Monday August 6th

The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on this day 67 years ago.

Below are some photographs from my weekend adventures around Tokyo!

Riding up front on the Yamanote Line through downtown Tokyo



The busiest pedestrian crossing in the world at Shibuya



Soaking up the early Sunday morning atmosphere around the trendy Harajuku district



Spectacular entrance to the Meiji Shrine



Inside the Meiji Shrine area... no photographs allowed up close!



Tokyo Green Park... Activities of all sorts taking place here!

 I'm in a bit of bother with an injury to my right hip. Thankfully after a weekend of rest, it is feeling a little better today.  It's something that I will need to get looked at with I get home.  I'll struggle on for the remainder of the week!

I arrived at the dojo around 6.15pm this evening.  Kagawa Sensei, Kai Sensei and Watanabe Sensei were teaching the 6-7pm class when I arrived.  All of the Sensei's were teaching small groups of students.  Kagawa Sensei was teaching two young black belts..  I sat and observed in both awe and keen interest for 40 minutes!  Kagawa Sensei was teaching the kids Kanku-sho.  The kids must have been maybe... 13 years old (a boy) and 11 years old (a girl).  They have really nice karate and you could see that Kagawa Sensei was trying to fine tune everything.  Kagawa Sensei spent quite a bit of time working on the spinning movement where you strike the open left hand with your right foot and spin around and land on all fours... Kagawa Sensei was stressing the importance of keeping the head in the same position for the spinning element and the immediate rebound into low shuto-uke (gedan).  This was almost like plyometric training to look at it!  Kagawa Sensei gave the kids a break on three occasions and he performed the kata each time!  He was impressive as always... very relaxed, exceptionally dynamic and brilliantly powerful!  He did seem a little out of breath each time he finished and he used to joke about something with the kids... He is human after all!

There were six of us training in the 7-8pm class.   There was a visitor in for one night.  A man maybe in his mid to late fifties I'd say.... From Montreal... He told me after class that he had been in Tokyo for the last three weeks and that he thought that he couldn't pass up the opportunity to train at the Hombu Dojo!  I can tell you that he got an almighty experience!!  It was an exceptionally hard but brilliant class.  Kagawa Sensei certainly wound up through the gears tonight!


We started off the class with "simple" kizami, gyaku-zuki, kizami from zenkutsu-dachi.  First two punches (one count)... 20 times and then three punches (one count)... 10 times..  we did the exact same on the opposite side... Then from zenkustu dachi... Mae geri, yoko geri (to the side) and then mawashi-geri (to the front)... Individual count first... 30 kicks... Then three kicks one count... .10 times... Exact same on the right side...

Next we progressed to a very intensive 15 minute spell of ido-kihon... up and down the dojo.  Every technique seven times forward and seven time backwards (or the other direction)... Starting with oi-zuki.... age uke gyaku-zuki... mae-geri... soto uke gyaku zuki... mae geri, oi zuki.... uchi uke gyaku zuki... mawashi geri... shuto uke....  mawashi geri gyaku zuki... Yoko geri keage and kekomi.... ushiro geri... ushiro geri gyaku zuki...  We had a very small amount of time to recover from each technique... I'll be honest... I was fairly struggling when we reached the ushiro-geri's.... it had become very difficult to keep snapping everything.... You are just in survival mode at this stage.... You can only think of one technique at a time....

With only about 10 seconds of a break, Kagawa Sensei paired us together and we each got a towel... Sit ups... 140 sit ups... straight off... When we finished we turned on to our stomachs and did the inverse of a sit up to strengthen our back... again 140 times... Absolutely wrecked at this stage... I could see the guy from Montreal... he was hardly able to pick himself off the floor... Welcome to the JKS Hombu Dojo sir!  We had a quick one minute break where we wiped our sweat up off the floor and tried to intake some much needed liquid!

After this Kagawa Sensei brought us through a very nice drill wich involved all sorts of elbow strikes... Starting from shizen-tai and then using these same strikes in a variety of stances... straight stepping and spinning movements... Very nice and I think the purpose of the techniques were to encourage us to relax and to use our whole bodies... We also did a very nice technique where you start say left side zenkutsu-dachi and open left hand straight out in front... Strike the left hand with the rear leg (somewhat like Kanku-Sho)... bring leg back to starting position... next you left your front leg straight out as if pulling in a leg with your front foot (like ashi-barai I guess)... squeeze the leg into the chest and then push forward qyaku-zuki.... We did this 20 times each side... Very nice technique and one to practice..

