Fighting and travelling - JKA Karateka from Cyprus

This month Sensei Ogane will be teaching on several days on-line, check the JKA website for details on attending classes. We did Nijushiho kata move by move last weekend. Excellent teaching with attention to detail. Oss.

Another great Zoom seminar from the JKA, Sensei Ueda teaching Maai and Kumite was very interesting this past Saturday. Next seminar with Sensei Ogane on Sunday the 30th, Nijushiho will be covered, don't miss it! Oss!

A great reunion of the JKA branch from the small city of Florina, Macedonia, Northern Greece. Sensei George Korobilis and his students relaxing. I had a great session with Sensei Korobilis going through the basics later, stances, hip rotation and Kata points were covered. Oss!

A great time in Almaty, Kazakhstan this past week with JKA Kazakhstan organising a seminar with Sensei Shiina, kata from Enpi to Bassai dai among others were covered. Many points of Kihon and Kumite stressed by Sensei. Temperature 🌡️ was hight at 40 degrees in the city but everyone show great spirit. Despite an injury I managed to train once more and wear my Gi. Oss!

This week Sensei Shiina goes to Almaty in Kazakhstan for a three day seminar. I hope to attend even though I am not 100% , anyone near the area who practices karate should not miss the opportunity to train. Oss.

An interesting mention of Bruce Lee seeing master Nishiyama (at the time a J.K.A. Sensei spreading the art in the U.S.A.) demonstrating Shotokan Karate. While Bruce Lee definitely influenced martial arts and helped spread the practice for many westerners he was not on the level of various Masters of his era who were not "names" and behind closed doors he acknowledged this. His image would be tarnished as a celebrity martial artist otherwise.

Definitely a challenge against Nishiyama would have very unfortunate results for him, Lee was agile, quick and fit, however Nishiyama was like other instructors of the JKA very dangerous in real situations. An interaction between the two and a joint class would be interesting though, shame it didn't materialise. Lee while some may consider him arrogant, did appreciate martial arts and people who were dedicated to them. He simply had to be in character all the time, due to his environment.

Source is an interview from a person close to Lee during that era (cannot remember the name) in an old Combat magazine.

Sensei Ogane taught a great zoom seminar last week, answering questions and going through the kata Jion move by move. Don't hesitate to join these excellent seminars by JKA, especially when you cannot travel to a Gasshuku. You will learn so much, oss!

If you think Sunday is a rest day you are mistaken. This week 10th May and the next 17th May Sensei Ogane will be on-line for two seminars. Bassai dai, enpi, Kanku Dai and Join will be covered, don't miss it. Registration on the main JKA site as always. Oss.

When you live on an island you cannot go to seminars each week but you can do it online thanks to technology. A great seminar with Sensei Ueda, Gohon Kumite covered in depth. Oss. 🥋

Όταν δεν μπορείς να ταξιδέψεις κάθε εβδομάδα για σεμινάριο τουλάχιστον χάρη στην τεχνολογία μπορείς διαδικτυακά να κάνεις καράτε. Ένα ακόμη ωραίο σεμινάριο με τον δάσκαλο Ουέντα από την Ιαπωνία, καλύψαμε Gohon Kumite εις βάθος. Oss!

Καλό Πάσχα σε όλους, μην φάτε πολύ για να αντέξετε τις προπονήσεις που έρχονται!
Happy orthodox Easter to all, don't overdo it with the holiday treats, Training is coming!