Tuesday July 31st

I was up around 8am this morning and stretched for an hour before heading to the dojo.  I didn't sleep great last night.  My mind still wired after training.  When I arrived at the dojo for the 10.30am class, it was Omanoto Sensei, Nagaki Sensei and Ishimine Sensei who were present.  Ishimine Sensei always seems to be in the dojo in the morning time.  He is very lame at the moment though.  I'm not sure what's wrong with him.

I was pleasantly surprised when I met Kamal Sensei from JKS Lebannon when I went to change into my dogi.  Kamal Sensei graduated from the JKS Instructor's training programme in 2008 along with Nagaki Sensei and Nihei Sensei.  Kamal had his son and daughter training with him at the dojo.  Very nice kids and good karate!

Nagaki Sensei took the class.  It was another belter of a session.  Kihon for the first 40 minutes and kata for the last 20 minutes.  When doing Mawashi-geri, Nagaki Sensei corrected me for not preparing my kick from a more outside positon.  I was cutting cutting too much off it and coming up a little too straight.  This is no good!  The kihon part of the class consisted of the usual kihon from fixed stance... kizami, gyaku - zuki.  Mae Geri, front leg mae-geri... etc.. etc... All 30 times each side.  We also practiced moving forward and backwards in zenkutsu-dachi and kokustsu dachi with towels under our feet.  I had done this type of training with Nagaki Sensei before and it is great to keep contact with the floor and feel the contraction of the inside of the thighs while trying to maintain the same height as you move through the stances.  I was absolutely wrecked after this first 40 minutes... I tried as hard as I could!

After a welcome 2 minute water break we started kata practice. Omanoto Sensei took Kamal Sensei's daughter for some practice while his son stayed training with the rest of us.  There were 6 people in total training this morning.  We practiced both Kanku-Sho and Sochin.  There was a lot to be learned.... In particular Nagaki Sensei was trying to help me with my fudo-dachi in Sochin.  I need to push my weight forward a little more while keeping the back knee pushed out.  In addition to this, I need to make sure that my upper body isn't leaning backward... in fact I need to lean forward a little bit and make sure that I'm looking directly forward at all times..  Nagaki Sensei is always very particular with techniques and always spots something that I can do better.  He is always very encouraging.  Ishimine Sensei was rubbing Nagaki Sensei's calf before class and he seemed to be in a lot of pain... I'm thinking that this injury must be the reason why he didn't compete at the All-Japan's.

When we finished class, Yamaguchi Sensei, Kanayama Sensei, Matsue Sensei and Hideoshi Sensei had all arrived at the dojo.  Kamal Sensei asked me if I wanted to do a little extra training when we had finished.  Of course, I said "Oss!".  This was a real honour for me to train some more with Kamal Sensei in the place where he went through so much in the Instructor's course.  We started off with 100 sit-ups.. all in one go.  Then 100 push-ups.. consisting of 2 sets of 50... Kamal Sensei would lift my legs off the ground and I would keep my elbows close by my side.. almost in hikite position.  I got a break as I lifted Kamal Sensei's legs for his push-ups.  We then did pulsing bow type exercises for the back.. 100 pulses.. the sideways rock.. 100 pulses....  I was ready to fall down at this stage... Absolutely and utterly spent!!  We stretched for about 5 minutes and then concluded.  I was delighted to have done this extra training but I was a spent force at this stage!  I'm pictured below with Kamal Sensei right after we finished.

After I left the dojo I headed straight to Jonathan's for breakfast/lunch.  I couldn't get liquids into me quick enough. 35 degrees of heat in addition to hard training is very dehydrating and a little dangerous I guess.  Drinks bar it was and I ordered my meal (below).  Right now they are taking about heat stroke on the TV and warning about the dangerous temperatures.  It was so difficult to eat this meal.  I just wasn't physically or mentally able to eat it but I knew I had to get as much nutrition as soon as possible.  I eventually got through it after about 30 minutes! 

I decided against going to training this evening.  This morning's session really took an awful lot out of me and I don't want to be a hero... not until next week anyway! So, I went to Tokyo Dome Area for a wander around.  There was a massive baseball game on at Tokyo Dome.  Tokyo Giants were playing.  It is all very commercialised and the Japanese certainly love their baseball!

