No "Renshukai" on Monday

Members of Gojuryu Karatedo Yoyogi Ryushinkan warm up for the "Renshukai" training session last Friday in Takadanobaba, Tokyo. There is no session on Monday, July 27.

Renshukai Schedule Update

Members of Gojuryu Karatedo Yoyogi Ryushinkan continue to train together as "Renshukai," with supervised day-time sessions at Shibuya Sports Center and evening sessions at Shinjuku Sports Center. There are also unsupervised sessions at the weekends. Please note the Sunday session times have been moved forward to 13:30-15:30 for convenience’ sake. Moreover, the session on July 20, a national holiday, will also run from 13:30-15:30. Finally, there is no training on Monday, July 27, as the center is closed.

Jundokan

This video shows in great detail the teachings of the great Miyazato Sensei and other instructors at Jundokan, one of the leading Gojuryu karate dojos in Okinawa and the school to which Gojuryu Karatedo Yoyogi Ryushinkan was affiliated for many years.  After footage of Okinawa from many decades ago, including training using the Hojo Undo tools and techniques and kata such as Tensho and Seiyunchin, Miyazato Sensei demonstrates Seisan, warming up exercises and the proper use of equipment such as the kongoken. The kata Sanchin is then explained fully with English subtitles, as is how to guide and check someone who is performing the kata. Finally, the kata Gekisai 1 and 2 are also shown with detailed commentary. 

Sagiashi

Sagiashi is one of the stances found in Goju-ryu karate, and its presence can be seen as a clear link between traditional Okinawan karate and its deeper roots in the "white crane" style of kung fu from China. ("Sagi" means "crane" in Japanese.)

Although the stance does not technically appear in any of the Goju-ryu kata, it can be said to occur naturally when delivering a kansetsugeri from the nekoashidachi stance, as in the kata Kururunfa. Kansetsugeri is sometimes translated as "dislocation kick," as it targets one's opponent's knee, as is shown in more detail here.

Kakie Demonstration

In this video, Morio Higaonna Sensei demonstrates various techniques and approaches in the pair-work practice of kakie.  Beginning briefly with vertical and then horizontal arm movements in a stationary position, kakie is next performed with a stepping motion, and finally, from 20 seconds in, various applications are demonstrated. It is in this order that kakie is best learned. Many of the applications shown in the video are variations on techniques found in the kata, especially Shisochin and Kururunfa.

Keeping the Center

It is important to maintaining good posture in the form of a straight axis from the top of the head through the spinal column to the coccyx. With this achieved, the arms can be "locked up" using the elbows and pectoral muscles.  Rotating the body around this axial center without leaning or bending at an angle is the key to keeping balance, and forms the basis for the various "pulling" and blocking techniques found in Gojuryu and other martial arts, such as Tai Chi, which is explained here.  The principles are the same, and can be practiced in kakie.

Chiishi Exercise 4

This chiishi exercise is a variation on the basic routine and incorporates the kentsui uchi that occurs in the kata Saifa.  As in both the kata and this exercise, the forearm and fist (tettsui) are brought round over the top of the head and down, as if on to the opponent's head or collar bone.

As with the other exercises, the chiishi is initially tilted backwards rather than directly sideways to avoid excessive leverage causing damage to the elbow joint.