Sensei Linda Marchant - IOGKF England (EGKA)
documented her experience at the Chief Instructors
Gasshuku in Okinawa via social media and it has been
shared below for IOGKF members...
Day one: of the Gasshuku and we are on the 2nd floor of the Budokan. It
has the smoothest of floors so there is no excuse for not performing a long
suri ashi, so much so that it is now challenging to stop!! The focus today
was on sanchin, tensho and kururunfa, with some suri ashi practice, block
and attack techniques, then kurarunfa applications. Thanks to Sensei Joe
Roses for being a great partner.
We also had a short lecture from the physio doctor who also treated some
of the participants with great success. They are all now able to move their
bodies better and some can sit in nekoashi for the first time in years!
I have now registered for my grading so countdown begins in earnest to
Friday afternoon. I dont know how many others there will be until tomorrow when registration closes.
Day two: and great sessions on Tensho, sepai and Suparimpei today. This is a very Zen Gasshuku as the schedule
changes every day so it tests your Zanchin (focus)! I managed to fit in a quick training session tonight just to run
through things in Sensei's dojo. Then I met up with Sensei Purvis Mistry from India and had a read of his new book
on Sanchin and we had a short study session on it. The book is truly wonderful and interesting and an easy to read
for such a technical subject.
Then we all met up with Sensei’s Ernie, Roy, Paul, Steve and Reena for dinner and have just finished having had
another study session with Sensei’s Roy and Zeenat on the art of cake selection and eating!!
Day three: we had a lecture with Minau Sensei on The importance of Nutrition. He advises the Japanese Olympic
Committee and the World Cup Soccer team. This was very technical and I took many notes.
Then I went home to prepare for the grading. I needed to wash my gi for the next day and have some lunch. I
walked to the dojo about 16.20 and waved to Higaonna Sensei on his balcony. I made sure that I was thoroughly
warmed up and then we started at 17.00 sharp. The panel consisted of Sensei’s Higaonna, Bakkies, Terauchi, Ernie,
Henrik and Nakamura. This is as serious as it gets with over 250 years of experience scrutinizing your every
move!!! We all performed all the katas, Sanchin, Tensho, Suparimpei applications and then Chishi, nigiri game,
kakie and some verbal questions. I then met up with Sensei Peter Lembke from Germany who was also testing, in
Mama sans for a snack! We were then joined by Sensei’s Roy, Paul, Steve and Reena. This was a nice way to finish
a busy day!!!
Today was the last session and it lived up to all our expectations. First hour Sanchin, then next hour plus, all kata
from Gekasai dai ichi to Sanseru. The last section was more body conditioning and ippon kumite. As we were on
the Judo tatami, ukemi and take downs were practiced. All washed down with jumping and clapping press ups
with a final session of body rolling!!
Then we had a short lecture on Higaonna Sensei' s history. His first visit to South Africa in 1972, and stories about
Bakkies Sensei, Terauchi Sensei, Uehara Sensei and Kokobo Sensei in Yoyogi dojo, Tokyo. There was even a
connection to Bruce Lee! The lecture concluded with Higaonna Sensei and Bakkies Sensei saying that the reason
they are still training is the people around them. Higaonna Sensei said that he felt a lot of energy from everyone
that inspires him to train hard. I would like to echo those sentiments. have loved every minute of this trip, first class training,
all the IOGKF family on form and