Guest Columnists - Training with Yanagawa Sensei
After four days and over 16 hours of training I felt that we had only scratched the surface!
However, to be able to trace the origins of our Wado was something that was both mindblowing and completely natural. In Yanagawa Sensei’s own words; “There is ’Competition Wado’, there is ’Grading Wado’, and there is ’Budo Wado’.”
To actually experience and train in the’way it was’ was something not to be missed by any ‘true’ Wado-ka. It certainly left me in no doubt that these origins should be preserved and trained in every Wado dojo up & down the country.
Course 1 was held in the Midlands, and was the best attended with almost 200 people. Training was hard, at first, as we were attempting to ‘take on board’ all the idiosyncrasies of our body movement (the bruises still hurt as I am writing this article). We were also introduced to the ‘way it was done’ within our Pinan Kata, and were given the opportunity to practise these concepts and principles.
With two days
training, and course 1 finished, I came
away with the luxury of thinking that I
was well-prepared for the next 2-day
course the following week. I was very
much mistaken... Although we repeated
many of the concepts of movement, we
were then bombarded with more elements
of this ancient system. Our Naihanchi
Kata saw some elements that,
again, felt completely natural. For me,
later on day two, the ability to attempt
the enhancing of Uki-mi (floating body)
principle, was an eye-opener, certainly
a very ‘Wado’ thing that has all but
gone from our schools.
On a personal note: I felt we were blessed at having Yanagawa Sensei with us in November. It was a great honour to train under a man of such wealth of knowledge and perception. He is truly ‘one of a kind’ and for those who missed this opportunity in training with him, also missed a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ of learning the depths of our own Budo Wado.
However, it will not be all lost for us in my Dojo, as I shall be teaching these principles, alongside what we already practise, during my advance classes in Plymouth. This is too good to lose!
Gary E Swift, 7th Dan, Kyoshi
President of the Alliance of International Wado-ryu (AIWa). AIWa
Chief Instructor to the British Wadokai Karate-do. British Wadokai
General Secretary to the JKF-Wadokai England. Wadokai England