We then went through all the Heian kata... Watanabe Sensei and Kai Sensei took one of the beginners and the visiting Canadian aside to give them individual tuition on their kata... This was very nice for the Canadian guy... It must have been a dream come through to be experiencing and class like this and then getting individual attention...  Kagawa Sensei worked on the Heian kata and Tekki Shodan with four of us... He spent quite a bit of time on the "foot lift" inside movement in Tekki Shodan... We did a very nice exercise to help with this and it resembled some sort of a dance...  It was very effective and kind of fun as well!

Finally we finished with Jion... Kagawa Sensei spent quite a bit of time helping us with the transition into and the execution of the age uke's and gyaku-zuki's before the first kiai.  Absolutely shattered at the end but it was a really brilliant class and lots learned... This included the observations during the 6-7pm class which are also very important for me.  I'm pictured below with the famous Sensei's Kai and Watanabe after training.  Back in the dojo again tomorrow morning.  Time for the leaba now... Getting to sleep can be difficult when you're still wired after training.



Pictured with Kai Sensei (left) and Watanabe Sensei (right).

   

A little treat after training!

Friday August 3rd

Visiting Japan for training is difficult....  when you travel on your own it is a lot more difficult.  I have visited Japan on two occasions with groups led by Scott Sensei.  It is a fantastic experience coming here with a group.  You get a feel for the dojo, the intensity of training and life in Tokyo.  When you're here on your own it is a different kettle of fish.  Nobody can motivate you to go to the dojo only yourself.  You wait for the class to begin and you wonder if you are going to be the only person training.  The classes are generally very small at the dojo... Five or six student's training at most... There is no place to hide... Every weakness is spotted... You are constantly being watched!  If I was training here with a group of foreigeners, I doubt if I would have had the experience I had yesterday morning.  Oh... that was a pretty big shake... Earthquake!  First big one I felt since I arrived...!  Thankfully it has passed...!  I have decided that if I need to run out of the building that I must just remember to bring my wallet and phone!  No need to run outside this time.  The last time I did that was March 11th, 2011..  You can see below that the earthquake I just felt was a 4.9 magnitude with the epicentre near the south coast of Japan.  You can see all the lastest earthquakes at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.html .  There has been some activity around Japan this evening... I must have been in the dojo when the previous one hit!

Anyway... getting back to the dojo...!  I didn't train this morning.  I decided that I would give my body a rest.  I had a pain in my head and my jaw was sore when I woke up.  I must admit that my decision not to go "all out" and train every single session this week is paying off.  I am feeling fit and strong.  It has been a gradual progression.  My fitness wasn't as good as it could have been before I arrived... I'm not too far away from being where I want now!




Entrance to the JKS Hombu Dojo in Sugamo, Tokyo

When I arrived at the dojo this evening, it was Makita Sensei who was teaching.  Kanayama Sensei was there as well.... armed with his shinai and correcting the kids who were training.  The kids at the dojo are so good!  Most of them train every single day from 6-7pm.  They are very sharp and relaxed.  There is one girl in particular who seems to struggle a little... She is about 5 or 6 years old and very petite...  A white belt, beginner... She does every technique very gracefully... She doesn't panic...  You can tell all the Sensei's are mad about her... Even Kanayama Sensei!  He gave her a really hard time in class tonight.  Constantly giving out to her and keeping her on her toes!  At one stage he said something to her and she appeared to lash back with some words... She seemed frustrated!  The other kids started smiling as did Kanayama Sensei and Makita Sensei!  There always seems to be one or two kids who are struggling and look as if they would prefer to be elsewhere..! However, they always seem to come good!  This is for a number of reasons... the pressure put on them by the instructors, the interest they show in them, the amount of times they train every week and above all their parents!  The parents of the younger kids are always sitting in the reception area of the dojo.  You have to admire them for perseverence in bringing their kids to training... It really pays off!  I often thank my own parents for doing the same for me!
Makita Sensei took the 7-8pm class.  There were only five of us training.  We started the class with squats... lots of squats from shiko-dachi!  When we were finished these we stayed down in the squat position for 60 slow counts.  Then 40 squats from shizentai position.  Again staying down in the end for 60 slow counts... Then 60 lunges... After these we did mae-geri (to the front), yoko geri (to the side) and mawashi-geri (to the front).  30 kicks each side... After this we did some ido-kihon up and down the dojo... Particular emphasis was on techniques with neko-ashi dachi and spinning techniques also.  Makita Sensei was stressing the importance of hamne / shomen ... contraction / expansion.