I went for a second dinner at the local restaurant here in Nippori when I got back from Tokyo Dome.  I'll watch some of the Olympics on tv before heading to bed.  Back in the dojo for morning training tomorrow!

Monday July 30th

Today was my first day feeling recovered after arriving in Japan.  I wasn't feeling well for the last few days if I'm perfectly honest.  Trying to beat the jetlag, the effects of going head first into training and trying to battle the extreme heat all compound into something that is very difficult to overcome.  I guess it's made even more difficult when I'm here on my own and I have nobody to compare with..!!

As the dojo was closed this morning, I decided to head to Asakusa Kannon for a couple of hours.  Tokyo's most sacred and spectacular temple is located here.  It is full of merchandise shops and the temple itself is spectacular.  I didn't wander around for too long as the heat was just belting down!  I did manage to find sunscreen in the local 7-11 on my way back to my apartment!  I'll be slapping that on from now on!  I have uploaded a few pictures of Senso-ji Temple below.

Entrance to Temple area

Near endless lines of merchandise!



Outside the main temple



Silence and prayer inside the temple

I hit off for training in Sugamo shortly after six.  I was expecting Kagawa Sensei to be teaching as he usually teaches on Monday's... When I slid the doors of the dojo open I was surprised to see.... Kai Sensei and Watanabe Sensei teaching... the two finalists of yesterday's All-Japan tournament!  In fairness to the majority of Sensei's in the dojo they always make an effort to acknolwedge me when I'm in the dojo.  I don't expect it because I'm obviously junior to them but it's nice to get a bow and a smile back when you show them respect!  If I'm honest... I don't think Kanayama Sensei is the friendliest.... but then at the same time I have so much respect for him and as I have said on a number of occasions, I really admire the way he always looks out for the kids wellbeing but pushes them to their absolute limit!

There seemed to be no tension whatsoever between Watanabe Sensei and Kai Sensei... I guess it was just another tournament for them and it's probably good for Watanabe Sensei to get the win under his belt.  I'd imagine from hearing what Scott Sensei went through, that Watanabe Sensei is probably going through hell on the instructor's course at the moment... Hopefully yesterday's win will give him confidence to push on with his training!  However, it is still very apparent that Kai Sensei's karate is much more fine tuned and technically a lot better.  This was very much evident in their kata performances yesterday.

Anyway.... Watanabe Sensei took the 7-8pm session tonight.  It was a real "lung-opener"...!  It was a mixture of fitness training and kumite.  There was only six people training.  We started off in teams of two.  10 pushups, sprint, 20 crunches, sprint, 20 bow type pulses, sprint, 20 burpees and sprint home.  We did 5 rounds of this and the aim was to beat your partner...   Next up we split into two teams of three.  Sprinting forward to one corner of the dojo, shuffling sideways to the next, sprinting backwards to the third, and finally shuffling home sideways and tag the next team member... It was a race and the other team started in the opposite side of the dojo. Four rotations... Losing team had to do twenty push-ups...  Of course, I was on the winning team :)  Next up... siimilar to the last one but this time it was through bouncing!  I was loving it at this stage... I really love finding that extra gear when things become competitive... expecially here in Japan!  I convince myself that I can move faster, punch quicker, bouncer higher, sprint quicker than everybody else... You have to have this mentality otherwise you will be in trouble!  I remember when I started the bouncing section... I was springing quite high off the floor as I was moving forward and Watanabe Sensei shouted out a few "OH's"!  That was pretty cool I thought!  We also did some random foot movement drills where we had to move as shuffle as quick as possible between different bases.  Team event again.  20, 15 and finish with 10 seconds.

After all of the above we had a welcome two minute water break.  We put on our kumite mitts and did some very nice drills for the last 20 minutes.  It was pretty cool to be getting instruction from the winner of yesterday's All-Japan kumite title!  But... it was all so simple yet brilliant.  Kizami-zuki... 10 times each side.  Concentrating on the timing of the technique and Watanabe Sensei was stressing the importance of placment of the front leg... If it was placed on the wrong side you are weak and there is potential that your leg would be swept.  We did the same for gyaku-zuki.  Then we attacked kizami-zuki while the other side bloacked and countered.  Finally we did the same type of drills for geri (kicking techniques).  The class really flew by but I must admit that it was really tough going.  I tried very hard and that's all you can do!  After class I helped Nicholas (a French beginner) with some of his kumite movement for ten minutes in front of the mirror.  He was struggling with the timing of placing his front foot and the execution of his punch.  He came on pretty well after I helped him tweak a few things!

