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WELCOME:
Shihan
Kenneth Funakoshi, 9th Dan, (FSKA)
Chief
Instructor, Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association
All
smiles
Seen here after the
first mornings training session is Shihan Kenneth
Funakoshi, 9th Dan, Chief Instructor, FSKA, who is
flanked on the left by Sensei Dan Holland (Ni Dan) and on
the right by Sensei Peter Lindsay (Yon Dan).
Making
sempai work
After a morning
run and a good warm up Shihan
Funakoshi, got right down to basics. Here Shihan is
demonstrating the proper use of hip rotation to generate
power for a chudan gyaku zuki (middle level reverse punch)
with the help of Sempai Curtis Lindsay (Ni Dan).
Putting his own
belt to good use Shihan Funakoshi applies just the right
amount of resistance to make Sempai Curtis use his hips
and his legs - but not his shoulder or elbow - to create
the power in his technique, while at the same time making
sure the gyaku zuki (middle level reverse punch) remains
level.
Punching
drills
Taking to the floor
the students enthusiastically go about practicing their
reverse punches. Seen here are Sue Stephen, Christina
Dixon, Cathy Quinn, Barry Norman, and on the right with
her back to the camera, Heidi Smith. All of these
students recently passed their Shodan grading and were to
officially receive their black belts and the rank of Sho
Dan at tomorrow nights gala black tie banquet.
Learning
to root
While applying
downward force in kiba dachi the students are tested on
their ability to stay rooted. Seen here are Sempai Kim
Eden (Sho Dan) who is doing all the work, and her alter
ego, Sempai Franca Lim (Sho Dan) who is doing the lifting.
To their left is Sensei Dan Holland (Ni Dan) who is about
to be lifted, or not, by Sempai Don Nielson (Ni Dan).
Pictured on the left is Cathy Quinn and Barry Norman, who
are convinced that these two are having way to much fun.
Where
are we going
Sensei Kieran
Baldwin (Yon Dan) lifts Sempai Jim Clark (Sho Dan) right
out of his stance, tickling his partner as a means of
breaking their focus seems to work Sensei Baldwin.
A
lesson in the finer points of the kata Jion
Here Shihan
Funakoshi has everyone's attention as he goes into great
detail about shifting, balance and kime. Shihan not only
demonstrated how the movements in this kata should be
done, and when - but he also explained how to avoid
making many of the more common mistakes that students
often make when practicing this kata.
The
Motivator
Shihan Funakoshi
gets me and everyone else to work up a good sweat with a
unique kicking drill.
The
Master and the young guns
Seen here with
Shihan Funakoshi at the end of a great days training are,
on the left Sempai Derek Lowe (Sho Dan) and on the right
Sempai Curtis Lindsay (Ni Dan). Both of these students
will be competing in the 13th Annual Funakoshi Shotokan
International Karate Championship in California this
October.
SUNDAY
EVENING AT THE BLACK BELT AWARDS BANQUET
Shodan
Certificates
The first order of
business at the black belt awards banquet was the
presentation of Shodan certificates to last years black
belt graduates. Seen here accepting her rank from Sensei
Peter Lindsay is Sempai Vicki Aune (Sho Dan) who had the
added pleasure of watching her daughter Michelle Aune
receive her black belt this year.
At
long Last
With a lot of
emotion and applause the black belts were awarded. Seen
here with smiles all around are, from left to right,
Sempai Christina Dixon (Sho Dan), Sempai Barry Norman (Sho
Dan), and Sempai Bill Camden (Sho Dan).
Victory
Sempai Cathy Quinn
(Sho Dan) her smile says it all - while to the left her
son Dan Quinn (Sho Dan) checks his black belt to make
sure it is real.
Good
friends
On the left Sensei
Peter Lindsay and Sempai Barry Norman - on the right
Sempai Marilyn and Sempai Barry
It
is over now a new beginning
Sempai Cathy Quinn
and Sensei Peter Lindsay share a moment and make another
memory.
The
effort pays off
Sempai Michelle
Aune (Sho Dan) proudly shows off her new black belt and
is congratulated in turn by Sensei Lindsay's daughter
Teresa and then by Sensei Lindsay.
Father
and son
Sempai Curtis
Lindsay (Ni Dan) celebrates his new rank with his father
Sensei Peter Lindsay (Yon Dan). Well another year has
come and gone - and as always after the black belts are
awarded many of the senior kyu belts immediately start
talking about "being up there next year".
In the end only
time will tell.
Part
the clouds - see the way.
"The
objective of karate-do is to contribute to the evolution
of
the human spirit through physical and mental training."
Sensei
Peter Lindsay
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