We did kata for the last twenty minutes... I was feeling pretty good at this stage... I was able to recover quickly between drills.  We did Junro Shodan and Junro Yandan... Nice and relaxed at first... Applying what Makita Sensei was stressing in the kihon training... Makita Sensei asked me to go to the back of the class to lead two of the brown belts and one beginner as we were faced down the dojo... We then did our Tokui Kata... Favourite kata... I stayed with Junro Yandan as I wanted to practice it... Firstly, the brown belts and beginner went out on to the floor.  Then Kasuya-san and myself did our kata.  Kanayama Sensei was looking on all the time as was Makita Sensei... I felt I did okay... My technique was clean and sharp but I would like to feel a little more relaxed in my shoulders... Total relaxation is made more difficult when the eyes of two of the best karate instructors in the world are watching you!  But that's what makes training here so great!  We did this tokui kata twice and the clas finished up.  I noticed that the other students were absolutely wrecked after the session.  I was drenched in sweat and tired but I still felt strong!  Time to push on harder next week and up my training! 

I'm pictured below with Makita Sensei after tonight's class.  He is former world kata champion.  He is technically brilliant and he has an excellent knowledge of kata.  His eye for detail is second to none and he is always very encouraging.  I think that he might have some administrative duties in the JKS headquarters office because he doesn't appear to be at morning training every day.  An exceptional talent.




Makita Sensei (Headquarters Instructor) and myself



Thursday August 2nd

A day of mixed emotions...!  It's a real love / hate relationship here in Tokyo!

Yamaguchi Sensei took this mornings class at the dojo.  There were only four students training (including myself)... so the kenshusei (Watanabe Sensei & Okamoto Sensei) and Kamal, Kai and Nagaki Sensei's joined in as well.  We started off with some kihon... punching from shizentai position... mae-geri from hesoku-dachi.... Then progressing on to kizami-gyaku-kizami from zenkustsu.... kizami-mae-geri, mae-geri from zenkustu... all techniques 40 times each side... Feeling good and sharp at this stage.  Yamaguchi Sensei then got us to stand feet together, crouch all the way down, keeping feet flat and we commenced mae-geri from this position.... 30 times... Extreme burning and pain in the legs... It was so difficult to maintain posture and as the legs became tired it was very very difficult to snap back (hiki-ashi) the leg correctly.  We did some ido-kihon up and down the dojo after this.

Next up was kata... All the junro kata... Twice to the count and then once one count.  I picked up a few things... One example was the second move in Junro Nidan... Rather than bringing the uchi-uke hand back to the hip in preparation, Yamaguchi Sensei told me to make the transition from gedan-barai to uchi uke position more natural and not bring the blocking hand all the way back to the hip.  Lots of other things were emphasised.  When we had gone through all the Junro kata, Yamaguchi Sensei called them all out at random and we had to do them with speed and power.  It was all very sweaty at this stage!

With about ten minutes left in the class we were invited to take our first break and we were asked to fetch our kumite mitts.  Yamaguchi Sensei paired me up with Watanabe Sensei... the new All-Japan kumite champion.  First off we did one minute each where one side attacked and the other defended... Bang, bang, bang...!  I'd say Watanabe Sensei still thought that he was on the tatami at the national championships!  I held my own and blocked as much as I could.  He is very very fast and strong! I was next up to attack... I kept on the front foot and threw as much as I could at him while trying to stay controlled and relaxed at the same time...  We then finished up and it was time for Jiyu-kumite... Free sparring.

At this stage, Inada Sensei, Yamaguchi Sensei and Kanayama Sensei were all glued to myself and Watanabe Sensei.  I think the other instructors were sparring with the other student's... I couldn't afford to look around.  This two minute spell was probably the hardest bout that I have ever had... one exception might have been some Jiyu-kumite I did with Yamaguchi Sensei last year.  Watanabe Sensei literally wanted to take my head off with every punch and kick that he threw.  It was so difficult to try and contain him.  For me, this wasn't dojo kumite... Watanabe Sensei was in competition mode... In - bang, bang and Out.... In - bang, bang and Out!  I kept blocking and countering as best I could but Watanabe was bossing the fight... I didn't feel that it was an even playing field... I couldn't risk throwing myself at him with the same lack of control that he was using...  This is their dojo... I'm only the visitor!  On a number of occasions he tried to come inside me and take me down with a foot sweep... I was all tuned into this and avoided his leg sweep everytime... If he did take me down, I was going to bring him to the floor with me.  I was too strong and clever for him when he came inside... I was so frustrated with him at one stage that I just wanted to ram him against the mirror and burst his head off it... But of course I didn't... that would be very foolish! 

