Sensei Paul 4th Dan, who runs the Plymouth Karate Club visited the Portchester club for the Friday and Saturday sessions of 23rd and 24th April 2010.

Friday evening's session

Sochin Kata, a popular choice of Kata for those taking their Sandan (3rd Dan) grade, was the focus for the Friday evening session and covered both the strict Kata line and also Bunkai variations. The class members consisted of beginners up to and including Yondan (4th Dans). For a number of the class, particularly Kyu grades and 1st Dans, this was their first introduction to the Kata. Such was Sensei Paul's approach to the instruction, that they were able to benefit from the practice of the various combinations.

Sensei Paul 4th dan with Callum 1st Dan

All of the class members very much enjoyed the lesson and Portchester's Sensei Faye and visiting Sensei, Malcolm Bradley 4th dan (Chief Instructor of the Newport, Isle of Wight Club), summed it up by saying that although they have been studying Sochin Kata for years, it was refreshing to review the kata through the eyes and mind of another senior grade.

Saturday morning session.

Sensei's Merv, Faye, Laurna, Paul and Ken Lyons from Uxbridge club.

Portchester's Saturday morning session is well known by its members and those visitors from our sister clubs as being "different". Whereas the Wednesday and Friday sessions are usually split into grade groups, the Saturday group usually all train together. Quite a challenge for the instructor to deal with complete beginner to 4th Dan. Sensei Paul 's theme here was to study freestyle and getting all the students to develop their own interpretations of appropriate blocking and attacking combinations.

The lesson was rounded off by revision of the members various grading Kata.

This was Sensei Paul's second visit to the club and he again proved to be very informative and popular.

The Saturday class on 24th April 2010

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