September 11th, 2017

This weeks technique is submitted by Sempai Steve Hatle, Ni-Dan
Ueshiro Northfield Karate Dojo of Minnesota:

Kihon/Basics

Onegai shimasu, Hanshi, Sensei and Deshi,

Working the basic moves across the deck is an integral part of Ueshiro
Shorin-Ryu karate. As prescribed in the 50th Anniversary journal, they
define a consistent and coherent way for all of us to learn and refine the
building blocks of our kata and kumite.

New students, especially children, often don’t understand the necessity of
this constant repetition and refinement. It’s helpful to liken our basics
to the lessons and training done by musicians and athletes.

Ask your students if they play an instrument or sing, or play a sport. Ask
them if they knew exactly how to play a song or shoot a basketball the
first time they tried. If they’re honest, they’ll admit that they had to
learn how to play scales and arpeggios, or do hundreds of free throws
until they had the skills they needed to move on to more complex things.

Music lessons or athletic practice almost always start with warm-ups and
drills, whether it be batting practice, singing octaves, or playing
scales. Like any other art or activity, Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu requires
constant reinforcement of the foundations of our art. On that foundation
we can then build the more complex structures of kata and kumite.

Domo Arigato to Master Ueshiro and Hanshi Scaglione for bringing us these
wonderful gifts, and continuing to keep us on the path of Ueshiro
Shorin-Ryu karate!

Sempai Steve Hatle, Ni-Dan
Ueshiro Northfield Karate Dojo of Minnesota