Finally with about 10 seconds left in the bout... BANG!  He hit me with such a blow to my chin with a punch that I thought my jaw was broken.... Luckily he met me square on... It was lights out for me.... Yamaguchi Sensei immediately called "Yame"... Game over... I couldn't catch my breath...  It wasn't because of tiredness but the shock of that final blow.  I bowed to him and shook his hand.... In my mind I was calling him every name under the sun....!  We bowed out the class and somehow I had enough breath the shout out the dojo-kun as loud as I could... I wasn't going to let it be shown that I was in trouble...

Still struggling to catch my breath, I got changed and bowed to each of the instructor's as I bowed out.  I made a special effort to bow to Watanabe Sensei and say "arigato-gozaimusta" with complete composure... If only he knew what I was really thinking..! As I walked down through Sugamo as I was doing my best to try and get my breathing right... There was so much water running down my face...  Sweat AND tears!  When I arrived at Jonathan's I kept wiping my face with a towel... I was totally wound up at this stage... Every thought running through my mind... But one thing was for sure... I was going back to the dojo this evening... I was not going to give in to them!

When I got back to my apartment I tried to get some sleep.  Not a chance... Still wound up and replaying everything in my mind...  I'm here to practice karate, train hard and learn!  I am in awe of these instructor's... Why do they need to do things like this?  Basically the answer is.... the likes of Watanabe Sensei went to university for four years with one purpose... to practice karate everyday at Teikyo University, get on to the Instructor's programme at the JKS Hombu Dojo and make a living from karate.  I went to university to get a degree and a Ph.D.. 

I had a fair idea that it would be Kagawa Sensei and Yamaguchi Sensei teaching at the dojo this evening...  I had a couple of gifts for them so I brought them along with me.  I arrived at the dojo around 6.20pm to observe the 6-7pm class being taught.  Kagawa Sensei seemed in very relaxed form... as did Yamaguchi Sensei.  Both greeted me with a smile when I bowed towards them..  There was six students (including myself) training in the 7-8pm class.  Yamaguchi Sensei took the first 40 minutes as Kagawa Sensei looked on.  This was a brilliant class and Yamaguchi Sensei really spiced things up.  Kihon, working on different angles and movement.  Out of all the Sensei's, I think Yamaguchi Sensei has the most creativity in his teaching.  He was placing a lot of importance on the role of the standing leg when performing mae-geri and ushiro-geri.  A straight leg is no good.  The leg must be bent initially and then use this potential energy to explode everthing forward.  We also did lots of spinning techniques and the main thing that Yamaguchi Sensei was emphasising was the importance of turing in a straight line and not around.

Kagawa Sensei took the last twenty minutes where we practiced Junro Shodan and Junro Nidan.  It was fairly hot and sweaty and this stage but Kagawa Sensei was in relaxed form.  He was emphasising the use of the whole body for every movement and keeping relaxed.  He pulled me out in the end and got me to do Junro Nidan as far as the first kiai.  He seemed happy enough with my movement but was concerned that my shoulders were a little too stiff... I need to relax more!  Class over at this stage... Delighted that I came :)

After we cleaned the floor I went to Yamaguchi Sensei and gave him his gift.  It was a Waterford Crystal minature harp.  I then told him that I also had a gift for Kagawa Sensei.  Yamagauchi Sensei went into Kagawa Sensei in the instructor's changing room.  Kagawa Sensei invited me in and I gave him the gift and told him what it was in Japanese.  A Waterford Crystal paper weight with a harp sandblasted underneath.  Kagawa Sensei jokingly asked if it was "magic crystal" with "powers" and I had to assure him that it wasn't!  He then asked me why I was "only" staying for three weeks and I told him "job Sensei"...!  Both himself and Yamaguchi Sensei thanked me and I left the changing room bowing respectfully.  I never thought that I would see the inside of that place!

I treated myself to a high calorie snack (picture below) after training... I think I deserved it!  Back in the dojo again tomorrow.  A day of very mixed emotions but I'm glad that I'm going to bed satisfied!

   

Wednesday August 1st

Okamoto Sensei and Watanabe Sensei were at the dojo this morning when I arrived... Cleaning down the mirrors, washing the other Sensei's dogi's... all part of the job when you are a kenshusei.  I had a funny feeling that I had fought Watanabe Sensei at the All-Japan Championships in 2009...  He looked like the guy but I was never quite sure until this morning... He is missing his top front teeth!  Although I never knew who he was back then, Watanabe Sensei was very strong in kumite at that championship in 2009.  He beat Makita Sensei after he beat me and he went on to win bronze... Losing to Nagaki Sensei in the final!  Watanabe Sensei won the All-Japan kumite title last Sunday.  I have included a photograph of the two of us below after our fight in 2009.

