|
Post by fujicolt on Sept 2, 2010 22:43:48 GMT
this thread is a great 3opportunity for us all to know who to go and train with. please give feed back of your experiences - for example - BOB how about a run down of your experiences at Paul Meads course?
|
|
|
Post by Bob Davis on Sept 4, 2010 19:37:45 GMT
OK, here goes Firstly let me say that I have trained with Paul Mead a number of times over the years and still keep going back for more, despite my sometimes flippant attitude to standard karate training it is the core of what I've done for many years now and I do still thoroughly enjoy it. He is an excellent Karate-ka and exceptional to watch, he will work you to the edge of your ability and is very hot on correct form, fighting distance (as it relates to karate kumite) and particularly attitude (and I personally don't think it does any harm for some of us to be pushed on that occasionally). However, if you have been training for a number of years you are not going to go to one of these courses and see anything that you haven't done before (unless your training has been very sheltered indeed). In fact sensei Mead made a point of saying that "advanced students come to a course and always want to learn a new technique or something different but the fundamentals/basics are the most important thing in your karate" (or words very much to that effect). We followed the typical standard format of a number of basics both singly and in combination, some moving kumite drills as partner work and then finished with kata (Heian Nidan and Nijushiho). Kata were done as performance only with no background or explanation offered, we did cover some element of technique performance in detail but, again, no explanation as to why was offered. To be fair to sensei Mead, these courses are are just for our group and are done as a favor to our chief instructor (so I have no idea what his brief is before hand) and are as much about the social get together afterwards as the training itself. There always tend to be a number of high ranking black belts from outside our group who come down with him so you get to train with people who are somewhat ahead of you (or me anyway ) which does provide an extra challenge. In summary, physically challenging, yes, great fun, yes, an opportunity to be pushed, yes and a great social afterwards (which always includes an open invitation to train with him in his own dojos) but a new learning experience for anyone with much over 5 years of training, probably not.
|
|
|
Post by fujicolt on Sept 6, 2010 23:43:14 GMT
Thanks Bob - Go find my interview with Kanazawa Sensei and my comments about Paul banging Mae Geri's in with 'Great Gusto' 20 years ago! So he's one i suggest people add to thier list of 'go to train with's'
|
|