Old Karate Masters Training

The Gozo Karate Club represents Malta in Slovenia

In June, for the fourth year running, Shihan Borut Kincl, 6th Dan Black Belt, founder and head of the Kempo Arnis Federation (KAF), organised the Warrior Tribes Gathering and Tribal Challenge in the Olympic Complex at Planica in Slovenia. International experts led intensive training in different martial arts styles and fighting techniques. The exercises included fighting with and against weapons as well as ground fighting and techniques for self-defence in different scenarios. Shihan Borut Kincl himself, the Slovenian Special Forces instructor, shared his expertise, as did Major Avi Nardia, anti-terrorism expert and leader of Kapap Combatives (Kapap is a Hebrew acronym for face-to-face combat). Other experts who gave their time and knowledge were Tuhon Ray Dionaldo, founder of the Filipino Combat System (FCS), specialising in knife fighting and Guy Rafaeli, originator of the Israeli Combat System. The training camp also hosted the Tribal Challenge, a fight against opponents wielding sticks. People from many nations attended, among them Filipinos, British, Gozitans, Italians, Israelis, Serbs, Slovenians and Americans. National and international media reported the event, and Sensei Joseph Portelli (3rd Dan Black Belt and leader of the Gozitan contingent) was interviewed on a popular Slovenian TV show, talking about the schools he heads and about martial arts in Malta and Gozo. Other Gozitans at the gathering were Sensei Alex Vella-Muskat (2nd Dan Black Belt), Sensei Charles Daniel Saliba (1st Dan Black Belt) and Felix Sammut, instructor to the junior students.

Master Kincl congratulated the Gozitan contingent after the event, saying how impressed he was by their performance and fighting spirit. He was invited to come and conduct a seminar on the island and has accepted. The event is scheduled for the 30th of October at the Gozo Sports Complex in Victoria.

Gozo Karate Club Seminars for 2011

The Gozo Karate Club summer seminar, Hard Target Self Defence, is on Saturday, the 23rd of July from 10am to 3pm and will be delivered at the Gozo Sports Complex in Victoria, by Chief Instructor Aidan Carroll. The first part is theoretical and covers: developing a self-protection game plan; understanding the criminal mind-set; understanding body language; and self-defence and the Law. The practical section will include: protecting your personal space; pre-emptive strikes; release from chokes and strangles; ground fighting; and defence against knife holdups.

Andre Bertel's Karate-Do: Winter is here...Overcome it with Training!

Dedicated to the memory of Tetsuhiko Asai Sensei (10th Dan) the nucleus of this site is my personal focus on the Shotokan of the old JKA (Japan Karate Association) and the highly effective developments engineered by Asai Sensei. Following Sensei's example, this online resource will also include some of the innovations I've worked on as a Japan trained and internationally qualified instructor and examiner. Welcome, relax and please enjoy! soshite chudan gyaku-zuki; (6) Chudan mae-geri kara jodan mawashi-geri, jodan uraken yokomawashi-uchi soshite chudan gyaku-zuki; (7) Chudan mae-geri kara yoko-kekomi, jodan uraken yokomawashi-uchi soshite chudan gyaku-zuki; (8) Jodan mawashi-geri kara yoko-kekomi, jodan uraken yokomawashi-uchi soshite chudan gyaku-zuki; (9) Yoko-keage kara yoko-kekomi, jodan uraken yokomawashi-uchi soshite chudan gyaku-zuki; & (10) Ippo sagatte jodan age-uke kara mawashi-geri, chudan ushiro-geri, jodan uraken yokomawashi-uchi soshite chudan gyaku-zuki. Summary & point to keep in mind: My emphasis at present is on renzoku-keriwaza (combination kicking techniques ) - especially kicking with the same leg repeatedly but still using maximum body power; and variants of hip utilisation in both tsuki, & ukewaza (thrusting/punching and reception/blocking techniques). Keep in mind that there is a parallel between the first waza, whether `seemingly' defensive or offensive, in that the first action usually dictates success or failure. KUMITE: Drills combining jiyu kumite, Kaeshi-ippon kumite & uchikomi are presently at the heart of my kumite training. Application of kihon, especially in regards to rengeri. For example use of mae-geri or mawashi-geri to "stop" the attacker employing GO NO SEN (taking the initiative later) then using the same leg to kick again followed by attacks with the hands. My emphasis in uchikomi is simply blitzing with the hands based on body power as opposed to merely the arms. In case you are wondering, I am leaving Gohon, Sambon, Kihon-ippon Jiyu-ippon kumite for when I train in the general class at the CPIT dojo. Perhaps a special note, undetectable in this post, is my present focus on a ever more potent kizami-geri (cutting kick), which all Shotokan karateka know was/is the trademark waza of the legendary JKA master, Masahiko Tanaka Sensei (8th Dan).