The Chief Instructor of the KUGB, Sensei Andy Sherry 8th Dan, conducted another successful Brown and Black belt course on Saturday. The course, which preceeded a Dan grading, was attended by approximately 60 students from the USKFI. After going over some basic principals which are applicable to all aspects of Shotokan, Sensei Sherry concentrated primarily on the Dan grading syllabus. In the Khion section, he focused on correct posture and body rotation for powerful and sharp techniques, breaking each combination down into its component techniques. Next, he focused on each of the Special Combinations, emphasising timing, speed and co-ordination.

The next section was Kata where the brown belts did Bassai Dai and the black belts Jitte. Sensei spent time on each movement with students, again emphasising co-ordination and sharpness of movement. Brown belts continued with their grading kata while black belts moved on to their own favourite katas. Sensei then gave senior black belts various advanced katas to undertake including Meikio, Gojushio Dai and Unsu.

To finish, the class paired up for kumite, ranging from Jiu Ippon kumite for the brown belts to un-prearranged Kaisho Ippon Kumite for the senior black belts. The class ended with ju kumite where students could put into practice the principals applied throughout the class.

Sensei Sherry gave a surperb class, providing clear and concise instruction on optimising each student's techniques for forthcoming Dan gradings. The USKFI looks forward to his next visit, which will be for the second Dan grading of the year in November.