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EGKA Black Belt Grading 12 Quays Dojo, December 2007 |
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‘It’s grim up North’ is the title of a techno pop song (1991) overlaid with the music from the classical English hymn, Jerusalem, to the beat from a quintessential memory of the industrial age: the chugging of a steam train. Never having ventured north of Watford outside the months of July or August, the thought of travelling to Liverpool (albeit by air) in the first week of December reminded me of that grim winter-view of the industrial North. Although the purpose was the EGKA black belt grading, I was not filled with joy. The location for the course was the 12 Quays Dojo, recently opened by Steve Hallam Sensei in Woodchurch, Wallesay; a change in venue for the EGKA winter grading.
So, at 6 am on Saturday 1st December in Swanley, Kent, three students (two being very, very cold) met their sensei Feridun Shakir for the long trip up North. An hour’s travel by road, then an hour’s delay, followed by an hour’s flight to Manchester Airport where, from the coldest, bleakest roof top car park (in spite of bright sunshine), they collected a rental car to complete the last leg of their journey. However, the sun continued to shine and clear roads from which to view hilly horizons soon began to soften my view of what turned out to be a very green and pleasant land; some would say the very Heart of England.
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On the Sunday I was to go through quite an ordeal – for me at least; a test for many reasons. The support from ‘the locals’ who, other than through Goju Ryu karate, knew very little about me, was something I will never forget. The Welsh may rightly believe they have His patronage, but being English through and through (living in the garden of England), I believe the northern lands, because of the people AND because it is where English Goju Ryu karate has its roots, may equally claim the title of ‘God’s Country’ (Jerusalem ?).
Sensei Steve’s dojo is in the sports hall of a new school development in Woodchurch. In the hall, a large banner on the wall announced that the ’12 Quays Dojo welcomes the EGKA’. Friendships were renewed, fees were paid, muscles, minds and joints were prepared. Then: Shugo! - We were called to line up. The respects that are due in Goju Ryu karate were made to Sensei Ernie, Sensei Roy and Sensei Paul. Sensei Ernie came to the middle and led us through junbi undo and kihon. One of the first rules of self-defence or self-protection is: ‘Don’t be there in the first place’ - be it in an argument, in the same room, or on the receiving end of an act of aggression. Tai Sabaki - and plenty of it - reinforces the need to be outside the aggressor’s fighting arc. Slide, kokutsu dachi, mae geri, gyaku tsuki, kamae, slide, Sanchin, mawashi geri kizami, kamae. The combinations (each of which Sensei Ernie did himself) were relentless. I could see that I was not the only one whose brain was reeling, frying even, as the nerve endings were trying to make the right connections to keep up with the progression of the techniques. Nevertheless each technique was reinforcing basics - so why was it so difficult? …And that is why we train!
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Those grading up to first kyu had been separated from those reaching for the coveted EGKA black belt. What filtered down to those like myself, who ‘have only just started up the mountain,’ is that a grading of thirty to forty students does not allow Sensei Ernie and his panel to focus on those aspiring black belts. In reducing numbers, the grading panel’s ability to scrutinise those people more closely would maintain the standard of excellence set by the EGKA. I for one would feel such intensity the following day.
Whilst these students set about proving their worth in front of Sensei Ernie Sensei and the grading panel, the rest were grouped according to kyu or Dan grade. The only mixed group was made up of those grading to shodan and beyond the next day. Sensei Roy took those aspirants, honing each and every technique in kata and bunkai, continuously commentating on what he saw. "There are distinct rhythms within the kata…the block and the strikes are simultaneous…the downward arc is smaller…." As with ballroom dancing - particularly topical at the moment - the ability to repeatedly perform fine motor skills becomes more difficult under physical and mental duress. It has been said that life is 25% mental, 25% physical and 50% spiritual. The strength to keep going, I believe, comes from the latter percentage which is developed as much as the other two in the training environment, not only from your own efforts but from those inspiring you to do so.
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When I dared to break concentration I took in a varied range of activities reflecting the full spectrum of Goju Ryu karate. Sensei Paul Galer had the juniors making good use of a matted area. They dumped each other mercilessly as they went through the bunkai takedowns but as far as I know, without injury. Sensei Paul lead the senior grades (3rd Dan and above) through Hojo undo, chi shi and then ishi Sashi which of course is a fine tool to perfect that other fine Goju tool, the press-up. In the opposite corner Sensei Steve Gouldson was taking the first and second Dans in what appeared to be a regular kata class until the kata was shown also to be a tool for performing press-ups of an irregular kind. The day’s training lasted from noon till four p.m. The effects of perfecting movement in and out of shiko dachi, relentless bunkai with numerous takedowns and much more besides, told me that I had got value for money. Each group ended their session with applause for their respective Sensei and we came together to pay our collective respects to Sensei Ernie, Sensei Roy and Paul, concluding the first day of the EGKA Black Belt winter Grading of 2007.
