Design by: Mark Thomas
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WIKF
Leaders Course |
The large group of senior black belts pictured with Sensei Suzuki & Sensei Wicks (seated centre, front row) at the Leaders course on 11th & 12th June 2011 Crystal Palace, London Once again the Summer WIKF Leaders weekend training course held at the Harris College Sports Hall, Crystal Palace London turned out to be a resounding success. Sixteen countries and over sixty senior black belts ( 2nd Dan grade through to 7th Dan) from across the globe took part. Participating countries included :- USA, Venezuela, Guatamala, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgian, Holland, France, Spain, Cyprus, Greece, England, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The eight hour instruction was spread over two days and given by World WIKF Chief Instructor Sensei Jon Wicks 8th Dan whilst a watchful eye was kept on the proceedings by Japanese WIKF Chief Director Prof. Tatsuo Suzuki, the man who brought Wado karate to the western hemisphere back in 1965.
Following the warm up on Saturday afternoon the training
began with basic sanbon gumite punch and kick drills with a partner. Sensei
Wicks then taught a junior kata (Pinan Nidan) followed by a more advanced
one (Seishan). Both kata were explained in great detail and a full
explanation of the Bunkai demonstrated. Following a short break Kihon Gumite
No 2, Tachi Dori (Sword Defence) No1 and classical Japanese Tanto Dori
(Knife Defence) No 4 was practiced. The Saturday session closed with a warm
down and many of the senior instructors arranging to meet for an evening
meal in a nearby Japanese Restaurant. Sunday's training began with the the practice of 'Idori' or kneeling defence; first from a standing position and then with a partner from a kneeling position. Idori is part of the WIKF advanced Dan grade examinations and it is interesting to note that many Federations claiming to do Wado do not include it in their syllabus at all. Training inTanto Dori No 9 and Tachi Dori No 4 followed and the final two hours was devoted to the practice and detailed study of the kata Niseishi and Bassai. During the time Sensei Wicks was drilling the class in these kata, Sensei Suzuki was separating out various senior grades from the line up and giving them intensive and exhaustive one to one correction on the finer points of their kata technique. The course concluded with a ten minute warm down, followed by loud applause. The next Leaders course will be held on the 29th & 30th October so please watch the website for details. A special thanks to Milton Oggara for the photographs in this article. Bob Hamilton
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The
opportunity is taken at these biannual seminars to focus on the correct and
original Wado techniques, kihon and kata as taught by the founder of the
style Grandmaster Ohtsuka the 1st to his most senior student
Sensei Suzuki and who in turn has passed the knowledge on to his successor
Sensei Wicks. The instruction at these special seminars is designed to
ensure uniformity of correct techniques by those senior Dan grades who are
entrusted with leading and developing authentic Wado karate across the
countries of the World.
Copyright
2005 Tatsuo Suzuki