Training with Philip Kear Sensei
Friday evening the 16th of August saw Sensei Philip Kear 8th Dan at Sensei George Grimes 8 th Dan Bristol Wado Ryu Dojo. This is the third time in as many years that he has taken the class in Bristol. All who made it to the class thoroughly enjoyed themselves….except maybe Sensei Alan Smith who was partner and at the receiving end of Sensei`s techniques during the evening. Alan and Sensei Robert McGrath 6 th Dan had made the trip over from Dublin for the training.
Sensei moved through some of the more difficult techniques of the Wado system explaining the concepts of Nagasu, inasu , irimi and how they can be used in a practical situation. In other words making it work for real.
Nagasu is parrying, or moving with the attack, to evade a blow, often while countering. The body is moved slightly off of the line of attack so that the attacking technique is evaded, but at a close enough angle that the power of the opponent’s attack can be used to increase the force of the counterattack.
Inasu is dodging and or deflecting, often dropping the body to move under, inside, or around an attacker’s technique.
Irimi is moving to enter, getting inside an opponent’s technique to create an opening.
Sensei ’s Wado is pure and undiluted his movements are relaxed with lighting responses, His understanding of Wado Karate is second to none and his teaching is no nonsense.
After the class everyone made their way across the road to the local pub, where the conversation was more Wado Karate talk and new friendships were made.
Philip Kear Sensei, had been a student training with Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei since 1965 until Suzuki Sensei’s passing in 2011. He was All Britain Champion and also placed 2nd in the European Championships in 1972. He is also an accredited N.C.A.S. Coach (Australian Certified). He trained full time in Japan back in 1969 in Nichi Dai University Dojo, he trained and graded under the founder of Wado Ryu, Hironori Ohtsuka Meijin 10th Dan.
Philip Kear Sensei along with his brothers Reg Sensei and Robert Sensei, both 7th Dans, are the senior instructors of Wado Kokusai Karate-do San no Ya in Australia. The name San no Ya, literally three arrows, refers to the karate taught by the Kear family and was given to them by Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei.
San no Ya also refers to an old Japanese tale, ‘Mitsuya no kyokun’ or lesson of three arrows, which recounts the story of Mori Motonari (1497 - 1571) the daimyo (feudal lord) of Aki (around Hiroshima). Mori presented each of his three sons with an arrow and then demonstrated that one arrow alone may be quite easily broken but when three arrows are held together their strength is more than tripled and they become virtually impossible to break. Correspondingly whilst each of the Kear Brothers practises Wado Ryu from their own distinct perspective, when combined these different viewpoints form the strong, flexible basis of San no Ya.
Check out the San No Ya Web Site www.sannoya.com