Happy new year everyone.
Term 1, 2024 starts on January 22 with a new day for Harrisville.
Here’s the new timetable of classes.
Monday: 4:30-5:30pm
Harrisville School of Arts
All ages 7+
Followed by kobudo (weapons) and advanced kata training.
Wednesday: 10-11am
Ipswich Girl Guides Hut
All ages 7+
Followed by kobudo (weapons) and advanced kata training.
Saturday: 2-3pm
Ipswich Private Dojo
Advanced class age 15+
Kata is often said to be the essence of Karate, but why is it so important?
Kata is a solo practice tool that you can do anywhere, any time with any amount of space. I’ve previously demonstrated Pinan Shodan in just 1 square meter. You can adapt them as required or train small parts. Practice for one minute or one hour.
Repetition of kata develops and strengthens neural pathways (often referred to as “muscle memory”) so that you can effectively employ your techniques instinctively in an emergency.
Kata can be practiced with emphasis on different elements such as, speed, balance, power, timing and flow, ultimately combining all together.
Kata allows us to visualize the use of self-defence techniques against an opponent to understand how the movements work.
Prolonged kata training with the intent to improve develops mental focus and encourages you to find your inner strength.
Memorizing kata gives you a built in encyclopedia of the vast range of Karate techniques and principles.
Kata is art, providing a means of self expression. No two people person any kata exactly the same. It can be very personal.
We could practice the individual movements of each kata on its own and they could be effective, but kata shows us how techniques connect and how to adapt when something doesn’t work. The more you practice kata, the more you will see these connections. The first step is learning the kata so that you can then turn to improving specific aspects. Learning a kata comes down to observation and practice. And practice.
And practice.
5 Years of Enso Karate
Term 4 starts this week and this marks 5 years of Enso Karate. With the intention of providing martial arts in an inclusive, adaptive and welcoming environment, Enso Karate was formed in October 2018. The school continues to grow and evolve with several members recently achieving brown belt, the introduction of kobudo weapons, and my continual experimentation to improve teaching and methods of progression for students.
It is the dedication of members that keeps a martial arts school alive. Those who turn up to train every week, giving their time and effort to improve themselves and of course the people who get students to class and support the school. Over the years I have seen many students grow and become more confident, developing as martial artists and I look forward to seeing them continue for many years more.
Thanks to everyone involved with Enso Karate.
I’ve created a new t-shirt design to celebrate. It’s available on Redbubble as shirts, stickers and more.
https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/Enso-Karate-5-by-leifleif/152445848.IJ6L0
Term 4 starts next week.
Wed Oct 4 – Ipswich 10-11am
Thu Oct 5 – Harrisville 4:30-5:30pm
Sat Oct 7 – Ipswich 2-3pm (private dojo, message for details)
Strive to be better than yourself.
Don’t train to beat someone or to win a medal or to earn a belt.
Train to be better than you were yesterday. You can only be the best version of yourself. Don’t try to be better than someone else.
When you train, have the intention to improve some aspect of yourself. Improve this stance or do one more push-up. Improve your mental focus or breathing.
Improve your attitude to training and you will improve.
With this view of training you will find benefits in your whole life.
Ipswich members, this Wednesday 26/7/23, our class will be held outdoors at the Girl Guides hall as inside will be inaccessible. Closed shoes are recommended to avoid injury from rocks etc.
9 new videos added to YouTube.
Includes kata, kobudo kihon (weapon basics) and kobudo kata.
Term 3 starts July 12 Ipswich and July 13 Harrisville.
For those that paid for term 2 in full, discounts apply to term 3 fees due to my absence on several occasions.
Ipswich members take 10% off for one missed class and Harrisville members take 30% off for three missed classes.
Enso Karate 