OxfordKarateTripSpring2023 VazrikSenseiandSpirosSenseiGave3KarateSeminars

For the first time since October 2019, we visited Oxford, England to strengthen our relations with the Karate club there. In February, a few months ago, we had connected with the Oxford Karate clubpresidentatthetime,Lorenzo,andorganized ajointzoomtraining.SpirosSensei(5thDanJKA) taught on behalf of the Oxford Karateka, while VazrikSenseitaughtonbehalfoftheBostonarea Karateka. After the zoom event, we promised to visit in person, so the dream had been formed, a plan was made, and then we took action! From May3toMay8,wevisitedOxfordandtookpartin 3 Karate seminars. On Friday May 5, 2023, Spiros led class, focusing on body weight connection in punchesandkicksforkihon.Forkata,hereviewed Bassai Dai for the advanced students, he reviewedHeianSandanasthiswasthenextkata for kyu exams for several of the intermediate students,andhealsotaughtGojushihoDaiasan advancedkata.

OnSaturdayMay6,2023,VazrikSenseiwasgiven the unique privilege to teach a seminar to the Oxford Karate club. The attendees this evening included undergraduates, graduate students, andalumnioftheOxfordKarateclub.Buildingon the points that Spiros Sensei covered the day before, Vazrik taught some of his favorite drills that focus on emphasizing proper hand-foot timing so that body weight power can be delivered in the punch. He went through how to generatepowerwithgyakuzukibyusingfirstonly the shoulder joint’s expansion, then the back hip rotation as well as shoulder joint expansion, and then finally the back knee’s compressionexpansion to drive the hip rotation and shoulder joint expansion. For kata, Vazrik taught Wankan (King’s Crown). This was a unique day as it was King Charles’ Coronation day, so the kata was uniquely fitting. Students from beginner to advanced levels (including JKA England squad members) learned Wankan together. From there, Vazrik also taught his favorite Sentei kata: Empi (flying swallow), to emphasize some of the drills fromkihon.

On Sunday May 7, 2023, the Oxford Karate club had one more seminar before the Boston visiting Karateka left. Johanna, the current Oxford Karate club president, had a special request of Jion. On this final seminar day, Vazrik Sensei reviewed Wankan and Empi from the day before to make sure that the kata choreography had been solidified in students’ memories, and then taught Jion to the club. It was an exciting weekend filled with a combined total of 6 different katapracticed:HeianSandan, Bassai Dai, Empi, Jion, Wankan,andGojushihoDai.

We were very happy to see yet again that Karate and altruism creates bridges across age generations, cultures, and life experiences. In the reception party after the Karate seminars, many of the students showed interest in doing graduate school in theUS.

We are looking forward to seeing our Oxford Karate friendsinBostonsoon!