October in Review

This month I switched things up a bit, normally I teach three classes a week and train at the dojo. At the beginning of October, a decision was made to cancel all Saturday classes for the month and I took that opportunity to spend some time with family, but I also decided to do some traveling and training on my own that I normally don’t get to do.

First, Alec and I took a day and helped teach a seminar with my good friend Col. Tony Willis. We practiced kihon, Sanchin, Gekisai Dai Ichi and Dai Ni, Saifa and Gekisai Dai Ichi Rensoku Kumite. For those of you that do not know Willis Sensei, he is a senior student of Anyu Shinjo Sensei of the Goyukan. Shinjo Sensei was a student of Eiichi Miyazato Sensei. This was the third time this year, Tony and I have got together and trained.

Secondly, I went to Louisville and spent some time with Lloyd C. Johnson Hanshi. We spent a great deal of time talking and then worked on Sanchin and also Uechiryu Sanchin. For those of you that are not familiar with Johnson Sensei, he started his Gojuryu training in 1959. First in the Toguchi Lineage for 10 years, and then he switched over to the Miyazato Lineage. He is a treasure trove of information and old style karate.

Thirdly, Jason Thompson and I travelled up to Northfield, Michigan and spent a day training in Kobudo with Peter Carbone Sensei, working on Bo, Tonfa and Tanbo. We had a good time and enjoyed the training.