Bangor Shotokan Karate Club

Sad news today that Andy McAvoy has passed away.One of my first Karate teachers, in 1989 he gave me my first black belt, seen here, when I passed my grading under Enoeda Sensei.
Some happy memories, thanks.
Sympathies to all his family, R.I.P. Andy.

The Grading structure.
We join these clubs and soon start doing gradings, we accept it as part of the process and dutifully take them, pass them and think we are advancing in our skills.
Kyu gradings get progressively more difficult, by brown belts , 2nd Kyu to Shodan, the Karateka you hoped to be is actually very close to the final product.Yes, there will be more Kata to learn, more intricacies to find, but your general body type, it's limitations, are now generally defined.
You continue playing the game, taking gradings, maybe getting half grades, but ending up a high Dan grade, still with the 1st Kyu style, still weak, still inflexible, only by this stage there are many lower grades who are much more capable of doing Karate than you ever were.A person who is Godan is unlikely to be equal to another Godan, they may do the same style, for the same length of time, with the same determination to be the best they can be, but there is always one who is doing techniques better.
We can all "grade" others in the Dojo, by looking at them, how they carry themselves, how well they perform, how well they know Kata or how they dodge the hard stuff.
Yes, gradings are a necessary thing, there is good and bad in it but there is something sad about a high grade performing techniques like a low grade.

Keep practicing the basics, this is what we are always told, no matter what Martial Art we do.
It is impossible to have mastery over anything without the fundamentals.

Training with Kawasoe Sensei Hachidan, Kihon was the emphasis, hip movement, softness and more speed.
Thanks to John Richardson for the organising and keeping Northern Ireland JKA style Shotokan going.

Shouting during Karate may seem weird at first, and offputting, can feel embarrassing and silly. The noisy grunts are specified in certain points of a Kata, the final technique in a combination of Kihon or even the winning point in a Kumite match.

AI explanation ,
Grunting during exercise, while sometimes seen as disruptive, can actually improve performance by increasing force and power output. It's a natural response to exertion, helping to stabilize the core and maximize muscle engagement. While it might not be universally accepted, it can be a helpful technique for those pushing their limits, especially in activities requiring explosive movements.

Kiai, silent or loud, is translated spirit and harmony, and can be explained mystically by people but is more likely to be a natural part of any physical effort. Physical labour , lifting , tightening bolts, pulling ropes etc all have varying grunts to gain extra power, it isn't magical.

Using the shout to upset or cause fear in an opponent is very valid as well, stories of masters using the shout to knock birds off branches, stalling raging bulls or just making an attacker drop their weapon can appear mystical.

Kiai, many Martial arts have specific sounds, Ya, Ei, Toh, many Sensei have their own sounds, and it may seem unnatural to "say" a specific word/noise but trying to silence your techniques is also unnatural.
Enjoy the shouting and grunting....

Happy 80th birthday to Kawasoe Sensei, the JKA teacher who has been the main inspiration to Northern Ireland. Shotokan Karate.
Strangely the moment we gained access to this master the clubs here all seemed to split up.

The simple Makiwara, many might say it is foolish to abuse our hands, in particular,but as a training tool for tsuki it is very quick to inform us if the technique is poor.
Karateka who practice training on Makiwara are likely to have more confidence in their power compared to air punchers.

Maegeri from Seiza, Tanaka Sensei a top class JKA master.

Our Karate Sensei from 40 years ago visited the Dojo tonight.We tried our best for him.
So many memories .

Karate, the mystical, magical Oriental art.
Or an outdated style in the modern age?

A cold Dojo, Tekki Sandan and Chinte Kata last night.Chinte jumps at end...proof somebody had a GSOH when they devised that part.