I am pictured here with Watanabe Sensei at the All-Japan's in 2009

There was a man and woman seated in the reception area of the dojo when I entered this morning.  They seemed as if they were important.  I bowed, said "ohayo-gozaimas" and carried on to the changing room.  Kai Sensei and Inada Sensei arrived for the class.  It was only myself and two kids that were training this morning. I was the senior grade, therefore I lined everybody up and bowed in the class. So... Kai Sensei led the class and Inada Sensei, Watanabe Sensei and Okamoto Sensei all joined in.  Starting with kihon and ido-kihon.  Inada Sensei and Kai Sensei were giving out quite a bit to one of the kids.  His technique wasn't the best and he wasn't being allowed to get away with it!  I was feeling quite strong and sharp... all the time, Inada Sensei was prowling around and studying my every move!

After about 25 minutes of kihon training we progressed to some pad work.  I was paired with Watanabe Sensei first... 40 gyaku-zuki's... making sure you slide in with the front leg and push back out after executing the technique.  I then held the pads for Watanabe Sensei as he did the same.  Inada Sensei was standing right beside us... He must have been happy enough as didn't say anything to any of us.  The instructor's are never afraid to correct Watanabe Sensei during class.  We then did mae-geri... 40 times... Kizami gyaku-zuki... 40 times... and finally mawashi-geri... pull leg back every time... 40 times... All the time Inada Sensei studying our every move.  We then did one minute each where one person held the pads in various positions and the other person had to react.  We then rotated and I went on to Kai Sensei and finally Okamoto Sensei... I tried as hard as I possibly could and I was wrecked at the end... but felt great in a strange sort of way!

Kai Sensei and Inada Sensei then took me on my own for kata while Okamoto Sensei and Watanabe Sensei took the two junior brown belts.  Kai Sensei asked me what kata I would like to do and I said Sochin.  This was for two reasons... firstly we had practiced it yesterday with Nagaki Sensei and secondly I felt that I had a lot to improve on!  No pressure then as Kai Sensei and Inada Sensei looked on.... I must admit that I was both tired and very nervous at this stage... I did it twice to Kai Sensei's count and then once on my own speed and power.  I feel I still have a lot to work on.... especially focusing on correct form in my fudo-dachi through out.  Kai Sensei like Nagaki Sensei was stressing the importance of keeping the movements big while Inada Sensei was keen to have me executing the slow techniques with the correct timing.  Grea class!  I bowed out the class and led the dojo kun at the top of my voice... all the time Kagawa Sensei, Yamaguchi Sensei and Kanayama Sensei were in their office in the back.

So... the two people sitting at the front entrance... Nagaki Sensei was not training and he seemed to be showing them around the dojo... My impression was that they were insurance people possibly... Towards the end of class, Kagawa Sensei was having words with them... I got the impression that tensions were high among the Sensei's when our class finished.... I got a drink of water in thechanging room and came back outside to the dojo to stretch for 10 minutes or so.... This is the norm!  Almost immediately after I went back out into the dojo, Kagawa Sensei came out on to the dojo floor.  I bowed and he acknowledged... I had a gut feeling that there was something strange going on!  Kagawa Sensei doesn't usually come out on to the floor this early.  All of the Sensei's seemed to be nervous and on edge... I thought to myself.. "it's time to get the hell out of here..."!  So I went to the changing room and got changed as quick as I could.  I bowed to all the instructors as I was leaving.  I guess they were getting ready for the call from Kagawa Sensei to start "Instructor's Training".  As I left the dojo building the two people who I thought were insurance people were outside on the street on their hands and knees trying to sort boxes of items... So, I'm thinking that things possibly ended badly with Kagawa Sensei and that they were asked to leave.... That's all that I can make out of the whole situation!!  I belted off to Jonathan's for my lunch.  It was much easier to eat today for some reason!

I just think that the story above where I had a gut feeling that things weren't right and that I should leave the dojo is something very important... You really need to be "tuned in" as to what goes on in the dojo and what the atmosphere is like...  Respect and the hierarchy drive absolutely everything...

It was very nice to meet up with Nick Gardner and a buddy of his for coffee in the hot Shibuya sunshine this afternoon.  It's always great to meet up with Nick as you can ask him things about Tokyo life and he can give you a great insight as to what is happening around!  I was back in Nippori around 6pm and had intended to go back to the dojo for evening training.  However, I decided against it when I came back.  I'm going to train in the morning and evening tomorrow instead.  I hope to do the same on Friday.  I think that I'll be all set to go in to "burn out" mode next week then!  So.. I had a read of a newspaper for the evening and had another dinner in one of the local restaurants here in Nippori!

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