The Wales and South West Region Squad gathered on Sunday 18 February for another enjoyable, demanding and successful training session under the guidance and supervision of Sensei Dave Griffiths, 7th Dan.
With at least half an eye on the 45th Annual Shiro Asano National Championships on Sunday 21st April, this was an ideal opportunity for some focused work with all karateka giving of their best and showing great promise. Coming about 36 hours after the Region’s recent kyu gradings, it was great to see so many people attending and giving their all throughout the session and showing no signs of post grading fatigue, be they pre-teen through to into their 60s.
Most of the training focused on kumite drills and exercises, with an emphasis on distancing and timing as well as reading one’s opponent and seeking to exploit their “tells” while trying to disguise one’s own. Combinations were also a core theme, both in terms of an attacker presenting multiple challenges to their opponent and, from the defensive perspective dealing with those challenges and spotting the opening in which to counter. Breaking the line in these drills was emphasised and practised to good effect. There was a very positive and collaborative competitive edge to much of the training and everyone seemed to value and enjoy the training. Regional coaches Sensei Dave Griffiths and Sensei Steve Ashby have been left in the very nice position of having a wealth of talent and budo spirit from which to select the Region’s competitors for April and the task will no doubt become no easier after the forthcoming Squad sessions, the next being on Sunday 17th March.