JAPAN TRAINING - July 21, 2013 - OMAGARI

Yesterday, as mentioned, the Budokan was used as a voting precinct so we all jumped the train to the next station east of Omagari where Shihan Fujiwara's senior instructor lives, and trained in a large gymnasium, which was surrounded by beautiful green rice fields.  The train ride was only ten minutes, but the walk to the training hall was about 30 minutes.  Japan is totally under cultivation as there are many people and not a large amount of land that isn't mountainous.   Walking over to the hall, everywhere I looked,  something was growing.  The hedges were covered with interesting spiderwebs with nice, fat spiders sitting patiently for their next meal.  Everything is so lush and abundant.  Shihan Yabunaga, originally from Hokaido, told me the younger Japanese no longer want to be involved in agriculture, so in many areas of the rural Japan, people will allow you to live in the houses for free just so someone is caring for it.  They have had to make agriculture highly mechanized to keep up production.

We were joined today by about 40 Japanese karate kids, who quite frankly,  make us look a bit clumsy.  They trained 6 hours just like we did and they tough it out and never complain or whine in the least.  Much is expected of them and they live up to those expectations.  The morning session was devoted entirely to kata.  Sounds easy, huh?  It is not.  It is over and over and over.  Correction, correction, correction.  If Shihan doesn't think something is up to standard,  he will show us the proper way once or twice, and then we will spend the next 20 minutes doing it up and back down the entire hall until he feels satisfied we are getting it.  Then on to the next.

After lunch break, in which I was treated to an acupuncture treatment while lying on a playground bench, we moved on to kumite drills which were highly effective and spirited.  You have to understand that Seiwakai has the deserved reputation of being strong fighters, from the teaching skills of Tasaki Shihan.

We have some really tough men and women who enjoy mixing it up, especially the Australians and the Slovaks.  Their toughness is over the top and it would not be good to tango with them.
Unfortunately for me, I had to pull back after the first drill as my back and hips were seizing up.  But being a senior instructor doesn't mean you DO everything.  We are also expected to be very observant in order to bring it all back to our own countries and teach our students according to standards.  Plus, I am grading for JKF Gojukai 6th dan in Wakayama, and somehow must figure how to both work hard and try to recover in the lower body.  It is not an easy balance.

The last hour we were broken into groups according to dan rank to work our particular kata -- rokudan required kata is Seisan.  So despite hardly being able to support my body weight, I must work a kata with multiple kensetsu geri (knee kicks) and 180 degree turns while on one leg.  The first ten or twelve reps were pure hell, but then interestingly enough, you transcend the pain and become quite focused on just the doing.  That is the breakthrough moment and it really is a transcendent thing.

I went to dinner with Sensei Moskie to a yakitori grill since we were both needing meat.  MEAT!  Grrrrrr....  you grill everything on a small charcoal grill so it is very leisurely and you have the opportunity to talk and enjoy bite by bite.  Quite different from throwing a 16 oz. Sirloin on your plate and acting like a wolf.  The food and service were typically awesome.

 Well, my laundry is finished.  The attached photo is the most artful wall in my wonderful little laundry.  It is time to get back to the ryokan and grab a bite and a Motrin before heading to the Budokan.  Wish me well.   More later.

                                          The other training hall.  Petty nice!

                                          Ready to start.

                                          The man - Shihan Fujiwara's - feet.

                                          My little laundrymat.

                                          The walk from the station to the training hall.

                                Iran, South Africa, Iran.

JAPAN TRAINING - JULY 18, 2013 - OMAGARI

It is 6:20 a.m. and I'm sitting in front of the ryokan because it's the only place to get wifi.  Des Tuck Sensei is wandering about the parking lot with his tablet, still in his yukata robe from the bath.  All the gaijin here in quaint little Omagari is very interesting for the locals I'm sure.  The folks here are extremely helpful, friendly, and courteous.

I've been up since about four, since that's when it gets light here in the summer.  Already bathed and soaked and am trying to get the body together after yesterday's hard training.

The first hour of training is always the hardest because the sweat begins to pour and you're thinking, hummmm, only 6 more hours.  You just have to be able to go within yourself and just stay in the moment.  I have already learned so much and gleaned more of the nuances that make goju-ryu so incredible.

There are some very tough characters training this year.  A dozen Slovaks are here and quite a few Aussies, all of whom are very big and don't mind whacking each other around in the kumite drills.  What I've noticed is that when you are only intent on power, you miss out on what Goju is all about.  Shihan Fujiwara is the perfect example of how speed, tai sabaki, movement, and finesse can stand up to the biggest and strongest.

We worked several hours of kumite drills and made it up through Seipai kata.  The last hour is especially difficult as you have to dig deeply to keep going when the body - especially the joints -- are screaming for you to STOP!  This morning I am feeling the cumulative effect and am looking forward to tomorrow as it is our mid-training rest day.  I'm pretty certain I'll be toast come tonight.

Last night after dinner, many of the senior instructors sat about the dining area chatting and having a bit of wine.  Fujiwara Shihan joined us for the last hour.  What impresses me is the amazing variety of people in this organization.  It is an honor to be a part of it.

                               The ryokan at 4:30 a.m.

                               Boss Coffee and my wifi bench at the Gran Mart.

                                In my room.

                               Desmond Tuck, Boss Coffee representative.

                                Demo'ing kumite drills.

JAPAN TRAINING - JULY 17, 2013 - OMAGARI

I am in the little laundromat across the street from the Fujiwara ryokan, as washing after training is absolutely necessary because your karategi is trashed from all the sweat and a little blood here and there.  After a day of training, my gi weighs at least three or four pounds (yes, pounds) heavier from all the water weight.  You will drink fluids at every break and never need to pee.  No exaggeration.
This morning it was raining quite heavily but there was a slight break about the time to start for the dojo -- about a 25 minute walk -- so I chanced it and did just make it before the sky opened up and it poured until lunch break, which meant the humidity was sky high and within 10 minutes of starting training we were all drenched with sweat.  That's about the time you begin to question your motivation.

The training is always excellent with Fujiwara Shihan and this year is no different.  We began with many repitions of various moving basics then returned to Sanchin and Tensho.   Shihan always mixes in plenty of kumite based partner drills so your arms begin to acquire a plethora of beautiful purple bruises.  Fortunately I had a partner from Vancouver, BC who has good kime, so we are not too beat down.

In the afternoon session, we worked our way up through Sanseiru kata, always working numerous repetitions slowly, then moving on to normal speed.  Trying to do kensetsu geri (kicks to the knees) very slowly when your own knees are so tired they wobble is a special torture.  By the time five o'clock arrives you are more than ready to shed the wet karategi!  I always try to walk to and from the dojo just to keep my knees lubricated, even though the walk back seems to take twice as long.

The Fujiwara ryokan has a wonderful bath area with a very hot soaking tub.  After washing yourself, to immerse your tired body in the extremely hot water is a delicious treat.  The water is so hot that once immersed, you try not to move because it feels even hotter.  I like  to soak then shower again with cold water.  Then repeat three or four times and the aches are gone.

The ryokan is also very well known for its food. I can see why.  Every meal is scrumptious and presented in beautiful fashion, usually with a big mug of draft beer.  I think they know what we karateka need after a long day of training.

I made the mistake of laying down on my futon and the next thing I knew it was 4:30 a.m. and I was still in my yukata robe. Of course by 4 a.m. it is completely light here in the land of the rising sun.  Time to begin again!

That's it for now.