JKA Scotland Gasshuku 2019
JKA Scotland Gasshuku 2019 was well attended not only by JKA Scotland members from across Scotland but also visiting students attending from Ireland, Norway and England.
Izumiya Sensei 7th Dan JKA HQ, Ueda Sensei 4th Dan JKA HQ and Ohta Sensei 7th Dan Chief Instructor JKA England made for a fantastic seminar with feedback from all students who attended being positive and extremely enjoyable.
With thanks to Bob Grant Photography for all photographs
Friday’s training started sharp with Sensei Izumiya putting all students through their paces for the first session. Sensei focused on Kihon techniques, punches, blocks and kicks emphasising posture and pushing the pelvis up, Strong kime, squeezing of the body and position of the knees to make stronger power in techniques using the shortest distance and straight line whilst making sure to relax the upper body. Keeping the theme of the first session basic Sensei finished with Heian Shodan Kata, making sure we put into practice what had been focused on throughout the first hour and a half.
Second Session on Friday students were split into Dan Grade, Brown Belts and Coloured Belts. Dan grades worked kata Kanku Sho with Sensei Ohta who highlighted key points within the kata that must be paid attention too, before working with a partner to put these techniques into practice with bunkai. Brown Belts experienced for the first time Sensei Ueda who quickly started the class warming up with choku zuki before moving on to get students to perform Enpi kata by the count, Sensei emphasised need for speed and control within Kihon and Kumite. Colour Belts worked on Kata and basic to suit their specific needs and standards with Sensei Izumiya, who focused on helping students understand the correct position of body when performing techniques. After the 1st day it was clear from the Senseis that they wanted to focus on making sure good attitude in dojo and spirit. Be fast with strong power, kime spirit and very important kiai.
Saturday morning saw more students attending as this was the first year that JKA Scotland incorporated a Kyu Grading examination at the Gasshuku, this made for a busier day. After a great first day all aches were forgotten quickly and the excitement of another fantastic 3 hours of training under the watchful eyes of such great instructors could be felt.
We were again split into appropriate grades for session 3 with Sensei Izumiya putting Brown belts through their paces focusing on blocking an incoming punch in back stance, and how you transfer to a front stance. Dan grades were treated to Sensei Ueda with the session revolving around attitude and distance. Judging distance from opponent is very important, and with our partners moving around natural touching as we passed each other. Sensei said being natural is not easy especially in stressful situations like gradings/kumite. Sensei explained that speed is essential and always having minds prepared, always using 100% speed and power. In kata all moves must be performed as ippon. When training in your dojo keep stances lower. Coloured grades were instructed by Sensei Ohta and started their session with 5 step sparring focusing on grading syllabus for later in the day. Sensei explained that kime is important and making the block but also using faster attack. To finish the session the focus was on hip rotation and stance. Sensei Ohta left students with one main point and that was not to perform moves too quickly but more accurately.
After a quick break Sensei Izumiya worked Kata Bassai Sho & Bunkai with Dan Grades, emphasising all moves in the kata should be together not staggered making sure to show the fast and slow moves. Sensei demonstrated the kata moves incorporating a bow stick in his demonstrations and the wrist action that should be used.
In the coloured belt class Sensei Ueda worked kata again making sure the focus was on Kyu Gradings which followed. Brown belts experienced the technical skills of Sensei Ohta focusing on what is required to pass Shodan grading. Sensei worked all students with Kihon combinations emphasising specific areas which must be performed in a specific way. Kata focus for brown belts was Kanku Dai, after breaking this down and performing, Sensei split class into groups of 3. Moves 17, 18, 19 and 20 were covered explaining the bunkai in depth and allowing the students to understand what they were doing to bring this more to life whilst performing the kata. Sensei Ohta emphasised the need for those sitting Dan grading to know this kata well, due to the elements of all the Heian kata it contains
After today’s training, this year saw the first national Kyu grading take place at the Gasshuku which was a great success and enjoyed by all. Congratulation to all students who sat and passed Kyu Gradings. It was great to note that so many coloured belts talked about how much they had enjoyed the course and were so glad they had the opportunity to train with such outstanding instructors.
