At last, a UGS event that didn’t involve me getting up at the crack of dawn to drive huge distances.  I’m starting to feel like a bit of a veteran now, having attended all four of them, but I feel it my duty to support it, since the event is responsible for me being slapped and seeing the light (well stars anyway) and crossing over to study a traditional martial art.  However, that doesn’t mean that I am in any way, shape or form an expert, still being gradeless as far as the Goju world is concerned, and I questioned Terry’s request that I could even attempt to write this review, seeing the illustrious company that has reported on previous events.  Still, he seems to want a kyu grade Essex gal’s viewpoint, so I’ve dug out me white stilettos, scratched at me blonde highlights and I’ll do me best, but, obviously, it won’t be as technically competent as those that have gone before.  With apologies to all the senseis for anything I’ve misunderstood, misquoted or completely missed out!

Of course, I was late…  No, it wasn’t because I had to apply more make-up and get my hair done, but I believe I was not the only one to be caught out by the signpost for Writtle that was actually before the correct junction which was not signed.  Fortunately, they hadn’t started so I had a chance to catch up with lots of old Goju friends and introduce a couple of brave newbies who had come along to try Goju - I’m sure it wasn’t just because of my incessant nagging for the previous couple of weeks.

We lined up and Terry, resplendent in his red and black jumpsuit, I mean casual wear, introduced us to our instructors for the day.  Ozel Osman, 5^th dan, JKF Goju-ryu Seiwa Kai, Kevin Nason, 5^th dan, GKI, Tony Childs, 5^th dan IGKA Shibucho and Mark Adams, 4^th dan IGKA.

Mark Adams sensei took us through a warm-up and then Ozel Osman sensei got us started.

Before letting us loose on the pads, he wanted us to check our technique and do some leg conditioning, so he had us pair up to practise some kicking exercises against our partner, starting at shin level and then working up through thigh, stomach and head level for both legs.  After collecting a pad/shield from the assortment available, we got to work doing the same thing but with the pad in position so we could start putting some power into it but still focussing on the correct technique.

We followed this with punching techniques, jabbing with the front hand and then using the hips and watching the position of your feet to power the reverse punch.

All around me there were kiais and grunts and sweaty men laying into each other with gusto.  Young Rachel and I did our best to emulate them, aided and coached by the ever helpful Graham Wendes and his charming Russian accomplice, Art.

It was at this point that we noticed Nigel Waters creeping round the hall with his camera surreptitiously waiting for inopportune moments to take shots with which to embarrass us all later (see the Gallery).

My favourite part of this session was a five-part combination on the pads involving jabs, crosses and elbows.  That felt really good. 

Finally, we got the opportunity to test our partner’s skills by selecting each of the various techniques we had done over the session one after another in the order of the pad holder’s choice – that certainly got everyone sweating and, once both partners had had a go, we stopped for a well earned refreshment break.

Kevin Nason is my sensei so I’ve done his iri kumi (free fighting) drills before, using the ju of Goju to help improve your kumite performance by going soft and slow.  As a beginner, it gives you the confidence to try out new techniques and develop and improve your arsenal without fear of the counter.  I’ve certainly noticed the resulting expansion of what was a very limited set of relied-upon techniques used for my own kumite.

We paired up in a straight line down the hall, toe to toe with our partner and one side had to deliver slow punches without making contact whilst the other side had to block/parry but nobody was allowed to move their feet.  After a few minutes, the person at one end of one line ran down to the bottom of the hall and everyone moved up one.  This happened after every set and was great because it meant that everyone had an opportunity to train with everyone else, introducing themselves and mixing up all the associations and belts.  (My apologies to the black belt partner who looked at my white belt after our encounter and told me I was ‘a ringer’.  Or at least I think that’s what he said – we are in Essex after all!) 

Everyone still had to remain standing toe to toe whilst we covered open strikes, kicks and then any technique but being aware that the receiver was allowed to counterattack every so often.   This led into a short session where we developed a relaxed receiving method by laying our arms across the strike at an early stage to sap the energy of the attacker.

I was very distressed when Sensei Kevin announced that we could use any technique and move at angles as well as incorporate some take downs… just as I was standing opposite a 5^th dan black belt… and then proceeded to vociferously encourage me to hit him.  It was all very intimidating to say the least but I hope sensei Tony wasn’t too emotionally scarred by the ensuing onslaught…

From the photographic evidence, it is clear that this was also the point where Graham made one remark too many regarding Terry’s unconventional attire and had to deal with the consequences.

There was just about time for a banana and sports drink before Tony Childs sensei continued on the go and ju theme with a session on soft blocking and moving and kata Tensho.

For the soft blocking, we paired up again.  The attacker threw a straight punch and the receiver had to parry using the two handed goju block - and move off to 45 degrees.  This was built up in layers using different strikes/kicks/foot positions (sometimes toe to toe, sometimes opposite feet) until we had done four moves and gone round in a circle to end up in the position we started.  This was repeated with the receiver doing a shuto as a counter.  It was these exercises that made me realise just how much work I still have to do on the two-handed goju block as having to think about which hand to move first to execute the block and then remember to move my feet in such a way as to have the correct foot forward for the next move was sending my brain into meltdown, much to the amusement of the very patient sensei Mark.  However, I got there in the end.

I really wish I’d taken the time to get a basic understanding of the pattern of kata Tensho before the event as some of the non-Goju pairings were really struggling to learn the kata and the attack from scratch.  Fortunately, I had Sam Waters as my partner.  He did know the kata so all I had to do was copy and remember the attacks as they were built up and we managed to get almost to the end before being flummoxed for a while by the shutos and mawashi ukes but, with some help from our neighbours, we were starting to feel quite competent by the time the event came to an end.  And I learned enough to make me curious to try to memorise the rudiments of the kata myself.

What a day!  As you can tell from this rather breathless review, it went by in such a flash that I didn’t even get time to apply fresh lippie!  As always, I met a whole load of really friendly, helpful people, learned stacks of stuff - some of which will come back to me in flashes when I’m training - and had another brilliant day.  The whole thing about UGS is that you don’t have to be a black belt in Goju to get something valuable from the event.  It aims to cater for everyone, all grades, all styles and I think that, yet again, it achieved that.

Thank you to all the instructors and I’m looking forward to the next one Terry…

With thanks to Nigel, Vicki and Sam Waters for letting me read their notes.