GALLERY — LYON, FRANCE, JANUARY 2010
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Our 2010 Winter Gasshuku (training camp), coordinated by Mr. Jean-marie PERRIER, started on January 6th, and concluded with a public seminar on January 9th. Our Gasshuku was hosted by the Karaté Boxing Club (KBC) d’Albigny, thanks to the generous support of its President and Founder, Mr. Denis DE MARINIS. The KBC Dōjō is located in Albigny sur Saône, a suburb 15 km away from the center of Lyon. This was our first Shinjinbukan public event in France, with more than twenty active participants present, in spite of disastrous weather conditions and public transportation being cancelled.
The public seminar took place from 9 AM to 12 and from 2 PM to 6 PM at the Karaté Boxing Club (KBC) Dōjō. All participants were thrilled to discover the training methods of the Shinjinbukan School. Here are a few highlights of the open seminar:
Tsuki (Hand Strike) & Kata (Shoulder Position)
Instructor Portraits
Shinjinbukan instructors from left to right:
Ms. Melanie PETRAK (Augusburg, Germany)
Mr. Jimmy MORA (New York City, USA)
Mr. Jean-marie PERRIER (Lyon, France)
Distinguished instructors in attendance from left to right:
Mr. Guy JUILLE, Head Instructor, Genbukan Shuri Shorin, les Clayes sous Bois (near Paris), France
Mr. Jean-marie PERRIER, Shinjinbukan Representative & Instructor, Lyon, France
Ms. Melanie PETRAK, Shinjinbukan Representative & Instructor, Augsburg, Germany
Mr. Jimmy MORA, Head Instructor, Shinjinbukan New York Shibu Dōjō, USA
Mr. Denis DE MARINIS, President, Karaté Boxing Club (KBC), Albigny sur Saône, France
Mr. Luca SIMONETTI, Head Instructor, New Sporting Club, Casale Monferrato, Italy
Mr. Matthieu VERNERET, Head Instructor, Karaté Boxing Club (KBC), Albigny sur Saône, France
Pictures below from left to right:
Left Frame:and Matthieu VERNERET (Head Instructor, KBC Dōjō)
Center Frame: Jimmy MORA and Matthieu VERNERET
Right Frame: David PAQUIENT, Jimmy MORA, Jean-marie PERRIER and Michel RUSSI
Luncheon
After the morning session, we went for lunch with all the participants of the Gasshuku. The weekend of our open seminar, there was a lot of snow throughout France and other parts of Europe. Many highways were closed due to the weather, many forms of public transportation were either suspended or in the best cases delayed for hours.
During the lunch, we practiced our French to order some Pizza (ha, ha, ha). And of course, we also had some wine.
Pictures below from left to right:
Left Frame: Denis DE MARINIS (President, KBC Dōjō) & Jimmy MORA
Center Frame: David PAQUIENT, Luca SIMONETTI (Head Instructor, New Sporting Club, Italy) & Denis DE MARINIS
Right Frame: Jean-marie PERRIER & Michel RUSSI
Pictures below from left to right:
Left Frame: Michel RUSSI & Juvénal BOULHOL
Center Left Frame: Manon TRINCAS (Secretary, Management Committee, KBC Dōjō)
Center Right Frame: Ludovic SOLER & Melanie PETRAK (Augusburg, Germany)
Right Frame: Melanie PETRAK & Guy JUILLE (Head Instructor, Genbukan Shuri Shorin)
Everyone was in good spirit exchanging ideas and asking us questions about the Shinjinbukan training methods.
Tsuki (Hand Strike) & Kata (Shoulder Position)
The afternoon session took place from 2 to 6 PM. We started by explaining some of concepts of the Shinjinbukan School, among them, the use of Tsuki (Hand Strike) which is closely related to the use of Kata (Shoulder Position). According to Onaga Sensei, the founder of the Shinjinbukan School: "a Tsuki is not a punch". And this is one of the most significant differences between Okinawan Ti and sports Karate.
Next, I introduced the concept of Chinkuchi by using several typical exercises of the Shinjinbukan School. We divided the class into three groups and rotated them using circuit training:
Chīshi Drills — Instructed by Jimmy MORA
Static Push Ups — Instructed by Jean-marie PERRIER
Hammers (Snap Tsuki) — Instructed by Melanie PETRAK
Chīshi Drills
As part of the circuit training, each group rotated through the drills focused on Chīshi. This small one-sided weight is one of the most traditional training methods used in Okinawan Karate. Our Chīshi drills started with Mochikata, which are the methods for lifting and holding the Chīshi.
Hammer Drills
As part of the circuit training, each group also rotated through several hammer drills. The use of hammers is important for developing the correct wrist control. The use of wrist control generates the Snap Tsuki. Ms. Melanie PETRAK worked with each group doing some basic Hammer Drills.
Next, Melanie presented several examples of snap and wrist control taken from the kata (form) Naifuanchi Sho Dan.
Circular Tenshin
After the circuit training, we continued with Tenshin (movement). In the Shinjinbukan School, circular tenshin is used to develop a natural fluidity of movement. These drills are also practiced in combination with Tsuki and/or Keri. In the Shinjinbukan School, it is common to practice in the dark, or with very little light. In the photos below, we are practicing circular tenshin in the dark. The images were retouched to show the details...
Kata Presentation
Next, we presented several Katas (forms):
Naifuanchi Sho Dan — Demonstrated by Melanie PETRAK
Dai San Kihon Gata (Sanchin Form) — Demonstrated by Jean-marie PERRIER
Next, we performed Dai San Kihon Gata (Sanchin Form) with the entire class. This gave everyone the opportunity to practice kuru and shiboru.
Final Remarks
At the end of the Gasshuku, Mr. Denis DE MARINIS, presented me with a small gift: A t-shirt with the KBC logo.
After the seminar, the roads were covered with snow. There was no traffic, but it took a long time to get back to the center of Lyon.
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