Newark Shotokan Training and Kyu-Grading

11th July 2010

A training and grading course  was held at the Grove Leisure Centre, Balderton, Newark, on Sunday 11th July conducted by Sensei Ohta (7th dan, Chief Instructor, Japan Karate Association England).

People started arriving at 10 o’clock, some having travelled from Lincoln, South Lincolnshire, the other side of Nottinghamshire, and from as far away as Sheffield. All in all the best part of 200 students trained. There was a prompt 11 o’clock start for the green belt – black belt session. The pace of the warm-up session, taken by Craig from Newark, set the tone for the day. It was a warm day, a full hall, and as expected, Sensei Ohta made it look so easy that some of the onlookers thought we were in for an easy time. Except I can assure you I’ve not sweated like this for a long time! The pace set by Sensei Ohta was steady but continuous. Basics, drills, followed by katas which included Heian Yondan, Heian Godan, Tekki Shodan.  A number of senior black belts then supervised the kyu grades in kata while Sensei Ohta instructed the brown and black belts in Bassai Dai and Jion. The uninitiated amongst us looked at the clock with a sigh of relief as it approached 12.30 but, true to form, Sensei Ohta gave us all another twenty minutes! Those die-hards amongst us loved every extra minute while some stared open mouthed as the minutes ticked by. The end.

But no! This was followed by another hour and half for the white – yellow belts and any brown and black belts still standing. This session consisted of basic techniques being built up from scratch to Kihon kata, through to Heian Shodan, Heian Nidan, and Heian Sandan, with mae geri and yoko geri thrown in for good measure. Again, a number of senior black belts were detailed to supervise the lower katas while the brown and black belts practised applications of Heian Sandan.

With this session finishing, everybody had a few moments’ respite before the serious stuff of the day began, parents taking their seats nervously to watch the gradings. Grading commenced at 3 pm, with 110 students taking their grading. It is obvious to both students and parents alike that the gradings are definitely not getting any easier! There are always refined techniques to incorporate into your performance, be it kihon, kumite, or kata. At the end of the grading, the students receive their results along with relevant pointers made by Sensei Ohta which, if you’ve got any sense, you will focus on for your next grading, as Sensei Ohta I am sure has a photographic memory, and can remember every single thing he says to a student.

B y 5.30 we were all packing up and heading off home in time to watch the World Cup Final. (and the recorded Formula One for me).

Congratulations to all those who successfully passed their gradings. Looking forward already to our next kyu-grading in November.

By Mick Lowe