Patience and Heart

Every so often, Fraser Valley Shidokan will invite an instructor over from Japan to bring us some update techniques and help us with some of the Techniques we North Americans have trouble with. Not always is that Sensei Sakurai Sensei. This weekend we had a chance to train with Kumeta Sensei on what was his second trip to Canada. He's 4th Dan Kumite Champion with tremendous physical ability and reminder what is truly possible within the Karate Discipline

 

For an entire 75 minute class, Sensei asked us try to improve our Kekome kicks. Path and hip position were all on the menu. after about the first 45 minutes, by right leg, previously injured in a fall on my mountain bike, got re-aggravated and I had to take a pass on some of the more intense training . But I was able to stick around and get some pictures.  

At the end of class on Saturday there was another Dan Grading. They happen roughly twice a year. This month a few of my long time Kohai's took their shots at their black belts. Danny Kent from the Tsawassen Dojo, and Raly and Lara from North Vancouver.

Danny and I had trained together for a long time before I changed to the North Vancouver Dojo. Marine Biologist and parent,  Danny has a number of demands on him and Karate had to be back burnered a number of times. But patience won out and Danny finally arrived at Shodan.

 

I never really had any Doubt about Lara. She's 15 and weather she'd acknowledge it or not, has just about as much Natural ability as anyone I've met. A year in Japan for her would send us back a great Karate Ka and Sensei.

 And Raly who for as long as I can remember has battle some pretty stiff joints, migraines and sore , ummm, everything? She even managed to crush her big toe just before her grading. She got pretty mad at that but to me it was just Raly being Raly. Venting some of that pent up emotion was probably a good thing anyways.

Congratulations to my 3 good friends on passing their Shodan exams.

Here is some bonus footage from the event.

Raly

Lara