This year, Ryusei Karate-Do Canada will hold its annual summer camp on the weekend of August 25-26. As always, the camp will be hosted by Ottawa Ryusei instructors Rick Going and Kam Miranbigi, on the beautiful country property in the Quebec countryside, owned by Rick and his wife, Basia.

After Sakamoto-Sensei came to Canada last year to teach clinics, we have a lot to work on. This year, we will concentrate on the proper use of hips, trying to understand the concept of shime goshi. We will study this vibration of the hips in the kata Naihanchi, and then seek to apply it other ways. I am finding in my own training that all techniques require a hip vibration. A simple rotation is not enough at a high level. So as one of our practices we will perform basic techniques but with advanced hip vibration.

One of the keys to doing the right hip vibration is to have a soft and fluid body. With a soft body it is also easier to sink your weight and root your stance – a key concept in many martial arts. We will work on this at the camp.

And I will also like to look at the concept of kime. Right now the focus of energy always seems to come with a contraction of the body at the moment of impact. I am wondering if it is possible to get greater energy by relaxing at the moment of contact.

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