Yudansha (Black belt) Grading Honbu Dojo September 2011

Training started on Saturday morning at 10am, and after the warm up the teaching was concentrated on Kata Sanchin, Sanchin Kotai and Tensho and Kakie, followed by supplementary training Chishi and Makiwara.

The second part of training on Saturday was for Kata Bunkai and ended with a change which was impact work in a variety of situations, and the dojo temperature soon increase, facial expressions and emotions were evident and Karate – Do Gi were showing signs of humidity.
 
After the lunch break it was to the core curriculum followed by advanced Kata repetitions, and as the end of training approached to finish cooling down with stretching which was welcomed by everyone, observing people leaving the dojo after training one could feel absolute contentment.
 
Sunday morning training and there were a few comments about muscular fatigue, but after a mild warm up everyone was ready, to recap on the previous day’s training and clarify the finer points it was time for the grading candidates to demonstrate their proficiency.

After 2 - 3 hours of arduous continuous examination, the grading candidates looked completely fatigued. They could not have done more so after a short break the grading results were declared, with heads bowed they waited for the announcement.
 
There were tears of jubilation as each name was read out, congratulations to those successful candidates.  

George Andrews