Outdoor practice

Now that the polar vortex left us, is a perfect time for outdoor practice. 4 of us met at Kiesel Park in Auburn, AL on Sunday (April 13) morning and trained for 2 hours. 

Here Travis Page and Jim Robertson practice Tsukekomi, the second waza of the Tachi uchi no kurai set of MJER.

Tsukekomi - 01

Tsukekomi - 02

Tsukekomi - 03

Iai in Auburn

Travis Page Sensei invited me to teach a MJER Iai class at his Auburn Yoshukai  Karate Dojo yesterday, February 12, 2013.

Altogether 9 Yoshukai Karate students attended the class. Some of them had already trained with Patty Heath Sensei at the Dothan Dojo. Some of them were new to the Way of the Sword. 

We spent 2 hours together. First wie practised basics :  Nukitsuke & Kirioroshi, Chiburi & Noto; then the first 2 moves of the Batto-ho : Junto sono Ichi and Ni. 

Later on we switched to Kenjutsu with the first 2 Katachi waza : Deai and Tsukekomi.

When teaching to beginners, I concentrate on the big picture - I want the student to try to memorize the overall "form" of the waza. I am not pushing for perfection for I believe it is counterproductive at this level. I want the student to get an idea of what the whole move is about - so he can picture  himself in the action, and enjoy it !  I believe it is more important than boring them to death asking them to perform a perfect cut.

Yoshukai Chaperones go to France

Shihan Travis Page and I traveled to France in November 2011. I had planned a few classes and demonstrations to promote Yoshukai Karate. 

On November 21, we visited my friend and previous Nihon Tai Jitsu instructor Mr Jean Luc Lemoine at his Tai Jitsu kan Dojo in Rouen.

Jean Luc had suffered a heart attack the week before, and we proposed to teach his Monday night class for him. 

We got on the mat with his students and Mr Page taught them a number of his signature street and bar fighting techniques, while I was trying to translate some of the details.

Nihon Tai Jitsu incorporates techniques found in mainstream Budo such as Karate, Aikido, Judo. Students ranged from 7th Kyu to Niddan, The class lasted about 2 hours. The enthusiasm and efficiency of Mr Page, and the practicality of his waza - chokes, throws and strikes - were highly appreciated by all. Mr Page had to come home early and we did not get the opportunity to work out with the local branch of Kyokushinkai Karate which is has been getting more and more popular in France for the past 10 years. Another trip will be needed...

On November 25th, I myself had the pleasure to train with my friend and Kendo Instructor Francis Hollier, at the Kendokai of Friville Escarbotin, when Mr Page and I gave classes several years ago on 2 occasions.

Overall, Yoshukai Karate and its Spirit are appreciated for its simplicity and efficiency. It should be kept this way. 

If it works, practice it, if it does not, drop it.

Knife Self Defense

Another great Self defense segment by Shihan Mike Leverett and Travis Page from the Yoshukai Karate Dojo in Auburn

Self Defense against Knife

The 3 first Self defense videos by Shihan Mike Leverett and Travis Page from the YOSHUKAI Dojo in Auburn, AL.

 

Visit them on Youtube SHIHANGODAN5 Channel

Segment 2

Segment 3

As everyone is now able to post on the Net, videos of every kind flourish. In matters of Martial Arts, good things are available, unfortunately usually burried under layers and layers of very poor and dangerous stuff demonstrated by self appointed masters and commented by equally self-appointed "Experts".

The Waza (Techniques) here demonstrated by Shihan (*) Leverett and Page are efficient and legitimate. This does not mean they are safe. Safety comes with long practice and training, and even there, there is no such thing as total safety. 

Enjoy

Note : Shihan is a term often used in Japanese martial arts as an honorific title for expert or senior instructors. In Yoshukai Karate, it is attributed by the Grand Master of the organization Kaicho Yamamoto to instructors having at least achieved the level of Yondans (4th degree Black Belt) and taught at this level for several years.