Kagawa Shihans England Visit 2024
Kagawa Shihan’s visit for 2024 resumed its usual annual place in the JKS England calendar. Hosted once again in Nottingham, the fully subscribed event had had a waiting list in operation shortly after the bookings opened many months before. The eagerly awaited visit of Kagawa Shihan always generates a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish. A packed hall with students from JKS clubs far and wide, as well as some visitors was in for a fantastic course as Kagawa Shihan delivered his stimulating brand of detail and humour all in the most inspirational package, adding great value to each karateka in attendance.
At the start of the seminar and as has become customary, dan diplomas were presented having recently arrived from Japan. It was especially poignant this time as Kagawa Shihan read aloud and awarded Head of JKS England Alan Campbell Sensei his 8th Dan certificate, accompanied by the deserving applause from the class to mark the terrific achievement that it represents.
After a warmup, Kagawa Shihan would begin with some static punching drills where key elements would be addressed before altering the angles of attack and generating power as stance work was introduced. Students would need to engage their core and concentrate on their shoulder action to enable them to punch effectively to the position determined by Kagawa Shihan. As stances became involved, turning with correct timing was crucial to release the power stored at just the right point in the technique.
Throughout the basics which started the seminar and for the rest of the session, Kagawa Shihan exhibited an almost flawless ability to predict any questions or clarification which the students may have sought. The demonstrations and explanations carried the finer detail to aid the understanding which students required to advance their skill and performance. This mind-reading is something which allows Kagawa Shihan to punctuate the class with anecdotes and humour, showing passion and just how this near telepathic approach has evolved over Shihan’s many decades of study and teaching across the globe.
Having identified many kihon elements, the initial sequences were stitched together with punching and kicking drills; stepping forwards, backwards, sideways and behind as well as controlling balance through weight distribution and posture, students would be given just the right amount to work on. Recognising how the earlier static fundamentals had to be cemented and transferred, Kagawa Shihan had covered many specifics that would also surface as the next part of the session unfolded. Just listing the information which Kagawa Shihan imparted would in truth, come nowhere close to the in-person benefit gained from having Kagawa Shihan front and centre in the dojo.
Kagawa Shihan then navigated each Heian kata with great composure to support the foundations from the start of the class. The kata would be performed once slowly to count, with teaching points and applications referred to before it would be executed at full speed without the count. As ever, Shihan’s capacity to get students to appreciate and concentrate on the level of detail needed to level-up was in full flow as the pressure of the JKS Chief Instructor gave the added incentive to maintain focus no matter what was being practiced.
After each of the five Heian katas had been broken down and performed it would be time for a short break before a group photo. The “buzz” in the hall remained throughout as students walked to their drink bottles and towels, often with beaming smiles to each other in appreciation of the quality and content of the instruction, as well as Kagawa Shihan’s attentiveness to individual tuition and utilisation students selected to perform excellent displays of either the kihon sequence early on or the katas featuring after this.
Once the class resumed Kagawa Shihan would move on to some higher-grade katas. With a similar strategy, each kata would be done justice by Kagawa Shihan as emphasis and timing would come to support the technical detail which Kagawa Shihan never strayed from illuminating. Starting with Jion, the importance of correct form was vital, maximising the body and hip action and ensuring ideal preparation positions were detailed before turns and strikes were delivered.
This method of kata practice would then be repeated for both Gojushiho Sho and Unsu. With parts of the katas demanding more in terms of stance, fitness and technical ability, Kagawa Shihan would always recognise this. For students to understand the requirements and how to work towards some of the movements, Kagawa Shihan would refer to concepts and techniques students already knew to afford the chance for them to be able to relate and develop the newer ideas and techniques being proposed.
To finish a remarkable seminar, Kagawa Shihan would spend more than just a little time on Unsu. A kata carrying a high tariff of difficulty and one which certainly removes many students from their relative comfort zone. This ended the course with students driving themselves into the air to practice the jumping elements after having thrust themselves to the floor before completing the mawashi-geri sequence. Kagawa Shihan left no stone unturned in his kata orientated seminar; detail, application and understanding were positioned centre stage as students were given comprehensive knowledge on how to improve. Kagawa Shihan’s excellence extending past not only instructing each of the students in how to better themselves, but also exhibiting a perfect example of how instruction can be thoughtful, inspirational and all the while enjoyable.
Following the course there would be dan gradings and instructor/examiner assessments. Congratulations on all those successful and as always please keep an eye on e-mails and the JKS England Facebook page for upcoming events and courses.