Annual WIKF in Ireland
Spring Course 2011

The Annual WIKF in Ireland Spring Course, which Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki traditionally conducts. Took place over the weekend of the 18th to the 20th March with Sensei Suzuki’s Assistant and WIKF World Chief Instructor Sensei Jon Wicks 8th Dan.

A special Instructors course was introduced on the Friday night for second Dan black belts and above.
Sensei Wicks spent the first 40 minutes teaching the proper attacks for Tachi Dori (Sword Defence) number 1 and 2. The class moved on to practicing the defence of these attacks under the guidance of Sensei Wicks, with timing being the most important part of the defence. Sensei said that performing this technique 10 times only may be 5 will have correct timing, so a lot of training needs to be done to perfect this defence.

The class ended with Sensei teaching the attack for number 5 Tachi Dori, which is quite complicated.
Sensei Robert Hamilton 6th Dan from Northern Ireland attended this event, and commented that it was a great idea to add this extra training for higher grades.

Saturday

Saturday started at 11am with The private class for the candidates taking Dan (Black belt) grading, this class was run over two hours, with students mistakes in their techniques, being corrected and they were quizzed, why should these techniques be performed this way? Sensei Wicks wanted to insure the students had a better understanding of Wado techniques.

At 2.00pm the main hall filled up with Brown and Black belts, the course got under way with Sensei Eamon House 5th Dan from the Sportslink WIKF Club taking the students through a warm up.

Following on from this Sensei Wicks brought the class through an intense detailed teaching of Wanshu kata. He informed the Candidates for 4th Dan grading that they would need to perform this kata as one of the Kata’s for their grading.

After a short Break the lower grades joined the class, after some basic techniques training, Sensei Wicks introduced everyone to some of Wado’s fighting techniques; which could not be use in competition karate! These techniques included knee and elbow attacks.

The class was split into two groups with Brown and Black learning Idori Kneeling Defence. At first this was taught standing but then all students had to perform the technique kneeling.

The other group with Sensei McGrath studied blocking techniques with Sensei explaining how to break fall as there was a take down in one of the techniques.

The main point stressed by both Senseis’ was that the attackers “must use a real attacks.”

Sunday

After the warm up all students trained together in kicking combinations followed by Pinan Godan Kata, after a very detailed break down of the Kata, students were asked to get into groups of three and were taught the bunkai (application of the Kata’s techniques) of the Kata.

The class finished with some Kumite (Free Fighting) allowing the student some time to demonstrate some of the new techniques learned under Sensei Wicks.

After the final bow, There was a great round of applause for Sensei Wicks, from the 70 strong group of students, with students commenting on how good the course was.

Special guests were Sensei Michael Cole 6th Dan from Northern Ireland and Sensei Mathieu Beysen 7th Dan Chief Instructor of Belgium and President of WIKF.

Grading Time

After the course ended a Kyu grading took place under the watchful eye of Sensei Robert McGrath. During this time the Dan Grade candidates did a written examination.

The Dan grading took place after the kyu grading with Sensei McGrath correcting the written examination papers. While Sensei Wicks conducted the actual Dan grading.

At the end of the grading the students were asked to explain some of what they had written in their examination.

The successful candidates were Michael Quinn and Alan Smith passing there 4th Dan and John Byrne passing 1st. Dan.

Sensei Jon Wicks will return to Ireland in September to Newtownards in Northern Ireland on the 17th and 18th.