|
|
A
tribute to Sensei Kase
by Mike Cowburn Chief Instructor - Cleckheaton Shotokan Karate Club
Sensei Taije
Kase 9th Dan
Over the past ten years I have been privileged to train under the guidance
of Sensei Kase, attending many of his European courses and established
some good friends in the process.
In 1994 I was invited by my good friend Norman Gomersall to train with
Sensei Kase on my first international course held in Luxembourg. The
period was crucial for me at a crossroad in my karate career when I
was giving serious consideration as to my future technical and physical
development. I was proud of my 4th Dan awarded some five years earlier
by Sensei Enoeda and beleived that I could hold my own in class of equals,
how wrong I was. I got my butt kicked.
The technical level of that class went largely over my head, but my
fellow karateka absorbed and applied it with devastating effect. I had
never felt power of technique like it, my arms were bruised from blocking
and my ribs felt as though being hit by a bus and yet my frail efforts
had little effect on my partners. Here was what I had been searching
for, this was my future.
Watching a man in his mid sixties demonstrate the application of his
principles on someone half his age and then to guide two eminent karateka
one 7th Dan and one 5th Dan to perform at an even higher level than
even they thought possible (the look in their eyes upon realisation
that Sensei’s fine tuning actually worked, was evident to see).
I left that class wanting more and vowed to return as often as I could.
Ten years later I am still learning, in fact, the more I learn the more
I need to understand, perhaps this is why Sensei Kase tells us that
karate is to be studied for life. At 44 years old and with almost 30
years of karate training under my belt I understand so much and yet
so little.
Unfortunately Sensei’s health has kept him from the dojo these
past few years but his dedicated student Sensei Dirk Heene has continued
to deliver the message aiding in the progression of my development.
TRIBUTE
TO SENSEI ENOEDA
TRIBUTE
TO SENSEI STEVE CATTLE
|
|
