"You can´t cram a quart into a pint pot" was a common adage in my household as a child, generally when being admonished for stuffing a schooldays worth of books, stationary plus games kit (no football boots though because I have such large ‘plates of meat’ which is not a problem when one´s ‘way’ is karate) into a too small bag. However on Saturday and Sunday of the 8th and 9th March 2008 the EGKA proved that "where there´s a will, there´s a way", countering the opening line of this report.
Sensei Ernie Molyneux, Chief Instructor of the EGKA with his ever present wing men Sensei´s Roy Flatt and Paul Nolan set about cramming the proverbial quart and finding a way when forty five Goju Ryu karate-ka lined up for day one of the EGKA (South) Spring Course at Sensei Feridun Shakir´s Chalti Dojo in Kent.
Sensei Ernie´s first solution to fit everyone into the hall was to take junbi undo lateral to the dojo Shomen giving some of us our first, unexpected, experience of being in the front line of an EGKA gathering (I, for the firsttime, was wearing a black belt in the presence of England´s finest Goju Ryu practitioners).
To be in full view of their critical eye was daunting but as I dumped my doubts on Sensei Roy he told me "if you´re not worth it you wouldn´t be wearing it").
Everyone warmed up and prepared for battle, Sensei Ernie divided us into groups, 3rd Dans and above went to the Shomen, 1st and 2nd Dans to the middle of the dojo and Mudansha to the rear of the hall. And battle was the order of the day certainly for shodan and above as Sanchin no kata (three battles) was to be prominent in that day´s teaching.
With the senior grades facing Shomen, the 1st and 2nd training across the hall and the Kyu grades facing the rear of the dojo the 3rd space/participant solution enabled everyone to train safely.
It has to be said, however, to train with and be in such close proximity of 4th and 5th Dans, exhaling with such focus perfecting their Sanchin, moving with measured discipline whilst performing Hojo undo and kiaing with such intensity when performing Kururunfa bunkai does inspire you to follow in their footsteps up the mountain.
Saturday´s training was from midday to five p.m., divided into three sessions with several breaks to take on food (laid on and prepared personally by the host, Feridun Sensei) and drink (essential for us older treeherder folk intent on surviving the second day!).
Sensei´s Ernie, Roy and Paul rotated with the three groups spreading their wisdom, inspiring for perfection in mind (focus … always), body (lower in shiko dachi, 90/10 in neko Ashi dachi, rapid transition in shisochin, etc) and spirit (kiai louder!).
As you will always read in articles/reports about courses such as this, they are great occasions for bringing people together outside their usual, comfortable training environment, encouraging friendship and for sharing experience. And so it was this for this weekend (whilst geographically the EGKA is correctly titled it is a misnomer as it to its demographic makeup.
On Saturday and Sunday there were Goju Ryu karate-ka from Cyprus, Iceland, Poland, Turkey, Liverpool, Iran, Australia, the Caribbean, Liverpool, and Holland). I for one benefited from the experience of these ‘buitenlanders’, being led comprehensively through Sepai continual application by Johannes (Iceland, training with Sensei Ernie) and forcefully through kakie variations by Rafael (Poland, training with Sensei Roy). Thank you both for demonstrating the true spirit of karate.
Five hours of training under our belts and Sensei Ernie called shugo and the days training was done. I started out with the best of intentions to make notes at the end of each day, more so for my own reference but also aware that Feridun Sensei would look to me to put pen to paper to celebrate another significant occasion marking the progress of the Chalti Dojo. But "the best laid plans o´ men and mice often go awry" (Robert Burns) and so it was, mostly because I was cream crackered from two days of hard training but also partly due to a sociable Saturday EGKA evening meal and accompanying refreshment. Sleep came quickly both nights.
Day two, Sunday 9th March 2008
A 10 a.m. start for the juniors was slightly delayed due to the regular Sunday yoga class that takes place at the Chalti Dojo. However the calm and quiet quickly dissipated as children poured into the hall relishing the open space, running and sliding on the excellent surface. They were followed gradually by those of us gently stretching out the previous day´s exertions.
Sensei Ernie took the higher junior grades through yakusoku combinations, equipping them with bag gloves from Feridun Sensei ‘Aladdin´s martial arts cupboard’ and Sensei Steve Gouldson ably assisted Sensei Ernie taking the lower grades, a few of the Chalti juniors have experienced Sensei Steve´s inimitable style of teaching before, and this Sunday was to be no different, "on your backs! stand up! Gyaku tsuki! Mae geri! sit down!, stand up!, Oi tsuki, kiai!" I was watching and I could not keep up! but as usual there were smiles all round and after a good hours training with both Sensei´s it was time for photographs and to clear the way for the senior session.
Thirty four adult karate-ka toed the line for the junbi undo responsibility for which Sensei Ernie had delegated to Sensei Roy. To finish the warm up Sensei Roy had us performing Gekisai Dai Ichi four times, but each time we started we faced a different direction (everyone facing the same direction of course!), front, left, right and rear.
Fascinating but frustrating perhaps because it was my dojo, but it was disorientating to be facing the wrong way in the right part of the kata.
Again we divided into groups according to our level of experience. Sensei Paul Nolan took the shodan and Nidans through Seiyunchin and Shisochin with bunkai. Sensei Ernie focused on Gekisai Dai Ichi and bunkai with the Kyu grades and Sensei Roy, I believe was taking the senior grades through their relevant kata.
For the final session of the weekend Sensei Ernie took the whole contingent and raised the tempo with yakusoku. Perhaps when tiredness sets in the mental refreshment is as important as a physical rest and there seemed to be a collective resurgence of energy as paired up karate-ka attacked and defended. The individual techniques were built into sequences and eventually pairs started to click, punches, kicks and blocks flowing smoothly into attack, defence and counter attack.
Aware perhaps that some of us may have reached a false summit and to continue would have permanent ill effects Sensei Ernie wound down the weekends training with partnered stretching.
"Line up!" was called for the last time and, as at the end of each session; there was loud applause in gratitude for the EGKA triumvirate of Sensei Ernie, Sensei Roy and Sensei Paul. Post course photos followed and tired but wiser Goju Ryu karate-ka set off for home.
As I have said before this was not going to be a blow by blow account of the weekends training content but an overview from the perspective of another satisfied customer who will be coming back for more. Once again (this is the second year running the South East of England EGKA Spring course has been held in Kent) on behalf of Sensei Feridun and members of Chalti Dojo thank you to the everyone who made the long trip from up North and down South to make this such an enjoyable weekend.
Terence Dixon, Chalti Dojo, Kent
P.S. Oh! And how is the bad back I hear you ask. Well for a long time Feridun Sensei has been advocating that all at Chalti should practice Sanchin (as he does) on a daily basis. Recently I was ‘Goju surfing’ and read enviously of Sensei Steve Gouldson early morning Sanchin class at his Shinzato Dojo in the Wirral and finally during the training weekend, whilst on the receiving end of a Sanchin/Tensho master class from Sensei Roy the penny dropped and I made a promise to myself to train in Sanchin everyday. Well, I have missed a day here and there but overall I have remained true to my word. And as you should ask, my back is much better thank you.
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