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A BUCKET Of SWEAT
Author: Steve Davidson
THE PUDDLE of water on the floor grew larger as another drop of sweat trickled off my nose. We were all prostrate in the lower part of the scoop pushup position. Back up the same way that you came, and push back. Backside in the air and watch, as Sensei Denis May (5th Dan Okinawan Goju Ryu, Chief Instructor, New Zealand) explains the finer points and application of the exercise.
This was Day 2 of the 1991 10GKF Gassuku, hosted by Sensei Peter Oberekar, Chief Instructor for Australia, with guest instructor Sensei Denis May leading the sessions. I had missed the first session at Honbu Dojo the previous night but earlier in the evening, at my own dojo, one of my brown belts had filled me in: "He's hard!" seemed to be the most significant comment. This came as no surprise, as I remembered training with Sensei May about five years ago. It appeared he hadn't changed much, besides which ... this was agassuku.
Sensei May had explained at the first session that this week's gassuku would follow the traditional format. First up, physical sessions and then, later in the week, kata and bunkai. So this was the second of the physical sessions traditionally known in Goju circles as mongrel sessions.
The previous ev,ening's session had been long and hard. Very physical warmups, including the now much -loved scoop pushups, lots of J'cihon. Single techniques, double techniques and then combinations, all at a fast pace. Then onto ido and tai sabaki, working in :.pairs back and forward, forever, with Sensei always exhorting faster, stronger! The Thumday morning session had been not quite so intense, but followed the pattern.
And so here am I at Se:nsei Chris Larkin's Kotara Dojo, after travelling halfway aCJross Newcastle, leaving my own dojo after it was up and nanning. Doing scoop pushups. Trying to describe them, the best I could do was to imagine doing pushups under a 9-inch high barbed wire fence and coming face-to-face with a snarling Rottweiller. More scoop pushups and the sweat runs. Sensei Dave Lambert ( 4th Dan, from Goulbum) assists. I recognise students from Perth, Canberra and the Gold Coast. The Brisbane contingent arrives during warmups.
From scoop pushups to standard pushups, and everyone blows out at some stag:e. Warmups finish and then on kihon, lots of kihon - faster, stronger - single technique - doubles, then to tai sabaki with a partner. Try to beat him; if you can get behind, take him down. In the middle of the hard stuff a gem of a takedown application from Saifa Kata which I haven't seen, but it makes sense. Suddenly it's over.
We bow out and, in the friendly banter afterwards, I am introduced to Sensei. From there, the boys are going to the local and then back to Sensei Peter Oberekar's flat, where Sensei May, Sensei Lambert and, I think, Sensei Roach of Queensland are staying. I suspect it will not be an early night. This is confirmed when I meet them again at the Black Belt session on Friday night. Friday, there is a morning session. I cannot attend but, for those who do, the session follows a familiar pattern, but not so physical. Some iri kumi - continuous free-fighting done inside a konga ken gives excellent self-defence practice.
Friday afternoon I drop in to Sensei Peter's to kill time before training. Sensei Denis is propped up on the corner of the lounge, with Sensei Peter next to him. On the other end is Sensei Ken Scott. Sensei Steve Roach is in the one armchair, and hyperactive Sensei Dave Lambert is everywhere.
I prop myself where I can see the TV. They are watching a video of an Okinawan Karate tournament. First iri kumi fighting and then kata and weapons demonstrations. These guys eat and breathe Karate - there's over 100 years of Karate experience in this small room! The boys watch in earnest: bo against turtle shell and crab spear - a lost art appreciated. Most of us prefer the bo, with Steve's postscript of a couple of rocks in your pocket to throw at them as they run away. As they talk, the memories flow: New Zealand 1974, South Africa, Fu Chow province, China, 1987, and more. As I head off to training, Dave is punching the wall ... like a scene out of 'Kickboxer'.
Friday night is the Black Belt session. This session is to teach the teachers. We go through warm ups. Sensei explains the three phases of the traditional Goju warmup: jo[nts~ breathing and muscle groups. From here we go into kata. Gekisai dai ichi, gekisai dai ni, again and again. Break it down, timing and kime. Sensei May continually emphasises kime (focus) for each technique throughout training. He then explains the differences in timing for kata. When teaching kyu grades, the moves are taught as a series of steps. But dan grades should be fluid, doing the moves in one motion with proper kime and timing. Sensei explains that many of us spend so much of our time teaching kyu grades kata that we lose the timing needed for a dan grade. He emphasises that, although the timing changes depending on grade, the technique never changes.
