Barrow Suhari-Kai Karate Club

Barrow-in-Furness Suhari-kai Karate Club
Wado-Ryu Karate

Training every Monday and Wednesday Evenings
Juniors 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Seniors 7.30pm to 9.30pm

Greengate Junior School Hall
Greengate Street
Barrow-in-Furness
Cumbria

(Near Rawlinson Street traffic lights, opposite the Waterloo pub)

Alternative arrangements during school holidays.

Instructor Mike Golbourne Sensei, 3rd Dan

Please e-mail me for more details.

Affiliated to UKASKO
United Kingdom All-Styles Karate Organisation
Chief Instructor Roy Stanhope Sensei, 7th Dan

About the Club

The club is run under Mike Golbourne, and has been running for more years than I care to remember. We are able to run our own syllabus, thanks to the free reign given to us by our association. Our syllabus is based around traditional wado-ryu karate based on the teachings of Suzuki sensei.

We generally hold two or three gradings each year - this allows us to train in different ways, without being tied down to the syllabus - therefore we can concentrate on self-defence, weapons, kata applications, etc. We are not a particularly large club (about 15 seniors, although there are squillions of children in the junior section!) and don't spend too much time on sport karate. This could be due to the, er, "maturity" of one or two members :)

The club has good relations with other schools in the area, and often train with other instructors; for example, Aiden Trimble (former SKI world champion [Shotokan]). We also run the occasional self defence course for members of the local constabulary.

Syllabus

Basics and combination techniques are the typical wado movements - you will not find any surprises here if you have trained in wado before.

We pracice pinan kata 1-5, followed by ku shanku, naihanchi, and chinto. This takes you up to your first dan. Thereafter we practice seishan, bassai, wanshu, niseishi, jion, jitte, rohai.

All the partner work drills are studied, including sanbom kumite, ohyo kumite, kihon kumite, and jiyu kumite. Skills are developed with different kinds of drills, and we regularly do padwork (impact pads and focus mitts).

Gradings up to 1st kyu are done at the club, the panel being the dan grades who are present. Dan grades are taken at association level. Grades begin at 8th kyu (yellow belt), but we also have a 9th kyu (red belt) for young children who are not up to yellow belt standard. This provides an incentive for the youngsters - they simply have to complete 5 basic techniques to an acceptable standard.

Belts and Grades

Su Ha Ri

The concept of Su Ha Ri is an important part of all martial arts. It traces the learning curve, or ability of the student.

• Su indicates the level of a novice learning the techniques by understanding the physical aspects, and copying the master. This is probably around 10 years' worth of hard training.

• Ha shows an understanding of basic principles. The student is able to apply them well and begin to change and vary techniques. This is the mental aspect of learning and is 30 years of training.

• Ri is and indication of mastery - the casting off of physical technique. The master has a beginner's mind, not cluttered by the mechanics of learning movement, or thinking about strategy. This is the spiritual level that takes a life time or two to achieve.

Note: This was LIGHT sparring for the camera - protective equipment is usually worn.

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