I gave Kai Sensei and Wattanabe Sensei a box of Butler's Irish chocolates after training!  I said "Omedetou" (congratulations) to Watanabe Sensei for his win yesterday.  I'm looking forward to training again tomorrow.  It should be Inada Sensei teaching in the morning.  Great!  I must go and fetch my dogi from the washing machine and let it dry before tomorrow evening.  My other dogi is in my bag already and set for the morning!

I'll watch some TV before heading to bed.  The Olympics is getting a lot of coverage here... especially the Judo!  Goodnight!

Sunday July 29th

It was day two of the All-Japan Championships at Yoyogi National Gymnasium today.  All of the junior finals took place in the morning and the seniors underway at around noon.


Some of the Hombu Dojo seniors warming up


It was interesting to see that Nagaki Sensei didn't participate.  I will have to enquire to see what the story was!  He did have his ankle heavily strapped in the dojo last week, so this may have something to do with it.  I hope he's not retired yet!  Makita Sensei and Matsue Sensei didn't compete either.  I'm guessing that they have probably retired.  I last saw them compete at the All-Japan's in 2009.  So as a recent graduate of the instructor's course and defending kumite champion... it was looking as if a lot of weight was going to be on the shoulders of Kai Sensei.

He got off to a flyer in his first two fights.  Finished both of them within twenty seconds.  His third fight was a little bit more difficult.  It went to extra time and he just managed to pull it off.  It took a lot out of him I think.  Kai Sensei went on to win his preliminary section, as did Hidioshi Kagawa Sensei (kenshusei), Watanabe Sensei (kenshusei) and a Teikyo student made up the final four.  Both Kai, Hidioshi and Watanabe were beaten early in the kata section.  Kai Sensei was unlucky in my opinion but Hidioshi and Watanabe were way off the mark.  I thought that this was strange.... until I saw their kumite!!  Both Hidioshi and Watanabe were on fire!  So sharp!  They both fought each other in a very tight semi-final... It went to extra time... It was interesting to see Hidioshi look towards his Dad (Kagawa Sensei) on a couple of occasions during the fight!  Kagawa Sensei had to be seen to be impartial but you could see him involuntarily shouting out and encouraging his son!  Nice to see.  It must be massive pressure on Hidioshi's shoulders.  Watanabe just about edged the fight and Hidioshi exited.  I think he left it behind him!

Both Watanabe and Kai Sensei's fought in the final.  You could sense the crowd urging on Kai Sensei... But he just seemed to lack ideas and Watanabe was so sharp.  Watanabe Sensei won 4-1 in the end... there was an air of disbelief around Yoyogi!  I can't help but wonder what the reaction to this result will be in the Hombu Dojo.  A trainee instructor beats the flag bearer and recent instructors course graduate!  I can't help but think that there might be repercussions for this.  Will somebody be on the end of a beating in the near future?  Hmmm...!

Teikyo University ruled the roost in men's kata.  They had a 1-2-3 finish.  Watanabe Sensei (instructor's course graduate) and Okamoto Sensei (kenshusei) battle it out for top place in kata.  It was a fantastic final with both Sensei's putting in inspiring performances.  Okamoto Sensei prevailed in the end with a higher score which included a couple of 9.9's!

I'm looking forward to getting back in the dojo tomorrow evening.  There's no training scheduled for tomorrow morning.  The instructor's will probably need a rest after the weekend's activities!  Picture below of my dinner this evening and a couple below of my small, modest apartment in Nippori!



Very nice sweet and sour pork



Saturday July 28th

Today I went to Yoyogi National Gymnasium (former Olympic venue) for the JKS All-Japan Championships.  I stopped at Jonathan's in Sugamo on my way for breakfast! 

I used the Yamanote Line to Harajuku and from there it was a short walk to the venue.  As I excited the JR railway station there was a group of people who looked to be dressed up as some kind of warriors practicing a routine with great detail and precision.  I didn't stop for long because the sun was blistering hot.  It was only 10am!