Sunday was too fast in coming around and was our last day of training. For session 5 each group again had their own elements to focus and pay attention to. Sensei Izumiya started his session with Brown belts by asking who was sitting Dan Grading before highlighting special points for the students to remember. For Grading, Sensei then moved onto Bassai Dai where he had students performing many times to help refine techniques before moving onto Kihon technique where Sensei Izumiya had students repeating combinations up and down the dojo emphasising main points. To finish off the session Sensei worked on Kumite and distance. Dan grades once again experienced the speed and power of Sensei Ueda who split the class by seniors and Cadets/juniors both facing other. Sensei wanted to see us put into practice our teaching from the past 2 days training by performing Bassai Dai, Jion, Enpi and Kanku Dai, this made for a very exhausting session as we used our whole bodies to perform as best as we could with the spirit that Sensei wanted to see. At the end of the session we also focused on Heian Yondan and Gojushiho Sho Kata mainly the transition between specific moves setting the feet and knee positions and using the thighs to control the movements. Coloured belts had their last session with Sensei Ohta which was enjoyed by all students.
In Session 6, the final session of the seminar, Dan grades were instructed by Sensei Izumiya. The lesson started with Sensei focusing on Kihon basic moves. Sensei was making sure that we were focusing more on hip rotation. Even more focus was put on the hip rotation and position of knee by us working in groups of 3. To finish what was an exhausting session, Sensei had a competition, where he split students into age groups and in rows. This meant that each row had a range of ages competing as one group against the others. Using Gedan Barai, switching legs in a circular rotation, each student performed down the row to compete to a winner. A bit of friendly competition to finish the session. Coloured Grades focused on Ueda sensei’s principles and when performing, Kihon, Kata or Kumite to make sure that they think about these and put into practice especially as they move further up grades. Sensei Ohta finished off the seminar by focusing on Kumite with the brown belts with the importance being on speed, stances and flexibility before incorporating these into Bassai Dai and Kanku Dai Katas.
Before we knew it, training had come to an end. After 3 days of exceptional instruction by all Senseis our Gasshuku was coming to a close, but not before Dan Grading had taken place.
JKA Scotland would like to thank Sensei Izumiya, Sensei Ueda and Sensei Ohta for their tuition through the Gasshuku, also to all students who attended from all over Scotland including Orkney and visiting students from England, Ireland and Norway. Every year the Gasshuku passes so quickly, it’s not an event to be missed. After a busy 3 days, students and instructors can reflect on the teachings from the Senseis and refine all points in their own dojos. Add the dates in your calendar for next year’s Gasshuku, you don’t want to miss this fantastic training. September 11th – 13th 2020
Congratulations to the following students who passed Dan Grading examinations.
Pass First Dan JKA (Shodan)
William A McNeil
Michael Howett
Gautam Jakhmola
Lilia Chalmers
Pass Second Dan JKA (Nidan)
Ryan Hoggan
Pass Fourth Dan JKA (Yondan>
Richard Flynn
JKA Scotland East Region Championships 2019
On Saturday, 28th September, there was a steady stream of traffic arriving at Dunfermline High School carrying competitors and their support, family, from JKA Scotland’s East Region clubs for our regular annual competition, which has been running for more than 10 years. Competition was enthusiastic with the crowds supporting their home clubs and students, etiquette and manners highlighted the respect for JKA Karate, and happily, the medics had a quiet day.
Our spectators raised £65 for the charity Children with Cancer UK. Many thanks to you all. Thanks to Sensei Bert Stewart, our East Regional Officer and Sensei Dave Osborne for all the organisation. Many thanks to all the instructors for giving their time to referee and for setting up. Mostly thanks to all the competitors and your families for being there to support the event from beginning to end. Please see the results below.
