On the 13th and 14th of September 2008 the first Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo-jutsu seminar (outside of the visits of Hanshi Patrick McCarthy 8th Dan) took place in Ireland, Galway. This seminar was organised by the IRKRS Ireland and the instructor for the 12 hours of training was Renshi Ante Brannbacka, Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo-jutsu chief instructor for Finland.

Renshi Brannbacka is a seasoned martial artist and holds a masters degree in education which could be clearly seen with his ability to deliver the information, he is one of the graduates of Hanshi McCarthy’s full time MA Instructors Diploma course.
_______________________________

[For those interested in the instructors’ diploma course, the outline is as follows:

The course includes foundation studies in Martial Arts Theory & Practice, Anatomy & Physiology, Oriental Massage, Sports Injury Management, Personal Development & Communication, TCM, Instructional Skills, Psychology & Nutrition in Fitness, Clinic, Laws, Ethics & Business, as well as Instructional Skills Practice.

Semester One
Anatomy & Physiology 1, Martial Arts Foundation 1, Martial Arts Technique 1, Massage 1, Point Location 1.

Semester Two
Martial Arts Foundation 2, Martial Arts Technique 2, Personal Development & Communication, Oriental Massage 1, Sports Injury Management 1.

Semester Three
Field Studies 1, Instructional Skills, Martial Arts Foundation 3, Martial Arts Technique 3, Oriental Massage 2, Sports Injury Management 2.

Semester Four
Clinic law, Ethics and Business, Field Studies 2, Martial Arts Foundation 4, Martial Arts technique 4, Psychology and Nutrition in Fitness & Special Group Instruction.]
_______________________________

Day one started of in a relaxed’ manner, in fact becoming relaxed and maintaining that state was the objective. A number of exercises/methods were taught to remove the ‘staccato’ like presence that most of the attendees had, these exercises then moved into the practice of the fundamental blocks with a partner, initially evading then seizing with but ultimately using them as methods of attaching the incoming limb.

Following that we moved briskly to the first two person set Tsuki Waza Futaragiko this allows the continuous practice of the movements without the need to stop and restart.

While this was still bubbling in our minds, the unique ‘body dynamics’ that make KU effective was introduced and applied to the fundamental blocks (which by now were not blocks at all), this made use of all movements preparation/chambering etc and applied the dynamic to all. Renshi indicated an exercise with the focus mitts, which aided the recognition that all movements have a purpose and here is how you use them against a target at full power.

Taisabaki gata were next, these were relatively new to most at the seminar, the history of the kata are as follows,

**********************************
 ********
In September, 1924, Hironishi Ohtsuka, the founder of the Wado-Ryu style of karate, and Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan karate, came to the kendo training hall at Keio University. They approached Konishi Sensei with a letter of introduction from Professor Kasuya of Keio University and asked for Konishi's permission to use the kendo dojo during off-training hours for karate practice. Konishi not only granted his permission but also invited Funakoshi to come to his Ryobu-kan dojo to teach him karate. The Keio University Karate Club was established on October 15, 1924.

In addition to training at Funakoshi's Meisei-juku dojo, Konishi received karate instruction from Choki Motobu and Kenwa Mabuni (founder of Shito-ryu). While Konishi respected Funakoshi's personality and Mabuni's technical refinement, he was most impressed by Motobu's fighting abilities.

Konishi Sensei and his wife also studied under Morihei Ueshiba (founder of Aikido), who was still teaching Daito Ryu Aikijujitsu at that time. Having already trained in karate for a nu

Roy Harris [ http://www.royharris.com ] 4th Degree Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Black Belt will be giving a one day seminar in Galway on Sunday the 16th of November.

Previous seminars have always been straight BJJ, but this year we will be running a more MMA-focussed seminar (though with grappling emphasis)

Here is a review of an MMA seminar that Mr Harris taught recently,

' This past weekend, Roy Harris taught an amazing 2-day MMA seminar in Middletown, Connecticut. The seminar attendees (from several states and two countries) were treated to a tremendous depth of information. Here's a quick sampling:

-kickboxing structure for MMA
-drills for footwork and the mindset that makes these drills powerful
-ringsmanship tactics from Savate
-the subtleties of using the heels and balls of your feet to control distance
-punching drills from western boxing, Savate, and Filipino boxing
-a simple drill to develop devastating and unpredictable counterpunching
-a very effective way to make your partner pay for trying to knee you in the clinch
-how to feed mitts so that both partners improve their game tremendously
-the exact distance to maintain, and how to maintain it
-countless punch defenses and takedown defenses
-controlling and attacking a BIG SWEATY GUY from the closed guard
-takedown combinations from the clinch
-landing a big right hand, right on the button, from 3 different angles
-defending leg kicks from Boxe Francaise Savate
-counters to the Double Neck Tie (thai clinch) that put you into the driver's seat
-transitioning from kicking range to the clinch without getting hit
-landing a big leg kick each time you exit the clinch
-strength training and conditioning exercises and routines for grappling and for MMA
-drills for better visual and kinesthetic awareness when avoiding the Ground & pound
-massive amounts of Q&A

I could keep listing, but I think you get the idea. The one thing I heard over and over from attendees at the end of the weekend was how much the seminar exceeded their already high expectations. ' Chris

Since that was a 2-day seminar, please respond if there are particular areas of interest and we will ensure Roy addresses these in this 1-day event.

This is open to everyone, check http://www.harrisinireland.com , mail info@harrisinireland.com or ring 086 3492792 if you want more details.

The following MMA athletes are under Roy Harris (first or second generation):
Matt Stansell, Jeff Clark, Manny Rodriguez, Eddie Sanchez, Jason Lambert (Jason trains with Roy weekly these days), August Wallen, Lee Mein, Jason Day, and more

Renshi Ante Brannbacka, Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo-jutsu, chief instructor for Finland, will be giving a two day seminar in Galway in September.

Training/instruction will cover the following topics,

• Two person drills as demonstrated in Volume 9
(with specific emphasis on body dynamics and hip movements)
• Grappling
• Examination of the Taisabaki Kata
(with specific emphasis on body dynamics and hip movements)
• Final session will be ‘open’

Please contact nuig_karateclub@yahoo.co.uk for more information.

Also see Koryu Uchinadi Finland video in video box above.