EKK

Friday 29th January 2010

The Yudansha class at England Karate Kan (Association) had the immense privilege of being trained by one of the world’s highest ranking female karate masters, Sensei Mitsuoka, 7th Dan, on 29th January.

Sensei Mitsuoka, who has over forty years of experience in karate, is a former World Champion and an incredibly successful Instructor.

The class began promptly as Sensei Mitsuoka appreciates discipline in the dojo and expects this ethos to be carried through in all ranks of karate-ka. The warm up, consisting of stretching and Karate basics and given at a grueling pace, developed into hard and fast kihon. Sensei Mitsuoka observed the class throughout and gave insightful feedback from her many years of experience in karate.

After kyukei (break), Sensei Mitsuoka split the class into pairs to work on attack and defense techniques, demonstrating as she did so to explain the theory and application of the technique. Lastly, Sensei spent some time revising the basic kata, working in combinations and then without command. Sensei Mitsuoka ended traditionally, in seiza (kneeling) and reciting the dojo kun.

Having graded on the Gasshuku in July, and after receiving certification of their black belt gradings at the Black Belt Presentation Evening earlier this month, Charlotte Bowie, Abigail Jenkins, Natasha Nussbaum and Claire Read had the additional pleasure of being presented with their kanji black belts by Sensei Mitsuoka immediately after the class.

This weekend also saw the first of seven black belt courses ran annually by Sensei Enzo to prepare the Dan graders for the forthcoming Gasshuku. The course, held at the Green Lane dojo, was grounded in traditional karate and consisted of kihon, pairs and kata. The next black belt course is currently scheduled for the 20th February and will be held at the Green Lane Dojo.

After the first successful black belt course of 2010, and a truly inspirational session with Sensei Mitsuoka, Sensei Enzo reported; I am very satisfied the way this year has began, I would like to thank Sensei Mitsouka for accepiting this invitation, and a well done to the senior grades for attending the Yudansha class and the black belt course.

See you all in class

Sayonara and Arigatou Gozaimashita!!!!!!!!!!!