"Warriors" practicing their routine


When I got to Yoyogi I realised that there was a big Kyokushinkai tournament on in the 11,000 stadium.  There were 11 tatami on the floor but the stands were sparsely populated.

13th JKS All-Japan Championships banner

 

Yoyogi National Stadium



I took the short walk across to the smaller, 6,000+ seater Yoyogi Gymnasium.  The JKS championships were being held here.  The place was absolutely buzzing when I went in.  The stands were almost full with spectators and competitors!  As I went in the door I met Matsue Sensei and then Inada Sensei.  All of the Hombu Dojo instructors were very busy all day.  They were wired up with ear pieces and radios as they ran around constantly making sure that everything was going smoothly and that their Sempai's (seniors) were left wanting for nothing.

Inada Sensei directing the other Hombu Dojo Sensei's from the balcony in order to ensure that the opening ceremony runs without a glitch.

The one thing that I always notice about competitions in Japan is that everybody competes.  Nobody makes excuses.  Young, old, beginner or advanced... they all get into the spirit of the occasion!  It's about getting out there and giving it your best shot!  People don't pass any judgement if somebody performs poorly or forgets part of a kata... It's the competing that matters!  That's my understanding anyway!

Kagawa Sensei addresses the competitors

There were about nine tatami (mats or competition areas) being used in the early morning.   It was just kids competing today.  At 12 noon, all competition stopped and the opening ceremony took place.  This was very lively as all the competitors marched in under their dojo banner.  There was music and clapping taking place as everybody was welcomed.  Kagawa Sensei and all the senior JKS officials including Yagi Sensei, Muriyama Sensei and Tanaka Sensei sat at the top tables.  It was very interesting to see the interaction between these people throughout the day and how the Sempai / Kohai tradition was being observed. 

Kai Sensei carried the official flag and said aloud some code or motto for the championships as he was the grand Kumite champion for last year. 

Kai Sensei with senior members from the Hombu dojo

Kagawa Sensei, Muriyama Sensei and a few others gave speeches during the ceremony.  It was concluded in spectacular fashion with a demonstration by three members of the Japan National Team (from Teikyo University).  They were unbelievably flawless as they performed Sochin and Unsu to perfection in team kata.  The speed, sharpness, timing and precision of movement was something to behold!  They rounded off their demonstration with a practical display (bunkai) for Unsu.  It was brilliantly dynamic and dramatic!


Taka-San, who I spoke about in the blog last year when I was in Tokyo saw me in the stand and came over to say hello.  He's the guy who Inada Sensei insited that I beat to the ground in morning training!  He's in his last year of medical school and will soon leave for Okinawa to do his residency training.  He said that he's looking forward to training with me over the next two weeks!  He told me that he failed his black belt grading in June.  He missed a part of one of the Heian kata's.  Simple mistake he said but it wasn't good enough!  You don't get anything easily in Japan!  Taka is very good friends with the younger dojo instructors such as Kai Sensei and Nagaki Sensei and he's always playing soccer and socialising with them.  It counts for nothing when you're being examined!!  Taka asked me why I wasn't competing and I explained that I only decided to come back to Japan last week.  Too late for entry at that stage.

The competition resumed after the ceremony as both kata and kumite for kids took place.  It was very funny to watch Yamaguchi Sensei.  He was excitable all day as he seemed to be looking out for his students who were competing!  He would almost jump up and down with pride when any of his kids won a match.  When they lost he would put on a sort of bewildered expression...  I was bursting myself laughing!  It was great to see that he was taking so much interest and pride in his students though!  The overall standard today was exceptionally high.  It is very obvious that these kids love their training and practice an awful lot.  It was also great to see families competing in team kata together.  It was also really good to see wheelchair kata being performed.  I couldn't get over how flexible these competitors were in their upper body and how they used this flexibility to evade, block and strike opponents.

I was back in Nippori around 4pm.  I went for some noodles at the local restaurant.

I followed that with some kata training in the local park.  It has become a little overgrown since I was here last year!  The first thing I said was... "where did the grass come from?!".  I still managed to find a spot for about 40 minutes!

I'll head back to Yoyogi early tomorrow morning.  The seniors compete tomorrow.  It should be really good!  I'm excited to watch it!  I fancy Kai Sensei to do really well.  He looks brilliant in the dojo at the moment. 

