Author: Ash Prime

Term 3 starts July 13.

End of Term 2. Thanks to everyone for your continued support and effort. Time to rest, but not too much. Please do some practice: stretching, push-ups, kata, go for a run or ride some wheels…. We work hard to improve ourselves but it can all go away very quickly. Gichin Funakoshi once said “Karate is like boiling water; if you do not heat it constantly, it will cool.”

Harrisville grading results. 

Juniors

Nellie – white yellow

Alfie – white yellow

Will –  white yellow

Sidney – white yellow

Seniors

Ryder – yellow

Sadie – red

Ipswich grading results. 

Juniors 

Remy – white yellow

Riley – white red 

Cadence – white red 

Holly – white red 

Lillith – white red 

Madeline – white red 

Seniors

Archie – yellow

Freya- yellow

Yuki – orange

Piper – red

Mason – purple black

Ari – purple black

Congratulations to all. A great effort from everyone. Very impressed.

Thank you. 

For the final week of term 2 we will have some fun with NON-STOP INFINITE KUMITE! Every class will be almost entirely sparring. Be sure to bring your gloves and mouth guards.

It’s week 9 and time for grading!

Grading will include the following:

• Basic techniques on the pads
• Perform required kata
• Demonstrate a selection of kata applications
• Engage in kumite (sparring) with various conditions
• A good amount of push-ups!
• Presentation of certificates and belts to successful students

Tips:

• Be prepared. Be ready to start on time. Practice your kata beforehand. Know the applications. Don’t try to think of them on the spot.
• Don’t give up! If you get tired, keep going. If you make a mistake, keep going.
• Focus and effort are key. This is the time to demonstrate your best karate.

Grading is based on more than just the grading test. Overall effort and progression throughout the term is also significant.

Those who are not grading at this time, please join in to support your fellow karateka.

There will be one more week of classes after grading week before we take a break.

The purpose of practicing kata is not to perform a solo routine, but to ingrain the movements in your mind and body, and to understand the applications. With much repetition and combined with partnered application drills, the techniques of kata become instinctual and effective for self-defence.

Kata can be practiced for aesthetic, meditative or exercise purposes and these are valid reasons to do kata, but they are not the ultimate goal.

If the entire sequence of a kata is challenging to remember, simply break it into smaller sections. The whole kata is never applied in a self-defence scenario. The kata simply offers options to apply depending on the situation. Understanding each short series of movements is more important than being able to perform the entire kata as a routine.

Think of kata as an encyclopedia of self-defence. Each individual kata is a book. Each short sequence within a kata is a chapter of that book. Focus on the meaning of the chapters and eventually you will understand the book. Over time you will collect more books and your encyclopedia will expand.

Term 2 Grading

Grading application forms are due back by week 6. We are currently in week 4. 

Grading will be held in week 9, the second last week of term 2.

Harrisville – 15 June

Ipswich – 17 June

Please reach out if you have any questions. 

Grading is approaching at the end of this term. I recommend working on the required kata to ensure you are prepared. Grading is also based on effort throughout the term and general progression of individual ability.

Videos for all required kata are available on our website here:

https://ensokarate.net/videos/

Junior Grading Kata Requirements

Yellow White – Junior Kata One 

Orange White – Junior Kata One and Two

Red White – Junior Kata One, Two and Three 

Senior Grading Kata Requirements

Each colour adds a new kata. For each colour there is a solid colour belt and a black stripe belt. The black stripe requires deeper understanding of the required kata.

Yellow – Kihon Kata 

Yellow Black – Kihon Kata 

Orange – Kihon and Sanchin Kata 

Orange Black – Kihon and Sanchin Kata 

Red – Kihon, Sanchin and Tensho Kata 

Red Black – Kihon, Sanchin and Tensho Kata 

Purple – Kihon, Sanchin, Tensho and Saifa Kata 

Purple Black – Kihon, Sanchin, Tensho and Saifa Kata 

Brown – Kihon, Sanchin, Tensho, Saifa and Rohai Kata 

Brown Black – Kihon, Sanchin, Tensho, Saifa and Rohai Kata 

Black White – Kihon, Sanchin, Tensho, Saifa, Rohai and Kusanku Kata 

Black – Kihon, Sanchin, Tensho, Saifa, Rohai and Kusanku Kata

黙想
Mokuso
Silence Thought

At the beginning and end of class we sit in seiza, kneeling and take a moment to breathe, calming the mind and body. You will hear me say “mokuso”.

This serves several purposes. At the beginning of class this helps us to prepare for training, focusing the mind and letting go of external influences, things that may have happened in the day, worries and so on. Focusing on the training ahead.

At the end of class this helps us to calm the mind and body which can be tense and excited from training. Deep breaths help to calm the nervous system and slow the heart rate, returning to a peaceful state.

Practice of meditation also teaches us how to remain calm in stressful situations, whether that be general life or a physical self-defence encounter. Under pressure, we need to be able to relax to perform at our best. While we only do a very short meditation in class, it is beneficial. I encourage all to try more regular and longer practice of meditation at other times as well. It’s quite simple in theory. Just sit upright in a comfortable position, relax your body and feel your breath. You may like to close your eyes or just look at something not too distracting. That’s it. When you notice you are thinking (you will be) try again to just feel your breath or notice your heartbeat. Continue as long as feels comfortable or even a little more. Thoughts will always continue, but we can try not to become attached to them, letting them flow on by. Frequent practice teaches the body how to find calm in any moment, so the more you practice, the easier it will be to use in a practical way throughout your life.

Why not have a go right now? Just for a moment.

New videos have been added to the YouTube channel for Junior Kata One, Two and Three. See link below.

https://youtube.com/@ensokarate?si=lKln0xi5uDr3Dk4B

Welcome back! Great start to term 2 this week.
A few things to mention…

We will have a grading at the end of this term for those keen to earn their first or next belt. Both junior and senior classes will have this opportunity. This will not include any black belt grading. Throughout the term we will work on grading requirements for all levels.

Reminder that gloves and mouth guards are a requirement for 9+ class. If you do not yet have your own, please acquire these as soon as possible.

I will place a gear order at the end of week 2. If you need to order uniform, gloves or mouth guard, please let me know.

Please ensure term fees are up to date or let me know if you need to pay over time.

Any questions, please feel free to message me.

That’s all for now.