Sensei Frank Brennan 7^th dan is a regular visitor to the dojos of the United Shotokan Karate Federation of Ireland (USKFI) and returned recently for a full weekend’s seminar, a first for the USKFI. Sensei Brennan, a former World and European champion, is one of the Karate Union of Great Britain’s senior instructors, an organisation with which the USKFI has very close links.

The weekend began with a black belt course, with students attending from as far afield as England and Scotland. Sensei began the class by working on individual techniques, concentrating on timing, hip control and full movement of technique. Sensei Brennan emphasised these as principles which could be used throughout all aspects of karate training, a point to which he referred throughout the weekend. The second half of the class was spent standardising certain parts of some of the Heian katas as per the KUGB and USKFI syllabi which follow Sensei Nakayama’s “Best Karate” series. This was a very informative exercise as some students in junior gradings sometimes lack understanding of techniques, or their correct execution.

After a short break, brown belts joined the dan grades for the second session of the day. Sensei began with breaking down various geri or kicking techniques. While many people can execute a reasonable kick, Sensei demonstrated the muscle control necessary to deliver a technique effectively and correctly by breaking each technique down to its components. The class then incorporated these techniques into combinations with a partner. The class then practised kata Bassai Dai while the dan grades then moved on to Niju Shio. The principles highlighted in the earlier class were emphasised and applied to each technique in the kata.

A brown belt grading followed the second class of the day. All USKFI dan gradings are carried out by KUGB Chief Instructor Sensei Andy Sherry 8^th dan and USKFI Chief Instructor Sensei Michael Sherlock wanted brown belts to get used to the added pressure of gradings from an outside examiner. Sensei Brennan commented on the general high standard and attitudes of the brown belts and approximately 50 students graded successfully.

Day two began with another black belt class. Sore limbs were treated to an extended warm-up followed by a series of tsuki and geri combinations. Sensei reinforced instructions from previous classes culminating in executing the combinations at full speed, sharpness and power. During the break in between classes, students were encouraged go to Sensei Brennan and ask any questions they may have had. Sensei approachable nature meant he spent considerable time with each student, answering queries and demonstrating techniques for them.

As with the day before, dan grades were joined by the brown belts for a kata class. Brown belts concentrated on Heian katas while black belts were instructed to work on their ‘favourite’ kata, with most choosing katas relevant to their next grading, or katas performed in competition finals. Sensei spent time going to different individuals, correcting or enhancing their technique or performance of a technique. This was particularly invaluable as the USKFI has several students going for various dan gradings this Autumn, with another large proportion working towards the ESKA Championships to be held in Germany this November. The class was then split according to grade and ‘compulsory’ katas worked on with the dan grades, with the brown belts changing their heian katas. To finish, the class performed these katas at full speed and power, a fitting finish to an excellent weekend of training for the higher grades.

Since its inception in 2002, the USKFI has grown from strength to strength, with numbers in clubs increasing steadily year on year. As a result, approximately 180 students graded at the various kyu gradings held this Summer over various locations. On the second day of his visit, Sensei Brennan graded 6^th and 5^th kyus, which was preceded by a class for these grades. Sensei spent time on the grading syllabus with these students and, as for the black belts the day before, emphasised certain parts of their katas that he would pay particular attention to in the grading.

Sensei Brennan has been a mentor and instructor to the USKFI since its foundation. As the USKFI fast approaches its 10^th birthday, links between it and the KUGB are stronger than ever with the USKFI now able to compete in KUGB national level competitions as well as at ESKA and WSKA European and World Championships.  Fundraising events enable the organisation to keep costs at courses like this low for its members and the USKFI continues to fully-fund all students selected to compete in the UK or at European or World level. The weekend with Sensei Brennan saw an excellent turnout from all grades with the vast majority of black belts training at all four classes open to them, showing great enthusiasm and dedication. The USKFI hopes to make this an annual event, while still providing the day-courses with Senseis Brennan and Sherry throughout the year.