I attended my first instructors' training session at the main JKA dojo in Phoenix yesterday. I met some great people and learned some new things about karate. For example, I was asked to perform a kata that I liked and I chose Jitte. My habit from Chicago days is to lock down on each technique and exhale loudly. Hhh-ut, contract core, show good kime.
In this region, the emphasis is on more subtle breathing, through the nose rather than the mouth. Not sure which is better right now, but I think it is possible to execute powerful kime using either breathing techniques. I must research this more.
I also learned that there is a kata review session at the main dojo every Saturday morning from 9 to 11am. They go through all 26 shotokan katas! That is great! I will definitely take advantage of this opportunity at least once a month.
I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Shojiro Koyama, a most remarkable man. He is a gold mine of information on karate and how to teach karate, and he is a true leader in the sense that he brings out a desire to be your best. At one point in the proceedings, he said, "My karate training is my happiness."
What a great thing to say.
No comments:
Post a Comment