Members of the Potton and Sandy Shotokan Karate Clubs attended an open course on 11th March 2006, held by the SKIF in Watford. The course was led by Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa 10th Dan, assisted by Sensei Manabu Murakami 6th Dan and Sensei Shinji Akita 5th Dan. The whole day was a great experience which was attended by 15 ESKA students (3 from Potton and Sandy Clubs).

ESKA members at the SKIF Open Karate Course

The course started with a warm-up and then the class was split up into three groups, dependent on grade. For the first part of the session, the black belt group worked on kihon, focusing on the use of hips to increase the power and speed of techniques. This involved practising combinations using blocks and punches and then partnering up with other karate-ka to encourage work on speed and accuracy. Sensei Kanazawa then demonstrated some kata bunkai before breaking for lunch.

Students practising their kihon

After lunch, the session concentrated on kata. The katas Empi, Bassai Dai, Jion, and Kanku Dai were practised, and three or four areas of each kata were highlighted and repeated a number of times. Everyone was then taught a new kata: Gankaku Sho. This proved to be a challenging kata.

A demonstration of kata techniques

Once the training session was completed, Sensei's Kanazawa, Murakami, and Akita then made time for photographs with the students. Sensei Kanazawa then kindly agreed to sign books, DVD and video covers, etc.