Here is a report on the Shotokan
Karate Technical Seminars I taught in South Africa. It has been composed by Gary
Grapentin Sensei (5th Dan)—the course organiser—and chief instructor of East
Cape Shotokan Karate-Do.
Thank you very much Gary Sensei for this
report/overview and also Jen Elliott for the photographs! I have been told that more photos,
and video footage, is on the way: so stay tuned. Osu, André
© André Bertel. Christchurch, New Zealand (2013).
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An overview of Andre Bertel Sensei’s 2013 Seminars in South Africa
By Gary Grapentin
I have been a reader of André Bertel Sensei’s Blog for
a number of years, and have always been immensely impressed by his articulate
and well-written articles on Shotokan karate-do. From a technical perspective
his articles are always highly informative and analytical. As most regular
readers of André Sensei’s Blog would probably concede, he is also a unique and somewhat
controversial figure in the Shotokan world. For starters, the fact that André
Sensei is a westerner and a past uchi-deshi of Tetsuhiko Asai Sensei is in
itself unusual. In addition, his lifelong ambition to preserve the original
principles and concepts of Asai-Ha Shotokan-Ryu has earned him a certain degree
of criticism in some quarters.
I first began corresponding with André Sensei after a
good friend and long-time karate student suffered a major stroke in the latter
part of 2011. I had previously been aware of Asai Sensei’s research into karate
for the disabled and in particular wheelchair karate (kurumaisu). André Sensei
showed a genuine interest in my student’s predicament, and was quick to offer
his advice and assistance. Shortly thereafter, at my request and invitation, André
Sensei agreed to travel to South Africa to conduct an Open Seminar. Throughout
our year-long planning of the seminar, André Sensei was always extremely
professional and punctual in his correspondence. He also offered valuable input
and sound recommendations on how best to structure the seminar and additional
dojo training.
Finally meeting André Sensei in person was a great
privilege and honour for my fiancé, Maureen, and I. His friendly, unassuming
and easygoing nature belies his vast depth of knowledge and ability in
karate-do. Despite his rank and achievements, we found him to be an incredibly
humble and patient teacher, whose passion for karate-do is boundless and highly
infectious.
The flight from Christchurch, New Zealand to East
London, South Africa is a lengthy one and after meeting André Sensei at the
East London Airport we embarked on the last leg of his exhausting 30 hour
journey - an hour’s drive to the Fish River Sun Hotel and Country Club Resort
where the seminar was to take place. After dinner we took André Sensei to have
a quick look at the seminar venue. We hardly expected an impromptu training
session – which is exactly what we received. During the session, André Sensei
demonstrated some incredibly practical and highly effective oyo-jitsu. This was
to be the first of a number of impromptu training sessions during his visit.
Other memorable sessions included the practice of Seiryu Kata in the car park
of a Kenton on Sea seaside restaurant; and a midnight training session for
Maureen and I in the lounge of our home in Grahamstown.
The SA Open Seminar was held over two days and was
structured into four, two hour sessions. Due to the limited venue space, and
because we did not want the seminar to become impersonal, the number of participants
was limited to one hundred. This figure was easily achieved and the seminar was
booked to capacity well in advance.
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The seminar participants were a mixed group, ranging
from children to adults who varied in level from novice to advanced. The most
senior grades in attendance were Tony Williams Sensei and Kenny Tawse Sensei,
both well-known and respected karateka from the Eastern Cape Province. Bryan
Dukas Sensei, who had previously trained with André Sensei in Japan, also made
the long trip from Gauteng Province to attend the seminar. Neither age nor grade seemed to have any bearing on
the participants’ enjoyment of the seminar. André Sensei’s dynamic teaching
methods and inspiring approach - as an instructor, communicator and karateka - instilled
enthusiasm and vigour in all of the participants, even though the training was
sometimes physically demanding.
André Sensei’s seminars are well-crafted and balanced,
and as such carry wide appeal. With his structured, step by step teaching
methodology, participants are able to comprehend fully the principles which he
conveys. Often during André Sensei’s visit, I would see him reviewing and/or
making notes or analysing video footage of his seminars. He is highly critical
and analytical of both his teaching methods and practice of karate; and also welcomes
input from participants who attend his seminars. I believe that his success as
a karateka and international instructor is due, in part, to the significant
introspection which he practices.
In the week following the Open Seminar, Maureen and I
were extremely fortunate to enjoy private tuition from André Sensei while he
was a guest at our home in Grahamstown. With Maureen, André Sensei focused on Jitte
while I received instruction in Meikyo Nidan. Apart from the private sessions at our house, André
Sensei provided additional formal training which was exclusively reserved for
the brown and black belt members of East Cape Shotokan-Ryu. The intensive
training was exceptionally rewarding, and our instructors have gained immensely
from these sessions.
André Sensei also readily agreed to instruct a class
in Joza Township, one of Grahamstown’s previously disadvantaged communities.
The impact which this generous gesture will have had on these young karateka is
immeasurable, and will be remembered for many years to come.
Many of André Sensei’s harshest and most misguided critics
would regard him as being outspoken and self-important. I believe that this
couldn’t be further from the truth. Unlike many self-proclaimed karate
‘masters’, André Sensei does not hide behind a keyboard, prominent world
association, dan grade or title; instead he leads by example, placing a
tremendous amount of focus and energy on self-training. Through ongoing self-analysis
he is continually refining and improving the efficacy of his own karate. Based
on the principle of ichigeki-hissatsu (to kill with one blow) and given his
personal experience within the security industry, his training is extremely
effective and relevant to karate as a practical form of self-defense. In my
estimation, this is a welcome and necessary antidote to the current world focus
on sport karate.
Moreover, during the time that André Sensei spent with
us, he continuously encouraged us to apply similar forms of self-analysis. He
advised us to test his methods during impact work and kumite, so as to draw our
own conclusions. He certainly did not advocate that we should blindly follow his
ideas.
In addition, André Sensei’s ability as an extremely effective
communicator and teacher sets him apart from many instructors. His
understanding of Japanese culture and language allows him to convey the
subtleties and intricacies of karate which are often misunderstood and/or
overlooked due to language barriers. André Sensei is also extremely generous when it comes
to imparting knowledge and experience. He is accessible, and encourages
questions from participants. He shows a genuine interest in the karateka
attending his seminars, and his desire to see them improve is clearly evident.
André Sensei maintains that, should he be unable to return
to a country for a follow up seminar, participants will already be equipped
with the key principles of his teaching. That said, and with his incredibly
infectious approach to traditional budo karate taken into account, it is not
difficult to see why André Sensei is continuously invited by federations to
return for further seminars. After spending a considerable amount of time with
André Sensei during his recent visit to South Africa, I have gained an even
deeper respect for him – not only as a karateka and teacher, but also as an
exemplary human being.
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