Shihan S. Kato, 9th Dan IJKA world chief instructor. More photos have been added to the gallery page.The 2011 IJKA Ireland summer camp took place on Clonea Strand, Co. Waterford last weekend and was well attended by Karateka from across the country and the UK. Eleven members of our dojo made the trip down to train, including several who were training with Kato Sensei for the first time (well done to Saidbh and Geraldine for doing us proud!). The course was taught primarily by Shihan (master) Sadashige Kato, 9th dan and world IJKA head instructor but Sensei Milena Galabova of IJKA Bulgaria and Sensei Brian Toomey of IJKA Ireland also taught various groups and sessions over the weekend. The course focused heavily on the Bujutsu (martial art, as opposed to sport) Karate that the IJKA was founded to promote – with lots of focus on kata bunkai (applications) and Kato Sensei teaching and testing people's understanding of bunkai as he taught the various kata – something all too rare in Karate today. Saturday started out with lots of kihon training which focused on using the hips in different ways to generate power in kihon techniques. We moved onto some basic (but very strenuous!) kumite combinations which had sand flying everywhere and left everyone exhausted, after which we took a break to go running and swimming on the beach in the sun.
Later on the first two wheelchair Karate kata were taught and dissected in lots of detail. Wheelchair Karate was developed by Asai Sensei in an effort to help make Karate even more inclusive of as many people as possible, and continues to be promoted by the IJKA around the world today. Sunday morning saw the instructors training take place, which once again focused on kata and applications – this time of the more advanced Gankaku and Gojushiho sho. Sensei taught some fantastic joint locks, arm bars and throws and tested the more senior black belts understanding of the katas. The all-grades session then had the colour belts partnered with black belts in order to explore different footwork and timing strategies, as well as lots and lots more. A huge congratulations to Sensei Ross Daly and Sensei Joe Hunter who graded for third and fourth dan respectively during the course. It is great to see Irish Karateka being graded for such high ranks under such a highly regarded master. All in all, a great weekend of world class training and tuition and splashing about in the sea! Well done and thanks to Ciarán and Shubukan Dungarvan on a very well run and enjoyable course. We’re already looking forward to next year! :-) OSU!
Ben.
