Hi There

[fran]

Well, hi to all!

I first started training in Shotokan when I was 11yrs old, I had to stop at about the age of 19 because of nagging injuries, and obsessive compulsive training habits!!! from there I went into Aikido which I found to be completely different in approach...it took me 18 months to adjust! After about six years I moved in order to go to university I ended up studying Shaolin Kung-fu in Staffordshire...which was a complete system of training, ranging from Chi Gung to Iron Shirt.
After all this time, instructors and styles of martial arts I still hold Shotokan as my dearest, purest and most direct. My years of training with Lionel wheeler (Warminster), Peter Bull (Trowbridge), Enoeda and Otha are still present in me and the spring board from which all my training is rooted. My thanks to them.
I now live in the very North of Sweden and Find myself about to begin training in Karate again. I am 34 and have come full circle, only this time I will not make the same mistakes...longevity in training is now my goal, I will be most careful with my body...if it gets injured I will take care to repair it!!

Speak to you soon,

Francesca

[EmmaRobins]

Hi Francesca,

Welcome to TSW Forums, I hope you will find a few things that will catch your interest here!

Em

[Dave Barker]

Ah another ex pat!

I am now living in Mid west Norway.

We train in KWF under Yahara Sensei.

All being well we will be having a training camp early next year here in Norway. Hopefully you may want to come.

Which organisation are you currently with?

[fran]

Hi there,

Thanks for your reply!

Basically I am Ronin. When I find a teacher on par with Enoeda Sensei with whom I can trust and know that they really know what they are teaching it seems it will stay that way. Don't mean to sound 'off' but there are a lot of instructors out there who just haven't got it! When I was in the U.K I was with the Karate Union of Great Britain - JKA

I found my nearst club (30mins away in Boden) a few weeks ago...and in true to form Swedish style they shut for the summer, which means 10 weeks off up here! There club badge reads...Japan-Karate-Do, Inoue-Ha Shinto-Ryu, Keishin-Kai, what ever that really means...I am pretty out of it in terms of organisations etc, when I went to see them to have a chat about what they actually do they seemed close to Shotokan apart from the weapons aspect. Over the years I have found myself becoming relaxed about styles and have chosen to really look at effectiveness and keeping my body well, making sure that my own training is balanced, working in my body and has a reality to it...I don't mean to sound rude but I haven't found an instructor who has my knowledge for a long time and often ask us to do things that are bad for our bodies... but I am so grateful to whom ever is taking the time to teach and pass on what they know...that's real commitment and if they a willing to take a class I am always grateful.

Now I am concentrating on rebuilding core strength and a strong flow off Ki or Chi...to do this in a balanced way is not as easy as I thought it would be...but when I get it right for a period of time my power is much improved...the Iron shirt training that I did before I left the U.K seems to be the key for being able to train in Karate well...it's all work in progress. I know less and less. But I am having to train on my own for the first time in my life and I am finding it much more effective, in some ways, than training under an instructor!? But I love to be in the Dojo with others, so I will train in town as well...check out there site www.bodenskarateklubb.se they have an amazing dojo, large and another smaller matted one, a weights training room, kitchen, meeting area and changing room. I Said how lucky they where and 'he' said 'well, we have about 100 members!

Well sorry this is a long one but it's so great to have to contact with the outside world especially the Karate world again... I am very interested in the course that you will be running...IF my money situation is good I would love to come...

Francesca

[Dave Barker]

Hi there,

Thanks for your reply!

Basically I am Ronin. When I find a teacher on par with Enoeda Sensei with whom I can trust and know that they really know what they are teaching it seems it will stay that way. Don't mean to sound 'off' but there are a lot of instructors out there who just haven't got it! When I was in the U.K I was with the Karate Union of Great Britain - JKA

I found my nearst club (30mins away in Boden) a few weeks ago...and in true to form Swedish style they shut for the summer, which means 10 weeks off up here! There club badge reads...Japan-Karate-Do, Inoue-Ha Shinto-Ryu, Keishin-Kai, what ever that really means...I am pretty out of it in terms of organisations etc, when I went to see them to have a chat about what they actually do they seemed close to Shotokan apart from the weapons aspect. Over the years I have found myself becoming relaxed about styles and have chosen to really look at effectiveness and keeping my body well, making sure that my own training is balanced, working in my body and has a reality to it...I don't mean to sound rude but I haven't found an instructor who has my knowledge for a long time and often ask us to do things that are bad for our bodies... but I am so grateful to whom ever is taking the time to teach and pass on what they know...that's real commitment and if they a willing to take a class I am always grateful.

Now I am concentrating on rebuilding core strength and a strong flow off Ki or Chi...to do this in a balanced way is not as easy as I thought it would be...but when I get it right for a period of time my power is much improved...the Iron shirt training that I did before I left the U.K seems to be the key for being able to train in Karate well...it's all work in progress. I know less and less. But I am having to train on my own for the first time in my life and I am finding it much more effective, in some ways, than training under an instructor!? But I love to be in the Dojo with others, so I will train in town as well...check out there site www.bodenskarateklubb.se they have an amazing dojo, large and another smaller matted one, a weights training room, kitchen, meeting area and changing room. I Said how lucky they where and 'he' said 'well, we have about 100 members!

Well sorry this is a long one but it's so great to have to contact with the outside world especially the Karate world again... I am very interested in the course that you will be running...IF my money situation is good I would love to come...

Francesca

Hi Fran.

you may want to look at the following places.

www.kwf.jp
www,yahara.co.uk ( they have a great forum there too) and also have a look at you tube. search for KWf or Yahara etc and you will find plenty of eye candy!

Sweden is not far away. we are here should you ever fancy the trip the the land of nog.

[shotokan101]

Hi Fran - welcome - glad you're back on The Shotokan Way (The Art and the Forum )