Tag : gary-swift
Tag : gary-swift
Last month I was lucky enough to travel over to Kefalonia where Sensei Eleni Labiri-Suzuki of Suzuki-ha Karate held a seminar with Sensei Gary Swift invited to teach.
It was my first time in the area, and I had an absolute blast getting to know all the students, get a taste for the cuisine, and enjoy the still-very-sunny weather. I look forward to returning again in the future
We covered the gumite-kata, Suparenepei and Seienchin over 3 days of training.
More course photos can be found on the Plymouth Karate website
More information on classes available on their website and Facebook page!
Dear all
In a super-late style as always, I forgot to update here on the website the news I received late last year.
In November 2021, I was awarded my Yodan by Sensei Gary Swift while at a training course in Horsham. This is not something I expected to happen any time soon, and I feel very privileged to have received it.
Categories: Events, Gradings, Instructors, Updates
Some good attendance at last Sunday’s course hosted at Horsham dojo. We covered kumite-gata – the 10 pairwork exercises that preceded the kihon-gumite as we know them today.
Thank you to Henri (4th Kyu) and Vita (5th Kyu) for coming along and representing the club.
If you want to see over an hour of instructional footage for the kumite-gata, make sure you purchase the Wado Comprehensive from Sensei Gary Swift, which will allow you to access the online archives at British Wadokai
Many, maaaaany thanks to ALL 80 odd students who came to the Hanshi course (and later Hanshi Cup) in Horsham today. I hope you all took plenty away from the 6 training segments (which seemed to become shorter each time due to constant overrunning 😉 ).
For those of you who were able to eat the cake provided, I hope it was worth it – I’m not at all jealous!
I’d also like to add I’m really proud of the students from Zanshin and Horsham dojo who competed in the kata competition. Being an open division you were up against odds far above your usual grades, and you put tremendous effort into your practice and performance. I’ve had some great comments about you so believe me when I say – you have made me very proud!
I was really lucky and proud to walk away with a 3rd place bronze medal, and would like to congratulate Colin Holmes of East-West Wado (Newcastle) for his 1st place win!
See attached a few photos I had on my phone. Hopefully many more to follow!
PS – keep an eye on Wado News for more photos and articles
Categories: Courses, Events, tournaments
I’m rather late with this, but it shows that there is nothing new under the sun!
On October 10th 2018, Sensei Gary Swift taught a 3 hour course covering the ‘final’ kata in Wado – Suparenpei.
You can find plenty of photos of the course here:
Categories: Courses
As we approach the end of another year, I’d like to thank my students for another hard year of training. Between having new (clearly dedicated) students joining our ranks and well established, hard training students achieving their 1st Dan, I consider this a great year for the club. We remain small, and train harder for it. I hope next year brings even more opportunities for learning.
END OF YEAR AND START OF 2019
Please note the final training session of the year is (was, I’m late posting this) Friday 14th December 2018. Training starts at 18:15, and may extend beyond the one hour. I hope to see you all there, and if not, I wish you all a Merry Christmas.
We resume training on Friday 4th January 2019. Same time. Same place. Be sure to keep up your training over Christmas!
AWARDS
On Sunday 9th December 2018 at the British Wadokai Standardisation Course Part 4 (which covered I-dori, Tanto-dori and Muto-dori) Sensei Oren Teichmann 3rd Dan was awarded Shogo Tashi by Sensei Gary Swift 8th Dan Kyoshi.
Titles are often awarded in tandem with grades, however this is not always the case.
As written in the Wado Comprehensive:
SHO-GO – 称号 ‘Title’. Refers to the numerous titles that may be awarded upon high-ranking Yudansha. Shogo include Tashi (3rd Dan & 4th Dan), Renshi (5th Dan & above), Kyoshi (6th Dan & above), Hanshi (8th Dan & above), etc.
Martial Artists often use Sensei to distinguish instructors of a particular Ryu. Junior and Senior students are often organised via a senpai/kohai system. Other titles are conferred loosely and under no particular standardisation. They often follow the commonly used black belt or Dan system of ranking. The usage of these titles is quite common outside of Japan and is subject to much interpretation.
[ . . . ]Tashi ( Tashi 達士) Experienced Practitioner. Awarded to those of 3rd Dan and/or 4th Dan who show exceptional skill in their practical, technical and theoretical studies.
“I was not expecting this in any such way, I would sincerely like to thank Sensei Gary along with everyone else involved in this presentation. I feel honoured at such a gift.”
Also awarded at the course was Vita Reizupa’s 8th Kyu grade (passed with flying colours – very much impressing Sensei Gordon 7th Dan Renshi of Horsham DKW). On a personal note, since starting in August this year, Vita has shown great committment and attitude to her martial arts studies, showing up not only in local standardisation courses, but travelling as far as Grey Wolf’s Gloucestershire dojo! I can’t wait to see what she brings to the club next year.
