Another Great Workout!!

Thanks, Sensei Jason, for leading an excellent workout last night! It was great to see so many people out and having fun.

In between classes, take some time to go over the basics that we have been drilling in class recently. Stand in “kiba-dachi” and throw some “tsukis” to the various points on the body. F0llow that by working through your blocks: age uke (rising block), udi uke (inside forearm block), soto uke (outside forearm block), and gedan barai (low block). Then, to shake things up a little, try moving across your kitchen floor in “zenkutso dachi” throwing a punch with each step. Add a little spice with a strong “kiai” to get your family’s attention. Practice can be fun!!

GREAT first day!!

What a great way to start the new 2011/12 Karate Season!

It was awesome to see so many new faces! And it was great to see the familiar faces of last year, too! Everyone worked really hard and “kicked” the season off with a bang!

Great job, everyone! See you next week!

Great Turnout!

What a great turnout at our registration night! It looks like it will be another excellent year at the dojo!

Regular classes begin next week. Just for Kicks at 6:30 and the Jr/Adult class beginning at 7:30. We will also be taking orders for anyone wanting a new gi or gi bag during the first few classes and will have a fall order going in soon.

See you Tuesday!!

REGISTRATION NIGHT!!

Moose Mountain Wado Kai Karate Club Registration Night:

WHEN: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 FROM 6:30 TO 7:30.

WHERE: CARLYLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GYM – Use North-East Gym Entrance

WHO: ALL CHILDREN AND ADULTS AGE 5 AND UP.

COST:

• “Just For Kicks” (aged 5, 6, &  7) is $75.00/session

• Students under 16 $90.00/session

• Students/adults 16 and  over $110.00/session

• Family rate is $140.00/session

REGULAR CLASSES BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 20.                                                          Just for Kicks – 6:30 pm                        Jr./Adult Class – 7:30 pm

Download Registration Form

Pre-Registration Information

WOW! Great Workout!

What a great workout on Friday night in Boissevain.

As always, the host dojo, Synthesis Karate, was well organized and gracious. The National Team was well cared for.

There were 8 or 10 guests at the workout, Sempai Kevin being the only karateka from Saskatchewan in attendance, along with the 12 or so members of the team and Sensei Ron Mattie, coach and Chief Instructor for SWKKF.

The workout started in full pads with line kumite where everyone circulated through the team members and Sensei Mattie… Twice! What a warm up! From there it was pads off and into working sequences of attack and defense against an imagined opponent. After a number of these “solo” drills, the workout moved into “two-step” with partners and ran the same drills together.

The drills were intricate and intense with Sensei Mattie not compromising the team’s workout to accommodate the guest participants. All of the team Senseis were very helpful during the kumite and drills by giving many individual tips and much feedback to help the kyu belts improve. Following the workout, even many of the team members were hobbling out of the dojo with sore feet and legs!

Perhaps the best line of the night came from Sensei Jeff Gervin (Godan) when he said, “Of all the things I’ve lost, I miss the skin off my feet the most!”

Thank you to Sensei Jeff and the members of Synthesis Karate in Boissevain for hosting the team and providing the opportunity for a great experience!

Enhancing Awareness Through Zanshin

In order to avoid or effectively manage interpersonal conflict (including potential violent assaults on your person), it is helpful to develop zanshin, the ability to live fully in each moment so you may be always aware of your environment. Zanshin is the ability to concentrate fully when necessary, ignor-ing all distractions.

Developing Zanshin Through Martial Arts Training:

Focused and consistent training will:

  • Improve your self-defence potential when you train hard with total concentration
  • Improve your awareness of your genuine skills and limitations: martial arts abilities, age, health, etc.
  • Program automatic useful physical responses to danger into your system
  • Reduce the panic tendency through the rehearsal of violent scenarios
  • Generally toughens the mind, spirit and body

Otsuka Sensei on Zanshin…

Sensei Otsuka on Zanshin:

No matter how skilled one is in the martial arts, he will find himself unprepared if encountered off-guard. Preparation of one’s mind is necessary at all times. Not to the extent of paranoia; but as a course of habit – Hironori Otsuka

This can also be found on our Words of Wisdom page.

What is Zanshin?

Wikipedia defines Zanshin this way: “Zanshin (Japanese: 残心) is a term used in the Japanese martial arts. It refers to a state of awareness – of relaxed alertness. In karatezanshin is the state of total awareness.[6] It means being aware of one’s surroundings and enemies, while being prepared to react.

Zanshin is a critical component of martial arts training; especially when it comes to self-defense.

Over the next few weeks we will be sharing an article written by Sensei Morgan Duchesney called “Martial Arts and Personal Security”.