EVENT 1 1 Rachel Jones 2 Jackson MacDonald Joint 3rd Kaycee Farlam and Artemis Nikolaou
EVENT 2 1 Sophia Seddon 2 Lucas Walker
EVENT 3 1 Raj Negi 2 Holly Williams Joint 3rd Ruby Wallace and Calum Bruce
EVENT 4 1 Lucy Hull 2 Charlotte Anderson
EVENT 5 1 Paul Watson 2 Ryan Hoggan Joint 3rd David Gillanders and Stephen Fraser
EVENT 6 1 Carnegie A 2 Carnegie C 3 Carnegie B
EVENT 7 1 Dunfermline A 2 North Berwick A
EVENT 8 1 Jackson MacDonald 2 Ananya Aravinthan Joint 3rd Rachel Jones and Tristan Simrick
EVENT 9 1 Sophia Seddon 2 Lucas Walker
EVENT 10 1 Connor Beggs 2 Calum Bruce Joint 3rd Kayla Archibald and Ruby Wallace
EVENT 11 1 Raj Negi 2 Michael Howett Joint 3rd Gautam Jakhmola and James Simpson
EVENT 12 1 Holly Williams 2 Srishti Panthri Joint 3rd Faye Rogers and Becca Jones
EVENT 14 1 Lucy Hull 2 Charlotte Anderson
EVENT 15 1 Andy Smith 2 Athanasios Nikolau
EVENT 16 1 Ryan Hoggan 2 David Gillanders Joint 3rd Tyrone Farlam and Mike Mitchell
East Region Junior Competitor 2019 Raj Negi
East Region Senior Competitor 2019 Ryan Hoggan
JKA Scotland Kata Course
7th September 2019
The course started in the first hour with all Karate Ka together warming up together before moving on and focusing
In the second hour, after a well-deserved break, brown belts were separated and worked through
Brown belts were taken through
The third and last hour again was a split
Before we knew it 3 hours of excellent in-depth training had ended, but whilst we were waiting for brown belts to re-join the class, Sensei Ohta gave us one last challenge – core work and holding plank position to make the body stronger.
JKA Scotland would like to thank Sensei Ohta for a fantastic course and giving us all so much to take away and focus on to help develop our Karate. We would also like to thank all the JKA Scotland members who supported this course, we hope you enjoyed it and will take the information away and work on this in your own dojo.
The next event on the JKA Scotland calendar of events is our much-anticipated Autumn Course 18th to 20th October. Applications are now available from your club instructor.
JKA Scotland – Junior Karate Team 2019
JKA Junior European Championships
From Thursday 23rd May to Monday 27th May 2019, the JKA Scotland Junior squad were in Kadan, Czech Republic, to participate in this year’s JKA Junior European Championships.
The squad arrived in the historic town of Kadan on Thursday before a final training session at the Sports Centre on Friday prior to the start of Championships.
As usual, Saturday morning saw an early start for the Championships with the JKA Scotland Squad arriving at the Sports Hall Arena in Kadan at 7:30am.
Now in its 14th year, the tournament has grown into a major event in the JKA Europe calendar with countries from across Europe competing.
Held over two days on five areas in the stadium, the tournament started on schedule at 9:15am. Day one included the elimination and final rounds for ages 9 to 14-year-olds, as well as the elimination rounds for 15 to 17-year-olds for individual events.
The official opening ceremony then took place around 5:30pm after which the final events were held, followed by the medal award ceremonies.
Despite everyone competing to the best of their ability, there were no medals for our competitors despite some reaching the final rounds.
Day two of the championships (Sunday) saw the team events take place.
The very high level of competition at the event, which was well organized by JKA Czech Republic, demonstrated the overall high standard of karate within JKA Europe.
JKA Scotland Squad competitors:
Lucy Hull
Kyle Bruce
Ellie Stewart
Holly Williams
Srishti Panthri
Calum Bruce
Ruby Wallace
Conor Beggs
Travelling Officials:
Bert Stewart – Squad Manager/Coach/Official
Gordon Williamson – Coach
Grateful thanks to all the competitors,
officials, parents and supporters who travelled to the Czech Republic to
support our participation in this event.
(Bert Stewart, JKA Scotland Team Manager/Coach)
Special May Course and Dan Grading 2019
Following the warm up the course began with all students together focusing on basic Kihon training. We concentrated on setting our position to make strong techniques for basic punches, blocks and strikes whilst also moving body position into different stances. This was then further progressed to incorporate both mae geri and kekomi kicks before moving to using these in various combinations.
After a short and much needed break all students remained together and were partnered up being put through our paces using the combinations that were practiced at the start of the course. Prior to the next break Sensei moved on to practice Jiyuu Ippon Kumite using kazami zuki, gyaku zuki whilst making correct distance for attacking and connecting between moves, which naturally progressed to working together on one for one continuous attack techniques.