Peter Collier 1st Dan, whom if you remember passed his Yudan shinsa in September, was awarded with the ‘Unsung Hero’ award, given for his unusual ability of ‘being here there and everywhere’ just when you need him! All jokes aside, I truly appreciate Pete putting so much time into helping with the club, covering session at the last minute without the dramatic double take I personally enjoy acting out at such a request.
Kumite or Gumite? – Confused…?
What is the difference between Kumite and Gumite, Kata and Gata, etc? Absolutely nothing, except for the pronunciation! If prefixed, some Japanese words may change their pronunciation. For example, Kata becomes Gata, such as Kumite-gata (let’s look at the Japanese Kanji for both Kata = 形 and Gata = 形). If prefixed, Kumite becomes Gumite such as Kihon-gumite (let’s look at the Japanese Kanji; for both Kumite = 組手 and Gumite = 組手 )…
Hmmm…
Looks the same to me!
So remember, only when certain words are prefixed does the ‘pronunciation’ sometimes change.
However, caution, this rule does not apply all the time, so full investigation must be made. Additionally, it’s also not ‘incorrect’ to allow many of the words/sounds to remain intact.
Can you think of any other instances of words, where the Japanese pronunciation may change, when prefixed?
Let me start you off:
Harai (sweep) becomes Barai. Kamae (posture) becomes Gamae. Dachi (standing) becomes Tachi. Kiri (cut) becomes Giri. Koshi (hip) becomes Goshi. Keri (kick) becomes Geri, etc.
from the Wado Comprehensive, by Sensei Gary Swift 8th Dan Kyoshi
So with a heavy heart, we get ready to close 2018. Think of what’s to come next year (or in fact, what special big event happens in 2020 that heavily involves karate on a worldwide stage…?) and prepare yourself.
I hope everyone gets to enjoy their time off, whatever your plans may entail, and I look forward to seeing you all in the new year.
Categories: Courses, Events, Instructors, Updates
I would like to wish a deeply heartfelt congratulations to Peter Collier, who passed his 1st Dan black belt exam on Saturday 29th September 2018 under the supervision of Sensei Gary Swift 8th Dan Kyoshi and a panel of our esteemed yudansha (including yours truly).
We have had Peter in the class for many many years now. He’s shown absolute commitment to the club and to Wado as a whole, and I hope he continues to train and improve, and slowly pass on some of his knowledge to new students as a teacher.
Also grading were: our Horsham local Chris Holland, going for 1st Dan; Luke Spooner of the Cranleigh club, going for 1st Dan. We had James Latimer of Grey Wolf Karate successfully pass his 3rd Dan exam, and Mark Dupee of Shinwaryu Karatedo Sourdeval also achieve 3rd Dan.
This is only the beginning – I can’t wait to see what training has in store for Peter in the future 😉
See you in the dojo!
Hello all!
As you should all know, you can find the most up-to-date BWK date section here.
I thought it important to highlight a few of the main upcoming events happening this year, especially the local ones. Clear your calendars folks, because I want you to attend as many of these as you can:
These courses may have space on the day, but it’s wise to put your name down ahead of time. You can do this by e-mailing Sensei Gary on garyswiftkyoshi@gmail.com.
5th June 2016 – Kumite-gata and Idori-no-gata course
Venue: Horsham Wado Karate Club, Kingslea Primary School, Kings Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 5PS
Time: 10am to 2pm
Price: £15.00 /£10.00 for family units
Instructor: Sensei Gary Swift Kyoshi
18th June 2016 – BWF Kata Judges course
Venue: Horsham Wado Karate Club, Kingslea Primary School, Kings Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 5PS
Time: 10am to 2pm
Price: £15.00 /£10.00 for family units
Instructor: Sensei Gary Swift Kyoshi
Open to all grades, but minimum age of 12.
25th June 2016 – Kime-Sanchin Kata & Kumite Championships
Venue: Hawley Leisure Centre, Fernhill Road, Blackwater, GU17 9BW
Time: 10am onwards
Price: £10 competitors. Spectators FREE
Contact: Ian Clarke at kambiumandco@aol.com
Open to all grades and ages! A great opportunity to get some experience in before the BWF tournament in October 2016.
Hello all! On Sunday I was lucky enough to enjoy yet another of the annual Mittsu-ji temple kata courses under Sensei Gary Swift 8th Dan.
For those who do not know, the ‘Temple Kata’ are Jit-te ‘Temple Hand’, Ji-han/Ji-on ‘Temple Sound’, and Ji-in ‘Temple Ground’. As written on the BWK website:
‘Three Temple Kata’. 参慈形
Refers to the 3-temple Kata of British Wadokai. Ji’tte, Ji’han and Ji’in form a group of kata beginning with the same characteristic kamae, which obviously has roots in ancient Chinese boxing. Read more…
With around a dozen in attendance, including several from Grey Wolf Karate and from another club within the BWF, Kimesanchin, the 4 hour course managed to cover in detail the kaisetsu and bunkai of the first kata, Jit-te. The remaining two kata, albeit in not as much detail, were edged in to the remaining two hours.
Here are some of the photos from the day:
Categories: Courses