Important dates
Grading
There is only one month until the grading! Please find a copy of the grading syllabus attached. More detailed syllabi are also available for adults. If you bring a USB I can copy kata and elements of grading criteria for you.
Sei practicing kata for his grading at Himeji Garden
Karate competition
We have been invited to participate in the Traditional Japanese Karate Network Championship 2015 on Sunday July 12 at the Magill University Sports Centre.
There are 4 events:
- Non-contact kumite – kumite without actually hitting (the rules are quite different from what we practice)
- ‘Flag’ kumite – a children’s game where you steal a flag from the opponent’s belt – similar to a game our children play!
- Kata – solo demonstration of karate kata
- Kata bunkai – group demonstration of kata and the application of moves.
In particular I am interested in adults competing in the kata bunkai event, and children may be interested in demonstrating their kata. The entry cost is $40 whether you compete in one or many events. Please let me know if you are keen on having a go!
http://www.downloadkarate.com/tournament
IBF Training Day
Pacey and I attended the IBF Training Day in May and helped to raise the profile of Kudo SA while raising money for Beyond Blue. Thank you very much to Kym Reid for his tireless efforts in arranging these events, which are a rare opportunity to develop contacts in the broader martial art community. Also thank you to all of the other instructors who donated time, money and in some cases even paid for their own flights to Adelaide for the event. Thank you to Pacey for assisting as my vict – oops, uke for the day and helping boosting interested in the Kudo competition format. The next IBF Training Day is being planned for October 25.
BJJ Championships
Sobukan champs!
Three Sobukan members, three chokes, three medals!
As you may be aware, Jay, Pacey and I competed in the BJJ SA Championship a few weeks ago. Despite having no experience in BJJ and this being their first ever competition, the boys put in a mammoth effort and all won medals. In fact, each of us choked out opponents to win by submission. I was very proud of our team beating the ground fighting specialists at their own game!
Jay won a bronze medal despite fighting in the 100kg category by submitting his opponent by choke from the half guard. He also competed in the open weight event and in both divisions only lost to the eventual gold medal winner! Jay has a big future in combat sports and I am keen to see how he performs at the Australian Championships.
Pacey won his very first fight by triangle choke submission against a very strong opponent. He was very unlucky not to submit his next opponent by arm bar and received the silver medal for his efforts.
I only had one opponent in the ‘Masters’ division, but managed to pull off a sode guruma jime from the mount to win Gold by choke.
The BJJ Australian Championships will be held in Adelaide this year, which only happens once every six years. Residents of Adelaide are able to compete in the Nationals this year even if they have not won the requisite medal at the State Championships. So anyone who is interesting in having a go is able to do so! So far, Pacey, Jay, Tristan, Daniel C, Aaron and Sei have also shown interest in competing. Any others?
Adelaide Sports and Fitness Expo – Kudo competition
Thank you to everyone who participated in exhibition bouts at the Sports and Fitness Expo on Sunday 17 May. Also thanks to the Sobukan members and families who came to support and assist on the day. Despite the Judo SA Titles being much larger than expected leaving us running behind on the day, our members put on some very exciting and closely fought bouts. Sei and I were even live on TV on The Project’s ‘What’s On’ segment!
| Gold medal winners | Silver medal winners | |
| Kashish | Def | Arian |
| Dylan | Def | Naysan |
| Jyah | Def | Max |
| Joel | Def | Ben |
| Darian | Def | Tyzak |
| Jade | Def | Elisia |
| Anastasia | Def | Madison |
| Tristan | Def | Raghu |
| Pacey | Def | Daniel |
Additionally, two Sobukan members competed in the SA Judo Titles, both winning medals! Kynan won a silver medal and Liam won the gold! Congratulations to everyone for a great effort on the day.
Hoodies
We have some larger sized hoodies available for $90, and I am in the process of having a limited number (six each) of lighter-weight smaller adult and children’s sizes embroidered. These should be ready in 2 weeks. If you want one in time for winter, please be quick!
Kotowaza
There are a number of Japanese titles used in the martial arts, and far more are used in the West than in Japan! Japanese masters rarely demand that you call them by title; they will usually simply introduce themselves by their family names. If you respect them, you will call them sensei until you hear their appropriate title from others. To fail to call them ‘sensei’ is tantamount to placing yourself above the master in the hierarchy.
| Japanese | English | Meaning |
| 先生 | Sensei | A generic honorific often used for teachers, lawyers, doctors and other professionals. Literally it means born first and puts the person above you in the contextual hierarchy. |
| 先輩 | Senpai | Seniors. Someone above you, but in the same general position. Examples: a colleague who commenced at the company before you, a student friend in a higher year level, a martial art student with a higher belt. |
| 後輩 | Kohai | Junior. The opposite of senpai, but kohai is never used as a suffix. You never call anyone ‘kohai’ but can discuss your kohai with someone else. |
| 師範 | Shihan | Roughly translates to ‘master rank’, but usually simply master or teacher. |
| 錬士・練士 | Renshi | Master in training, or more literally ‘forging (or practicing) gentlemen/warrior. At one of my previous dojo, this was my ‘official’ title. |
| 教師 | Kyoshi | Teacher, whether at a school or dojo. |
| 範士 | Hanshi | Master rank usually bestowed by the Japanese peak body for the art. |
