a slippery customer and never holds still for too long. Why train with your opponent still and your technique inflexible. You must train to adjust, react and anticipate your opponents movements. He will not be in the place he was when you started your attack!



'I get the pigeon analogy you good looking and extremely gifted black belt but I ask you, what have I got to fear from a juicy apple.' Apples are very acidic and will rot your teeth if you eat too many, no matter what grade you are, so always approach with care. Of course, Sensei Kagawa is not all that interested in your dentistry, unless he plans to make some room in your oral orifice, 'so why would he discuss apples during a karate course' I hear you ask. Think of an apple, any apple...? Got it? Ok, what colour is it? Does it have a sticker? A stalk? Is it on a table or suspended in mid-air? What colour is the background for this apple? Is it half eaten? Half rotten? My apple will not, ever, be the same as your apple. Apart from being twice as big, my apple could be so different from yours even though they are both apples. One persons karate will not be the same as another persons. Certain things must be in order for it to be shotokan karate but they will differ, from one individual to another. Accept it and move on. Don't try and make your students a carbon copy of yourself.

St Katowski???

There is only one man in the uk, no make that the world, who would open a dojo in a church!

Osu Sensei!

Whitchurch dojo

Sochin

I will soon be travelling to Surrey to compete in the Shobu Ippon Shotokan International open. My chosen kata, if I get that far, will be Sochin. It is an imensely powerful, strong and intense conditioning kata. It makes the performer feel rooted, like an imovable object, as they face their opponants with devestating Tetsui strikes and hidden throws. Kagawa Sensei is an expert of this kata and Tsuchiya Sensei shows the modern strength of karate (look how fast his punches are!) I think I'm going to have to get in some serious practice before the competition next month.