January 6 & 7, 2007
Asian Regional Instructors' Study Session for FY 2006
The Asian Regional Instructors' Study Session for FY 2006 was held at the dojo for Malaysia's Kota Kinabalu Branch on January 6th and 7th, from 9:00 to 17:00 for both days, attended by 81 kenshi, 76 from Malaysia, and 5 from Singapore. Three instructors dispatched to the event were Mr. Masaki Nagata (WSKO Instructor, 8th Dan), Mr. Kenji Sato (WSKO Instructor, 8th Dan), and Mr. Takashi So (WSKO Asst. Secretary-General, 6th Dan).
Kota Kinabalu is located right on the equator, enjoys the everlasting summer of 30 degrees centigrade. Your dogi gets wet with your sweat soon after you start training. The dojo floor is about the same as 100 tatami mat room. The dojo was filled with kiai and heat, remind us of attending a summer training camp at hombu.
The country of Malaysia consists of two parts; Malay Peninsula that has Kuala Lumpur, the capital, and Kalimantan Island on the East Pacific Ocean. Participants from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore traveled to Kota Kinabalu by 6 to 7 hour flight.
Shorinji Kempo in Malaysia has been active for 40 years. Mr. David Wang Chang Vun, President of the Federation devotes his life and built his own dojo for the practice of Shorinji Kempo. There are 8 branches in Malaysia currently.
During the basic techniques class on the Day 1, Instructor Masaki Nagata taught application methods focused on attacks and counter attacks with fast-speed successive strikes/kicks through pair practice. Participants were trying hard to follow the speed of Mr. Nagata. His age is 62 but anyone could not believe that. Finally he also showed a "tobi geri (flying kick)" from the position of seiza, sitting on the floor. Participants were lost in admiration.
In accordance with the study session material, the lecture gave the participants the ideas of Shorinji Kempo principles, branch operation, daily trainings, and promotion activities, necessary information for instructors.
DVD show of the 2005 Shorinji Kempo International Taikai in FUKUI helped the participants understand the reason why we changed our mark on our chests to the unified mark.
On the Day 2, participants practiced "un'yo-ho", and then they learned how to judge it for the first time. Bad examples of fouls brought big laughter, breaking the tension among the participants.
Then they experienced judging, evaluating, and keeping scores of embu by watching video. The marks they scored were very close to the marks scored by the Hombu staff. This means that the kenshi of Malaysia and Singapore have high level of observation skills.
The group discussions gave them a chance to talk about various matters from the teaching method at their branches, techniques, to the dogi with unified mark.
At the closing ceremony, new dan holders were announced. There were two who passed the 4th Dan, and three who passed the 3rd Dan. Everyone expressed appreciation to the host branch masters and kenshi who served as interpreters. The event was closed by strikes of the Japanese drums.
The party after the closing of the event was in a very friendly atmosphere attended also by the family of the participants. Mr. David Wang Chang Vun, Malaysian Federation President, gave his words of appreciation to the instructors, they returned their thankfulness. They shared a good time together and promised to meet again in the future.
Reported by Takashi So, Asst. WSKO Secretary-General
