IJKA website
Yes! IJKA website finally renewed and working. You can visit it here.
Coconut breaking fail
It’s even hurt to watch 
What he trying to break? Coconuts, hand or metal bar?
Hangetsu by Sadashige Kato
Action takes place in Tallinn, Estonia, march of 2009.
IJKA christmass course
Gashuku
As I promised, I’m going to tell about JKA Norway gashuku which took place in Bergen at 26-29 of November. I can only say positive things about this event. As far as I could understand (my Norwegian is still far away from perfect) there are about 650 participants, and if we count all the spectators, then there are at least a thousand of people in the hall at the same time every day… Of course, so many people in one place a bit depressing, especially when you required focus, and inner concentration. However, all this have been compensated by good instructors, and perfect organization.
I really enjoyed that all karatekas were divided into different groups: second dan and above; first dan; brown belts, and so on in descending order, and the availability of instructors. For example, on many seminars, where I had the privilege to participate, very often you have to perform the same exercises as white or yellow belts, and only the second training session was dedicated exclusively for brown and black belts. Yeah, yeah… I know that sometimes it is good to return to basics, but when in front of you such a great Master, and you have so little time you must concentrate on what suits your level.
Gashuku photoalbum
Each 1,5 hours training session were taught by different instructors, what made training process absolutely different, and not boring at all. However, the number of instructors were not infinite, so there was constantly repeated circle. All Japanese instructors were very good (and Norwegian of course too), as usual, especially Sensei Ogata Koji. I honestly was struck by his level of performance: speed and power in its pure form. “Made of stone”, as he was called by Sensei Okuma Koichiro, “but even I have a chance against him, sometimes. Thats why you have to practice more! Relax your shoulders, and remember that your strength is in your hips!”.
Classes were held in “power saving” regime. There was no exhausting, endless kihon, for example, after which you literally lays down breathless. They gave enough rest between exercises, filling pauses with explanations of mistakes, and fundamental principles. Due to this I always had enough stamina to maintain high pace of training.
I’ve got a great charge of positive energy; a clear direction for my future advancement; got an excellent opportunity to fix some mistakes, and compare my level with others 2-3 degree black belts. Keep the good work
P.S. Almost forgot! This Friday, December 4th, I’m going to England, to visit Sadashige’s Kato black belt course in Whitchurch dojo 
Ogata sensei & Okuma sensei demonstration
I filmed it today at JKA Norway autumn gashuku in Bergen. Just enjoy watching it. Have no time and strength to write something more. Today will be the final day of four days gashuku. Three hours of everyday training, plus almost 120 km of driving every day… Thats too much I can say
I will make a longer post about this gashuku in following days, just give me some time to relax…
Bassai Dai by Sadashige Kato
Bassai Dai is demonstraited and explained by Sadashige Kato, 9th dan shotokan karate.
About black belt
There are two types of black belts (I’m talking about the real belts, not the persons who owns a black belt) – the original ones, and fake. There is nothing to say about the fake belts, except that they can paint your gi, they usually are made in local garment factories without keeping any technologies. The original belts are differs from the fake ones as a heaven and hell. Unlike the fake belts, the original ones (for example Shureido, Meijin, etc.) doesn’t leave any marks on your gi, retain shape and… they are getting older.
Above is the picture of my current Shureido belt, which is 1,5 years old. As you can see it’s already weared a little bit, and in few ears you are not going to recognize it at all. I think it will take about ten years for a belt to become a complete “rag”. Of course belts from different manufacturers are not the same, but final is the same. And this is cool to be honest. The black belt is like a symbol of progress – the more you practice, the more it rubs off.
To be honest, I do not know why the belts are made by such technology – white material inside and black on top (if someone knows the truth, let me know). For those who familiar with eastern philosophy, what I’m going to say won’t sounds strange, but i think that black belt, which gradually reverts back to white, may symbolize a return to basics. In other words, the more you practice, the more often you need to return to the beginning of your path – white belt. Of course, later you just going to buy a new belt, but believe me, old one will never be thrown out
Autumn 2009, JKA gasshuku
November 26-29 in Bergen, Norway (where I live) will be held the main event of autumn 2009 – Japan Karate Association gasshuku. The event will consist of four days of intensive training, kyu and dan grading, Norway vs. England international match, demonstration by Japanese masters, and more. This event should be one of the largest in Europe with almost 700 participants.
Gasshuku will be held by: Sawada sensei, 7 Dan (Belgium); Ohta sensei, 6 Dan (England); Larsen sensei, 6 Dan (Norway); Ogata Sensei, 5-dan (Japan) Okuma Sensei, 5 Dan (Japan); Sæle Sensei, 5 Dan (Norway ).
Long story short – I go there. All the action will take place within four days, so I gonna try to make as more pictures and videos as I can. It will be my first appearence in norwegian karate community, and hopefully not last. If anybody interested in reading gasshuku flyer (norwegian), it’s here.
Sadashige Kato – Gankaku!
Gankaku demonstrated and explained by Shihan Sadashige Kato, 9th dan shotokan karate. Video was shooted at seminar in Riga, Latvia 2007.
Sochin by Sadashige Kato
Shihan Sadashige Kato, 9 dan shotokan, step-by-step explains kata sochin, breathing and bunkai. My favourite kata!
Some thoughts about karate
Recently I’ve been speaking with one colleague of mine. He had studied karate some time ago, and after he reaches the rank of yellow belt he quits training. Questioned “why?”, the answer turned out to be surprisingly ordinary, “it was really hard, and it’s nonsense, do you really think I’m going to use zenkutsu dachi or uchi uke during the street fight?”. Surprisingly, the answer did not surprise me at all! I already lost count to answers like that in my life… Instead i decided to make a little post to give some highlights on this topic.
The most important thing that good sensei (to be honest there is not much of them in the world) will never teach noone to use classic stances or blocks on the street. The main aim of kihon is to shape our bodies, learn on how to include all necessary groups of muscles in to the strikes, and therefore, exclude all unnecessary muscles from the movements. In kihon we use wide, deep stances, and high amplitude blocks, and strikes only because that if you learn to do all things quickly and strongly from wide (“uncomfortable”), and deep position, then when you are in a short stances it is very easy to make fast, and natural movements. Kihon, not intended for self-defense or anything else at all – it’s just an exercise, which prepares us for kumite in the future, but with strong basics and strikes fast as lightning.
Something like that:)
Black belt course
5-6 of december I’m going to IJKA honbu dojo (Whitchurch dojo). It’s already third attempt to get there. Previous attempts failed because of different sort of troubles or lack of money 
But now everything is set, and tickets already in my pocket! Yes!!!
It’s gonna be my tenth training course with highly respected Shihan Sadashige Kato. Hope it will be as informative and usefull as every previous courses. From now on I’m planning to visit each black belt cource in Whitchurch.
