Japan Day 2 - Kobe, Gyosa and kihon!

Dear all,

We're on our way to recover from our flights here and I've started to properly enjoy myself and not just see things through a hazy jetlag blur!

We headed to Kobe to the North East of Osaka, as it was a perfect distance for a short day trip. Joe had been there already, so was a very good guide for us! We wandered around China Town, a stone through away from the station, and soaked in the atmosphere from the shops and restaurants along the little lanes and whose staff would try to entice famished pedestrians inside. We had set our hearts on eating gyosa - or dumplings if you've not had the chance of experiencing this gastronomic pleasure - as university club member Kampei recommended a place reputed for these little pan-fried beauties.

It felt like a bit of a quest looking for the restaurant, asking people around - all good language practice - and finally finding out that we had walked straight past it in the very first 5 minutes...But it was not open yet and we wandered on before finally being drawn inside a little restaurant also offering gyosa menu sets. In the open kitchen, I could see chefs wrapping gyoza at fast-forward speed, before 8 of them were laid out in front of me, with a side of sticky rice and egg soup. Yummy! Oishii!!!

Our belly full, we headed out to the port, which sports a funky shaped maritime museum reminiscing of a set of sails done in a steel lattice. That was a great view next to the Kobe port tower and against the wooded hills background.

We came back to Osaka in time for training, with two sessions led by Sakai sensei for the first one and Nariyama shihan himself for the second session. Sakai sensei took us through the atemi wasa, from kihon, cross and straight grips before showing the link to the kaeshiwaza, which is one of the kata we practise for shodan, nidan and sandan gradings.

Every Friday, shihan works on the goshin ho, which are the techniques from 4th dan onwards. As with all training in shodokan, the links are made between kihon - gonosen no kuzushi in this case which you university students had to learn for your very first grading - and the more advanced techniques. After warming up - well we were already warm enough at first! - with the gonosen no kusushi for a good few times, we worked our way through jodan, chudan, gedan and koho ryote dori levels. Caspar and me finally paired up with Fumika sensei, one of the highest graded women in Japan (4th dan), who has also enjoyed great success in world championships and other competitions. Shes also a great teacher, precise, patient and from the amount she laughs who seems to enjoy her training. She's a great role model! Sam and Joe were paired up with Sakai sensei who according to Joe bashed through the techniques relentlessly! I had no time looking over in their direction, but they sound like they enjoyed the intensity and feedback as mush as Caspar and me did!

This is such a condensed version, I'm nearly ashamed to stop here, but I must get some rest if I want to get up tomorrow! Tomorrow is a national holiday in Japan so no training at all. We're making the most of this to go and explore a bit further afield, so we're heading off to Shirahama on Wakayama peninsula, south of Osaka this time. This is reputed for its white beaches - must take my swim cosy and make the most of the balmy weather - sorry to rub it in, you poor people stuck in winter type temperatures in the UK! We're also hoping to dip in an onsen or hot springs, which are famed in that part. My only regret is that we haven't got enough time to push through to kawayu, a river flowing further inland where you can dig your own onsen! The geothermal activity being so close to the surface heats the underground water to 70C, which you can access by simply digging in the pebbly shore and cool down to your own comfort with the river water...something to add to my bucket list...

As you can see, life is hard over here!

Ok, really must learn to go to bed before 3am!!! As the locals would say, Oyasuminasai!

 

Celine

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