For the next 10 days, you get to come along, virtually, on my journey of Shotokan Training. Out of the blue, I've come upon the... opportunity... to work from Winnipeg for the next week-and-a-half - and, while I'm here, I'm going to take advantage of some intensive Shotokan karate training at the headquaters Dojo for Western Canada.
Here's some of my karate training goals as I start off the week:
Monday evening. After a seemingly endless 6 hour drive from Atikokan to Winnipeg, I was treated to a special evening training session with Sensei Don DeGrow, a Shotokan Yondan, and my Sister Jill, who is a Shodan. This is the monday of a long-weekend, and there wasn't a normal karate class scheduled. We started off at the beginning and practiced each of the Heian Kata, then the three Tekki Katas. I noticed a small change in Tekki Sandan - I'll have to review the videos to verify.
As we started our review of the senior kata, we practiced them in groups. Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Empi and Jion are needed for someone testing for Shodan. I found that I recalled Gankaku, Jutte, and Hengetsu - but I was a bit rusty at them, and had to watch Don and Jill in a few parts. After a few more repetitions I'll be able to start asking about practicing applications.
Next we reviewed Sochin, Bassai Sho and Chinte. I could follow along for these, but they were distictly more rusty, and will require more than just a couple times through each kata to get them back in my repetoure. Kanku Sho and Nijushiho are at about the same level of disrepair.
Unsu and Gojushiho Sho were another step down in proficiancy for me.
We practiced Junro Shodan 6 or 7 times and I'm starting to recall the first 10 moves or so before I get lost... I'll have it by the end of tomorrow.
I only did a short introduction to the stretching routine Alanna has been working our club through. I'll need to write out a short list of the static-active stretching routine so I keep to the schedule of long periods of relaxed stretching after each training session over the next 10 days.
Through the week I'll need to find an instructor to help me learn Meikyo, Wankan and Jiin from scratch - but I'll leave them for a couple days.
Following the extra training Don gave us, Jill and I were invited to his home for dinner. An oriental influence is evident in the decor and garden of their delightful and cosy home.
In order to re-inforce all the kata information Sensei Don reviewed with us, I'm going to take a few moments to stretch and watch some of the Shotokan Kata Videos.
