[Blog] Practice sessions where the participants felt new discoveries and growth.

-Feedback on the 6th morning practice session and Kata practice session-

日本語

At the 6th morning practice session and Kata practice session on Saturday 15 March, all participants had a valuable time of new discoveries and growth. Under Naka Sensei's careful guidance, they learnt from each other how to use their bodies and the depth of Kata, and were able to inspire each other in the fresh morning air.

Here are some comments from the participants.

Ms H (Female)

I was taught how to use my body and which body parts to be aware of, and I said to myself, ‘How can just this make such a difference?’

I was so surprised! It was like a book of secrets.

I was worried about whether I would be able to participate in the “morning practice” after only a month and a half of karate, but I am really glad I did. Karate has become even more enjoyable for me!

I was repeatedly advised that my punching arm would drift forward, but I could feel that the weight of the hip joint of the back leg was coming off in comparison with the backward reverse punch.

I was only conscious of the forward movement and punching hand.

I will continue to do my best in self-discipline!

Ms M (Female)

Today's training was attended by many people I didn't know, and even though it was a basic training session, the majority were black belts and I thought everyone was really enthusiastic.

I asked two white belts who joined Taishijuku on the way home why they joined Taishijuku.

One of them had seen Naka Sensei on Youtube and wanted to learn, and the other wanted to learn something with the word ‘Do’ (like Aikido) and searched for Karate on the internet. Naka Sensei's name came up a lot when she searched for Karate on the internet.

The morning practice sessions are small, so I appreciate being able to listen to Naka Sensei's explanations of the secrets of karate in close proximity to him.
In fact, it is difficult for me to distinguish between the use of external and internal rotation, but it is always interesting to learn the results of Naka Sensei's research.

Also, I did not feel cramped at all for the number of people in today's practice, as it was a practice without much movement.
I also enjoyed today's practice.

Thank you very much.

Ms I (Female)

There were many difficult exercises in this training for me, as I have difficulty in interlocking my body, but I will review them so that I can master even one of the things I was taught.

It was also fresh for me to be able to practise with other practitioners who I do not usually meet, and seeing them working so hard motivated me to do my best.

I will participate again next time I have the chance.

Thank you very much.

Mr A (male)

I participated in a kata training session for the first time.

The kata of the day was ‘ Nijushiho’.

From the beginning to the end of the practice, we had the luxury of being carefully taught by Naka sensei about detailed movements, applications and in-depth use of the body.
I found out that I had been practising my own interpretation of this kata and it was a very useful training session for me.
I am glad I participated.

In addition, practising in the morning is very refreshing, and because we started early, the day was long and I felt like I gained a lot.
I would like to participate again if I have the chance.

Thank you very much.

Oss.

K (Male)

Personally, I thought it was wonderful that we were taught in detail about body mechanics again without moving, including “Shizentai(natural body)”.


I also wondered if the rhythm and structure of “Jion” could be used in this way in the “Aguke-Gyakuzuki” experiment, and many other things that I had not felt in the past came up.

I enjoyed it very much because I felt that my understanding deepened and my questions expanded.

Mr K (Male)

It was very gratifying and meaningful to be able to practise in the fresh morning air and to be able to ask questions directly to Naka sensei on the finer points of kata!

Mr I (male)

The class was full of content, with explanations of each movement and breakdown, confirmation in pairs, repetitions in sections and repetitions throughout the whole kata, making the hour fly by.

We were given detailed explanations of how to use our bodies, but when I actually did it there were a lot of things I could not be aware of (especially when doing it fast), which made me realise how difficult and deep karate is.

Naka Sensei said “If we were to practice including applications, we would need an hour and a half”, but as a recipient, I would like to have two to three hours of practice.

The training was rich in content.

I will not forget what was taught and what was pointed out to me individually, and I will make use of it in my future practice.

Mr S (Male)

Thank you very much for allowing me to participate in the kata training.

I learned a lot and the hour passed very quickly.

I particularly liked the way Naka Sensei explained the detailed movements of the kata and how to use the techniques in the kata in a very easy-to-understand way, based on his own experience.

Also, because of the small group training, Naka Sensei was able to give us individual advice such as ‘this is better’, which I felt was very valuable for improving my own techniques.

I would definitely like to participate again if there is a training session that includes a breakdown of one kata and the actual techniques.

Ms K (Female)

I spent a week looking forward to attending this session after I applied.

I felt a bit nervous practising at the Soshikan Dojo, as it is a different place and with different members than usual.

The kata this time was “Nijushiho”, a very difficult kata, and I listened carefully to Naka Sensei's explanations, watched his movements and concentrated on my own movements in order to take as much of it as possible into me.

I also observed the other participants' movements with admiration.

The hour flew by.

I went home with the usual feelings that it was still difficult and that it didn't go well, but I think this feeling of indigestion is what motivates me to go on to the next one.

I will continue to do my best so that I can make use of what I have learnt, even if only a little, in the next training session.

I am looking forward to the next kata practice session.

Mr T (male)

On 15 March, I participated in the morning practice at Soshikan Dojo for the first time.

This time, Naka Sensei taught me a kata called “Nijushiho”, which is characterised by soft movements and has a slightly different atmosphere from other kata.

I was very excited to learn this kata because Naka Sensei had demonstrated it in China on the YouTube channel ‘Kuro-obi world'.

I memorised the order of the kata and then went to the day of the training.

I was not aware of it at all when I was learning the kata, but as Naka Sensei instructed me, I was surprised to learn that each detailed movement had a clear meaning and was very deep and precise.

Also, at first glance, this kata looks different from other kata, but it contains elements that we have been practising as basics, such as the movement of punching after a side kick from ‘Kiba-dachi’ and the Mobius circle in the movement of receiving and throwing a kick.

In this sense, I strongly felt that kata does not exist independently of the basics, but that basic practice and kata are connected, that the end of one technique is the beginning of the next, and that we practise this through kata.

It became clear to me that this is what it means to practise with kata, rather than practising kata.

Furthermore, through the application of kata, I was able to strongly realise that blocking of karate can also be a “Torite(catching)” and that it should be utilised to make it a truly effective technique.

Although I would normally be in bed on a Saturday morning, getting up early and practising karate refreshed my mind and body, and I felt that I was able to work more vigorously than usual the following week.

I would definitely like to participate in the next morning practice again.

Thank you very much.

We also welcome karate practitioners from abroad to join our regular dojo training sessions.
Please contact us by email for information on training places, times and costs.

※ Our dojo is an organisation under the JKA and is not involved in any way in the management of the JKA Headquarters. We only respond to inquires regarding participation in dojo training and private lessons.

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