Yann and Phinh return to Oita

Yann and Phinh Robert from Paris, France, once again returned to Oita to train and catch up. This was their second time to come to Oita to train; furthermore, they have also attended several of my technical seminars in Europe.

 

I’ll not outline what we practiced—as that is for them—however, I will say that I’ve seen their karate greatly improve since our first meeting. Needless to say, this clearly reflects a combination of regular and conscientious budo karate practice by both of them; moreover, a streamlined training methodology, which will certainly result in continued and on-going improvement. While not being an official pedagogical term, this is what I refer to as ‘snow ball improvement’.

 In sum, I was very pleased to see these technical developments; and indeed, to be able to enjoy nice social times together. Yann and Phinh, I wish you the very best for your remaining time here in Japan. Next time I know you will both be better than now, and your return vist, like everyone else, is reflected by tangible outcomes. Until we meet again, Osu!

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2017).

ANDRE BERTEL SEMINAR - KREFELD, GERMANY 2017 (Part Five)

Here is an interview, about my recent seminars in Germany, in the Krefeld local magazine, KR-ONE. Osu, Andre

http://www.kr-one.de/der-ruf-des-sensai/

Direct links to previous four parts

ANDRE BERTEL GERMANY SEMINAR 2017 - PART ONE:

http://andrebertel.blogspot.jp/2017/10/andre-bertel-seminar-krefeld-germany.html

ANDRE BERTEL GERMANY SEMINAR 2017 - PART TWO:

http://andrebertel.blogspot.jp/2017/10/andre-bertel-seminar-krefeld-germany_15.html

ANDRE BERTEL GERMANY SEMINAR 2017 - PART THREE:

http://andrebertel.blogspot.jp/2017/10/andre-bertel-seminar-krefeld-germany_19.html

ANDRE BERTEL GERMANY SEMINAR 2017 - PART FOUR:

http://andrebertel.blogspot.jp/2017/10/andre-bertel-seminar-krefeld-germany_23.html

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2017).

ANDRE BERTEL SEMINAR - KREFELD, GERMANY 2017 (Part Four)

Here is an excellent summary—in Deutsch—of my recent seminar in Krefeld, Germany, composed by Andrea Haeusler Sensei (Karateschule Fuji San Munster). This summary is featured on her blog/site, which I highly recommend: 

https://andreahaeusler.blogspot.de/2017/10/may-groundpower-be-with-you-seminar-mit.html

This 'summary' in conjunction with the videos will allow all of the participants, in Krefeld 2017, to thoroughly review the underpinning aspects of the seminar.

 Thank you very much Andrea for once again transcribing my seminars into Deutsch!!

I'll be conducting the conclusive part two of the seminar in another region of Deutschland next year. This will be officially  announced soon!!

Until then please check out the latest seminar video on YouTube and if feel free to make a comment! I really appreciate feedback.

© Andre Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2017).

ANDRE BERTEL SEMINAR - KREFELD, GERMANY 2017 (Part Three)

Here is video footage courtesy of Alexander. Thank you so much Alex!!! As I stated, throughout the Seminar in Krefeld, I will be teaching part two of this seminar in another part of Germany next year. What I'll reveal at next years seminar in Europe has never been taught openly before; moreover, the content will be very special. Actually, I cannot wait, as I need to share this karate for my late Sensei.

Accordingly, the 2018 Europe Seminar will be announced very soon. Until then, here is some footage from this year (that the karate who attended will be able to use to remember the key points). Best regards from Japan. Osu, Andre Bertel

© Andre Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2017).

ANDRE BERTEL SEMINAR - KREFELD, GERMANY 2017 (Part Two)

Here is a video outling the seminar from Alexander Raitz von Frentz. A big thank you from Oita, Japan, to Alex and Karate Dojo Nakayama Krefeld e.V: OSU!!!

http://www.karate-krefeld.de

© Andre Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2017).

ANDRE BERTEL SEMINAR – KREFELD, GERMANY 2017 (Part One)

On the 7th and 8th of October, 2017, I taught my second International Karate Seminar in Krefeld, Germany. The core themes, of all eight hours of Budo Karate practice, were: (1) Ground power; (2) Snap; and (3) Harmoniously combining both of these to optimize martial arts effectiveness.

For those who practiced the points covered at this seminar, they will greatly improve their Shotokan skills; and, in addition to this, will be well prepared ‘for bigger things to come next year': (somewhere in Europe, yet to be decided).

Special thanks to ‘Karate Dojo Nakayama Krefeld e.V.’ (http://www.karate-krefeld.de) especially the organizers Alexander Raitz von Frentz and Melanie Teeuwen. Also wonderful hosts, Frank Kohler and his lovely family. Furthermore, to  Krefeld Chief Instructor, Erwin Querl Sensei.

 

 

Lastly, a very big thanks to all 200+ karateka who attended from 11 countries. OSU, Andre Bertel

(ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF ALEXANDER RAITZ VON FRENTZ. Thank you very much Alex!!!)

© Andre Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2017).

