Report of JKA India Gasshuku-2010 February 8th to 10th, Mumbai.
Chief Instructor for the camp: Sensei Koichiro Okuma.

Simply Incredible! is the right word for the training imparted to us from 8th to 10th Feb 2010, the reason being; the way Okuma Sensei explained and demonstrated the fundamentals of JKA Karate was unparalled, Sensei made the techniques look so very easy with his satisfying explanations that even new comers to JKA India and beginners were comfortable.

The 1st day Sensei started from Shizentai hip rotation to Hangetsu Dachi and then to Zen Kutsu Dachi, the point that he wanted to explain, get across and stuck to for all the 3 days was.. EXPANSION-CONTRACTION of our body, how to distribute and shift body weight from one technique to the other. Sensei made us move our leg muscles for a strong stance and firm grip on the ground while executing a technique.

Later on Sensei Okuma went on to explain various types of hip movement and rotation in coordination with ones stance and desired technique. However, the ways in which Sensei explained and demonstrated things, the spirit that he displayed and demanded from the participants; kept us all going for the rest of the sessions, his body language was enough to make us understand what he asked for.

The 2nd day saw us doing the revision of the previous lessons and Heian Katas with bunkai and ofcourse with the EXPANSION-CONTRACTION of body done previously, the best part of this days training was doing Nami Gaeshi in Tekki Shodan, the way we have to shift our weight on the lifting leg and keeping the knee pressed down and the sole rising; was first time experience for us all, most interestingly and something that was never before experienced by anyone here was the ways Okuma Sensei got things done from us, there was just one word for Okuma Sensei..”Fantastic”, the energy that he emoted and his expertise on explaining JKA karate techniques was loved and adored by all.

The 3rd day went to revisions for the first 30 mns and then we saw ourselves doing speed training first in Jyu Kihon and then with partners lined up against us, the wazas being sliding Kizami Tzuki to moving forward Oi Tzuki Jodan and Chudan, this made us watch our distance, rhythm and foot work for Jyu Kumite. The purpose of this training was how to prepare for the opening move and follow through with the finishing technique and how to lure your opponent to make the first move (mistake) for which you are ready for.

10 members passed their dan test varying from Sho Dan to San Dan in the afternoon session. Apart from other Sho Dans, Mr Tapan Deka passed his Ni Dan and Mr Abhishek Pai passed his San Dan test.

I won’t say that we did many things, but I will surely say this...We did just 5 things in 3 days… 1) Keeping our body line straight,
2) Protecting it while moving,
3) Expansion – Contraction of our body
4) Moving hips forward-back, up-down,
5) Karate Etiquettes.

At the end of the Gasshuku the general consensus was that Sensei Okuma must be with us next year.

I am very thankful to JKA Head Quarter for sending Okuma Sensei and personally, I express my gratitude to Okuma Sensei for being very considerate and supportive along with being informative and showing his empathy to JKA India karate-kas, This gasshuku has proved to a bridge between JKA HQ and JKA India and we hope that this sharing of mutual feeling goes on strongly from this day on.

Milan Trivedi
Chief Instructor
JKA INDIA