Saifa Kata: through the kata, and again check the kime. We concentrate on each section. Kime on the uraken (backfist strike) is at the start position onto the next move. Kime at the end of the double block. The hiza (knee) is separate from the kick; don't let them flow into each other. And so it goes ... Then bunkai (applications). We practise the takedown introduced the previous evening.
The Brisbane boys fly out early Saturday, so Sensei is grading a student for Shodan now. He has been assessed for the last three days, but now he must perform for Sensei Denis May. He stands alone with him in front of 40 Black Belts, as Sensei tests each component. The rest of us feel for him. Kihon hard: one technique, double techniques, ido the same, "harder! faster!". Sanchin Kata - tested - then through the kata(s), one after the other. Then a workout on the makiwara, followed by focus bag for kicks. Then Sensei uses the focus bag as an opponent. Finally, randori against selected Black Belts. Sensei May emphasises continuous sparring. Finish off with Sensei counting 100 pushups. We welcome a new Shodan to our ranks.
Then finish. We warm down and bow out. For the boys staying at Sensei Peter's it's a quick trip to Sizzlers and then home for Friday night football: Newcastle versus Penrith. Denis is a Knights fan, while Dave follows the Raiders. No rivalry tonight; everyone barracks for the Knights.
Saturday morning is a threehour session. The weekend sees the arrival of Sensei Len Resnikov's Sydney contingent. We start what turns out to be another hard physical session. Warmups at fast pace, then straight into kihon. Single techniques, double techniques, punches and blocks. Then onto a seemingly endless number of mae-geri kicks. Sensei approaches me in the back line. 'Count 100' is the instruction, and I see an end in sight until he tells Mark, next to me, to count another 200! We finally finish kicking and then it's straight into double techniques, triple techniques, and then combinations. Suddenly we finish and there's a twominute break for water. We all crowd the taps.
After the break the kyu grades are sent outside with Sensei Lambert and the dan grades go through the rest of the kyu grade kata, concentrating on timing and kime. This time passes quickly and, too soon, the session ends. We bow out and head for lunch and plenty of fluid. After we satisfy our hunger and thirst we stand around under the fig trees going over techniques, discussing new applications, trying to remember as much as possible.
After lunch the kyu grades are inside and the dan grades outside, in the dust and catseyes. Sensei Resnikov takes us through Sisoschin Kata and bunkai, and then on to Sanseru Kata. We go through each kata move by move, refining the timing, ensuring the stances are correct, concentrating on kime. We are called back into the hall and we come in on the tail end of Sensei May's explaining different maai - fighting distances - to the kyu grades. I would have liked to have seen more ofthat. Warmdowns and then bow out.
The Sensei(s) and some hopefuls stay behind for the official dan grading. It is a closed session, so I wish the hopefuls good luck and head home to babysit. I hear, the next day, that it was physically hard and spirited and I can believe this. There are a few bumps and bruises to show. There was some impromptu knife defence for those going for 3rd Dan. Apparently it was very realistic.
Sunday morning is the last session. All grades learn the form of a new kata. The Nidans learn Kurarunfa and Seisan, while the kyu grades concentrate on Seyunchin. We are shown the applications for some of the more intricate moves. This helps tremendously when you are practising at home. The San and Y ondans go through Suparumpei, a very long kata. We finish and bow out, then sit for the presentation of dan gradings.
As always, there are some failures; but also many successes. Three new Sandans lead the contingent. We all congratulate them and then Sensei May speaks to us. He reminds us that the term Sensei means teacher, and is reserved for those of the rank of 3rd Dan and above. Third Dan requires a minimum training time of 15 years. One of the successful candidates has trained with Sensei Oberekar for 23 years. Finally, he urges us to seek out high-grade instructors. We are fortunate in Australia to have so many high grades and he refers to Sensei Peter Oberekar with obvious respect and affection, and states that he still learns from Oberekar Sensei.
The gasshuku finishes and people mill around, reluctant to leave. Photos with Sensei, and then down to the Kent Hotel in Beaumont Street. Rebuilt since its destruction in the Newcastle Earthquake, it provides a pleasant setting for a social time, with lots oflaughter. I talk fishing for giant schnapper in the Bay Of Islands, New Zealand, with Sensei May ... and so it goes. I go home inspired.
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