Kamishin Ryu / Hakko Ryu / Hantai Tagaki Yoshin Ryu Seminar 28 - 30/6/02
As a beginner, I can only give my impressions of all the many and varied styles and activities we covered during the course; so I'll apologise in advance to all those who feel I've missed out the most important ones.
We were divided into two groups and directed either to Sensei Hobbs or Sensei Carrick and the appropriate mat by a comprehensive timetable. Each group alternated between the two Sensei and we seemed to be able to get to the right place at the right time - at least after a few false starts.
Over the two days, Sensei Hobbs taught us from the Kamishin Ryu syllabus. My memories are of an "irimi" with and without an "around the neck" version which was finished off with hooking away "uke's" supporting leg - yet another variation involved allowing "uke" to rear backwards and assisting him to get there with a backwards hook of the nearest supporting leg. We covered a number of nidan "goose neck" techniques and a "kaiten nage" defence - both a "short" and a "long" throw! The short version really encouraged "uke" to be quick on the ukemi!! Towards the end of the seminar, we were shown a rather sweet defence to a rear choke - gathering the attacker's arms and rolling backwards to throw him. Either we were all getting tired by then or this was not as easy as it seemed.
Sensei Carrick gave us different variations of nidan techniques, followed by Jo, Hanbo and Boken practice. The Jo and Hanbo work was really to allow us to find ways to get a "result" on different body types, the Boken work was from the "battlefield" syllabus - and included advice such as "you don't take your sword all the way back because it might get caught up in someone else and you won't be able to free it". We were offered a number of "counters" to use against techniques. One I am unlikely to forget - Sensei Carrick was thrown in ushiro goshi nage, rolled during the throw and landed on both feet with his "uke" in a kaze getami hold. He did this three times, smiled and said, "now you try it, enjoy"! There was a sharp collective intake of breath from around the mat and we did try - with limited success on my part, I have to admit.
We were offered so much to learn during the two days and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The food was superb, only the knowledge that bouncing around the mat on a very full stomach is likely to be its own punishment, kept us from "pigging out". Thank you Brian and Barbara for your hard work in organising the seminar and thank you Sensei Hobbs and Sensei Carrick for teaching us.