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The 2009 Michigan Gasshuku Report
By Sensei Sam Larioza (3rd dan, Ohana Karate)
Miyagi Chojun Sensei must have been looking out after us as
the bright warm sun came out and the cold winter air
disappeared on Friday February 6th and the start
of the 2009 Regional Gasshuku in Michigan.
The perfect weather (for February in Michigan) was just an
indicator of what type of unforgettable event this weekend
would bring.
The Friday evening air was crisp and electric in
anticipation of the first session with Nakamura Sensei.
After starting with a couple of childrens’ classes, the
first gasshuku experience for the adults began with Sensei
Randy Kopke “warming-up” them up in the infamous “sweat
box”. (the smaller of two rooms used) While I was out
helping with the kid’s session I kept looking into the adult
room wondering why they were sweating so much. After an
intense session the gasshuku “veterans” chuckled as many of
the gasshuku first timers asked “Is every session like
that? If they are I do not think I can make it!”
Nice job Randy! What a start!
The main day of the event came on Saturday. We were indeed
very fortunate and grateful to have Nakamura Sensei
participate in a Promotion Ceremony as almost 200 Pee Wees
and Juniors received their new belts. The highlight that
hushed the crowd was when Sensei performed Suparinpei kata.
The parents and kids are still talking about it!
The rest of the day was spent training about 240
participants. The primary emphasis was on kata. It is very
clear that the mission of the IOGKF-USA is to significantly
raise the standard and level of our katas. With the help of
Sensei’s Westenberg, Collins, Garwood and Kopke, Nakamura
Sensei led us through very detailed and intense sessions
where every kata was broken down and practiced over and
over. Special exercises were also revealed to directly
improve our katas. The words “Mo Ichi Do” were
repeated many times all weekend.
Of course after all the hard training of the day it was time
to play. “Train Hard, Play Hard.” The “social” side
of karate is so very important. Before our muscles could
stiffen and feel sore we headed to an Asian Buffet followed
by drinks at a local watering hole. I know everyone enjoyed
the opportunity to talk and share a beer with Nakamura
Sensei and all our of town guests.
The weekend went by all too quickly. One thing that
surprised and impress me was how the junior black belts was
were so quick to volunteer to perform their kata in front of
Nakamura Sensei and the crowd during their final session. I
have been to many gasshukus and I told the participants that
the level of technical kata training this weekend was some
of the best I had ever experienced. I know that most could
not truly appreciate this.
I can best sum up the gasshuku with the very last adult
session of Sunday. It was characteristic of the whole
weekend of training. In this blackbelt only session
Nakamura Sensei taught Sanseru, Sepai and Kukufunfa katas in
detail then went over all three of the katas bunkais. Our
heads were spinning and I could not write down notes fast
enough. Here is the amazing thing. We covered all of this
in just a little less than an hour!
What Nakamura Sensei’s visit did was leave us all, as
students of karate, wanting more. It left the children with
something very powerful: “the vision of what they can
become”. It left our parents with the message that
karate is much much more then they ever thought. It left
our dojo with students that are deeply “changed” by the
experience. It left everyone with the feeling and
excitement of what karate can be.
Thank you Sensei.
You touched the lives of many people in those mere three
days. I know I speak for everyone in saying thank you and
we look forward to training with you again and seeing you at
MCF 2009 in April!
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