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Summer Intensive 2026 (Report by Sue Dodd and Doug Falconer)

‘Intensive’ (meaning – thorough, concentrated, or needing great effort or energy) is definitely the right word for this course.

Training

Rob Sensei laid out his intentions for this year’s Summer Intensive: to focus on the Shikukai Grading Syllabus, beginning with core principles trained at 9^th kyu and showing how these core principles were fundamental to every subsequent grade. In addition to Kihon, Sensei also planned to cover one Pinan kata on each of the five days; the ten advanced kata; and kumite.

On Day One we ran through the 9^th kyu syllabus, working in naihanchi dachi and practising kiru as a core principle. Sensei then made the connection with Naihanchi kata. He explained the use of kiru in a similar manner to 9^th kyu but also the more subtle, internal aspects of core activation present in the kata. The session ended with sparring practice. We were discouraged from competition style karate, bouncing about and exchanging meaningless techniques. Instead, the correct mind set was – attack only if you are sure your technique will succeed. A vigorous but safe method of applying this was followed.

On Day Two we began with a hip drill, again emphasising koshi wo kiru as the initiator for various foot movements. The idea was that every technique must begin with the body, with the centre moving and everything integrated. Our arms began to follow our kiru, developing naturally into attack and defence movements and moving on to kobo no icchi (defending and attacking as one). We had already covered Pinan Nidan and Rohai on the first day so today we practised Pinan Sandan, Chinto and Wanshu with Sensei explaining the finer points.

A recurring topic of Days One to Four was the kick combinations for each grade. A crucial point was that every kick (maegeri, mawashigeri, sokuto) should begin with the kicking leg knee raised in front (looking as if a maegeri is about to be delivered). After delivery, the kicking leg should return to the knee raised, maegeri position as a “default”. Sensei then played a game with us where he turned his back while we chose and executed one of the three kicks mentioned above, returning to the “default” maegeri position. Sensei turned around and told individuals which kick they had just performed. The giveaway was the position of the supporting foot (which should have reset to the maegeri position). This focussed us on the correct positioning of the supporting foot for every kick and improved control of our core and balance. After instruction in mahanmi nekoashi dachi we then used the stance in Pinan Shodan. Today’s advanced kata were Niseishi and Bassai.

On Day Four, Saturday, we were joined by Carol Sensei and students from the Chippenham dojo. Our kick practice continued with combinations from the 1^st kyu syllabus, again challenging our core and balance. A key word that kept cropping up was “integrated”; and we strove to deliver techniques with the whole body, not just the leg. Kata studied were Pinan Yodan, Bassai, Kushanku and Naihanchi.

On the fifth and final day we practised Pinan Godan, partnering to explore the concept of irimi.Conscious of the needs of the students Sensei demonstrated Kumite Gata in the sequence of Jodan, Chudan and then Gedan. This gave us the opportunity to reflect on the nuances of the previous training sessions and to ask any questions that we might have. We finished the session by practicing our own selected pair work with Sensei at hand to watch, comment and correct.

Balance

‘Work hard, play hard’ (meaning- the practice of having a good work life balance and prioritizing both professional and personal enjoyment). The course epitomises this saying. The training was truly intense and thought-provoking but at the same time the timing of the sessions gave us the opportunity to make the most of the surrounding Exmouth countryside and seaside. This year some students cycled and kayaked in Exeter, some attempted paddle boarding in Exmouth, some joined the locals to listen to music and one proud dad joined his son for his graduation ceremony (congratulations Lewis 😊)

Grading

Well done to Lewis and Alex who successfully passed 1^st kyu.

Provisional dates

2027- 28^th July – 1^st August

2028 – 26^th July – 30^th July

Another excellent course giving us all a great deal to think about and work on. Many thanks to Rob Sensei and his students. See you next year 😊

Summer Intensive 2025 (Report by Sue Dodd)

The Summer Intensive Course has become a regular event for many of us that not only marks the start of the Summer holidays but also one that gives us the opportunity to train together in a focussed and committed way.  

Once again this was a very enjoyable, thought-provoking and well-constructed course. This year it tied in with Sugasawa Sensei’s theme/question of, “Where to put the emphasis?”  

