Kengokan Karate Dojo Sydney » News

First Night at Henley

desparoz — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:14:09 +0000

Tonight was our first training session at our interim location at the Henley Community Centre.

Sensei Jo, Julie, Steven and Scott joined me for a sweaty session focusing on the kata Nijushiho.

Nijushiho is new to all three orange belts, and they’ve tackled it enthusiastically. They’ve worked their way through the entire kata (both “sides”), and are bedding it down into their memories. Of course, having learned a variety of self-defences taken straight from this kata, they’re well on their way!

The Henley Community Centre is a nice interim location, and we’re looking forward to the fresh perspective a change of venue will give us.

Kagami Biraki 2012

desparoz — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:10:53 +0000

Tonight marked the first official training session of 2012 for the Kengokan Dojo.

Following the Japanese traditions, this session was our Kagami Biraki session. As discussed in the New Years Greetings post, Kagami Biraki means opening the mirror, and symbolises the introspection associated with the New Years period in most cultures, and also the end of the New Years festivities, and the “getting-on-with-it” of training.

For our session, we each completed a full training session, which included:

108 star jumps
108 blocks
108 punches
108 kicks

Additionally, all participants (mudansha and yudansha, including instructors) made a demonstration. We saw the following kata: Naihanchin Sho, Happiken, Nijushiho, Kusanku Sho and Kusanku Dai.

Well done to all participants. It was a good start to our training year.

At the end of the session, a special presentation of an Achievement Award for 2011 was made to Sensei Joanna. Having been promoted to 1st Dan in 2011, Sensei Jo’s achievements over the past few years have been outstanding. Congratulations to Sensei Joanna.

Holiday Training Schedule

desparoz — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:55:22 +0000

With Christmas and New Year approaching, we will be taking a short break from our regular training sessions. Our final formal session for 2011 will be Thursday 22 December 2011.

Scheduled training for 2012 will resume on Tuesday 10 January 2012. We will once again be training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6.30pm to 8.00pm.

We will likely schedule some additional outdoor training sessions during the formal break. We will use email to keep everyone in the loop about such opportunities.

I trust everyone has a great break, and that 2012 will be a wonderful year.

Promotions November 2011

desparoz — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:16:26 +0000

Congratulations to Julie, Stephen and Scott on their promotions last night.

Julie and Stephen were promoted to 5th Kyu Orange Belt, and Scott was promoted to 6th Kyu Orange Belt.

All three have shown diligence in their study of Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo, and I am proud of the progress that each has made.

Please join all the members of the Kengokan Dojo and I in congratulating Stephen, Julie and Scott on their promotions.

Special Announcement: Training Times

desparoz — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 03:16:18 +0000

Effective immediately, the training times for the Kengokan Dojo of Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo are as follows:

Tuesday 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Thursday 6.30pm – 8.00pm

Blitz Interview with Des Paroz

desparoz — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 07:58:04 +0000

I was interviewed recently for Blitz Magazine by Mike Clarke, Kyoshi.

The interview, titled Karate with a Twist, was published in the September 2011 issue of Blitz Magazine.

Several of the photos used in the article also feature Sensei Adrian.

Joanna Choe Promoted to Shodan

desparoz — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:31:34 +0000

On behalf of all members of the Kengokan Dojo of Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo, I am proud to congratulate Sensei Joanna Choe on her promotion to Shodan (1st Dan) in Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo at the recent National Black Belt Training Camp in Coonabarabran.

Sensei Joanna joined the Kengokan Dojo about 5 years ago, and has been a quick and dedicated learner ever since. She tested for Shodan-ho (probationary black belt) early this year, and did her final demonstration at the Black Belt Camp.

It has been a pleasure working with Sensei Joanna as she has worked through the mudansha (non black belt) syllabus, and I look forward to working with her on the more advanced aspects of our style, now that she has “graduated” to the black belt ranks from basic training! She will also be an instrumental part of the Kengokan Dojo teaching team.

Congratulations Jo, all at the Kengokan are proud of your achievements.

Blitz Interview with Renshi Des

desparoz — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:01:24 +0000

Renshi Des Paroz (Head Instructor of the Kengokan Dojo) was recently interviewed by Kyoshi Mike Clarke for an upcoming issue of Blitz Magazine.

The interview covers the background of Shorinjiryu karatedo, Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Australia, and some of Des’ experiences in Shorinjiryu, particularly when he lived in Japan in the early 90′s.

The interview will be published later this year (either September or October), and the current issue (Vol 25 No. 8) has a photograph and a short blurb highlighting the upcoming article.

Site Re-organised

desparoz — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:32:44 +0000

You may have noticed that the site has bee re-organised, and that a number of articles are missing.

There is a lot of information in those articles, and I am reviewing the best ways of distributing that information. Some may be re-posted in the blog, some might go to other sites (perhaps including Wiki type sites), while others might be moved into some future book or ebook.

I am committed to sharing what little I have learned about Shorinjiryu karate, its origins, theories, techniques, practices, etc, but having the right vehicle is important.

This website is really about the Kengokan Dojo, and so the information herein will reflect that. One thing I can say is that the EssentialKarate Blog will become my vehicle for general opinions and thoughts on karate.

Training Times

desparoz — Sun, 01 May 2011 02:09:21 +0000

Starting from 2 May 2011, training times at the Kengokan Dojo of Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo, in Hunters Hill, will go back to:

Monday 6.30pm-8.00pm
Thursday 6.30pm-8.00pm

Monthly fees shall be $65.00 per month.

We are also be introducing a pre-paid card allowing 10 sessions for $95.00. This card will have a six month validity, although if you renew prior to the card’s expiry, existing credits will be carried forward.