After a Final break the class was split into 3 separate groups where we were given the opportunity to choose which kata we wanted to practice and study in more depth. The kata were Bassai Dai, Jion and Ninjushiho. Sensei Ohta and the technical committee instructors gave in depth training and technical instruction for their groups.
After a fantastic 3 hour training session with Sensei Ohta the course was at an end. It was evident that all students enjoyed the course and as always could take something out of the course to further practice in our own dojos.
Dan Grading
Following the
conclusion of training a JKA Dan Grading was held. The following
students were successful in passing Dan Gradings.
| Pass First Dan JKA (Shodan) | |
| Aidan Hodge | Shibumi |
| Logan Stewart | Shibumi |
| Gary Watford | Broughty Ferry |
| Stephen Lenaghan | Carnegie |
| Stephen Roger | Alloa |
| Jamie Astley | Dunfermline |
| Pass Second Dan JKA (Nidan) | |
| Holly Williams | Carnegie |
| Tess White | Aberdeen |
| Iona Barclay | Shibumi |
Congratulations to all the above students.
Thank you to Sensei Ohta for an enjoyable and very informative course and many thanks to all JKA Scotland Instructors and students who supported the event making this another successful Special May Course for JKA Scotland.
The next event in the calendar will be the Regional Kyu Gradings in June.
JKA Scotland National Championships – March 2019
Students from all regions of Scotland got together at 9am in Dunfermline High School to participate in JKA Scotland National Championships 2019. Students from as young as 5 and into the 70’s were eager to participate and prove their hard training over the previous year has given them the edge over other students. A fantastic day was had by all with competitors at all grade levels giving 100% to try and win one of the trophies displayed at the front of the tatami.
Competition was fierce but good manners and respect for opponents meant that our medics from Active First Aid Scotland had a quiet day.
Our entrance donation raised a fantastic £200 towards CHAS, Children’s hospices across Scotland.
Many thanks to all involved, those who organised everything in the background, those who set up/cleared up, referees, family for being there to support, our medics, Dunfermline High School for being a great and helpful venue but special thanks to all our competitors who make the day so unique. There is no competition without you.
The results are as follows
| Childrens Kata under 10 yrs up to 4th kyu | |
| 1st Jackson MacDonald | |
| 2nd Joseph Black | |
| 3rd Kaycee Farnam | |
| 3rd Tristian Simrick | |
| Childrens Kata 10-12 yrs up to 4th Kyu | |
| 1st Connor McFadyen | |
| 2nd Roberts Brencevs | |
| 3rd Daniel Horne | |
| Childrens Kata 10-12 yrs 3rd kyu and up | |
| 1st Calum Bruce | |
| 2nd Finley Mitchell | |
| 3rd Charlie Dykes | |
| 3rd Ruby Wallace | |
| Junior Kata 13-15 yrs up to 4th kyu | |
| 1st Faye Rogers | |
| 2nd Iaish Macatangay | |
| Junior Kata 13-15yrs 3rd kyu and up | |
| 1st Kyle Bruce | |
| 2nd Holly Williams | |
| 3rd Blair Flynn | |
| 3rd Raj Negi | |
| Ladies Kata 16yrs all Grades | |
| 1st Lucy Hull | |
| 2nd Jodie Ferguson | |
| 3rd Charlotte Anderson | |
| 3rd Iona Barclay | |
| Mens Kata 16yrs all Grades | |
| 1st James Campbell | |
| 2nd Colin Flynn | |
| 3rd Daniel Simpson | |
| 3rd Alastair Barton | |
| Childrens Team Kata | |
| 1st Carnegie A Holly, Ruby and Sristhi | |
| 2nd Carnegie C Connor James Kayla | |
| 3rd Carnegie B Raj Michael Gautam | |
| 3rd Aberdeen A | |
| Senior Team Kata | |
| 1st Dalgety Bay Jodie Lucy and Daniel | |
| 2nd Carnegie E Colin Tom and Steven | |
| 3rd Shibumi James Calvin and Iona | |
| Childrens Kumite 3 attack Sparring under 10 yrs up to 4th kyu | |
| 1st Ananya Aravinthan | |
| 2nd Jackson MacDonald | |
| 3rd Sophia Seddon | |
| 3rd Artemis Nikolau | |
| Junior Kumite 13-15yrs up to 4th kyu 3 attack sparring | |
| 1st Roberts Brencevs | |
| 2nd Connor McFadyen | |
| Children’s Kumite 10-12yrs 3rd Kyu + 1 attack sparring | |
| 1st Srishti Panthri | |
| 2nd Callum Bruce | |
| 3rd Ruby Wallace | |
| 3rd Finley Mitchell | |