Initially we concentrated on moving through in junzuki dachi thinking about eliminating any excessive movement (mudana ugoki). Eliminating the mudanas was to be a recurring theme. This seamlessly progressed to pair work where we not only had to think about the emphasis of the initial and end movement but were further challenged to use good Ma (timing) and Ma-ai (distance). 

Placing the emphasis on Tori as much as Uke and having the opportunity to practice with partners of different shapes and sizes really tested our foundations and our use of absorption, rotation and execution. 

A mindset of purposeful practice was reiterated throughout the five days: “I’m going to try and get you and I’m going to try and not let you get me, but I’m also not going to run away”. 

Working systematically through Kumite Gata starting with jodan, then chudan and finally gedan gave us the opportunity to really think about our pair work in a purposeful way. Thinking about what we had practised in previous sessions we were now further encouraged to use correct and precise movements but with a seamless flow. 

Many thanks to Rob Sensei and his team for their company and team spirit. Thank you for the use of your paddle boards, your hints for long coastal walks and inside information about the best places to swim. Thank you for revisiting the legacy of the early morning exercise – it wasn’t as bad as we thought it was going to be…Naihanchi facing the sea was actually a lovely thing to do.  

This year three students, ranging from 3rd dan to 6th kyu, accompanied me to the course for the first time. One said that it was ‘Inspirational’ – it was; one ‘came home buzzing’ and has now recruited their children to Shikukai; and one has already asked their friend to join them next year. All three have booked the dates in their diaries for 2026 – you can’t say much more than that. 

Autumn Course 2024 Grading Success

There was good attendance at the Shikukai Autumn Course during which Sugasawa Sensei firmly took the reins and drilled everyone in core principles with attention to details. At the end of the course a Dan grading was held in front of Shikukai seniors and overseen by Sugasawa Sensei. We are delighted to (belatedly) give recognition to Tom’s success at 2nd Dan. A well-deserved pass! He was presented with his Dan Grade certificate by Sugasawa Sensei at the last Instructors’ Course of 2024.

Summer Intensive 2024 (Report by Sue Dodd)

After the success of the Summer Intensive Course held in July 2023 we were delighted that Sensei Rob Selby from Mushin Jyuku agreed to hold another course in Devon for 2024. Students from across Devon, Chippenham and Essex converged on to what is known as the ‘Western gate way to the Jurassic coast’ for five days of intensive training the Shikukai way.

It was clear from the outset that Rob Sensei’s agenda was to focus on the fundamentals and the correct use of body movement set out by Sugasawa Sensei. The progression of our training was seamless with each session and each day building on previous learning. We began with Junzuki and Gyakuzuki drills on both sides which enabled us to explore the sharpness of our body movement and ensure that we used koshi wo kiru as we transitioned between movements. The challenge thereafter was to use this when performing kata and kumite. We were tested not only physically but also mentally when asked to perform each kata on the ura side, first using the space in the whole dojo, and then in smaller and smaller sections until eventually we were in such a small space that we were almost forced to move swiftly and sharply from our centre with the correct control that Rob Sensei described at the beginning of the course. The course certainly made us reflect on our own practice and helped us to see further connections within kihon, kumite and kata.

Many thanks to Sensei Rob and his team for their very warm welcome and for their hospitality both inside and outside of the dojo. Looking forward to the next Summer Intensive already!!

Winter Course 2024

Summer Intensive 2023

In July 2023 we ran our first intensive course exploring the Shikukai syllabus, focusing on different aspects of kihon (basics), renketsu-dosa (combination techniques) and yakusoku-kumite (pair work) each day. Students from Portland, Chippenham, Chelmsford and Manchester made the journey to join us for some or all of the five days practice and we were lucky enough to have Steve Rawson Sensei 7th Dan and Pam Rawson Sensei 7th Dan join us for a special class taught by them on the Saturday. A full report by Sue Dodd 2nd Dan and Tom Wilkins 1st Dan can be found at https://shikukai.com/blog/https://shikukai.com/blog/

Dan Grading Success

Other Gradings

Our beginners all successfully passed 9th Kyu, Harriet passed 6th Kyu (green belt) and Lewis passed 3rd Kyu (brown belt). Well done to everyone!