The weekend of August 16-18th, I hosted the my 5th Annual Gasshuku. I invited in two Instructors from the Miyazato Lineage; Col. Roy J. Hobbs Hanshi 9th Dan, President of the Sekai Dentokan Bugei Renmei and Col. Tony Willis Renshi 7th Dan, President of Goyukan USA. I was also around and assisted in the instruction.
Friday night we had social time, where the participants were able to eat dinner and speak to the instructor's. Saturday morning we began our training with Hobbs Sensei leading Junbi Undo and then moved into Sanchin Dai Ichi. Everyone ran through the kata several times, including the instructor's. . After which, each instructor took turn observing and checking each persons kata and giving individual advice. We then moved into Kihon Waza and gave a break down of the various basics and proper execution. We the Moved onto Gekisai Dai Ichi, we took a lunch break and then moved onto Gekisai Dai Ni and Saifa. We broke down each sequence of movements and each instructor took turns watching and giving corrections on each kata and then providing insight into bunkai and oyo for each kata.
Saturday evening we switched things up and a bit and each participant was allowed to ask a question regarding any kata that they wanted, rather it was performance or bunkai related. Then each instructor took a turn at teaching a bunkai/oyo application to answer the questions.
Sunday we did Junbi Undo and then allowed each participant to select a kata that they needed help on and we all three provided insight and corrections as needed.
We did not hold a grading this year.
This is the third major event that I have hosted at the dojo this year. In January we had Hobbs Sensei in for Gojuryu, Kobudo and Jujutsu and in May we had him in for Shorinryu and Jujutsu.
The year is not over and Willis Sensei and I are talking about another training seminar this year and then for next year making a quarterly Gojuryu training event to rotate between my dojo and his place.
Mike Jones