Friday July 27th

There was no training at the dojo today because the All-Japan Championships take place tomorrow and Sunday.  The rest was very welcome as I'm still struggling to overcome jet lag.  Three sessions within 36 hours of arriving in Japan was very difficult!  I headed off an adventure to the main Mizuno store in Ochanomizu, Tokyo when I got up this morning.  It was a little tricky getting there but between a map and my Suica card I managed just fine.  Mizuno the label for the Japan national team (JKF) and the Japan Olympic squad.  I thought that there would be lots of merchandise at the store but I was disappointed to be honest!  Below are a couple of photographs of Ochanomizu and the nearby construction taking place at Meiji University.

I didn't realise until today how expensive it has become to visit Japan.  The Euro is absolutely crippling us!  See the figure below!  In the summer of 2008 one would have got about 170 Yen for 1 Euro.  Today you will only get 96 Yen for 1 Euro!  So... the cost of visiting Japan has almost doubled!!  It's crazy when you consider that a litre of milk costs 248 Yen in the local 7-11 store.  That's €2.60!!  Don't get me wrong... I'm not complaining.  It's just a notable observation!

I had some sweet and sour pork for my lunch in a local restaurant in Nippori this afternoon.  It's the exact same staff there as last year!  While I was eating my dinner the restaurant became quiet and the chefs were just standing, staring at the walls inside in the kitchen.  No banter going on.... All very serious! 

I rested for a couple of hours in the afternoon and then headed to Jonathan's Restaurant in Sugamo with my "Japanese for Beginners" book to enjoy dinner and the drinks bar.  P90X Stretching for an hour to help keep my muscles lengthened!  I'll head to Yoyogi National Stadium tomorrow to watch the All-Japan Championships.  Time for the leaba now. 



Thursday July 26th

It is extremely hot and humid here in Tokyo...  There is air conditioning in the dojo...  But they generally don't turn it on... It helps make the training much more difficult, bordering on treacherous at times!  Although, there is a cut-back on electricity usage here in Japan because the nuclear reactors have been shut down.  There is notices everywhere asking people to conserve electricty.  (Photograph of the main street in Sugamo below as I was walking to the dojo.)

I slept okay last night.  The air conditioning in my room is pretty noisy but when I turned it off on a couple of occasions the room became unbearably humid within five minutes. When I arrived at the dojo this morning I was greeted by Ishimine Sensei and Watanabe Sensei.  Ishimine Sensei was anxious to know how long I was back in Japan for.  Yamaguchi Sensei and Nagaki Sensei took the 10.30am - 11.30am session.  Nagaki Sensei took the first half an hour where he concentrated on kihon.  Kizami - gyaku -zuki (40 times each side), maegeri (leg back) kizami, gyaku zuki (40 times each side), Mae geri, yoko geri (to the side) then mawashi-geri (20 times each side).  Nagaki Sensei was emphasising the importance of bringing the kicking leg for mawashi-geri back along the same course that it started out on. We did then ido-kihon up and down the dojo for about ten minutes.  Thankfully, Yamaguchi Sensei asked Nagaki Sensei to give us a break and have a drink. 

Yamaguch Sensei took the remaining 30 minutes.  We did kata.  Hiean Shodan, Junro Shodan, Heian Nidan, Junro Nidan, Heian Sandan and Junro Godan.  Yamaguchi Sensei was stressing the importance of the turn after the second kiai in both Junro Shodan and Junro Nidan.  Junro Shodan - step up to feet shoulder with apart and then turn into uchi uke in kokutsu dachi.  In contrast, the turn in Junro Nidan is come up through the centre and go into kiba dachi before turning uchi-uke in neko-ashi dachi.  We did each of the kata's slowly to teh count once and then fast one count.  Before the class started, almost all of the Sensei's came into the dojo and I made sure that I greeted each of them with a deep bow and a good "Oss!".  Inada Sensei (he gave me a smile while I think he was probably think he was probably conjuring up a plan for me for his next lesson), Makita Sensei and Kanayama Sensei.

