Special practice: All of the IKS (JAPAN) EXAMINATION KIHON

Special keiko today... I practiced all of the IKS Examination Kihon. Sorry, Japanese only. OSU!

 

1. 下段払い

2. 中段順突き
3. 上段順突き
4. 三本連突き
5. (自由な構え) 刻み突きから三本蓮突き

6. 上段揚げ受け
7. 上段揚げ受けから中段逆突き
8. 上段揚げ受けから前蹴り蹴上げ
9. (自由な構え) 一歩下がって上段揚げ受けから回し蹴り、裏拳横回し打ちそして中段順突き

10. 中段外腕受け
11. 中段外腕受けから中段逆突き
12. 中段外腕受けから寄り足（騎馬立ち）中段横猿臂
13. 中段外腕受けから寄り足（騎馬立ち）中段横猿臂そして裏拳横回し打ち

14. 中段内腕受け

15. 中段内腕受けから中段逆突き

16. 中段内腕受けから上段刻み突き

17. 中段内腕受けから上段刻み突きそして中段逆突き

18. (後屈立ち）手刀中段受け

19. (後屈立ち）手刀中段受けから中段縦四本貫手

20. (後屈立ち）手刀中段受けから刻み前蹴りそして中段縦四本貫手

21. (後屈立ち）手刀中段受けから刻み回し蹴りそして中段縦四本貫手

22. 中段前蹴り蹴上げ

23. 中段前蹴り蹴上げから中段順突き

24. 蓮蹴り: 中段前蹴り蹴上げから上段前蹴り蹴上げ

25. (自由な構え) 上段刻み突きから中段前蹴り蹴上げそして中段順突き

26. 横蹴り蹴上げ（騎馬立ち）

27. 横蹴り蹴込み（騎馬立ち）

28. 横蹴り蹴上げ足を変えて横蹴り蹴込み（騎馬立ち）

29. 回し蹴り

30. 後ろ蹴り蹴込 

31. 回し蹴りから中段逆突き

32. 回し蹴りから後ろ蹴り蹴込み

33. (自由な構え) 前蹴り蹴上げから横蹴り、回し蹴り、後ろ蹴り蹴込、裏拳横回し打ちそして中逆

　　突き

34. 三方向蹴り：前蹴り蹴上げから横蹴り蹴込そして後ろ蹴り蹴込

35. 移動目標：逆突き

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2025).

一枚の絵が千を描く (Ichi mai no e ga sen o kaku): Part 2

TRAINING 25th and 26th December, 2025.

Special focus: 自然蹴り技 (SHIZEN KERIWAZA).

 

                                         © André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2025).

一枚の絵が千を描く (Ichi mai no e ga sen o kaku): Part 1

Some images from Keiko over the last two days. As I conclude the year my focus primarily goes to Kihon and Kata practice.

This year, to wrap up, I have been following Nakayama Masatoshi Sensei's final grading syllabus kihon, before he passed away. I have an official copy of this and it has some renwaza not commonly trained now.

Indeed, such changes reflect a different approach and mentality in Shotokan Karate and, certainly, Karate in general.

In 2026, I want to talk about this point, from my mentor, Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei's perspective: who was Nakayama Sensei's 'right-hand man' in 1987, and the Technical Director of the JKA (Japan Karate Association).

Until then, 一枚の絵が千を描く (Ichi mai no e ga sen o kaku)... "A picture speaks a thousand words"

押忍!
 

 

　　　　　　　　　　　　© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2025).

4th International Budo Karate Seminar in FREITAL, GERMANY on March 14th and 15th, 2026

Upcoming Technical Seminar in FREITAL, GERMANY

March 2026

To avoid missing out you can secure a place at the seminar via the link below. For those who attend, greetings from Japan and see you there!

 Shotokan-Karateverein Freital e. V. - Kaminari-Arashi-Dojo - International Budo-Karate Seminar

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2025).

