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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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