| Junior Kumite 13-15yrs 3 attack sparring up to 4th Kyu | |
| 1st Faye Rogers | |
| 2nd Iaish Macatangay | |
| Junior Kumite Boys 13-15yrs 3rd Kyu and up | |
| 1st Kyle Bruce | |
| 2nd William Alexander McNeil | |
| 3rd Kian Mclaughlin | |
| 3rd Ujjwall Panthri | |
| Junior Kuite Girls 13-15yrs 3rd Kyu and up | |
| 1st Holly Williams | |
| 2nd Ellie Horne | |
| Ladies Kumite 16yrs and up all Grades | |
| 1st Jodie Ferguson | |
| 2nd Lucy Hull | |
| 3rd Charlotte Anderson | |
| Senior Mens Kumite 16yrs and up all grades | |
| 1st Colin Flynn | |
| 2nd James Campbell | |
| 3rd Andy Barclay | |
| 3rd Calvin Bruce | |
| Best Senior James Campbell | |
| Best Junior Kyle Bruce |
JKA Scotland Kata Course – January 2019
The buzz in the dojo was electric as old friends and new, wished each other the best of everything for 2019 and waited in eager anticipation for what our first kata course with Ohta Sensei was going to offer us. We weren’t disappointed!
After wishing us a Happy New Year and hoping we hadn’t over indulged during the festivities we started work. With the brown and black belts working together we started the day with a few simple exercises for upper body strength, simple but after a couple of hundred repetitions we were beginning to regret that extra slice of Christmas cake.
Then the work began!
First kata of the day for all Brown and Black Belt students was Enpi, flying swallow. Sensei had us doing some basic exercises to loosen up our hips so we could hopefully perform the intricate double hip rotations and directions needed for this kata. We moved on to putting the whole kata together, which somehow wasn’t as easy as the basic exercises but essential for the correct performance of Enpi. Sensei showed us that with the simplest of corrections to the way we change direction, how the effectiveness of a technique can be hugely improved. We also, with a partner, studied the application of the kata and put it to use.
After a quick break the group split up into brown belts and black belts with Sensei John Deans of JKA Scotland Technical Committee taking the brown belts through Bassai Dai, penetrate a fortress, working mainly on continuing Sensei Ohta’s twisting and rotational work on the first 7 counts of the kata, emphasising the strong balance with core energy and keeping feet flat hips level with floor, back straight and head up looking forward. Not easy!
The black belts were treated to Tekki Sandan, iron horse third level. We firstly were given instruction on how to move sideways in Kiba Dachi stance while maintaining the power of the stance. A simple concept but something most of us had not looked too deeply into before. The fast and sharp moves of the kata and the accompanying head movements were also explained and superbly demonstrated by Ohta Sensei. We all tried to replicate Sensei’s moves with our greater understanding of the kata with varying levels of success. Something to take away and persevere with.
After another break Sensei Alan Simpson, JKA Scotland Technical Committee, worked with the brown belts. He took the class through Jion, the Buddhist temple, emphasising the need to make correct set positions when making techniques and using skills and kihon developed with previous correct practise of Heian Kata. He also worked on the importance of correctly executing 90 degree turns in kata along with some demonstrations of application.
The black belts final kata of the day was Meikyo, bright mirror. Again there are many different directions and speeds of movement within this kata with complex hip rotations. Sensei showed us how to move from fast to slow, without stopping within the kata. Fantastic to watch but very difficult to achieve.
After a very quick 3 hours we gave our thanks to Ohta Sensei for delivering such an informative course and starting 2019 with such enthusiasm.
The next event in the JKA Scotland calendar will be the Course and kyu gradings for the different regions.
Thursday 21st February, South and West Region
Friday 22nd February, North Region
Saturday 23rd February, East Region
Please contact your instructor or Regional Officer for more details.