André Bertel [Karate meets TAIKO] Konigs Wusterhausen 2025: Video by Oliver SCHÖMBURG

 Below is a direct link to a new YouTube video by Oliver SCHÖMBURG.

Here's also a link to Oliver's YouTube Channel, where you can see other professional video productions.

https://www.youtube.com/@olliwaa

A very big " 押忍" to Oliver. 

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2025).

Wrapping up 2025

Coming to the end of the year. My last self-training of 2025 is on the December 31s; however, the Dojo is closed between December 29th and January 3rd. Finally, this is when I will do my KANGEIKO (a little delayed this year). 

Here are some images from keiko today. I am still working on Maizuru Sho. This koten-gata is so hard for me. So, I must work harder. 

In addition to this kata today, I worked on a lot of the core Shotokan kihon. Especially, 'pelvic alignment', 'thumbs' and 'forearm snap'.

A big OSU (OSS) and positive energy to everyone.

AB

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2025).

Winter is here... Kind of

I practiced 舞鶴小 (Maizuru Sho) again today—as pictured in this post—but also 鉄騎三段 (Tekki Sandan), 五十四歩大 (Gojushiho Dai) and 移動基本 (Ido-Kihon).

My Ido-kihon consisted only 順突き/追い突き (Jun-zuki/Oi-zuki), both chudan and jodan, going up and down the dojo. I worked with differing 技の緩急 (WAZA NO KANKYU) and 力の強弱 (CHIKARA NO KYOJAKU); furthermore, not only in my ‘tsuki’ practice, I also focused on these points in the three kata I trained.


Overall, it was not an overly physical session but, rather, technically challenging.


Finally, today, there was a slight wintery feeling here in the dojo. Nevertheless, for many of you, the winter we experience—here in Kyushu—is extremely mild.


I hope that this post finds everyone training hard and in good health.

押忍!
アンドレ 

 © André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2025).

Koten-gata: 舞鶴小 (Maizuru Sho)

Movement 8 of Maizuru Sho. Hidari nakadaka ippon-ken jodan ura-zuki (Hidari ashi mae fudo-dachi).

Movement 59 of Maizuru Sho: Migi fuse ushiro-geri kekomi.

I decided that my self-training today would be focused on a single kata, its respective kihon, oyo and the form itself. 

My selection was the  Koten-gata, 舞鶴小 (Maizuru Sho).

Movement 3 of Maizuru Sho: Migi koko jodan gyaku-zuki (Hidari ashi mae sanchin-dachi).

Movement 60 of Maizuru Sho: Here I'm making a mistake. Migi ashi mae tatehiza-dachi and Hidari tateken chudan gyaku-zuki is correct; however, the fist should be a vertical Nakadaka Ippon-Ken.

Like Maizuru Dai, the movements between outside and inside tension stances is a theme, also the use of various 'karada no buki' against anatomically vulnerable targets. Whilst Dai focuses more on Ippon-ken, Sho utilizes Nakadaka Ippon-Ken.

Movement 22 of Maizuru Sho: Hidari tekubi kake-uke (Migi ashi mae zawan-dachi)

The balance required in Maizuru Sho is far more difficult as there are many movements not found in the standard Shotokan kata, nor the more commonly practiced Koten-gata. This makes these two kata highly valuable for senior ranked karateka to increase their technical skill.

Movement 2 of Maizuru Sho: Hidari shuto tateotoshi-uchi.

Movement 49 of Maizuru Sho: Hidari hiza-geri, Ryo sho koshi.

Movement 5 of Maizuru Sho: Migi shuto tateotoshi uchi (Migi ashi mae fudo-dachi).

Today's practice was both challenging and enjoyable. My body is tired after the session but, like the other 'Asai-Ha Shotokan-Ryu' Kata, the movements are natural and healthy for the body. 

This is not only good for one's muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints, but it also means the actions can GENERATE MORE POWER!

Movement 21 of Maizuru Sho: Kaisho manji-uke (Migi sagiashi-dachi)

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2025).