As I was walking from the dojo through Sugamo, I was sweating profusely... my tee shirt was saturated and my hair drenched!  When I turned the corner to head down the main street I met Kagawa Sensei.  He saw me a mile off and I greeted him with a deep bow. Awkward!  I got a Suica card at Sugamo Station before I headed back to Nippori.  This is a Japan Rail commuter pass.  It will save me hassle of buying tickets for each journey.  It's specifically for my daily journeys from Nippori to Sugamo.  In addition to that I can put credit on it for when I go outside that zone.  This is very handy as the prices and station names are usually in Japanese at the stations and you wouldn't know what price you have to pay.  This way it will just deduct the correct amount each time. Below is a picture of the Yamanote Line at Sugamo Station and my new Suica card!

When I got back to Nippori I had to meet Kyoko-san (the landlord for the apartment that I'm staying in).  I had to give her the remainder of the rent in addition to a photocopy of my passport which I copied at the local 7-11 store.  I slept for about three hours in the afternoon.  Still trying to recover from yesterday’s flight and the heat just knocks the stuffing out of you here.  I have added a picture of the area in Nippori where I'm staying.  The street you can see here is pedestrianised and lined with small shops and restaurants.  A really nice place.

I headed back for training at the dojo from 7-8pm.  It just would not be possible to do the two hours in the evening.  I actually think that it would be dangerous!  Kagawa Sensei took this class.  It was all adults and a mixture of low grades and black belts.  Watanabe Sensei (who is a new kenshusei) took the beginner grades for the first 30 minutes while Kagawa Sensei took us.  We started off with about fifty squats in shiko-dachi where an emphasis was placed on keeping a straight back, tail bone in while making sure that the knees don't collapse inside.  Kagawa Sensei also wanted us to squeeze as we neared the bottom of the movement and use this to rebound back up.  We then did kihon, a lot of which was the same as this morning with Nagaki Sensei.  We did a lot of ido-kihon where Kagawa Sensei was really stressing the importance of creating kime from the abdomen.  Kagawa Sensei told me to concentrate more on extending my second punch in sanban-zuki.  I tended to be a bit  short.  Everything long and fully extend!  Another technique for example was - step forward mae-geri, back leg mae-geri (and return to behind) then mae-geri off the front leg.  We did all the Heian kata's and Tekki Shodan to finish.  Kagawa Sensei was constantly reminding us to make our techniques long.  One example was the first three moves in Hiean Nidan.  He was saying that people tend to make these short with no hip movement and that this is no good.  Instead we were told to focus on engaging the hip properly for each of the movements.  Same for Tekki Shodan.  

We finished the class off with some ippon kumite.  I faced one of the older guys in the dojo.  Maybe mid fifties.  Kagawa Sensei demonstrated the movements first of all.  He seemed quite relaxed and wasn't going in very fast.  I thought that I would replicate the same.  So... I started with Jodan zuki - nice and relaxed... not flying in.  Kagawa Sensei stopped me and asked me to do it again... This time fast!  Okay...!  I launched myself into Jodan and put the gut under pressure.  I smacked him with chudan... Kagawa Sensei looking on all the time.  Mae-geri, yoko-geri, mawashi-geri and ushiro-geri... still in good and strong.  I made the guy work hard and caught him with a couple.  We were really struggling with the floor at this stage.  Next up.. it was my turn to defend.. Kagawa Sensei still looking on eagerly... I was thinking what way this guy would attack me... He looked like an older Nagaki Sensei!  First up Jodan.... BANG!.. I totally miss timed the block... Welcome to Japan I guess!  That belt tuned me in straght away... He won't do THAT to me again! I had no problems defending the remainder of the techniques.  This guy was very very good and fast!  We changed partners for this three times altogether. No problems.  I gave as good as I got.

After class, I was talking with a westerner who is training at the dojo - Nicholas from France, a white belt who has been training at the dojo since December.  He lives and works in Tokyo and has excellent Japanese.  Actually there is a younger guy from Kuwait who is also training at the dojo for the summer. Ahmad is his name.  His mother is Japanese.  He doesn't seem to be JKS as he doesn't know the Junro kata.  He's a good guy though and trains hard.  He just trains in the mornings!  Probably wise!

After training, I stayed around the dojo for about 20 minutes taking with the members... We would all say "Otsu-kara-same-deshita" - this basically means well done for your hard training!  I stopped at Jonathan's in Sugamo for a high calorie dinner (photo below) and the much appreciated drinks bar!  I was pretty weak and tired as I got the train back to Nippori.  You can't really walk too fast around Tokyo at this time of year!  It's just way too hot!

