NEW ZEALAND SEMINAR - NOVEMBER 2016

On November 26^th/27th I will be conducting an Open Karate Seminar in Christchurch City, New Zealand. This seminar will have limited numbers based on the venue so, as always, it will be ‘first-in-first-served’ to gain tickets. This seminar, like my others all around the world, will give a huge technical edge for all who attend.

2016 NEW ZEALAND OPEN SEMINAR SCHEDULE:

·         DAY ONE: November 26th

                                       Class One: 1pm—3pm

                                       Class Two: 4pm—6pm

·         DAY TWO: November 27th

   Class Three: 6am—8am

   Class Four: 1:30pm—3:30pm

After New Zealand I’ll be giving another open seminar—on the Sunshine Coast in Australia—then quickly returning to Japan; so, my schedule will be very tight. For those who can’t make or miss out on tickets for the New Zealand Seminar, you are also eligible to apply for the Australian event (a poster and booking details for this will be coming soon).

To book for the New Zealand Open Seminar please email me directly at: andrebertelono@gmail.com. Upon registering your place, you will be sent a confirmation email (and electronic confirmation of your place on the course).

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2016). 

YouTube Video of my 2016 Seminar in Germany

Here are some pictures from my 2016 seminar in Germany. At the bottom of this post is a direct link to a video, which reviews the course. I hope this helps the attendees to prepare for my next seminars in Europe (as they will expand on these Budo Karate themes). At present there is an application where this will be held. Many countries are requesting for Spring 2017. As soon as this is determined the information will be posted online. Best wishes from Oita City, Japan. Osu, André.

 

Here is a brief 9 minute review of the seminar on Youtube:

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan 2016.

ANDRE BERTEL INTERVIEW: EUROPE TOUR 2016

Above is the official interview from my 2016 European Tour. This film was created by Oliver Schomburg in Ahrensburg, Germany, during the last week of July. I'd once again like to thank Oliver for this opportunity. Domo arigatou gozaimasu!!! Osu, Andre 

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan 2016.

Seminar Report & Video: ENGLAND 2016

On July 30^th and 31^st I taught a private seminar in Poulton-le-Fylde, in Lancashire, Northern England. The event organised by Michael Barr was exclusive with a limited number of tickets being available. Underpinning this was aim of giving participants more personal attention; furthermore, to be a significantly different style of course from the other two on this tour of  Europe.

Both standard Shotokan and self-defence techniques were covered and linked. The key point being that kihon, kata and yakusoku kumite must collectively result in enhanced jiyu kumite. When this is not the prime aim and outcome of training, technique becomes meaningless. In other words, kata application and prearranged kumite must be practiced alongside ‘non-compliant practice’. Nowadays, many clubs practice ‘bunkai’ without freestyle sparring. Needless to say, training in this way means that imperative martial arts skills such as—proper timing, distancing and chance taking—can never be developed. Conversely, jiyu kumite also requires that one practices the prearranged forms of sparring to develop strong fundamentals. Likewise, the applications of kata must be practiced. The result being Budo (Martial Arts) Karate.

All in all, I would like to thank Michael and Nathalie Barr for hosting me and my family for the week, and all of those who attended the seminar and corresponding social events. It was a real pleasure to catch up with old friends, and form some new friendships as well. I hope that the course content will help you all in your ongoing development. There were many jewels from Japan that, if assimilated through practice, will greatly bolster technical prowess. Osu, André.

Here, below, is a brief video from the England course. More videos from my 2016 European Tour will be coming soon.

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan 2016.

Wow! Andre Bertel san! 見えない！高速空手！大分のアンドレさん!

Here is a video courtesy of Nishi Fuyuhiko after the last JKA Gasshuku here in Oita: under the guidance of Hashiguchi Yuji Sensei.

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2016).

EUROPE 2016

Next week I will be flying out of Japan to teach three international seminars in Europe (Germany, England and Italy). Usually, only once a year I have time to teach Karate outside of Japan—due to my very busy teaching and training schedule—so internationally speaking, ‘this is literally it’ for 2016.

For those who have secured places (to attend any of these three events) I look forward to training and camaraderie with you. If you have not yet booked a place, and wish to, I recommend that you contact the organizers immediately (on the off-chance that there might be a space left). – Osu, André.

André Bertel European Tour 2016

DEUTSCHLAND / GERMANY SEMINAR 2016
Where: Ahrensburg (Hamburg Metropolitan Region)
When: July 23rd and 24th, 2016.
Contact/Organizer: Oliver SCHOEMBURG SENSEI
Email: olischoemburg@hotmail.com

UNITED KINGDOM / ENGLAND 2016
Where: Poulton-le-Fylde (Lancashire)
When: July 30th and 31st, 2016.
Contact/Organizer: Michael BARR SENSEI
Email: barrme@icloud.com


ITALIA SEMINAR 2016
Where: Venezia
When: August 6th and 7th, 2016.
Contact/Organizer: Silvio CANNIZZO SENSEI and Mauro MION SHIHAN
Email: silviocannizzo@gmail.com

 © André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2016).

大分県の空手家たちが素敵すぎる！Soul of JKA in OITA!

JKA Oita was featured on ‘Kuro Obi World’. I posted about this excellent training camp just recently.

Here is a direct link to that article... http://andrebertel.blogspot.jp/2016/05/oita-prefecture-phoseminar-with.html. Osu, André 

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2016).

9th Anniversary of André Bertel's Karate-Do

Today marks the ninth anniversary of this blog/webpage. Over those years the objective of this site has remained the same: the training and promotion of the authentic 武道空手 (Budo Karate) of Japan. 

Rather than write much today I’d simply like to offer my utmost thanks to my supporters around the world.