慈恩 (JION)

Today, by request, I have summarised Jion, which needless to say is one of the `Sentei-gata`: sometimes referred to as `The Big Four` outside Japan. It is the final kata amongst Funakoshi Gichin Sensei`s system that he outlined in the classic `Karatedo Kyohon`. I hope this summary is useful for those wishing to precisely decipher the 47 movements of this very important Shotokan-Ryu Kata. Osu, Andre

慈恩 (JION)

·         Rei (Musubi dachi)

·         Yoi (Sasho uken shita ago mae, Heisoku dachi)

1.      Migi chudan uchi uke/Hidari gedan uke (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

2.      Ryo ken chudan kakiwake uke (Hidari zenkutsu dachi)

3.      Migi chudan mae geri keage (Hidari ashi dachi)

4.      Uken chudan zuki (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

5.      Saken chudan zuki (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

6.      Uken chudan zuki (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

7.      Ryo ken chudan kakiwake uke (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

8.      Hidari chudan mae geri keage (Migi ashi dachi)

9.      Saken chudan zuki (Hidari zenkutsu dachi)

10.  Uken chudan zuki (Hidari zenkutsu dachi)

11.  Saken chudan zuki (Hidari zenkutsu dachi)

12.  Hidari jodan age uke (Hidari zenkutsu dachi)

13.  Migi chudan gyaku zuki (Hidari zenkutsu dachi)

14.  Migi jodan age uke (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

15.  Hidari chudan gyaku zuki (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

16.  Hidari jodan age uke (Hidari zenkutsu dachi)

17.  Migi chudan jun zuki (Migi zenkutsu dachi) “EI!”

18.    Migi sokumen jodan uchi uke/Hidari sokumen gedan uke (Migi kokutsu dachi): note – for this movement, and movements 20, 26 and 28, the open hand wind up is extremely large scale.

19.  Uken kagi zuki (Hidari e yori ashi—Kiba dachi)

20.  Hidari sokumen jodan uchi uke/Migi sokumen gedan uke (Hidari kokutsu dachi)

21.  Saken kagi zuki (Migi e yori ashi—Kiba dachi)

22.  Hidari gedan barai (Hidari zenkutsu dachi)

23.  Migi teisho migi sokumen chudan yoko uke (Kiba dachi)

24.  Hidari teisho hidari sokumen chudan yoko uke (Kiba dachi)

25.  Migi teisho migi sokumen chudan yoko uke (Kiba dachi)

26.  Migi sokumen jodan uchi uke/Hidari sokumen gedan uke (Migi kokutsu dachi)

27.  Hidari sokumen jodan morote uke (Heisoku dachi)

28.  Hidari sokumen jodan uchi uke/Migi sokumen gedan uke (Hidari kokutsu dachi)

29.  Migi sokumen jodan morote uke (Heisoku dachi)

30.  Ryo ken ryogawa gedan kakiwake (Heisoku dachi)

31.  Gedan kosa uke (Migi ashi mae kosa dachi)

32.  Ryo ken ryogawa gedan kakiwake (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

33.  Ryo ken chudan kakiwake uke (Hidari zenkutsu dachi)

34.  Ryo ken jodan kosa uke (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

35.  Migi uraken jodan uchi (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

36.  Saken chudan tsuki uke/Uken migi kata ue kamae (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

37.  Migi uraken jodan uchi/Hidari zenwan mune mae suihei kamae (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

38.  Hidari chudan uchi uke (Hidari zenkutsu dachi)

39.  Migi chudan jun zuki (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

40.  Migi chudan uchi uke (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

41.  Hidari chudan jun zuki (Hidari zenkutsu dachi)

42.  Hidari gedan barai (Hidari zenkutsu dachi)

43.  Migi zenwan migi sokumen chudan uchi otoshi (Migi ashi fumikomi—Kiba dachi): note – for movements 43, 44 and 45, the shoulder and hip is kept back until the execution of fumikomi; furthermore, the arm executing chudan otoshi is vertical and straight

44.  Hidari zenwan hidari sokumen chudan uchi otoshi (Hidari ashi fumikomi—Kiba dachi)

45.  Migi zenwan migi sokumen chudan uchi otoshi (Migi ashi fumikomi—Kiba dachi)

46.    Saken hidari sokumen chudan zuki/Uken migi chichi mae (Hidari e yori ashi—Kiba dachi): note – the tsukami uke prior to both sokumen zuki, movements 46 & 47, is `chudan’

47.  Uken migi sokumen chudan zuki/Saken hidari chichi mae (Migi e yori ashi—Kiba dachi) “EI!”

·         Naore: (Sasho uken shita ago mae, Heisoku dachi)

·         Rei (Musubi dachi)

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2017).

Today marks the 11th year since Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei passed away. My deepest condolences to Mrs. Keiko Asai, Hoshimi Asai, the wider family, friends and fellow students.

For ALL Karateka: Kihon is a must (VIDEO)

This video is just an out take. Irrespective, KIHON IS A MUST to develop effective self-protection skills.

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2017).

Progression: The greatest motivator of all

August has brought me back to the technical and spiritual soul of Karate, the rawest—of kihon, kata and kumite—which links the movements of Karate to Jissen-Kumite (Real fighting/Self-defence). After all these decades I remain a beginner, especially in relation to my great senpai here in Japan, who have done their utmost to teach me the karate way: not only in technique but also in heart.

Within my current training, Taikyoku Shodan is also included. This kata is pushing me to my absolute limits on all frontiers. The first word that comes to mind is, ‘amazing’; the second is, ‘genius’, in reference to Funakoshi Gichin Sensei and his son, Funakoshi Yoshitaka (Gigo) Sensei.

As the humid Japanese summer further sets in, each training is a tough challenge. When I first came to Japan in 1993, I only experienced the winter. But following visits, over all these years, has taught me about training in the extreme humidity. 24 years on, I am still learning.

The training of karate is an up an down experience but, this year, I have felt much happiness from training. This fruit has come from progression, which is the greatest motivator of all. Always remember, that progression 'must be made' and, when it is, all of the hardship in daily training will bring great satisfaction: because then, after all, it was really worth it! Osu, André.

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2017).