I thought that the holder for the receipt was conveying an important message in a cool way!

No training again until next Monday morning.  The All-Japan Championships take place this weekend and the dojo closed after tonight’s class.     

July 25th, 2012 - Return to Japan

Last week I decided that the time was right to return to Japan after last years natural disaster.  During the long 11.5 hour flight, I couldn't help but ask myself the question - "What am I at.... heading back out to Japan...?".... "Will another earthquake occur?".... "Surely it would have been more relaxing and less expensive to head off on a sun holiday...?".... Anybody who has trained in Japan even for a short period of time knows that it's a physical and mental struggle.  I'm not back here to prove anything to anybody.  I'm back here because of the Japanese people and most of all the instructors at the Hombu Dojo.  They have a presence that can make even the strongest karateka nervous...while having a keen eye for detail, they expect you to give 110% at all times, they will help you if you try hard and I think that they have this ability to generate a highly charged atmosphere that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world... I respect this so much and this is why I'm back!

So since when I left Japan last year, I went into hiding in order to finish my Ph.D..  I graduated last August and I was given a lecturing position in my hometown university last January.  Thankfully my life is very good at the moment and I have an awful lot to be thankful for.

When I arrived at Nippori Station from Narita Airport today, it felt as if I never left Japan.  Strangely everything came to be automatically... I didn't have to think twice about what exit I was taking or where I was heading.  It was pretty cool to be able to recognise some local faces as well!  I was shattered when I got to my apartment.  I'm right across the corridor from where I was staying last year.  I will take some photographs tomorrow and post them.  I didn't think that I would be able to make training because I was feeling so tired.  But after about three hours sleep, I was refreshed and raring to go!  Back down to Nippori Station and the Yamanote Line to Sugamo... 6 minutes!

When I arrived at the dojo, I could hear Kanayama Sensei yelling when I opened the entrance door.  Too late to turn back now...!!!  Yamaguchi Sensei was training in the back of the class.  He came straight over and gave me a very warm greeting.  That helped to ease the nerves!  I think he was happy to see me.  Kanayama Sensei was really drilling the 6-7pm class as I was warming up by the side.  He appears to frighten the life out of the kids but has a very good way with them all the same.  They can really get the most out of the kids at the Hombu Dojo.  You cannot but admire the parent's decision in sending their kids to arguably the toughest place to train on the planet!

It was really great to see Paul, Ronnie and Sarah from JKS Scotland at the dojo tonight.  They have been here for the last 10 days and tonight was their fifteenth and final session before they head home tomorrow.  Yamaguchi Sensei took the 7-8pm class.  I was concerned about the heat and humidity and the risk of slipping... So I placed a towel by the side.  They don't every seem to turn on the air conditioning even though it's 30 degrees +....  Helps make the training harder!

Yamaguchi Sensei concentrated on kihon drills for the first thirty minutes.  Starting with gyaku-zuki, switch legs (staying in same position) - gyaku-zuki, mae-geri (leg back), kizami, gyaku-zuki.  20 times each side. From zenkutsu dachi, snap legs together into kosa-dachi, kekomi to the side and back to kosa-dachi and then return to zenkutsu-dachi.  20 times each side again.  We did something similar with ura-mawashi-geri.  Concentraing on a particular type of foot movement.  Mayashi mae-geri, stepping back gedan-barai and gyaku-zuki.  Same again 20 times each side.  We then went on to practice these type of movement through kumite drills.  One line and four people attacking one person.  The class concluded with Ni-jishiho.  Yamaguchi Sensei was emphasising long, wave type movements.  Thankfully I was able to draw my breath on a few occasions during the kata practice!

After training, Yamaguchi Sensei and Kanayama Sensei brought everybody out for dinner to mark the end of Paul, Ronnie and Sarah's time at the dojo.  It was great to get out and I put my Japanese-English dictionary to use on a few occasions!  We all said goodnight at around 10.15pm and it's time for me to say goodnight now!  Next training session is tomorrow morning at 10.30am.  I'll get up early and do some P90X Stretching!  Goodnight from Tokyo. Diarmaid