どうもありがとうございます!!!

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2016).

Updated Training Regime

It is hard to believe that June is already upon us! Here is my updated self-training regime.

Osu, André.

(A) KIHON

Sonoba-Kihon: (1) Chudan choku-zuki (Hachiji-dachi); (2) Jodan age-uke (Hachiji-dachi); (3) Chudan soto-uke (Hachiji-dachi); (4) Chudan uchi-uke (Hachiji-dachi); (5) Gedan-barai (Hachiji-dachi); (6) Shuto chudan-uke (Hachiji-dachi); (7) Mae-geri keage (Heisoku-dachi); (8) Yoko-geri keage (Heisoku-dachi); (9) Gyaku-zuki (Uken then Saken in Hidari then Migi zenkutsu-dachi); (10) Chudan mae-geri keage (Migi then Hidari in Hidari then Migi zenkutsu-dachi);

Ido-Kihon: The following ten techniques—all in zenkutsu-dachi unless otherwise specified: (1) Chudan jun-zuki; (2) Chudan gyaku-zuki kara jodan age-uke soshite chudan gyaku-zuki; (3) Chudan gyaku-zuki kara chudan soto-uke soshite chudan gyaku-zuki; (4) Chudan gyaku-zuki kara chudan uchi-uke soshite chudan gyaku-zuki; (5) Chudan gyaku-zuki kara gedan-barai soshite chudan gyaku-zuki; (6) Shuto chudan-uke kara shuto chudan-uke (Kokutsu-dachi); (7) Kizami Mae-Geri kara mae-geri keage; (8) Kizami mawashi-geri kara mawashi-geri; (9) Ushiro-geri kekomi; and (10) Either: a. Yoko-geri keage kara yoko-geri kekomi (Kiba-dachi) or b. Yoko-geri keage ashi o kaete yoko-geri kekomi (Kiba-dachi).

• Reps: For each of the Sonoba kihonwaza, I execute each technique a minimum of ten times slowly, then and a minimum of 40 times in the regular fashion. Insofar as the Ido kihonwaza go, a minimum of 10 times slowly followed by 10-20 repetitions, with snap.

(B) KATA

At present my training has mostly been dedicated to the four Sentei-gata: Bassai-Dai, Kanku-Dai, Enpi and Jion with references going back to the Shitei-gata. Often this includes extensive practice of one of the Shitei-gata, such as Heian Yondan, alongside Kanku-Dai etcetera. To treat myself I am triweekly concluding the kata section of my practice with a Jiyu-gata. Amongst these are Hangetsu and Gankaku (one of which I need to select for my next JKA qualifications exam), and Sochin.

Without going into details, I'm using Sochin to push my technical boundaries/limitations. This practice is pushing me to the limits, not only physically, but also mentally: as it is forcing me to control myself differently.

• Reps: I’m currently using the `alternate slow motion/regular speed’ method of practice. Following this pattern it is customary to do each kata no less than eight times; that is, slowly then with regular speed to the north, south, east then west.

(C) KUMITE

I. All the forms of `standard Shotokan kumite’ are presently in my regime: Nevertheless, rather than spreading myself wide and mitigating the positive results of my training, I have a specific theme. This theme is simple… ‘to maximize my channeling/transferring of power in all of my techniques’. Currently, Oi-zuki (Jun-zuki), Gyaku-zuki and Mae-geri-keage are the most important techniques in this process; hence I’ve also returned to the practice of Kihon Ippon Kumite (Kiri Kaeshi): as an extension of my ‘kihon ippon training’. In sum, I am doing Gohon-Kumite, Kihon Ippon Kumite, Kihon Ippon Kumite (Kiri Kaeshi), Jiyu Ippon Kumite and Jiyu Kumite (along with ‘Uchikomi’ work). On days when I don’t have a training partner I practice these as solo drills.

• Reps: I am simply going through each drill once very slowly then at least two times in the regular manner.

Overall, my aim is to continue to improve both physically and mentally through Karate-Do training. I’m never satisfied, when looking back, so I must advance myself each and everyday. This is very challenging for me but, at the same time, provides daily satisfaction and, with that, perpetual motivation. Staying at one place is both boring and pointless, and needless to say, regression is even worse. Over 20 years ago I learned that ‘staying in the status quo’ and ‘regression’ are very closely related. I think this is what Funakoshi Gichin Sensei meant when he said: “Hitosu, karate wa yu gotoshi taezu netsu o ataezareba moto no mizu ni kaeru” (Karate is like boiling water; without heat, it returns to its tepid state). Best wishes  from Oita, Japan. To the limit!!!

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2016).

Private kata training for Ohtsuka Shohei

Today I had a trainee from Usa-Shi, Ohtsuka Shohei Kun. He wanted to study a budo version of Unsu, which he could also exhibit in competition. He wants to compete in both budo karate (JKA) and JKF: and demonstrate true Karate-Do. This, to me, is very good, as kata is not an aesthetic game but the foundation and time capsule of traditional Japanese budo/martial arts.    

He has had many wins in competition but is seeking more pure karate. Again, for a young man of 23, I really admire this; moreover, with hard work he has the capacity to do extremely well. He has speed, power and talent in abundance; nevertheless, here in Japan the level is so high, so the climb is very-very steep. One of my top goals is to support JKA Oita Prefecture as much as possible. I really want to give as much as I can to Oita.

In addition to Unsu I also corrected his Enpi and Jion. He was very receptive and excited when he felt the difference in his execution of kata and then experienced the oyo (applications). Overall, it was great to see him lift his execution of the kata covered and, indeed, his understanding. Ganbatte Shohei!!!

                                                       © André Bertel. Oita, Japan (2016).