The Sunday morning sky was overcast, the rain drenching us by the time we got into the car (after struggling with an unfamiliar boot lock). Not a good start to a morning’s training; starting an hour earlier (no breakfast!) to be followed by our most important grading. A thorough warm-up, as precedes any EGKA training, got the day underway and again we were split into groups. However, those 2nd and 1st kyu’s who had graded the previous day now joined the 1st kyu’s and shodans, to be taught by Sensei Paul Nolan. Chokyu gekisai dai ichi and ni! was practiced first individually, then with partners. Several times, collectively we weren’t sharp enough, not fast enough and everyone, Sensei Paul included, was doing ‘motivation’ push-ups. Unfortunately, for the first half of the morning, the EGKA had to share the hall with a Sunday morning football club so the reduced area called for heightened focus when performing Chokyu gekisai with partners. As the saying goes: ‘where there is a problem there is an opportunity’ and the opportunity to perfect zanshin was there. Then, silence from the other side of the curtain told us the footballers had gone. Sensei Paul Nolan led the breakout into the added space to revise bunkai for the more difficult katas and Sanchin with shime. Eleven o’clock and the morning’s training was done. Some people said their goodbyes, but for a small group of us the day was still an hour away from beginning in earnest. The grading was to take place in an upper floor dance studio replete with mirrors along the Shomen wall. There is nothing like being confronted with oneself under the watchful eyes of your examiners! But first a multiple-choice exam on the history of Okinawan Goju Ryu emphasised the foundations and legacy that had lead to us being there on that day.
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Twelve of us took our places in two ranks. Everyone knew what was expected of them; there are no surprises (so no excuses!) in an EGKA grading. Kihon, tai sabaki and yakusoku combinations left us in no doubt what we had begun. The intensity of the smaller room, in front of a full EGKA grading panel, was heightened as supporters crammed and jammed themselves onto benches and into corners to make this a very public test. As Caglar, my training partner at the Chalti dojo, observed: ‘there was no place to hide’. Kata put individuals on the spot as Sensei Ernie called us forward in twos or threes to demonstrate our proficiency. After one ‘Matt DiAngelo’ moment on one of the Yakusoku combinations (naname shiko dachi soto uke, mae enpi, zenkustu dachi gyaku tsuki), as the little devil on my left shoulder kept reminding me, a wise (Liverpudlian) voice from behind told me to forget about it and move on (Life lesson?).
Kata Shisochin was my first Dan kata summit. Sensei Roy had covered shisochin extensively the previous day; a certain amount of dismantling and rebuilding (wider zenkutsu dachi, smaller movement with the hands etc) had been necessary - not good on the day before an important test of any kind - and the challenge was on. Following Saifa and Seiyunchin, Sensei Ernie called out “kata shisochin, Yoi Hajime!” I stepped forward in Sanchin dachi performed the opening double handed knife hand block, every movement seemed so slow, particularly when confronted with myself in the mirror. Performing the second half shisochin takes you back in the direction you came from, to the hard to avoid critical gazes of many who had ‘been there and done that’ in Goju Ryu karate. Sensei Ernie called those karateka grading to 2nd and 3rd Dan forward to perform Sanseiru and Sepai. Time to breath and think. The intensity of concentration was as draining as the physical effort.
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Then Sanchin, Sanchin with shime. The intense session with Sensei Paul Nolan that morning was still foremost in my mind (and shoulders!). Gi’s and obi’s were carefully folded and we took our lines to be tested. Senior grades from the audience came forward and set about testing. For once I saw the mirror as an ally. Bunkai was followed by kakie, followed by sapping pad work, 50 gyaku tsuki, 50 enpi, 50 mae geri and 50 mawashi geri. Somewhere between the bunkai and the final demanding test of 100 press ups, 100 sit ups and 100 squats was the sparring which exemplified the spirit and the worth of achieving (all grades within the EGKA syllabus) when Mike (surname unknown) grading (successfully!) for his second Dan ended up with his big toe bent upwards at 45 degrees! Foolhardy or Spirit he continued, refusing to go to hospital, adapting his technique and overcoming his disability, setting an example to us who were suffering from mere fatigue. I struggled with the press-ups, fared no better on the sit-ups but gave a better account of myself on the squats. Then, at last, nigh on three hours later, it was over. The support in that homeward stretch was tremendous. You can grit your teeth and shout at yourself but to hear people, some of whom hardly know you, calling your name, urging you to keep going is a special source of inspiration not only for your own pride and success but also collectively of what we all belong to. Thank you!
When the results were announced and I found I had been successful, there was not the elation I had felt when passing my first kyu grading. All in all, I was shot. Now, having had a month to reflect, I have pride in being an EGKA shodan, but also know I have only just begun (though with better tools with which to polish the diamond) - training in earnest.
I make no apology for using such an emotive social analogy, but when I met up with Feridun Sensei and the rest of the Chalti members at the motel/pub afterwards, to prepare for the long journey home, I was warmed by the atmosphere in the bar, by families - some obviously of three generations - socialising over a Sunday afternoon drink. Each having respect for the other but without the fear and aggression one sometimes senses in London pubs. The same I find with EGKA gatherings: genuine friendships, no aloofness or intimidation and plenty of hard training, having a positive purpose in our own individual journeys. Again, thank you!
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