Norman Robinson Karate Centre The ultimate aim in karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the perfection of the character of its participants.” Gichin Funakoshi Words of Wisdoms from Norman Shihan and Tanaka Shihan “Kamae” is only a simple word but it has many meanings. Kamae in karate is an alert and engaging stance or attitude. Kamae is significant in many areas, ranging from the way we behave in different situations in life, to the postures and movements of the body. It is very important to understand kamae not only as an external norm. For instance, kamae is even watching your surroundings when walking. The human instinct of caution and the deliberately focused spirit and body are collectively called kamae. These are important points for kamae in Karate-Do when you face your opponent: 1. Do not let your elbows point outward but lightly inwards. 2. Keep your fists so that they can block fast attacks against the upper, lower or middle level body. 3. Keep your fists lightly closed. 4. Keep your arms in a comfortable fighting position 5. Keep your hips as far forward as possible. Turn your hips away into a 45 degree (hanmi) position when facing an opponent. 6. Your eyes should not be focused on one thing but should be able to see the whole body, top to bottom at all times. 7. Your body and legs should be in a flexed position. Your centre of gravity lies within you. When applying karate techniques, the mind is focused on all movements using the body as a single unit. The kamae changes with strategy and distance. Different forms of kamae illustrated and demonstrated by Masahiko Tanaka (8th dan)

Kagawa Shihan SA Tour Dear Karateka At last! We will have Kagawa Shihan giving seminars and touring South Africa. The planning has been a year in the making and has finally come to fruition. He arrives on Thursday 24th September. The reason why it has taken us so long to finalise arrangements, is that he is in such demand all over the world, that we had to book him well in advance and continually communicate with Japan to ensure that these dates would be confirmed by them. I would like to tell you that besides the annual seminar in Tokyo, which I have been to on many occasions, I have also had the privilege of travelling to various countries with him. Last August 2014, I travelled through Hungary, Belgium and Holland accompanying and assisting him. And then again in March of this year, I spent a few days in Scotland where he was doing a seminar. I would like to state that each and every time I join him he never ceases to amaze me. He has a wealth of knowledge and is physically and technically possibly the best karate in the world. He is a very humble and quiet man with a keen sense of humour – especially when teaching. For all those who are attending the seminars – please give him your undivided attention, concentrate and learn all you can as this is a wonderful opportunity which may not be repeated for a long time. Beside the cost to have Kagawa Shihan here, he is in such great demand and therefore has an extremely busy schedule all year round. Please remember, the Japanese are a very formal nation – they generally do not shake hands. So please bow respectfully and greet him with a welcoming smile. Remember your karate etiquette at all times. Make me and JKS proud. I look forward to greeting you all and seeing you at the seminar. Oss Norman Robinson Shihan